I still remember receiving the phone call from my favorite uncle telling me how much he loved me but life was not worth living. I could hear the river flowing in the background and my heart felt tighter by the second. I thought that was going to be the last time I heard from him. Prior to that call he would have moments where he would take his prescribed medication with alcohol. He would go MIA for weeks or even months but when he was around my sister and I, the room was filled with nothing more than laughter and smiles. I could never understand why someone who was loved so much wanted to die so bad. At the time it was so selfish of me to have these thoughts but I could not imagine what life would be like without him around. I decided that one day I wanted to have a heart to heart conversation with him and hopefully convince him to get the help he deserves. Fast forward 4 years later, he still continues to go to therapy, takes his medication as prescribed and has been sober from alcohol for 3 years! With all the progress he has made, it still dwells on me that he felt so alone and so low. Finding the ability to have the conversation with him showed me that I want the ability to show up for people when they simply just need a little bit of love and someone fighting for them. I am the type of friend and family member who is continuously sending text messages making sure that everyone is doing okay. I might even pop up to hangout just so that they are not alone. In terms of my professional career, I knew that healthcare and education was not my calling but I love advertising. I want the ability to continue diversifying the field and connecting people with resources that can improve their lives. Finding ways to connect brands and businesses with their target audience excites me and I know that some of these brands could have been one that my uncle needed when he was struggling with his mental health. I say all of this to say that navigating that journey with my uncle was probably one of the most difficult experience I have had thus far but it taught me so much. It taught me how to be a support system for the people that I love. I learned how to have patience with him during his healing process even though it is not linear. Most importantly I learned how to accept and acknowledge mental health struggles despite the stigma that it has especially in the African community. I pride myself in continuing to learn more about mental health and finding ways to not only help the people around me but continuing to focus on my own mental so that I can show up for the people around me.

Being able to help people has always motivated me but I wanted to take it to the next level. I knew that I wasn’t meant for health care or being a teacher but my love for being creative and seeing my vision come to life is what excited me and made me want to conquer the day. What better way is it than to combine both important aspects of my life into one, that is how I decided to pursue Strategic Communications with an emphasis on public relations and advertising. Not only does it allow me to help create content that benefits people, but I also get challenged constantly to expand my creativity and dive deep into what would translate best for the target audience. As a young black woman, I have become genuinely comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am also passionate about representation, especially because I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacted others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity to bring different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it is by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I truly value communication and I am a firm believer that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that both the client and consumer can truly appreciate. Being a first gen student has been far from easy but it has provided me skills that have been such a blessing. It has made me learn the importance of advocating for myself and seeking out the resources that is needed for my success. I have done a lot of research to help build a foundation in which I know that I can dedicate all my time and attention. I have so many goals that I want to reach and if there is one thing my parents taught me is that discipline and hard work is what sets you a apart from others.

The phrase “it takes a village” is one that I am ever so familiar with. Over the years I have indeed found my love for community service and I am grateful to be exposed to the amazing feeling of being there for others at such a young age. I have been a part of many different volunteer experiences ranging from Feed My Starving Children to participating in the city-wide food drive that occurs yearly in my neighborhood. These experiences have left such an impact on my life but one of the volunteer experiences that warmed my heart the most was when I served as a tutor through an organization by the name of Commonbond in which I met 2 brothers who were the sweetest kids ever. Their parents worked 24/7 to make ends meet so they spent a lot of time at this after-school program until their parents were off from work. Their story made me want to be like their big sister and give them the feeling of what it's like having a family member with them for more than just 1-2 hours before they fall asleep and repeat the schedule all over again the next day. What began as just me being their tutor turned into them trusting me like their big sister. After we would get done doing their homework they would tell me everything that they did in school, things that interested them, and things they wanted to try. Building this bond with them was something so important to me because I was blessed enough to have family that loved me so much and that I could be around for the majority of the day, I knew that feeling was something that everyone deserves so I wanted to be that person for them even if it was only 2 hours a day. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. Many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity to bring different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it is by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I am a firm believer that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that both the client and consumer can truly appreciate.

Being able to help people has always motivated me but I wanted to take it to the next level. I knew that I wasn’t meant for health care or being a teacher but my love for being creative and seeing my vision come to life is what excited me and made me want to conquer the day. What better way is it than to combine both important aspects of my life into one, that is how I decided to pursue Strategic Communications with an emphasis on public relations and advertising. Not only does it allow me to help create content that benefits people, but I also get challenged constantly to expand my creativity and dive deep into what would translate best for the target audience. As a young black woman, I have become genuinely comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am also passionate about representation, especially because I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacted others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity to bring different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it is by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. As I have gone down the path of my college career, I believe that I have found my purpose in using my voice for the betterment of others and showing up for my community. Winning this scholarship will aid me in becoming not only the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college but also another empowered woman of color who is ready to conquer the world and continue creating space for all people to be proudly represented. A lot of work needs to be done, but I can ensure that I will continue speaking up for my community and showing up for them whether through my education or profession. I have a lot to offer the world and I can’t wait to continue making the necessary changes.

Waking up to texts from my uncle telling me how much he loves me but he has given up on trying to navigate the world has been some of the most traumatic and daunting experiences I have had in my 20 years of life. Feeling hopeless and lost but trying to understand the struggles he had been feeling is something that I don't believe I have mastered coping with. Although he is still with us I fear that every day might actually be the day he goes through with his decision. With all this being said, it has opened my eyes to ways of navigating mental health and showing up for the people I care about while also ensuring that I do my best to take care of myself as well. It hurts my heart to know there are so many people struggling silently with mental health, especially young people. With my experience with my uncle and my personal dedication to maintaining a lifestyle that prioritizes my mental health, I have made it a goal of mine to find ways to help the young people I come in contact with alleviate their stress. I have been super lucky to be a tutor for low-income families and their children. Many of the kids in the program don't have a relationship with their parents in which they can talk about problems such as their mental health being that their parents work countless hours just to make ends meet. I took it upon myself to not only be their tutor but essentially like their big sister as well. We will do their homework and then I created a space in which we will discuss different emotions that they may be feeling and what made them feel that way. I also introduced journaling to them so that if I wasn't around, they still had a way to express themselves and keep the negative emotions out. My favorite aspect of working with them had to be creating a mental health care kit which included stress balls, coloring books, journals, positive affirmation cards, and their favorite snacks. They loved it so much and they were able to benefit from the extra resources that they had. Alongside tutoring, creating a positive space in my future profession as a creative in advertising is another goal of mine. As a young black woman, I have become genuinely comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am also passionate about representation, especially because I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacted others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity to bring different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it is by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I truly value communication and I am a firm believer that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that both the client and consumer can truly appreciate. All in all, people's lives depend on how they are doing mentally and I will continue doing all in my power to show up for the people that I care about whether its family, friends, people I volunteer for, my clients and anyone else that I come in contact with. The conversations regarding mental health need to continue being at the forefront and we need to continue educating people on the resources that are available to them when they simply just need someone to listen to them in their time of need.

Nothing warms my heart more than seeing the joy on the faces of the people I help at my volunteering services. As the child of immigrant parents, I have seen firsthand what it is like to struggle and receive help from genuine people, and as I have gotten older and been blessed enough to be in a comfortable position I wanted to share that love with others. Over the past 4 years, I have been volunteering as a tutor with an organization that provides minority low-income families with housing. I spent a lot of time helping the students with homework but most importantly I became like their big sister. Many of these kids can’t build strong relationships with their parents because their parents work endless hours to make ends meet. Having the ability to build such a beautiful bond with the kiddos meant the world to me. They began opening up to me, getting so excited to tell me about their day, and overall they sought someone who would listen to all their little stories. Relationships like this, especially with the youth, often get taken for granted until you see how it truly impacts the person you’re connecting with. It is the little things that make the biggest difference. Another beautiful experience I have had is volunteering with the food drive that occurs yearly in the community. I am responsible for picking up food that has been donated by our neighbors and taking it to our donation drop-off center where families can obtain as much food as is needed for their family. Having a mother come up to me as tears filled her eyes while hugging me and telling me that she did not know where her family's next meal was going to come from is an encounter that will forever stick with me. Knowing that just taking a few hours out of my day to help collect food turned into a mother and her family not having to worry about food even if it was just a couple of days is a life-changing experience. Volunteering will continue to be something I have so much thrill doing. I have made some wonderful relationships with the people I have volunteered with and the people I have had the honor of serving. It has taught me so much. It has taught me how to be thankful for the people I have around me who have allowed me to be in the position to give back. I have also learned how to listen to what people need instead of assuming I have the right answer for everyone’s problems. This experience has truly made me a better leader, a more active member of my community, and overall a proud member of my community. There is a lot more to be done and much more for me to learn but I am extremely proud of being able to fulfill what I have so far. All in all, volunteering will forever be one of the best things I have ever devoted my time and heart to. I am dedicated to continuing to invite more people to help serve our community and doing all the little things that make the biggest difference. All it takes is one person and if I can be that one person for someone who needs a helping hand, I will choose to do it every single time.

I hope to further diversify the field of advertising being that it is such a huge field that continuously impacts many people in society but still lacks the ability to connect with minorities time after time again.

