am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University sophomore, I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to using my voice to do so. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. As a Mars Hill University sophomore I am studying computer science and pursuing a career in cybersecurity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, with more than one out of every 15 businesses suffering a data breach. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. I am excited to pursue a career in cyber security because of the always present threat of cyber attacks. Solving these problems sounds like very rewarding work and will require that I continuously study to understand the latest types of threats to society. I like figuring out how things work and putting them back together. This curiosity will hopefully serve me well in my future endeavors. It is for those reasons that I hope to be a trailblazer in my chosen field and why I feel that I am the best candidate for receiving this scholarship offered in honor of such an amazing person in Mr. Chris Jackson. I value serving others and being a strong mentor to my peers. I hope to emulate Mr. Jackson in making others feel important. This career will allow me to make a positive difference in other’s safety and well being. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I plan to stay focused in my determination to succeed and work to serve my community to the best of my ability in the future.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. As a Mars Hill University sophomore I am studying computer science and pursuing a career in cybersecurity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, with more than one out of every 15 businesses suffering a data breach. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. I am excited to pursue a career in cyber security because of the always present threat of cyber attacks. Solving these problems sounds like very rewarding work and will require that I continuously study to understand the latest types of threats to society. I like figuring out how things work and putting them back together. This curiosity will hopefully serve me well in my future endeavors. It is for those reasons that I hope to be a trailblazer in my chosen field. I value serving others and being a strong mentor to my peers. This career will allow me to make a positive difference in other’s safety and well being. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I plan to stay focused in my determination to succeed and work to serve my community to the best of my ability in the future.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University sophomore I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to using my voice to do so. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

My parents have raised me to always put Christ first in all that I do, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to attend and graduate from a wonderful high school, participate in a variety of sports, volunteer in the community, work part-time, and have a strong academic standing. I desire to make my family proud, therefore always giving 100% in all that I do. I feel accomplished whenever I complete a task to the best of my ability and whenever I am able to lift someone else up through my service. A challenge that I faced was in ninth grade when I was struggling in my Spanish class. Some kids seemed to catch on really easily to the curriculum, but I did not. I started off strong, but as the year progressed I started to fall behind. The strategies I had used for my other classes were not working. My grades plummeted lower and lower. A very good friend of mine told me that he had taken this same class the previous semester with the same teacher. He offered to share with me all of his notes, assignments, and tests. What an awesome gesture! Now I immediately felt relief because this was going to save me and take away the stress I was having. But then I thought harder about it. Using his work would not teach me anything. After mulling it over in my head, I decided to do the right thing and “turn it up to 11.” Instead of taking the easy way out, I made efforts to change my study habits. I sought out students in the class who I knew were excelling and I requested that they share with me strategies they used to learn, absorb the information, and retain it. It became clear to me that the notes I was taking were not up to par. I began to organize them better and put more detail into my notes so that they were more legible and easier to follow. This also led me to begin making flash cards whenever new concepts were taught. Using the flashcards helped to increase my active recall and to improve my memory due to the repetition involved in looking over them. In addition, I increased my study frequency to daily but in short 30 minute sessions.This helped me retain new facts better without getting overwhelmed by the large volume of things that I needed to learn. Another thing that I did was to alternate study locations. One of my classmates shared that they regularly pick different places to study whether at the library, at home, or at the coffee shop. I tried all of these things and it worked! I ended up passing the class with a respectable grade. I now approach every learning situation this way, and I have been successful ever since. This turned out to be a positive learning experience during which I developed much needed study habits that I continue to use now as a sophomore in college. It also humbled me to accept that it is okay to ask for help in times of need. I plan to share what I know with others so they too can benefit and reach their academic potential as well. I am excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and eventually working in cybersecurity. I pray that I am given the opportunity to make this dream come true. Thank you so much for your thoughtful consideration for this scholarship.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University freshman I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to the opportunity. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

