My parents and I migrated to the USA in 2010. Since then, I have learned about this country's culture and education system. As an immigrant, I am striving to expand my learning and experience, so I am applying to Entrepreneurship for my bachelor's degree. I remember taking personal finances in 12th grade and being fascinated by innovations and business. I have so many business and nonprofit ideas dedicated to helping my community. The journey towards achieving these goals will be challenging due to my social anxiety. I have faced barriers such as colorism and racism in the USA. These forms of discrimination hindered my progress but have also added layers of complexity to my experience as a student and aspiring entrepreneur. For example, dealing with microaggressions about my hair or my skin tone. So, I will be sure to know the law and talk to any lawyers about any hate crimes if they occur. Despite these obstacles, I want to remain resilient and driven to overcome them. I use my education and entrepreneurial skills to break down barriers and create a platform that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. By leveraging my unique perspective as a West African, I aim to challenge any forms of stereotypes while fostering understanding and promoting unity within my community. Through my perseverance, I am determined to carve a space for myself and others in the business industry where the beauty and resilience of my West African heritage can shine brightly. With this knowledge, I am interested in many business ideas to showcase my community's greatness. The first company is a hydroponic farm that focuses on providing better farming systems than in the past. With the growing issue of global boiling, I wanted to innovate the farming industry in my country and disrupt the fear of food shortage. I want to start with lettuce, mushrooms, spinach, mints, tomatoes, and more on the farm. I plan to market my products to various restaurants, vendors, and schools. My ultimate goal is to ensure my community eats well and prosper. While also providing opportunities for the youth and individuals of my community to feel a sense of pride and innovation. To conclude, a future without strategy is a dimlit road of sorrow. As an entrepreneur student whose ultimate goal is to help my community, I ought to strategize my business and find a proper support system that I can rely on in this long journey.

I remember my clean-shaven head in 2010, cut for this extraordinary voyage. My head was glistering like a glazed donut. I had a fresh pair of jeans and a backpack. My parents told us not to tell anyone because they feared retaliation from those who wanted to harm us. It was a particular time for my family. I was nervous since it was my first time traveling to another country, especially with different languages and systems. I took my first airplane ride with my dad, and my other family members later came. I learned about burgers, large fries, and more. However, I was severely bullied and discriminated against in middle and high school. I was called "African booty scratcher" and other vile names. I suffered because of my African identity. It felt like a burden to people since I did not speak or understand English. It was challenging, but I thrived with the help of my family. The crushing feeling of learning about racism and being black was and is a constant struggle. I feel hopeless because of the microaggressions and assaults that the African diaspora faces. Antiblackness was a term that I experienced but also a trauma I will never heal. I was just human, just an African woman with many weaknesses and strengths. My humanity, flaws, and issues are not accepted in the United States due to racism and colorism. I yearned for a space that I would call mine. An environment free from racial, financial, and psychological struggles. I yearn to be human and be treated like a person. Everything I am in this world is because of my heritage and culture. I felt weak because I did not know who I was anymore or what I wanted to pursue. I was in a dilemma. I felt alone, asking myself, "Who am I without these struggles?" and "What am I?" While struggling to understand myself, I took a personal finance class in my last semester of high school. It was the best class I ever took. I learn a lot about savings and business, precisely the financial problems in many African countries. Thanks to my fantastic teacher, I decided to focus on entrepreneurship. With these skills, I could help my community on the Ivory Coast. I felt proud but confused about my abilities to lead a business, especially as an introvert with social anxiety. But I continue to persevere and take more business classes while planning my businesses. I realized the need for sustainable energy, food, and better farming practices. I learned about agri-solar, the combination of sustainable farming practices, and solar panels. These ideas could solve the food and energy shortages in the Ivory Coast. It could lead future generations to better job opportunities, solar energy, and food opportunities. I plan to continue my higher education and learn more about managing a business while providing for the community. I am finishing my business administration associate degree and will aim for my bachelor's in entrepreneurship and international business. Those degrees will create a strong foundation for my future. Lastly, I want to thank my wonderful family for the constant support they give me. They guide me in times of struggle and fear. I hope to give them back for everything they have done for me a thousands of times more.

