Dear Future Self, Passing the baton symbolizes the same faith that we see in Psalm 78– where we are responsible for passing on our faith to the next generation and so on. You know where you have been, and you are going to continue becoming better and more refined as you enter each next phase of your life. You have to continue committing to pursuing excellence in chemistry, prioritize mental and physical health, and cultivate financial worthiness. Here are the oaths I would like for you to carry on and eventually pass on the baton: 1.) I promise to continuously deepen my understanding of chemistry, staying curious and committed to learning more each year. Whether through coursework, research, or independent study, I will ensure that the future version of myself is knowledgeable, innovative, and capable of making significant contributions to the field. Continue to use chemistry to impact change to your immediate surroundings, and the world around you! 2.) I will commit to balancing the demands of my studies with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By staying active, eating well, and practicing mindfulness, I will ensure that each version of myself is not only intellectually strong but also physically and mentally resilient. Use this mindset to re-energize yourself each time around. 3.) I promise to manage my finances wisely from the start of my college journey. I will budget carefully, seek out opportunities for financial growth, and avoid unnecessary debt. This commitment will provide the future version of myself with financial stability, allowing me to pursue my career in chemistry without undue stress. Remember, being financially savvy as an undergraduate student will lead to a fresh new start in your post graduate studies! Sincerely, Current Self This scholarship is crucial for enabling the best possible version of myself to emerge during my college years. It will allow me to focus on my studies and research in chemistry without the constant worry of financial strain. By alleviating the burden of tuition and related expenses, the scholarship will give me the freedom to fully engage with my education, pursue internships, and explore research opportunities that will enhance my knowledge and skills. Ultimately, this scholarship is an investment in a future version of myself who is a skilled chemist, ready to contribute meaningfully to my community and beyond. Coming from a family with limited financial resources, I understand the importance of this scholarship in making my higher education dreams a reality. My parents have worked hard to support me, but with rising tuition costs and the expenses associated with college life, affording this education on our own would be incredibly challenging. This scholarship will not only ease the burden on my family but also allow me to focus on my studies, ensuring that I can achieve my full potential in the field of chemistry. I am especially grateful for having found this opportunity in advance, so that I may further my academic studies without having to sacrifice financial worry over the course of the next four years. This chance and scholarship alone is more than just aid, as it is an investment in my future and a step towards achieving my dreams, both short and long term. Once again, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. I am truly grateful for your consideration and the possibility of becoming part of a community that values education and supports students in reaching their full potential. Thank you for making this opportunity possible.

From the moment I explored my journey as an athlete on the court and on the field, I knew athletics would be more than just a pastime. It has been a journey filled with triumphs and setbacks, sweat and sacrifice, camaraderie and competition. Throughout this journey, athletics have profoundly shaped who I am and how I perceive the world around me, instilling in me qualities of resilience, leadership, and empathy, and provided me with a platform to inspire and impact others. I originally began my athletic journey as a basketball athlete. Little did I know that as a junior in high school, I would also have the honor of exploring a sport I knew little about– track and field. You see, I was plagued in middle school and high school by setbacks via multiple injuries. So when my basketball coach recommended that I try out for track and field because of my unique skills in jumping, little did I know that this would be one of the most significant ways athletics has shaped me, especially by teaching me the value of resilience. In sports, setbacks are inevitable; injuries, defeats, and moments of doubt have been part of my experience. However, these challenges have taught me to persevere, to push through pain and disappointment, and to emerge stronger. I have learned that resilience is not just about bouncing back from adversity, but also about maintaining a positive attitude and relentless determination in the face of difficulties. Leadership is another crucial attribute that athletics has cultivated in me. I have learned the importance of leading by example, fostering teamwork, and motivating my peers. I have discovered that effective leadership is not about authority, but about inspiring others to believe in their potential and to work together towards a goal. Whether it’s strategizing for competitions, or supporting a teammate through a tough time, I have embraced the responsibility of guiding my team with integrity and compassion. These experiences have prepared me to be a proactive and empathetic leader in future endeavors. Furthermore, my athletic journey has heightened my sense of empathy and community. Sports have a unique way of bringing people together, transcending differences and fostering mutual respect. I have had the privilege of interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds, learning their stories, struggles, and aspirations. These interactions have broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by others. As a result, I am committed to using my platform as an athlete to advocate for inclusivity, support mental health awareness, and promote positive social change. The impact of athletics extends beyond personal growth; it has equipped me with the tools and motivation to make a difference in the lives of others. I believe that by sharing my journey, I can inspire younger athletes to persevere through challenges, to embrace the values of sportsmanship, and to strive for excellence. Moreover, I aim to mentor aspiring athletes, particularly those from underprivileged communities, providing them with guidance, resources, and encouragement to pursue their dreams, and develop character building and life skills. In conclusion, my athletic journey has been a transformative force in my life, shaping my character and guiding my aspirations. It has taught me resilience, leadership, and empathy, and has ignited a passion to make a positive impact on others. I am committed to leveraging the lessons and experiences gained through sports to inspire, support, and uplift those around me. Athletics have given me the strength to overcome obstacles and the vision to drive change, and I am determined to carry these gifts forward to create a better future for my community.

