The first time I realized how bad our attention problem was, it wasn’t from reading an article it was from catching myself scrolling for almost an hour without even knowing why. I opened my phone to check one thing and somehow ended up deep in random videos that had nothing to do with my goals. That moment made me think about how much control technology really has over our focus. The modern issue I would want to solve is the global attention crisis how social media, constant notifications, and digital overload are damaging our focus, mental health, and critical thinking. If we cannot control our attention, it becomes easier for misinformation to spread, easier for anxiety to rise, and harder for people to think deeply. To solve this, I would choose Hedy Lamar, James Baldwin, and Marcus Aurelius. First, I would choose Hedy Lamarr. Most people only know her as a Hollywood actress, but she also helped invent technology that became the foundation for WiFi and Bluetooth. That’s powerful because she understood both media and innovation. If anyone could redesign technology to work for people instead of addicting them, it would be her. She would focus on rebuilding social media algorithms so they reward education and meaningful interaction instead of outrage and constant stimulation. Second, I would bring in James Baldwin. Baldwin had a way of forcing society to confront uncomfortable truths. The attention crisis is not just about phones it is about why we crave distraction in the first place. Baldwin would push people to reflect on what we are running from. He would lead conversations in schools and communities about emotional intelligence, identity, and truth. Without cultural change, technical solutions will not last. Finally, I would include Marcus Aurelius. As a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, he practiced discipline and self control while leading an empire. His philosophy teaches that we cannot control everything around us, but we can control how we respond. In today’s world of constant stimulation, his mindset would help individuals rebuild focus, patience, and resilience. Technology can be redesigned, but personal discipline still matters. Together, this task force would attack the problem from three levels: technology, culture, and individual responsibility. Lamarr would fix the systems. Baldwin would challenge society to think deeper. Marcus Aurelius would teach self mastery. The attention crisis might not seem as dramatic as climate change or war, but it quietly influences everything our democracy, our education system, our mental health, and even our relationships. A distracted society is easier to divide and manipulate. A focused society is stronger and more independent. If we want to solve modern problems, we have to protect the one resource that shapes every decision we make our attention. With innovation, truth, and discipline combined, this task force could help restore depth in a world that is constantly pulling us toward distraction.

I am pursuing a career as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) because I am passionate about helping individuals and families achieve financial security and independence. My goal is to educate others on how to manage money, plan for the future, and build generational wealth, especially in communities that have historically faced financial disparities. I want my career to be more than just numbers; I want it to be a platform for empowerment and mentorship, giving people the tools to make informed financial decisions and break cycles of economic hardship. Being Black to me means resilience, pride, and a commitment to community. It means acknowledging the struggles and triumphs of those who came before me while working to create a better future for the next generation. It is about embracing my identity and using it as motivation to succeed and give back. I chose to attend an HBCU because I wanted an environment that celebrates Black excellence and provides both cultural affirmation and academic support. At an HBCU, I am surrounded by peers and mentors who understand my experiences and encourage me to reach my full potential. It is a space where my ambitions are nurtured, my heritage is honored, and my dreams are taken seriously. By combining my education with my passion for financial literacy, I hope to serve as a role model and make a meaningful impact, helping others in my community achieve stability, confidence, and opportunity.