I have always believed that it is far better to give than it is to receive. This school of thought is how I navigate the world and how I try to live my life. Helping and serving others has many benefits including increased happiness, improved mental and emotional health, improved self-esteem, and improved satisfaction and self-worth. Now, who would not want to enjoy those benefits? I have certainly experienced this first hand, and I am a witness to the joy received from doing kind things for others. I plan to continue living my life serving my community as it has strengthened my connection with others and fostered many meaningful relationships. I was fortunate enough to be raised by very caring and nurturing parents. As I reflect back over my childhood and teenage years, I realize that my parents have not had a lot of money and could not always afford everything that we needed. But that is okay. Despite lacking financial resources, they have given me so much love and support in every way imaginable. They have worked hard on their jobs while always attending my football, wrestling, and lacrosse games plus every band concert I have participated in. My parents have also taught me early on the importance of community service. From an early age, I watched my father get up every Thanksgiving morning to go and feed breakfast to the homeless people in the community. When I was old enough to accompany him, I began to go as well. Volunteering in this way at the YMCA has meant so much to me to be able to connect to a group of people less fortunate than myself. The feeling of comfort never gets old to see the smiles on the many faces after providing a warm meal during the holiday. Seeing how important volunteering is, I have also devoted time to the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem. My younger brother was born very prematurely at 28 weeks and spent the first 3 months of his life in the hospital NICU. The Ronald McDonald House was there for my parents as a resource if needed for a place to stay so they could be close to my brother. Giving back to such a wonderful organization that was there to support my family brought me great joy. Some other ways that I have served humanity include collecting donations for the Salvation Army through the Red Kettle Campaign, Raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and fundraising for the March of Dimes. The Sigma Beta Club that I am a member of has been a great avenue through which many acts of service have been performed. As a freshman at Mars Hill University, I have grown and matured so much being away from home with many others who are away from their families. I make it a point to support and motivate others, especially when I know they are going through difficult times. Let’s face it--All of us have stress in our lives, and it is not always easy to get through the difficult times. If I can share a compliment, a laugh, companionship, or even just a smile to lift someone’s spirits, I try to do that. I have also continued my community service with helping out with the local recreation center beautification efforts cleaning and restoring the tennis courts. I have also volunteered with the men’s soccer team with game videography. You never know the impact you might have on others, so it is always best to be kind and supportive when able. All of these service opportunities helped me fulfill my desire to spread love and encouragement to others since so much of that has been given to me. With my computer science degree, I hope to one day have a rewarding career in cybersecurity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to learn as much in my chosen field of computer science and become a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. Service to humanity is definitely the best work in life. Taking a genuine interest in the well-being of family, friends, neighbors, and strangers is a very rewarding thing to do. Especially in this technology age that we live in, people often are so connected to their cell phones and computers and they often lack personal human connections and experiences. Serving others with strong community involvement helps connect mankind and fosters more positivity by strengthening relationships and enriching others. Galatians 5:13 teaches us “by love serve one another.” I plan to continue to live by this creed and to help improve the world, one act of service at a time.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. As a Student Ambassador at Mars Hill University, I have already implemented my plan to strengthen my leadership, organization, and flexibility necessary to be successful in life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed with businesses and individuals regularly becoming victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. It is my goal to learn as much as possible in my chosen field of computer science and become a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. Achieving life goals and success for me is not solely based on my career or wealth. If I find myself in 30 years in good mental, physical, and emotional health, I will consider that I am successful. If I have mentored someone along the way and helped them have a brighter future, I will consider myself successful. If I have served my community to the best of my ability volunteering and promoting the welfare of others, I will know that I have been successful. As Maya Angelou once said “People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” This encompasses my view on being successful. Being kind, respectful, giving, and supportive to others, which in turn promotes unity and progress, is the true measure of success and my sincere goal in life.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University freshman, I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look f

