I was riding on fire trucks and visiting fire stations on the day my dad became a firefighter. He's been a firefighter for as long as I can remember, and often tells me about the heat that firefighters face. I have always been amazed at my dad's ability to sacrifice his health in pursuit of the safety of others. He always emphasized that you have to be willing to sacrifice your life to change another. My dad isn't perfect by any means, but he's always been a hero- always been my hero. From as early as I can remember, I realized it was my duty to continue the legacy of changing lives around me.  It took me a while to realize I wanted to become a medical professional. In high school, it's hard to ignore the salaries associated with specific degrees, such as engineering. I had convinced myself I wanted to become a software engineer. I was dooming myself to a life behind a desk, filing paperwork and completing projects alone. My dad has always been supportive, but he knew this lifestyle never reflected my personality. I loved being hands-on, helping my community, and directly changing the lives of those around me. He pushed me to look beyond the salaries and question how many people I could help by doing what I loved.  That's when I was introduced to Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. I would be directly hands-on in high-stress environments and gain the ability to change a life in an instant. Plus, Paramedics and EMTs work together in units to fulfill a common goal. This isn't a tedious desk job- it's so much more than that. For many, it is a matter of life and death, quite literally. I fell in love with the idea of medicine and believed that I could be someone's hero, just like my dad. Belonging in the fire services and being a first responder is more than just a "job". First responders are the first initial contact many patients receive before reaching nurses or doctors. First responders can "make or break" situations and experiences for any patient who needs transportation to the hospital. This initial experience is especially essential for minorities, who often feel that medical care is racially biased. My father, an African American man, usually emphasizes that there is a lack of prominent representation for firefighters and paramedics, especially regarding women in general. My presence could help women or other African Americans feel welcomed during medical transit.  I am currently a student at Louisiana State University, pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences. My goal is to become a medical doctor, specifically in emergency medicine. One of my primary goals during this journey is to become a licensed EMT and then transition to become a paramedic, in preparation for medical school. I plan to start the EMT program through Acadian in May, and would use the scholarship towards my uniforms, books, or tuition.  To become an EMT, I must be willing to sacrifice my life to save another. Sacrificing my life could be literal (such as running into burning buildings) or figurative (such as completing 10+ years of schooling). It's not surprising that I want to be an EMT; my father always told me I was born to make a difference in people's lives. Being an EMT and becoming a first responder isn't about the money- it's about my purpose and legacy.

I won't come here and lie and say I have always been a believer. My relationship with God has always been rocky, mainly because I have never had a safe church home. I have always struggled with mental health, which is a slippery slope in particular churches. People categorizing your insecurities as demons hurts, and it hurt me for many, many years. I was ostracized by my church, forced to admit my sins in front of crowds, forced to repent in hopes it would scare away the demons in me- the demon I was labeled as. I wasn't being helped; I was the new example that was used in sermons. I wondered if this was who God was and what the kingdom of God would be like. I asked if I trusted him at all. Eventually, though, I was able to move past my suicide attempt and mental health issues. I grew as a person and decided, "Maybe church wasn't for me." I'm not a demon- I'm human. Yet, that exact statement made me realize that greater forces are overpowering my humanity. When I went to high school, I experienced something that has completely reshaped my life. I went to high school in New Orleans, so violence is quite normalized. Knowing this, I still never thought that I would lose a friend to a bullet. A person I had spoken to daily, hugged daily, and eaten with daily died at a party. No one mentioned that if I had gone with her, it could have been me. No one talks about that feeling in your throat or chest, that heavy hurt that slowly decays with time. We ignore the guilt by overlooking the idea of what we could've done, saying "there's nothing we can do". The feeling of never sitting at the same table again, changing seats, and changing classes - nothing was ever the same. What hurt the most was continuing my sophomore year without her. How could I move on when the person I sat next to was missing? How could I "find another partner"? No one had answers to these questions. So, I found myself praying. I found myself asking anyone for clarity, even if it came from a sensitive place. My previous experiences at horrible churches were not stronger than my pursuit of peace. I won't say I woke up the next morning happy. Instead, this is where my life underwent a complete transformation. Something made me realize that what happened to Courtney should never happen again. What child should die from a bullet? I began protesting. I wrote poems, speeches, and anything that people would listen to. I spoke at rallies and on the local radio. I used my position in student leadership to form gun rallies and balloon releases. We created posters and partnered with schools across the entire city. My classmates and I laid the foundation for "NOLA LOVE", an advocacy program addressing gun violence and other significant social issues affecting students. I give us the credit, but really, this was all Courtney's doing. I hope she sees how she changed our school, New Orleans, and my life. Would you be shocked if I said we lost other students to gun violence? At least the students we lost, and the lives they changed, had a foundation to turn to. To this day, I'm not sure what changed overnight. I don't know who touched me while I slept. Perhaps it was Courtney, or maybe it was God, but I do know that every move I made after her death was made through faith.

Two years ago, my boyfriend and I graduated from high school. I have known my boyfriend since the seventh grade (as we had grown up as best friends), and I always thought we’d follow similar paths. Except, our paths were finally changing. I wanted to go to Louisiana State University, and he wanted to become a United States Sailor.  One thing I have never been is unsupportive, so as soon as he told me, I started helping him get ready. Firstly, we needed to get him to a recruiter. Finding someone was straightforward since we were still in high school, so all it took was a trip to the counselors. Somehow, I always tagged along on his expeditions to the library to meet with his recruiter regularly, despite never actually signing up. His recruiter explained that he needed to be a certain weight to enlist in the Navy, so we would walk around the park every day for hours until he met his goal weight. Walking together made me realize that even though our futures were drifting apart, we’d still walk along the same path, together.  I followed him every step of the way, from the “swear-in” to “MEPS”, all the way to the airport.  Saying goodbye to him at the airport wasn’t as hard as I expected. Except going to university without my best friend was the hardest thing I had ever done. I had enrolled in Louisiana State University as a Biology major on a “pre-med” track, and the coursework was challenging. What was harder was transitioning to such a big campus with no friends I could confide in. Then, I got my first letter from Chicago, Illinois. My letter didn’t say much, but to me, it said everything. He spoke to me, not formally as one would expect in a “normal” letter, but wrote to me as if I were in the room face-to-face with him. He told me about the plane ride, about his “barracks”, about the food, about his “bootcamp besties”, and about how he missed me. In the middle of something new, I was greeted with comfortable normality. Of course, I wrote back, I wrote so much back. I had so much to say about college, about how huge LSU was, about the nasty food in the dining halls. About how I missed him. Miles apart, I found comfort in my boyfriend and the moments we held within our letters.  While in my first year of college, I failed my first exam, missed classes, and began to feel discouraged overall. Everyone said college was fun, not the most complex challenge I’d face so far. Biology and chemistry coursework is like nothing I have ever seen before, and what made it worse was also working part-time at Starbucks. I was getting used to new co-workers, new coursework, and a new life. Eventually, though, I realized I wasn’t alone. My boyfriend was having a hard time in boot camp - specifically on the swim test. He called me and explained that he had failed. He felt like a failure. I almost forgot, amidst my issues, that our paths were still similar, despite being in different worlds. He reminded me that I wasn’t alone.  Finally, the day came when I flew to Chicago to see him. Months that felt like years were over. I sat through his (very long) bootcamp graduation, watching all the sailors in their formal “dress whites”. I hugged him in his uniform, told him he looked silly. Even though I was in Chicago, I felt like I was home again.

