My parents are both from a small island on the West coast of Africa called Cape Verde. My mother grew up in the capital of Praia, while my father grew up on the poor island of Fogo. My mother was more privileged compared to most because her father was a well-known politician in Cape Verde. This allowed her to attend school, which was considered a privilege. She ended up graduating high school and traveling all around Europe before coming to settle in America. My father was the complete opposite. His parents were very poor farmers who tried their best to raise their seventeen children. My father didn't have the proper funding to continue going to school so he dropped out in the fourth grade and helped his father with their farming business. He then went off to serve in the military around his twenties. My parents met each other in America around the early 2000s. My father had come to America to start a new life and my mother was ready to start beginning her nursing career independently. In 2006, I came along and shortly after they got married before having my sister in 2008. A year later, my father ended up filing for divorce. This is where my mother's whole life changed. Throughout her life, she has never been alone. Not in the romantic sense, but she has always had somewhere there for each phase of her life. From birth until her twenties, she has always had the support of my grandfather financially. Then, when she met my father, she got a part-time job but wasn't the breadwinner of the household. Now with the divorce, she had two little girls to tend to, spoke very little English and had a part-time job that paid seven dollars per hour. We ended up living with my uncle for a while and I began preschool. I had never been fully aware of what was going on with my parents. It wasn't until the middle of elementary school that I began to notice that Daddy wasn't there as much anymore. Despite their situation, my mother had always made it clear that knowledge was power. She often highlighted how my father never had that opportunity and that I was blessed with the chance of being born in America. My mother also made it clear that my only focus was school. I didn't need to worry about money or anything else. This stuck with me and I always thrived to come home with straight A's and all my teachers talked about how much of an exemplary student I was. Around 2013, my mother got pregnant with my little sister. During this time, she decided to finally go to nursing school and follow her dream of becoming a certified nursing assistant. This seemed so powerful to me and just showed me how strong my mother was. Her daily routine had become bringing me and my sister to school, going to work, going to school, occasional doctor appointments, studying for school and taking care of my grandparents. And yet, she did it all with no complaints. My mother's determination always stood out to me and motivated me to become passionate about school. I developed a love for reading, sports, and psychology. Now as a senior in high school, I can only thank my mother for being there for me every step. Of course, we've had our struggles but in the end, she's always made it clear to me how good school is for me. Many people overlook the statement, "knowledge is power," but it truly is.

If I could have everyone in the world read one book, I would have them read After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson. This book is what started my whole love for black authors and made me fall in love with Jacqueline Woodson. Since a young age, I have always been interested in poetry and writing. It's not something my family can support me in because none of them like reading and writing. Writing has always been a personal hobby of mine and I'm constantly brewing more thoughts to write about. I rarely shared any pieces of my writing, but in the seventh grade, I started becoming closer to my English teacher. She had a very bubbly personality and she shared with the class how much she loved writing. When we began doing writing assignments, she would always tell me how much of a good writer I was and how my writing revealed so much more about myself. I've always been that "popular loner" in school, so my writing allowed her to get to know me better. Our first class project has begun and we were required to read the book Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson. The book didn't seem so appealing to me based on the cover, but the more I read it, the more in love I fell into with it. Jacqueline Woodson had such a beautiful way of writing and what stood out to me most was that she always focused her writing around the black community. Growing up, I never read many stories with black main characters but Woodson changed that for me. My teacher could tell how in love I was with the book, she recommended After Tupac and D Foster. I don't know what about the book specifically stuck with me, but it helped me understand the world better. That book helped me change my perspective on how I should treat people and try to understand their situation. It included topics such as child abandonment, racism and homophobia. I feel like these were some of the most commonly discussed topics in the world. After reading this book, I started reading more of Woodson's books and these topics were brought up often in the majority of her books, which I loved. I loved how in most of these middle age books, Woodson never hides the reality of the world from her young readers.