My life became a mess. I stopped doing everything that I was once able to. I lost the craving for life. I lost every joyful moment that I had. It felt like a maze with no sun, no oxygen. I was drowning and losing. My name is Guela. I am from Ivory Coast, and I want this essay to be a safe space but also to reclaim my humanity. Subsequently, my mental health ruined my goals of finishing my bachelor's in entrepreneurship with a concentration in finance and international business. I also lost a lot of weight, though I was never someone who had any shape. The light and happiness I received were gone. My depression and stress turned me into a zombie. I felt lifeless. My self-esteem and motivation were crushed. My anxiety was a horror show. I was sweating and crying nonstop for days. My soul felt so destroyed and lost. My grades went down, and I lost my study abroad opportunity in Germany. I stopped talking to friends and my mentor. I felt like my issues should not bother anyone. Being a burden was the hardest part of this situation. I quit my job and developed a severe fear of being outside of my home. My social anxiety was so severe that I started therapy in hopes of getting better. There, I learned from the therapist that I have agarophobia, which destroyed my confidence and ability to handle the outdoors and large crowds.  These brutal experiences made me realize my humanity. At times, I felt so vulnerable that I never wanted to admit my weaknesses and failures. I was in distress about my future and present. I felt that nothing was working anymore. So I had to take a step back and breathe. The healing process is long and ongoing, but I am not afraid anymore. But I know that I am capable of self-love again. As the first-born daughter college student, I had to be perfect for all of the sacrifices of my family. Luckily, with the support of my parents and siblings, I registered at another college to continue my higher education. I never give up. Knowledge is the only safe space that I love more than life. I was scared at first, but I found out that the college offers online courses. It was a great step that I took while going to therapy and healing myself again. I am currently celebrating my first certificate degree in accounting. Then I hope to get my business administration associate degree as well. With this knowledge, I will continue to thrive and grow while building my skills. My knowledge of the business world would expand, and I would reach for more opportunities than before. I don't have any conclusions because mental illness is a continuous process of healing. I realized that college is not a race but a marathon. This is why I will continue to be proud of my progress, even in times of distress. That is why I want to dedicate this small poem to all those suffering from mental illness: May the sun seek you in the darkness. May love flourish everywhere you go. May you glow everywhere you reside. May you grow like a mighty warrior. Though the tears of your soul may soak your bed. I know the capabilities of your strengths. Healing is the only process needed to live and thrive.

My name is Guela; it comes from a long line of warriors and beautiful ancestors. I am the living promise of their love and legacy. My name is from a tribe in Ivory Coast called Wèh, which translates to God is with us. When I learned of this translation, I was proud of my heritage and my history. It made me want to research more and learn about the beauty of my background. Subsequently, social anxiety disorder is the obstacle that I am dealing with. I have been dealing with these issues for three years. I am constantly feeling down and hopeless due to my future. Dealing with this disorder ruined my ability to feel confident and safe in my own skin. It blocked my opportunities to obtain better experiences, such as going outside for too long. Being able to wear the clothes I want was never a possibility for me because of my disability. I isolate myself as a result of my fear of being humiliated and self-conscious. It is a tiring experience that no one should have to go through. Since my diagnosis, I have decided to meditate and write in my journals. I want to relearn how to love myself and be confident in my own skin. Having social anxiety should not stop me from glowing in this life. Some other ways that I am healing from this issue are through somatic therapy and appreciation. These small steps helped decrease my anxiety, which would not change over time. These therapeutic solutions are slow and complicated. It will take years to fully heal and take control of my personal life. But I am grateful for every moment of life and hope to cherish my family and community. The goal is to heal first while gaining my education. Though I have a hard time being confident and relaxed, my education is important to my growth. With my accounting technician certificate, I will obtain more knowledge of accounting and use it for my own business. This certificate can also lead to more jobs in this workforce. With these, I can diversify my resume and skills. Also, having a business administration associate and an entrepreneurship bachelor are bonuses that can help me in the future. Being educated is valued and instilled in me by my parents and my community. I am a proud Wèh and African descendant. I will continue to thrive in the worst moments that life throws at me.

