6,753 miles, a number that holds deep meaning for me. It’s the distance between Charlotte, North Carolina, where I was born and raised, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where my parents are from. At the age of thirty, my parents made the courageous decision to leave behind everything they had ever known, their language, their families, their roots and move to the United States in hopes of giving their children a better life. They gave everything to create opportunity for me, and even through financial hardship, I never let my circumstances hold me back. I let them shape me. Growing up as a first-generation African immigrant and first-generation college student, I faced many challenges. From a young age, I struggled with language barriers that made it difficult to express myself or feel truly understood. In school, I was often seen as a lost cause by my peers, but deep down, I knew I had the strength to push through and prove otherwise. My parents never had the opportunity to attend college, so navigating the education system often felt like walking in the dark but I knew I had to be the first, the first to open that door, to carry the weight of their sacrifice, and to become the reason their journey to the States was worth every mile. In 2018, I co-founded L&J Believe In, a community service initiative dedicated to raising awareness about child homelessness. I educate volunteers, pack snack kits, and donate directly to unhoused youth. Service became a defining part of who I am, especially as I began working with children. The more I gave back, the more I realized how much I loved being a source of encouragement and support, the kind I once needed myself. My work through community service is what helped opened my eyes to the importance of mental health. The more time I spent supporting children and families, I began to understand how deeply mental health shapes every part of our lives, especially in immigrant communities like mine. I saw firsthand how unspoken struggles impacted my parents and influenced how they showed up for me and my siblings. The effects of intergenerational trauma, cultural stigma, and limited access to care often go unnoticed and untreated. Last year I began working as a behavioral technician in ABA therapy. It's a science-based approach that focuses on understanding and improving specific behaviors, especially in children with developmental conditions like autism. For the first time, my career aligned with my passion for healing. I realized I wasn’t just doing a job, I was walking in my calling. What drives me is the belief that every child, especially those in underserved and BIPOC communities deserves to be seen, supported, and nurtured. I’ve seen how mental health care is often fragmented and limited for people like us. That’s why I want to build a system that works for us, starting in my community. My future is building a clinic that unites ABA therapy, speech therapy, and child counseling, all under one roof so no child is left behind or underserved. The bigger picture is to then expand my services back home to Congo, 6,753 miles away. This scholarship would support not just my education, but my mission. It would help me continue my journey with less financial strain, and remind me that my story, like so many untold stories in marginalized communities — matters. With your support, I will continue to grow as a student, a provider, and a leader in mental health who shows up for those often left behind.

They say the hardest part of losing someone is facing their absence, the unspoken words, and the guilt of wondering if you could have done more. I agree that all of these are true, but I think the hardest part about losing someone who's defined by their compassion, kindness, and dedication to serving others is knowing they will never truly witness the impact they've had on the lives around them. On January 21st, I lost my cousin Moise, someone whose life was a living testament to those qualities as well. Though his time on earth was tragically cut short, the legacy of his compassion continues to shape the way I live. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and later moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, Moose constantly struggled between his own dreams and the expectations placed on him by our family. I remember late night talks when he shared his aspirations to become a police officer or a teacher, goals that didn’t align with the academic paths my parents had envisioned. Despite these pressures, Moose's commitment to others never wavered. Even when he felt misunderstood, he continued to help those around him, going off to become an officer. This selflessness became the core of his character and inspired me to find my own way of serving others. After his death, I began to reevaluate my own life. Like Moise, I had been living with the pressures of meeting others’ expectations, ignoring my true passions. Moises’s passing inspired me to focus on what truly mattered, helping others by creating change in my community. Now I can say I’m deeply committed to giving back, particularly in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Much of my time is dedicated to community service through my local church, Eastern Hills Baptist, where I help lead student ministry classes. One of the most meaningful projects I’ve been involved in is L&J Believe in We, a service initiative I started in 8th grade. What began as a simple school assignment quickly grew into something much more impactful. I gathered students from my school to create goodie bags filled with essential items for children experiencing homelessness during the holiday season. I also gave a lesson on homelessness and its effects on the community. This project taught me at a young age that I had the power to create positive change. It also revealed my passion for working with children and giving back to those in need, something that brings me immense joy. Today, I continue to organize this service project with the children in our student ministry. What started as a small project has now become an ongoing effort that not only brings our community together but also teaches kids the value of helping others. I envision carrying forward Moise’s legacy by continuing to serve with the same compassion he showed. This passion has led me to pursue psychology, where I can offer guidance and support to those in need, particularly children who are facing challenges similar to those I’ve seen in my community. Moise, India, and so many other loved ones' legacies live on through the choices we make and the lives we touch. We must continue the work that they’ve begun! Winning this scholarship would allow me to further my education, continue my work in community service, and honor legacies by helping others in the way they did. It would be an incredible opportunity to expand my ability to serve, empowering me to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most.

