One of the biggest social justice issues that I would like to see changed in this world is the need for a more thorough background check for those who choose to purchase firearms, no matter the type. In my community, the city of New Orleans, had regained the infamous title of murder capital of the United States for the year of 2022. Although this title is one that some citizens may comment on given the frequent interruption of events and festivals due to gunfire, the majority of the populace will not boast on the fear of becoming a victim that keeps many scared to leave their homes. In order to facilitate such a change, I would make it mandatory that background checks review federal records as well as those in all of the fifty states are completed for anyone seeking to purchase a gun. Background checks would do much in the way to help ensure that purchasers are less likely to harm others, as opposed to someone with an extensive criminal history. Some may argue that a heightened requirement is not a “fool-proof” plan as violent crimes may still be committed by those without actual criminal records, I believe that the assistance offered outweighs potential consequences. Subsequently, I think that persons looking to obtain a gun should also be made to undergo a mental health evaluation. Criminal history is one thing, but in order to have access to something that can readily and easily take a life one should take into consideration the capacity to understand the consequences of one’s actions, as well as conflict resolution. These potential administrative tasks may be simple to some citizens, but another potentially prohibitive problem would be from those who firmly believe that the text of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution; “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” should be literally interpreted without any further exceptions. Citizens believe that since this is specified within the Bill of Rights that it should be protected and not changed due to a person’s previous history. They believe that everyone should be able to protect themselves with a gun without the government stepping in and taking that “safeguard” away from them. Incidents of violent crime increase when you give guns and other forms of weaponry to people who have poor-decision making skills or mental disorders who cannot fully understand the consequences of their actions.

As a young male, it has been a lifetime goal of mine to attend college. While obtaining a degree is no accomplishment to take lightly, I believe that the true accomplishment of college is the personal development that occurs. This formative development will assist me in gaining valuable lessons to be applied later in life. I plan to attend Louisiana State University fall 2024, majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering. From the start of my college application process I knew outside scholarships would be required to reach my education goals due to being raised in a lower income, single-parent household. Receiving this scholarship will assist in paying a portion of my tuition outside of allotted Pell Grant. This will greatly alleviate some of the financial hardship of my college education. In keeping up with the need of society to advance so that we can improve quality of life as well as ensuring the planet is sustainable for as long as possible; I aspire to study the STEM academic discipline of civil engineering. I have always admired the incessant thinking and problem-solving skills of engineers, but I care more for helping the general populace. You see, engineering is not foreign to me as I grew up with a first-hand view of this in my own family. Two family members pursued degrees in Electrical Engineering and my grandfather was a journeyman electrician. When I was younger, my grandfather would often take me with him on his residential jobs and I enjoyed shadowing his every move. What I enjoyed most, however, was seeing how he handled his tasks. Initially he began with “what do we know,” expanding to “what do we not know,” and finally getting to “what do we need to find out what we do not know?” I liked how this was structured and how it logically flowed together. Of course, someone may infer that I would like to expound upon this foundation and also pursue an education in Electrical Engineering, however, I think that there is more room for sustainability that can help the general population. When it comes to sustainability, I immediately think of civil engineering. We only get one earth so we must find ways to use its resources sustainably. While in college and upon graduation, it is my goal to secure internships and employment that focus on projects that would greatly enhance the quality of life for the human race while being cognizant enough to replace what is taken from the planet, or limit the destruction of it. As a native of New Orleans, I am familiar with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. I believe that the overtopping and collapse of levees within the lower socio-economic community was a tremendous failure as far as a civil engineering standpoint. As an Engineer I will always try to find new and more efficient ways to solve problems within our communities. Secondly, I will work to make sure that our Earth’s resources are being used sustainably. Although levees may have sparked my interest in civil engineering, I am more so drawn to quality of life improvements. It is my hope that such improvements and innovations would be greatly appreciated in areas such as air and water treatment, developing and supplying areas with sources of renewable energy, as well as waste management. I firmly believe that treating our non-renewable sources of air and water will allow us to live fuller and healthier lives. If we couple that with healthier non extinguishable energy sources such as wind, water, and solar power, I think we can contribute to making our communities and this planet viable for future generations.

