Mic in hand, sound checked, and ready to go. A crowd of thousands cheering loudly waited, as my twin sister and I made our way to the center of Citi Field. I needed only to remember that I was prepared regardless of what my nerves were telling me. I stood with mixed feelings as I represented our nation with our rendition of the national anthem. My hands were clammy as I held the mic, waiting for my cue by the announcer. “INTRODUCING MANI AND MAIYA” he shouted. I brushed the nervousness aside, I sang with everything I had.

My mother has always been my biggest champion and role model. As a survivor of domestic violence from my father, and cancer, to now a business owner and life coach, she has taught me that my life amounts to way more than the sum of my circumstances. As a child my mother was shuffled around due to her mother’s bout with mental illness. The lack of consistency and care in her homes contributed to a great deal of difficulties that took their toll on her life’s trajectory. Her later diagnosis with one of the rarest tumors ever seen in medical history further complicated her life plans. In contrast, my mother saw to it that my home was full of all that she had to do without. Although gifted with an ear for music and a singing voice like no other, her chaotic home life left no room for her to expand on these talents. My life is and will be much different than hers because I am allowed to truly focus on my goals.Training since the age of 8, I have inherited this ear for music and a unique voice of my own. There has always been a hyper focus on my dreams and overall wellbeing and for that I am grateful. In addition to my musical interests, I also have a recognized passion for helping others. Given my mother’s history and my own experiences growing up, I’ve been inspired to help people in my community who are challenged with similar obstacles. Overall my life will be different from my mothers because I am blessed with good health and a foundation that positions me to put my best foot forward. There is so much clarity on the other side of adversity. I am thankful that my mom leveraged all of her life experiences in ways that have enabled me to reach greater heights.

Mic in hand, sound checked, and ready to go. A crowd of thousands cheering loudly waited, as I made my way to the center of Citi Field. I needed only to remember that I was prepared regardless of what my nerves were telling me. I stood with mixed feelings as I represented our nation with my rendition of the national anthem. To be young, gifted, and black, and given this opportunity was nothing short of an honor. On the contrary, to be in this position in full understanding of the rarity of such an opportunity, only highlighted the lack of access people from my community have. It was then that I realized how much more work needed to be done for black and brown people, and that the inclusivity couldn't stop there. I co-founded an organization called Read and Rule that expands the realm of possibilities for people of color as well as all others. We design programs that enable young people to engage in meaningful and educational ways. I am a strong believer in the fact that one should be just as focused on their studies, as they are confident in themselves. We place a huge emphasis on mental health and self love, because it is in those areas that the black community is mostly ignored. Throughout my ongoing walk towards self love, I realized that it all starts with representation. Who you have in your life, who you look up to, and what you surround yourself with, make up a lot of who you are. Despite not having my father active in my life, I am grateful to have my mom be my guide. However, not all children and teens have that someone. Through our company Read and Rule, we host quarterly forums called “Level Up and Lead”. These conferences are hosted through zoom as of late, due to the pandemic. We connect teens with influencers who serve as role models, and give candid testimonials about how they struggled, overcame, and won in life. For the aspiring dancers and artists, I sought the sponsorship of the American Ballet Theatre. They arranged an unforgettable evening for a select group of teens and children to meet Misty Copeland. It is powerful for young people of color to see someone that looks like them succeed in a world where they are often underrepresented and underappreciated. Although I host these events alongside my twin sister, I too benefit from the exposure. As I continue to come into my own, I’m grateful that I have the chance to be the person I needed when I was younger. I understand all too well that despite one's best efforts, a lack of resources will often be a detriment to a successful outcome. I am a firm believer that one can’t be in the position to influence others if they aren't taking their own advice. I can only stand here today advocating for the importance of self love, because I struggled with that very thing. The absence of my father in my life took a toll on my confidence and overall mental health. It was only in recent years that I began to fully embrace the idea that I have always been enough. I'm thankful to have found a calling that helps mold others, as well as myself, into the next generation of purpose driven individuals. I look forward to all that college has to offer, and in turn, to the many ways I hope to add success to my life. With a brave heart and a focus like never before, I am reminded of that day at Citi Field. I am prepared to raise my voice, face the crowd, and rally the cause.