Being the child of immigrant parents has given me front-row seats of how important and impactful it is to show up for others. Growing up my parents worked overnights and weekends to make ends meet and oftentimes my sister and I would stay with our neighbors so that my parents could work. I have seen my parents open up our home for people in our community who did not have a roof over their heads. Growing up and watching these interactions made me want to incorporate those same skills so that I could continue helping people who needed a helping hand. If there is one thing about me, you will find me volunteering in many different services. Whether it is tutoring, assisting with girls' basketball or even creating a youth clean-up crew within my neighborhood. One particular service that I participate in is the annual food drive that occurs yearly in my community. I will never forget, a mom and her 2 young kids came to the distribution center to pick up some food and she came up to me with tears in her eyes and she asked if it was okay for her to hug me. She hugged me and told me how grateful she was to have the opportunity to feed her family because food and money had been tight and she felt like she was failing as a parent. A part of that interaction broke my heart but the other part made me happy knowing that putting time into my community helps families push through to see another day. As people we never know what others are going through and the struggles that they may be facing. I am blessed enough to be in a comfortable position in my life but that is not always the case for others. I am a firm believer in ensuring that everyone else around me is winning even if I do not personally know them. If I was struggling I would want people to have my back and that is why I live my life ensuring that I continue doing my part. Another impactful experience I had was when I got to tutor 2 brothers at the low-income tutoring site where I volunteered. Their parents worked long hours therefore after school the boys would stay at the tutoring site until 7 pm and would do it all over again the next day. Despite being there to help them educationally I wanted to become like a big sister to them. After we got done with their homework I would stay later to have them talk to me about school, and their little crushes and ask me any advice if they needed it. I know how important my family is to me and I know that their parents love them dearly but they have to sacrifice working long hours to provide for their family. The boys always got so excited to see me and talk my ear off but I loved every moment of it. Helping others has shown me how beautiful life can be when you can put a smile on someone's face without expecting anything in return. A lot of people are struggling and need at least one person to acknowledge them and be the help that they need to change their life around and if I can do so I will show up and do my best. Life is very uncertain and you never know when you will need help which is why it is important to put yourself in other people's shoes and be there for them.

I have loved every second of my major ever since I made the change from Kinesiology to Strategic Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations and Advertising. I knew I wanted to help people but I quickly found out that the medical field was not for me but I had the ability to still be there for people through Strategic Communications. As a young black woman, I have found myself genuinely becoming comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am also really passionate about representation, especially being that I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacted others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity to bring different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it is by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. Winning this scholarship would be a reflection of others identifying the hard work and sacrifices that I have made and continue to make to ensure that I am successful not only for myself but for my community as well. I am fully driven to become a young professional in the advertising field. As I have gone down the path of my college career, I believe that I have found my purpose in using my voice for the betterment of others and showing up for my community. Winning this scholarship will aid me in becoming not only the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college but also another empowered woman of color who is ready to conquer the world and continue creating space for all people to be proudly represented. A lot of work needs to be done, but I can ensure that I will continue speaking up for my community and showing up for them whether through my education or profession. I have a lot to offer the world and I can’t wait to continue making the necessary changes.

Pursuing a leadership minor has been one of the best choices I have made in my life. I always have been so outgoing and my love for helping others truly runs deep but I never truly understood the power of my voice and how to use it. I held leadership positions such as basketball captain for 3 years as well as track captain my senior year of high school but I did not feel as if I truly "led" my teammates. It mostly was that I was good at my sport and I worked hard. Transitioning into college, I led a peaceful protest regarding police brutality after the murder of Daunte Wright and George Floyd and I saw firsthand how influential my voice was when it came to planning everything out, getting everyone in the same space and executing a beautiful protest that allowed my classmates to speak to authorities about their concerns. That experience was pivotal in my life, and I wanted the ability to expand on my natural gifts which led me to the leadership minor. During my first 2 leadership courses, I learned that I am a very dominant person. I can be personable which provides people a sense of comfort when they are in my presence. In addition, I am very punctual so when there is a task at hand it must get done quickly and efficiently. My shortcomings came into play when it came to listening. I sometimes would be so passionate about getting things done that I would not invite others to share their opinions or opposing thoughts. One important lesson that I took from this class is that identifying where I struggle and places where I can improve is one way that could lead to me growing within being a leader. We dove into all the different ways that one can be a leader. What stood out to me is that being a leader does not always mean you have to have authority within a group. I can be a leader by utilizing my other strengths whether it's time management, organization or any other little piece that benefits the large group. Being a leader also includes stepping back and allowing people to share what they need from me instead of assuming that I know what is needed. When working in a group everyone can bring something to the table which means that we should be able to identify what needs to be done and who can execute that. I say all of this to say that I am very proud of the leader I am becoming. I understand how to take a step back and not always have to be the one in charge but instead listen to what others have to say and adapt to my environment. I have learned how to be comfortable with my voice and gauge when I need to step up and take charge and when I need to utilize my other strengths. At the end of the day, my goal is to keep everyone happy to the best of my ability while ensuring that the quality of work remains high. Leadership is not easy nor is it black and white but being passionate about the work I do is what allows me to take on a task and do it to the best of my ability. Every day is a new day to get better and to grow and growth is the most prominent component of being a better leader than I was the day before.

Nothing beats growing up around the beauty of Liberian culture. Although my parents lived in the States, it was a priority that their children grew up and cherished being Liberian. I really loved that my parents showed me how beautiful our culture is and they taught me the history of my people because it allowed me to look at the world with a broad perspective that has aided me in being the young woman I am today. My love for community service work stems from seeing my parents constantly showing up for the people who needed them whenever they had the chance. They would always say "We may not have everything but that does not mean we can't help". Despite growing up in a low-income household I valued helping out with Loafs and Fishes and cleaning up the neighborhood with my church as a kid and now I am even more involved. I am constantly finding new services to be a part of. The relationships I have made with the people I serve have been so touching and I know that I have been making a positive impact on their lives which keeps me going. Futhermore, I have found my love for modeling and content creation. I love how I have had the ability of building a community just by being unapologetically me on camera and posting it on social media. As a darkskin girl it has taken a lot for me to be comfortable in my skin and now having the confidence to post myself on social media without looking at the video or picture for hours hating how I look is such a huge milestone for me. I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a brand ambassador for brands such as Pink, Amazon, Express and many more big brands. It is all a testimony of my growth that I have had over the years and my ability to trust in myself and take the opportunities that were presented to me. In terms of my career, working in the advertising field is where my heart lies. My brain never turns off. I crave the ability to be creative and see my work presented for the world to see. This field also allows me to work on continuing to diversify such a field that speaks to so many people yet the field truly needs to invite people from different walks of life to have a seat at the table. We can't continue speaking on behalf of other people's stories. We have the ability to be more inclusive therefore we have to take the necessary steps to do so. I believe that with my ability to be vocal and respectfully push boundaries for others voices along with my own to be heard, I can make some changes one step at a time which makes all the difference. I can't wait for the chance to create some amazing campaigns that represents more than one type of people and to work alongside different people of a variety of backgrounds.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would have an award named after me at my high school. There is not enough gratitude that I could have used to express how grateful I was to obtain such recognition while simply doing the things that I love. Ever since I started playing basketball, the sport truly captured my heart. I loved being in the gym because I felt like everything I was going through never existed. I also loved competing while creating a sisterhood with my teammates. I wanted to be in a space where we battled to get better but we knew that at the end of the day, it was nothing but love. This mindset led me to become a captain in my sophomore year up until I graduated. Alongside basketball, being an active member of my community was just as important to me. After practice, I would go to other sporting events to cheer them on. I led school chants and I even bought my pom poms because I was dedicated to being a super fan. If there was a soccer game, I was there. If there was a football game, I was there. If there was a swim meet, I was there. Any chance I had to be a super fan to my peers, I valued that opportunity. Volunteering was another one of my hobbies that brought me joy. I spent a lot of time volunteering with our neighborhood food drive which provided many families with meals which made me super happy to be a part of. Additionally, I tutored kids through an organization by the name of Common Bond which provided low-income families with affordable housing while providing the children with an after-school program to receive academic help. To me, I was doing things that I naturally loved doing. I never expected anything from it because the joy I saw in the faces of the people I was helping was the best reward I could have ever received. Although I was quite naive, I guess others were beyond appreciative of the love I had for the things I was doing which led to a very special moment at my basketball senior night. My coach gave every senior a sentimental speech which had us all in tears. Once he got to me, he gave my speech and informed me that on behalf of him and my high school community, they wanted to name an award after me for being not only an instrumental player but an amazing community member as well. This award would be awarded annually to one student who exemplifies the same characteristics. I was so shocked and honored and it made me feel so good knowing that I was making a difference. I will forever hold that moment dear to my heart and I can gladly say that I am the first recipient of the Fam Z Award! After graduation, I hope to pursue a career as a Creative Media Specialist. I truly love the creative side of advertising and creating content while ensuring that people get the information they need and that is why I decided to pursue Strategic Communications. With this major, I will be provided with ways to help connect the content that my team and I make with a specific target audience and ensure that I build a positive relationship with the brand and its consumers. In 5 years I see myself loving my job in a diverse ad agency. I truly value diversity and inclusivity therefore I hope that my workspace reflects that as well. The more variety in perspectives that we have the more intriguing the content will be! Being able to graduate with as little debt as possible would be a dream come through. The cost of living is constantly going up and as a young professional, the income does not always match a sustainable lifestyle. If there is the chance to jump-start my career and life without having an additional financial burden it will allow me to have the chance of focusing my money on other aspects of my life that are important.

I think about my parents' journey to the United States quite often. Understanding the sacrifices that they made to ensure that their future kids had a better life than them continues to motivate me to ensure that I can take care of them and repay even a sliver of all the great things they have done for me. Before coming to the States, my father and his family were very wealthy being that his father was a superintendent in Liberia. They had drivers, cooks and went to the best schools. Despite living this luxurious life they lost everything during the Liberian civil war. My dad had to sneak around to find food for his siblings and even almost lost his life at times. A few years later they moved in with his aunt in the States and started from scratch. My mother on the other hand didn't have much back home but she was happy. She was raised by her grandmother in Liberia and she spent a lot of time helping her out in the market when she was not in school. She came to the States when she was 15 and essentially became a real version of the Cinderella story when she moved in with her dad, stepmom, and step-siblings. Knowing that my parents went through so much during their childhood shows me how grateful I am to not have had to go through some of those experiences. Everything they did is a reflection of their resilience to grow a strong foundation for their children and I truly admire them for that. I am blessed to pursue a college education and I hope to become the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college because I know how proud it would make my parents.