Around the second grade, you're shown a map, and on that map, you're shown a dot to where your state, city, and county are. At the age of seven, I imagined Charlotte as small as the little black dot is shown, but it wasn't until later that I realized I make up one of 874,000 individuals that stay in Charlotte and its 199 neighborhood statistical areas. Now I know you may ask, what’re the needs for these statistics, but I believe that even these big numbers don't truly show how lucky I was to have my parents move from a third-world country to a very small community in Charlotte. Growing up, I was raised by immigrant parents. Although I admired my Congolese culture and the sacrifices my parents made to move to the States, at a young age I had to fight through language barriers and depend on myself for assignments just to not fall behind in my studies. Difficult, is what it was coming from a different cultural background and still being expected to be on the same level as everyone else, and at times I thought it was impossible. Even still, when others saw me as a lost cause, the East Side of Charlotte saw potential in me at the time, that’s all I needed. They saw a little girl who had to fight through many challenges growing up and assisted me. By helping with assignments and providing rides for me to stay after school for extracurricular activities, my community helped shape me into the scholar I am today. Throughout my middle and high school years, I started to grow a passion for working with children and realized the best way to give back to my community was to help them in ways that my community helped me. During my 8h grade year, I gathered a group of children within my school and brought awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After bringing awareness to these topics we created goodie bags which were donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher to help virtually read to students on Zoom. The pandemic was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. Outside of my projects, over the many years, I’ve been a volunteer at Eastern Hills Baptist church where we provide meals at our weekly events for children and set up activities that help with their interpretation of life. 874,000 individuals and my community saw hope in me. When asked “ Why have you chosen to further your education?”, I owe everything to my side of town. As I go on to get my education and a job within my career, my goal is simply to see the potential in our youth that a few saw in me. Winning this scholarship will help support my education and help me gain a deeper understanding of the psychological behavior of all ages and how certain events affect childhood development. With the knowledge I’ll obtain from my degree, I’ll be able to open up local establishments and start after-school events within my community that help steer children into their bright futures. America is a place of dreams my parents always told me and although I faced many cultural challenges growing up, it’s astonishing knowing that the potential saw in me at such a young age allowed me to blossom into the bright student I am today.

Around the second grade, you're shown a map, and on that map, you're shown your state, city, and county. At the age of seven, I imagined Charlotte as small as the little black dot on the map, but it wasn't until later that I realized I make up one of 874,000 individuals that stay in Charlotte and it's 199 neighborhood statistical areas. You may ask why a small community in Charlotte plays an important role in the life of an 18-year-old senior, but the East Side of Charlotte saw potential in a little girl when many others didn't. When it came to assignments or providing rides for me to stay after school for extracurricular activities, my community helped out motivating me to help other children. During my 8h grade year, I gathered together a group of children within my school bringing awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After, goodie bags were made and donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher of mine to help virtually read to students on Zoom. The pandemic was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. Over the many years, I've been and still volunteer at Eastern Hills Baptist church providing meals at our weekly events for children and provdidng more services within our community.