Mic in hand, sound checked, and ready to go. A crowd of thousands cheering loudly waited, as I made my way to the center of Citi Field. I needed only to remember that I was prepared regardless of what my nerves were telling me. I stood with mixed feelings as I represented our nation with my rendition of the national anthem. To be young, gifted, and black, and given this opportunity was nothing short of an honor. On the contrary, to be in this position in full understanding of the rarity of such an opportunity, only highlighted the lack of access people from my community have. It was then that I realized how much more work needed to be done for black and brown people, and that the inclusivity couldn't stop there. I co-founded an organization called Read and Rule that expands the realm of possibilities for people of color as well as all others. We design programs that enable young people to engage in meaningful and educational ways. I am a strong believer in the fact that one should be just as focused on their studies, as they are confident in themselves. We place a huge emphasis on mental health and self love, because it is in those areas that the black community is mostly ignored. Throughout my ongoing walk towards self love, I realized that it all starts with representation. Who you have in your life, who you look up to, and what you surround yourself with, make up a lot of who you are. Despite not having my father active in my life, I am grateful to have my mom be my guide. However, not all children and teens have that someone. Through our company Read and Rule, we host quarterly forums called “Level Up and Lead”. These conferences are hosted through zoom as of late, due to the pandemic. We connect teens with influencers who serve as role models, and give candid testimonials about how they struggled, overcame, and won in life. For the aspiring dancers and artists, I sought the sponsorship of the American Ballet Theatre. They arranged an unforgettable evening for a select group of teens and children to meet Misty Copeland. It is powerful for young people of color to see someone that looks like them succeed in a world where they are often underrepresented and underappreciated. Although I host these events alongside my twin sister, I too benefit from the exposure. As I continue to come into my own, I’m grateful that I have the chance to be the person I needed when I was younger. I understand all too well that despite one's best efforts, a lack of resources will often be a detriment to a successful outcome. I am a firm believer that one can’t be in the position to influence others if they aren't taking their own advice. I can only stand here today advocating for the importance of self love, because I struggled with that very thing. The absence of my father in my life took a toll on my confidence and overall mental health. It was only in recent years that I began to fully embrace the idea that I have always been enough. I'm thankful to have found a calling that helps mold others, as well as myself, into the next generation of purpose driven individuals. I look forward to all that college has to offer, and in turn, to the many ways I hope to add success to my life. With a brave heart and a focus like never before, I am reminded of that day at Citi Field. I am prepared to raise my voice, face the crowd, and rally the cause.