In four years, I will be the first person in my family to obtain a Bachelor's Degree. As a college student, I envy the students who don't have to work to pay for necessities or books. Typical students, especially pre-meds, don't have to work at least 25 hours a week. Typical college students don't have to consider joining the military if government financial aid is no longer an option. Not to mention, I am an African American woman who attends a predominantly white college, striving to become a doctor. For reference, only about 3% of African American women are doctors. Yet, I have never been a typical student. Throughout high school, I have constantly pushed myself to go above and beyond socially and academically. As the youngest child, my mother often took me to work with her. She worked as a certified medical assistant for my entire life. My mother holds no degree, and her job holds no level of prestige, yet her clinical experiences are like no other. My mom doesn't make that much, but it's apparent that she loves her job. My mother works with elderly people, and she helps them change when they can't move. She's cooked for these people when they haven't eaten all day. My mother took care of elderly people when their own families abandoned them. Though these experiences were hers, she instilled in me the level of compassion I hold. Even with no degree, my mother taught me an important lesson. It's easy to say you will "save lives," but how many people change lives? Growing older, I took this compassion with me to high school. I graduated in New Orleans, a city with soul, creativity, and fantastic food. Except it's also riddled with poverty and violence. As a high school sophomore, I lost three separate classmates and friends due to a pandemic of gun violence in my city. I went to school knowing that people I had seen and hugged yesterday were gone, permanently. Immediately, I wanted to do something about their passing. I wanted signs of protest, I wanted justice, I wanted to stand up. I wanted my classmates to get as angry as I was, to understand how unfair children dying was. Believe it or not, so many people claimed that since it wasn't them, it "wasn't their problem." I was confused on how no one understood they could have been the ones who had died. I had decided to write a poem about my classmates and was asked to publicly announce it at our local gun rally. This poem, just a few words on paper, was recognized district-wide by New Orleans. I was asked to speak at city-wide gun rallies, at funerals of gun violence victims, and even on the worldwide radio. I moved a crowd and changed someone's mind through a few words. I had actually changed someone’s life. As a student leader, the Student Government had begun actively protesting against gun violence with the entire school. I was later awarded the "Senior Legacy Award" by my high school during the Senior Awards Night. Despite all of this, I wasn’t valedictorian, I wasn’t even “Top Tens”. Instead, I was a name so many families and students would never forget. The hugs those families gave me, and the smile on my mother's face were worth more than any scholastic achievement. Now that I am a young adult, I realize my mother experienced this often as a medical assistant. She has lost countless patients despite seeing them only yesterday. What's worse is many of these patients pass without a call from their families. You'd be surprised how many elderly people are never visited by their families. Healthcare professionals are often the only doses of human interaction they receive. My mother frequently tells me that their doctors don't notice their deaths, or the nurses lack compassion towards their patients. In my eyes, no level of prestige could justify a lack of kindness in a Healthcare professional. Usually, healthcare professionals with strong desires for personal interaction and characteristics such as kindness pursue nursing. However, a compassionate doctor is just as essential in healthcare. I am currently a student at Louisiana State University and aspire to attend medical school after obtaining a bachelor's degree in biology. With dreams like mine, they often seem unattainable financially. My mother works two jobs to help me pay for college, while I also work myself to aid in tuition costs. A scholarship as massive as this would allow my mom to return to working one job and enable me to go to school and focus on graduating with honors. While writing this essay, I know I write this for my mother's well-being. By becoming a doctor, I'll work for the well-being of patients, holding their lives in my hands. Even by attending college, I can show my family that higher education is obtainable despite our circumstances. I will constantly persevere through college, my job, and my family’s hardship for the opportunity to change lives in the future. What’s best is, when I become a doctor, I can return the favor by creating scholarship programs for young African American women to obtain medical degrees. Something tells me that Ms. Worden was a kind and compassionate woman like my mother, and I am absolutely honored to be writing in her name. Thank you for the opportunity and the willingness to change a life.

Nineteen years ago, I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in a world of culture, creativity, and soul. Except I was also raised in a world of poverty. With my mother as my primary supporter, I know she constantly wondered how to support four children independently. Even though my mother did not have much, she gave me and my brothers everything she could. I never wondered when I would eat because my mother would give me her plate before I starved. That compassion that my mother taught me is the most potent lesson she has ever instilled in me. My mother worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for my entire life. When I was younger, she'd bring me with her to work. I saw and interacted with nurses, patients, and families of many ethnicities and wealth. Most importantly, I got to witness my mom personally help people. People would shame CNAs for their lack of education, but these professionals directly help patients with their personal needs. My mother would help these patients prepare for holidays, she'd help them eat when their bodies were too weak, and she even bathed them when their families abandoned them. I began to fall in love with the idea of not just "saving lives", but changing lives. My yearning to change lives indeed became prominent during high school. While in high school, I was a member of many organizations, including student leadership, choir, the art committee, the yearbook committee, and cheerleading. The most impactful role I ever played was as a public speaker. While in high school, I lost three classmates during a gun violence pandemic in New Orleans. I wrote a poem on the issue and offered to say this poem at a pep rally in honor of my classmates. I didn't know their families or our superintendent would be there. I spoke because I wanted their voices, my classmates, to be heard. Edna Karr High School recognized my poem district-wide, and I was invited to talk about gun violence on the world-wide radio, at district-wide rallies, at their funerals, and so on. I was also given the "Student Legacy Award" before graduation as a testament to my actions. I never charged anything, and I never accepted "reimbursements" because I was so proud of changing so many lives through my own words. The hugs those families gave me, the support of my classmates, and the smile on my mother's face let me know that I needed to continue to change lives. After nineteen years, I am currently a Sophomore at Louisiana State University. I plan to go to medical school and become a doctor, someone who can directly change a person's life in an instant. Even more so, I want to develop more programs and scholarships for African American students planning to go into healthcare. You never see many five-foot African American women (like myself) as doctors. I want to diversify the healthcare industry by providing funding for minorities. I want to give people who were once me the opportunity to consider college or even medical school. My mother always told me my success and intelligence would mean nothing if I never shared it with the world.

Pursuing a degree in Chemistry wasn't always my plan for college. For most of my life, I wanted to pursue an engineering degree in software. However, after interning at an engineering firm, I realized I loved working with people. I want the ability to lead a group of people in a scientific field and impact lives personally through my work. I realized I yearned to become a Doctor, a medical leader who can impact students, patients, and other medical professionals. I strive to become an obstetric anesthesiologist in the future. A background in chemistry would be crucial for this field since anesthesiology is centered around how medicine affects the human body. As a Chemistry major on a "pre-med" track, I will have the opportunity to study life while simultaneously studying chemicals and their reactions. Louisiana State University also served as an excellent school for studying chemistry due to its astounding research opportunities and notability. While attending Louisiana State University, I plan on joining an undergraduate research laboratory to gain real experience in my field. The education I acquire will change my life and all the lives I come across. A doctor's expensive education and training benefits the patients more than it benefits themselves. As a doctor, I won't be able to save every life I encounter. Yet, I will be able to change all my patients' lives. Using my education and will to help people, I'll ensure that every one of my patients has the best experience I can give. Patients will be vulnerable under my care, so I need to learn how to do my job perfectly and effectively to ensure my patient's safety and prioritize their comfort. I also want to have the ability to extend my knowledge to other young African American women. Not many women hold "STEM" degrees, let alone medical degrees. I'd love the ability to use my education to start programs and extend scholarships to women of color, making "STEM" degrees (and a future in medicine) more accessible. One of the most complex parts of being a college student is multitasking. I hate working while in college, but I try my best to maintain my work and school. As a "STEM" major, I have constant homework while simultaneously having to work at least 20 hours per week to pay for school, necessities, books, and my vehicle. Working a part-time job as a student leaves little room for rest or leisure, which tends to stress me out quite a bit. Working as a college student also hinders my ability to maximize my full academic potential. Though working my job has given me independence and the opportunity to attend college, it becomes stressful trying to maintain decent grades and pay bills. I serve as a first-generation college student, so I know the impact a bachelor's degree (let alone a medical degree) could have on my future financially. Scholarships like these allow me to work fewer hours and prioritize my studies as a chemistry major. Any amount of money, from fifty dollars to a thousand, can go towards my "fee bill," books, or even my medical school savings. Working in college has taught me plenty, and I'd love the opportunity to prioritize my grades and save for medical school entirely.

