Throughout my life, I have gone through many experiences. Many of those experiences shaped me into the woman I am today. But, of course, there are still lots of things I'm still figuring out or even discovering for the first time as a young Afro-Latina woman. Since I'm a woman, let alone a Black woman, I feel I'm supposed to live up to specific standards. Whether these standards are created within my own family or by society itself, some of these standards I can't meet. Because of these standards and expectations, I sometimes let my anxiety get the best of me. It constantly feels like I have to go through a lot of stress and pressure to flourish in college and life. I'm a first-generation transfer student. Unfortunately, I don't come from a wealthy background, and neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. However, I went through a lot of personal issues this year. I became consumed by poor time management and a lack of self-confidence with myself. However, I'm trying not to let these struggles stop me from earning my Bachelor's and maybe even my Master's degree. I want to major in Psychology and go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. I'm confident that earning this scholarship would help me pursue my future career. I am passionate about what will be in store for the rest of my college career. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I’m even minoring in Women and Gender Studies, as feminism and any other topics surrounding it are something I care deeply about. Both my major and my minor would potentially find me more resources for what I could do after I graduate college. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that down the line, Biology may not have been the right choice to start with in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. But I know that no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. I believe that I would genuinely benefit from this scholarship. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. I hope this scholarship will allow me to reach my goals.

Jars_of_life_

Throughout my life, I have gone through many experiences. Many of those experiences shaped me into the woman I am today. Since I'm a woman, let alone a young Black woman, I feel I'm supposed to live up to specific standards. Whether these standards are created within my own family or by society itself, I can't meet some of them. Because of these standards and expectations, I sometimes let my anxiety get the best of me. However, I wish to overcome these obstacles. I'm a first-generation transfer student. Unfortunately, I don't come from a wealthy background, and neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them and myself proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. Although, It constantly feels like I have to go through a lot of stress and pressure to flourish in college and life. I, unfortunately, had to take a semester off during my Freshman year due to complications from the Covid-19 pandemic. I also had to take a semester off this Spring of Junior year due to personal issues. Despite these setbacks, I still plan on graduating on time in May 2024, and I'll do that by taking Summer and Winter classes and earning additional credits through CLEP exams. As for what I'm doing while working towards my Bachelor's degree, I'm currently majoring in Psychology. I want to go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that biology may not have been the right choice in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. I even want to go as far as earning a Master's degree. As for extracurricular activities, I've participated in a multicultural student leader club and a Hispanic-based dance club. In addition, I was a model in the Spring fashion show and a student tour guide for potential future students. I'm also seeking to join the women's lacrosse team, join a sorority, and join the drama club. Being a Black college student right who's financially below her peers, I feel as if I have to push myself twice as hard as everyone else just for the same amount of success. However I refuse to let any social barriers or racial obstacles prevent me from reaching my fullest potential!

I’m an Afro-Latina, first-generation transfer student from Long Island, New York. Ever since I was a little girl, I felt that I've always had a big heart. I like being happy and always want the people around me to be satisfied. While I was still in high school, narrowing down my major for college, I knew I wanted to be somewhere in the science field. Science was one of my favorite subjects in school; though it was sometimes difficult to understand specific topics, I still found it enjoyable. A science-related career was something I was most likely to picture as my future career. As for what I am doing while working towards my Bachelor's degree, I am currently majoring in Psychology. I want to go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. My main goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that biology may not have been the right choice in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field. I even want to go as far as earning a Master's degree. My interest in forensic science and neuroscience started early in my life. I watched documentaries and crime shows like “Web of Lies” on the ID (Investigation Discovery) Channel. It always made me curious why the suspects would do what they do, and I have always thought about how they’ve affected the victims or victims in their situation. Many cases I have watched or read about have either yet to be solved entirely, or the victims and their families never received proper justice for whatever happened to them. I’ve always felt that if I got a career in a related field, I could figure out what brings people into these situations and maybe even find a way to help prevent similar situations in the future. In my hometown, we pride ourselves on being there for our close-knit community. So when I got to middle school, I knew I wanted to be more involved in helping and giving back to my community. So I started looking for opportunities through my school. While I was in high school, they ran a blood drive every October and March. Unfortunately, I couldn't donate until my Junior year because you had to be 16 or older; however, once I turned 16, I made sure I contributed. Blood drives also run at my college. Coincidentally, like my hometown, my school also prides itself on helping out their community. Therefore, I felt great donating blood because I knew it was for a great cause, and I could help save a life one day while doing so, especially since I have a rare blood type! I like the idea of being able to help out other people besides myself. Even if there's a reward involved at the end of doing so, it's not about that; it genuinely feels good to help people. Helping other people also helps me because it gives me a sense of purpose in life. Overall, I’m just generally curious about how we can incorporate scientific measures into investing in numerous situations in life. After all, science has a significant impact on our society, we can learn to help those in need and keep each other safe and healthy. Knowing that I have the chance to help improve someone's life, even if it's by doing something small, makes me feel content.

