My earliest memory of becoming acquainted with strangers dates to when I was three. I remember sitting in the shopping cart while my mother shopped for dinner, and as people passed, I would comment, “Wow, I love your earrings!” or “Sir, you dropped your wallet” in my high-pitched kid voice. This was the start of my commitment to engaging with and helping others. I am proud to say because of this, I have grown into an intelligent, resilient, and helpful young woman dedicated to her success and serving the community. As I grew older, I continued talking to strangers until they were strange no more. I recall beginning third grade at a new school and struggling with math. Sitting in the front row, I would raise my hand without hesitation anytime I had a question, but that was not enough. Although my teacher felt like a stranger, I took the initiative and asked her to tutor me before school started. This marked the beginning of taking control of my academic career and achieving A’s in all my classes. Fast forward when recently forced to learn online, I became the star student in my AP Art History class because of speaking up when there were complications with zoom. I decided it was best to create my own study guides and test reviews, in turn sharing them with my classmates, helping me and my peers succeed. Additionally, being given the opportunity to be part of student government as a Junior, I was introduced to a more diverse group of students and able to assist over two thousand peers. Prom, homecoming, pep rallies, and numerous other activities were organized over the past two years with my assistance. Each activity promoted unity amongst the students, and despite the challenges that came with planning, it was always worth it because I could make an impact on strangers. My never-ending optimism and outgoing personality have allowed me to connect with various influential people in my life, notably my guidance and college counselors. Their recommendations have guided me into organizations that combine my passions: community service and government. Being a part of the Mayor’s Youth Corps, comprised of an influential body of high school students, I act as a youth voice to Tampa’s mayor, learn leadership skills, and participate in community service. When I joined their leadership council, I took on the additional responsibilities of organizing and attending events, mentoring first-year members, and tutoring elementary students. I will never forget the joy I felt when I tutored a little girl every Thursday who reminded me of my younger self. Observing how confident she became, not only in her work but in herself, reinforced my belief that all things can be accomplished when we dedicate our hearts to it. This ability to enact positive change is why I gather the courage to speak to strangers, especially local political leaders. Having spoken with many leaders, Mayor Castor, our sheriff, and city council members, to name a few, I have helped those who are homeless. However, one of my most endearing accomplishments was interning in Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s district office, where I referred constituents to the proper resources to provide the assistance they needed. Serving in government is the highest form of community service, and it allows me to think of ways to impact and change the lives of others positively. To conclude, I am making the little girl I once was who talked to strangers proud that she spoke up. My story inspires others everyday

My earliest memory of becoming acquainted with strangers dates to when I was three. I remember sitting in the shopping cart while my mother shopped for dinner, and as people passed, I would comment, “Wow, I love your earrings!” or “Sir, you dropped your wallet” in my high-pitched kid voice. This was the start of my commitment to engaging with and helping others. I am proud to say because of this, I have grown into an intelligent, resilient, and helpful young woman passionate about serving the community. As I grew older, I continued talking to strangers until they were strange no more. I recall beginning third grade at a new school and struggling with math. Sitting in the front row, I would raise my hand without hesitation anytime I had a question, but that was not enough. Although my teacher felt like a stranger, I took the initiative and asked her to tutor me before school started. This marked the beginning of taking control of my academic career and achieving A’s in all my classes. Fast forward when recently forced to learn online, I became the star student in my AP Art History class because of speaking up when there were complications with zoom. I decided it was best to create my own study guides and test reviews, in turn sharing them with my classmates, helping me and my peers succeed. Additionally, being given the opportunity to be part of student government as a Junior, I was introduced to a more diverse group of students and able to assist over two thousand peers. Prom, homecoming, pep rallies, and numerous other activities were organized over the past two years with my assistance. Each activity promoted unity amongst the students, and despite the challenges that came with planning, it was always worth it because I could make an impact on strangers. My never-ending optimism and outgoing personality have allowed me to connect with various influential people in my life, notably my guidance and college counselors. Their recommendations have guided me into organizations that combine my passions: community service and government. Being a part of the Mayor’s Youth Corps, comprised of an influential body of high school students, I act as a youth voice to Tampa’s mayor, learn leadership skills, and participate in community service. When I joined their leadership council, I took on the additional responsibilities of organizing and attending events, mentoring first-year members, and tutoring elementary students. I will never forget the joy I felt when I tutored a little girl every Thursday who reminded me of my younger self. Observing how confident she became, not only in her work but in herself, reinforced my belief that all things can be accomplished when we dedicate our hearts to it. This ability to enact positive change is why I gather the courage to speak to strangers, especially local political leaders. Having spoken with many leaders, Mayor Castor, our sheriff, and city council members, to name a few, I have helped those who are homeless. However, one of my most endearing accomplishments was interning in Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s district office, where I referred constituents to the proper resources to provide the assistance they needed. Serving in government is the highest form of community service, and it allows me to think of ways to impact and change the lives of others positively. To conclude, serving those I do not know reflects my optimistic and kind personality and motivates me to be successful. By working to change the world around me, I hope to inspire others to reach out to strangers.

