Without patience, I wouldn’t be able to study and learn computer science. That might sound like a drastic statement, but without patience and persistence, I wouldn’t be able to learn or retain any of the information or knowledge acquired through learning computer science. Without patience, I wouldn’t have the drive to find solutions to new problems that I run into when creating websites and programs. Without patience, I would simply give up after running into a bug that takes hours to fix. Without patience, I wouldn’t have the drive to complete the homework assignments that my computer science professors give me, which can be repetitive at times. These assignments are repetitive, however, because computer science is a discipline built on repetition and patience. It’s not a skill that can be solely taught, it must be acquired through application, and patience is necessary when applying those skills. Doing homework problems and creating personal projects is necessary to excel in the field, and without patience, I wouldn’t have the persistence necessary to learn these skills. Patience is critical to me because without it I wouldn’t be able to study what I love.

I’ve always been intrigued by the potential of technology to be a beneficial force. That potential might not be apparent at the moment, but that’s not because our current technology isn’t sufficient to help people. It’s because current technology is not being wielded to help, but instead to make a profit. This is a severe misuse of our modern technology, and particularly of artificial intelligence. AI’s potential is boundless in certain applications, however, it is currently being used to spy on consumers and stuff the pockets of megacorporations. One of the biggest factors leading to the poor state a large sector of our community finds itself in is the lack of access to competent education. After completing my undergraduate degree in computer science, and my master's degree in artificial intelligence, I aim to create a start-up that uses the power of artificial intelligence to create an education platform that provides competent education to this sector. Through the use of artificial intelligence, this platform will create a tailored curriculum that targets gaps in one’s knowledge. To fill these gaps, this program will use high-quality study materials created by my own company with assistance from seasoned educators. This is a gap in the market that I want to fill, as I believe that everyone, regardless of skin color, gender, or economic background, deserves access to high-quality education. In order to acquire the necessary knowledge to create such a program, I am going to complete my undergraduate and master's degree in Computer Science and Artifical Intelligence respectively. This scholarship will help me reach those goals, and wield the power of AI to create a better world.

I love progressive house music. I love it not because of the way it sounds, or the dopamine rush it provides, but I love it because it represents who I am and the person I strive to be. A progressive house track continuously builds on itself, adding layer after layer to become a complete, well-rounded track by the end. I am someone who always strives to add more to myself. I strive to improve my current skills, learn new skills through higher education, and improve upon my personality and communication skills to become the most well-rounded person I can be.

Marvel Comics have always served as a guide and inspiration for me, however, the Civil War comic series instilled a mantra in me that I have yet to let go of. In the face of the destruction of the Avengers, Captain America stays true to his values and refuses to operate under the government. At the end of the comic series, as Captain America is about to defeat Iron Man and win the battle, he steps down, in a bid to stop the complete destruction of New York City. With victory in his palm, he refuses to get caught up in his bloodlust and remains true to his character. Instead of letting the world, and the situation he is in change him, he decides to change the situation he’s in, and change the world as a result. Ever since reading that comic, that is how I’ve chosen to live.

There is no event that demonstrates humanity’s character and nature more than tragedy. The tragedy of war has exposed divisions in our society but has also represented the ability of humans to band together to fight a common cause. The war against the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some clear divisions in our community, particularly on viewpoints towards pandemic-stopping measures, however, it has also shown that a section of the population is willing to give back to the less fortunate when the time comes so that we can all get through this pandemic together. While these efforts are valiant, so far they have not proven to be sufficient. A large sector of the community is still in a very poor socioeconomic situation. This situation was exacerbated by the pandemic, however, it was started from the poor environment that this sector grew up in. The power of technology could be a saving grace. I’ve always been intrigued by the potential of technology to be a beneficial force. That potential might not be apparent at the moment, but that’s not because our current technology isn’t sufficient to help people. It’s because current technology is not being wielded to help, but instead to make a profit. This is a severe misuse of our modern technology, and particularly of artificial intelligence. AI’s potential is boundless in certain applications, however, it is currently being used to spy on consumers and stuff the pockets of megacorporations. One of the biggest factors leading to the poor state a large sector of our community finds itself in is the lack of access to competent education. After completing my undergraduate degree in computer science, and my master's degree in artificial intelligence, I aim to create a start-up that uses the power of artificial intelligence to create an education platform that provides competent education to this sector. Through the use of artificial intelligence, this platform will create a tailored curriculum that targets gaps in one’s knowledge. To fill these gaps, this program will use high-quality study materials created by my own company with assistance from seasoned educators. This is a gap in the market that I want to fill, as I believe that everyone, regardless of skin color, gender, or economic background, deserves access to high-quality education. Giving back not only elevates the receiver but also the provider. By lifting up the less fortunate, we lift up our entire society and thus lead better lives. I think artificial intelligence is going to be a cornerstone of society in the future, but it’s up to us to determine whether it’s going to be used in a beneficial or negative way. With this scholarship benefit, I will be able to achieve my ultimate goal: helping those who are less fortunate.

The second I got my hands on a computer when I was a young child, I was hooked. I instantly saw the power of the computer to connect, entertain, and influence. I knew I had to experiment and learn more, which led to me building my own desktop computer at the young age of 10. My fascination with computing was not simply a fad; I knew from the second I built my own computer that this was the field I wanted to be a part of for the rest of my life. The only unanswered question I had to answer then was - what part of computing? It’s a large field, and I bounced around between web development, software engineering, and various other sectors before discovering the field that validated my decision to pursue a computer science degree - artificial intelligence. I had already decided to pursue a STEM degree before discovering artificial intelligence - STEM, and its power to change the world, has always fascinated me. Furthermore, STEM is a field that is lacking in minority representation, and thus pursuing this field will allow me to be a trailblazer, and inspire many other young black men and women to attain degrees in this field. However, within STEM, I don’t believe that there is a more powerful field than the field of computer science, and artificial intelligence in particular. Through pursuing this field, I will attain the education necessary for me to fulfill my goal of founding a company that changes the world for the better - a change that will come through artificial intelligence. When the phrase artificial intelligence is mentioned, many people immediately think about how companies such as Facebook (now Meta), Google, and others spy on regular citizens with it. That assumption is exactly why I’m interested in pursuing this field. I believe that artificial intelligence has too much potential to simply be known as a technology used to spy on people. With my STEM degree, I want to create an artificial intelligence startup that creates products that use artificial intelligence for good. The immense power of artificial intelligence can be used to create apps that help with translation for navigating foreign nations. AI can be used to create smart educational apps that create curriculums and exercises specifically tailored to improve a student’s weakest areas and build up their knowledge in an efficient yet comprehensive way. These two ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. There is a myriad of applications for AI that will help it fulfill what I believe to be AI’s true purpose: to help people. When I first discovered computers, I didn’t know exactly how beneficial they could be. However, after years of exploration in the field, I have chosen to pursue a STEM degree because I believe that computers are going to be the main tool that advances society. Computers, and artificial intelligence, are going to be critical for future society, and I want to use my STEM education to create a company that uses artificial intelligence for good, rather than its current negative use.