I am a five-foot African American woman born in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you walk into my room, you can find me painting, drawing, or crafting something I found on Pinterest. I graduated from Edna Karr High School (class of 2024) and participated in many organizations. My most notable positions include being a cheerleader, choir member, Yearbook Committee President, Art Organization lead, and teaching assistant. I currently attend Louisiana State University as a Chemistry major on a “pre-med” track. My name is Jada Carroll, and I am an artist, a leader, and a first-generation college student. College is so expensive. This scholarship will cover my book expenses of about three to four hundred dollars. I work part-time to cover my costs, college expenses, and car. Having my books almost “pre-paid” will be a breath of fresh air, and I could put any money I designated towards books into my “medical school savings.” College is expensive, but medical school applications are hundreds of dollars alone. Saving is nothing but a necessity if I want to become a Doctor. My academic and career goals closely align. I plan to attain a 3.5 GPA and a 515 MCAT score to become a “competitive applicant” for medical school. I want to obtain a medical degree and become an anesthesiologist (specifically an obstetric anesthesiologist). While in college, I also want to become an MCAT tutor and create worksheets and curriculums to help others get into medical school. A job like this will give me teaching experience and a steady source of income so I can afford medical school. The most significant contribution I have ever made to my community was using my voice. While at Enda Karr, I became a public speaker. For reference, New Orleans has a horrible lack of gun protection, and while attending Edna Karr, I lost four of my classmates. So, I wrote original poems for each of my classmates for every gun rally, prep rally, funeral, and crowd I thought would listen. I was even able to speak on the World Wide Radio about the violence in my city. I received the “Senior Legacy Award” for all my contributions during my Senior Award Ceremony. My Senior Year was one of the most complex parts of my life. I have always had such high expectations, and I give myself no grace when I fall short. I wasn’t able to be a “Top 10” graduating student, I was embarrassed publicly at school, my mental health was the lowest it had ever been, and I overall just felt hopeless. I wanted to give up, and I realized I failed myself. I learned that I don’t need to be the first place to be proud of myself, and “success” comes in many shapes and sizes. My greatest strength is my heart and positivity. I have always been caring to those I know and have never known. As a Doctor, I won’t be able to save every life I encounter. However, I will be able to change every life within my path. As an anesthesiologist, I can relieve my patients of pain and stress. Every patient under my care can rest easy knowing I’d do anything to help them.

I avoided writing this scholarship because I can fluently recite every song from GUTS. Deciding which lyric truly resonated with my adolescence, my teenage experiences, and the challenges I have faced was a challenge of its own. I realized that no other song fits perfectly with this prompt than one that sings of the reality of an ending fantasy. In the song "Teenage Dream," Olivia sings, "...got your whole life ahead of you, you're only nineteen, but I fear the day already got all the best parts of me, and I'm sorry that I couldn't always be your teenage dream." Out of every Olivia Rodrigo song I have heard, this unmistakable line defines my teenage experience. From the earliest I can remember, I have always found myself working. At fifteen, I got my first job at Subway. I maintained all A's from middle school to high school. I even participated in almost every extracurricular one could think of. I feel as if throughout my entire youth, I essentially "worked my life away." At eighteen, I want to do less, growing tired of constantly working. Children are known for having large amounts of energy, and I am now face to face with the end of my childhood. The world has already seen me at my best, and I am no longer living a "teenage dream." A large part of being a teenager is growing up. Once someone turns a certain age, they gain responsibilities and expectations. Oliva references the future within this line, highlighting that one begins worrying about what the future holds after one's teenage years end. I often wonder what my future holds, financially and academically. I have extensive dreams of becoming a doctor and have my entire lifetime to accomplish it. Despite having high expectations, teenagers are known for making mistakes. The line justifies making mistakes, claiming "you're only nineteen," then immediately contradicts itself. Olivia sings, "The day already got all the best parts of me," meaning this was her best. Despite having her entire life ahead of her, she already exerted her best ability and apologized for it. I realize I have a broad future, but I have given the world my best. Once my teenage years end and the world realizes my abilities are diminishing, what more can I do than apologize? There are many, many challenges teenagers face on a day-to-day basis. However, the biggest challenge most teenagers face is themselves. Throughout the song, Olivia sings in the second person, using "you're" and "you" as if she's talking to someone. However, there is no feature in the song, no reference to another character, and no other person to refer to besides herself. In her own head, Olivia has determined that despite trying her best, she has lost her youth. She is no longer "ideal" and fails to meet someone's (or everyone's) expectations. In one line, Olivia single-handedly defined my teenage mind. I count my flaws and use them against myself. I cast my judgments. Best of all, I determine whether or not I'm good enough. I could have chosen any song from GUTS and wrote a compelling essay. Olivia Rodrigo is a lyrical genius, after all. Except, nothing quite reaches teenagers more than a fantasy, right?

No one ever talks about how hard it is to move on after you have lost a classmate. In high school, I lost four classmates while attending Edna Karr High School. Someone took each of their lives by using gun violence within the city of New Orleans.  When the first student, Thomas, passed away, the school was devastated. The hallways felt eerie, and the atmosphere was heavy. It was a circumstance I had never experienced until I attended a school in New Orleans. Eventually, as time progressed, the weight of the loss had lifted, and normality had returned. That was until we lost Courtney. Again, the eerie feeling had returned, but the weight had doubled. My shoulders felt heavier, and my head hung a bit lower. Eventually, my classmates and I began to grow tired. We started a gun rally known as “NOLA Love” to combat gun violence. As a student leader, I gave speeches, participated in multiple walks, and rallied against the violence. Day by day, my school and I began to overcome the violence in New Orleans through peaceful means. Every action I took for my lost classmates encouraged me to pursue a career in the medical field.  The gun violence in New Orleans affected my career in STEM due to my growing sense of guilt. I wanted to pursue a chemistry degree and eventually attend medical school in a different state. I felt as if I was leaving my school and city at a dire time of need, where I could prevent students from following the fates of Thomas and Courtney. However, as time progressed and I graduated high school, I realized leaving was precisely what the city needed. I realized that my classmates would never be able to leave New Orleans, study new topics, and gain a life-changing education. I realized that Thomas and Courtney could have been me, and I needed to chase every opportunity I had. In my chosen discipline, I hope to encourage other students from compelling backgrounds to become physicians. For students from New Orleans, let alone African Americans in general, becoming a doctor can seem impossible. Yet, I would instead breathe my final breath, knowing I had reached for the stars instead of playing it safe. Thomas, Courtney, Ricky, and Caleb taught me to live my life to the fullest and gain a higher education that they could not.  Growing up, I never saw many physicians that looked like me. I am a short African American woman with dreadlocks and a Southern accent. Sometimes, I wonder if my differences will hinder my future professional development as a physician. Representation is important because seeing other women and people of color encourages me to follow my dreams and achieve what they already have. In my heart, every woman of color wearing a white coat is a stepping stone for future generations. When I become a woman of color with a white coat, I want to set up scholarships and organizations to make the journey of becoming a doctor more accessible for my community. I want to represent women, the African American community, and my classmates.