Mic in hand, sound checked, and ready to go. A crowd of thousands cheering loudly waited, as I made my way to the center of Citi Field. I needed only to remember that I was prepared regardless of what my nerves were telling me. I stood with mixed feelings as I represented our nation with my rendition of the national anthem. To be young, gifted, and black, and given this opportunity was nothing short of an honor. On the contrary, to be in this position in full understanding of the rarity of such an opportunity, only highlighted the lack of access people from my community have. It was then that I realized how much more work needed to be done for black and brown people, and that the inclusivity couldn't stop there. I co-founded an organization called Read and Rule that expands the realm of possibilities for people of color as well as all others. We design programs that enable young people to engage in meaningful and educational ways. I am a strong believer in the fact that one should be just as focused on their studies, as they are confident in themselves. We place a huge emphasis on mental health and self love, because it is in those areas that the black community is mostly ignored. Throughout my ongoing walk towards self love, I realized that it all starts with representation. Who you have in your life, who you look up to, and what you surround yourself with, make up a lot of who you are. Despite not having my father active in my life, I am grateful to have my mom be my guide. However, not all children and teens have that someone. Through our company Read and Rule, we host quarterly forums called “Level Up and Lead”. These conferences are hosted through zoom as of late, due to the pandemic. We connect teens with influencers who serve as role models, and give candid testimonials about how they struggled, overcame, and won in life. For the aspiring dancers and artists, I sought the sponsorship of the American Ballet Theatre. They arranged an unforgettable evening for a select group of teens and children to meet Misty Copeland. It is powerful for young people of color to see someone that looks like them succeed in a world where they are often underrepresented and underappreciated. Although I host these events alongside my twin sister, I too benefit from the exposure. As I continue to come into my own, I’m grateful that I have the chance to be the person I needed when I was younger. I understand all too well that despite one's best efforts, a lack of resources will often be a detriment to a successful outcome. I am a firm believer that one can’t be in the position to influence others if they aren't taking their own advice. I can only stand here today advocating for the importance of self love, because I struggled with that very thing. The absence of my father in my life took a toll on my confidence and overall mental health. It was only in recent years that I began to fully embrace the idea that I have always been enough. I'm thankful to have found a calling that helps mold others, as well as myself, into the next generation of purpose driven individuals. I look forward to all that college has to offer, and in turn, to the many ways I hope to add success to my life. With a brave heart and a focus like never before, I am reminded of that day at Citi Field. I am prepared to raise my voice, face the crowd, and rally the cause.

Mic in hand, sound checked, and ready to go. A crowd of thousands cheering loudly waited, as I made my way to the center of Citi Field. I needed only to remember that I was prepared regardless of what my nerves were telling me. I stood with mixed feelings as I represented our nation with my rendition of the national anthem. To be young, gifted, and black, and given this opportunity was nothing short of an honor. On the contrary, to be in this position in full understanding of the rarity of such an opportunity, only highlighted the lack of access people from my community have. It was then that I realized how much more work needed to be done for black and brown people, and that the inclusivity couldn't stop there. I co-founded an organization called Read and Rule that expands the realm of possibilities for people of color as well as all others. We design programs that enable young people to engage in meaningful and educational ways. I am a strong believer in the fact that one should be just as focused on their studies, as they are confident in themselves. We place a huge emphasis on mental health and self love, because it is in those areas that the black community is mostly ignored. Throughout my ongoing walk towards self love, I realized that it all starts with representation. Who you have in your life, who you look up to, and what you surround yourself with, make up a lot of who you are. Despite not having my father active in my life, I am grateful to have my mom be my guide. However, not all children and teens have that someone. Through our company Read and Rule, we host quarterly forums called “Level Up and Lead”. These conferences are hosted through zoom as of late, due to the pandemic. We connect teens with influencers who serve as role models, and give candid testimonials about how they struggled, overcame, and won in life. For the aspiring dancers and artists, I sought the sponsorship of the American Ballet Theatre. They arranged an unforgettable evening for a select group of teens and children to meet Misty Copeland. It is powerful for young people of color to see someone that looks like them succeed in a world where they are often underrepresented and underappreciated. Although I host these events alongside my twin sister, I too benefit from the exposure. As I continue to come into my own, I’m grateful that I have the chance to be the person I needed when I was younger. I understand all too well that despite one's best efforts, a lack of resources will often be a detriment to a successful outcome. I am a firm believer that one can’t be in the position to influence others if they aren't taking their own advice. I can only stand here today advocating for the importance of self love, because I struggled with that very thing. The absence of my father in my life took a toll on my confidence and overall mental health. It was only in recent years that I began to fully embrace the idea that I have always been enough. I'm thankful to have found a calling that helps mold others, as well as myself, into the next generation of purpose driven individuals. I look forward to all that college has to offer, and in turn, to the many ways I hope to add success to my life. With a brave heart and a focus like never before, I am reminded of that day at Citi Field. I am prepared to raise my voice, face the crowd, and rally the cause.