The phrase "mental health" has carried a heavy stigma in Black communities for centuries, and mine was no exception. For my entire life, I have worked tirelessly to maintain top grades and excel in numerous extracurriculars, to the point where I lost sight of what was going on inside me. While I pushed and pushed and pushed myself externally, my mental and emotional wellbeing was slowly deteriorating. I experienced stronger negative emotions less frequently, constantly felt drained, and struggled with burnout despite my achievements. Growing up, any discussions around mental health were shrouded in shame and dismissed as insignificant struggles. The overwhelming pressure to uphold an image of strength and success was ubiquitous in my community. However, in reality I was cracking under the weight of unhealthy expectations and internalizing harmful coping mechanisms. It wasn't until my junior year of high school that I finally recognized something was seriously wrong. My depression and anxiety had spiraled to the point of severely impacting my daily functioning. Though terrified of being perceived as weak, I eventually confided in my parents about my internal battles. Their support in helping me find a therapist and embark on a journey of mental health treatment was life-changing. Through therapy, I came to understand just how flawed the notion was that had driven me - that self-worth is solely defined by external accomplishments. I learned invaluable tools for prioritizing my emotional wellness, reframing negative thought patterns, and developing self-compassion. This has fundamentally reshaped my beliefs about what it means to be successful in a more holistic sense. My struggles with mental illness have also made me exponentially more empathetic and attuned to the unseen difficulties others may be grappling with internally. In roles like President of the Mentoring Program, I've aimed to create open and judgment-free spaces for difficult discussions that are often avoided, including around mental health. Leading with vulnerability has allowed me to build stronger, more authentic connections. Perhaps most profoundly, my experience has cemented my passion for eventually integrating mental health advocacy and psychological services into my career aspirations. I've witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact a supportive counselor can have, and I feel a calling to pay that forward - especially for young people of color who may be grappling with added cultural stigmas and lack of access to care. While the road to healing is an ongoing journey, I'm deeply grateful for how my mental health challenges have allowed me to mature as a person. The lessons I've learned about work-life balance, confronting harmful societal pressures, and embracing vulnerability as a strength will continue shaping my sense of self for years to come. Most importantly, I've emerged from these struggles with a fervent mission to uplift others and empower marginalized communities to prioritize their holistic wellbeing above all else.

The phrase "mental health" has carried a heavy stigma in Black families for centuries, and mine was no exception. For my entire life, I have worked tirelessly to maintain top grades and excel in numerous extracurriculars, to the point where I lost sight of what was going on inside me. While I pushed and pushed and pushed myself externally, my mental and emotional wellbeing was slowly deteriorating. I experienced stronger negative emotions less frequently, constantly felt drained, and struggled with burnout despite my achievements. Growing up, any discussions around mental health were shrouded in shame and dismissed as insignificant struggles. The overwhelming pressure to uphold an image of strength and success was ubiquitous in my community. However, in reality I was cracking under the weight of unhealthy expectations and internalizing harmful coping mechanisms. It wasn't until my junior year of high school that I finally recognized something was seriously wrong. My depression and anxiety had spiraled to the point of severely impacting my daily functioning. Though terrified of being perceived as weak, I eventually confided in my parents about my internal battles. Their support in helping me find a therapist and embark on a journey of mental health treatment was life-changing. Through therapy, I came to understand just how flawed the notion was that had driven me - that self-worth is solely defined by external accomplishments. I learned invaluable tools for prioritizing my emotional wellness, reframing negative thought patterns, and developing self-compassion. This has fundamentally reshaped my beliefs about what it means to be successful in a more holistic sense. My struggles with mental illness have also made me exponentially more empathetic and attuned to the unseen difficulties others may be grappling with internally. In my different leadership roles, I've aimed to create open and judgment-free spaces for difficult discussions that are often avoided, including around mental health. Leading with vulnerability has allowed me to build stronger, more authentic connections. Perhaps most profoundly, my experience has cemented my passion for eventually integrating mental health advocacy and psychological services into my career aspirations. I've witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact a supportive counselor can have, and I feel a calling to pay that forward - especially for young people of color who may be grappling with added cultural stigmas and lack of access to care. While the road to healing is an ongoing journey, I'm deeply grateful for how my mental health challenges have allowed me to mature as a person. The lessons I've learned about work-life balance, confronting harmful societal pressures, and embracing vulnerability as a strength will continue shaping my sense of self for years to come. Most importantly, I've emerged from these struggles with a fervent mission to uplift others and empower marginalized communities to prioritize their holistic wellbeing above all else.