Math is a subject of studying various topics. Despite being a subject of much importance, many people dread practicing math due to its difficulty level. However, many people need to realize it applies to many life areas, not just in school. It is involved in our daily lives and could be very effective in your career. I appreciate math because it presents problem-solving questions that help expand our critical thinking. By using various strategies, you can solve answers to solve your mathematical problem. Math is a topic of much importance. Solving math problems also helps develop logical reasoning and mental discipline. Learning and practicing math also allows us to ponder our curiosity by exploring different possibilities. After all, isn't figuring out how something works and coming to a correct answer such a great feeling? Throughout my life, I have grown to love math. I like to problem-solve and face challenges. I am a Psychology major, and I have to take statistics as one of my requirements to graduate. Statics is the study of collecting numerical data; therefore, I can further my critical thinking by analyzing data and conducting research. By doing so, we understand what's going on in the world. And that is just one of the reasons that I love math. Not only does it impact your life, but we are further proving its impact and importance! I love that math is an essential part of life, and the older I get, the more I want to dive into the subject. Of course, the average person isn't solving differential or integral mathematical problems daily; however, we still use technology and equipment developed through calculus in almost every aspect of our lives. If you're interested in pursuing engineering, statistics, physics, economics, computer science, or even medicine, you'll need to understand just how crucial math truly is. After all, math has been vital for developing multiple scientific advancements, particularly in physics and engineering. Math is essential for a career, too, because if you're interested in any of its subjects and careers, such as STEM, you'll need to understand it. Many STEM fields make use of math daily. With the study of mathematics, we now have developing technology, such as phones, computers, radios, televisions, ultrasounds, GPS signals, medical examinations, scales, and many more! Math matters for STEM because these are things in our world that impact our lives. The more you dive into math, the more you'll see how it uses real-world applications. And these reasons are why calculus I love learning math.

Calculus is the study of continuous change and a method of calculation. Despite being a subject of much importance, many people dread studying calculus due to its difficulty level. However, many people need to realize it applies to many life areas. It is involved in our daily lives and could be very effective in your career. Calculus is also extremely useful in STEM fields; therefore, studying and practicing calculus is very fundamental for areas of STEM. Many STEM fields make use of calculus daily. Calculus is essential for STEM because if you're interested in any of its subjects and careers, you'll need to understand calculus. After all, with calculus, one can further their critical thinking by analyzing data and conducting research. Exercising your brain to think and develop these essential skills is a must, especially if you are a student heading into a STEM field. By doing so, we can further understand what's happening worldwide. Analyzing how something is developed or changed and the impact of that is essential. Of course, the average person isn't solving differential or integral calculus problems daily; however, we are still using technology and equipment developed through the application of calculus in almost every aspect of our lives. With the study of calculus, we now have developing technology, such as phones, computers, radios, televisions, ultrasounds, GPS signals, medical examinations, scales, and many more! Calculus matters for STEM because these are things in our world that impact our lives. The more you dive into calculus, the more you see other STEM and real-world calculus applications. After all, calculus has been crucial for developing multiple scientific advancements, particularly in physics and engineering. If you're interested in pursuing engineering, statistics, physics, economics, computer science, or even medicine, you'll need to understand just how crucial calculus truly is. Furthermore, calculus presents problem-solving questions that help expand our critical thinking. By using various strategies, you can solve answers to solve your mathematical problem. Solving these problems also helps develop logical reasoning and mental discipline. Learning and practicing math also allows us to ponder our curiosity by exploring different possibilities. After all, isn't figuring out how something works and coming to a correct answer such a great feeling? Not only does it impact your life, but as calculus continues to be taught and practiced, we are further proving its impact and importance! And these reasons are why calculus is necessary in the STEM field.

Math is a subject of much importance, not just in school but also in life. Math presents problem-solving questions that help expand our critical thinking. By using various strategies, you can solve answers to solve your mathematical problem. Not only is math applied in our daily lives, but it could be very effective in your career. Solving math problems also helps develop logical reasoning and mental discipline. Learning and practicing math also allows us to ponder our curiosity by exploring different possibilities. After all, isn’t figuring out how something works and coming to a correct answer such a great feeling? Throughout my life, I have grown to love math. I like to problem-solve and face challenges. I am a Psychology major, and I have to take statistics as one of my requirements to graduate. Statics is the study of collecting numerical data; therefore, I can further my critical thinking by analyzing data and conducting research. By doing so, we understand what’s going on in the world. And that is just one of the reasons that I love math. Not only does it impact your life, but we are further proving its impact and importance! I love that math is an essential part of life, and the older I get, the more I want o dive into the subject.

I am an Afro-Latina, first-generation transfer student from Bay Shore, on Long Island, New York. I am 20-years-old, and also currently a rising college Senior and I plan to graduate in May 2024. Ever since I was a little girl, I felt that I've always had a big heart. I like being happy and always want the people around me to be satisfied. While I was still in high school, narrowing down my major for college, I knew I wanted to be somewhere in the science field. Science was one of my favorite subjects in school; though it was sometimes difficult to understand certain topics, I still found it to be interesting overall. A science-related career was something I was most likely to picture as my future career. As for what I am doing while working towards my Bachelor's degree, I am currently majoring in Psychology. I want to go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. My main goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that biology may not have been the right choice in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. But no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. I even want to go as far as earning a Master's degree. My interest in forensic science and neuroscience started pretty early in my life. I used to watch documentaries and crime shows, such as “Web of Lies” from the ID (Investigation Discovery) Channel. It always made me curious why the suspects would do what do, and I have always thought about how they’ve affected the victims or victims in their situation. A lot of the cases I have watched or read about have either yet to be completely solved, or the victims and their families never received proper justice for whatever had happened to them. I have always felt that if I got a career in a related field, I could figure out what brings people into these types of situations, and maybe even find a way to help prevent similar situations in the future. Overall, I am just generally curious about how we can be incorporated scientific measures into investing in numerous situations in life. After, science has a big impact on our society. With various, we can learn to help those in need and keep each other safe and healthy. Knowing that I have the chance to help improve someone's life, even if it's by doing something small, makes me feel content.