If there is one thing about me, you will always catch me doing something for the people of my community. As the eldest daughter of parents who immigrated from Liberia, I have seen the importance of being there for the people you care about and giving back any chance that you get. Growing up my parents pushed themselves to work overtime and overnights to ensure that my sister and I never had to worry about the lights being off, no running water or not having food on the table. It also allowed me to play all the sports that I was interested in. During this time we grew really close to the families in our community being that they would watch my sister and I while my parents worked. In addition, around middle school, I began getting bullied for being dark skin and wearing a back brace after being diagnosed with scoliosis. I once was the kid who was always wanting to make friends to be the kid that hid behind her baggy hoodie and isolated herself to avoid teasing and harassment. Despite the other kids picking on me I had a wonderful girl named Gaby who decided to get to know me and became one of my closest friends. During high school, I took the time to really learn about myself and become comfortable in my skin. I had spent so much time being insecure and overwhelmed by everything that was going on around me that I lost myself. In the midst of that, I was able to see how amazing it felt to have a community of people who wanted to see me win and it truly opened my eyes. I knew the type of person I wanted to become and it motivated me to see myself at that level. I had people who truly cared about me within my community and I wanted to be that for others. That is truly what sparked my love for community service. Now I am a tutor for minority children who live in low-income housing. We take time to do their homework and I find it very important to be like their big sister and provide them a space to talk about their feelings and build a trusted relationship in which they feel safe having healthy conversations. Alongside that, I have started a summer neighborhood pick-up crew in which the youth in my neighborhood and myself go out a couple of times during the summer to pick up trash and litter. It helps teach them the importance of taking care of the things that take care of us. These are just a few of the volunteer services I am pursuing. Winning this scholarship will allow me to become the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college. Having a college diploma is like having the golden ticket to countless opportunities in life. In terms of education, it will help me focus on pursuing a career in the creative side of an advertising agency instead of stressing over my financial situation. It is really important to me that I have the chance to diversify advertising. As important as the field is, it is still very white-dominant in a world that is filled with so many different people. Having the ability to bring in my life experiences and unique perspective as a black woman will allow for more inclusive ideas for brands to utilize within their campaigns. Everyone deserves a seat at the table and I want to do the hard work to ensure that.

Growing up with immigrant parents I have seen how appreciative my parents have been to the people who have helped them become who they are today. I have also seen them give back to our community and the happiness and joy that I see on the faces of the people they serve is such an unexplainable feeling. I love having the opportunity to be there for others which is why I am a part of many volunteer services. One of my current missions involves my communities yearly food drive. Volunteering with this service has allowed me to aid families with meals who may not have known where their next meal was coming from. Knowing that so many families depend on food drives to feed themselves has motivated me to invite more people to donate and help serve people in need. Another way I plan to make a postive impact on the world is by helping students pursue higher education. For the past 2 years I have saved money from braiding hair and other little jobs to donate $500 each year to one graduating senior from my old high school. I know how difficult it is to attend college when funds are tight therefore I made it a priority to help any way that I could. I hope to continue providing scholarships yearly and hopefully when I obtain a fulltime job I have the ability to donate more money and help serve more students. In terms of my career, as a young black woman, I have found myself genuinely becoming comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am really passionate about representation, especially being that I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacts others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional in the field of advertising I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I truly value communication and I am a firm believer that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that both the client and consumer can truly appreciate. All in all, there is a lot of work that I have left to do but I am proud of the progress that I have made within my community. I hope to continue participating in larger services and creating a more positive space for all.

It all started when my mom decided to mix her humor, care, and selflessness with my dads' independence, ambition, and sarcasm which mixed quite well to have me! I love to think of myself as a young black girl who is trying to make her mark in such a big world. As the oldest daughter of Liberian parents, I have found myself eager to establish a sense of success, especially being that none of my parents were able to obtain a college degree. Since we are on the topic of college, I should probably tell you a bit about that experience! I have recently completed my sophomore year at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities majoring in Strategic Communications with an emphasis on Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Leadership and Sports Coaching (I was a basketball player for 8 years and I am currently in my 3rd year as an assistant AAU girls basketball coach). Along with being a student, I have also been blessed with the opportunity of being a campus brand ambassador for brands such as Pink, Amazon Prime, Dove, Express, and a few others brands! As a campus brand ambassador, I was in charge of coming up with engaging events on campus for students to have the chance to interact with these brands. I also made engaging content on social media promoting these brands and it provided me with amazing networking connections with some great people that help make these brands so powerful. Aside from my school-related aspects, I am a firm believer that my passion is giving back to my community. Seeing the happiness on the faces of people that I have the ability to serve is so rewarding. It makes me feel like I am doing something right and it all gives me a sense of connection to my parents because I have always seen them doing things for others and expecting nothing in return. I currently volunteer with an organization by the name of Common Bond that provides low-income minority families with affordable housing. Within the housing facilities, there are tutoring centers in which I help the students with their homework and provide them with extra academic lessons. In addition, I created a neighborhood clean-up crew with the youth in my neighborhood last summer and we continue to go around our neighborhood and clean up mother nature so that she can continue taking care of us! Those are just 2 of the many volunteer services that I am a part of. Once I graduate, I want to pursue my career as a creative director in the field of advertising. I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. Diversity within this field provides the opportunity of bringing different perspectives into the room. Not everyone's experience is the same but if I have the ability to do the work to ensure that there is a sense of connectivity and the chance of building a stronger relationship between brands and their current consumers along with potential consumers I will do the work. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people whether it’s by race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender, etc. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I truly value communication and I am sure that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that the world can truly appreciate.

I have loved every second of being a Strategic Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations and Advertising. I am truly passionate about either becoming a creative director or a social media manager. As a young black woman, I have found myself genuinely becoming comfortable with my voice and speaking up for the voiceless. I am also really passionate about representation, especially being that I know how much it meant to me growing up and how it impacts others. Being a current student and soon-to-be young professional I pride myself in ensuring that minorities are included in the creative work that is being made. I love coming up with different creative concepts, hearing what clients may want, and trying to put it all together but in the midst of that, I have also seen clients leaving out a vast amount of people even while saying they want to reach a larger audience. Although we are in 2023, there is still a lot of media that is strictly portrayed towards white people. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to receive messages from these brands and that starts by getting consumer insight. As individuals in the advertising field, many people don’t realize that taking the time to go out in the world and have conversations with potential consumers is so important. It allows for the professionals to learn about the consumers that they are trying to reach and it also allows for consumers to feel heard which is extremely important. Studying this major is more than just me pursuing my education and seeking a career. It’s about speaking up for what's right. It’s about pushing boundaries in ways that create space for more people. It’s about continuing to create a safe and accepting space for others. I truly value communication and I am a firm believer that I can add valuable perspective and create great work that both the client and consumer can truly appreciate. Aside from studying Strategic Communications, I am also taking a minor in Leadership. This minor has helped me tremendously in learning how to be accessible to my community and I have been able to utilize these skills in my volunteer sites and in my day-to-day life as well. Learning how to come in right in different situations and taking the time to hear from the people in need instead of assuming I have the magic wand to fix the problem I think they have has been a very prominent skill I have valued. Another wonderful skill that I have learned is how to be a great teammate and learn how to find my role within the space that I am in. I don’t have to be the most dominant person in the group but that does not mean I can’t be a great help in my community in other ways. Acquiring the skills and the experiences that I have had specifically being that I am a black woman and being an active member in my community has truly taught me the changes that I believe are needed within our society. We need to be more inclusive in terms of including minorities within conversations of representation. A lot of work needs to be done, but I can ensure that I will continue speaking up for my community and showing up for them whether through my education or profession.

The ability to serve my community has been such an amazing opportunity. The most influential volunteer service I had was through an organization by the name of Commonbond. This service provides minority children and their families with housing and it allows me to tutor the children within these communities. It has allowed me to build great relationships with the little ones and it has taught me aspects of my life that I am strong at and other places that I can improve in. One of the most important things I have learned from that service is that I genuinely love working with kids. Before being located at this service I always had a 50/50 feeling about kids but having the ability to work with them 1 on 1 brighten my day. They are so honest, full of life, and are always genuinely curious. To top that many of their stories are ones that you don't hear every day being that some experience homelessness and others may have had a time period in which they did not know where their next meal was coming from, yet their love for life is truly admirable. Another lesson I learned about myself is that I have room to grow in the patience department. As adorable as the kiddos can be they can test my patience. There were times I felt myself getting overwhelmed but I always assured that I never snapped on the kids. If I ever felt overwhelmed I would simply take a quick break outside. Over time their actions started to bother me less but it is indeed still something I am wanting to work on. One of my favorite thing that I learned about myself is that I am a lot more compassionate than I initially thought I was. Growing up I never really had situations in which I had to show compassion so I thought that when the time did come I would be too awkward or insentitive but to my surprise, I am the total opposite! When the little ones would need someone to listen to them rant I was always their first choice. If they had a rough day and needed a hug to cheer them up, I welcomed them with open arms, and even at the end of my volunteer session for the year my site coordinator gave my review and the top response that all the kids shared was that I was their favorite "teacher" because I was so sweet and gave the best hugs. That warmed my little heart! Serving this wonderful group of kids will forever be one of the best decisions I have ever made. They have shown me what is like to be around some of the sweetest people on this earth and they have given me the chance to continue to serve my community while also growing as a person myself. I genuinely love serving my community and I can't wait to start volunteering at more service sites soon!

​​During one of my classes, my professor stated "Minorities are the majority" and I was so puzzled. As a black woman, you never hear yourself as the "majority". Our light is always dimmed, and our voice is always suppressed, but when I heard him make that statement I craved to know more about what he meant. What I learned from that lecture is that in the years to come minorities will represent more of the population than it has in the past. Now you're probably wondering what that means. With that shift in demographics, the way that businesses have worked in the past won't be relevant during the new era of life. That is why diverse voices in public relations are so important in creating a space that invites the voices of those who had not been heard since we could remember. This space has always been white-dominant yet, there are so many different communities that have always been around. The beauty of this change is that people like me who are getting ready to enter this community of public relations will finally be able to do what has been needed. We have to find ways to gather the insights of these diverse communities. Understand what they like, don't like, what they value, and the essentials they need in their lives so that they feel seen and heard. We have to help businesses understand how to not only grow as a company or brand but ways they can provide a space for any new consumers wanting a spot at the table. This work will not be easy but it is crucial in this point that we are in as a society. These minority groups have always been seen through the lens of stories that others have created for them but they have not had the chance of creating a narrative that is true to them and until that can happen we still have a lot of growth that needs to occur. Growing in diversity will truly help create a more inclusive space. Understanding cultures will also be crucial when it comes to analyzing different people and it also will help alleviate some cultural tension that has been present and the barriers that come with that. It is time that we clean our glasses, invite more public relations workers of various backgrounds to do some great work, and to provide not only their own experiences but the experiences in the stories that still have yet to be told.