Over the years, the sciences have become a fundamental way of interactively learning via hands-on experiments and tasks. Couple this with the boundaryless idea of creative thinking, we have had many societal changes that have positively been impacted. Two such ways are medicines and disease, as well as vertical farming and hydroponics. Take for example my upcoming field of study, chemistry, in which scientists design and arrange molecules to target specific diseases, disorders, and conditions; creative approaches in this field of science have led to the development of new drugs for cancers and other diseases that people depend on personalized treatments to improve their outcome. Chemistry alone has proven to provide insights, tools and therapies needed to combat our ability to prevent, diagnose and treat these diseases effectively through innovation. Science has even begun to shift towards an era of preventive medicine with the latest diagnostic tests providing insight into how diseases develop to begin with. This is increasingly important, especially in areas of poverty, in order to improve the overall quality of life and provide affordable medicines. On another note, there has been a lot of research on the study of eating healthy and stopping the spread of some of the most preventable diseases such as heart issues and certain cancers. Developing these issues has become widespread, but thanks to the creative thinking of some, along with the research-based science approaches of our ancestors, companies such as AeroFarms based right here in New Jersey have developed ways to make vertical farming even more prolific. AeroFarms’ hydroponic mist has allowed commercial production of simple, green, leafy vegetables to become abundant, so that local communities such as mine can be well-nourished. Their unique approach to agriculture has given them the means to grow plants all year round, irrespective of climate and weather conditions. Coupling this with the idea of eliminating the need for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, the outcome yields far better food to prevent the need for drugs to cure widespread diseases and such. The beauty of sciences and especially that of chemistry is that it often intersects with other science disciplines, namely biology, engineering, etc. When there is a creative collaboration amongst the scientists in each field, the expert perspectives that are yielded allow complex issues to be solved in a manner that was not possible before. In conclusion, the combination of creative thinking in utilizing medicine or advancements in hydroponics and vertical farming have led to innovative solutions that address the challenges of medicine and sustainable food production in all environments. These solutions represent a promising pathway towards more efficient cures, as well as resilient agricultural systems for the future. I look forward to creatively inspiring the future of chemistry and sciences alike with creative thinking and collaboration to inspire hope of change for tomorrow, especially for vulnerable areas around the world.

For me, a comprehensive science education in a public school curriculum awakens inquiry, teaches critical-thinking and problem-solving, and spans many different fields. As a person of color, I feel even more intrigued since science develops a mind in every child that seeks to inspire change through questioning of the ‘what is’ and ‘what is to come’. Through science, students are able to engage in real-world problem solving to effect change in local and broader communities. Science has brought me reasoning and understanding on a broader level through the grappling of the unknown at times. My goal upon graduation is to enter the field of analytical chemistry. To that end, chemistry has become a fascinating interest to me, as it has many elements of creativity and the unknown. There are many jobs in the chemistry field because of all of the different aspects that chemistry covers, so I would be able to obtain a good and secure job towards supporting my family. After I have worked enough to sustain myself, I plan to enter the field of education. I wish to pursue this field of study so that I can teach others what I know, and they can potentially grow into helpful people in their own community of wonder and inspiration. Science is one of the fields of study that I have never had a teacher who is a person of color teach me during my formal years of schooling. I want to give back and show students that even as a minority, I would be able to bring fun, hands-on lessons to my community and give back. Scientific literacy specifically aims to build bridges where barriers in cultural and environmental factors tend to break down. For instance, fostering literacy in the sciences allows students at all levels to seek curiosity while addressing global challenges, regardless of the social context that may separate disadvantaged groups, such as myself or others. It also promotes collaboration amongst peers through aiming to tackle these challenges. Therefore, I continue to think deeply about the future of not only myself, but those of others when it comes to the impact that scientific literacy can have. I also feel that a greater sense of purpose for myself is to eventually give back to my community, whether it is through teaching or coaching. Science has taught me so much more than just the formulas and the labs. It has instilled a great responsibility in my work, despite the load. Science, apart from all other subjects in school, is always something new and intriguing year after year. This diversity has aided me in deciding not exactly what I want to do in the future, but the path that I want to take. I understand that my passion for specifically chemistry may change, but my education of the sciences has taught me that I can apply the skills I have attained from my education to almost any aspect of life. Take for example, what I learn in chemistry; activities such as cooking and baking can be viewed differently via the lens of kinetic molecular theory and thermodynamics. This can help lead innovation and change where food scarcity exists. Furthermore, when there is a lack of clean water in struggling communities, chemistry and technology can help alleviate these issues, along with environmental pollution.