My name is Jada Carroll, and I am an African American from  New Orleans, Louisiana. I attended and graduated from Edna Karr High School. There are plenty of amazing things I could say about my city. For example, the fantastic food, the colorful parades, and the community is unlike any other. The music and culture within New Orleans is beautiful. Except I could also tell you that New Orleans is a scary place. The gun violence and crime that New Orleans experiences is accurate, and it affects adults and youth alike. When a gun fires, anyone in the vicinity can lose their life in an instant. The violence within my city has drastically pushed me to pursue a field in healthcare.  I never knew how fast someone could lose a life until attending Edna Karr High School. Before attending Edna Karr, I saw the same elementary and middle school students. Yet, while attending Edna Karr, I lost four classmates due to the prominent gun violence within the city. I haven’t seen Thomas, Caleb, Courtney, or Ricky ever since they lost their lives.  These children were left in vulnerable positions and lost their lives. With every life, the atmosphere of the school became dreadful. The students, faculty staff, and families mourned for every life taken by members of our community. Eventually, the mourning silence became suffocating, and I began to speak out against gun violence.  I have always been a vocal person. I was a cheerleader, a choir member, and an active Student Government Leader. I worked with my school and used my positions of leadership to develop gun campaigns to combat gun violence actively. I wrote speeches, essays, and poems to advocate for Courtney, Ricky, Caleb, Thomas, and any other child who lost their lives because of gun violence. I gave speeches at churches. I spoke at pep rallies. I even had the opportunity to talk about the violence on the World Wide News. Though I am only one person, I took drastic measures to overcome the violence at my school and in my city.  Losing classmates helped me understand the humanity within strangers. While at school, I often heard people claim that the violence “wasn’t their problem.” It was everyone’s problem because it could have been anyone. The gun violence in New Orleans could have taken my own life. I spoke for those families, for those children, as if I was the one who almost lost their life. I realized I wanted to help people, both physically and mentally. I wanted to do everything in my power to save a life and reassure families that everything possible was done to help their loved ones. Slowly, I realized I wanted to become a doctor.  In the fall, I plan to major in Chemistry at Louisiana State University. I plan to attend Stanford University Medical School and become a licensed physician in a few years. I want to bring diversity to the medical field, especially as an African American Woman from Louisiana. I plan to specialize in anesthesiology and work with other physicians to ensure patient safety before, during, and after surgery. Advocating for my fallen classmates has encouraged me to become a physician one day, and help families in my community.

My name is Jada Carroll, and I am an African American woman from Louisiana. I went to school in New Orleans and graduated from Edna Karr High School. While in high school, I participated in Student Government, the choir, the Yearbook Committee, and many other clubs. I even had the opportunity to design my graduating class shirts and sweaters (the Class of 2024). In the fall of 2024, I will attend Louisiana State University as a chemistry major on a “pre-med” track. In the future, I want to attend Stanford University Medical School and become an anesthesiologist. I love working together in teams to achieve a common goal and helping people physically and mentally. The idea of furthering my education at a well-known university to gain essential connections and opportunities excites me. As a resident of New Orleans, I often find members of my community struggling. For example, gun violence is a prominent issue that plagued New Orleans and even my high school. I lost classmates due to the violence in my city. Having a community with internal struggles weighs heavily on me emotionally. To combat the violence within my city, I became a public speaker. I worked closely with families who lost children to gun violence, made speeches, recited poems, and even helped organize gun rallies. Before allowing anyone, I wanted to help the members of my community first. In addition to the community I was raised in, I am pursuing a male-dominated field. Despite living in contemporary times, women are still dominated in medicine, politics, and law. Female physicians have fewer resources and often receive more pressure while in school. I rarely find any of my female peers entering a field of medicine unless it’s nursing. This makes me feel alone, having fewer peers to come to for studying, tutoring, or even general support. I find myself overcoming this loneliness by remembering my diversity. By pursuing my dreams and becoming a doctor, I can help other African American women within my field. In addition to my adversity, I come from a home of financial struggle. Money has never been an easily accessible object for me or my family. I serve as a first-generation college student, and in a few years, I will become my family’s first doctor. Both of my parents are paying large sums of debt and struggle to fund my education. So, since the age of sixteen, I have paid for my items, college expenses, and even my car. One could see how these expenses become overbearing for one person. I attend college purely on scholarships and funding to spare my family from the financial burden. Overcoming my financial burdens is still an ongoing war, but I succeeded by working part-time and applying for scholarships. A significant point of adversity I often fail to mention is my mental health journey. For years, I have struggled with both depression and anxiety. This depression frequently comes from my pressure to succeed. Failure essentially worsens my anxiety, which, in turn, exacerbates my depression. During this year, 2024, I experienced one of the worst depressive episodes of my life. Once I realized the severity of my mental health, I immediately began seeing a therapist. By recognizing my depression and seeking help, I was able to overcome my mental health truly. I learned mental exercises, eliminated terrible habits, and grew in general. I can now use my “failure” as motivation to try again and succeed later. I am proud to say I recently graduated from therapy, and I only return every so often to maintain my mental health. All of my adversity has pushed me to become a doctor. When I was younger, I claimed I wanted to be an engineer simply because others told me I would be good at it. However, through personal experiences, I realized I was passionate about science and mathematics (and would probably make a lousy engineer). I enjoyed human interactions and working with other people. Science is an ever-growing field dominated by teams of people and less by individuals. Even though I want to work in a field of science surrounded by other people, I still want to maintain a leadership role. As an anesthesiologist, I get the best of both worlds. I can serve as a medical leader and direct nursing anesthetist while working with a team of other skilled doctors. Anesthesiology provides financial security due to the high salaries they obtain. I can also offer “behind the scenes” or mental security for my patients. Best of all, I can bring diversity to the field. While growing up, I hardly met doctors who looked or talked like me. I am a small African American woman, only 5 feet tall, with dreadlocks and a southern accent. Knowing I can meet other African American women aspiring to be doctors and encourage them is a blessing. I want other women and girls to become doctors, regardless of race, height, or gender. There is no color code or uniform for becoming a doctor. The word “Doctor” is gender-neutral, meaning anyone can take the title. I want to inspire my field and diversity. Hopefully, I can also provide scholarships for women of color who have the same dream as me. Thank you for considering my application and for helping women of color alike. The winner is announced on my birthday!

To an older version of myself, Growing up, you understand how money was never an easily accessible object. We worked long hours just to pay for college, our car, our own necessities, and to help our family. I hope that, at your moment, Mom and Dad will pay off the debt they accrued. Despite struggling financially, I know you still applied to medical school. I know you saved every dollar you could, and you're attending a fancy school like Stanford in the fall of 2029. However, to participate in a school like Stanford, money becomes nothing less than a necessity. Not only do you need to cover tuition, but you also need books, living expenses, and even expenses to travel home. While you're figuring everything out, financially and academically, here are a few things you must promise to a previous version of yourself. Firstly, remember to embrace change. Nothing remains consistent, but that's why change is beautiful, is it not? Consistently changing your habits and trying new things keeps your mind flowing with new ideas. As you age, try new hobbies and stray away from your consistent schedule. Try a new style of clothes, or even dye your hair. Most importantly, remain open-minded and accept new ideas and opportunities. Secondly, please do not be discouraged. We both know we tend to set high expectations for ourselves. Even if we do not graduate with honors or attend a fancy medical school, adapting and overcoming have always been our best attributes. Aim highly, but be encouraged if you fall short. Use your shortcomings as motivation to simply achieve more. Being a first-generation college student alone is already an astounding achievement. When falling short, remember every accomplishment you have already made, and keep moving forward. Lastly, promise to sustain your own happiness. When we have a specific goal, we often enter "tunnel vision." We stop painting, hanging out with friends, or watching our favorite shows. Even worse, we find ourselves working long hours to sustain ourselves financially. While becoming so consumed in our grades or financial shortcomings, we find ourselves in a state of depression. We lose ourselves to accomplishing a goal. Prioritize your happiness by practicing your own hobbies. Prioritize your own happiness by joining clubs and making more friends. If need be, return to therapy, but do not live in a state of unhappiness. Though you're gaining more responsibilities, you can still find your own state of happiness. This scholarship is an essential stepping stool to achieving our goals. Not only will this support us currently, but we both know at least half of it will be saved. Tutoring, medical school applications, interviews, traveling, and other extreme financial situations require a lot of money to be saved. Despite a sizable financial toll, being a doctor is an irreplaceable position. Not only will we be the first doctor in our own family, but we will put ourselves in a position of financial freedom. Even more, we could help people physically and mentally while being compensated. This scholarship will allow us to apply to medical school without worrying financially. One more thing, promise to be proud of yourself for even coming this far. From a previous version of yourself, I know you're doing amazing.