My parents have raised me to always put Christ first in all that I do, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to attend and graduate from a wonderful high school, participate in a variety of sports, volunteer in the community, work part-time, and have a strong academic standing. I desire to make my family proud, therefore always giving 100% in all that I do. I feel accomplished whenever I complete a task to the best of my ability and whenever I am able to lift someone else up through my service. A challenge that I faced was in ninth grade when I was struggling in my Spanish class. Some kids seemed to catch on really easily to the curriculum, but I did not. I started off strong, but as the year progressed I started to fall behind. The strategies I had used for my other classes were not working. My grades began to get lower and lower. A very good friend of mine told me that he had taken this same class the previous semester with the same teacher. He offered to share with me all of his notes, assignments, and tests. What an awesome gesture! Now I immediately felt relief because this was going to save me and take away the stress I was having. But then I thought harder about it. Using his work would not teach me anything. After mulling it over in my head, I decided to do the right thing and “turn it up to 11.” Instead of taking the easy way out, I made efforts to change my study habits. I sought out students in the class who I knew were excelling and I requested that they share with me strategies they used to learn, absorb the information, and retain it. It became clear to me that the notes I was taking were not up to par. I began to organize them better and put more detail into my notes so that they were more legible and easier to follow. This also led me to begin making flash cards whenever new concepts were taught. Using the flashcards helped to increase my active recall and to improve my memory due to the repetition involved in looking over them. In addition, I increased my study frequency to daily but in short 30 minute sessions. This helped me retain new facts better without getting overwhelmed by the large volume of things that I needed to learn. Another thing that I did was to alternate study locations. One of my classmates shared that they regularly pick different places to study whether at the library, at home, or at the coffee shop. I tried all of these things and it worked! I ended up passing the class with a respectable grade. I now approach every learning situation this way, and I have been successful ever since. This turned out to be a positive learning experience during which I developed much needed study habits that I will continue to use through college. It also humbled me to accept that it is okay to ask for help in times of need. I plan to share what I know with others so they too can benefit and reach their academic potential as well. I am excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and eventually working in cybersecurity. I pray that I am given the opportunity to make this dream come true. Thank you so much for your thoughtful consideration for this scholarship.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University freshman I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to the opportunity. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a Mars Hill University freshman I continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. It is for those reasons that I am passionate about STEM. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. As President and a member of the Sigma Beta Club, I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community including the March of Dimes, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Salvation Army, and YMCA. After completing my studies in college, I plan to continue to serve others with a focus on mentoring black youth. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to the opportunity. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

Lawrence Roberts is a computer scientist credited with inventing the internet. He, along with his team, created a network of communications in the 1960s to connect the computers within the U.S. Defense Department. This system was the predecessor of the internet, which is now widely used daily by most for sharing and exchanging of ideas necessary for communication, learning, business, and globalization. Roberts is my favorite modern-day scientist because of his work in facilitating the information world in which we reside and making everyday life proceses easier and more accessible.

Equal representation in the world is essential to progress, change, and prosperity. Diversity is important to allow more wider perspetives to be integrated into brainstorming, problem solving , and in the development of new ideas in the world. As an African-American male, I am more than aware of the challenges of diversity and inclusion especially in STEM-related work. Theses challenges include acceptance by faculty and peers, access to resources, and systemic discrimination. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cyber security and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. I am excited to pursue a career in cyber security because of the always present threat of cyber-attacks. Solving these problems sounds like very rewarding work and will require that I continuously study to understand the latest types of threats to society. I like figuring out how things work, taking things apart, and putting them back together. This curiosity will hopefully serve me well in my future endeavors. Innovation is fostered by the ability to imagine something new and the creativity and courage to ask new questions in order to find potential answers. Working within a homogenous group will likely result in the same questions being hasks repeatedly with only minor variations. However, a heterogenous group is more likely to result in diffeent questions and wider views since its members all bring different perspectives and viewpoints. The end result in the latter described, more diverse group is stronger outcomes and improved excellence in research. Long-term economic growth is directly linked to scientic advancement, and scientific advancement is linked to a capable workforce made up of diverse talent. Diversity in technology will ensure that no groups are excluded in the talent pool and that we stay competitive as a nation in growing and developing. I am hopeful for more diversity in STEM in the future, and I am optimistic about the values that I will bring to such an esteemed group of scientists.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse or football. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. As a freshman at Mars Hill University, I plan to continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses-had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. Serving others has always been a large part of my life. I have enjoyed volunteering with many wonderful organizations in my community and have enjoyed being a part of and serving as President of the Sigma Beta Club. This club is based on service and mentorship of black male youth. It is dedicated to the development of its members to encourage leadership, academic excellence, community service, cultural awareness, and wholesome values. After college graduation, I plan to continue to mentor youth, especially black males. I have had many role models in my life including my father, various coaches, and leaders of the Sigma Beta Club. Each individual has taught me valuable lessons in life and shown me how to conduct myself in a respectable, purpose-driven way. They have taught me to have confidence in myself and my worth in life and shown me how to be a young man. I plan to do the same for others because so much has been given to me. I will teach other youth in the community right from wrong, how to live with good morals, and how to make a positive difference in the world. There is a tremendous need for mentorship in the black community as so many become a part of the statistics of being drug dealers, being a part of a gang, or being incarcerated. I will work to help change this reality and help save our young black males and females from becoming another statistic. Luke 12:48 states that "To whom much is given, much will be required." I understand my responsibility to give back to my community and I look forward to the opportunity. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

I believe that historically excluded groups in the field of technology exist because of issues related to access to education in America. Slaves were forbidden to learn. Universities excluded blacks in America. Blacks were often denied access to proper education and experiences. These systematic denials resulted in the loss of opportunities that have been sustained through generations. Along with my interest in computer science, I enjoy learning about history. My grandparents grew up in the segregated south and were subject to the Jim Crow laws. They’ve told me about having to use separate facilities and this legal ‘separate but equal’ standard that existed when they grew up. I have learned from them and from reading on my own that separate was not at all equal, especially in rural and poor areas of the south. This time in America was not that long ago. Although things are changing, there is still a lot of work to do as it relates to equality in America. I plan to study computer science in college. I have an interest in cybersecurity, and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. So, what actions have I taken to address these challenges? First, on a personal level, I work very hard. My parents have instilled in me a work ethic that will not allow me to be lazy or to take for granted all of the opportunities that I have in front of me. I attend school full-time, I am on the varsity lacrosse team, and I work part-time. My grandparents’ experiences also drive me to success – I strive to make them proud every day. Second, I am attending a STEM-based high school and I am majoring in engineering. I am taking honors classes in STEM disciplines, and I have attended summer camps in robotics and STEM. I have studied tirelessly to be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. Finally, I volunteer. I know that I have been given many opportunities and I want to share those opportunities with others. Through my work with the Sigma Beta Club, I mentor youth and give back to my community. It is important to me that I am able to be a positive example and role model to other young people. I heard a quote once by Booker T. Washington: “Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed.” I am very aware of the obstacles that those before me have overcome and I plan to do everything in my power to continue to climb towards success.

My hunger to succeed both on and off the field is fueled by many sources. My parents have raised us to always put Christ first in all that we do, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to attend a wonderful high school, participate in a variety of sports, volunteer in the community, work part-time, and have a strong academic standing. I desire to make my family proud, and I therefore always give 100% in all that I do. I also feel accomplished whenever I complete a task to the best of my ability or whenever I am able to lift someone else up through my service. The adversity that I faced was in ninth grade when I was struggling in my Spanish class. Some kids seemed to catch on really easily to the curriculum, but I did not. I’m not sure if it was due to a mental block or if I was not studying correctly. I started off strong, but as the year progressed I started to fall behind. The strategies I had used for my other classes were not working. My grades began to get lower and lower. Then, to add to my struggle, my teacher had to leave and we had to learn from different substitutes the rest of the year. This made an already challenging situation even more difficult. I knew I had to make a personal change if I was going to overcome this obstacle. It became clear to me that I needed to change my study habits. The first thing I did was to seek out students in the class who I knew were excelling and I requested that they share with me everything they did to learn, absorb the information, and retain it. It became clear to me that the notes I was taking were not up to par. I began to organize them better and put more detail into my notes so that they were more legible and easier to follow. This also led me to begin making flashcards whenever new concepts were taught. Using the flashcards helped to increase my active recall and to improve my memory due to the repetition involved in looking over them. In addition, I increased my study frequency to daily but in short 30 minute sessions. This helped me retain new facts better without getting overwhelmed by the large volume of things that I needed to learn. Another thing that I did was to alternate study locations. One of my classmates shared that they regularly pick different places to study whether at the library, at home, or at the coffee shop. I tried all of these things and it worked! I ended up passing the class with a respectable grade. I now approach every learning situation this way, and I have been successful ever since. This turned out to be a positive learning experience during which I developed much-needed study habits that I will continue to use through high school and college. It also humbled me to accept that it is okay to ask for help in times of need. I plan to share what I know with others so they too can benefit and reach their academic potential as well. I am excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and eventually working in cybersecurity. I pray that I am given the opportunity to make this dream come true. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse or football. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. Upon entering college, I plan to continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber-attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. Reflecting on my childhood and teenage years, I realize that my parents have not had a lot of money and could not always afford everything that we needed. Despite lacking financial resources, they have given me so much love and support in every way imaginable. My parents have instilled the importance of community service. From an early age, I watched my father get up every Thanksgiving morning to go and feed breakfast to the homeless in the community. When I was old enough to accompany him, I began to go as well. Volunteering in this way at the YMCA has meant so much to me to be able to connect to a group of people less fortunate than myself. The feeling of comfort never gets old to see the smiles on the many faces after providing a warm meal during the holidays. I have also devoted time to the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem. My younger brother was born very prematurely at 28 weeks and spent the first 3 months of his life in the hospital NICU. The Ronald McDonald House was a resource if needed so we could be close to my brother. Giving back to such a wonderful organization that was there to support my family brought me great joy. Some other ways that I have served humanity include collecting donations for the Salvation Army through the Red Kettle Campaign, Raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and fundraising for the March of Dimes. Performing service with the Sigma Beta Club has been a great avenue to serve my community. At Atkins Academic & Technical High School, I have enjoyed being a part of the Black Achievers Club where I serve as President. I have also worked hard to prepare for college in the Crosby Scholars program while further serving my community in the Key Club. Concert Band has fostered my love for music. Sports have also been a large part of my high school career with my participation in varsity lacrosse, wrestling, and football. I make it a point to support and motivate others, through a compliment, a laugh, companionship, or even just a smile to lift someone’s spirits. My goal in life is to continue with serving others to make a positive difference. I look forward to what the future holds, and I pray that I am given the opportunity to make my dreams come true.

I am strong, intelligent, self-disciplined, well-rounded, and persistent. I love tackling difficult problems and finding solutions. I am proud of my character of being honest, respectful, easygoing, dependable, goal-oriented, focused, and hard-working. I believe in giving 100% to everything I endeavor whether in academics, volunteering in my community, or while playing lacrosse or football. I have given everything I have to make good grades in school while also working part-time to help out with expenses. Upon entering college, I plan to continue exuding positive ambition and dedication in my desire to succeed. I am excited about moving forwards working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and reaching my goal of working in cybersecurity. After securing my undergraduate degree, I aspire to continue with my education in graduate school to further enhance my professional development in preparation for a rewarding career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. Cybersecurity involves technology and practices that keep computer systems and electronic data safe. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber-attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%-more than one out of every 15 businesses had suffered a data breach. The survey also found the companies did not have the needed practices and policies in place to prevent such activity from occurring. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. Reflecting on my childhood and teenage years, I realize that my parents have not had a lot of money and could not always afford everything that we needed. Despite lacking financial resources, they have given me so much love and support in every way imaginable. My parents have instilled the importance of community service. From an early age, I watched my father get up every Thanksgiving morning to go and feed breakfast to the homeless people in the community. When I was old enough to accompany him, I began to go as well. Volunteering in this way at the YMCA has meant so much to me to be able to connect to a group of people less fortunate than myself. The feeling of comfort never gets old to see the smiles on the many faces after providing a warm meal during the holidays. I have also devoted time to the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem. My younger brother was born very prematurely at 28 weeks and spent the first 3 months of his life in the hospital NICU. The Ronald McDonald House was a resource if needed so we could be close to my brother. Giving back to such a wonderful organization that was there to support my family brought me great joy. Some other ways that I have served humanity include collecting donations for the Salvation Army through the Red Kettle Campaign, Raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and fundraising for the March of Dimes. Performing service with the Sigma Beta Club has been a great avenue to serve my community. At school, I make it a point to support and motivate others, through a compliment, a laugh, companionship, or even just a smile to lift someone’s spirits. Galatians 5:13 teaches us “by love serve one another.” I plan to continue to live by this creed and to help improve the world, one act of service at a time. I look forward to what the future holds, and I pray that I am given the opportunity to make my dreams come true.