I am an Afro-Latina, first-generation transfer student from Long Island, New York. I am 20-years-old, and also currently a rising college Senior and I plan to graduate in May 2024. While I was still in high school, narrowing down my major for college, I knew I wanted to be somewhere in the science field. Science was one of my favorite subjects in school; though it was sometimes difficult to understand certain topics, I still found it to be interesting overall. A science-related career was something I was most likely to picture as my future career. As for what I am doing while working towards my Bachelor's degree, I am currently majoring in Psychology. I want to go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. My main goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that biology may not have been the right choice in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. But no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. I even want to go as far as earning a Master's degree. My interest in forensic science and neuroscience started pretty early in my life. I used to watch documentaries and crime shows, such as “Web of Lies” from the ID (Investigation Discovery) Channel. It always made me curious why the suspects would do what do, and I have always thought about how they’ve affected the victims or victims in their situation. A lot of the cases I have watched or read about have either yet to be completely solved, or the victims and their families never received proper justice for whatever had happened to them. I have always felt that if I got a career in a related field, I could figure out what brings people into these types of situations, and maybe even find a way to help prevent similar situations in the future. Overall, I am just generally curious about how we can be incorporated scientific measures into investing in numerous situations in life. After, science has a big impact on our society. With various, we can learn to help those in need and keep each other safe and healthy.

Everyone has experiences with mental health. Experiences can influence beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. It depends on your state of mind. My experience played an enormous part in my life in college. Because of my mental health, I have seen ideas differently. Mental health isn't a fixed situation; My mental state changed back and forth from positive to negative, but more negative than positive. I could go on for hours about why I'd been in a negative mindset. But the main reason is because of family members and my college experience. Two Summers ago, things got worse. I was transferring to a new college, a private school. My mother and I disagreed about my discussion; she felt I should stay at community college until I got my Associate's Degree. I wanted to start and stay at a four-year school. Unfortunately, my mother involved other family members in our disagreement to get them to side with her. To my distress, they did. Despite their unsolicited opinions, I transferred anyway. It was around the time colleges started lifting Covid-19 restrictions. I was tired of attending class behind a computer and being at home. After losing the "better half" of my Senior year of high school to Covid-19, I was stressed. I was just ready to leave home and have new experiences! Despite the disagreement with my mother, I understand the main reason she didn't want me transferring to this new school: it's expensive. Our relationship had been bad years before and even more strained during that Summer. I was more focused on getting away from her than considering her opinion. In addition, I had a past-due balance from Spring 2021, preventing me from registering for classes for the Fall. The tuition balance was immense; I couldn't pay it off. I contacted the family for help; some couldn't, and others didn't want to. I even worked what I would consider "ungodly" hours during the Summer. Finally, since I couldn't pay the balance in time, I was forced to leave my new school. I grew attached to this school and the people I'd met. I was also involved around campus. Having to leave because of money was a heartbreaking experience. Coming home this Fall, my mom and aunt ridiculed me. Whenever my mother and I argue, she always brings up my problem, which upsets me. My mom's always getting under my skin. Ever since the Summer of 2021, she's been worse. Now my family members have started saying negative and untrue things about me. Naturally, the things they say have gotten to me. The weird thing is that they'll later complain that my self-confidence is low, or they'll get angry or upset that I don't talk to them. It's driven me to start writing a suicide letter. Conceivably, I have no intentions to commit suicide. Still, the thought has crossed my mind more recently than ever. I haven't told anyone, but I plan to one day. My mind has been negative between being unable to attend school and not getting along with my family. As for school, I'm back in community college. I'm also saving up and studying for CLEP exams to get additional college credits and graduate on time. I'm still determining what my situation will be for this next Fall or Spring semester. I'm hopeful I'll return to school for my Senior year. As for my family relationships, I don't see things getting better soon. Until I leave home again, I must avoid negative interactions, especially with my mother. My mentality has decreased these past two years, but I'm hopeful it'll improve.

The objective of technology is to help improve and advance our lives. Over the past few decades, various types of technology have been created, which helped our society thrive. New and past creations help inspire us to invent even more types of technology. One type of technology that inspires me to help make the world a better place is solar power. The purpose of technology is to help improve and advance our lives. Over the past few decades, various types of technology have been created, which helped our society thrive. New and past creations help inspire us to invent even more types of technology. One type of technology that inspires me to help make the world a better place is solar power. Solar power uses energy from the Sun's light and heat and converts the light into electricity. People have used solar energy since 1839, creating more advancements over the past few centuries. It's also one of the fastest-growing sources of energy. Many people use solar energy to power things in their homes, such as heating, appliances, and even fridges and stoves. Solar panels, which store solar energy, are also low maintenance. Solar power has also helped people save money by reducing their electricity bills. People have even gone as far as using a solar passion for gardening and farming! Solar power is also renewable; even solar energy helps prevent global warming, slowly repairing the ozone layer. It's also known to be cheaper than fossil fuels. So not only does solar power help save people money, but it also helps save the planet! Furthermore, solar power is a technology that inspires me to create a better world. By using solar power, we're taking one more step toward creating a healthier planet Earth. In today's world, solar panel efficiency is currently at its highest. With its many uses and benefits, it's no surprise that solar polar is an excellent form of technology! Being one of the most abundant energy sources, it's almost inevitable that it'll only keep becoming more prevalent and efficient!

