Being born and raised in South Los Angeles, in the Crenshaw/Leimert Park district, I witnessed what it looks like to live in an underrepresented community. We have spirit, culture, and pride, but we don’t have the resources that other areas take for granted. The basic things you need, such as quality grocery stores, banks, and places to shop locally, were closed down one after another to the point that there aren’t many left, and the once-vibrant Crenshaw Mall is now an empty shell of what it once was. That reality shaped how I viewed the world — and it’s part of what drives me today. My parents were fair when it came to giving me things. Once I was in middle school, they made me earn what I wanted, for example, a new pair of sneakers, video games, or money to go out. Whether it was mowing lawns, washing cars, or running errands for neighbors, I had to figure out how to earn what I wanted. I didn’t know what to make of it at the time. But as I grew older, I saw that those lessons prepared me for something bigger. I wasn’t just learning the value of money but also how to be independent. COVID-19 hit, and life for people slowed down — but my ambition didn’t. As many people were sitting at home wondering what to do, I saw it as an opportunity to build something. I started an online business selling custom shoes I’d hand-paint and accessories I made with a cheap 3D printer I found on Amazon. I taught myself how to design, market on social media, and handle customer orders. It started small, but I soon made consistent sales and ran every part of the operation independently. That business became more than just a hustle—it became proof that I could take control of my future. That experience taught me that business isn’t necessarily about profit but empowerment. Having a little source of income gave me confidence, options, and freedom. It also had me thinking about all the other young people like me in the neighborhood who may have ideas but not the support or resources to help them bring those ideas to fruition.” Now, as a student at Howard University, I find myself surrounded by people who share that same hunger for success and desire to lift our communities. Attending an HBCU has opened my eyes further to the importance of representation and why economic equity is essential. I want to use my education to create spaces for entrepreneurs in underrepresented communities like Crenshaw and Leimert Park. My long-term vision is to host events at Leimert Park so people can show off their businesses/products and open a business incubator that gives young Black entrepreneurs the resources, guidance, and capital they need to make their ideas become financially sustainable businesses. Our economic empowerment begins in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. It means teaching people they don’t have to wait for something to be given to them — they can make their own path. This scholarship is more than just financial assistance—it is an investment in someone who has experienced the struggle firsthand and is determined to be a part of the solution.