So many people around me have joined the military to improve their futures. For example, my brother joined the Marines after high school so he could have the ability to attend college debt-free. My father was in the army years ago, wanting to travel and take a break from Louisiana. Even my boyfriend joined the Navy a few days ago, starting his adventure on a new path. I believe that the military is an opportunity. The military allows people to attend college, travel free of charge, and gain new experiences overall. Protecting the country does not mean jumping straight into war; instead, countless other tasks. Protecting the country means helping gain recruits for the future. Protecting our country could also mean helping with technical information. Overall, “Protecting our country” does not automatically mean putting your life in danger. The basis of the military is not sacrificing your life. Instead, it is working with other soldiers to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Though the military has always scared me, I know the opportunities it can provide are incomparable. After attaining a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, I planned on joining the Navy. Ironically, I can not swim, but this branch seemed to suit me best. I wanted to take the opportunity to receive financial aid during medical school. I also looked into programs that would help me become a physician, and in return, I would complete a few years of service. The military would make all my dreams accessible, including becoming a doctor, traveling the world, and helping people. Throughout high school and even during the beginning of my undergraduate years, I have constantly been motivated by the world around me. My most significant motivations are my family and our current financial situation. My family has yet to graduate college (and a few have not even graduated from high school). Being a first-generation college student encouraged me to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a higher level of education, such as a medical degree. Financially, my family is not the best, so I strive to obtain a job and salary that will allow me to remain comfortable. In addition to my family, the idea of helping people motivates me. I wanted a job where I could work hands-on with a team and achieve a bigger goal. The medical field reflects this ideology since most doctors work together to help one person. The military also reflects this idea since soldiers combine their jobs and strengths to make up the entire military. In high school, I was also motivated by failure. While in high school, I was not in the “Top 10’s”, which pushed me academically to graduate with high honors in college. Losing classmates to gun violence also influenced my desire to help the world around me. Best of all, I also motivate myself. I have always believed that I was born to achieve impossible goals. Though attaining a bachelor’s and a medical degree has not yet been done in my family, I would be the one to accomplish the impossible. The military could be a stepping stool to achieving your goals, and one day, I’ll use the military to reach mine.

As a Louisiana resident, I have always struggled with having a steady home. A hurricane would completely displace my family every other year, and I would attend a new school for the remaining year. However, hurricane Ida destroyed my house while I was still in high school. During this time, my family began to struggle financially, and we lived with family members and in hotels until we could find stability. My family finally found a cheap apartment east of New Orleans during my sophomore year. I switched to a new school, Edna Karr High School, and struggled to make friends. For multiple months, I sat alone and lost connections with people at my original school. I also began working at Walmart to help my family financially during this process. The community I lived in was dangerous and faced extreme neglect. Even the apartment we rented was infested with rodents. While in New Orleans, I began to understand the day-to-day lives of other families. While at Edna Karr, I also experienced the gravity of losing a classmate. Every year at Edna Karr, at least one classmate of mine lost their life to gun violence. This adversity was not only internally conflicting, but it also highlighted the current state of the community. During my time in New Orleans, I realized the city was struggling. Living to check to check, having infested homes, and losing classmates were desensitized topics in New Orleans. I overcame these adversities in New Orleans by helping others and myself. I helped my family financially during a time of need. I also helped my school move past the loss of students. Best of all, when I became drained, I sought help for myself through therapy, friends, and family. Usually, after the hurricane ends and my family rebuilds the house, I return to my original school. However, I ended up graduating from Edna Karr High School. I became invested in the struggles of New Orleans, and more importantly, I joined the community. Under the infestations and the violence were humans. I wanted to help my new community change positively. I began making friends with many students at Edna Karr, including classmates who sat alone. I also aided in gun rallies to promote better gun practices in New Orleans. I gave many speeches and wrote many essays to speak for the students who had already passed from the violence. Everything I did was completely free of charge. I enjoyed helping the community and genuinely wanted to see a positive impact. In the future, I want to continue to help New Orleans by promoting better gun practices and providing scholarships for low-income families in New Orleans. I hope that by giving positivity to the community of New Orleans, I changed at least one person’s life.

I want to become an Anesthesiologist one day. At first, I wanted to be a Software Engineer. I had categorized myself as "antisocial" and assumed that I could still feel fulfilled working alone in an office. However, when I acquired an engineering-based internship, I quickly realized that working in an office was not my calling. I quickly realized I enjoyed human interactions, fast-paced work, and the ability to say, "I helped someone today." I began researching other careers, trying to find a field with high salaries but more "hands on" work. Eventually, I researched hundreds of medical-based jobs to find a specialty that would match my personality. With anesthesiology, I can earn a high-paying salary while working indirectly with patients. While my specialty lacks patient interaction, anesthesiologists work closely with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality work. Becoming an anesthesiologist and acquiring a high salary would fund my future and aid my family. As a first-generation college student, money has not always been an accessible item. My entire undergraduate education is funded through scholarships and my job. Despite my parents' deficient credit scores and high debt, they encourage my dreams of becoming a doctor and obtaining a high-paying salary. Given my circumstances, my dreams of becoming a doctor could be more realistic. Neither of my parents graduated college; one did not even graduate high school. In addition, my siblings have not attended college either. College is a foreign and expensive topic in my household and a goal that has yet to happen. Other obstacles include a need for more finance. With the scholarships I have already received, college is possible. My family struggles to obtain loans (due to current debt), and I would not be able to afford thousands alone. Having an unknown future and financial struggles has also greatly affected my personal endeavors. I work at minimum wage jobs to afford my items or help my parents. I sacrifice my own time to ensure our financial burden is manageable. Even in high school, I maintained a high grading average while working at least 25 hours a week, trying my best to secure high scholarships. I get older and realize I did nothing but constantly work in my youth. Every long hour I dedicated to getting into college was worth it. The extra money I acquired through my minimum wage jobs pushes me to claim a higher salary. I hope the scholarships I obtained stay consistent and help me remain debt-free until medical school. Everything I have done contributes to my future practice. The money in my savings will continue to grow and fund my MCAT endeavors. Though pressured, my support from my family will allow me to persevere and become the first doctor within our bloodline. My current financial burden will encourage me to seek more and solidify my future with a higher salary. In a few years, I will become an anesthesiologist.

I am Jada Carroll, a Edna Karr High School graduate from New Orleans, Louisiana. I will attend Louisiana State University in the fall on a "full ride" scholarship. I plan to major in chemistry on a "pre-medical" track to eventually participate in medical school. I strive to get into Stanford School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I plan to specialize in anesthesiology and become a general anesthetist. As for hobbies, I enjoy singing, painting, and arts and crafts. While in high school, I was a cheerleader and a prominent member of the Student Government. I advocated for gun safety in New Orleans through speeches and essays. I come from a low-income household, so I always have some form of personal income. I currently work at Starbucks and pay for necessities or school-related fees. I plan to become financially stable and provide significant scholarships for the community of New Orleans. Before becoming an anesthesiologist, I wanted to be an engineer. I always enjoyed math and wanted to continue learning advanced math in college. Engineering would be engaging, where people worked in large groups to create projects. Except, I took an internship at an engineering firm and hated it. The office was quiet, with cubicles, and for an entire summer, I organized papers. I felt lost and conflicted about entering a field without direct human interactions. My advanced math teacher, Ms. Gordan, helped me rearrange my future. She explained that while attending Xavier University, she majored in chemistry. Ms.Gordan emphasized that the complex math within the courses encouraged her to obtain a Master's in Mathematics. She continued to explain that the medical field would suit me. She said it would challenge me, provide me with human interactions, and include plenty of math. Ms.Gordan inspired me to major in chemistry and look into the medical field.  There are many reasons why I chose anesthesiology. For one, as a low-income student, anesthesiologists get paid very well. The money could not only aid my family and me, but I would also gain the financial ability to help other low-income students. In addition to the income, anesthesiologists use math quickly and daily. They perform immediate calculations during surgeries to determine the appropriate dosage for any patient. Anesthesiologists also get to work closely with other doctors. Many even have their own Assistant Anesthesiologist to help throughout the day. Not only will I have direct human interactions, but I can positively change lives with a high income.