I've always been a person who loves to try new things and expand my opportunities for new connections. I also like to be a part of new communities. So, I started playing lacrosse in my Sophomore year of high school. After some time, I ultimately began to love the sport. So, naturally, I wanted to be more involved with lacrosse, learn more about it, and improve my athleticism as a goalie. However, I soon realized that not all that always had to happen on the field. Like all sports, one of the things that can make playing lacrosse so great is teamwork. What made me start to like and continue playing lacrosse is mainly the team's bond. A strong between team members is essential, not just solely for winning games but also for the chemistry and drive of the team overall. If a team bond is weak or lacking, things can go south quickly on and off the field. Because of the strong bond between me and my teammates, I was able to learn more things from them, as they would also learn a few things from me. I've also gained new friendships from team bonding. After I joined the team in high school, I started talking more to the girls on the team and even attended other extracurricular events with them. Lacrosse also gave me a new sense of commitment and discipline. Since I didn't start playing until 10th grade, I have been behind the other girls in experience. So, of course, I wanted to change that! Along with my lack of experience, I wasn't exactly as fit as the other girls either. So naturally, I wanted and had to change that, not just for lacrosse but mainly for myself. Playing lacrosse gave me a boost of confidence, and I wanted my spirit to be able to reach its fullest potential. So I started cutting back on some of my favorite foods like candy and pizza. Also, I had to start exercising more, not just during practice or before games. I also wanted to get better at blocking shots and making saves, so I started using my body more in the crease instead of relying on my stick. I even took advice from my teammates and coaches and watched some lacrosse videos during my free time. And that helped me improve as a goalie. Whether you've been playing lacrosse as a child or later on, there's a lot that you could learn from it. I was able to pick up some new skills, both for the sport and in my personal life. In addition, because of teamwork, commitment, and discipline, I could embody my knowledge from my coaches, teammates, and outside influences off the field. Despite my newfound love for the sport, I, unfortunately, didn't continue to play after high school due to my lack of confidence in being recruited for college. However, I still practice on the side. I later realized that I couldn't just let my talent go to waste, so I spoke with the coaches at my school, Iona Univeristy. To my luck, they needed more goalies on their team and offered me a chance to become a walk-on. So this Summer, I'll be training to increase my chances of making the team and becoming a Division l athlete!

The purpose of technology is to help improve and advance our lives. Over the past few decades, various types of technology have been created, which helped our society thrive. New and past creations help inspire us to invent even more types of technology. One type of technology that inspires me to help make the world a better place is solar power. The purpose of technology is to help improve and advance our lives. Over the past few decades, various types of technology have been created, which helped our society thrive. New and past creations help inspire us to invent even more types of technology. One type of technology that inspires me to help make the world a better place is solar power. Solar power uses energy from the Sun's light and heat and converts the light into electricity. People have used solar energy since 1839, creating more advancements over the past few centuries. It's also one of the fastest-growing sources of energy. Many people use solar energy to power things in their homes, such as heating, appliances, and even fridges and stoves. Solar panels, which store solar energy, are also low maintenance. Solar power has also helped people save money by reducing their electricity bills. People have even gone as far as using a solar passion for gardening and farming! Solar power is also renewable; even solar energy helps prevent global warming, slowly repairing the ozone layer. It's also known to be cheaper than fossil fuels. So not only does solar power help save people money, but it also helps save the planet! Furthermore, solar power is a technology that inspires me to create a better world. By using solar power, we're taking one more step toward creating a healthier planet Earth. In today's world, solar panel efficiency is currently at its highest. With its many uses and benefits, it's no surprise that solar polar is an excellent form of technology! Being one of the most abundant energy sources, it's almost inevitable that it'll only keep becoming more prevalent and efficient!