Being part of the disabled community and living with ADHD and anxiety has profoundly shaped how I see the world and how I approach problems. My experiences taught me that different is not deficient. Neurodiversity offers alternative patterns of thinking, creativity, and resilience that deserve respect and support. Managing ADHD and anxiety forced me to develop systems and strategies that turn vulnerability into strength. I learned to break large goals into small concrete steps, use visual checklists and calendars, schedule routines that support focus, and build short reset breaks when overwhelm arises. I learned to ask for accommodations and explain my needs to teachers, coaches and employers. Those practices made me more organized, empathetic, and skilled at communicating complex ideas in plain language. This lived experience shifted my priorities. Success for me is not only measured by outcomes but by sustainable processes, accessibility, and the dignity of each person I serve. I notice when systems exclude people and I naturally look for simple practical fixes. I am patient with setbacks and celebrate small wins that compound into progress. That perspective helps me connect with clients who feel intimidated by financial planning and supports a coaching style that is encouraging rather than judgmental. I will apply these lessons directly in my work as a Certified Financial Planner and as the founder of a financial planning firm. I will design client experiences that are accessible and easy to follow for people with ADHD, anxiety and other neurodiverse profiles. That means plain language explanations, visual plans, step by step checklists, automated reminders, and flexible meeting formats. I will phase recommendations so each step feels achievable and avoid overwhelming clients with too many changes at once. I will provide tools that reduce cognitive load and make consistent action easier. Beyond one on one advising, I will lead workshops and create resources tailored for neurodiverse learners and busy families. I will partner with schools and community organizations to teach budgeting techniques that require minimal maintenance and to normalize conversations about mental health in financial contexts. I will build templates and short courses clients can revisit on their own schedule and use technology to automate reminders and simplify habits. Living with ADHD and anxiety gave me empathy, creativity, and a drive to remove barriers. I will carry those lessons into every part of my career so more people can truly build steady financial stability and confidence.

Being a student at North Carolina A&T State University means belonging to a tradition of resilience, leadership, and service. For me, as a first generation independent student who was emancipated at sixteen, A&T validated the sacrifices I made and connected me to people who believe that rising together is possible. The university did more than teach me finance; it gave me mentors who invested time in my development, classmates who challenged me to improve, and a culture that honors using knowledge to uplift others. That sense of purpose shaped how I think about success, not as an endpoint but as a responsibility to give back. At A&T I gained technical finance skills and learned how to make them usable for real people. Rigorous coursework introduced me to financial planning, investment fundamentals, and risk management. Tutoring classmates and mentoring youth taught me how to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable steps. Juggling early mornings, classes, and long work shifts developed discipline, time management, and perseverance. Those experiences forced me to turn exhaustion into structure and setbacks into lessons. More than grades, A&T taught me how to communicate, lead, and serve with integrity. I plan to carry forward A&T lessons by turning education into tangible community impact. I will design and lead financial literacy workshops in neighborhoods that lack reliable resources, and I will provide pro bono financial planning for small business owners and family farmers who struggle to access trustworthy advice. I will partner with local schools and nonprofit organizations to teach budgeting, debt reduction, credit repair, and practical steps toward homeownership. I will mentor students who face hardships similar to mine so they see concrete pathways to opportunity rather than obstacles. My immediate professional goal is to become a Certified Financial Planner, a credential that will allow me to offer ethical, professional guidance tailored to families and agricultural entrepreneurs. After earning my certification, I intend to open a financial planning firm focused on underserved communities, combining culturally competent service with practical strategies for building generational wealth. I will leverage A&T resources, including faculty mentorship, alumni relationships, and internship opportunities, to gain industry experience, establish partnerships, and scale services that meet real community needs. Ultimately, being an Aggie means using privilege responsibly and paying success forward. The lessons I learned at North Carolina A&T resilience in the face of hardship, dedication to service, and the ability to translate knowledge into practical help will guide how I build my career and invest in my community. I measure success by how many families I help achieve stability and how many young people I inspire to reach for a different future.

Being a student at North Carolina A&T State University means belonging to a tradition of resilience, leadership, and service. For me, as a first generation independent student who was emancipated at sixteen, A&T validated the sacrifices I made and connected me to people who believe that rising together is possible. The university did more than teach me finance; it gave me mentors who invested time in my development, classmates who challenged me to improve, and a culture that honors using knowledge to uplift others. That sense of purpose shaped how I think about success, not as an endpoint but as a responsibility to give back. At A&T I gained technical finance skills and learned how to make them usable for real people. Rigorous coursework introduced me to financial planning, investment fundamentals, and risk management. Tutoring classmates and mentoring youth taught me how to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable steps. Juggling early mornings, classes, football, and long work shifts developed discipline, time management, and perseverance. Those experiences forced me to turn exhaustion into structure and setbacks into lessons. More than grades, A&T taught me how to communicate, lead, and serve with integrity. I plan to carry forward A&T lessons by turning education into tangible community impact. I will design and lead financial literacy workshops in neighborhoods that lack reliable resources, and I will provide pro bono financial planning for small business owners and family farmers who struggle to access trustworthy advice. I will partner with local schools and nonprofit organizations to teach budgeting, debt reduction, credit repair, and practical steps toward homeownership. I will mentor students who face hardships similar to mine so they see concrete pathways to opportunity rather than obstacles. My immediate professional goal is to become a Certified Financial Planner, a credential that will allow me to offer ethical, professional guidance tailored to families and agricultural entrepreneurs. After earning my certification, I intend to open a financial planning firm focused on underserved communities, combining culturally competent service with practical strategies for building generational wealth. I will leverage A&T resources, including faculty mentorship, alumni relationships, and internship opportunities, to gain industry experience, establish partnerships, and scale services that meet real community needs. Ultimately, being an Aggie means using privilege responsibly and paying success forward. The lessons I learned at North Carolina A&T resilience in the face of hardship, dedication to service, and the ability to translate knowledge into practical help will guide how I build my career and invest in my community. I measure success by how many families I help achieve stability and how many young people I inspire to reach for a different future.