Nothing brings me more fear than adulting, debt and being broke. Now you're probably trying to understand where my dramatics are coming from and don't worry I'll break it down for you. As a child of immigrant parents I have had the first hand experience of seeing what it is like to work hard to establish a sense of foundation and to cherish the hardwork that you put into your personal success. With that being as a black women, I want the ability to pursue a level of success that allows me to build my own foundation to continue to grow and fluorish within our society but with that comes the fear of having another obstacle aside from being black. Lack of money or debt is a setback that I just can't get myself to have to deal with. I want the ability to pursue my education without fear of entering the adult world with money being a problem that hangs over my head. That is why I have fought so hard to fund my education through scholarships. Although my parents are some of the most amazing people I know, they don't make nearly enough money to help support my education while also supporting themselves and my 16 year old sister. That factor does benefit me in a sense but it is still not enough to help cover my expenses. Aside from FAFSA, I have spent hours and hours writing essays for scholarships. I apply for local scholarships, scholarships offered through my college, global scholarships and anything else I can lay my finger on. In addition to being a part time scholarship writer, I have seeked other side hustles such as braiding hair for the girls on campus, being a brand ambassador for different brands and helping host events on campus which has also been such a great blessing in aiding my college expenses. Despite writing hundreds of essays, one of the hardest parts of this experience is the countless rejection from multiple scholarships committees. It does jab at the heart a bit but I have to remind myself of the bigger picture. I want to be able to walk across that stage holding my diploma debt free. I want my parents to be proud of me and I want the ability of having one less burden on my shoulders as I enter the adult world. My grit and determination is what truly keeps me going. I pride myself in constanly reminding myself that everything will pay off in the long run and I refuse to allow money to stand in my way from what is important to me.

A woman who walks by faith. A woman who is the glue of our family. A woman who's love is so pure and warm. When considering someone who inspires me, my parents are always the first ones that come to mind, specifically my mother. My mother immigrated to Minnesota at the age of 15 to live with her father, stepmother, and her 5 half-siblings. From the moment she stepped foot on American soil she began to live the early stages of life like Cinderella. What I mean by this is that she was responsible for cooking and cleaning for her siblings prior to doing her school work while they got to play and do whatever their hearts desired. Her parents would drive her siblings to school while they made her walk even during the brutal Minnesota winters. She had to get a job at Burger King just weeks after getting here being that her parents made it known that anything she wanted to get was her own responsibility. It had gotten to a point where my mom would cry herself to sleep trying to figure out how she could go back to Liberia and live with her grandmother who had raised her because she was never treated this poorly back home. Although all of this occurred during her childhood she never grew resentful when she got older. If you saw the way that my mom interacted with her siblings and stepmother (her father passed back in 2001) you would have never known that she had such a rough childhood with them. My mother is the most caring, forgiving, and loving person that I know. That is also reflected in her job as a Paraprofessional. She has been working in the same position at the same high school for 19 years now. Even students that she doesn't have in class seek her out for comfort, advice, and just a shoulder to lean on. It truly inspires me to see my mother not be defined by the trauma she had growing up but by ensuring that she can be the light in the lives of others in any way possible. I am beyond blessed to have my mother in my life and I just hope that I can be half the person she is when I get older. I want to continue being there for others the way she has been. She has allowed me to see the world through such a different lens and find ways to bring peace and positivity in a world that can be so cold and negative. Being raised by such a woman forces you to want to want to reflect on the type of person you are and find ways to bring that goodness into your own life. With the grace of my mom I have found my love for communtiy service, making people laugh and being a scholar in the classroom. I am bound for grateness and I would not be able to make that statement if it wasn't for the wonderful woman who gave me life and raised me to be the strongest and ambitious young woman I am today.

“If you don’t bet on yourself, no one else will.” -Ben Silbermann If I would have known how rewarding it was to bet on myself, I would have begun to do so a long time ago. This last year has been so rewarding on levels that I would have never even seen myself reaching and I am so glad that I have put myself in the position that I am in. For the longest time, I had always told people that I was going to be a pediatrician or do something within the medical field but after the first semester of my freshman year of college I quickly knew that I was unhappy and that was no longer what I wanted for myself. I have always been the type of person who didn’t want to disappoint the people in my life therefore I was terrified to tell my family that I wanted to change my major. On top of disappointing people that I loved I also have immigrant parents and being in the medical field is always 1 of the top professions that many of them pray and hope that their children fulfill. After giving it much thought I decided to talk to my parents about the dilemma I was facing. They were so supportive and really took the time to help me as I navigated this new path that I was going to be fulfilling. I scheduled a meeting with my advisor and she recommended that I tried pursuing Strategic Communications based on my interests and that was the beginning of what has been the most rewarding experience in my life thus far. I have always loved being in front of the camera whether I was getting my picture taken or just chatting to the camera for my personal entertainment. I never took it too seriously because my elders always thought of it as a joke but I was at the point in my life where I really started to see my potential and I refuse to waste a talent of mine that others may not agree with. The first instance in which I “betted on myself” was when I applied to become a Pink Campus Ambassador. After waiting 3 months I finally heard back from them that I had gotten the position. I was beyond ecstatic about the news and that was only the beginning. Throughout this year alone I became a model/ambassador for Jostens, Parade, Express, and Pink. The best part of it all was that I never had to change who I was to get these roles. The only thing that changed was my mentality and my confidence to go get what I deserved. I was still the goofy Fametta who just loved the camera and it made me happy that all I had to do was be myself. Living for what others would have wanted me to do would not have gotten me the amazing opportunities that I have received in the last year alone. I chose myself. I chose to pursue my passion. I chose to prioritize my happiness because at the end of the day its my life and I have to navigate each and everyday for myself and once I learned how to do me and grow from being such a people pleaser I began to receive endless blessings. Not everything has been peaches and cream but the growth and the life lessons that I have encountered are ones that will forever stick with me and play a vital role in what is to come in my future endeavors.

I have never had a song that has left such an impact on me the way Rise Up by Andra Day has. I never fail to feel a slight tingle in my chest everytime the lyrics pierce my ears. The lyrics " you're broken down and tired of living life on a merry go round" always gets me. I am a young black girl in America with immigrant parents so trying to navigate life while it sometimes feels like everything else around you is a opposing force tends to get exhausting but as we navigate further into the song she sings " we gonna walk it out and move mountains". That reminds me that no matter how tough things may get, I have the ability to overcome, pursue and accomplish whatever goal I have in mind. The chorus " I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day, I'll rise up, I'll rise up unafraid" is a constant reminder that yeah, you might fall but you will continue to rise up and not be defined by the roadblocks that may have tripped you up along the way. The overall message of this song is the ability to acknowledge what may be hard or what may be setting you back and reminding you that despite it all, you have the ability to wipe yourself off and conquer the world because of the strength and ambition that lives deep within your soul. I really love this song and it has truly helped me through some of my lowest points while also showing me the beautiful light that awaits me at the end of the tunnel.

As I have gotten older, I have learned that living a healthy lifestyle does not only include eating well but also practicing healthy habits that benefit my mental health and overall well-being because my mental health is just as important as my physical health. Living a healthy lifestyle is very important to me as a result that each side of my family both have sicknesses that seem to be genetic. On my mom's side of the family, they have dealt with obesity and diabetes and on my dad's side of the family, they have dealt with mental illness and diabetes so being able to have preventive measures against these diseases benefits me greatly. When it comes to my mental health, I try my best to prioritize self-care days and journaling. Journaling has helped me a lot being that I have a hard time expressing myself to others therefore having the ability to let go of my thoughts on paper gives my mind some relief. Also having self-care days to rejuvenate my body allows me to continue living with a fresh start without draining myself in the process. My physical health may actually be my favorite. Ever since I was in 4th grade I was involved in sports, including basketball, track, and tennis. Not only did this allow me to live an active lifestyle but I also met some of my best friends in the process! Once I got to college I decided that I would give sports a rest but I knew that being active was a top priority of mine. I began weightlifting as a part of my everyday routine to not only maintain an active lifestyle but to tone my body as well. On Monday and Wednesdays I focused on my arms/back, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I focused on my legs, and on Fridays that is when I did my least favorite workout… cardio. Seeing the changes within my body over the months was such an amazing feeling because nothing beats seeing results after you have dedicated so much time and energy to the gym. Although being consistent with my workouts was a great benefit, prioritizing what I was eating in the kitchen was also extremely important. Eating enough protein helped me maintain and gain enough muscles to retain it in my body. In addition, I cut out a majority of carbs and sweets from my diet because these can help accumulate unnecessary fat. I also completely cut out pop from my diet since it provides the body with an unnecessary amount of sugar. Making these changes has made my body feel brand new. I feel more energized, more robust, and overall healthier. With the lifestyle I live now, I know it will be a great benefit as I get older especially when it comes to preventing some of the diseases that run through my family. Continuing a healthy lifestyle is something that I will continue to do no matter how old I get and I hope to encourage my family members and friends to live healthier lifestyles as well!

Being loved and cared for without judgment is one of the most wholesome feelings ever. My best friend has 2 of the sweetest golden retrievers in the world. Their names are Zoey and Luna!! They are like my personal big friendly giants. Nothing beats someone being excited for you every time you walk through the door, or someone noticing that you can use some extra love so they come next to you and cuddle. It’s the little acts of kindness that make my heart smile just a bit wider. I am the type of person that loves to light up a room. I tend to feel guilty when I am having an off day and can’t be the happiest so I often fake a smile to get through the day. The saying “ check on your happy friends” is actually more important than some may know because although I tend to always be happy I still have personal struggles but it sometimes seems like people don’t notice. Whenever I am having an off day it seems like Zoey and Luna notice before anyone else. They love a little harder, cuddle a little closer, and don’t ever leave my side. Luna would constantly nudge at my arm to make room for her to lay across my lap and give me endless hugs. She then occasionally peeks up from my lap to make sure that I am doing alright. Their love is so pure. All in all, I am so grateful to have such wonderful, loving, and caring dogs as a part of my life. I would never trade the love that they have for anything else, they have truly made my life so much better and happier. They are the true definition of a “woman's” best friend and they will always be my favorite dogs!