For me, sports have become a double-edged sword in my academic and sports career. You may ask why, but the truth is that as much as I love sports, I have grown to hate the amount of damage and injury that my body has taken. You see, I first began playing basketball in the sixth grade; and ever since then, I have been injured every year, religiously. I have never played a full season of basketball even though my talent allowed me to do things no other athletes on my team were able to do– all because of my injuries. From stabilizers and braces– to crutches and ice packs– physical therapy facilities became my second home. How then might this double-edged sword possibly have an influence on me? Looking at my history allows me to see my future. My history has been my influence, and thus, sports have played a major role. Both basketball and track and field have played a major influence in my life as a student-athlete. The mere participation in basketball, even when I was on the sidelines due to injury, allowed me to yearn and strive for more. The competition and the team effort in basketball, along with the striving for a personal best record in track, have each motivated me and allowed me to gain the confidence needed to excel both inside and outside of the classroom. The influence goes beyond the classroom, far beyond the court and field, and way into my career path. Additionally, my community service is a result of my long-standing faith. My church has allowed me to remain active within my church youth group, GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America), as well as serve as an altar boy throughout the years. I believe this has created a foundation for me beyond academics and sports, as my faith and religion have carried me through. Moreover, my participation in sports has influenced my career goals. Had I not struggled with a full academic schedule on top of sports, I would have taken the easy way out and not have taken challenging courses such as Chemistry Theory Honors my senior year. Going into my last year of high school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to major or focus on as I prepared for college; however, after taking Chemistry my junior year, I knew this challenge was something that inspired me to do more and want more. You may wonder what chemistry and sports possibly have in common; for me, it might be a bit stressful, but it is extremely rewarding. As the saying goes, the best diamonds are certainly made under the most pressure. Simply because I wanted it, I was able to achieve my goals in high school; I believe in myself that this will carry through to my college years and my career ahead. So that double-edged sword, you ask? No, I am not ready to give up the unfavorable consequences just to relish in the more favorable ones. Taking the good with the bad will always allow me to take risks and be accountable for my actions. All in all, the discipline that I have learned through being in both sports and the classroom, along with the responsibility and accountability that comes with being a student-athlete, have allowed me to sacrifice my time spent on socializing and fun in order to become a more well-rounded future chemistry major, who will continue to look for ways to remain active in church and the community.

As a Haitian and Greek American, I have kept true to my religion and cultures throughout my life. My mother is Greek and my father is Haitian, and I have the best of both worlds. I stay active in my faith in the Greek Orthodox Church, yet I am also able to understand my past lineage through my Haitian ancestors. My community service is a result of my long-standing faith. My church has allowed me to remain active within my church youth group, GOYA, as well as serve as an altar boy throughout the years. I believe this has created a foundation for me beyond academics and sports, as my faith and religion have carried me through. Likewise, it was about five years ago, and my father decided to make this special soup on New Year's Day. My brother and sisters and I were curious as to why this soup is so special. My father referred to the soup as “Freedom Soup,” and he began to tell us why he called it that. The actual name of the soup is “Soup Joumou,” which is translated to squash soup. When the Haitian people were slaves, they made this soup for their slave masters, but were forbidden from eating the soup. So, once they won their freedom, they drank the soup in celebration of what was denied to them. Ever since then, my father makes this soup every New Year’s Day. Unfortunately, Haiti, which was the first independent black nation in the western hemisphere, is still ravaged with instability, corruption, poverty and sickness. Enjoying this delicious meal influenced me to think about Haiti's current unfortunate state and how the world can help. I’ve even thought about what I can do to help. Those thoughts further influenced my interests in chemistry. Haiti is a country where many of the poor are riddled with diseases and throughout the world more diseases are being discovered; perhaps I can help through the study of science and technology. My goal upon graduation is to enter the field of chemistry. Science aims to build bridges where barriers in cultural and environmental factors tend to break down. While addressing global challenges, regardless of the social context that may separate disadvantaged groups, such as myself or others, it also promotes collaboration to tackle these challenges. Therefore, I continue to think deeply about the future impact of science. I also feel that a greater sense of purpose for myself is to eventually give back to my community. I understand that my passion for chemistry may change, but my education in the sciences has taught me that I can apply the skills I have attained from my education to almost any aspect of life. Science and chemistry can help lead innovation and change where food scarcity exists. Furthermore, when there is a lack of clean water in struggling communities such as Haiti, chemistry and technology can help alleviate these issues, along with environmental pollution.