My earliest memory of becoming acquainted with strangers dates to when I was three. I remember sitting in the shopping cart while my mother shopped for dinner, and as people passed, I would comment, “Wow, I love your earrings!” or “Sir, you dropped your wallet” in my high-pitched kid voice. My mom would scold me because she believed talking to strangers was dangerous. However, she allowed it because she knew I could not resist the smiles I’d receive in response. The responsibility to take care of me has always fallen solely on my mom and she has instilled in me the motivation and skills to be successful. Her never-ending support, love, and sacrifice have shaped me into the passionate leader I am today. I will be the first in my family to graduate college on both my mother’s and father's sides of the family. My great-grandmother on my mother's side was a former slave and thus she was not able to get her education, contrastingly, my mother and grandmother both graduated high school. My mother knows the importance of having a college degree and has always told me she regrets not finishing school, I will not make the same mistake. She would sit at the table with me every night and help me with my homework. When summer would come, I would always be happy to not have to worry about schoolwork, however each year, my mom had other plans. I had to complete a summer workbook before I could spend my days of freedom at the park with my cousins and grandmother. After I made the Principal's Honor Roll in 5th grade, I decided to continue that record and obtain straight's for the remainder of my education and I have successfully done so. I push myself to my limits by taking on challenging courses, opportunities for personal development, and attempting to converse with people in positions I aim to be in. The time my mom invested in my education and knowing my family is counting on me to be successful influenced me to strive for a college degree and a life of success. My mother has supported all of my extracurricular endeavors. She transported me to all events, waited for me, listened to me practice speeches and so much more. Her efforts allowed me to succeed as a member of the Mayor’s Youth Corps, comprised of an influential body of high school students, I act as a youth voice to Tampa’s mayor, learn leadership skills, and participate in community service. When I joined their leadership council, I took on the additional responsibilities of organizing and attending events, mentoring first-year members, and tutoring elementary students. Through the program I have spent over a hundred hours serving my community, learning how to help others, and most importantly I discovered my passion for government service. By having a career in government service, I will engage in the highest form of community service and spend my days giving back to my community through various educational and financial literacy programs. To conclude, I have grown into the woman I am today thanks to the values instilled in me by my mother who has always worked constantly to ensure I succeed academically and achieve all of my ambitious goals. I am confident that the life I will live will be one I can be proud of and worth the sacrifice. I am determined to show the world that this woman can do anything she puts her mind to just like my mother did to provide me with a loving home.

My high school career has been bombarded with challenging circumstances: two semesters of isolation, my mom’s health issues, and the death of several loved ones. The most difficult of all was this past year in 2022 when I had to learn to live with grief. In the summer of 2021, my mom was admitted to the hospital and I became my own caretaker. I spent nights at home alone without being able to see her because of the hospital’s COVID-19 policy. In August 2021, my newborn sister suddenly passed away. We planned her funeral as we grieved. Then in December 2021, my god sister was tragically murdered at the young age of 21. Her being my mentor, I was heartbroken by her death and affected in many ways. Through all this trauma, my father still refused to talk to me- leaving me feeling defeated and powerless. These circumstances ultimately led me to struggle academically. At the time I took on an extremely rigorous course load of five AP courses and pre-calculus. Of all these classes, I struggled more than ever in AP chemistry. I found myself repeatedly getting 60% on our weekly tests even after studying for hours. As a straight-A Student, I had never before received these types of low grades and couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I completed all the homework, asked questions in class, and took notes but it was not enough. In response to this failure, I considered reasons outside of my academic approach as to why I was not performing with excellence. I finally realized it was due to my depressed emotional state. I did not want to face that my sisters were no longer with us. I decided that to honor them, I must continue to be resilient in the path of adversity and ensure my future success. I took initiative by deciding to start therapy where I learned how to process my grief by cherishing the memories we shared and journaling how I felt. I also found comfort in attending church where I was surrounded by love. Finally, I ended the semester with an A in the class. I have since spent all of 2022 learning that I need to prioritize my mental health to do well and that I am more resilient than I initially believed. Despite their deaths causing me so much pain, I am grateful for the newfound wisdom and growth that motivates me to make this world a better place.

