I am excited about blockchain technology because it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think of money in the coming decades. Since blockchain technology focuses on decentralizing the process of acquiring money, it will empower many people that otherwise are excluded from participating in the management and allocation of resources to create a more equal and just world. By moving from a centralized aspect of our economy, where the majority of the population has no say in the way the economy is run, blockchain technology will give every member of the community a chair at the table of decision-making to oversee the flow of resources without any obstacles, unlike the traditional resource management system. In the current economy, most of the processes of how our market operates are hidden from the general public, and this creates mistrust between those who run the black boxes of the market and the public. In the decentralized economy of blockchain technology, both manipulation and dishonesty are removed from the operation of the market as the movement of things will become transparent and any tampering of the processes would be easily detected. Another advantage of blockchain technology is that it increases the movement of things in the market. For example, creating a lot of paper trail generates unnecessary waste when buying and selling items. But with blockchain, any transactions will be fast and efficient without actual papers generated as all the documentation will be stored as ledgers with all necessary information about these transactions. This advantage will also remove the 'trust issues' among the participants as there is no way to change the transactions once it is completed. Finally, in the increasing automation of processes in many industries through machine learning and robotic adaption, blockchain technology will also play a key role in automating many redundant aspects of our modern economy. A good example is the creation of a 'smart contract' in which a third party is no longer needed to be an intermediary between two parties that want to do business with each other.

My name is Issa Abdulkadir, and I am a recent college graduate with a Bachelors's in Data Management and Data Analytics from Western Governors University. My life aspiration is to use a data science mindset and skills to make my community a welcoming and better place for all. By looking for problems that currently need solutions, I engage with community members from all walks of life to understand the origin and complexities of the issues facing the whole community and take responsibility to bring an impactful change through data analytics approaches. In a world where technology constantly brings new revolutions and ideas, I saw an opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to harness a mountain of untapped opportunities that would otherwise have been hidden from me I had not pursued an education in the appropriate domain. My life-long goal is to use the technology to alleviate poverty and empower black people worldwide to become the sole agencies of their destinies and dream big. My experience as a volunteer tutor for elementary school kids and adult ESL students inspired me to get further involved in the community to strengthen the bond and create a path to self-reliance for all. A life's mission to become a resourceful community contributor came to me from this involvement. Through the contribution of my valuable time, I gave young people an essential lesson of giving back to the community. My success as a college graduate also inspired many people to pursue education for personal growth and the betterment of our community. I have become a beacon of light and hope for the young generation and inspired that nothing is impossible if one works hard and continuously learns and overcomes challenges along the way. If I receive this scholarship, the money will be immediately applied toward reducing my student loan significantly. With the amount of outstanding debt I currently have, it is challenging to balance my finances due to a low-paying job and an ever-increasing cost of living. As a first-generation college graduate, I did not have an opportunity to inherit or gain support from my family as we all lived in abject poverty. The thought of not having a college degree forced me to pursue all available avenues to attend college. Even though I received some financial aid through FAFSA, it was not enough to cover my other living expenses. I initially thought that obtaining a loan to get a college degree was an excellent idea until I finished school. Looking at my finances, I was disheartened by how long the road to becoming financially independent is.