Growing up as the son of Haitian immigrants in an underserved community, I witnessed firsthand how marginalized groups face systemic disadvantages and injustices. My parents fled unimaginable violence and poverty, risking everything to provide me safety and opportunities in America. However, our new home wasn't insulated from struggle - I grew up surrounded by crime, concentrated poverty, and a palpable societal divide. From a young age, I experienced forms of adversity that became regrettably normalized. I vividly remember the siren-filled nights when neighborhood kids fell victim to senseless violence. The despair on my mother's face when a classmate's family was torn apart by gang criminality. The ostracizing stares we received in certain spaces, revealing how society can create second-class citizens. These formative experiences left me equal parts enraged at the status quo yet passionately determined to create positive change. Despite the obstacles of my environment, I found profound inspiration in the resilience of my community. The matriarchs watching each other's children as villages. The activists fighting tirelessly for youth investment and police reform. The faith leaders providing sanctuary and social services for the vulnerable. Observing this courage and care amidst adversity revealed that even the darkest injustices can be overcome through unified embrace of our shared humanity. This insight is what led me to pursue criminal justice. I want to become an attorney giving voice to the voiceless and holding bad actors accountable - whether they are violent offenders or public officials upholding discriminatory policies. My career goals center around victims' rights advocacy, fighting for criminal justice reforms, and developing prevention programs steering at-risk youth toward brighter futures. In the courtroom, I will fiercely protect the wrongfully accused and fight for fair sentencing for low-level offenders, especially considering mitigating life circumstances. In the community, I will launch legal clinics providing pro-bono representation while creating educational initiatives on citizens' rights and de-escalation tactics with law enforcement. I also aim to mentor young people, instilling the persevering spirit that was once modeled for me. My background overcoming adversity has fortified an unshakable sense of justice and desire to uplift victims from all walks of life. While traumatic experiences could understandably culminate in cynicism or despair, they gave me profound resilience, empathy and conviction to serve the vulnerable through ethical leadership in criminal justice and law. Every obstacle has prepared me to be an ally and advocate until equity is achieved. With this scholarship, I will be able to achieve my dreams and become the lawyer that I want to be. Thank you for your consideration.

My Haitian roots have been integral in shaping my sense of community and service. As the proud son of Haitian immigrants who worked tirelessly to build a life in America, I was instilled with the values of determination, resourcefulness, and supporting others from a young age. At home, speaking Haitian Creole and enjoying traditional cuisine kept me deeply connected to my culture. My parents frequently reminded me that our people have a storied history of overcoming adversity with solidarity and hope. These early experiences motivated my community involvement initiatives in high school. I served as Vice President of Interact, a Rotary International youth program focused on service and giving back. Organizing fundraisers for families in need, coordinating food drives for a local food bank, and mentoring events for underprivileged children in my Florida community enabled me to make an impact. Most meaningfully, I spearheaded an international student exchange summit, hosting over 100 high school students from over 15 countries globally. Raising over $20,000 to fund this program and coordinating diverse host families instilled strong skills in adaptability, responsibility, and intercultural fluency. As I look towards college, I aim to deepen my community impact, continually drawing inspiration from my Haitian background emphasizing solidarity, hope, and uplifting others in times of hardship. I plan to volunteer extensively with Habitat for Humanity, assisting with building affordable neighborhood housing for economically disadvantaged families. Having seen firsthand the vital role stable, safe housing plays in helping communities thrive in Haiti, I am committed to serving vulnerable families facing homelessness domestically. I also intend to spearhead a pen pal cultural exchange initiative between American and Haitian students to foster mutual understanding. Beyond college, I aspire to one day establish a free, accessible STEM education program for gifted but underserved Haitian youth to help uplift future generations through knowledge and possibilities once unimaginable to those who came before them. My identity as the proud son of Haitian immigrants has uniquely shaped my worldview and community service ethos. By actively engaging in cultural exchange and sustainable development projects benefitting vulnerable groups, I hope to spend a lifetime uplifting the Haitian diaspora worldwide. I am committed to honoring my heritage through action and empowering all people towards progress with the values of hope and unity my upbringing has instilled in me.