Calculus is a crucial part of STEM fields. The fundamental ideas of calculus are essential for solving complex problems in these areas. This knowledge is necessary for studying objects that are excessively large and/or small and those that do not follow the predictability that artificial intelligence affords or the uniqueness of the natural world. Occurrences such as the movement of objects, change in physical quantities, and the behavior of systems are dependent upon calculus. Calculus is an integral part of physics and in turn expands to thermodynamics through figuring out equations of motion, understanding electricity and magnetism, predicting the behavior of tiny particles, as well as designing and improving systems and structures by analyzing stresses and strains in materials, modeling fluid flow, thereby optimizing the performance of mechanical systems. Without calculus, it would be really hard to develop cool new technologies like advanced transportation, renewable energy, and complex communication networks. Calculus is also crucial in math itself, as it is a prerequisite for other advanced mathematics such as differential equations, real analysis, statics, dynamics, and numerical methods. Calculus is essential for understanding algorithms, analyzing data, and building machine learning models. It plays a key role in optimization techniques that are used to train neural networks, solve computational problems, and make algorithms more efficient. Without a solid calculus background, it would be really tough to make major advances in having an artificial intelligence system behave as uniquely as intended. Because calculus is an area of mathematics, it too does more than just calculation and computation and also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that are invaluable across a wide range of STEM disciplines. By learning how to systematically approach complex problems, break them down into manageable components, and apply appropriate mathematical methods to derive solutions, us students develop versatile and analytical mindsets. This type of thought process is essential for thriving in scientific research, where identifying problems, formulating hypotheses, and designing experiments require rigorous, step-by-step reasoning. In essence, the cognitive skills fostered by learning calculus transcend the boundaries of the subject itself, equipping students with a powerful toolkit for success in diverse STEM-related careers and research endeavors. In summary, calculus is necessary in STEM related fields because it provides a universal language for describing natural phenomena, powerful tools for analyzing complex systems, and a foundation for further advancements with non-tangible objects. Mastering calculus can open up a world of opportunities in various STEM disciplines and help contribute towards the progress of knowledge and technology in the modern world, both seen and unseen.

In keeping up with the need of society to advance so that we can improve quality of life as well as ensuring the planet is sustainable for as long as possible; I aspire to study the STEM academic discipline of civil engineering. I have always admired the incessant thinking and problem-solving skills of engineers, but I care more for helping the general populace. You see, engineering is not foreign to me as I grew up with a first-hand view of this in my own family. Two family members pursued degrees in Electrical Engineering and my grandfather was a journeyman electrician. When I was younger, my grandfather would often take me with him on his residential jobs and I enjoyed shadowing his every move. What I enjoyed most, however, was seeing how he handled his tasks. Initially he began with “what do we know,” expanding to “what do we not know,” and finally getting to “what do we need to find out what we do not know?” I liked how this was structured and how it logically flowed together. Of course, someone may infer that I would like to expound upon this foundation and also pursue an education in Electrical Engineering, however, I think that there is more room for sustainability that can help the general population. When it comes to sustainability, I immediately think of civil engineering. We only get one earth so we must find ways to use its resources sustainably. While in college and upon graduation, it is my goal to secure internships and employment that focus on projects that would greatly enhance the quality of life for the human race while being cognizant enough to replace what is taken from the planet or limit the destruction of it. As a native of New Orleans, I am familiar with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. I believe that the overtopping and collapse of levees within the heavily populated black community was a tremendous failure as far as a civil engineering standpoint. As a Black Engineer I will always try to find new and more efficient ways to solve problems within our urban communities. Secondly, I will work to make sure that our Earth’s resources are being used sustainably. Although levees may have sparked my interest in civil engineering, I am more so drawn to quality-of-life improvements. It is my hope that such improvements and innovations would be greatly appreciated in areas such as air and water treatment, developing and supplying areas with sources of renewable energy, as well as waste management. I firmly believe that treating our non-renewable sources of air and water will allow us to live fuller and healthier lives. If we couple that with healthier non extinguishable energy sources such as wind, water, and solar power, I think we can contribute to making our communities and this planet viable for future generations.