Everyone has their own experiences with their mental health. Our experiences can influence our beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. It all depends on your state of mind, whether past or present. My personal experience has played an enormous part in my life in college. Because of my mental health, I have seen people and ideas differently. Mental health isn't a fixed situation; it can change over time and for different reasons. My mental state, of course, has changed back and forth from positive to negative. So it's both, but more negative than positive. If I had the time, I could go on for hours about why I'd been in a negative state of mind. But the main reason for my negative state of mind is, unfortunately, because of a few family members and my college experience. Two Summers ago is when things started getting worse. I was getting ready to transfer to a new college, which just happened to be a private school. My mother and I constantly disagreed about my discussion; she felt I should stay at community college until I got my Associate's Degree. However, I didn't want to be at a community college; I wanted to start and stay at a four-year school, and she already knew. Unfortunately, my mother decided to solely involve other family members in our disagreement to get them to side with her. Adding to my distress, they did. Despite their unsolicited opinions about my discussions, I followed my heart and transferred anyway. After all, it was around the time colleges started lifting a few Covid-19 restrictions. I was tired of attending class behind a computer and being at home. And after losing what's perceived to be the "better half" of my Senior year of high school to Covid-19, I was so stressed. I was just ready to leave home and start having new experiences! Despite the disagreement with my mother, I understand the main reason she didn't want to transfer to this new school: it's expensive. Our relationship had been so bad years before and even more strained during that Summer. I was now more focused on getting away from her than considering her opinion, even though she would never consider mine. In addition, I had a hefty past-due balance from Spring 2021, which prevented me from registering for classes for the following Fall. Because of the large tuition balance, I could not pay it off. I even reached out to the family to get help; some genuinely couldn't, and others didn't want to. I even worked what I would consider "ungodly" hours during the Summer to try to pay it off, which barely even made a dent. Finally, since I couldn't pay off the balance in time for the Fall semester, I was forced to leave my new school. I had grown very attached to this school and the people I've met. I was also involved around campus, so having to leave because of money was a heartbreaking experience for me. Of course, having to come home this Fall, my mom and aunt ridiculed me for the situation. And whenever my mother and I get into an argument, she always brings up my current problem, which makes me upset. My mom's always getting under my skin, but ever since the Summer of 2021, she's been worse. So now my mother, aunts, cousin, and sometimes my brother and other family members have started saying negative and untrue things about me. The things they say have been getting under my skin. And the weird thing is that they'll later complain that my self-confidence is low, or they'll get angry or upset that I don't want to talk to them. Unfortunately, it's driven me to the point where I started to write a suicide letter. While maybe I have no intentions to commit suicide, the thought of doing so has been crossing my mind more recently than ever. I haven't told anyone about it, but I plan to one day. My mind has been negative between not being able to attend the school of my choice and not getting along with my family. I no longer look forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas since those are both holidays that I usually spend with my family. And as for school, I'm currently back in the community college so I can keep on credits to graduate. I'm also saving up and studying for CLEP exams so that I can earn additional college credits and be able to graduate on time. I'm still determining what my situation will be for this next Fall or Spring semester. Still, I'm hopeful I'll return to school for my Senior year of college. As for my family relationships, I don't see things getting better anytime soon. Until I leave home again, I'll have to keep my distance to avoid negative interactions with them, especially with my mother. My mentality has decreased over the past two years, but I hope it improves. And I know it'll get better.

The dream version of myself is a strong, successful, and independent woman who has finally gotten her name out in the world.

Growing up as the child of a single mother isn't easy. While the other kids my age usually had both their parents, it was just me, my mom, and my brother. My dad was unfortunately in and out of my life a lot, never maintaining a stable role as my parent. Not being there for me enough decreased any positive interaction between him and my mom and eventually put a strain on my relationship with him. Oddly enough, however, my dad's consistent absence influenced the stress of my relationship with my mother. Despite being a rather lousy parent, he was nicer to me than her. He was significantly less argumentative and more understanding. My mom picked up on this and sometimes brought it up during arguments. Despite this, my mom, of course, still tried her best to raise me without the help of my father. Being the child of a single parent could take a toll on you mentally. I always felt like the odd one out around certain holidays, like Father's Day, or for specific events where you would typically be with both of your parents. I've even witnessed my mom struggle before. Whether it was asking friends or our extended family for money, juggling two jobs, or going to school at night so she could pick my brother and me up from school during the day. Although sometimes, my mother could be a furious woman. She would lash out at my brother or even me. The arguments and yelling harmed everyone's mental health. Before he moved out, she and my brother eventually had to go to counseling together, and she's currently trying to get me to do the same. I'm a first-generation transfer student; unfortunately, neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. Unfortunately, I also constantly deal with mental health struggles and anxiety. However, I'm trying not to let these struggles stop me from earning my Bachelor's and maybe even my Master's degree. I'm very eager to learn new things. Career-wise, I'm still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but I already have my college major set. I want to major in Psychology and engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. I chose to major in Psychology based on the influence of my upbringing. As for now, I want to focus on mental health. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. As someone trying to balance their emotions, someday I want to help people manage theirs. I've been to a few counseling sessions at my college to manage my mental health. Luckily I could go as much as possible because the counseling was free. Unfortunately, many people don't have access to free counseling sessions. If I could help people out for free, I could help many people. It's deplorable that counseling sessions must be paid for. After all, positive mental health can help influence a positive environment. With new resources, I could start a mental health support group at my school and help implement positive behavior. I don't want other people to continue to struggle as I did. Everyone should have the right to manage their mental health successfully. I'm still not 100% sure what to do with my Psychology degree once I graduate. But no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. I am passionate about what will be in store for the rest of my college career.