To me, civil engineering is far more than just the technical design and construction of infrastructure projects. It is a driving force bettering humanity by uplifting the human experience through sustainable development. Civil engineers have an immense ability to tackle society’s greatest challenges like equitable access to resources, climate resilience, global poverty and pollution. The profound, positive impacts the field can have on quality of life and empowering communities is what fuels my enduring passion to become a civil engineer. I first grasped its larger significance on a trip to Haiti with my immigrant parents. Witnessing the extreme poverty, crumbling infrastructure and rampant pollution firsthand illuminated the vital role civil engineering plays in providing basic human necessities that many take for granted. Access to clean water, electricity, sanitation systems and durable shelters are fundamental to human welfare – yet still inaccessible for far too many. This stark inequality was eye-opening and made me realize my skills could help rebuild communities, bolster resilience to natural disasters, and radically enhance standards of living where improvement is so desperately needed. That trip was a defining moment, igniting my lifelong aspiration to become a humanitarian civil engineer making a difference on a global scale. My specific interests lie in designing water treatment facilities, renewable energy microgrids, ecological buildings and effective transportation networks to serve marginalized communities abroad initially. But I also aim to tackle pressing local issues like restoring eroding coastlines, upgrading dated power grids and developing affordable housing. I want to apply technical expertise with cultural understanding to uplift vulnerable groups through infrastructure innovation. Beyond project execution, I hope to mentor youth interested in engineering, demonstrate principled leadership in the field and advocate for policies advancing inclusive, sustainable development globally. The path toward becoming a civil engineer has not been without obstacles. As a first-generation college student, navigating admissions alone is complex. But through school counseling resources, college access programs and advice from working engineers, I am prepared to conquer the road ahead. Funding my education will also be financially demanding, so I plan to offset expenses through scholarships, work-study programs and careful budgeting. I recognize this will require a tremendous amount of discipline and likely part-time employment, but an investment in my future career is worth every sacrifice. Beyond access and affordability barriers, being a young Haitian-American civil engineering aspirant comes with sociocultural challenges regarding diversity and inclusion. However, I leverage my multicultural identity as a source of creative strength rather than let discouraging statistics on underrepresentation deter me. I surround myself with mentors and peers who celebrate intersectionality, grasping how our varied perspectives drives innovation. By raising awareness on equity issues in STEM and demonstrating how diversity fuels novel solutions, I aim to change dominant perspectives in civil engineering. With a broad understanding that infrastructure is not merely physical but a human-centered discipline, my vision as a civil engineer is to build holistic systems serving humanity’s needs - centering communities that are most vulnerable. I am committed to sustainable solutions improving societies through ethical, inclusive engineering leadership. I recognize the road ahead requires perseverance, but the chance to create lasting, positive change is worth every obstacle overcome. The field of civil engineering aligns perfectly with my aspirations to empower communities from a grassroots level. Thank you for this scholarship consideration to support me on this meaningful journey.