I have always believed that it is far better to give than it is to receive. Helping and serving others has many benefits including increased happiness, improved mental and emotional health, improved self-esteem, and improved satisfaction and self-worth. I have certainly experienced this first hand, and I am a witness to the joy received from doing kind things for others. I plan to continue living my life serving others as it has strengthened my connection with others and fostered many meaningful relationships. Reflecting on my childhood and teenage years, I realize that my parents have not had a lot of money and could not always afford everything that we needed. Despite lacking financial resources, they have given me so much love and support in every way imaginable. My parents have instilled the importance of community service. From an early age, I watched my father get up every Thanksgiving morning to go and feed breakfast to the homeless people in the community. When I was old enough to accompany him, I began to go as well. Volunteering in this way at the YMCA has meant so much to me to be able to connect to a group of people less fortunate than myself. The feeling of comfort never gets old to see the smiles on the many faces after providing a warm meal during the holidays. I have also devoted time to the Ronald McDonald House in Winston-Salem. My younger brother was born very prematurely at 28 weeks and spent the first 3 months of his life in the hospital NICU. The Ronald McDonald House was a resource if needed so we could be close to my brother. Giving back to such a wonderful organization that was there to support my family brought me great joy. Some other ways that I have served humanity include collecting donations for the Salvation Army through the Red Kettle Campaign, Raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and fundraising for the March of Dimes. Performing service with the Sigma Beta Club has been a great avenue to serve my community. At school, I make it a point to support and motivate others, through a compliment, a laugh, companionship, or even just a smile to lift someone’s spirits. These service opportunities have helped fulfill my desire to spread love and encouragement to others since so much has been given to me. The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cybersecurity, and I know that this is a field not well represented by minorities. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less than their counterparts. I am looking forward to solving the problem of the ever-present threat of cyber attacks to help ensure the safety of individuals and businesses. This will help those in my community stay protected from cybercrimes, reduce costs involved in managing cyber breaches, and maintain the integrity of private information. Service to humanity is definitely the best work of life. Taking a genuine interest in the well-being of family, friends, neighbors, and the community is very rewarding. In this technology age that we live in, people are so connected to their cell phones and computers and they often lack personal human connections and experiences. Serving others helps connect mankind and fosters more positivity by strengthening relationships and enriching others. Galatians 5:13 teaches us “by love serve one another.” I plan to continue to live by this creed and to help improve the world, one act of service at a time.

My hunger to succeed both on and off the field is fueled by many sources. My parents have raised us to always put Christ first in all that we do, and because of that, I have had the opportunity to attend a wonderful high school, participate in a variety of sports, volunteer in the community, work part-time, and have a strong academic standing. I desire to make my family proud, and I therefore always give 100% in all that I do. I also feel accomplished whenever I complete a task to the best of my ability or whenever I am able to lift someone else up through my service. An ethical dilemma that I faced was in ninth grade when I was struggling in my Spanish class. Some kids seemed to catch on really easily to the curriculum, but I did not. I’m not sure if it was due to a mental block or if I was not studying correctly. I started off strong, but as the year progressed I started to fall behind. The strategies I had used for my other classes were not working. My grades began to get lower and lower. Then, to add to my struggle, my teacher had to leave and we had to learn from different substitutes the rest of the year. This made an already challenging situation even more difficult. I knew I had to make a personal change if I was going to overcome this obstacle. It became clear to me that I needed to change my study habits. The first thing I did was to seek out students in the class who I knew were excelling and I requested that they share with me everything they did to learn, absorb the information, and retain it. It became clear to me that the notes I was taking were not up to par. I began to organize them better and put more detail into my notes so that they were more legible and easier to follow. This also led me to begin making flashcards whenever new concepts were taught. Using the flashcards helped to increase my active recall and to improve my memory due to the repetition involved in looking over them. In addition, I increased my study frequency to daily but in short 30 minute sessions. This helped me retain new facts better without getting overwhelmed by the large volume of things that I needed to learn. Another thing that I did was to alternate study locations. One of my classmates shared that they regularly pick different places to study whether at the library, at home, or at the coffee shop. I tried all of these things and it worked! I ended up passing the class with a respectable grade. I now approach every learning situation this way, and I have been successful ever since. This turned out to be a positive learning experience during which I developed much-needed study habits that I will continue to use through high school and college. It also humbled me to accept that it is okay to ask for help in times of need. I plan to share what I know with others so they too can benefit and reach their academic potential as well. I am excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to working towards my dream of obtaining a degree in computer science and eventually working in cybersecurity. I pray that I am given the opportunity to make this dream come true. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