My earliest memory of becoming acquainted with strangers dates to when I was three. I remember sitting in the shopping cart while my mother shopped for dinner, and as people passed, I would comment, "Wow, I love your earrings!" or "Sir, you dropped your wallet" in my high-pitched kid voice. My mom would scold me because she believed talking to strangers was dangerous. However, I couldn't resist the smiles I'd receive in response, making me feel like I had made an impact. This was the start of my commitment to engaging with and helping others. I am proud to say because of this, I have grown into an intelligent, resilient, and helpful young woman dedicated to her success and serving the community. Consequently, I am pursuing a college degree because it is essential to achieving my career goals as a congresswoman and developing my ability to assist more people. As a future first-generation college student, I have seen the difference a college education can have on the trajectory of my life. My mother, my sole provider, did not seek a college degree to take care of me. I have watched her work two jobs to make ends meet while my friend's college-educated parents could work fewer hours, earn a higher salary, and spend more time with their family. Furthermore, my African American great-grandmother, born in 1914, could not seek college in her youth. Because my family could not, I have dedicated myself to my education. Throughout my high school career, I have taken over 15 Advance Placement courses and other difficult classes to expand my knowledge in all subjects, ranging from physics c to art history. This has earned me a 6.60 weighted grade point average and helped me become a competitive applicant for high-ranking colleges. I will continue dedicating myself to increasing my knowledge in the future because higher education is the key to my future success and expanding my capacity to positively impacts others. Earning a college degree in political science is the next step to achieving my career goals. As a prospective congresswoman, I must obtain a degree from a renowned university, preferably the University of Florida, to have extensive knowledge of the history behind the country's current issues and methods to solve them. Furthermore, higher education enables me to speak more eloquently and command the attention of those I communicate with. Having conversed with many leaders, Mayor Jane Castor, our sheriff, and city council members, to name a few, I have helped those who are in my community. However, one of my most endearing accomplishments was interning at Congresswoman Kathy Castor's district office, where I referred constituents to the proper resources that were able to assist them. Higher education will grant me access to even more opportunities that align with my passion for serving others. In my opinion, working in government is the highest form of community service and pursuing a college degree is the next step to fulfilling my dream. To conclude, my great-grandmother once told me, "knowledge is power." I am making her and my mother proud as I work towards attending university. Their sacrifices and the yearning to make my dreams of becoming a congresswoman and helping others are a few reasons why I am pursuing a political science degree. Through changing the world around me, I hope to inspire other young women to seek a college education.