One of the most beautiful things about life is knowing that everyone’s background is so unique and distinct from others and it plays such an important role in the way we think, act and see life. Both my parents were born and raised in Liberia, West Africa. My mom came to the states when she was 15 years old and my dad came here when he was 24, meaning that he was still in Liberia during the civil war that occurred. Growing up I felt like I had this constant pressure that I just could not shake. I felt the need to do everything right because first off, I was my parents' eldest daughter and on top of that I knew how much they have been through that I didn’t want to disappoint them in any way possible. As a kid, I never really understood why my parents would do things so differently than my friends who were strictly American. At times my parents were more strict, very cultured, and overall just different than the experience that I would have when I was at my American friend's house. I used to be so embarrassed when my friends would come to my house and it smelled like our food. Or when my parents would make me wear my African clothing. It wasn’t until I started to get older that I learned to appreciate my background. It saddens me that I was ever ashamed of where I came from but being born and raised in America, it is so easy to only identify as a typical “American” and being that people are so mean and ignorant to immigrants I feared what I would be treated like if I showed any of my African traits. Despite my fears I still did manage to get bullied, being called “African monkey” and being told, “you’re so dark, when the lights are off we can only find you when you show your teeth”. No one deserves that. Aside from learning how to accept who I am, being a child of immigrants has also taught me how to be a risk taker and make sacrifices for what I want. My parents knew that staying in Liberia may not be the best option for their future so they made the sacrifice to leave everything that they have ever known to come to America with hopes that they make a better life for themselves. That takes so much courage especially at the age that they were and I try to live my life with even a fourth of that courage. With this mindset, I have been able to try new things that I may have never tried before, stick up for people and use my voice, and overall obtain a lot more opportunities by putting myself out there instead of being timid and hiding under a rock. It’s very hard being put in these positions but it's also so rewarding when you get the outcome that you want due to you taking the risk and having the courage to step out of your comfort zone. I am inspired to be a resource for immigrant youth. It is hard being different from the majority of children around you therefore I hopefully want to create a organization for immigrant youth to not only have the ability to be around others who are like them, but also a way for them to learn how to be comfortable with their situation and cherish the lifestyle that has been destined for them!

Finding healthy ways to clear my mind has been such a wonderful journey to start especially starting college since it can be quite a stressful experience. Here are some ways I have found peace in a world full of chaos! 1. Journaling- Often times I found myself bottling up my feelings and emotions because I feared being a burden to others but once I started journaling it created a safe space for me to release everything that was on my mind with no judgement. It was just me, my pen and my paper and I allowed myself to let loose and clear my mind. 2. Music- Nothing beats playing my favorite tunes and jamming out. Music has a way of speaking to you when you need it the most and that is why I love it. If I am feeling sad there is music for me to connect to. If I am feeling happy there is also music to connect to. Being able to connect to the lyrics while feeling the beat flow through my body is a great stress relief. 3. Lifting Weights- When I am feeling overwhelmed going to the gym and lifting gives me a way to positively release my tension. Something about feeling stronger and challenging myself releases all negative thoughts and feelings that may have been trapped in my spirits. Finishing a rep and feeling my muscles throbbing gives me positive reinforcement that makes me forget about everything around me. 4.Hanging out with friends and family- Overtime I have learned that when I am alone I tend to drown in my thoughts and overthink but when I spend time with the people I love I am in better spirits because they always know how to cheer me up and make me laugh. Being around them never fails to my heart happy because I know how much they love me and they also are very good at distracting me from any negativity I may be feeling. 5.Crying- Often times crying has a negative connotation but in reality it is one of my favorite things to do to clear my mind because I feel so much lighter once I am done. I feel like crying makes me feel really in tuned with my emotions and overall it's such a refreshing feeling . 6.Positive Affirmations- One thing I have learned about myself is that when I tell myself positive thoughts I start to feel positive but when I fill myself with negative thoughts I start to feel negative and that is why positive affirmations has became a part of my daily regiment.

“Power is the ability to do good for others”- Brooke Astor. That is why I do what I do. My community, our society, and the world are all full of so much hurt, trauma, and pain but the ability to at least make a positive difference in one person's life is a goal I strive to accomplish each and every day. As a Strategic Communications major with a Leadership and Spanish minor, I have had the ability to be in the position to obtain a lot of knowledge that can help benefit the relationships I have with the people around me. With this experience, I have learned different ways to navigate a variety of scenarios with different individuals, understand how to view others’ perspectives and try to find ways in which everyone can be content in some way or the other. These skills that I have been acquiring will be such an amazing aid once I start to pursue my future career. I chose the major and minor that I am currently pursuing because I really love working with people and identifying ways that I can assist them and be a light in their life in any way possible. For that reason, I hope to be able to start a nonprofit organization that focuses on the youth of my community and other youths around the world. Volunteering is a big part of me and most of my volunteer work has been structured around children. Our youth are so smart and have so much knowledge about what is going on around us yet they tend to get shut out when wanting to speak about their beliefs and opinions by adult figures which is quite unsettling to me. My hope for my organization is to allow our youth to be comfortable with their voice, come up with strategies to help solve these problems, and be given the resources to make the desired changes that they hope to make. In addition to social advocacy, I also am really interested in becoming a public relations worker. As you may have been able to tell previously, I believe that my purpose on this earth is to work with people and be the light in their lives if I can. With communications being my major, I have the ability to learn about many different fields within the major, and the moment I began to learn more about public relations I began to fall more in love with the field. I love the idea of being able to connect organizations and brands to people especially when it's a resource that can benefit many people at the same time. I am a very creative-minded individual therefore being given the task to find different and intriguing ways to appeal to the public is a task that I will faithfully take on every time. All in all, I am extremely grateful to obtain so much knowledge on a wide spectrum which will help me a lot in my future career. With communications, I will be able to continue learning about all the different fields and how to market, advertise and work in a collaborative setting with brands and people. My leadership classes will continue to teach me how to a be a present leader and also how to approach different individuals and understand their personal beliefs and accommodate what they may want to see or contribute to the table and my Spanish class will continue to allow me to be fluent in Spanish and reach an even larger audience being that the Spanish population is very big on it own.

“Power is the ability to do good for others”- Brooke Astor. That is what fuels my passion. My community, our society, and the world are all full of so much hurt, trauma, and pain but the ability to at least make a positive difference in one person's life is a goal I strive to accomplish each and every day. As a Strategic Communications major with a Leadership and Spanish minor, I have had the ability to be in the position to obtain a lot of knowledge that can help benefit the relationships I have with the people around me. With this experience, I have learned different ways to navigate a variety of scenarios with different individuals, understand how to view others’ perspectives and try to find ways in which everyone can be content in some way or the other. These skills that I have been acquiring will be such an amazing aid once I start to pursue my future career. I chose the major and minor that I am currently pursuing because I really love working with people and identifying ways that I can assist them and be a light in their life in any way possible. For that reason, I hope to be able to start a nonprofit organization that focuses on the youth of my community and other youths around the world. Volunteering is a big part of me and most of my volunteer work has been structured around children. Our youth are so smart and have so much knowledge about what is going on around us yet they tend to get shut out when wanting to speak about their beliefs and opinions by adult figures which is quite unsettling to me. My hope for my organization is to allow our youth to be comfortable with their voice, come up with strategies to help solve these problems, and be given the resources to make the desired changes that they hope to make. In addition to social advocacy, I am interested in becoming a public relations worker. As you may have been able to tell previously, I believe that my purpose on this earth is to work with people and be the light in their lives if I can. With communications being my major, I have the ability to learn about many different fields within the major, and the moment I began to learn more about public relations I began to fall more in love with the field. I love the idea of being able to connect organizations and brands to people especially when it's a resource that can benefit many people at the same time. I am a very creative-minded individual therefore being given the task to find different and intriguing ways to appeal to the public is a task that I will faithfully take on every time. All in all, I am extremely grateful to obtain so much knowledge on a wide spectrum which will help me a lot in my future career. With communications, I will be able to continue learning about all the different fields and how to market, advertise and work in a collaborative setting with brands and people. My leadership classes will continue to teach me how to a be a present leader and also how to approach different individuals and understand their personal beliefs and accommodate what they may want to see or contribute to the table and my Spanish class will continue to allow me to be fluent in Spanish and reach an even larger audience being that the Spanish population is very big on it own.

As I ponder upon my 13 years in our school system and counting, one of the major changes that we need in our education system for our future generations is a change in the information that we get taught in the classroom. Oftentimes we get taught that Y=Mx+B and about Christopher Columbus and many other aspects of that nature but we graduate high school not knowing how to file taxes, not sure how to start obtaining credit and not even knowing the difference between a debit and credit card. Schools need to start providing students with education that actually impacts their lives. There are way too many students navigating the world blindly because if they weren’t learning about the basic needs of life in school, many of them wouldn't have the resources at home to teach them these life skills. As students we spend the vast majority of our time in schools learning about facts, equations and other lessons that we will never actually apply in our day to day lives instead of basic important life skills that are essential in the development of young adults. This change would be such an amazing addition to our education system because it will build students into young adults who are actually ready to conquer the world and live on their own instead of feeling lost and uncertain about different aspects of their lives. They will be more knowledgeable and able to navigate this complex world that we live in with a little more ease.

Having friends and family who deal with their mental health has helped me learn about different ways to navigate their struggles and be the best support system for them. One practical solution for helping people deal with their mental health is encouraging them to seek help. That may be easier said than done but many times people who are dealing with their mental health often feel sad, alone, and scared but having someone identify their struggles and care enough about them to suggest that they get help is a huge step in the right direction. Not only does it show them that someone cares, but it also provides them additional support to help them overcome the problems that they are unable to solve themselves with some of the best people who specialize in that field. Although seeking professional help is a great resource, another practical solution is providing affordable professional care. There are many people who are dealing with mental health that truly want to take the next step in healing themselves and overcoming this obstacle but in the United States therapy can range from $60 to as much as $250 or more for an hour session. Many people are unable to afford such a bill so we have to do better at providing more price-efficient resources that many people can take advantage of. Not only will it help individuals receive the help that they deserve but it will also not leave them in debt which can cause additional stress to their day-to-day lives.