Despite my own accomplishments, I have struggled plenty. Throughout highschool, I struggled with my mental health and making connections with people. I was diagnosed with both depression and anxiety, and even seeked therapy. Even the environment I was raised in was hard on me. I had to work for my own necessities and the things I needed. I faced the pressure of gaining scholarships for school because if not, I feared I would not be able to further my education. Now, after graduating, I still find myself looking up ways to save money for my own future. Many do not realize that with so much opposition, even applying to college becomes a challenge. The depression, the worry, and every other obstacle weighed me down. I could name every obstacle that has tried to slow me down, but what matters is that I never let these obstacles stop me. If someone asked me “what is the best thing you ever did in highschool?”, I would tell them about my speeches. At my graduating highschool, Edna Karr, at least one student passed away from gun violence every year. After realizing this horrible phenomenon, I began developing speeches and poems to combat the violence. I spoke out for the students, Courtney, Thomas, Ricky, and Claleb, because they could no longer speak for themselves. I spoke at churches. I spoke at gun rallies. I spoke at funerals. I spoke to any crowd that would listen. I also wrote essays, essays that I submitted to colleges and scholarships around the world. While there’s so many interesting topics, nothing felt as important as the lives lost at my own school. Feeling the changing atmosphere after someone has passed was horrible, and I wanted everyone to understand the pain. Through my own challenges, I still spoke out for my classmates, who can no longer speak at all. While giving speeches, I always wondered if anyone listened. I was surprised at how many people reached out to me after every speech I gave. Families who lost their children thanked me. Students commended my performance. Teachers and staff recognized me. Even my own school recognized me, awarding me with “The Legacy Award”. Except, nothing satisfied me more than knowing that I had conveyed the words that Courtney, Thomas, Ricky, and Caleb wanted me to say. I had solidified their messages and their legacy through my words. Their circumstances inspired me to change the community around us. In turn, my words inspired the members of the community. I have always been told “Words have Power”. Hopefully, my words had the power to inspire every person within every crowd.

Throughout my academic career, I have always found a way to help the people around me. My aid was especially prominent in high school. While at Edna Karr, I tutored my peers on complex topics. I designed custom class gear for my graduating class. I aided in bringing back the Yearbook, a long tradition at Edna Karr. I even completed mundane tasks, such as organizing classwork for busy teachers. However, I am most proud of my ability to speak out for my classmates. Every year, a student at Edna Karr loses their life to gun violence. Knowing this, I organized multiple speeches, poems, and essays to combat the violence. I spoke at gun rallies, prep rallies, churches, and even funerals to solidify the names of the lost children. I declined any payment or reimbursement because that is not the moral of my messages. I have had both children and adults commend my pieces and the morals I instill through each world. I believe the people I spoke for, Courtney, Thomas, Caleb, and Ricky, heard my speeches. Hopefully, I articulated what they could no longer say and left the legacy they deserved. Besides the things I did at Edna Karr, I can confidently say I positively changed the lives of many families by keeping their children’s legacy alive. When I asked someone, “what do you wanna do when you grow up?”, they usually said they wanted to “save lives.” Even as an aspiring doctor, I still do not yearn for that goal. Instead, I want to change lives. I understand that not every patient I care for will survive. Yet, if that patient passed, knowing I did everything possible to save them, I achieved my goal. I want to give families security, knowing I am helping their loved ones as accurately as possible. I also want to give back and provide significant scholarships to low-income students like myself. I want the ability to lift the financial burden off of children so they can obtain higher education. In addition to my future goals, I want to maintain my current beliefs. I will continue to advocate for gun safety and denounce gun violence. I want to continue to say Courtney, Thomas, Caleb, and Ricky’s names. I never want to lose sight of my morals because they drive my positive actions. I believe that by acting selflessly, I can continue to leave a positive impact, one family at a time.

My name is Jada Carroll, and I attend Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. I strive to become a doctor specializing in anesthesiology. I am a very driven and determined student, maintaining high honors throughout my high school career. While in school, I did many extracurriculars, such as cheerleading and choir. I even held leadership positions, such as being a member of “The Principal’s Cabinet” and President of the Yearbook Committee. Edna Karr allowed me to unleash my full creative potential, leading me to design the official “Class of 2024” Senior Gear. While realizing my artistic talent, high school also highlighted my vocal ability. While singing in my school’s choir, I was allowed to sing multiple solos in front of large audiences. During my Senior Year, I also became somewhat of a teacher. For my dual enrollment English and Math class, I taught students complex topics they did not understand. Throughout these teaching moments, I enjoyed human interactions. I found through my artistic talents and my teaching abilities, I was able to help people through difficult moments. In a way, this epiphany has directed many future actions. Due to my perseverance, I will attend Louisiana State University on a “full-ride” scholarship in the fall. I plan to major in chemistry on a “pre-med” track and hope to eventually attend medical school. Despite my many milestones, my speeches and essays are my proudest accomplishments. The scariest thing about New Orleans and attending Edna Karr is the number of people lost each year. Every year I attended Enda Karr, at least one student was lost to gun violence. These students, Thomas, Courtney, Caleb, and Ricky, pushed me to speak up against the violence. I developed speeches that stated the words my peers could no longer say. I spoke directly to my school, reciting original poems that moved children to tears. I spoke at a gun rally at Xavier University in front of hundreds. I spoke on the World Wide Radio to thousands. Even more so, I spoke directly to families at funerals and churches, speaking to the heart of the community. Strikingly, I never met any of these children. Yet, when I attended school after the news of their deaths, the entire atmosphere shifted. I did not know these children, yet I knew something had to be done; something had to be said. I may not have known these children, but I needed everyone to know their legacy. Through my desperate fight against gun violence, I was awarded “The Legacy Award” at Edna Karr High School. I realized that while planting those children's legacy into the community's hearts, I developed my own legacy. I found a way to use my voice and change lives. This scholarship will aid in my eventual goal to attend medical school. Even the application is very costly, and saving money in advance is a large goal of mine. Sustaining scholarships such as these continue to pave the way for my future in medicine.

My name is Jada Carroll, and I am an African American from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Being African American in a city with massive amounts of violence is truly a saddening experience. I understand the rich culture African Americans posses (especially in a city such as New Olreans), but the violence does nothing but solidify stereotypes. I graduated from a predominantly black school in the heart of New Orleans, Edna Karr Highschool. Every year I attended Enda Karr, at least one student was lost to gun violence. These students, Thomas, Courtney, Caleb, and Ricky, pushed me to speak up against the violence. I developed speeches that stated the words my peers could no longer say. I denounced every form of gun violence and advocated for ways we could change and better the city of New Orleans. I spoke directly to my school, reciting original poems that moved children to tears. I spoke at a gun rally at Xavier University in front of hundreds. I spoke on the World Wide Radio to thousands. Even more so, I spoke directly to families at funerals and churches, speaking to the heart of the community. As for my family, I have contributed financially to my parent’s futures. I do not come from a very rich household, so I planned to minimize my college debt as much as I could. By sustaining high grades and applying for countless scholarships, I can confidently say I will be attending Louisiana State University on a “full ride” scholarship. I understand that I have eternally aided in helping my parents achieve their own financial goals. Once I graduate college, I have massive plans to continue to help my community. First, I plan to attend medical school and become a doctor. Not only will these expand my education, but also increase my financial abilities. Once financially stable, I plan to provide at least one “full-ride” to a Senior at Edna Karr High School. I want to push children to change their own communities, and speak out for anything they deem as important. I want to grant the ability to expand a child’s education, and to eliminate financial burden. Most of all, I want to eliminate the negative stereotypes, and encourage a positive climate within my own school.

