Hello Scholarship Committee, My name is Jayanna Boykins. A 17-year-old student of Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program and currently 5 months pregnant. Though I haven't been in the single parent group for long, long enough for it to change my mindset and thinking. I remember being 6 years old and having to go to the doctor's appointment for shots. It was the scariest thing as a child because I knew how much they hurt. When I told the pediatrician how I was scared and that I didn't want to get shots. She was the nicest lady for as far back as I could remember. She reassured me that everything would be ok. She let me look around the room and even let me see some of her tools. When it was finally time for my shots she let me grab my mother's hand, though it did hurt. I got through it and she made it possible. Ever since then, I have been interested in the medical field ever since. Now I aspire to become a pediatrician and help other children. My biggest strength is hard work, and my being pregnant has built those characteristics. During my senior year so far with a 3.6 GPA for the first semester. Being pregnant has not changed my dreams at all: they have stayed the same, but now more of a burning passion to fulfill my dreams. I am going through my hardships now of finishing school and going straight to college with a newborn. My children will not have to go through the struggles that I did as a child, not having as many resources and the support to succeed in life. Instead of this child being my setback I'm making it my comeback to strive for better in the future! I know it will be hard and no one is saying it will be easy, especially with a child on your hip. That's why I want to beat the stereotypes of being a teen mom and a single black parent. You won't be as successful in life. I want to better impact my community by showing young black female single parents that they can do it. The only way you can’t do it is if you stand up and tell yourself that you can’t do it. I want to positively influence others and give them a push saying you got this! The goals you achieve in life are determined by your determination. Your goals are only big as you make them out to be. but sometimes you just need someone to be by your side saying you can. I want to start my program to support young teen moms locally who want to proceed further in their education. There are currently not many programs to help and I want to build a program for future generations that can continue even when I am gone. Ultimately, I am extremely confident that I will succeed in the future as a single parent and as a pediatrician regardless of all the boundaries and all the people down on me. I will rise!