My grandpa only spoke Haitian Creole, so our conversations were limited to simple phrases and gestures. But his wide grin and tight hugs communicated enough. This quiet man who immigrated seeking opportunity built a full life - raised three kids as a single father, owned a small auto shop, and became a pillar of his church community. Though I revered my grandfather's resilience in coming to America, I regret taking our fleeting moments for granted. I always assumed I’d have ample time to discover his rich stories that shaped the man who so profoundly shaped my mom’s worldview. But time cruelly ran out too soon. When his health rapidly declined last winter, my mind flooded with the conversations I had put off for some distant tomorrow. At the funeral, longtime friends and customers shared heartwarming anecdotes of kindness my grandpa had shown which I never personally witnessed. Each account was a reminder of moments we had lost forever. My grandmother's passing a year later only compounded the deep remorse. She was the masterful storyteller who brought my family’s Haitian heritage vibrantly to life. I had confidently promised her I would record her reminiscing about youth in Port-Au-Prince one day. She would reveal little-known tales detailing exactly how my family persevered through adversity to provide me this opportunity. But I perpetually postponed our recording session, arrogantly convinced there would always be another family gathering, another chance to discover my origin story. Now the rich oral history resides only in fading memories, an irreplaceable link to my ancestors’ wisdom forever lost. The profound sting of losing my last conduit to that cultural legacy is a void never filled. These tragic losses in rapid succession have shattered my illusion of an unlimited future where grand plans can await some distant fruition. But the grief has also freed me from the paralyzing fear of acting decisively on my purpose. My family's incredible resilience now drives me to seize precious opportunities boldly today rather than regret inaction tomorrow. I owe it to the loved ones I’ll never get back to tenaciously pursue what matters most with relentless passion. I fiercely want to unlock the untapped potential of marginalized communities containing countless untold stories like my grandfather's. Providing reliable electricity through infrastructure projects could have helped his small business thrive even more. Fair representation in policymaking could have amplified voices like his in democracy. My family's arduous journey reveals how society’s structures scaffolded differently can liberate trapped human potential. I am determined to rebuild broken systems through civil engineering – to finally empower dreams long oppressed. The grandparents I grieved for worked tirelessly seeking better lives for future generations without regard for obstacles. Now my work is to honor their sacrifice by fighting even in grief’s darkness to carry on their lasting legacy. I will pay tribute to the rich histories never fully captured by fiercely working to empower unlimited possibilities for those yet to come.

To me, civil engineering is far more than just the technical design and construction of infrastructure projects. It is a driving force bettering humanity by uplifting the human experience through sustainable development. Civil engineers have an immense ability to tackle society’s greatest challenges like equitable access to resources, climate resilience, global poverty and pollution. The profound, positive impacts the field can have on quality of life and empowering communities is what fuels my enduring passion to become a civil engineer. I first grasped its larger significance on a trip to Haiti with my immigrant parents. Witnessing the extreme poverty, crumbling infrastructure and rampant pollution firsthand illuminated the vital role civil engineering plays in providing basic human necessities that many take for granted. Access to clean water, electricity, sanitation systems and durable shelters are fundamental to human welfare – yet still inaccessible for far too many. This stark inequality was eye-opening and made me realize my skills could help rebuild communities, bolster resilience to natural disasters, and radically enhance standards of living where improvement is so desperately needed. That trip was a defining moment, igniting my lifelong aspiration to become a humanitarian civil engineer making a difference on a global scale. My specific interests lie in designing water treatment facilities, renewable energy microgrids, ecological buildings and effective transportation networks to serve marginalized communities abroad initially. But I also aim to tackle pressing local issues like restoring eroding coastlines, upgrading dated power grids and developing affordable housing. I want to apply technical expertise with cultural understanding to uplift vulnerable groups through infrastructure innovation. Beyond project execution, I hope to mentor youth interested in engineering, demonstrate principled leadership in the field and advocate for policies advancing inclusive, sustainable development globally. The path toward becoming a civil engineer has not been without obstacles. As a first-generation college student, navigating admissions alone is complex. But through school counseling resources, college access programs and advice from working engineers, I am prepared to conquer the road ahead. Funding my education will also be financially demanding, so I plan to offset expenses through scholarships, work-study programs and careful budgeting. I recognize this will require a tremendous amount of discipline and likely part-time employment, but an investment in my future career is worth every sacrifice. Beyond access and affordability barriers, being a young Haitian-American civil engineering aspirant comes with sociocultural challenges regarding diversity and inclusion. However, I leverage my multicultural identity as a source of creative strength rather than let discouraging statistics on underrepresentation deter me. I surround myself with mentors and peers who celebrate intersectionality, grasping how our varied perspectives drives innovation. By raising awareness on equity issues in STEM and demonstrating how diversity fuels novel solutions, I aim to change dominant perspectives in civil engineering. With a broad understanding that infrastructure is not merely physical but a human-centered discipline, my vision as a civil engineer is to build holistic systems serving humanity’s needs - centering communities that are most vulnerable. I am committed to sustainable solutions improving societies through ethical, inclusive engineering leadership. I recognize the road ahead requires perseverance, but the chance to create lasting, positive change is worth every obstacle overcome. The field of civil engineering aligns perfectly with my aspirations to empower communities from a grassroots level. Thank you for this scholarship consideration to support me on this meaningful journey.