When I came to Edna Karr High School, I expected to hate it. Instead, on the first day, I met my advanced math teacher. Though loud and sometimes "mean," she welcomed me. She was excited to have such a young student as a pre-calculus sophomore. Instantly, we became close, and I learned of her master's in mathematics. She graduated with honors from Xavier University and continued to Loyal University for her master's degree in mathematics. She is the only math teacher at Edna Karr High School who teaches a Dual Enrollment mathematics course. She is also the head Senior coordinator and mandates the senior budgets, senior trips, senior gear, and other necessities at Edna Karr. Though minded solid, she provides realistic advice to anyone who comes to her. Over my three years at Edna Karr, I have taken every one of her classes. She has allowed me to gain four dual enrollment credits from Calculus to Statistics for my future endeavors. She has paved the way for many African American students in New Orleans and Southern University. She teaches a strong work ethic and allows students to understand complex concepts such as calculus. She is Jacade Gordon, the Advanced Mathematics Teacher at Edna Karr High School. I could have chosen someone well-known, like Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, but none of them directly changed my life. Ms. Gordon has influenced my life more than any other teacher I have met. For example, she aided in deciding my major. As a sophomore, I had claimed I wanted to major in aerospace engineering and design spaceships for NASA. Before realizing it, Ms. Godan told me, "We'll see what you major in at graduation." Over time, I realized while completing her assignments I loved advanced math. I wanted a field that would keep me on a "pre-med" track while incorporating mathematical concepts. Sure enough, as a Senior, I had decided that engineering was not for me, and I wanted to study chemistry. She explained that she has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and has always incorporated mathematics into science. It intrigued me, and she inspired me to major in chemistry. Gordon has also pushed me to become the public speaker I am today. She helped me gain massive opportunities to speak at significant events, such as a gun rally at Xavier University. Gordon even wrote my letter of recommendation to multiple colleges. She continues to provide opportunities for me, even in my Senior year. I had the chance to design the Senior Jackets, Shirts, and Sweaters for the Edna Karr class of 2024. Ms. Gordon is a strong African American influence who has genuinely changed my life. Thank you, Ms. G

My name is Jada Carroll, and I attend Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. I strive to become a doctor specializing in anesthesiology. I am a very driven and determined student, maintaining high honors throughout my high school career. While in school, I did many extracurriculars, such as cheerleading and choir. I even held leadership positions, such as being a member of “The Principal’s Cabinet” and President of the Yearbook Committee. Edna Karr allowed me to unleash my full creative potential, leading me to design the official “Class of 2024” Senior Gear. While realizing my artistic talent, high school also highlighted my vocal ability. While singing in my school’s choir, I was allowed to sing multiple solos in front of large audiences. During my Senior Year, I also became somewhat of a teacher. For my dual enrollment English and Math class, I taught students complex topics they did not understand. Throughout these teaching moments, I enjoyed human interactions. Even more so, I was proud of my ability to positively change students. I found through my artistic talents and my teaching abilities, I was able to help people through difficult moments. In a way, this epiphany has directed many future actions. Due to my perseverance, I will attend Louisiana State University on a “full-ride” scholarship in the fall. I plan to major in chemistry on a “pre-med” track and hope to eventually attend medical school. Despite my many milestones, my speeches and essays are my proudest accomplishments. The scariest thing about New Orleans and attending Edna Karr is the number of people lost each year. Every year I attended Enda Karr, at least one student was lost to gun violence. These students, Thomas, Courtney, Caleb, and Ricky, pushed me to speak up against the violence. I developed speeches that stated the words my peers could no longer say. I denounced every form of gun violence and advocated for ways we could change and better the city of New Orleans. I spoke directly to my school, reciting original poems that moved children to tears. I spoke at a gun rally at Xavier University in front of hundreds. I spoke on the World Wide Radio to thousands. Even more so, I spoke directly to families at funerals and churches, speaking to the heart of the community. Strikingly, I never met any of these children. Yet, when I attended school after the news of their deaths, the entire atmosphere shifted. I did not know these children, yet I knew something had to be done; something had to be said. I may not have known these children, but I needed everyone to know their legacy. Through my desperate fight against gun violence, I was awarded “The Legacy Award” at Edna Karr High School. I realized that while planting those children's legacy into the community's hearts, I developed my own legacy. I found a way to use my voice and change lives.

Four years ago, my older brother wanted to enlist in the military. Always seeking a challenge, he chose the Marines as his branch of service. Soon, he realized he would have to overcome obstacles before completing basic training. He was then faced with his first challenge, losing weight. Together, I and my brother began eating what we described as “turtle food.” From literal lettuce to fruit salads, we jokingly ate like herbivores to support his diet. Even at restaurants, we’d be sure to each eat a salad, which favored his weight loss. Combined with his consistent workout routine, my brother drastically began to lose weight. The next challenge faced him. He needed to make the most of his hometown before he left. This challenge was partially complex since COVID-19 was among us. My brother was stationed in California and wouldn’t return to New Orleans until four years later. Knowing this, my brother and I became tourists. We visited places like Canal Street as if it were our first time in the area. We ate king cake as if we didn’t buy it every year. Yet, it wasn’t the sites or the king cake we wanted; it was the memories we solidified. My brother had then overcome another challenge. The most complex challenge yet had then faced my brother. My brother, Bernard, had to leave. He had graduated high school, lost weight, and made memories. Knowing he had to cut his hair, he let me take the first action. I cut his dreadlocks (very poorly) before he received his actual haircut. They cut the rest relatively short, looking clean and formal. We drove him to his recruiters and took many photos before formally saying goodbye. While at basic, my family and I sent my brother letters and often called him to encourage him. Despite losing the opportunity to congratulate him on his transition from basic training to the military (due to COVID), we were proud of the state of Louisiana. Now, I am facing my challenge. It’s been four years since my brother left. I’ve gone from a first-year student to a senior in high school, and now I’m leaving. While I attend college, my brother will return home to continue his life outside the military. Despite his return, I sadly won't be seeing much of it. I’ll now be facing my challenges and my endeavors. Hopefully, he’s here to help me the way I hopefully helped him.

If I could change the world in one way, I would change the world's mindset on climate change. Many people around the world do not understand the severity of climate change. People constantly waste meat, use plastic, and travel unknowingly, destroying the planet. Many claim that climate change "isn't serious" or "is out of our control." Instead, I would push people to change at least their mindset. People need to understand that change is possible. Climate change continues to grow and worsen because people lack understanding or do not care. Climate chnage impacts future generations, who must either live with our consequences or solve our problems. Living in a sense of hopelessness harms the future of all of humanity. People believe they, on their own, "can't change anything." Instead, humans should consider, "If I change my actions, then one less person is harming the planet." If humans could change their mindsets, they could impact their lifestyles. If people could change their mindset on climate change, humans could begin to change the planet. People can change one home at a time by being aware of the global issue. If everyone understands that there is an overconsumption of meat, then more people can reduce their eating habits. Since humans also lead their governments, countries could begin enforcing laws and limitations that lessen climate change. Countries can limit meat production, decrease fuel usage, and reduce plastic. While this would impact each nation's economy and industrial aspects, it's worth it to maintain the planet's health. Factories in developed countries such as America and Canada would have to lessen production to save fossil fuels and reduce plastic and other environmental aspects. If not, then current industrial usage and development will eventually consume Earth. Overcoming challenges starts after gradually changing your mindset. I could easily change the Earth's resources and provide more. However, humans would face another issue if it weren't for climate change. Humans need to understand that to overcome a challenge, they must change their mindset and understand the situation. Climate change is a massive issue due to exploitation and overconsumption that humans cause. Once the mindset shifts, people can better change their circumstances through small steps, like planting trees or using less plastic. Humans can also use this adapted mindset in other areas of their life. A positive mindset could influence the populations physical and mental health. The world can change if humans decide to change their perceptions.