This past year, I went through a couple of personal issues. My college experience during my Sophomore year impacted me the most. That year, my Fall and Spring semesters could've been more satisfactory than I initially anticipated. I'm a first-generation transfer student. Sophomore year was the first time I've been away from home. Unfortunately, I let my conflicts get the best of me. I was harassed on this app known as "Yik Yak." It's essentially an anonymous version of Twitter, where anyone within your area can make a post. Since late January, people from my college have used the app to say inappropriate things about me and disclose my personal information. Being talked about every day made it hard for me to focus in class since it negatively affected my self-esteem. Since everything on the app is anonymous, nothing can stop people. Beyond that, last February, a close family figure passed away. He was my mother's ex-boyfriend, in a sense, my second father. He took better care of me than my actual father did. The last time I saw him, I was still in middle school. To not see someone for a certain amount of years, only for them to later die, is hard for any person. Of course, I had to take my time to grieve; however, one can only mourn for so long. I once again let my inner worries and emotions get the best of me. While I needed my time to process the death of my loved one, I still should've focused on my classes. Aside from that, I, unfortunately, don't come from a wealthy background. My mom is a hard-working single mother, while my father, on the other hand, is entirely unreliable in helping to fund my college education. So likewise, I picked up a few jobs. Besides my on-campus jobs, I also work at the local dollar store. Because most of my classes were during the day, I'd work there for closing shifts and on weekends. Unfortunately, the store is understaffed and overworked, so I was constantly getting called into work at random times, including on my days off, while working at my on-campus jobs, or even during class. As a result, my work schedule has harmed my academic performance this past year. Furthermore, I had a hefty past-due balance from Spring 2021. It was preventing me from being able to register for classes for the following Fall. Because of the large tuition balance, I couldn't pay it off. I reached out to the family to get help; some genuinely couldn't, and others didn't want to. I even worked what I considered "ungodly" hours over the Summer, and that barely even made a dent. Since I couldn't pay off the balance in time for the Fall semester of my Junior year, I had to leave my new school. I grew attached to this school and the people I've met. I was also involved a lot around campus, so having to leave because of money was a heartbreaking experience for me. My mindset's been pessimistic about not being able to attend school. I'm still figuring out what my situation will be for next Fall; I'm hopeful I'll be able to return for my Senior year. I've been applying for scholarships daily, and I'm working on building my credit score to get a loan. Getting that balance finally paid off would mean the world to me. I'm also working on improving my mental health so that I'll be able to focus more on my responsibilities. Things may seem bad, but I know they won't be forever.

Growing up as the child of a single mother isn't easy, as much as I would've liked it to be. While the other kids my age usually had both their parents, it was just me, my mom, and my brother. My dad was unfortunately in and out of my life a lot, never maintaining a stable role as my parent. Not being there for me enough decreased any positive interaction between him and my mom and eventually put a strain on my relationship with him. Since my father often failed to do his parental duties, my aunt and uncle often picked up his slack. They helped my mother provide things for me, which we both appreciated. Oddly enough, however, my dad's consistent absence also influenced the strain of my relationship with my mother. Despite being a rather lousy parent, he was nicer to me than her. He was significantly less argumentative and more understanding. My mom picked up on this and sometimes brought it up during arguments. Despite this, my mom, of course, still tried her best to raise me without the help of my father. Of course, being the child of a single parent could take a toll on you mentally. I always felt like the odd one out around certain holidays, like Father's Day, or for specific events where you would typically be with both of your parents. There have also been times when things were terrible for my mom. I've witnessed her struggle before. Whether it was asking friends or our extended family for money, juggling two jobs, or going to school at night so she could pick my brother and me up from school during the day. Although sometimes, my mother could be a furious woman. Sometimes, she would lash out at my brother or even me. The arguments and yelling harmed everyone's mental health. Before he moved out, she and my brother eventually had to go to counseling together, and she's currently trying to get me to do the same. One good thing I will say about my mother is that she was never one to sit back and let others control things for her. She would always have the plan to take care of things her way, even if others, including my brother and me, didn't agree. She would always tell me, "if you don't make decisions, decisions will get made for you!" Of course, there are various times when I wished she handled herself differently regarding our arguments or her disagreements with my brother. Still, in reality, she was trying to look out for us. Interestingly, she's the main reason I chose to major in psychology and study human behavior. She and my father are also, unfortunately, the reason why I don't want to have kids of my own in the future. I've seen what their relationship has done to them and the rest of the family, and I don't wish to repeat that for myself, let alone have my child deal with it. Parenting itself is already a big sacrifice and responsibility, and that doubles when you have to do it without any help. Being a single parent is hard, and sometimes being the child of one could be hard too. But it's always best to look at the positive side because things could always be different. My mom and I might not always see eye to eye, but I truly appreciate everything she has ever done or sacrificed for me.

I'm a first-generation transfer student. Unfortunately, I don't come from a wealthy background, and neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. Unfortunately, I also constantly deal with mental health struggles and anxiety. However, I'm trying not to let these struggles stop me from earning my Bachelor's and maybe even my Master's degree. I'm very eager to learn new things. Career-wise, I'm still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but I already have my college major set. I want to major in Psychology and engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. I am passionate about what will be in store for the rest of my college career. Now that I'm about halfway through my college career, I need to start narrowing down what I want to do after graduating. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. As someone trying to balance their emotions, someday I want to help people manage theirs. I've been to a few counseling sessions at my college to manage my mental health. Luckily I could go as much as possible because the counseling was free. Unfortunately, many people don't have access to free counseling sessions. If I could help people out for free, I could help many people. It's deplorable that counseling sessions must be paid for. Although counseling at my school is free, many students decided not to go for various reasons and are still struggling with their mental health. If I were to win this scholarship, I'd use the money to help bring more mental health resources to those needing them. After all, positive mental health can help influence a positive environment. With new resources, I could start a mental health support group at my school and help implement positive behavior. I don't want other people to continue to struggle as I did. Everyone should have the right to manage their mental health successfully. I'm still not 100% sure what to do with my Psychology degree once I graduate. But no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. Therefore, I would benefit from this scholarship. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. This scholarship will allow me to reach my goals of implementing positive behavior in my college for the long term.