My name is Jaden. I am a first-generation, college student majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance. I was emancipated at sixteen and learned I would need to depend on myself to create opportunities and stability. College was never just a path — it was the plan I chose to build a safer future and provide for the family I hope to have someday. Losing a close friend who always urged me to “make it out the city” sharpened my focus; that loss turned grief into a commitment to succeed for myself and for others. Being emancipated was extremely difficult. I would wake at 6:00 a.m., get ready for school by 7:30 a.m., attend classes until 2:30 p.m., go to football practice from 3:00–5:00 p.m., then work from 5:30–11:00 p.m. on weekdays, and take twelve-hour shifts on weekends just to provide for myself. There were long nights and moments I wondered why my life had to be so hard, but I kept moving forward by reminding myself that “God gives the toughest battles to his strongest kids.” That mindset became my motivation to keep pushing forward despite exhaustion and turn obstacles into discipline and struggle into fuel for progress. I chose Finance because I want to give families tools to build lasting security. I plan to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) so I can advise individuals and small businesses on budgeting, investing, debt management, and long-term planning for generational wealth. After I earn my CFP, I intend to open my own financial planning firm focused on serving underserved communities and local agricultural entrepreneurs. My goal is to provide accessible, culturally competent advice that helps people secure homes, start businesses, and pass on wealth to future generations. Community service is central to my values. I have donated food and clothing to people experiencing homelessness and served as a mentor for youth, showing young people that education and planning can change the course of their lives. These experiences taught me empathy, organization, and the importance of practical support. This scholarship is essential because I face financial barriers that threaten my ability to pursue certification and professional growth. Support would reduce reliance on high-interest credit, cover training and exam fees, and free time to develop community programs that teach financial literacy. I am committed to using this opportunity to lift others and build generational opportunity, paying forward the help and guidance helped me reach this point.

My name is Jaden. I am a first-generation, college student majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance. I was emancipated at sixteen and learned I would need to depend on myself to create opportunities and stability. College was never just a path — it was the plan I chose to build a safer future and provide for the family I hope to have someday. Losing a close friend who always urged me to “make it out the city” sharpened my focus; that loss turned grief into a commitment to succeed for myself and for others. Being emancipated was extremely difficult. I would wake at 6:00 a.m., get ready for school by 7:30 a.m., attend classes until 2:30 p.m., go to football practice from 3:00–5:00 p.m., then work from 5:30–11:00 p.m. on weekdays, and take twelve-hour shifts on weekends just to provide for myself. There were long nights and moments I wondered why my life had to be so hard, but I kept moving forward by reminding myself that “God gives the toughest battles to his strongest kids.” That mindset became my motivation to keep pushing forward despite exhaustion and turn obstacles into discipline and struggle into fuel for progress. I chose Finance because I want to give families tools to build lasting security. I plan to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) so I can advise individuals and small businesses on budgeting, investing, debt management, and long-term planning for generational wealth. After I earn my CFP, I intend to open my own financial planning firm focused on serving underserved communities and local agricultural entrepreneurs. My goal is to provide accessible, culturally competent advice that helps people secure homes, start businesses, and pass on wealth to future generations. Community service is central to my values. I have donated food and clothing to people experiencing homelessness and served as a mentor for youth, showing young people that education and planning can change the course of their lives. These experiences taught me empathy, organization, and the importance of practical support. This scholarship is essential because I face financial barriers that threaten my ability to pursue certification and professional growth. Support would reduce reliance on high-interest credit, cover training and exam fees, and free time to develop community programs that teach financial literacy. I am committed to using this opportunity to lift others and build generational opportunity, paying forward the help and guidance helped me reach this point.

