“I feel so happy when I am making clothes that I could just jump up and down with joy” - Ann Lowe. Joy is the exact feeling I experience when I bring my designs to life. Sewing brings immense pleasure to my life, and it works hand in hand with my passion for helping others embrace their beauty and individuality. These same things have been said by the fashion designer that embodies what I want to accomplish, whose legacy I hope to uplift, and how I hope to change history and be remembered. Ann Lowe was not just fundamental to fashion history but also to the history of Black women. But her name is seldom heard and her impact is often overlooked. In the past, Black women’s accomplishments have not been given enough appreciation. The mere fact that Black fashion designers even exist still shocks many people today. This is the world we live in, but there has been a shift for the better. Seeing representation for marginal groups within the field has been on the rise, but to truly understand the feats they make today, one must first appreciate the women that unlocked the door for us. Ann Cole Lowe is my favorite fashion designer because she was successful in dressmaking despite the harsh racial barriers placed upon her. Her progress and prosperity make her the first notable African American fashion designer. Ann’s work still leaves me awestricken as an aspiring Black evening wear designer. Her use of colors, handcrafted floral embellishments, and fine fabrics bring so much inspiration to my work. Like Ann, my mother and grandmother taught me the basics of sewing. From there my craft flourished from clothing for my dolls, as a young girl, to my evening wear designs, as an undergraduate Apparel Design Major. Her upbringing and journey continue to motivate me to chase my dreams. She exhibited to society that the color of her skin is uncorrelated to her potential and her capability to construct exquisite gowns. She was well known for her one-of-a-kind floral designs, as well as, the renowned wedding dress of Jacqueline Kenndy. As both a Black businesswoman and couturier, Ann excelled in spaces deemed "unacceptable" for her "kind" and became favored by wealthy and socially prominent women from the 1920s to the 1960s. Her many achievements set her as a role model, game-changer, and trailblazer, who paved the way for modern-day Black designers. My love for the industry comes from my passion for sewing & its capacity to bring dreams to reality. I love how the purpose of the industry is to provide pieces that showcase who the wearer is & what messages they want to share with the world. The impact of clothing goes further than the surface because in its essence it’s a form of nonverbal communication. We communicate through our clothing and about our clothing, even when we try not to. Whether in conversation with each other or scrolling through social media, our minds establish messages based on what an individual wears. That in itself is astounding, a simple piece of cloth that I stitch can hold so much power. That power of clothing is unfathomable because the possibilities are endless. That’s why I love the industry because it’s a pathway for people to be themselves, by expressing their truest form - their identity.

One of the greatest things you can do for someone is making them feel valued, supported, and loved. A quote that I live by is one of Maya Angelo. "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Life has its ups and downs, but I stay rooted in my personal values of kindness, empathy, & gratitude. And with gratitude comes joy. I seek to emphasize my positive perspective on life and share it with others through my thoughts & actions. People are at the center of my life and future endeavors. Time and time again, I am the person there for my friends when they need help. Recently, one of my close friends was greatly impacted by a fire. Her family, her entire town, and many others were left with nothing but the ashes of their homes and belongings. It was devastating to see how something that started out so small could have the magnitude to destroy so many lives. Because of this, I did everything in my power to make sure she and her family felt supported. I went out and bought them new clothes and shoes. Assisted with sharing any information on how others could help, and more importantly, I was there for her whenever she just need to talk, cry, or simply laugh at a silly video. It might not seem like much, but every text, call, and hug mattered to her and I strived to continue to make sure she was going to be okay. The impact of my actions was immediate and easily seen through the betterment of the lives of the people affected, but the true impact it has had on my life lies beneath the surface. By simply helping her and her family in a time of need, I strengthened my friendship with her. I showcased that I valued her well-being, but also displayed how grateful I am to have her in my life. She deserves nothing but the best and I would do anything to see her succeed. My kindness and support inspired her to help more people. She started a GoFundMe page for her family, but the funds ended up being shared with various families in need from her area. Those families paid it forward and helped others. I had no idea my actions would kickstart a domino effect. I will never truly know my impact on others, but I will know how it impacts me. Helping others fills my life with love and purpose. My only hope is that my efforts make someone feel. Whether it be valued, supported, loved, or even heard, I want my words and actions to uplift the individuals I come in contact with. By doing this, I am living true to who I am. I am many things. I am Afro-Caribbean, in others words - I am Black. I am creative, passionate about my work, kind in every situation I am in, ambitious when it comes to accomplishing my goals, and strong when facing adversity. I am a person that cares with her whole being. I am so many many things, but at the end of the day, I am a person that desires to feel and I am fortunate enough to have the space to do so. That is how this story has impacted me and who I will continue to be.