We came to this country due to the civil war. Throughout the war, I saw my extended family and tribe suffer from the war and its consequences. Later, I learned that the rebels had killed thousands of my tribespeople for our resources. This devastated me and caused me to go through a depressive episode. Coming to the United States was complicated due to the constant bullying and xenophobia I faced. However, I decided to stay strong for my family. I learned the American system by watching teachers, students, bystanders on the street, etc. Over time, I appreciated many people's support as they encouraged me to learn the language and adapt to the American culture. Neither of my parents was educated in the United States, as I am the first in my family to attend college there. Yet, I am fortunate to have them. They taught me that education is a vast space of opportunities. I am grateful for the chance to expand my education, as millions of people have limited access to learning how to write, speak, and analyze things. My parents taught me that with perseverance, effort, collaboration, smart work, and patience – I can pursue an unlimited potential to grow. Also, the changes from high school to college were difficult, but I stayed dedicated and had an intelligent outlook on the future. My father is the most influential person in my life. He taught me that respect and dedication are the only way to improve and grow in this world. As a doctor in our home country, he was very needed and spent less time working in physical work than now. He hates his current physical job and wants to invest his time and energy in helping our tribe and home country. That is why I am interested in Entrepreneurship and international business. I want to create jobs and companies that will help my home country. I want to start my journey with a clinic in his name and ensure that people are served with the best medical care. Then, I want to scale this clinic in multiple regions in Ivory Coast. While this dream is far into the future, I want to gain more experience by creating my own small food business. I want this as a learning process for the clinic and to create more business. To conclude, as the oldest first-generation student, I admire my family and myself's strengths. But I must be honest, it isn't easy, especially as an African woman. The intersectionality of my identities is a constant struggle in this world, but I pull through by focusing on my education as my father taught me. I plan to continue my journey with support, especially with college prices. I hope to gain more experience in business management and help my father's dream.

We can become mentally ill in the same way we get physically. Mental illness is defined as a state of health instability that involves changes in emotion, thought, and behavior. Stress or a response to an experience can both create mental disease. It may also occur due to hereditary causes, physiological imbalances, child abuse or trauma, socioeconomic deprivation, poor physical health, etc. Mental diseases can be cured over time with support. One might seek assistance from specialists in this field or conquer this sickness through positive thinking and lifestyle change. For three years, I was one of those people who kept my sickness hidden. I was suffering in silence from depression and an eating issue. My whole day consisted around disguising my eating issue from everyone. This resulted in a great deal of despair, rage, and loneliness. I attempted to conceal it not just from others but also from myself. I attempted to persuade myself that nothing was wrong since I didn't completely comprehend what was happening. I had no idea what was causing me to damage myself or why I couldn't stop. My despair and fury were rapidly mounting as my weight decreased. I grew enraged at everyone and everything. The tension and strain of keeping things in caused me much pain. If anything minor happened, it became too much for me to bear, and I needed to let it go somehow. The only way I could deal with it was to weep myself to sleep until I forgot about my suffering. My condition had become hard to conceal at this point, and my family had finally discovered my dark secret. They did not want to watch me suffer and wanted to assist. They tried their utmost to assist me, but they just did not know how. Honestly, my depression started due to the racism I faced at work and school. As an immigrant, I knew that I would be discriminated but I never imgani9ed that it would lead to any form of depression. Also, it was triggered by the murder of Sandra Bland and other black individuals at the hands of the police and the mistreatment of black people in the medical field. I learned that black women are more likely to be killed due to the lack of support during birth labor. I suffer due to blatant racism and discrimination. I don't want to go into details, but I am tired as a black woman emotionally and physically. I am tired of the discrimination. I want to thrive where I am viewed as a human, not a caricature. Despite all those situations, my passions are crochet, my tribe in my birth country, and filmmaking. I want to utilize my business skills and degrees to build my first crochet business and other companies. I want to ensure that other black women and girls are represented in the higher management of mega-companies. Also, since representations are often lacking in the filmmaking industry. I want to improve the representation of black people in the media. I will continue to thrive no matter what the situation.