My name is Jaden. I am a first-generation, college student majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance. I was emancipated at sixteen and learned I would need to depend on myself to create opportunities and stability. College was never just a path — it was the plan I chose to build a safer future and provide for the family I hope to have someday. Losing a close friend who always urged me to “make it out the city” sharpened my focus; that loss turned grief into a commitment to succeed for myself and for others. Being emancipated was extremely difficult. I would wake at 6:00 a.m., get ready for school by 7:30 a.m., attend classes until 2:30 p.m., go to football practice from 3:00–5:00 p.m., then work from 5:30–11:00 p.m. on weekdays, and take twelve-hour shifts on weekends just to provide for myself. There were long nights and moments I wondered why my life had to be so hard, but I kept moving forward by reminding myself that “God gives the toughest battles to his strongest kids.” That mindset became my motivation to keep pushing forward despite exhaustion and turn obstacles into discipline and struggle into fuel for progress. I chose Finance because I want to give families tools to build lasting security. I plan to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) so I can advise individuals and small businesses on budgeting, investing, debt management, and long-term planning for generational wealth. After I earn my CFP, I intend to open my own financial planning firm focused on serving underserved communities and local agricultural entrepreneurs. My goal is to provide accessible, culturally competent advice that helps people secure homes, start businesses, and pass on wealth to future generations. Community service is central to my values. I have donated food and clothing to people experiencing homelessness and served as a mentor for youth, showing young people that education and planning can change the course of their lives. These experiences taught me empathy, organization, and the importance of practical support. This scholarship is essential because I face financial barriers that threaten my ability to pursue certification and professional growth. Support would reduce reliance on high-interest credit, cover training and exam fees, and free time to develop community programs that teach financial literacy. I am committed to using this opportunity to lift others and build generational opportunity, paying forward the help and guidance helped me reach this point.

My name is Jaden. I am a first-generation, college student majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance. I was emancipated at sixteen and learned I would need to depend on myself to create opportunities and stability. College was never just a path — it was the plan I chose to build a safer future and provide for the family I hope to have someday. Losing a close friend who always urged me to “make it out the city” sharpened my focus; that loss turned grief into a commitment to succeed for myself and for others. Being emancipated was extremely difficult. I would wake at 6:00 a.m., get ready for school by 7:30 a.m., attend classes until 2:30 p.m., go to football practice from 3:00–5:00 p.m., then work from 5:30–11:00 p.m. on weekdays, and take twelve-hour shifts on weekends just to provide for myself. There were long nights and moments I wondered why my life had to be so hard, but I kept moving forward by reminding myself that “God gives the toughest battles to his strongest kids.” That mindset became my motivation to keep pushing forward despite exhaustion and turn obstacles into discipline and struggle into fuel for progress. I chose Finance because I want to give families tools to build lasting security. I plan to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) so I can advise individuals and small businesses on budgeting, investing, debt management, and long-term planning for generational wealth. After I earn my CFP, I intend to open my own financial planning firm focused on serving underserved communities and local agricultural entrepreneurs. My goal is to provide accessible, culturally competent advice that helps people secure homes, start businesses, and pass on wealth to future generations. Community service is central to my values. I have donated food and clothing to people experiencing homelessness and served as a mentor for youth, showing young people that education and planning can change the course of their lives. These experiences taught me empathy, organization, and the importance of practical support. This scholarship is essential because I face financial barriers that threaten my ability to pursue certification and professional growth. Support would reduce reliance on high-interest credit, cover training and exam fees, and free time to develop community programs that teach financial literacy. I am committed to using this opportunity to lift others and build generational opportunity, paying forward the help and guidance helped me reach this point.