To me, civil engineering is far more than just the technical design and construction of infrastructure projects. It is a driving force bettering humanity by uplifting the human experience through sustainable development. Civil engineers have an immense ability to tackle society’s greatest challenges like equitable access to resources, climate resilience, global poverty and pollution. The profound, positive impacts the field can have on quality of life and empowering communities is what fuels my enduring passion to become a civil engineer. I first grasped its larger significance on a trip to Haiti with my immigrant parents. Witnessing the extreme poverty, crumbling infrastructure and rampant pollution firsthand illuminated the vital role civil engineering plays in providing basic human necessities that many take for granted. Access to clean water, electricity, sanitation systems and durable shelters are fundamental to human welfare – yet still inaccessible for far too many. This stark inequality was eye-opening and made me realize my skills could help rebuild communities, bolster resilience to natural disasters, and radically enhance standards of living where improvement is so desperately needed. That trip was a defining moment, igniting my lifelong aspiration to become a humanitarian civil engineer making a difference on a global scale. My specific interests lie in designing water treatment facilities, renewable energy microgrids, ecological buildings and effective transportation networks to serve marginalized communities abroad initially. But I also aim to tackle pressing local issues like restoring eroding coastlines, upgrading dated power grids and developing affordable housing. I want to apply technical expertise with cultural understanding to uplift vulnerable groups through infrastructure innovation. Beyond project execution, I hope to mentor youth interested in engineering, demonstrate principled leadership in the field and advocate for policies advancing inclusive, sustainable development globally. The path toward becoming a civil engineer has not been without obstacles. As a first-generation college student, navigating admissions alone is complex. But through school counseling resources, college access programs and advice from working engineers, I am prepared to conquer the road ahead. Funding my education will also be financially demanding, so I plan to offset expenses through scholarships, work-study programs and careful budgeting. I recognize this will require a tremendous amount of discipline and likely part-time employment, but an investment in my future career is worth every sacrifice. Beyond access and affordability barriers, being a young Haitian-American civil engineering aspirant comes with sociocultural challenges regarding diversity and inclusion. However, I leverage my multicultural identity as a source of creative strength rather than let discouraging statistics on underrepresentation deter me. I surround myself with mentors and peers who celebrate intersectionality, grasping how our varied perspectives drives innovation. By raising awareness on equity issues in STEM and demonstrating how diversity fuels novel solutions, I aim to change dominant perspectives in civil engineering. With a broad understanding that infrastructure is not merely physical but a human-centered discipline, my vision as a civil engineer is to build holistic systems serving humanity’s needs - centering communities that are most vulnerable. I am committed to sustainable solutions improving societies through ethical, inclusive engineering leadership. I recognize the road ahead requires perseverance, but the chance to create lasting, positive change is worth every obstacle overcome. The field of civil engineering aligns perfectly with my aspirations to empower communities from a grassroots level. Thank you for this scholarship consideration to support me on this meaningful journey.