My family and my birth country are two of the many reasons why I desire to attend college. My first exposure to entrepreneurship was in high school. I attended this business class and loved what the instructor taught me. This prompted me to conduct extensive study and reasearch on how to create sustainability for my community. Independence is another motivator to . As the oldest daughter of an immigrant family, I aspire to financial independence and to choose my own educational path. I wish to explore my own options in this world. That is why I am pursuing higher education. Because of this passion and discovery, I paid more attention than my peers to everything she taught and explored. I wanted to be the best in class. Something ignited in me; the desire to create items or services that anybody may use to improve their life made me glad and joyful. With that, I began to seek business ideas and what I could do to assist improve people's attitudes, particularly in my home nation, Ivory coast. But, as an immigrant with overworked parents, I felt compelled to look for other methods to improve my family's financial circumstances. My family encouraged me to seize every opportunity and earn higher degrees. They instilled in me the value of education and information. That is why I wish to enroll in more business classes. They were interesting because that desire had resurfaced. My favorite subjects in college were financial accounting and marketing. I learned how to market, launch, and envision my company concepts. I even made several business plans for my ideas, but I was also aware of their failures. Whether you operate in technology, real estate, or food service, there are several entrepreneurial methods to engage with the local community. Supporting non-profits and community groups may help me generate value inside my business. In creating a sense of volunteering and generosity among my consumers and demonstrating that I am invested in my local community's quality of life and future. Finally, regardless of my degree, I am intrigued and proud to learn about business and how to lead in the world.

I thought of the perfect answer to this question, but I could not. I am not perfect; I am human. I also could not reflect on my past to write anything captivating. So, I decided to create a poem instead of an essay to express my honest self to the world. Depression is no joke It kills with a sharp knife. It destroys the mind. It takes the normal from you. Mental illness is not a simple time machine Anxiety is no joke. It paralyzes you to the waist down It destroys any self-esteem. My confidence is shattered. Long hours, long mornings, long nights away to indulge the wait of my thoughts I once had a dream to provide for myself and my family. I once dreamed of building my own business and helping my community. But all dreams stay dreams. I dealt with racism, I dealt with discrimination I dealt with bullying. I am dealing with the weights of my consciousness and my body Racism is rampant Colorism is like skin cancer. Discrimination is the lack of opportunities. Privilege is the bed of the lucky. I am tired. I am tired of the noise. I am exhausted. But, I am Hope and Courage. I only continue to pursue my dream of being an entrepreneur and leader. In this poem, I explain my current situation as a black woman dealing with mental illness in a world of opportunities. I had plans to get my Bachelor of sciences in Entrepreneurship by the age of 22, but my mental illness ruined it. Despite my condition, I decided to pursue another certificate in Accounting online. Subsequently, I am going to therapy to improve and try to make progress by going outside again. I also decide to pursue a food business that focuses on delivering food to the customer. With this business plan, I can pursue my accounting degree while creating more opportunities for myself as a business student. There is no conclusion to my storyline because I am human. My perseverance is strong. My future, present, and past self are unbeatable.

This Sudanese proverb says, ' we desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first is roots, the other is wings. Though I am not Sudanese but Ivorian, I admire the struggle of every African and immigrant. With all honesty of my heart, I cannot stand being an immigrant. It's a struggle between sanity and life. During my nine years in this country, despite all of the opportunities, I learned that the home country is also colonized through its momentary system, which resulted in many of my tribe members' death. Plus, I dealt with racism and discrimination in this country. It made me lose faith in humanity due to the amount of support for white supremacy. I am tired of seeing the lives of African descent destroyed by white supremacy. Subsequently, my family comes from the Ivory Coast, a french speaking country. We came to this country due to the civil war. Throughout the war, I saw my extended family and my tribe suffer from the war and its consequences. Later, I learned that the rebels had killed thousands of my tribespeople for our resources. This devastated me and caused me to go through a depressive episode. However, during those difficult moments, we used to pray together. This proves to reconnect our family beliefs and closeness to our religions. Regardless, we came to this country with the valuable morale of staying strong and together no matter the problems. My papa is the most influential person in my life. He taught me that respect and dedication are the only way to improve and grow in this world. As a doctor in our home country, he was very needed and spent less time working in physical work than now. He hates his current physical job and wants to invest his time and energy in helping our tribe and home country. That is why I am interested in Entrepreneurship and international business. I hope to create jobs and businesses that will help my home country. I want to start my journey with a clinic in his name and ensure that people are served with the best medical care. Then, I want to scale this clinic in multiple regions on Ivory Coast. While this dream is far into the future, I hope to gain more experience by creating my own small food business. I want this as a learning process for the clinic and to create more business. To conclude, my family's story is my story. As the oldest first-generation student, I admire the strengths of my history and family. But I must be honest, it is difficult, especially as an African woman. The intersectionality of my identities is a constant struggle in this world, but I pull through by focusing on my education as my father taught me. I hope to continue my journey with support, especially with college prices. I hope to gain more experience in business management and help my father's dream.

Many people have aspirations of starting their own business. However, it helped to realize that there are other things to consider. Do I have what it takes to meet the challenge of the outside world? I must question myself. Not everyone has the foresight, originality, and imagination to start their own business. One needs to be disciplined to reach their goals, have a positive outlook, accept responsibility, and act when an opportunity arises. While many individuals prefer the stability of a steady job and depend on a weekly salary, entrepreneurs are willing to take chances and do not have the luxury of knowing their income in advance. As a result, entrepreneurs like myself must motivate others, which shouldn't be difficult given the enthusiasm that entrepreneurs already have for their companies. In this situation, communicating and getting along with others is crucial. For a team to be motivated, the ability to articulate a vision and inspire others to embrace it is crucial. That is why it's crucial to have certain objectives in mind when making future plans and be aware of the steps necessary to get there. My long-term objective is to manage my own business investment firm and create jobs for my home country, Ivory Coast. During my finance class, I learned that Africa needs more outstanding help for small and medium-sized businesses, which inspired this goal. I also discovered during the course that African politicians do not promote those kinds of businesses because of colonialism and corruption. Most African leaders steal from their nation's diligent citizens. By creating this company, I can help people by giving them modest loans, educating them on how to succeed both in the short and long term, and also giving them supplies and equipment. I have already written my own market research and business plans. Additionally, I learned that there is no market for business-to-business investment, which reduces competitiveness in this sector. Accounting and creativity are two skills I already have that will help me achieve my dream. My goals are to pursue many business management certificates and degrees while also helping my mother's small food company. I need to have excellent social skills and be at ease interacting with others to establish any business. Tough, I suffer with interactions because of my social anxiety disorder and a recent episode of depression brought on by the stress of my job, school, and Covid-19. I want to improve on them and inspire people. I conclude that as a leader and businessperson, I want to be a role model for everyone, the person who was always willing to lend a hand and was there for you whenever you needed them. Therefore, my legacy should highlight the good things I accomplished throughout my lifetime.

This quote inspires me to pursue the best for myself and my family's legacy. “I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have a fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena, and I’m like, ‘my back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it but don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.” from the late Kobe Bryant. Despite my challenges, I intend to succeed no matter what. I want to use my degree to better the lives of my communities in the Ivory Coast and the United States. I never experienced racism or prejudice the way I did here as an immigrant from an African nation that was largely homogeneous. After seeing how white supremacy operates in this country, I experienced despair and lost interest in living. The practice of white supremacy is widespread across the world. Because of bullying and racial harassment, learning about such types of prejudice causes me to experience despair and social anxiety. It was a terrible experience, especially considering I had never encountered it in my nation of origin. In addition to these problems, I've always struggled with confidence and poor self-esteem, making me an easy target. I was forced to resign from my position since depression is a mental illness that may physically disable a person. My plans to live alone and buy my first apartment were financially shattered. I, therefore, decided to concentrate on my studies rather than work at various jobs. Fortunately, my parents agreed with my choice to take a year off from working on my bachelor's degree in the sciences to concentrate on my mental health. Despite this, I continued attending a community college to get a certificate. Because most of my classes were online, I could concentrate on my mental health and be inspired to seek further certifications. My parents instilled in me the belief that a good life is built on a solid education and skill acquisition foundation. I chose to major in entrepreneurship and international business because, as I discovered in high school while taking a personal finance course, corruption and colonialism in African nations are the main causes of the continent's lack of support for small and medium-sized firms. With this degree, I intend to build more sustainable enterprises and concentrate on mental health issues in my community once I have recovered from my mental health condition. I'll increase employment while making sure that both consumers and staff are happy. Despite my mental health, I also wanted to continue with my schooling because of Black Panther. My life has improved as a result of the movie. I came to understand that there are leaders that are dedicated to serving their nations rather than the colonizers. It also created the necessary representation for the community and united the African diaspora. I will continue to pursue knowledge and support my community despite my present health.