As a black girl myself, someone I truly admire from history is Ruby Bridges. At the young age of 6, Ruby was probably one of the most hated kids in 1960 solely because she wanted to pursue the best education for herself. Ruby Bridges was the first African American to integrate an elementary school in the south. As amazing as that sounds she went through hell. First thing first she had to be escorted by 4 federal marshals for her safety because there were many people who had pure hatred and anger towards her solely because she was a black girl attending an all-white school. As she would walk to school people would yell slurs at her, spit at her and overall try and torture her. Despite all of that she never stopped going to school, never missed a day, and continued being the best student that she could be. Even though she was so young her bravery is what truly sticks with me because she showed the world that no matter how many people try to bring you down and stir you away from your goals you have the ability to accomplish whatever you put your mind to and she did just that. Ruby eventually graduated from a desegregated high school, pursued a career as a travel agent, and had a family. She is and will always be a vital historical figure in the education system and she will always be someone I am grateful for because of her bravery, she opened doors for little black girls and boys like myself.

"If you take a penny from a million dollars, you no longer have a million dollars. You now are in the thousands". My dad used to tell me this as I was growing up but I thought it was such a corny concept but as I got older I realized that he was trying to teach me the importance of every little cent. As a low income family my parents had moments in which they struggled to make ends meet but it was a priority to them to teach my sister and I the important of every penny and how it all adds up. We tend to forget that despite it being a small amount, pennies add up, dollars add up, and at the end of the day money is money. 100 pennies is the same as $1. In other words saving any bit of money is super important because it all adds up and you never know when you will need all the little pocket change that you have for an emergency you may not know you'll encounter. Having healthy spending habits and ensuring that I save has really been a game changer for me and having my dad tell me that quote growing up showed me the real value of money and that I should never take advantage of anything, not even a penny because that penny might be the most important value to me in a time of need. The little things count and it sometimes takes something big to happen before we realize its importance.

One of the most detrimental problems we are facing in the world right now is poverty. According to the United States Census, in 2020 there were 37.2 million people in poverty which was approximately 3.3 million more than in 2019. Poverty is one of the most saddening and uncomfortable experiences any person could ever go through. Why is it that people have to worry about not having a roof over their heads because they can’t afford it? Where will their next meal come from? What clothes are going to be on their back? No matter how much we try to ignore the severity of poverty, it will always be exposed to us because it is seriously a real problem that needs to be addressed. It is heartbreaking to see families on the side of the road especially in the winter trying to earn money for themselves. It also breaks my heart knowing that there is not enough room in shelters to help all the people who are in need of a roof over their head. We have to do better for the people in our society. How is it logical for the economy to continue skyrocketing prices yet they won’t increase the amount that they pay their employees. One way to address our issues of poverty is by having jobs pay a fair amount that allows individuals to maintain a steady income that can at least meet the basic necessities that need including rent, transportation, clothing and food. That is the least we can do to try and chip at the amount of people who are struggling daily to make ends meet.

"African Monkey". "We can't see you in the dark". "You're too black". Such taunting and disgusting phrases that my little elementary school self should have never heard or been called, yet that was my reality. As a Liberian American kid, I grew up in a very African household being that my parents are immigrants. I loved how I was raised, my parents were strict yet they ensured that my sister and I grew up in a house full of love and for that I am grateful. Those grateful feelings slowly started taking a turn once I got into 5th grade. There wasn't a day I did not get taunted for being dark skin and African. I got compared to a monkey daily, told my skin was way too dark and constant insults that tore my self esteem into pieces. It took so long for me to be comfortable with my skin again but with the help of my wonderful family members and more representation in the media I began to fall in love with my skin again. It definitely wasn’t easy but the feeling of going out and public without being ashamed was the most rewarding feeling I could ever feel. The horrific incidents that I encountered as a young black girl are the same incidents that so many young black people encounter and it is not okay at all. I am attending college to not only defeat the odds that come with being a black woman in society but to be a positive role model that these young black girls and boys can look up to and feel motivated to accomplish any goals that they have in mind. In addition to being a role model, I am majoring in Strategic Communications and minoring in Leadership with hope of starting a organization that allows children to vocalize the changes that they want to see in their community and aid them in utilizing their voices in a positive light and also giving them the tools to become the best leaders that are world needs. Helping minority children stay focused on school and making positive decisions is really important to me so I am continuously volunteering with them and also obtaining all the necessary knowledge that will allow me to share it with them and set them up for success. Overall, my story and my success is not only for myself. I have a purpose in life and my purpose is to continue to give back to our youth, especially youth of color and ensure them that they are capable of reaching the moon despite all the odds that may be against them. I will continue using my education as a tool of constant success, encouragement and positivity.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to have the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? Imagine having a lifetime supply of chocolate, who wouldn’t love that because I know I definitely will. Although we may not have the exact same experience as Willy Wonka and the golden ticket, we do indeed have something that holds even more value than the golden ticket and that is a college diploma. College is definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of our lives even if it is hard to see at the moment. In other words, being able to go to college and obtain a degree is like receiving the best golden ticket to a lifetime of new and improved opportunities life has to offer. There are so many benefits that come with a college education. First, knowledge is power. College opens our eyes to more than just the information we learn in the classroom. I have had so many experiences during my college career that have helped shape me to be prepared to interact with different people, be more well-rounded for my future workplace, and overall become a better person for myself and my wellbeing. Secondly, networking is a vital skill to have when it comes to obtaining remarkable opportunities in whatever field you want to pursue. College has so many resources and people that can help stir you in the right direction and that's an opportunity you will not want to skip over. In addition, college allows us to have a variety of options offered to us to see what playing field we best fit in. Without college, it may be hard for us to understand where we best fit in in the real world but that is one of the main purposes of college is to figure out that aspect of our life without penalty and that in itself is a large positive. As well as that, if finances are what is holding you back that is totally understandable but we have so many solutions to help solve that problem. There are so many grants and scholarships that are offered to help support students' college dreams. Financial aid packages are also an amazing help. Finding scholarships to apply for is not that hard either, there are amazing sites such as bold.org that have thousands of scholarships to apply for. Even a simple Google search can give you many options as well. All in all, when it comes to college it is easy to have many doubts but remember that college is such an amazing experience with such amazing rewards at the end of the finish line so make it happen. Attend college and reward yourself with that exclusive golden ticket as your pass to endless opportunities that the future has in store.

The act of giving especially to my community is a feeling that gives me so much joy. It is such a simple quality but one that holds great strength and value to me. When you search up the definition of a giving person on Google, the definition from collinsdictionary.com states “ a generous person is friendly and willing to see the good qualities in someone and something” and that definition couldn’t have described me any better. Throughout my life I have been surrounded by such giving and loving family members, friends and community members and that is a quality that I have had the ability to adapt and give back to the world in so many different and important ways. Although being so giving can have its downfalls at times, it has been so much more of a blessing to others. I have had the ability to participate in city wide food drives in which I would go around my city and pick up food that our neighbors donated for our community members who may be struggling to eat or provide for their families. We then are able to give them to our families and see the happiness and relief on their faces knowing that they can sleep with a full stomach for some time. Those faces are what brings me joy and help me continue to keep going. I also have found love tutoring children who are from low income. A lot of these children just need that 1 on 1 attention especially since their parents may be out the house for long periods of time trying to make ends meet so being there to not only give them that attention but make an impact on their life and their education is such a blessing to me as well. One of my biggest acts of giving that I am super proud about is the fact that since the beginning of this year I have been saving money to be able to give a senior student at my high school a scholarship that they are able to use in their future endeavors after graduation. My high school community had such an amazing impact on my life and it was also a goal of mine to be able to give back to them as well so I worked so hard to save $500 to give back to one student of the class of 2022. Through the midst of many different acts of giving, I have learned so many other important life lessons that I can take with me and utilize in different leadership roles and aspects of my life. I have learned that giving does not always have to be something physical, you can give someone your time, your advice, your attention and other smaller things that are just as important or sometimes even more important than physical things. It has also taught me the importance of community and being there for one another in the time of need which is also super important. I am a firm believer of giving out positive energy and good karma and through all that I am doing and continue to do, I hope that it will result in me not only touching the lives of others but also receiving good karma and that in itself is the best energy I can ask for.

There are countless amounts of important and impactful individuals from history, but the person that I have so much respect for and admire the most is Ruby Bridges. If you are unaware of Ruby Bridges, I have the honor to educate you about this strong and wonderful woman that deserves all the positive recognition necessary. At the young and innocent age of 6 years old, Ruby endeavored such hardship that no young child should ever have to encounter. She was the youngest African American child to integrate schools and the first to actually enroll in the school. This all occurred during the civil rights movement so it is evident that during this time period there was a lot of backlash that occurred from white individuals who disagreed with African Americans being in the same school as their children. When she would walk to school she would get threats, insults and other disgusting acts toward her so it was important that she had marshalls escort her everyday. Despite all of that, she still continued to go to school and open the doors for other African American children for years to come. Even now at the age of 67, she continued to advocate for the rights of African Americans and the desire for change of racism. She has made an impact for over 61 years now and she shows no sign of stopping her ability to advocate for what's right.