My earliest memory of becoming acquainted with strangers dates to when I was three. I remember sitting in the shopping cart while my mother shopped for dinner, and as people passed, I would comment, "Wow, I love your earrings!" or "Sir, you dropped your wallet" in my high-pitched kid voice. My mom would scold me because she believed talking to strangers was dangerous. However, I couldn't resist the smiles I'd receive in response, making me feel like I had made an impact. This was the start of my commitment to engaging with and helping others. I am proud to say because of this, I have grown into an intelligent, resilient, and helpful young woman dedicated to her success and serving the community. Consequently, higher education is important to me because it is essential to achieving my career goals as a congresswoman and developing my ability to assist more people. As a future first-generation college student, I have seen the difference a college education can have on the trajectory of my life. My mother, my sole provider, did not seek a college degree to take care of me. I have watched her work two jobs to make ends meet while my friend's college-educated parents could work fewer hours, earn a higher salary, and spend more time with their family. Furthermore, my African American great-grandmother, born in 1914, could not pursue college in her youth. Because my family could not, I have dedicated myself to my education. Throughout my high school career, I have taken over 15 Advance Placement courses and other challenging classes to expand my knowledge in all subjects, ranging from physics c to art history. This has earned me a 6.60 weighted grade point average and helped me become a competitive applicant for high-ranking colleges. I will continue dedicating myself to increasing my knowledge in the future because higher education is the key to my future success and expanding my capacity to positively impacts others. Earning a college degree in political science is the next step to achieving my career goals. As a prospective congresswoman, I must obtain a degree from a renowned university, preferably the University of Florida, to have extensive knowledge of the history behind the country's current issues and methods to solve them. Furthermore, higher education enables me to speak more eloquently and command the attention of those I communicate with. Having conversed with many leaders, Mayor Jane Castor, our sheriff, and city council members, to name a few, I have helped those who are in my community. However, one of my most endearing accomplishments was interning at Congresswoman Kathy Castor's district office, where I referred constituents to the proper resources that were able to assist them. Higher education will grant me access to even more opportunities that align with my passion for serving others. In my opinion, working in government is the highest form of community service and pursuing a college degree is the next step to fulfilling my dream. To conclude, my great-grandmother once told me, "knowledge is power." I am making her and my mother proud as I work to earn a college degree. Their sacrifices and the yearning to make my dreams a reality are the reasons why achieving higher education is important to me. Through changing the world around me, I hope to inspire other young women to seek a college education.

I have always admired the politicians who stepped up and positively impacted the lives of millions through their policies and speeches. They have the power to unite people in times of tragedy and lead them every day. At a young age, I fell in love with politics and the work of the government; I now aspire to become a United States Congress Woman. My career goals are of critical importance to me; as a politician, I will implement laws that can change communities for the better. To achieve this goal, I am working diligently in my classes and extracurriculars to get accepted into an Ivy League University. From this renowned university, I will earn a bachelor's degree in Political Science, attend law school, and network with other political leaders who I can contact in the future for advice and electoral support. Furthermore, after I graduate, I will begin working for different political representatives until I am one myself. I will first run for mayor of Tampa, Florida as it is where I grew up. Then, after a few years of being Mayor, I will campaign to become a U.S. Congresswoman. I dream of life on the campaign trail connecting with people of all different backgrounds in various communities, rallying with my supporters, and working towards changing the laws that are harming so many. I look forward to the day I am in the office. There I can vote in favor of banning assault weapons that have led to the death of hundreds of children, protect the rights of minorities, and actively compact climate change. As a congresswoman, I will be assertive and act in a manner that represents my constituents. This vision is merely a fragment of the career goals I intend to live my life accomplishing.

My passions have always lied in helping those around me and building a life for myself in which I will be successful. I intend to live my life pursuing this passion by accomplishing my career goals as a politician and becoming a community service leader. To become a politician, I am working diligently in my classes and extracurriculars to get accepted into an Ivy League University. From this renowned university, I will earn a bachelor's degree in Political Science, attend law school, and network with other political leaders who I can contact in the future for advice and electoral support. Furthermore, after I graduate, I will begin working for different political representatives and until I am one myself. This vision is merely a fragment of my career goals I will live my life accomplishing and how I plan to achieve them. In pursuit of becoming a community service leader, I have already begun volunteering and learning more about the issues that face our society. As a member of the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, I spoke to Tampa’s Mayor about local issues that concern me, and I have volunteered several hours of my time to various organizations in my community. I plan to support my community through program creations and allocating time throughout the month for me, my family, and my co-workers to volunteer at an organization that aids the issues I am passionate about. I would also encourage those eligible to participate in voting and educate them on its importance. Overall, I will dedicate a significant portion of my life to serving those around me and advocating for social justice. To conclude, I have several goals for my future and I have created a plan to achieve success as a politician and community service leader.

