“HBCUs are violent and ghetto.” When a classmate said this after I shared my plans to attend an HBCU, it revealed how deeply stereotypes about African Americans and our institutions still persist. As one of only four Black women in my school’s International Baccalaureate Program, I am familiar with being underestimated and navigating spaces where expectations are uneven. That moment affirmed my decision to choose Howard University, a place where my identity would be affirmed, not questioned. My experience in the International Baccalaureate Program shaped my resilience and leadership. Despite feeling overlooked at times, I remained motivated to excel and advocate for others. Serving on the International Baccalaureate Advisory Board allowed me to promote fairness and inclusion by recruiting students, organizing curriculum fairs, and expanding access to rigorous academic opportunities. Through this work, I learned that meaningful advocacy requires initiative and action. Howard represents the continuation of this mission. As a historically Black university, it stands as a symbol of excellence, empowerment, and pride. Howard offers a challenging academic environment where Black achievement is the standard. Being surrounded by students and faculty who reflect my ambitions will allow me to grow without having to constantly prove my worth. Attending Howard means more than earning a degree, it means contributing to a legacy that challenges stereotypes and uplifts the Black community. Through Howard’s Honors Program, rigorous coursework, and experiential learning opportunities, I plan to continue developing as a leader and advocate.

When I was little, I was obsessed with expandable water toys. These toys were animal-shaped made out of a sponge-like material and they would grow when water was added to them. I was so obsessed with them because I admired how much they grew from such a small figure. Just like these toys, I am continuing to grow. I want to continue to surround myself with people, places, and opportunities that will help me further develop my career. I want to major in business and take the pre-dental track to become a Dentist. Access to welcoming professors and rigorous curriculum will suit me for my career. As a business major, I would take classes through the Belk College of Business. I would further my research through the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation which would help me advance my entrepreneurial thinking. I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self-advocacy skills to my peers. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves.

Imagine an interest that combines art, science, and engineering all in one. After seeing family members with oral problems all your life, you desired to fix them. One with twisted brown teeth. One with missing teeth. The other has constant mouth pain. Why would they let it get this bad and why didn’t they let anyone fix it? Maybe they didn’t have anyone they felt could assist them without judgment. It could have been that they were ashamed. Nonetheless, helping them with their oral problems has always been a dream of mine. My mom has the prettiest smile. Even when we were not in the best situations, her smile got us through. A smile from someone can boost your confidence as my mom’s did for me. As I grew up, I watched my mom become a self-employed boss whom I admired. This sparked my interest in dentistry because I can help craft people’s smiles and be an artist at the same time. I remember always being the go-to of the family for everything. As one of the eldest children on both sides of my family, I was expected to babysit and tend to the younger ones. This included fixing any of their broken toys, helping them when they were sick, and teaching them art skills I had accumulated over time. I explored this interest by shadowing my Dentist, an intern, and a Dental Hygienist. I watched a young girl enjoy getting her teeth cleaned. She didn't enjoy it because she liked having her teeth brushed, she liked it because of the person brushing her teeth. The dentist made sure she was comfortable and made conversation with her. Within this business, there was a sense of community and comfort that came with the experience. The interpersonal relationships that can be developed are also intriguing. Building a patient’s trust and making ethical decisions are intertwined in the dental practice. These aspects deepen my intellectual curiosity by exploring human nature in dentistry. While shadowing my dentist, she revealed to me the career path she took. She majored in business which I didn’t think was the traditional way to become a dentist. With this approach, I believe she was able to learn communication skills. This increased my curiosity because I didn't realize how many factors relate to the world of dentistry. The artistic nature of dentistry is intellectually rewarding. As I shadowed I realized that each patient came with a unique set of challenges that required specific treatment plans and innovative solutions. Whether it’s planning an orthodontic treatment or 3D scanning the mouth on a computer, the engineering and artistic nature keeps me constantly asking questions and observing new technology. African Americans make up 3.8% of all dentists in the United States. Through this career, I want to inspire others who look like me to pursue their dreams as well. I want to inspire inclusion and diversity in the STEM field wherever I go. Dentistry piqued my curiosity with its intricate blend of art, science, and engineering. With this, I can major in Business or Biology to reach my career goal. This wonderfully complex field offers endless possibilities for learning and growth; creating a constant stream of intellectual stimulation and curiosity.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open-ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch-time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self-advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Before someone can use their voice, they have to know someone is willing to listen. All of these victims had a story but it had never been reported. I realized that I haven't been through the same things as everyone else, however, reading the results of my survey allowed me to gain exposure to other people’s experiences. It allowed me to see that not everyone knows how to speak up for themselves and they may need an extra hand. I have helped students get closer to developing a stronger voice for themselves. These students have unfortunate stories to share and needed someone who would listen. Through my studies, I plan to continue helping people speak up for themselves.