When I came to Edna Karr High School, I expected to hate it. Instead, on the first day, I met my advanced math teacher. Though loud and sometimes "mean," she welcomed me. She was excited to have such a young student as a pre-calculus sophomore. Instantly, we became close, and I learned of her master's in mathematics. She graduated with honors from Xavier University and continued to Loyal University for her master's degree in mathematics. She is the only math teacher at Edna Karr High School who teaches a Dual Enrollment mathematics course. She is also the head Senior coordinator and mandates the senior budgets, senior trips, senior gear, and other necessities at Edna Karr. Though minded solid, she provides realistic advice to anyone who comes to her. Over my three years at Edna Karr, I have taken every one of her classes. She has allowed me to gain four dual enrollment credits from Calculus to Statistics for my future endeavors. She has paved the way for many African American students in New Orleans and Southern University. She teaches a strong work ethic and allows students to understand complex concepts such as calculus. She is Jacade Gordon, the Advanced Mathematics Teacher at Edna Karr High School. I could have chosen someone well-known, like Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, but none of them directly changed my life. Ms. Gordon has influenced my life more than any other teacher I have met. For example, she aided in deciding my major. As a sophomore, I had claimed I wanted to major in aerospace engineering and design spaceships for NASA. Before realizing it, Ms. Godan told me, "We'll see what you major in at graduation." Over time, I realized while completing her assignments I loved advanced math. I wanted a field that would keep me on a "pre-med" track while incorporating mathematical concepts. Sure enough, as a Senior, I had decided that engineering was not for me, and I wanted to study chemistry. She explained that she has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and has always incorporated mathematics into science. It intrigued me, and she inspired me to major in chemistry. Gordon has also pushed me to become the public speaker I am today. She helped me gain massive opportunities to speak at significant events, such as a gun rally at Xavier University. Gordon even wrote my letter of recommendation to multiple colleges. She continues to provide opportunities for me, even in my Senior year. I had the chance to design the Senior Jackets, Shirts, and Sweaters for the Edna Karr class of 2024. Ms. Gordon is a strong African American influence who has genuinely changed my life. Thank you, Ms. G

I always believed that if I gave the world positive energy, it would soon return to me. My name is Jada Carroll, and I am a senior at Edna Karr High School. From my earliest memories of elementary school, I have always been a hard worker. From all A’s in academics, to working jobs in the evening, I can’t remember a year where I “stood still”. I did many extracurricular activities throughout highschool, including cheerleading, yearbook, student government, and other clubs. Even on a smaller scale, I try to positively impact my peers each and everyday. I tutor in multiple subjects, I assist people with homework assignments, and I am extremely involved throughout my school. Walking in, you may find me taking pictures of an event, or even speaking at events. Sometimes I even act as a teaching assistant in my Dual Enrollment classes. Originally coming from a small school, New Orleans has provided many opportunities for me to impact others my age on a larger scale. Though there's so many things I could say about me throughout school, my actions should speak louder than my words. Originally, I wanted to study aerospace engineering. I love mathematics, and decided that a technical field would suit my endeavors. Except, when I took an internship at an engineering firm, I surprised myself. I realized that I wanted to be integrated with people. I felt myself seeking interactions, instead of crunching numbers. I wanted to assist people, and constantly be surrounded by opportunities. I realized that I wanted to become a doctor. I plan on going to medical school and receiving a medical degree in anesthesiology. With this degree, I plan on working directly in the hospital and providing extensive care to all of my patients. In addition, I will become the first doctor within my family, and hopefully open doors for future generations. I plan on attending Centenary College of Louisiana, where I’ll be able to travel and share my talents around the world. In the fall, I’ll be visiting Paris to hopefully tour hospitals and medical systems in France. My medical degree is not only a financial investment for me, but also my family and community. I hope to provide medical assistance during crises, such as another pandemic. I also want to aid people within the emergency room, even in the early mornings. Though many patients will not see my work behind the scenes, I still want to positively influence the lives of people within my community.

For my entire life, money has always been a pressing issue. My family rarely went on vacations, and we hardly ever ate at restaurants. My mother never graduated college, and my father worked as a firefighter. So, I would be lying if I claimed that I was not seeking higher education for its financial aspects. It's more than the money though. What especially moved my passion for higher education was my mother's life. She had always dreamed of going to medical school and becoming a certified doctor. Instead, she had gotten pregnant. Despite this setback, my mother has worked every day to ensure that my brothers and I always stay healthy. My mother sacrificed her own meals so we ate. My mother sacrificed her own happiness for ours. My mother's actions have set the course of my life. Ever since freshman year, I have devoted my grades and time to ensuring that college would be as cheap as possible for my family. And with all the funding I receive, I hope that I can change the life of someone else, the way my mother has changed mine. If I had the ability to change the life of at least one person, then everything I lived through would have been worth it. When I go to college, I plan on majoring in Chemistry on a "pre-med" track. I eventually want to graduate from medical school as an anesthesiologist. At first, I planned on becoming an aerospace engineer. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to help people on a physical level and work with others to change lives. What's exciting about chemistry is the idea of using math in my desired field. Of course, I could major in Biology like most aspiring doctors, but the combination of math and science seems more interesting. Furthermore, I cannot wait to experience a clinical. A Clinical seems like an introduction to the medical field. I am also excited by the idea of actually working hands-on with patients during medical procedures. It excites me knowing I'll constantly stay working, instead of sitting in a quiet environment. It excites me knowing that I'm not only changing my future but also the futures of others. Overall, the general challenging idea of the medical field excites me. I crave a challenge, and the idea that medical school is hard pushes me to achieve what's unachievable. Chemistry and anesthesiology are both fields that will serve as a challenging boost for my future.

Chemistry was not a major I would have chosen four years ago. I originally wanted to become a technical engineer, probably working with data or hardware. I participated in coding classes and joined robotics. I even have certifications in related engineering fields. Now, I plan on majoring in chemistry on a pre-med track. This entire career shift was due to a single internship. I have always told myself that If I could change the world for at least one person, all would have been worth it. I interned at Woodward Design + Build in New Orleans, Louisiana. I sat at my desk and realized engineering was not my field. Of course, the hospitality was lovely. I was welcomed with open arms and encouraged to pursue a field in engineering. Yet, the building was always quiet. Throughout the summer, I quietly sat alone at my desk and filed paperwork. My supervisor never talked much. We probably spoke a total of five times. My job was to create work binders. For two months, I began to grow restless. I questioned what the world of engineering even entailed. Most of all, I asked myself, Am I even helping anyone? I began to consider other fields besides engineering. I began to consider majoring in medicine. Medicine would provide noisy environments, stressful work, and plenty of social interactions. Of course, this seemed perfect. I began to research and explore scientific fields. Though many doctors gain bachelor's degrees in Biology, Chemistry caught my attention. In high school, I have shown to be exceptional in math. These math courses include include Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, and Calculus. My teacher for each of these Dual Enrollment math courses was a female Professor named Ms. Gordon. Before I even realized engineering was not my field, she claimed engineering did not suit me. This woman holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and serves as a graduate from Xavier Louisiana. Ms. Gordon claimed she saw herself in me. Her influence further pushed me into world chemistry. Now, I could not imagine majoring in anything else. Chemistry provides the opportunity to work with others in busy environments. Chemistry allows students and people to solve complex problems. Best of all, I feel like I am helping someone. Studying antibiotics means I will have the ability to influence the world of medicine. Even deducting what anesthesia is best can save the life of at least one person. With the help of real-world experiences and the influence of my professor, a passion for science has risen within me. I may have found out how I will help people, so everything was worth it.