Social media often shows us all the things we do not have such as an expensive sports car, designer clothes, or stacks of money. As a result, many of us, including myself, forget how blessed we are to have the things we do have. It is essential to think of all the things we do have rather than focus on the things we do no not through practicing gratitude. I express gratitude several times in my daily life. Each morning, I engage in gratitude journaling in which I make a list of ten things I am grateful for, some of them are small things such as butterflies' beauty and others are things of greater importance such as my health. By practicing gratitude at the start of my day, I can approach the rest of the day with a sense of appreciation and enjoy the aspects of my day-to-day life. I also thank God for each meal, another day of life when I wake up, and at the end of each day for keeping me safe and healthy. Similarly, I thank everyone in my life who is there for me for their help. These people come from all aspects of my life including my mother, teachers, servers, bus drivers, friends, and more. I understand that even though I struggle, I am blessed with a life that many would dream of. I have a home, a healthy body, family, good friends, food to eat, and I am getting an education. Everything extra is a luxury but at its basics my life is wonderful and I am incredibly grateful for everything and everyone I have in my life. Having gratitude is been essential to my contentment with life because it allows me to appreciate all things in life.

In the fast pace world we live in today there is always something on our to-do list that we need to get done. Therefore, it can be difficult to prioritize relaxation and take care of our mental health. However, not doing so can have extreme consequences. After months of pushing myself in my five AP classes, I began to experience burnout; I would procrastinate on my assignments because I always felt overwhelmed and exhausted. This made me realize the importance of relaxation and prioritizing my mental health. Now I regularly make time to relax and practice strategies that improve mental health. Towards the end of each day, I dedicate time to activities I find relaxing. My relaxation starts when I take a hot shower; I use it as an opportunity to enjoy my favorite music, clean and moisturize my hair and skin, and unwind. I then spend some time with my family whilst we laugh at our favorite show and make comments on the main character's actions. Lastly, before bed, I spend about thirty-minutes reading my book of the week. I find that many acts of self-care, in general, make me feel more relaxed and appreciative of myself. For instance, putting a skincare mask on and giving myself a pedicure whilst watching YouTube makes me feel calm and comfortable. I also journal to improve my mental health because through journaling I can reflect on what I am thankful for, and my feelings, and outline my goals which provide me with a greater sense of self and improve my focus. Overall, each of these activities helps me relax and take care of my mental health by giving me a break from the stress of school and extracurriculars.

When I was five years old, my great grandfather told me the words that have guided my life, “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.” We live in a world today where there seems to be an endless stream of heart-breaking events occurring and people are also dealing with their struggles. That is why it is so important to have empathy, it gives people hope that someone cares. I have committed to treating everyone with empathy and I do so through various actions. I treat everyone with empathy by always offering a helping hand to those around me and being there when they need me most. When my friends or family members are in a difficult situation, I express empathy by validating their feelings, sharing my experience with a similar situation, offering hugs, and listening to them. For instance, when my little sister passed, I stayed up with my mom for several nights and held her while telling her I understood that what we were going through was hard and that she could cry. Furthermore, whenever I see someone in distress, I am the first person that tries to help them. I take the time to put myself in their shoes to understand their feelings, be kind, and figure out the best way to help even if it is to simply listen to them free of judgment. I understand the effects of having empathy and it is the reason I am constantly trying to help others. Overall, I have committed myself to treat others with empathy by being kind and offering a listening ear. I believe everyone should practice empathy in their daily lives to move towards a supportive community.

Having body image issues, refusing to accept the African American side of my identity, and worst of all not believing in myself was my reality in 2017. This version of Jaliyah lacked confidence, but I have today I am someone new; my life has completely changed since I started having confidence in myself, my looks, and my abilities. Confidence to me means to love and have faith in yourself in all aspects of life. Confidence, with some hard work, has been key to many of my successes and will continue to assist me in my pursuit of higher education and career goals. Over the past two years, I have applied for several different opportunities; I would not have been able to succeed in any of them without confidence. My confidence is seen by everyone when I walk into a room through my body language and how I effectively communicate my thoughts and questions to the authority figures and peers in the room. It is what makes me shine. Yet, I am still working on being more confident as it is a lifelong skill. Recently, standing in the mirror each night speaking aloud positive affirmations has made the greatest contribution to my confidence. Each night I do this for ten minutes and it helps me admire my natural features, express self-gratitude, and encourage myself to continue to work towards my future. I have also been journaling my thoughts and working out regularly to improve my mental health and confidence. These strategies have and will continue to make me stand out by building my confidence. To summarize, confidence has been essential to my success, and it is what makes me shine everywhere I am present. I will forever continue to work on being more confident in myself.