Math is like a universal language that helps us make sense of the world in a logical and structured way. It's not just about numbers and formulas; it's about problem-solving and critical thinking. One of the things I love about math is the sense of satisfaction I get when I solve a tough problem. It's like unraveling a mystery and having that "aha!" moment when everything clicks. That feeling of accomplishment boosts my confidence and motivates me to take on even harder challenges. Another cool thing about math is that it's the same everywhere, no matter where you are. Whether you're in the US, China, or Africa, the principles of math are constant, and that's really fascinating to me. I love how math provides a common ground for people from different cultures to communicate and understand complex ideas. I also love how math has practical applications in so many different fields, from engineering to economics, from physics to computer science. By studying math, I feel like I'm learning skills that can open up a wide range of career opportunities for me. Overall, math isn't just a subject I have to study in school; it's a way of thinking and approaching problems that has made my life richer in so many ways. It challenges me to think critically, be creative, and never stop learning. That's why, as a high school senior, I can say with confidence that I love math.

In my community I have demonstrated leadership while dedicating hours in community service. A few of these were peer mentoring, tutoring, and camp counselor. While working in the role of a peer mentor and tutor I was able to assist other students with developing ways to effectively communicate, set goals and develop action plans for studying. While volunteering as a summer camp counselor with the Louisiana Children’s Museum I had the opportunity to lead young kids through STEM activities and provided representation of an educated male working within a diverse setting. By engaging in community service activities, I have showcased my ability to inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal, thus displaying leadership qualities such as compassion, empathy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. In keeping up with the need of society to advance so that we can improve quality of life as well as ensuring the planet is sustainable for as long as possible; I aspire to study the STEM academic discipline of civil engineering. I have always admired the incessant thinking and problem-solving skills of engineers, but I care more for helping the general populace. You see, engineering is not foreign to me as I grew up with a first-hand view of this in my own family. Two family members pursued degrees in Electrical Engineering and my grandfather was a journeyman electrician. When I was younger, my grandfather would often take me with him on his residential jobs and I enjoyed shadowing his every move. What I enjoyed most, however, was seeing how he handled his tasks. Initially he began with “what do we know,” expanding to “what do we not know,” and finally getting to “what do we need to find out what we do not know?” I liked how this was structured and how it logically flowed together. Of course, someone may infer that I would like to expound upon this foundation and also pursue an education in Electrical Engineering, however, I think that there is more room for sustainability that can help the general population. When it comes to sustainability, I immediately think of civil engineering. We only get one earth so we must find ways to use its resources sustainably. While in college and upon graduation, it is my goal to secure internships and employment that focus on projects that would greatly enhance the quality of life for the human race while being cognizant enough to replace what is taken from the planet or limit the destruction of it. As a native of New Orleans, I am familiar with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. I believe that the overtopping and collapse of levees was a tremendous failure as far as a civil engineering standpoint. As an Engineer I will always try to find new and more efficient ways to solve problems. Secondly, I will work to make sure that our Earth’s resources are being used sustainably. Although levees may have sparked my interest in civil engineering, I am more so drawn to quality-of-life improvements. It is my hope that such improvements and innovations would be greatly appreciated in areas such as air and water treatment, developing and supplying areas with sources of renewable energy, as well as waste management. I firmly believe that treating our non-renewable sources of air and water will allow us to live fuller and healthier lives. If we couple that with healthier non extinguishable energy sources such as wind, water, and solar power, I think we can contribute to making this planet viable for future generations.