For me, sports have become a double-edged sword in my academic and sports career. You may ask why, but the truth is that as much as I love sports, I have grown to hate the amount of damage and injury that my body has taken. You see, I first began playing basketball in the sixth grade; and ever since then, I have been injured every year, religiously. I have never played a full season of basketball even though my talent allowed me to do things no other athletes on my team were able to do– all because of my injuries. From stabilizers and braces– to crutches and ice packs– physical therapy facilities became my second home. How then might this double-edged sword possibly have an influence on me? Looking at my history allows me to see my future. My history has been my influence, and thus, sports have played a major role. Both basketball and track and field have played a major influence in my life as a student-athlete. The mere participation in basketball, even when I was on the sidelines due to injury, allowed me to yearn and strive for more. The competition and the team effort in basketball, along with the striving for a personal best record in track, have each motivated me and allowed me to gain the confidence needed to excel both inside and outside of the classroom. The influence goes beyond the classroom, far beyond the court and field, and way into my career path. Additionally, my community service is a result of my long-standing faith. My church has allowed me to remain active within my church youth group, GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of America), as well as serve as an altar boy throughout the years. I believe this has created a foundation for me beyond academics and sports, as my faith and religion have carried me through. Moreover, my participation in sports has influenced my career goals. Had I not struggled with a full academic schedule on top of sports, I would have taken the easy way out and not have taken challenging courses such as Chemistry Theory Honors my senior year. Going into my last year of high school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to major or focus on as I prepared for college; however, after taking Chemistry my junior year, I knew this challenge was something that inspired me to do more and want more. You may wonder what chemistry and sports possibly have in common; for me, it might be a bit stressful, but it is extremely rewarding. As the saying goes, the best diamonds are certainly made under the most pressure. Simply because I wanted it, I was able to achieve my goals in high school; I believe in myself that this will carry through to my college years and my career ahead. So that double-edged sword, you ask? No, I am not ready to give up the unfavorable consequences just to relish in the more favorable ones. Taking the good with the bad will always allow me to take risks and be accountable for my actions. All in all, the discipline that I have learned through being in both sports and the classroom, along with the responsibility and accountability that comes with being a student-athlete, have allowed me to sacrifice my time spent on socializing and fun in order to become a more well-rounded future chemistry major, who will continue to look for ways to remain active in church and the community.

For me, a comprehensive science education in a public school curriculum awakens inquiry, teaches critical-thinking and problem-solving, and spans many different fields. Science develops a mind in every child that seeks to inspire change through questioning of the ‘what is’ and ‘what is to come’. Through science, students are able to engage in real-world problem solving to effect change in local and broader communities. Science has brought me reasoning and understanding on a broader level through the grappling of the unknown at times. My goal upon graduation is to enter the field of analytical chemistry. To that end, chemistry has become a fascinating interest to me, as it has many elements of creativity and the unknown. There are many jobs in the chemistry field because of all of the different aspects that chemistry covers, so I would be able to obtain a good and secure job towards supporting my family. After I have worked enough to sustain myself, I plan to enter the field of education. I wish to pursue this field of study so that I can teach others what I know, and they can potentially grow into helpful people in their own community of wonder and inspiration. Scientific literacy specifically aims to build bridges where barriers in cultural and environmental factors tend to break down. For instance, fostering literacy in the sciences allows students at all levels to seek curiosity while addressing global challenges, regardless of the social context that may separate disadvantaged groups, such as myself or others. It also promotes collaboration amongst peers through aiming to tackle these challenges. Therefore, I continue to think deeply about the future of not only myself, but those of others when it comes to the impact that scientific literacy can have. I also feel that a greater sense of purpose for myself is to eventually give back to my community, whether it is through teaching or coaching. Science has taught me so much more than just the formulas and the labs. It has instilled a great responsibility in my work, despite the load. Science, apart from all other subjects in school, is always something new and intriguing year after year. This diversity has aided me in deciding not exactly what I want to do in the future, but the path that I want to take. I understand that my passion for specifically chemistry may change, but my education of the sciences has taught me that I can apply the skills I have attained from my education to almost any aspect of life. Take for example, what I learn in chemistry; activities such as cooking and baking can be viewed differently via the lens of kinetic molecular theory and thermodynamics. This can help lead innovation and change where food scarcity exists. Furthermore, when there is a lack of clean water in struggling communities, chemistry and technology can help alleviate these issues, along with enviornmental pollution. Finally, even within other sciences such as anatomy and physiology, we are able to use hands-on experiments and learn about the human body in a comprehensive manner; all of which would probably not be possible if it wasn’t for a comprehensive science curriculum within our public school system. As such, human health can be supported through the sciences in almost any branch. In conclusion, the importance of science cannot be brought to light in one single essay; however, it is clear that sciences in public education have an impactful duty for many, including myself. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this future college scholar.