Coming from low income immigrant parents has allowed me to view life in a totally different perspectives than others. Seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet and making countless sacrifices for my sister and I allowed me to want to not only make them proud of all accomplishments that I accomplish but motivate me to work harder so that I would have a better foundation in my future. I have always been a really driven student in the classroom that strived to not only get good grades but to also soak up as much information as possible because I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and the more that you know the better it is. Aside from the classroom I have always been really into sports and fitness so I spend a lot of time in the gym because not only do I enjoy being fit but it also has served as a sense of stress relief. Over the years I have had a strong love for community service and volunteering. I spend a lot of my time helping with my city food drive, collecting clothing for people who don't have homes, volunteering with children that come from low income homes and assisting my old high school with their fundraising programs. The term "it takes a village" is something that my parents have instilled in me from such a young age and I continue to live by that. Giving back to my community means a lot to me because knowing that I am able to help even one person means the world to me especially when they are unable to help themselves. With all things said I am currently majoring in strategic communications. I have a passion for mass media and public relations so with this major I am able to establish many of my interests and also be exposed to new aspects of the major that I have not learned about in the past. During my time in undergrad I hope to be able to do an internship that allows e to work hands on in this major so that I am able to learn even more about my career options and network with people that are already in the field. After undergrad, I hope to pursue a career in either project management, public relation advisor or a journalist. As stated before my parents have made a lot of scarifies for me to be where I am today and I am forever grateful for them because they have allowed me to pursue a lot of dreams and without them I wouldn't be attending college right now. I am really big on paying it forward so with all that my parents have done for me, I try and pay it forward when I volunteer because I know my impact is allowing others to benefit and be happy and that is really important to me because I know how it feels when people truly do love and care about you. With my volunteering opportunities and my extroverted personality I have been able to meet and connect with many people so with my future career and my previous connections that I have made I hope to be able to start or help with a non profit organization that continues to help and give resources to anyone who needs it and especially focus on the kids of our community because they are our future and we need to have all resources available to them so that they are able to continue improving our society and making it a better place.

Coming from low income immigrant parents has allowed me to view life in a totally different perspectives than others. Seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet and making countless sacrifices for my sister and I allowed me to want to not only make them proud of all accomplishments that I accomplish but motivate me to work harder so that I would have a better foundation in my future. I have always been a really driven student in the classroom that strived to not only get good grades but to also soak up as much information as possible because I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and the more that you know the better it is. Aside from the classroom I have always been really into sports and fitness so I spend a lot of time in the gym because not only do I enjoy being fit but it also has served as a sense of stress relief. Over the years I have had a strong love for community service and volunteering. I spend a lot of my time helping with my city food drive, collecting clothing for people who don't have homes, volunteering with children that come from low income homes and assisting my old high school with their fundraising programs. The term "it takes a village" is something that my parents have instilled in me from such a young age and I continue to live by that. Giving back to my community means a lot to me because knowing that I am able to help even one person means the world to me especially when they are unable to help themselves. With all things said I am currently majoring in strategic communications. I have a passion for mass media and public relations so with this major I am able to establish many of my interests and also be exposed to new aspects of the major that I have not learned about in the past. During my time in undergrad I hope to be able to do an internship that allows e to work hands on in this major so that I am able to learn even more about my career options and network with people that are already in the field. After undergrad, I hope to pursue a career in either project management, public relation advisor or a journalist. As stated before my parents have made a lot of scarifies for me to be where I am today and I am forever grateful for them because they have allowed me to pursue a lot of dreams and without them I wouldn't be attending college right now. I am really big on paying it forward so with all that my parents have done for me, I try and pay it forward when I volunteer because I know my impact is allowing others to benefit and be happy and that is really important to me because I know how it feels when people truly do love and care about you. With my volunteering opportunities and my extroverted personality I have been able to meet and connect with many people so with my future career and my previous connections that I have made I hope to be able to start or help with a non profit organization that continues to help and give resources to anyone who needs it and especially focus on the kids of our community because they are our future and we need to have all resources available to them so that they are able to continue improving our society and making it a better place.

Coming from low income immigrant parents has allowed me to view life in a totally different perspectives than others. Seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet and making countless sacrifices for my sister and I allowed me to want to not only make them proud of all accomplishments that I accomplish but motivate me to work harder so that I would have a better foundation in my future. I have always been a really driven student in the classroom that strived to not only get good grades but to also soak up as much information as possible because I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and the more that you know the better it is. Aside from the classroom I have always been really into sports and fitness so I spend a lot of time in the gym because not only do I enjoy being fit but it also has served as a sense of stress relief. Over the years I have had a strong love for community service and volunteering. I spend a lot of my time helping with my city food drive, collecting clothing for people who don't have homes, volunteering with children that come from low income homes and assisting my old high school with their fundraising programs. The term "it takes a village" is something that my parents have instilled in me from such a young age and I continue to live by that. Giving back to my community means a lot to me because knowing that I am able to help even one person means the world to me especially when they are unable to help themselves. With all things said I am currently majoring in strategic communications. I have a passion for mass media and public relations so with this major I am able to establish many of my interests and also be exposed to new aspects of the major that I have not learned about in the past. During my time in undergrad I hope to be able to do an internship that allows e to work hands on in this major so that I am able to learn even more about my career options and network with people that are already in the field. After undergrad, I hope to pursue a career in either project management, public relation advisor or a journalist. As stated before my parents have made a lot of scarifies for me to be where I am today and I am forever grateful for them because they have allowed me to pursue a lot of dreams and without them I wouldn't be attending college right now. I am really big on paying it forward so with all that my parents have done for me, I try and pay it forward when I volunteer because I know my impact is allowing others to benefit and be happy and that is really important to me because I know how it feels when people truly do love and care about you. With my volunteering opportunities and my extroverted personality I have been able to meet and connect with many people so with my future career and my previous connections that I have made I hope to be able to start or help with a non profit organization that continues to help and give resources to anyone who needs it and especially focus on the kids of our community because they are our future and we need to have all resources available to them so that they are able to continue improving our society and making it a better place.

Being a freshman in college, I have learned the true importance of self-care and how important it is for both your mental and physical health because college is truly stressful. Before coming to college I was extremely active being that I was a 3 sport athlete but coming to college I wasn't going to be playing any sports so I had to find an alternative that was going to benefit me. For the past 2 months, I have really gotten into lifting and weight training and it has definitely changed my life for sure! I workout at the rec center 5 times a week, with each day, focusing on a different part of the body and I truly have loved this experience because I would have never thought I would enjoy lifting as much as I do. Every time I go into the gym and start to lift I feel as if a huge load of stress is getting released and I just feel so much happier and it allows me to clear my mind which also helps me regather and allow me to focus better when I start to work on homework. I also have learned to figure out when I am becoming super overwhelmed and do things that make me happy so I don't crash which has also been a very important part in my growth with self care!

Friendship to me is the relationship between two mutual people who are not related to one another but care deeply about one another. Having friendships is a very key component to me because without my friends I wouldn't be the person I am today because they mean the world to me. Friends are there to support you, offer a shoulder to cry on, give you advice, motivate you to be the best version of yourself, and overall just be a part of your life in whatever way possible. Having good friends is very important but you also have to be a good friend to your friends as well because you can't expect them to be there if you are not there for them. Having a good friend allows you to grow and be there for others and be more considerate of the people around you. Over the years I have learned that it isn't necessary to have a lot of friends in your life, all you need is a few friends that truly care about you and love you for you because not everyone truly has your best interest so once you find a few friends that you know you can truly trust, keep them close because they are meant to be in your life for a reason!!

Losing my great grandmother on November 7th, 2018 was like losing a piece of my soul right along with her. From the moment that my great grandma came to live in Minnesota with my grandma we became inseparable. I spent a lot of time hanging with her, laughing with her, feeding her and just cuddling with her because the love of a great grandmother is honestly unmatched. Although she was 104 years old at the time of her passing she was still very lively, had such a smart mouth and would not let anybody punk her even if she was dependent on others and that is just a piece of that I loved about her the most. Although everyone knew that she was close to the end of her life due to her age, you still are never ready to lose someone that you love so dearly and that you're so close to. After losing my great grandmother I had to find the ability to continue to keep going and make sure proud even though she wasn't physically around because I knew if I didn't she would find a way to yell at me and put me in place because one thing about her is that she was never the one to quit and she wound't want me to quit either. Through her loss I was able to graduate with honors from High School, attend the University of Minnesota which is a fairly good school, gain so many great opportunities that can assist me with my future and all in all just the ability to wake up every morning and go about my day.

Positive role models are extremely important when it comes to shaping a person to strive to become better people in society and I believe that every individual should have at least one person that fulfills this role in their life. For me, my biggest role model has been my mom by far. She is one of the strongest and most determined people that I have ever met and I say that not only because she is my mom but some of the things she has gone through nobody should ever have to encounter those hardships. Here's a little about her story. My mom is an immigrant from Liberia and she came to the United States at the age of 15. After only being in America for 3 days she was forced to find a job right away in which she started working at Burger King. Her father had moved to the United States before she came and had remarried and had her step-siblings who had already lived in the states before she came. My mother was treated as if she was Cinderella. While her siblings got to do their homework, she was forced to clean the house and cook for them. While they went out with friends she had to iron their clothes. Her priorities always got put aside because she had to tend to her siblings which were her age or a few years younger. Her father would take her siblings to whatever places they had to go but my mother would have to walk in negative degree weather to and from work daily. She had to take the bus to school while her other siblings got to get a ride from her parents. Even after all this hardship, she encountered she never gave up and she never rebelled against her parents and that is what makes me so proud of her and makes me want to make her proud any chance that I get. My mother graduated high school and got 2 years of college under her belt. She then got to work at a community college and now she works as a paraprofessional at a high school in which all her co-workers and students love her dearly. She has won numerous awards for being a great help to her students and without the drive that she had as a young teen, she would not have been in the position that she is in now and I admire her so much for that. My mom has taught me so many lessons I can take with me throughout my life. She has taught me that no condition is permanent. Just because I may have a tough time in my life where things seem to not be going my way does not mean that I should give up. I have to continue overcoming those obstacles and accomplishing any goals that I have planned for myself. She has also taught me that I can only be in full control over certain things and that I shouldn't stress about the uncontrollable but try to have a positive outlook on the things I know that I can change. Another important aspect she taught me is that no matter what you may go through you can better yourself as an individual and change things. You don't have to carry trauma and pain and let that hinder your life but instead, you can grow from those situations and better yourself as an individual. I have had a few instances in which I have been able to apply these life lessons. I went through a time period in which doctors thought I could possibly be infertile but with the knowledge of trying to control only the things that I know I can control I was able to overcome that tough patch in my life. I was also able to go through a time period of low confidence and self esteem but like she always taught me no condition is permanent and I was able to really focus on myself and learn to love myself for who I am and all my imperfections. There will never be a way to repay my mom for all she has done because she has done entirely too much for me to try and repay her even half of what she deserves but I always have promised her that in everything I do I will give it my best shot and do the best I can in order to make her proud of me. I also told her that I would be the first person in our immediate family to finish college and that is the path I am working towards currently.