I am destined to be a fashion designer. It’s been my dream for a good portion of my life, and I know I have what it goes to make it. My journey to where I am today started at the age of 7. Sewing runs in my blood. My grandmother & grand-aunt were both seamstresses. My grandmother was the one to teach me the basics of machine & hand sewing. That special day sparked my interest in the Fashion Industry - specifically Apparel Design. My goal is to utilize my degree in order to own a Designer Evening-Wear Brand. I have a passion for constructing special occasionwear. It is going to take some time, but it will most definitely be worth the wait. I am fortunate to be able to learn more about the industry and my future profession through the Texas Tech Apparel Design & Manufacturing Program. When I design and bring my creations to life, they can bring joy to others and impact their lives in innumerable ways. That in itself is such an amazing way to contribute to the world. But I can’t do that without your help. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship because it means I have the opportunity to keep on going, growing, and learning. Not only have I been expanding my knowledge in my future field, but I have also started the process of showcasing my work at Texas Tech. Every day I work to improve my craft. I have progressed from making clothing for my barbie dolls to designing women's evening dresses. I know one day I will look back and see how far I have come, and I will pay tribute to you for all of your help.

I know that the #BlackLivesMatter Movement was a political and social movement that was created to protest against incidents of police brutality, but it later extended to also fight against all racially-motivated violence toward all Black individuals. It was a movement that changes the way society viewed race. It shifted the way people understand the hardships and oppressive actions placed on individuals because of their race. It allowed for the seeing of racism, in places where it may not have been apparent - the racism that’s hidden under the surface of the systems America has in place. But overall it changed the way I viewed myself. As I researched and found articles about protests and the movement, I also learned more about what it meant to be Black in America. Regardless of your other identities, being Black in itself sets you back, even when you have all the other factors to be successful. I learned more about the movement through social & civil rights activists like Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Colin Kaepernick, social media accounts, and coverage of the protests and individuals involved in creating the movement. Moreover, in my Women’s & Gender Studies courses, I learned more about the founding of the movement and how rocky the shift from the hashtag to the real world was. Not everyone understood the full context of the movement, so many sought to replace “Black” with a word that fits their preferred meaning. By doing this, they are devaluing the significance of Black lives and why the movement was created in the first place - to acknowledge and defend the lives of Black individuals that face the systematic violence and oppression placed on them by the state. It fails to acknowledge the importance of Black in Black Lives Matter, further erases Black lives, and takes away support for the much-needed conversation about the legacy of anti-black racism and heteropatriarchy. Growing up in the suburbs of NW Houston has afforded me many privileges, simply because of the socioeconomic status of my family and the gated neighborhood I grew up in. But none of this could change the one thing that set me apart from the rest. I was and still am a Black young woman. In every single leadership position I was in, I have been tokenized and uplifted for being "one of the good ones". Every opportunity I had access to was because they deem to be non-threatening, intellectually well-rounded, and soft-spoken despite the color of my skin. Countless times I've heard accounts from people on how they empathize with my oppression - a Black woman's oppression. But no one can truly understand my own intersecting lines of privilege and oppression like myself. From the coverage of the BLM movement, I have developed a passion for empowering Black women; I am shaping a future in which I can use my talents to embrace what it means to be Black. Because Black is beautiful in every sense, powerful without bounds, and the Black community is a community like no other. The barriers are endless but being able to be that individual that empowers the new generation makes it all worth it. So to answer your question: the #BlackLivesMatters movement has not just impacted my life positively but all of society in general. It was an awakening of racial consciousness and the start of the rebuilding of the foundations of our nation. A nation that desperately needs it because it took a full-fled movement for people to start realizing that Black lives matter just as much as their White counterparts.

