I have always been a computer nerd. I’ve loved computers since I was a kid, and when my elders needed help with technology, I was usually the one to fix the issue. As a result, I took my first computer science class in my senior year of high school. I found it challenging. After all, I transferred to it at the last minute because my dad wouldn’t let me take in-person classes during COVID, and the classes were only available in person. Despite the challenges, I enjoyed the class, which sparked my interest in logic and problem-solving. My experience in that class led me to choose computer science as my major in college. My dream job after graduation is to create innovative and impactful projects. I am drawn to developing games, apps, and websites, with a strong preference for projects that align with my Christian faith. I think using my computer science skills to contribute to the Christian community would please God and our spiritual community. I am the best candidate for this scholarship because I see the qualities Chris had in myself. I spend a lot of time studying the Bible, and people often ask me for help and advice even if they aren’t Christians. I enjoy talking to people and creating that deep emotional connection. When speaking with others, my main goal is to listen more than I speak; that's how you can reach and understand people. I aim to make everyone I come across see the light at the end of the tunnel, and people have told me that I’ve served as a beacon of hope for them. I don’t say this to boast or brag, but I want to bring this energy into my profession and work for a good and honest company that wants to impact people’s lives through computer science.

MMy testimony started when I survived a deadly car crash in my senior year in high school. In the middle of a snowstorm, my car skirted off the highway onto a hill at 80 miles an hour. My car flew through the air and crashed face-first into the ground. The impact was so powerful that it bounced off the ground and continued to do multiple flips. My car ended up upside down, and I crawled out of it unscathed. I went to the doctor after for a check-up, and they said I was also fine internally. This event is what caused me to believe that God is real. This opportunity is another blessing from God. Even if my application gets denied, I get to share my fantastic testimony again, which shows that what Jesus did 2000 years ago on the cross still applies to our modern-day human lives. My faith has encouraged me to work harder and take life more seriously. Proverbs 26:16 says, "A lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer seriously." Since coming to Christ, I've been motivated to work harder than ever. The job and housing market don't look too good, but I am not worried because Christ says faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. My family is filled with divorce, broken homes, and absent fathers. I want to work hard, earn a good wage, and start a beautiful, Christ-centered family one day. I refuse to succumb to the bad habits of my family; instead, I will do what Christ tells me to do. I am under the wing of a Pastor at an ABCUSA church in Livonia, Michigan, called Alpha Baptist Church. He is helping me get through life and always advising me on managing my relationships. The most challenging aspect of my life has been maintaining relationships with my family and unbelievers. There have been many times when I considered cutting off all of my friends because they have disrespected my faith on many different levels. According to scripture, Christ calls us to the salt of the earth and the light in the darkness, so I have not cut them off; instead, I distance myself from them. The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked with non-believers. Even when I was a die hard atheist, looking back I can see Jesus Christ working in my life. I will continue to be faithful to Him as He is to me. Amen