One of my most vivid memories of kindness has to be my first few weeks at my new middle school. The first few days of middle school were so hard for me and it really stressed me out because I moved to my middle school from a completely different school district and I did not know anyone at my new school. At the time I was super shy and to myself so I instantly knew that once I moved it would be pretty hard for me to make new friends and it would be hard for me to start conversations with new people. It was especially going to be hard because a lot of the people going to my middle school have been growing up with their friend group since elementary school therefore a lot of bonds and friendships have already been established so I would have to try and seek out my spot in one of these friend groups. Once the school year and I actually started going to middle school I would sit by myself on the bus and at lunch until this super sweet girl named Gaby came over to talk to me. She introduced herself to me, introduced me to her group of friends, invited me over to her house and even told me that I could sit with her and her friends during lunch. Even though that was the bare minimum she could do her slight act of kindness made me the happiest person ever because it made me feel like I was important and that somebody cared about my wellbeing without even knowing me as a person. Every time she would see me by myself or having a rough day she always came to me, talked to me and reminded me that she was always going to be there if I ever needed moral support and just somebody to talk to. Before meeting Gaby I would go home and cry to my parents asking them why they thought about transferring me and how miserable life was because of their choice of transferring me but after meeting Gaby all those terrible days of endless crying about my misery turned into me going home being the happiest person ever because I had a friend who actually wanted to be around me. Also with her kindness I was able to meet so many more people and I ended up gaining so much confidence in myself and I made so many friends that I began to be one of the popular kids in school because I started opening up more and being willing to talk to people outside of my friend group. Gaby really helped grow into the person I am now and I could not thank her enough for that wonderful experience.

When considering people's involvement in their community I personally believe that it is really important for people to be involved in their communities because it allows people within that community to unite as a whole and build relationships which is very important. In addition to that the people within the communities are able to help others who may not be as fortunate to be apart of a community they feel accepted in. You are able to share a sense of comfort when you are around a group of people who may have a similar interest as you or have the same mindset. There is also many benefits for having people be apart of such a strong community being that it can give you a positive group of people to help support you in unfortunate situations or just when you need a support system, it also in a environment where you can grow from one another and learn for each other which is really beneficial to human nature. A few things that I have been able to do to help my environment is by going around my neighborhood and picking up the litter that people had put down because that is not super ideal for mother nature. I have also volunteered with the K-2 kids basketball camp in my city because I really love the sport of basketball and I love working with kids. I am also apart of the Black Student Union which is a group that helps show love to Black individuals and help share information about black people and help others learn more about the positives things of African Americans. I have also helped with the local food drive that happens every year in my city and many other great opportunities I've had. I am super excited to join my future career which is a pediatric physical therapist. I really want to be able to help the little ones in my community which may have gotten injured or have some developmental or genetic situations that may cause them to need physical therapy sessions. I am also excited to be a African American women that will be in that field because there is a lack of people of color in the medical field and I know how essential it can be to see people that look like you when you go into the hospital for a check up. Being able to help possibly my friends kids and their grandkids in the future will make me so happy and proud of myself so I can't wait to be able to accomplish that aspect of my life and reach those goals.

As a first generation and firstborn child growing up was not always the easiest. I was like a guinea pig for my parents and they were just trying to figure how they could be the best parents possible. It honestly was very hard for both my parents and myself in the sense that they grew up in Liberia, West Africa which has completely different values and standards than the United States have. My parents had to walk to school, they would get beating by their professors if they did not do something right, their books weren't as updated as they could have been and many other aspects that effected their education yet they still were determine to have the best education possible. When my parents came to the United States they both started college but they never got to finish but they still wanted to ensure that I would be able to walk across that stage after high school and college with a diploma in my hand. What I thought was excessive nagging was good and effective parenting to my parents because that is how they grew up. They began implementing school/homework time everyday in my schedule to ensure that I stayed on top of my studies because school is very important to them and they especially wanted me to stay at the top of my class because they did not have the same educational opportunities that I was exposed to. Now that I look back at it as a senior in high school those experiences really shaped me to be the student I am now. For all of my middle school and high school career Ive been on the straight A honor roll and in high school I am in the 14% percentile for my class. Mentally I have been able to obtain good study habits that has allowed me to continue being successful due to my parents pushing me to stay on top of my school work. Personally I don't believe I had any physical experiences but overall all the nagging and constant reminders to stay on top of my school work really paid off for me in the end. What I have learned is that when someone really cares about you and really want to see you do well they will do anything in their power to continue to push you even though you may not always notice it or appreciate it in the moment. I am really glad that my parents had their share of experiences because their experiences shaped me into working hard so that I can make them proud at the end of the road.

My name is Fametta Zubah, I am 18 years old and I am from Richfield Minnesota. I am a senior at Richfield Senior High School and I will be graduating this June. I am an all honors student, a 3 sport athlete which includes basketball, track and tennis and I am fluent in Spanish. I also am apart of the Black Student Union, Safe and Supportive Schools Committee and the National Honors Society. I also do a lot of volunteering with my cities food drive, Woodlake Nature Center, a teacher aide, children's basketball camps and many other events. There are many achievements that I want to accomplish but a few of them include being the first one in my immediate family to graduate from college. I want to graduate with all honors and over a 4.0 gpa because I've been a honors student all my life and I want to continue that while in college. A way that I have been helping myself to accomplish that goal is by taking all honors classes and CIS classes which is actually giving me college credits before even attending college. When I graduate I am hoping to graduate with my degree in either kinesiology or biology on a pre med track. Following graduation I plan on going through the physical therapy program which can roughly take me an additional 3 years to complete but it will totally be worth the experience due to how passionate I am about my future job. I want to be a pediatric physical therapist because I love working with children and I also love being active especially being an athlete. Initially I was supposed to shadow my pediatrician and her co workers at Park Nicollet but unfortunately due to Covid I was unable to have that experience. In addition to becoming a pediatric physical therapist, I actually want to own my own business selling different skin care products and possibly even clothing. I have started small and made different products like skin oils, body scrubs and shower steamers and I have been meeting with a business mentor through the organization SCORE but I am hoping to take it to the next level and hopefully be able to make a living off of my own small business because not only will that make me very proud of myself but it will be another young black woman being a role model to other little black girls and boys which is a huge deal in todays society. Furthermore I want to continue giving back to my community in whatever way that may be because there are so many people that are in need of assistance in so many different ways so if I am blessed enough to have a successful life going for myself I would really want to give back and help whoever is in need whether its a child or a adult. Being that I have always been able to find volunteering opportunities being able to give back even while I attend college would not be such a hard task for me. Overall I am really determined to do great things in the real world and I am super excited to see all the goals I accomplish in the future.

My name is Fametta Zubah and I am from Richfield Minnesota. I've started my small business on September 12th of 2020 because I've always wanted to make items that people cause use to enhance their natural beauty and their glow and I had a lot of time to think of a plan and try and execute it with the small finance that I had during quarantine. I wanted to start this business because I knew that I had the ability to come up with different products and different things together that could impact many people and that was affordable and I also knew that I would be able to finally see things that I always wanted in stores available to other people so it really made me want to work harder to ensure that my products were actually necessary and useful to many people. My small business includes face/body oils that I make that enhances your skin and help remove acne scars , I also have handmade sugar scrubs that is really good for exfoliating dead skin cells from the body, I have face masks that help with different things and many more skin products. Recently I've also added self care sets and holiday sets to help people out when they can't choose gifts that they want to give their loved ones and my latest addition are sweatshirts and crewnecks that says "All dis chocolate" that is mainly targeted at my beautiful chocolate people. I wanted to make the merchandise because chocolate people are so undermined and they don't receive enough love for their wonderful complexion that I wanted them to know that their skin is beautiful and that they should embrace it. I am really hoping to continuously expand my inventory and make my business known to so many more people because I want them to be able to have access to great products for affordable prices. I also want African American girls to know that they are more than capable of starting their own business and making it successful because they have the brains and ability to make it happen for themselves.

One quote that continuously motivates me is "Nevertheless, she persisted" . That quotes has really helped me out because it shows me that no matter what occurs in my life I will continue to work hard a never give up because I will keep my head held high. Being a young lady in America especially a black one is not easy because people tend to overlook you and doubt you just for those 2 things but when I think of that quote it reminds me that it really does not matter what I am, as long as a stay driver and focused all the goals that I have for myself with be accomplished because I am persistent and I will never give up.

Hi, my name is Fametta Zubah and I will be graduating from high this year. A little about myself, I am very involved with my school. I am apart of the Safe and Supportive student committee which is students coming together to represent students voices to administrators about changes that can happen in schools. I am also apart of the National Honors Society and I have been apart of it for 2 years now and I also am on the basketball, track and tennis team at my school. Outside of school and sports I run my own small business by the name of Delighted Radiance by Fam Z which focuses on channeling peoples inner beauty!! A few goals that I have for myself is to be the first person to graduate college from within my intermediated family because that is such a huge accomplishment to accomplish. I will continue getting good grades and working hard in every class each and everyday to walk across that stage and tell myself "you did it Fametta". I also want to expand my business and have a lot more customers because being my own boss is one the greatest things that I could personally do for myself because I have put in so much work into starting my business so watching it grow and impacting many other people would be so heartwarming. I plan to continue growing my inventory even while I am in college and promoting my business so that more can come across it and be interested in trying one of my products!! When it comes to giving back to my community there is a lot of things I want to do. One thing that I want to do is help out little kids who need assistance with their school work because I love working with kids and I also have been pretty good at school so I being able to help the little ones will be very nice to do. I also want to be able to help collect food for a food drive because I know there are so many people who are not able to make ends meet and eat so being able to help people by doing a food drive would be super nice to do. Another thing that I would enjoy being able to do for my community is helping homeless people by any means possible. Whether it is getting clothing donations for them , toiletries, food or whatever the case may be to be able to help them out because just because they are not fortunate to have a home for themselves they do not deserve to struggle when they can not help themselves out. Some things that excite me about the world is how many different things you are able to do and accomplish and the opportunities that are out here for people too. It is also exciting thinking about how many people that you are able to meet in this world and how you are able to impact the people that you come in contact with.