The world is infinitely connected and will continue to be driven by computer technology. I have an interest in cybersecurity and I know that this is a field that is not well represented by minorities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computers and information technology occupations is expected to grow 11 percent from 2019-2029 with the addition of over 531,000 new jobs. As we have progressed to more digital services worldwide, the demand for strong protection of personal information has skyrocketed. We see on the news regularly how individuals and businesses unfortunately are the victims of hackers with breaches in security from predators. A survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company found that 58% of business owners with up to 299 employees had been victims of a cyber attack. Computer viruses and phishing were particularly common, but 12% had faced hacking as well, and 7%--more than one out of every 15 businesses had suffered a data breach. It is my goal to be a part of the solution to help eradicate this huge problem that affects so many. I read a statistic that minority representation within the field is only 26%. This study also stated that minorities in the field often hold non-managerial level positions and earn less. I am excited to pursue a career in cybersecurity because of the always present threat of cyber attacks. Solving these problems sounds like very rewarding work and will require that I continuously study to understand the latest types of threats to society. I like figuring out how things work and putting them back together. This curiosity will serve me well in my future endeavors. Being a black male in America is more than just the color of my skin. It is constantly carrying around the weight of a popular but untrue stereotype. A time I faced a challenge was in ninth grade when I was struggling in my Spanish class. Some kids seemed to catch on really easily to the information, but I did not. I started off strong, but as the year progressed I started to fall behind. I was not receiving the help I needed, and my teacher singled me out, talked down to me, and treated me like I was less than my classmates. I knew I had to make a personal change if I was going to overcome this obstacle. It became clear to me that I needed to change my study habits. I took steps including asking for help from classmates who were excelling, organizing my notes, making flashcards, and increasing my study frequency to daily but in short 30-minute sessions. I also regularly pick different places to study whether at the library, at home, or at the coffee shop. I ended up passing the class with a respectable grade. I now approach every learning situation this way, and I have been successful ever since. This turned out to be a positive learning experience during which I developed much needed study habits that I will continue to use through high school and college. It also humbled me to accept that it is okay to ask for help in times of need. I am excited for the opportunity to attend college, and I pray that I am given the chance to make this dream come true. Thank you so much for your consideration of me for this scholarship.

The COVID-19 disease has spread like a wildfire throughout the world. When we first started hearing about new cases of the disease, I kept hearing from news sources that COVID-19 affects minorities much more seriously than it does other groups. Being a minority myself, this information did not sit well with me. It created a lot of fear and anxiety. How in the world could a virus pick and choose who it affects and somehow seek out minorities and people of color? In doing research to find answers, I learned that a large factor in this disease bias is linked to access to healthcare. In many minority communities, people do not have health insurance. With the costs of medical care being so high, this group often cannot afford adequate medical treatment. By the time they get the virus and worsen from its effects, they are often so sick and do not respond to treatment leading to death. Health facilities are also not usually convenient to minorities especially in low-income areas. With people not having transportation and not being comfortable leaving their familiar surroundings, they are often not able to access necessary care in a timely manner. This barrier further increases the disparity in receiving treatment. Another factor is trust. Minorities and people of color historically have been misguided and mistreated by government, law officers, healthcare officials, and other leaders who did not genuinely have their best interest at heart. As a result, this group of people are hesitant to seek medical care when needed and instead turn to spiritual leaders for prayer. They frequently miss out on the benefits of modern medicine that has been proven to save lives. The lack of access to healthcare is definitely one of the most pressing global issues in the world today that has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has unfortunately been responsible for many people suffering unnecessarily and dying. If more people were able to have medical insurance, then they would be able to receive needed care in the early stages of disease before it progresses. If more clinics and hospitals were built in minority neighborhoods, then those individuals would feel more comfortable about receiving care and be able to access the clinic easier when transportation is not available. Also, if the government and other leaders end the injustices against minorities and people of color, they would be more likely to seek care and trust the medical advances that have been made to prevent serious illness and death. Making progress in these areas will be a much needed benefit and result of the pandemic. I hope to see changes made in this area of society to add a silver lining to the life-altering effects that this virus has imposed on us all.