A community involves a group of people with common characteristics or interests living together within a larger society. You may ask why a small community in Charlotte North Carolina plays an important role in the life of an 18-year-old senior, but without the East Side of Charlotte, I could not have achieved the successes I have currently like getting accepted into all of the colleges I’ve applied to and striving within my academics. For all my life I grew up living in the same home alongside my two brothers and my immigrant parents. The adjustment from being taught Congolese culture since birth and then being sent off to school around children who didn't share the same cultural background was challenging. I remembered the days of not being able to ask my parents for help on assignments because they were “too complicated” or always working to keep up with bills. Although I’m glad my parents were able to move to a country where education is offered to all and dreams can come true, many people don't realize the adjustments that children of immigrants have to make. Lucky for me, the East Side of Charlotte offered me many opportunities that I would soon return to within the same area. What motivates me are the individuals within my community who saw potential in a little girl who had to fight through language barriers and challenges in her first-grade classroom. The individuals who offered to help me with my homework and provided rides for me to stay after school for extracurricular activities motivated me to help young children in hopes that they can find their true potential as I did. I developed an understanding that children are products of their environment and some of the basic needs that they have fallen into emotional and psychological categories. To ensure that the health and education of children are protected, we must become involved within our community which involves volunteering and simply giving back. During my 8h grade year, I gathered together a group of children within my school and brought awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After bringing awareness to these topics we created goodie bags which were donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher of mine to help virtually read to students on zoom. During the pandemic, it was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. Over the years I’ve been a volunteer at Eastern Hills Baptist church where we provide meals at our weekly events for children and set up activities that help with their interpretation of life. Being able to work alongside the children within my community showed me that all children need guidance growing up. I'm passionate about advocating for social change among the youth through acts of service. For the fall semester of 2023, I plan on attending Spelman College where I’ll major in Psychology and Child Development. My goal is to help children with their basic needs and emphasize the importance that future generations are provided with proper ways to manage their mental health. After I graduate, I plan to become a Child Therapist where I can help provide children with the skills and methods necessary to manage their emotions and navigate stressful situations. My education will allow me to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological behavior of all ages and how certain events affect childhood development.

A community involves a group of people with common characteristics or interests living together within a larger society. You may ask why a small community in Charlotte North Carolina plays an important role in the life of an 18-year-old senior, but without the East Side of Charlotte, I could not have achieved the successes I have currently like getting accepted into all of the colleges I’ve applied to and striving within my academics. For all my life I grew up living in the same home alongside my two brothers and my immigrant parents. The adjustment from being taught Congolese culture since birth and then being sent off to school around children who didn't share the same cultural background was challenging. I remembered the days of not being able to ask my parents for help on assignments because they were “too complicated” or always working to keep up with bills. Although I’m glad my parents were able to move to a country where education is offered to all and dreams can come true, many people don't realize the adjustments that children of immigrants have to make. Lucky for me, the East Side of Charlotte offered me many opportunities that I would soon return to within the same area. What motivates me are the individuals within my community who saw potential in a little girl who had to fight through language barriers and challenges in her first-grade classroom. The individuals who offered to help me with my homework and provided rides for me to stay after school for extracurricular activities motivated me to help young children in hopes that they can find their true potential as I did. I developed an understanding that children are products of their environment and some of the basic needs that they have fallen into emotional and psychological categories. To ensure that the health and education of children are protected, we must become involved within our community which involves volunteering and simply giving back. During my 8h grade year, I gathered together a group of children within my school and brought awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After bringing awareness to these topics we created goodie bags which were donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher of mine to help virtually read to students on zoom. During the pandemic, it was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. Over the years I’ve been a volunteer at Eastern Hills Baptist church where we provide meals at our weekly events for children and set up activities that help with their interpretation of life. Being able to work alongside the children within my community showed me that all children need guidance growing up. My main goal is to advocate for social change among the youth through acts of service. For the fall semester of 2023, I plan on attending Spelman College where I’ll major in Psychology and Child Development. My goal is to help children with their basic needs and emphasize the importance that future generations are provided with proper ways to manage their mental health. After I graduate, I plan to become a Child Therapist where I can help provide children with the skills and methods necessary to manage their emotions and navigate stressful situations. My education will allow me to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological behavior of all ages and how certain events affect childhood development.