Imagine an interest that combines art, science, and engineering all in one. After seeing family members with oral problems all your life, you desired to fix them. One with twisted brown teeth. One with missing teeth. The other has constant mouth pain. Why would they let it get this bad and why didn’t they let anyone fix it? Maybe they didn’t have anyone they felt could assist them without judgment. It could have been that they were ashamed. Nonetheless, helping them with their oral problems has always been a dream of mine. My mom has the prettiest smile. Even when we were not in the best situations, her smile got us through. A smile from someone can boost your confidence as my mom’s did for me. As I grew up, I watched my mom become a self-employed boss whom I admired. This sparked my interest in dentistry because I can help craft people’s smiles and be an artist at the same time. I remember always being the go-to of the family for everything. As one of the eldest children on both sides of my family, I was expected to babysit and tend to the younger ones. This included fixing any of their broken toys, helping them when they were sick, and teaching them art skills I had accumulated over time. I explored this interest by shadowing my Dentist, an intern, and a Dental Hygienist. I watched a young girl enjoy getting her teeth cleaned. She didn't enjoy it because she liked having her teeth brushed, she liked it because of the person brushing her teeth. The dentist made sure she was comfortable and made conversation with her. Within this business, there was a sense of community and comfort that came with the experience. The interpersonal relationships that can be developed are also intriguing. Building a patient’s trust and making ethical decisions are intertwined into the dental practice. These aspects deepen my intellectual curiosity by exploring human nature in dentistry. While shadowing my dentist, she revealed to me the career path she took. She majored in business which I didn’t think was the traditional way to become a dentist. With this approach, I believe she was able to learn communication skills. This increased my curiosity because I didn't realize how many factors relate to the world of dentistry. The artistic nature of dentistry is intellectually rewarding. As I shadowed I realized that each patient came with a unique set of challenges that required specific treatment plans and innovative solutions. Whether it’s planning an orthodontic treatment or 3D scanning the mouth on a computer, the engineering and artistic nature keeps me constantly asking questions and observing new technology. Dentistry piqued my curiosity with its intricate blend of art, science, and engineering. The combination of artistic creativity, human interaction, and technological advancements all play a role in the fascinating career of a dentist. This wonderfully complex field offers endless possibilities for learning and growth; creating a constant stream of intellectual stimulation and curiosity. As a person of color, I plan to pursue this career to be an inspiration to others wanting to pursue my career. I will make way for diversity and inclusion within the field. As a person of color, I will continue to share my experiences in hopes to have an impact on others like me. I can advocate for myself and add diversity within the STEM field.

