One of the most significant losses I have ever experienced was the passing of my grandfather to cancer. Losing him was one of the hardest moments of my life. My grandfather was more than just a family member he was my mentor, my guide, and one of the people who believed in me unconditionally. Watching him battle a disease so cruel and unstoppable left an impression on me that continues to shape the person I am today. My grandfather had a presence that filled every room. He had a way of making everyone feel important and loved, and his wisdom was something I often relied on. When he was diagnosed with cancer, it felt like the world around me had changed overnight. I struggled to understand how someone so strong, energetic, and full of life could suddenly be vulnerable in such a profound way. Seeing him endure the pain and treatments without losing his positivity taught me a lesson I will never forget: courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep going despite it. Even during his weakest moments, he would smile and remind us, “Every day is a gift. Don’t waste it.” Those words have stayed with me, guiding how I live my life. His illness and eventual passing taught me the value of time, gratitude, and relationships. I realized that life is fragile and unpredictable, and it is the small, meaningful moments that matter the most. Since his passing, I have made a conscious effort to live more intentionally — to cherish my family, express my feelings, and pursue my goals with dedication. I no longer take anything for granted, whether it’s a simple conversation, a shared laugh, or a moment of quiet reflection. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference and honor those who have supported me. This experience also influenced my outlook on my goals and future. My grandfather always encouraged me to chase my dreams, no matter how difficult the path might seem. His resilience motivates me to work hard in school and plan for a future where I can create opportunities not only for myself but also for my family and community. The challenges he faced remind me that even when life is unfair, we have the power to persevere and grow stronger. His battle with cancer also inspired me to be more compassionate toward others, understanding that everyone faces struggles, often hidden beneath the surface. On a personal level, losing my grandfather instilled in me a sense of responsibility to live a life that would make him proud. I strive to embody the values he taught me: perseverance, kindness, humility, and gratitude. His life and his courage continue to inspire me to push forward, even when obstacles seem overwhelming. I want to make a positive impact on the world, to create opportunities, and to leave a legacy of love and resilience just as he did. Though my grandfather is no longer with me, the lessons he taught me endure. His strength, wisdom, and unconditional love continue to shape my character, guide my decisions, and inspire the person I am becoming. Losing him was painful, but it also taught me to appreciate life more deeply, to pursue my goals with determination, and to live each day with purpose and compassion. My grandfather’s memory is a constant reminder that even in loss, there is strength, growth, and hope.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved math not just because I’m good at it, but because it challenges me to think in ways that no other subject does. Math has always felt like a puzzle waiting to be solved, a language of logic and creativity that connects everything around us. It’s the one subject that never changes, yet always surprises me. There’s something deeply satisfying about solving a difficult problem after hours of hard work that quiet moment when everything finally makes sense. What I love most about math is its balance between structure and imagination. Every equation has rules, but within those rules, there’s endless room to explore. Math teaches me patience, discipline, and persistence. It reminds me that even when something seems impossible at first, there’s always a solution you just have to find the right way to approach it. That mindset has carried over into my everyday life. When I face challenges, I think of them like math problems: they might look complicated, but if I stay calm and keep working, I’ll figure them out. Some people see math as cold or complicated, but to me, it’s beautiful. It’s in everything the rhythm of music, the design of buildings, the movement of stars, even the way we measure time. I love that math connects so many parts of the world in ways we often don’t notice. It’s the foundation of business, science, technology, and so much more. Understanding math feels like understanding how the world works. My passion for math has also shaped the way I see my future. I plan to use it as a foundation for my career whether that’s in business, finance, or real estate. I know that the problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and attention to detail that math teaches will help me make smart decisions and build a strong foundation for whatever I choose to do. Math has taught me more than formulas or equations — it has taught me perseverance, focus, and confidence. Every problem I’ve solved has reminded me that progress comes one step at a time. That’s what I love about math: it challenges me, frustrates me, and ultimately makes me better. For me, math isn’t just a subject it’s a mindset. It’s about finding clarity in confusion, patterns in chaos, and possibility in every problem.

The person who has had the biggest impact on my life is my father. He has been my greatest role model, teacher, and source of strength. Growing up, I watched him work tirelessly to provide for our family, often putting his own needs aside so that I could have a better life. His determination, work ethic, and love have shaped me into the person I am today. My father has always been the kind of person who leads by example. He doesn’t have to say much his actions speak louder than any words ever could. I’ve seen him wake up early, go to work, and come home late, sometimes exhausted, but never complaining. No matter how tired he was, he always made time to ask about my day and remind me to stay focused on my goals. He taught me that hard work is not just something you do; it’s a way of life. One moment that changed me forever was when our family went through a tough time financially. I was old enough to understand the stress he was under, yet he never once let it break him. Instead, he found ways to make things work, keeping our family together and staying positive through it all. Watching him handle those challenges with quiet strength taught me that real courage isn’t about pretending life is easy it’s about pushing forward even when it isn’t. My father also taught me the value of humility and respect. He treats everyone with kindness, no matter who they are, and he’s shown me that success means nothing if you forget where you came from. Whenever I face a difficult decision or feel like giving up, I think about him about how he never gave up on us, even when life gave him every reason to. Because of my father, I’ve learned to appreciate the simple things in life family, hard work, and perseverance. He’s the reason I strive to do my best in everything I do. His sacrifices motivate me to keep moving forward, even when the path gets hard. When I attend college, I’ll carry his lessons with me. I want to make him proud, not just by earning a degree, but by living with the same strength, integrity, and determination that he has shown me my whole life. My father is not just my hero he’s my inspiration, my guide, and the foundation of the person I’m becoming.