“The belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone." quoted by James Truslow Adams was his theory of the American Dream. In the early ’90s, my parents Kienimis and Liliane Sawuna moved to Charlotte North Carolina in hopes to prove James Truslow's theory of the American Dream true. Although the education my parents acquired in the Democratic Republic of Congo would be equivalent to nothing once they hit the states, the idea of moving to a first-world country excited them! Growing up my father would tell my siblings and me about the dreams he had when he was younger. Even though he was never able to continue majoring in engineering and obtain his dream salary, I continued to admire how hard he worked for us growing up! At times there were nights when my siblings rocked me to sleep and I never saw my parents come home but I continued to admire them. I specifically remember the days of not being able to ask my parents for help on assignments because they were “too complicated” or always working to make ends meet. Or the time when reality hit and I found out that most kids go shopping at the mall with their parents and not the Goodwill up the street. Even when classmates would bully me for wearing the same blue furry jacket every day and not having my hair done at times, I still admired my parents. At such a young age, seeing how hard my parents had to work for my siblings and I encouraged me to want to thrive in life. Although I had to fight through many language barriers and middle school bullies, I knew at a young age that I wanted to further myself in my education so that my parents could live their American dream through me. I knew that if I wanted to attend a four-year college or university I would have to work harder than most of the kids around me and that's what I did. Throughout my high school years, I maintained a 3.8 GPA while being in DP the program, which is considered the most rigorous course a student can take. I’ve currently been accepted to all of the colleges I've applied to like Spelman and Hampton University and I wish to continue to further my education after I complete my four years! Now don't get me wrong, these past 12 years of my life didn't come easy! There were nights when I cried myself to sleep at night because Immigration Services threatened to send my parents home or I would have to listen to my mother talk about her 10-hour shifts at the Metrolina Greenhouse. My life wasn't like the kids around me growing up, I was exposed to so much adversity at a young age which gave me no other option but to mature and overcome the obstacles I faced. I valued my education because it showed me the good things this world has to offer and how lucky I am to be in a country that provides free education to all. These past 12 years I’ve worked hard, but the sacrifices that my parents made allowed me to become the individual I am today, they’re my American Dream.

Science is the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiments. The need for science majors in today's society is important because it’ll increase fundamental knowledge and create new technology for future generations. Science is an area of knowledge that gives us a better worldview and allows us as humans to think analytically. Going back to the early ages of my life I always remembered striving in my academics but science always sparked my interest more than other subjects. I grew up in a household with two immigrant parents from the Democratic Republic Of Congo and the rest of my siblings. The adjustment from being taught Congolese culture but then being sent off to school around children who didn't share the same cultural background was challenging. I remembered the days of not being able to ask my parents for help on assignments because they were “too complicated” or always working to make ends meet. At such a young age, seeing how hard my parents had to work for my siblings and me encouraged me to want to thrive in life. Although I had to fight through many language barriers during my primary years, I knew at a young age that I wanted to further myself in my education. Now, this was a big goal for me because none of my parents had attended college or graduated with a high school diploma. I knew that if I wanted to attend a four-year college or university I would have to teach myself concepts and focus on my studies. As my science life continued to grow, so did my engagement with being around kids. During my 8h grade year, I gathered together a group of children within my school and brought awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After bringing awareness to these topics we created goodie bags which were donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher of mine to help virtually read to students on zoom. During the pandemic, it was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. As I moved toward my senior year, I realized that my goal is to help children with their basic needs and emphasize the importance that future generations are provided with proper ways to manage their mental health. For the fall semester of 2023, I plan on attending Spelman College where I’ll major in Psychology and Child Development. I desire to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological behavior of all ages and how certain events affect childhood development. After I graduate, I'll go on to be a Child Therapist where I can help provide children with the skills and methods necessary to manage their emotions and navigate stressful situations. The most pressing global issue in society is the effect that coming of age has on today’s adolescent health. The central focus within my career is to cater to children of all ages stepping out of my comfort of only working with younger children. My education will allow me to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological behavior of all ages and how certain events affect childhood development.