My grandfather has always been my greatest supporter. Throughout my scholastic career, he has been there for me every step of the way, cheering me on and pushing me to do my best. One of my earliest memories of his unwavering support was at my fifth grade graduation. My father couldn't attend, but my grandfather was there, shouting at the top of his lungs and beaming with pride. That moment was just one of many times when my grandfather has been there for me. He was there for every track meet, even when they were early in the morning or far away from home. He would bring me to every running event I wanted to go to, even if it meant driving for hours or spending a lot of money. He never made me feel like what I was doing wasn't enough, but he always pushed me to do my best and be my best self. My grandfather's support has meant so much to me, especially during difficult times. When I was going through a stage of depression, he was there for me. He reassured me that what I was doing was enough and that I was worth so much more than my grades or my athletic achievements. He reminded me that he loved me for who I was, not just for what I could do. Looking back on all of these memories, I realize how lucky I am to have my grandfather in my life. He has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration, and I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without him. His support has helped me to achieve my goals and overcome obstacles, and his belief in me has given me the confidence to pursue my dreams. In the future, I hope to continue to make my grandfather proud. I want to show him that all of his support and encouragement was not in vain, and that I am grateful for everything he has done for me. I know that he will always be there for me, cheering me on and pushing me to be my best self. And for that, I am forever grateful. In conclusion, my grandfather has always been my greatest supporter. He has been there for me through thick and thin, and his unwavering belief in me has helped me to achieve my goals and become the person I am today. I am so grateful for his love and support, and I know that I will always be able to.

Growing up in a big family, I learned the importance of taking accountability in situations and taking everyone's opinions into account, especially during difficult times. As an older sister, I was often looked up to as a role model and leader by my younger siblings. This helped me to develop strong communication skills and the ability to take charge in difficult situations. As a result, I have always been comfortable speaking up and taking action when needed. I believe that this is an important quality for a leader to have, as it helps to build trust and inspire others to take action as well. Whether it's in my personal life or my future career as a psychologist and business owner, I am committed to using my skills and experience to make a positive impact on the world around me. As a future psychologist, I believe that I can help people grow and learn about themselves. By providing a safe and supportive environment, I can help people to overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. I believe that this is an important part of being a leader, as it involves empowering others to reach their full potential. In addition to helping people grow and learn, I also want to own my own business and build a better environment. I believe that this is an important part of being a leader, as it involves taking initiative and creating something new. By owning my own business, I can create a positive and supportive environment where people can thrive and grow. I can also work to create positive change in my community by supporting local organizations and initiatives. Overall, I believe that being a leader involves taking accountability, taking action, and advocating for better. It involves empowering others to reach their full potential and creating a positive and supportive environment where everyone can thrive. As someone who grew up in a big family, I am confident in my ability to voice my opinion and take action when needed. As a future psychologist and business owner, I am committed to using my skills and experience to make a positive impact on the world around me. As a leader, I believe that it is important to take everyone's opinions into account, especially during difficult times. I have always been someone who likes to make people feel heard and know that their voice matters. I believe that this is an essential quality for a leader to have, as it helps to build trust and foster a sense of community. In my experience, being a leader means taking action and advocating for better. It means standing up for what you believe in and working to create positive change. As a future psychologist, I believe that I can achieve this goal.

Growing up, I felt unheard by my mother when it came to mental health care. She believed that black people didn't need help with their mental health, and this left me feeling unsupported and alone. However, I was fortunate enough to meet a therapist who debunked all of my mother's thoughts and supported me through a difficult time. This experience inspired me to become a child psychologist and open up my own business to support colored families, especially immigrants, and provide them with the mental health care they need. As an aspiring child psychologist, I am passionate about making mental health care more affordable and accessible to those who need it. I believe that everyone should have access to quality mental health care, regardless of their background or financial situation. That's why I plan to offer sliding scale fees and work with insurance companies to make mental health care more affordable for everyone. I also plan to provide culturally sensitive care that is tailored to the unique needs of each family. Many immigrants and people of color face unique challenges when it comes to mental health care, and I want to ensure that they feel heard and supported throughout their treatment. By providing this type of care, I believe that I can make a positive impact on the world and help to break down the barriers that prevent people from getting the help they need.