Music is a form of art. Art allows people to express themselves or further validate their feelings. That being said, every song has a message behind it. The message of a song could spark emotions or memories within the listener. Lyrics, of course, are how the message comes across to the listener. That being said, the song with the most important message to me is Look Up, by Daley. This particular song has impacted me simply because of its lyrics, “but something keeps me hanging on. Yeah, some feelings they never go, so look up…”. The message that I was able to take away from this personally is never to give up, no matter how hard things seem. These lyrics from the song give me a sense of motivation to keep going. To make things better for inspiration, the lyrics after those are, “And if the stars should fall from the sky, I will put them all back in time. So you know that when they shine, they shine for you. Oh, oh, yes they do, they do”. These lyrics remind me that I can accomplish anything I want. The message behind a song could mean a lot to a person. Look Up, by Daley, shows me that looking towards the brighter side of things and staying motivated can be wonderful. No matter what, staying positive is the key to happiness. As long as you have faith, things will clear up for you. So as Daley would say, “look up.”

Like many, I'm a first-generation transfer student. Along with that, I'm also Afro-Latina. Unfortunately, I don't come from a wealthy background, and neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. Because of my demographics, I'm supposed to live up to specific standards. Whether these standards are created within my own family or by society itself, some of these standards I can't meet. Because of these standards and expectations, I sometimes let my anxiety consume me. It constantly feels like I have to go through a lot of stress and pressure to flourish in college and life. My main concern is my future after college. There are still lots of things I'm still figuring out or even discovering for the first time. I went through a lot of personal issues this year. I became consumed by poor time management and a lack of self-confidence. However, I'm trying not to let these struggles stop me from earning my Bachelor's and maybe even my Master's degree. Career-wise, I'm still figuring out exactly what I want to do, but I already have my college major set. I want to major in Psychology and engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. I am passionate about what will be in store for the rest of my college career. Now that I'm about halfway through my college career, I need to start narrowing down what I want to do after graduating. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. Both my major and my double would potentially find me more resources for what I could do after I graduate college. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that Biology may not have been the right choice to start with in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. However, if I'm being honest, all this is solely for college, not my real dream future; I want to become famous one day. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always dreamed about what my life would be like if I were a celebrity. I am still determining what I would be famous for, although my best bet would be modeling. After all, I get selected to model in my college's Fashion Club's Spring 2022 fashion show! I could make a great professional model after college; I always did have a hidden passion for fashion! If working in the psychology field works out, there's always a career in modeling. Getting discovered one day would change my world. No matter what I do after college, I look forward to landing a well-established job. Regardless of what I choose to do after college, I have the potential to be excellent at it. I'm very eager to learn new things. Like I said before, I'm still figuring out what I want to do after college, but I feel confident about the path I'm leaning toward so far. Then, of course, I need to figure out what will be set in stone for me and manage it while overcoming my internal struggles properly. But I already have precise ideas and plans for myself. And I know I'm strong enough to conquer anything I put my mind to, and I'll be willing to overcome any obstacles to reach my true success finally.

Throughout my life, I have gone through many experiences. Many of those experiences shaped me into the woman I am today. But, of course, there are still lots of things I'm still figuring out or even discovering for the first time as a young Afro-Latina woman. Since I'm a woman, let alone a Black woman, I feel I'm supposed to live up to specific standards. Whether these standards are created within my own family or by society itself, some of these standards I can't meet. Because of these standards and expectations, sometimes, I unfortunately usually let my anxiety get the best of me. It constantly feels like I have to go through a lot of stress and pressure to flourish in college and life. I'm a first-generation transfer student. Unfortunately, I don't come from a wealthy background, and neither of my parents completed college. I want to make them proud by proving I can and will be able to finish all four years. However, I went through a lot of personal issues this year. I became consumed by poor time management and a lack of self-confidence with myself. However, I'm trying not to let these struggles stop me from earning my Bachelor's and maybe even my Master's degree. I want to major in Psychology and go on to engage in either forensic science or neuroscience research. I'm confident that earning this scholarship would help me pursue my future career. I am passionate about what will be in store for the rest of my college career. My goal in Psychology is to discover why people behave as they do. I was even thinking about double majoring in either Criminal Justice or Sociology. Both my major and my double would potentially find me more recourses for what I could do after I graduate college. I was initially going to be a Biology major. Still, early on in my college career, I soon realized that down the line, Biology may not have been the right choice to start with in college. Despite this, I wanted to stay somewhere within the science field, so I'm now majoring in Psychology instead. But I know that no matter what I choose to do during or even after college, I have the potential to be excellent. I believe that I would genuinely benefit from this scholarship. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn this scholarship. I hope this scholarship will allow me to reach my goals.