Hello, my name is Georffrey Pierre, and I am a senior at Pompano Beach High School. I am currently 17 years old, and I want to study Civil Engineering in the future. Growing up as a Haitian-American son to immigrant parents, I always felt a disconnect between my American upbringing and Haitian roots. It was not until I visited Haiti and witnessed the poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and pollution firsthand that the truth sunk in. How did my parents survive here, and how much hardship did they shield me from? Amidst the despair, I found inspiration—a calling to make a difference. Seeing the challenges faced by my ancestral homeland ignited my passion to pursue Civil Engineering. I realized that by contributing my technical skills and engineering knowledge, I could help rebuild communities, create sustainable infrastructure, and enhance quality of life for those struggling back home. My goal is to work on international development projects focusing on basic human needs: designing clean water systems, energy-efficient buildings, effective waste management, and resilient transportation networks. I want to apply my expertise to directly address some of the issues I witnessed in Haiti. With a cultural connection and sensitivity to the real-world problems, I believe I can develop innovative engineering solutions that truly empower communities abroad. However, I recognize the road ahead has obstacles. Pursuing higher education, especially in the complex field of Civil Engineering, is demanding. Paying for college is a major barrier, but I’m prepared to explore scholarships, financial aid, and part-time work to fund my goals. The rigorous academics are another hurdle—but I’m ready to hone time management abilities, create study plans, and collaborate with professors, tutors and driven peers. As a Haitian-American, cultural biases could also pose challenges. But I won’t let stereotypes or norms steer me off track. Instead, I’ll proudly embrace my multifaceted identity while proving this career aligns with my aspiring values. By educating others on how engineering can drive social progress, I’ll foster understanding of the meaningful impact I can make. In the end, my passion for Civil Engineering stems from a desire to uplift the world, starting with the communities I connect with most. My Haitian-American lens fuels determination to surmount obstacles while realizing my dream of catalyzing progress through innovation. With clear plans to fund my education, excel in coursework, and defy misconceptions, I’m committed to becoming an agent of sustainable change. Thank you for considering my application.

Hello, my name is Georffrey Pierre, and I am a senior at Pompano Beach High School. I am currently 17 years old, and I want to study Civil Engineering in the future. Growing up as a Haitian-American son to Haitian immigrants, I always felt a sort of disconnect dealing with myself and my country. I knew it was in a bad state, but it was not until I saw it for myself that the truth hit me. I saw buildings in disarray, people starving, and pollution everywhere, and it broke me. How did my parents survive in this place, and how much did they not tell me? Amidst the despair, I found a spark of inspiration - a calling to make a difference. Witnessing the challenges faced by my ancestral homeland ignited a passion within me to pursue a career in Civil Engineering. I realized that by contributing my skills and knowledge in this field, I could help rebuild communities, create sustainable infrastructure, and enhance the quality of life for those who are struggling. My goal is to work on projects that focus on improving living conditions, providing access to clean water, designing energy-efficient structures, and implementing effective waste management systems. I believe that by applying my engineering expertise, I can directly address some of the pressing issues I witnessed firsthand in Haiti. However, I recognize that my journey won't be without its obstacles. Pursuing a college education, particularly in a demanding field like Civil Engineering, can present challenges. One potential obstacle is the financial burden of higher education. College tuition, living expenses, and study materials can add up quickly. To overcome this, I plan to explore scholarship opportunities, apply for financial aid, and seek part-time employment to alleviate some of the financial stress. Another obstacle might be the rigorous academic requirements of engineering programs. Balancing coursework, projects, and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. To tackle this challenge, I intend to develop strong time management skills, create a study routine, and seek assistance from professors and peers when needed. Additionally, I'll take advantage of resources like tutoring and study groups to enhance my understanding of complex subjects. Cultural expectations and stereotypes could also be potential obstacles, especially as a Haitian-American pursuing a field that might not align with traditional expectations. I plan to address this by proudly embracing my heritage while showcasing how my chosen path aligns with my values and aspirations. By educating others about the importance of my work and its potential impact, I hope to break down any misconceptions and foster a greater understanding of the meaningful contributions I intend to make. In conclusion, my passion for Civil Engineering is deeply rooted in my desire to make a positive impact on the world, particularly in the communities that have faced adversity. My experience as a Haitian-American has shaped my perspective and fueled my determination to overcome obstacles on my path to higher education. By seeking out opportunities, managing my time effectively, and challenging stereotypes, I am committed to realizing my dream of creating a better future through engineering innovation and community development. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship.