“I can’t wait for this to be over,” I thought as I stared at myself in the corner of my screen in the Telehealth waiting room. I never thought I’d be in such a vulnerable place: sharing my inner thoughts with someone so far removed from my life. As I sat waiting patiently for my session to start, I could feel my anxiety begin to swell. What led me to therapy were the intense emotions I’d had since starting high school. Socially and emotionally, I’d become my worst critic. It seemed as if all my imperfections had risen to the surface and constantly flooded my conscience with negativity, self-doubt, and a damaged sense of purpose. I began to watch the world around me change completely, but I was obstinate about the fact that I was changing with it. I found myself confined to the inner workings of my mind. Alone and anxious, I’d seek a haven in the comfort of my restless thoughts. Though I knew wallowing in self-antagonization would only make things unbearable, my apprehensiveness toward change kept me stagnant. My parents have told me throughout my childhood that I’d always been an anxious person. Though I felt the manner with which I interacted with my environment was different from my peers, I was opposed to the idea that I may be struggling with something deeper than nerves. The pressures I felt to perform exceedingly well academically, in sports, clubs, and socially didn’t help me manage much either. It wasn’t until I began high school that I realized my anxiety had begun affecting my ability to live outside of my head. It was a struggle to get up in the mornings. To brush my teeth, get dressed, endure the sinking feeling that rushed over my body as my mom pulled into the school carpool line. All of these things took a toll on my personality and I started to feel less like myself. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from therapy is that we take charge of modeling our unique paths. Though failure and disappointment are inevitable, how we recover from those difficulties determines our character. I realized that my environment influenced the perceived imperfections I adopted as character flaws. Opposed to letting myself go, I committed to seeking salvation through perseverance. Recognizing my ability to create space for growth and self-compassion has been a driving force that keeps me afloat. I concluded that if we can see ourselves reflected in those we hold space for, we can appreciate the beautiful things vested in our existence. As I began to embrace change, I gravitated towards people who cherished me in my entirety; whether good or bad, those “character flaws” and “imperfections” never seemed to deter them from me. More importantly, though, I wasn’t running from my individuality. I’m endlessly grateful for my therapist and all of her guidance. It’s because of this that I’ve been able to challenge my anxiety and be resilient in the face of adversity.

Growing up in the southern United States, I’ve always been hyper-aware of my place in society as a Black, queer woman. Without explicitly being told that I could not accomplish my goals, I felt pressure from teachers, peers, and leaders within my community. Initially, I was skeptical about my ability to perform in a rigorous course of study as my preconceived notions about my potential set the tone for how I would show up in my academics. However, I’ve gained confidence in my willingness to improve and excel holistically. Education is a beacon of hope on which the dreams of underrepresented minority students ride. I’ve always understood the importance of educating oneself to navigate life and build a future you admire. For me, this has always meant pursuing a career in STEM to focus my ambition on innovating a world that holds opportunities for future generations. This led me to my passion for chemical engineering. Advocating for equity and women’s rights to adequate healthcare is essential to uplifting minority voices. More specifically, being outspoken about the need for improvement in women’s contraceptives and hormone medications is what drives the fight to improve upon a necessary sector of science. Black women specifically are disproportionately impacted by high-risk pregnancies that result from the lack of access to emergency contraceptives and post-abortive care medications. Even in the presence of these vital preventative measures and medications, these processes are dangerous and often harmful to a woman’s reproductive system and overall health. With the knowledge to leverage my impact to curate and promote safer alternatives to emergency contraceptive pills, I’m eager to work diligently to discover and implement solutions to bridge the equity gaps between safe medicinal products and affordability/access. With this scholarship, I’d be one step closer to taking strides toward my future success. After pursuing a bachelor’s degree, I have hopes to start my career and continue my education in a graduate program. The financial burden of higher education has plagued my family for generations, so I would be immensely grateful to graduate debt-free with a greater chance at a solid foundation for my career and education. I want to affirm within myself that I have the power to make my dreams a reality, and I want to allow myself to make valuable community change and a global impact through continued education in the future. Opportunities like the Bright Lights Scholarship allow underrepresented and minority students like myself to excel in a world that doesn’t often celebrate our uniqueness.

Growing up, my parents’ sacrifices to provide for our family were always made abundantly clear. Go to college. Earn a degree. Take care of their family. Those were priorities when it came to my parents and their willingness to give. They didn’t come from wealthy families and often faced financial hardships. So, when I started high school, I knew it was vital to take advantage of the opportunity to gain an education, involve myself in my community, and strive to set a standard. And so, I continue to do just that. Connecting with my teachers to enhance my academics and collaborate with my peers and community members to foster relationships with those who share my passion for education. More specifically, though, those who meet my eagerness to make an impact on the field of education. Throughout my primary educational years, I attended different schools (public and charter). I began noticing the inequities between the quality of education and enrichment opportunities presented to students based on race, socioeconomic status, and school funding. These challenges included racism from teachers and peers, followed by misogyny and classism. Opposed to surrendering to the idea that I should “stay in my box” as a young Black woman, I sought to challenge myself academically, socially, and emotionally. I fell in love with math and the sciences at a young age, thus fostering my plan to pursue a career in chemical engineering. My parents, wanting my siblings and me to receive advanced education, were overcome with stress, trying to decide where to send us to school. However, my overwhelming passion for learning gave me the adaptability to thrive in any environment, and this set the foundation for continued learning in high school. As I matriculated through high school, I noticed the need for support for students and teachers in underserved neighborhoods. Educators being the pillars of my success and beacons of light in my pathway to success, I knew I wanted to leave a legacy that honors the vitality of education. For me, attending a university provides an opportunity to serve as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of scholars. Not only am I working toward building a life for myself, but inspiring youth to take pride in being involved academically and within their own communities. As an African American woman, I constantly push back against a status quo that depicts me as lazy and subordinate. So, it’s with sincere passion that I take strides in the direction of higher education as a form of advocacy. My commitment to education is unwavering. Despite the challenges, I have worked tirelessly to maintain and improve my GPA, stay active in clubs and extracurriculars, and serve my community. Always seeking to take an impactful stance on my education, I never shy away from chances to embark on new journeys and broaden my knowledge. This dedication is a testament to my belief that education is invaluable. As I look towards the future, I am filled with ambition and determination to pursue higher education. This drive propels me to strengthen my abilities and pave a pathway for students like myself. I am eager to feed my passion for teaching as I transition into post-secondary education, as it is a testament to the things we can achieve when we set our minds to it.

My entire life, I’ve been blessed with almost anything I ever wanted. Though, I’ve always been conscious about the needs of others throughout my community. Commitment to service is something we should all aspire to. I’m so grateful for each opportunity I receive that allows me to better the community. A large component of service is global impact and encouraging members of your community to get involved in something that will positively impact the spaces we share. I’ve been fortunate enough to garner meaningful relationships with educators who have shown what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. Thinking about how fortunate I am to have access to everything I need to succeed, I reflected on the impact that the lack of resources has on schools in low-income areas. This past year, I started an initiative to gather school supplies and necessities for students and teachers living and working in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout my life, I’ve garnered close relationships with advisors, family friends, and mentors within the public school system. Looking closely at the dedication and determination these individuals put towards improving their students’ learning environments, I knew there was something I could do to gather community support and contribute to the continuation of a positive learning experience for students. This birthed ‘Pack Give Back’, a service initiative within the Merancas Middle College High School community dedicated to collecting and transporting school supplies and necessities to students and teachers at underserved public schools. Working closely with school administration, I’ve successfully hosted and gained support for school supplies donated to two Charlotte-Mecklenburg elementary schools. Education is the core of social, emotional, and mental development that lays a strong foundation for youth success. For the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as an officer and member of Delta Zeta Archonettes, a youth auxiliary group on a mission to empower high school aged girls in their educational pursuits while fostering a culture of community oriented service. Being a part of this organization has propelled me forward to my goals in pursuing higher education and working towards opening doors for myself. Coming from a middle-class background, I’ve watched my parents work tirelessly to provide a better life for their children, all while tending to and caring for the needs of extended family. This display of community is what drives me to support the educational endeavors of bright, young minds on their missions to making their dreams a reality. Being awarded this scholarship would not only aid me on my journey through post-secondary education. It would celebrate the legacy of servitude and determination that’s been nurtured throughout my childhood by my family and their unwavering aptitude for bettering the community.

When I think of outstanding qualities of inspirational women, I begin to observe the ways in which they grapple with adversity. These women are intelligent, determined, disciplined, hardworking, and they seek to amplify the voices and accomplishments of others. For me, my sister embodies each of these characteristics in a unique way. Throughout her journey to success, I watched her venture out into unfamiliar fields with strife and a sense of fearlessness that many cannot attest to. Being the first born, she adamantly displayed what it meant to be a role model to myself and my brother. When it was time to apply to colleges and scholarships, she had a vision for what she wanted to achieve and triumphantly completed a B.S. in Chemical Engineering on a full-ride academic scholarship. Watching her achieve her dreams filled my spirit with joy and pride, but it also taught me that no goal is unattainable. I recently finished my junior year of high school and was weighed with the pressures of applying for scholarships, challenging myself with a rigorous curriculum, staying consistent with dance, and garnering relationships with teachers, advisors, and coaches. “When will you be applying for scholarships?” “What did you get on your ACT/SAT?” “What is your GPA looking like this year?”. All questions I’ve received throughout this past school year that trickled into self-doubt. Reflecting on what I wanted to pursue continued to be one of my greatest challenges; I constantly found myself in a state of self-doubt and apprehension. Since my sister moved to Indianapolis to start her career, it was hard being so far away from one of my greatest beacons of hope. However, that never stopped her from encouraging me to explore my interests and navigate my strengths. I sat with myself for a moment. Thinking “What am I passionate about?” as I stared at the voicemail my sister had left to check in on me during one of the toughest years of high school. I knew I wanted to contribute my passions to the well-being of others, but also to pursue a STEM-based career that would nurture my love for math, science, and environmental awareness. Without my sister’s guidance, I probably wouldn’t have batted an eye at a career in chemical engineering. However, I’ve come to the realization that it’s the perfect fit. In an effort to break barriers and advocate for the bright minds of black women, I plan to pursue a career in chemical engineering with the ultimate goal of working in cosmetic chemistry to innovate the future of clean beauty. My sister’s unwavering support is a testament to the impact that a sense of familiarity has on the mission to increase equitable opportunities for black women in STEM fields. I will continue to embrace my intelligence, determination, discipline, and hard work to cultivate a place where women like myself and my sister are valued.

Reading is the core of education, and I like to think that immersing oneself in a book is such a liberating experience. For me, my love of literature began when I gained a significant connection to my kindergarten teacher; she would read to the class each day and I found myself mesmerized by the power of messages sent through storytelling. One novel whose content makes itself consistently relevant to me is all about love by bell hooks (the title and novelist's name are not capitalized out of respect for her wishes). This novel brings forth themes of romantic/platonic relationships and the core components of love; respect, trust, commitment, care, recognition, and affection. hooks' writing explores the realms of love, lovelessness, and conjunction of human beings and their personalized experiences as they embark on new connections. As I was reading the novel, I began applying the themes of love and care to my own circumstances. I thought “Am I happy in this relationship?” “Do these things present themselves to me and I just haven’t taken notice?” “How can I begin to change the ways that I communicate with my friends and family?” I’m a strong believer in the Socratic learning method, and I found that once I began to question my character more frequently, the more I found myself unfolding new aspects of my relationship with myself. Through her work, Bell Hooks has influenced a wide audience of young readers to reflect on their cynical mindset and counteract it by incorporating love into each thing they adhere themselves to. all about love has been such a center of light when I find myself falling into old patterns of selfishness and overindulgence. I feel so strongly about the impact of literature because it gives us the tools to approach life’s hardships with triumph and resilience. In a society so heavily based on technology and synthetic forms of human interaction, it’s imperative that we nurture significant relationships- with self, and with others- to garner a secure sense of community and belonging . Embracing my newfound capacity to identify with the actions of others has given me the freedom to be present and show appreciation for the nature that brings all together. This novel continues to act as a guiding light for me and I hope to see the results of its importance maintain steady in the lives of others.