The purpose of technology is to help improve on and advance our lives. Over the past few decades, various types of technology have been created, which helped our society thrive. New and past creations help inspire us to invent even more types of technology. One type of technology that inspires me to help make the world a better place is solar power. Solar power uses energy from the Sun’s light and heat and converts the light into electricity. People have been using solar energy as early as 1839, creating more advancements in it over the past few centuries. It’s also one of the fastest-growing sources of energy. Many people use solar energy to power things in their homes, such as heating, appliances, and even fridges and stoves. Solar panels, which store solar energy, are also low maintenance. Solar power has also helped people save money by reducing their electricity bills. Solar power is also renewable; even solar energy helps prevent global warming, slowly repairing the ozone layer. It’s also known to be cheaper than fossil fuels. So not only does solar power help save people money, but it also helps save the planet! Furthermore, solar power is a technology that inspires me to create a better world. By using solar power, we’re taking one more step toward creating a healthier planet Earth. In today’s world, solar panel efficiency is currently at its highest. Being one of the most abundant energy sources, it’s almost inevitable that it’ll only keep becoming more prevalent and efficient!

Everyone has their own experiences with their mental health. Our experiences can influence our beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. It all depends on your state of mind, whether past or present. My personal experience has played an enormous part in my life in college. Because of my mental health, I have been able to see people and ideas in different ways. Mental health isn't a fixed situation; it can change over time and for different reasons. My mental state, of course, has changed back and forth from positive to negative. So I'd say it's a little bit of both, but more negative than positive, unfortunately. I could go on for hours about why I'd been in a negative state of mind if I had the time. But I'd say the main reason for my negative state of mind is, unfortunately, because of a few family members and my college experience. Two Summers ago is pretty much when things started getting worse. I was getting ready to transfer to a new college, Iona College (now known as University), which just happened to be a private school. My mother and I constantly disagreed about my discussion; she felt that I should continue to stay at community college until I got my Associate's Degree. However, I didn't want to be at a community college; I wanted to start and stay at a four-year school, and she already knew. Unfortunately, my mother felt she needed to involve other family members in our disagreement solely to get them to side with her. Adding to my distress, they did. Despite their unsolicited opinions about my discussions, I followed my heart and transferred anyway. After all, it was around the time colleges started lifting a few Covid-19 restrictions. I was tired of attending class behind a computer and being at home. And after losing what's perceived to be the "better half" of my Senior year of high school to Covid-19, I was so stressed. I was just ready to leave home and start having new experiences! Despite the disagreement with my mother, I understand the main reason she didn't want to transfer to this new school: it's expensive. Our relationship had been so bad years before and even more strained during that Summer. I was now more focused on getting away from her rather than considering her opinion, even though she would never consider mine. In addition, I had a hefty past-due balance from Spring 2021, and it was preventing me from being able to register for classes for the following Fall. Because of the large tuition balance, I could not pay it off. I even reached out to the family to get help; some genuinely couldn't, and others didn't want to. I even worked what I would consider "ungodly" hours over the Summer to try to pay it off, and that still barely even made a dent. Finally, since I couldn't pay off the balance in time for the Fall semester, I was forced to leave my new school. I had grown very attached to this school and the people I've met. I was also involved around campus, so having to leave because of money was a heartbreaking experience for me. Of course, having to come home this Fall, my mom and aunt ridiculed me for the situation. And any time my mother and I get into an argument, she always brings up my current problem, which of course, makes me upset. My mom's always getting under my skin, but ever since the Summer of 2021, she's been worse. So now my mother, aunts, cousin, and sometimes my brother, as well as other family members, have started saying negative and untrue things about me. The things they say have been getting under my skin. And the weird thing is that they'll later complain that my self-confidence is low, or they'll get angry or upset that I don't want to talk to them. Unfortunately, it's driven me to the point where I started to write a suicide letter. While maybe I have no intentions to commit suicide, the thought of doing so has been crossing my mind more recently than ever. I haven't told anyone about it, but I plan to one day. My mind has been negative between not being able to attend the school of my choice and not getting along with my family. I'm honestly not looking forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas this year since those are both holidays that I usually spend with my family. And as for school, I'm currently back in the community college so I can keep on credits to graduate. I'm not sure what my situation will be for the Spring semester or next Fall, but I'm hopeful I'll somehow be able to return to school. As for my family relationships, I don't see things getting better anytime soon. Until I leave home again, I'll have to keep my distance to avoid negative interactions with them, especially with my mother. My mentality has decreased over the past two years, but I hope it improves. And I know it'll get better.

Being a college student is often a long haul. Whether if it has to do with preparing for the future, graduating, and trying to earn scholarships, students, such as myself, go through a lot of stress and pressure to flourish. This pressure might even cause some students to question themselves; "Would I even earn this scholarship?", and they back out and miss out on an opportunity due to a lack of self-confidence. I, on the other hand, can guarantee that I am eligible for earning the Arts of Giving Scholarship! I believe that I have the potential as a student, both in and outside the classroom. I want to major in Biology and later go on to engage in forensic science. I have confidence that earning this scholarship could help me pursue my future career. I am passionate about what will be in store for my future college career. And if not for my career, then I would love to use the money to help out with clubs and organizations I plan on taking part in, such as community service. I have been involved in community service clubs since middle school, and I would love to help take any opportunity I can to help out. Even if I use the money to help cover college tuition, I can assure this scholarship could benefit my future. As a first-generation college student, I'll need all the resources I could get in order to lead myself to success! Certainly, I'm certain that I am commendable for receiving the Arts of Giving Scholarship! I have a big heart and great aspiration. Winning this scholarship will bring me one step further to smoothly completing my dreams. Becoming the winner of this scholarship would be so much help for me!