Hey my name is Jaquez Crawford and writing has always been my safe space a place where I can express my thoughts freely, understand my emotions, and bring my imagination to life. For as long as I can remember, writing has been my way of making sense of the world. Whether it was journaling late at night, creating short stories, or crafting essays for school, writing helped me discover my voice and build confidence in who I am. What I love most about writing is its power to connect people. A few words on a page can inspire, heal, or comfort someone miles away. Writing allows me to turn experiences both painful and joyful into something meaningful. It’s where honesty and creativity meet. Through writing, I’ve learned how to tell my story and, at the same time, understand the stories of others. In high school, I found myself drawn to assignments that let me write creatively or reflectively. I loved when teachers gave us essays that asked for our opinions or experiences because it gave me a chance to dig deeper into my own thoughts. I’ve also written poems and personal pieces for fun not because anyone asked me to, but because it felt like a way to breathe. Writing has become my favorite way to express what I sometimes can’t say out loud. As I move into college, I plan to keep writing at the center of my life. I want to join writing workshops, contribute to student publications, and maybe even take creative writing electives alongside my major. I want to surround myself with others who share a love for storytelling and expression. Writing will also play an important role in my future career no matter what field I go into, strong communication is key. Whether it’s drafting business plans, marketing ideas, or personal reflections, the ability to write clearly and passionately will always be valuable. Beyond academics, I’ll continue writing for myself journaling about my college journey, the challenges I face, and the growth I experience along the way. I hope to one day use my writing to inspire others, especially young people who come from backgrounds like mine, to believe that their stories matter too. Writing is more than a hobby for me it’s a part of who I am. It’s how I understand the world, express gratitude, and turn my dreams into words before I turn them into reality.

My name is Jaquez Crawford, and I come from a family that has always valued hard work, resilience, and determination. Growing up, I watched my parents do whatever it took to keep our family moving forward often working long hours and making sacrifices so I could have opportunities they didn’t. Their strength became my motivation. It taught me that success isn’t something handed to you; it’s something you build, step by step, with vision and persistence. That’s one of the biggest reasons I chose to major in business. To me, business isn’t just about numbers or profits it’s about creation, leadership, and legacy. I’ve always been fascinated by how ideas can turn into something real: a brand, a movement, or a dream that supports others. I want to understand how to manage, lead, and grow something from the ground up. I’m not just looking for financial success I want the freedom to create opportunities for myself and for others in my community. After I graduate, I plan to dive into real estate and hospitality, two industries that inspire me for different reasons but share a common theme: connection. Real estate represents stability and growth building something lasting that holds value over time. The nightclub business, on the other hand, is about energy, atmosphere, and creating experiences that bring people together. My dream is to own both to invest in properties and eventually open a nightclub that reflects creativity, culture, and community. My passion for business started early. I remember selling snacks at school, organizing small events, and finding ways to make ideas happen even when I didn’t have much to start with. Those little experiences taught me about negotiation, planning, and persistence. But more than anything, they showed me that I love seeing people come together because of something I helped create. That feeling has never left me. Attending university is my next step toward turning that passion into a profession. I want to learn from experienced mentors, gain the financial and management skills needed to succeed, and develop the confidence to run my own ventures. I know it won’t be easy but I’ve never been afraid of hard work. My goal is to not only achieve personal success but also to inspire others from my background to dream boldly and build something of their own. For me, majoring in business is about more than earning a degree it’s about building a future where I can create, grow, and give back.

Hey my name is Jaquez Crawford and I believe that attending a university is not just an academic goal for me it’s the realization of a dream that stretches far beyond myself. It’s a reflection of my family’s sacrifices, struggles, and unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives. For us, a university education represents hope the hope that all the hard work, sleepless nights, and countless prayers will lead to something greater than the circumstances we started from. Growing up, my family taught me that education was the one thing no one could ever take away from you. My parents didn’t have the same opportunities that I do now, but they never let that stop them from pushing me to aim higher. I’ve watched them work tirelessly — sometimes holding down multiple jobs — to provide for our family. They taught me the meaning of perseverance, even when the odds were against us. Attending university would be my way of honoring their sacrifices and showing them that their efforts were not in vain. To my family, my acceptance into a university would mean that all their struggles are finally paying off. It would mean that the dreams they once set aside so I could chase mine are finally being realized. Every late-night conversation about the future, every word of encouragement when I doubted myself, and every small celebration after each accomplishment would culminate in this moment. For them, my education isn’t just my success it’s our success. Attending university also means breaking barriers. I want to be the one who shows my younger siblings and cousins that it’s possible to rise above fear and limitations, that our background does not define our potential. I want to use this opportunity to build a better life, not just for myself, but for my family and community. A university education will allow me to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make meaningful contributions to the world to give back to the people who believed in me before I believed in myself. Ultimately, going to university means carrying my family’s dreams with me. It means walking into every classroom with gratitude, determination, and pride, knowing that I am standing on the foundation they built. For us, this journey is more than academic it’s deeply personal. It’s the story of a family who dared to dream, worked tirelessly, and believed that education could change everything.