The root of joy is gratefulness. This was said by David Steindl-Rast, a Catholic Benedictine monk. The definition of joy differs from person to person, but my meaning almost goes hand-in-hand with Steindl-Rast. The significance of joy in my life comes from the small things like smiling, the monumental things like achieving a goal, or the in-between like simply making it through a tough day. Life has its ups and downs, but I stay rooted in gratitude. And with gratitude comes joy. I seek to emphasize my positive perspective on life and share it with others through my thoughts & actions. People are at the center of my life and future endeavors. As an aspiring eveningwear designer, my goal is to design piece that embraces one's uniqueness and extract the joyful essence within their soul. In other words, I design with the intent of showcasing their beauty and joy. I want them to feel empowered but also fulfilled with the garments I produce. So to answer the question: I seek out joy in my life from simply working with and for people. I find joy in sewing. For me, joy means being able to craft one's dreams and inner desires through my craft.

I am destined to be a fashion designer. It’s been my dream for a good portion of my life, and I know I have what it goes to make it. My journey to where I am today started at the age of 7. Sewing runs in my blood. My grandmother & grand-aunt were both seamstresses. My grandmother was the one to teach me the basics of machine & hand sewing. That special day sparked my interest in the Fashion Industry - specifically Apparel Design. My goal is to utilize my degree in order to own a Designer Evening-Wear Brand. I have a passion for constructing special occasionwear. It is going to take some time, but it will most definitely be worth the wait. I am fortunate to be able to learn more about the industry and my future profession through the Texas Tech Apparel Design & Manufacturing Program. When I design and bring my creations to life, they can bring joy to others and impact their lives in innumerable ways. That in itself is such an amazing way to contribute to the world. But I can’t do that without your help. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship because it means I have the opportunity to keep on going, growing, and learning. Not only have I been expanding my knowledge in my future field, but I have also started the process of showcasing my work at Texas Tech. Every day I work to improve my craft. I have progressed from making clothing for my barbie dolls to designing women's evening dresses. I know one day I will look back and see how far I have come, and I will pay tribute to you for all of your help.

I’m pursuing a bachelor's degree in Apparel Design & Manufacturing because I am destined to be a fashion designer. It’s been my dream for a good portion of my life, and I know I have what it goes to make it. My journey to where I am today started at the age of 7. Sewing runs in my blood. My grandmother & grand-aunt were both seamstresses. My grandmother was the one to teach me the basics of machine & hand sewing. That special day sparked my interest in the Fashion Industry - specifically Apparel Design. My goal is to get my degree and eventually have my own Designer Evening-Wear Brand. I have a passion for constructing special occasionwear. It is going to take some time, but it will most definitely be worth the wait. I am fortunate to be able to learn more about the industry and my future profession through the Texas Tech Apparel Design & Manufacturing Program. The reason I am writing to you today is that I need your help to fund my dream. When I design and bring my creations to life, they can bring joy to others and impact their lives in innumerable ways. That in itself is such an amazing way to contribute to the world. But I can’t do that without your help. I can not help but worry about the expenses that will affect whether or not I will return for another year. My younger sister is a junior in high school now, and in one year, she will be gearing up to attend college. That means my parents will have to pay TWO tuitions. I want to help lift that burden off of their shoulders. Moreover, at home, we have my autistic uncle and elderly grandma living with us. At times, it can be hard, to manage and assist them through their daily tasks. My uncle’s autism makes it challenging for him to function properly, he can not do tasks that are deemed simple, like counting, processing information, speaking clearly, recognizing emotions, and understanding social cues. My 82-year-old grandmother has shown early signs of dementia and has been in & out of the hospital recently due to kidney issues. Despite the struggles, we prioritize making them feel cared for & valued. While maintaining a healthy home life, my parents also work full-time jobs. My father is an Army Veteran, who works as an Army JROTC Instructor, at a High School in Downtown Houston. he is the main person that takes care of my mother because she’s always taking care of everyone else. My mother is a Leukemia Research Nurse at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Every day she works to minimize the effects of cancer in her patients' lives. She is also the main caregiver in our household - prioritizing our health over her own. My ultimate goal in life is to make them proud by following my dreams and attending Texas Tech, I am doing just that. It would be an honor to receive this scholarship because it means I have the opportunity to keep on going, growing, and learning. Not only have I been expanding my knowledge in my future field, but I have also started the process of showcasing my work at Texas Tech. Every day I work to improve my craft. I have progressed from making clothing for my barbie dolls to designing women's evening dresses. I know one day I will look back and see how far I have come, and I will pay tribute to you for all of your help.