A community involves a group of people with common characteristics or interests living together within a larger society. You may ask why a small community in Charlotte North Carolina plays an important role in the life of an 18-year-old senior, but without the East Side of Charlotte, I could not have achieved the successes I have currently like getting accepted into all the colleges I've applied to and striving within my academics. For all my life I grew up living in the same home alongside my two brothers and my immigrant parents. The adjustment from being taught Congolese culture since birth and then being sent off to school around children who didn't share the same cultural background was challenging. I remembered the days of not being able to ask my parents for help on assignments because they were “too complicated” or always working to keep up with bills. Although I’m glad my parents were able to move to a country where education is offered to all and dreams can come true, many people don't realize the adjustments that children of immigrants have to make. Lucky for me, the East Side of Charlotte offered me many opportunities that I would soon return to for children within the same area. What motivates me are the individuals within my community who saw potential in a little girl who had to fight through language barriers and challenges in her first-grade classroom. The individuals who offered to help me with my homework and provided rides for me to stay after school for extracurricular activities motivated me to help young children in hopes that they can find their true potential as I did. I developed an understanding that children are products of their environment and some of the basic needs that they have fallen into emotional and psychological categories. To ensure that the health and education of children are protected, we must become involved within our community which involves volunteering and simply giving back. During my 8h grade year, I gathered together a group of children within my school and brought awareness to the cost of childcare and the number of children in unstable homes. After bringing awareness to these topics we created goodie bags which were donated to a local child shelter nearby. During the 10th grade, I partnered with my elementary school and worked alongside a former teacher of mine to help virtually read to students on zoom. During the pandemic, it was difficult for children to advance in their education and I knew tutoring virtually would be beneficial to their growth. Over the years I’ve been a volunteer at Eastern Hills Baptist church where we provide meals at our weekly events for children and set up activities that help with their interpretation of life. Although I enjoy hanging around children and the funny jokes they tell, my main goal is to advocate for social change among the youth through acts of service in hopes that they’ll be able to accomplish their dreams and goals down in the future.

You find a time machine that can take you anytime in the past and anytime in the future, at any location in the world. When and where will you go? For many, this question may appear challenging, but I would ask the time machine to take me back to when my cousin Moose was growing up. I’ll watch him from his early years of life in the Democratic Republic of Congo and how later on he’ll move to Charlotte, North Carolina with his big sister Marthe. As Moose continues to grow up I'll watch the challenges he’ll face as the conversation of school and his future pops up. At the age of five I never quite understood why he couldn't just tell my parents what he told us. Late nights when he took my brothers and me out to eat he would speak about how he wasn't quite sure if spending long years in school was for him and tell us about the dreams he truly wanted to pursue, like becoming a police officer or being a teacher. At the time I never understood why my parents weren't accepting of his goals but sooner or later I started to endure the toxic lifestyle that many first-generation immigrants in the U.S. live today, just like Moose. As Moose gets older I’ll watch him shut down whenever school gets brought up. I’ll hear him tell my mother that he doesn't want a fancy degree like a Ph.D. and that there could be other routes in life he wishes to follow. I’ll watch him slowly stop coming over as my older brothers prepare to finish high school and hear my mother complain about how we should keep our distance from Moose and I’ll listen. On January 28th, 2021 I’ll see Nerick Moise “ Moose” Lufungala printed out in an obituary. During your funeral, I’ll feel my brother pull me away from your casket as I bellowed at you pleading for you to stare back at me from your sewn-shut eyes. At that moment I understood that this was the first heartbreak I’ll ever endure, not that silly 7th-grade relationship or the embarrassing one from 10th, but the feeling I got speaking on that stage, sharing our memories in front of individuals knowing my words would never allow them to understand. Today it makes more sense why you kept your space and my hatred towards you lessened and moved upon me. I hate myself for realizing a little too late that you weren't distancing yourself from me but from those who stopped you from achieving your dreams. It’s hard not wanting to disappoint people from a third-world country knowing sometimes the goals they have for their kids are goals they couldn't achieve for themselves. Instead of letting others decide what's best for you, you went on to be a police officer and fight to protect our community. You were respected within the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for being an officer that followed duties and represented minorities. Your goal was to change the justice system for the black community by becoming a part of it. A couple of months after your death the realization hit me that I must be enough for myself before I become enough for others. I started to push myself more in my academics and spent more time participating in activities in and outside of school. Becoming involved with myself and my community brought me closer to knowing who I truly wanted to become. For so long I was in a depressive state of mind trying to please my parents while being forced to go down a path I wasn't interested in until I made my decision, just like you Moose. I don't find myself going into the medical or engineering field but I see myself catering to children within my community that face everyday problems and feel as if they can't speak up. In a way, I’ll be healing my inner child all in the process of helping others. I’m now proud to say that I’ve been accepted to all eight of the colleges I’ve applied to and continue to want to make a change by working with the children in my community. Your goal to follow your dreams made me understand my passion to become a first-generation college student and helping the children within my community. As the time machine helps me live through Moose’s moments it won't take the pain of knowing when he needed family the most, we were not there and for that I’m sorry, may you rest in peace!