Imagine an interest that combines art, science, and engineering all in one. After seeing family members with oral problems all your life, you desired to fix them. One with twisted brown teeth. One with missing teeth. The other has constant mouth pain. Why would they let it get this bad and why didn’t they let anyone fix it? Maybe they didn’t have anyone they felt could assist them without judgment. It could have been that they were ashamed. Nonetheless, helping them with their oral problems has always been a dream of mine. My mom has the prettiest smile. Even when we were not in the best situations, her smile got us through. A smile from someone can boost your confidence as my mom’s did for me. As I grew up, I watched my mom become a self-employed boss whom I admired. This sparked my interest in dentistry because I can help craft people’s smiles and be an artist at the same time. I remember always being the go-to of the family for everything. As one of the eldest children on both sides of my family, I was expected to babysit and tend to the younger ones. This included fixing any of their broken toys, helping them when they were sick, and teaching them art skills I had accumulated over time. I explored this interest by shadowing my Dentist, an intern, and a Dental Hygienist. I watched a young girl enjoy getting her teeth cleaned. She didn't enjoy it because she liked having her teeth brushed, she liked it because of the person brushing her teeth. The dentist made sure she was comfortable and made conversation with her. Within this business, there was a sense of community and comfort that came with the experience. The interpersonal relationships that can be developed are also intriguing. Building a patient’s trust and making ethical decisions are intertwined into the dental practice. These aspects deepen my intellectual curiosity by exploring human nature in dentistry. While shadowing my dentist, she revealed to me the career path she took. She majored in business which I didn’t think was the traditional way to become a dentist. With this approach, I believe she was able to learn communication skills. This increased my curiosity because I didn't realize how many factors relate to the world of dentistry. The artistic nature of dentistry is intellectually rewarding. As I shadowed I realized that each patient came with a unique set of challenges that required specific treatment plans and innovative solutions. Whether it’s planning an orthodontic treatment or 3D scanning the mouth on a computer, the engineering and artistic nature keeps me constantly asking questions and observing new technology. Dentistry piqued my curiosity with its intricate blend of art, science, and engineering. The combination of artistic creativity, human interaction, and technological advancements all play a role in the fascinating career of a dentist. This wonderfully complex field offers endless possibilities for learning and growth; creating a constant stream of intellectual stimulation and curiosity. As a person of color, I plan to pursue this career to be an inspiration to others wanting to pursue my career. I will make way for diversity and inclusion within the field. As a person of color, I will continue to share my experiences in hopes to have an impact on others like me. I can advocate for myself and add diversity within the STEM field.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. This money will help me spread my project to other people. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves.

Imagine an interest that combines art, science, and engineering all in one. After seeing family members with oral problems all your life, you desired to fix them. One with twisted brown teeth. One with missing teeth. The other has constant mouth pain. Why would they let it get this bad and why didn’t they let anyone fix it? Maybe they didn’t have anyone they felt could assist them without judgment. It could have been that they were ashamed. Nonetheless, helping them with their oral problems has always been a dream of mine. My mom has the prettiest smile. Even when we were not in the best situations, her smile got us through. A smile from someone can boost your confidence as my mom’s did for me. As I grew up, I watched my mom become a self-employed boss whom I admired. This sparked my interest in dentistry because I can help craft people’s smiles and be an artist at the same time. I remember always being the go-to of the family for everything. As one of the eldest children on both sides of my family, I was expected to babysit and tend to the younger ones. This included fixing any of their broken toys, helping them when they were sick, and teaching them art skills I had accumulated over time. I explored this interest by shadowing my Dentist, an intern, and a Dental Hygienist. I watched a young girl enjoy getting her teeth cleaned. She didn't enjoy it because she liked having her teeth brushed, she liked it because of the person brushing her teeth. The dentist made sure she was comfortable and made conversation with her. Within this business, there was a sense of community and comfort that came with the experience. The interpersonal relationships that can be developed are also intriguing. Building a patient’s trust and making ethical decisions are intertwined into the dental practice. These aspects deepen my intellectual curiosity by exploring human nature in dentistry. While shadowing my dentist, she revealed to me the career path she took. She majored in business which I didn’t think was the traditional way to become a dentist. With this approach, I believe she was able to learn communication skills. This increased my curiosity because I didn't realize how many factors relate to the world of dentistry. The artistic nature of dentistry is intellectually rewarding. As I shadowed I realized that each patient came with a unique set of challenges that required specific treatment plans and innovative solutions. Whether it’s planning an orthodontic treatment or 3D scanning the mouth on a computer, the engineering and artistic nature keeps me constantly asking questions and observing new technology. Dentistry piqued my curiosity with its intricate blend of art, science, and engineering. The combination of artistic creativity, human interaction, and technological advancements all play a role in the fascinating career of a dentist. This wonderfully complex field offers endless possibilities for learning and growth; creating a constant stream of intellectual stimulation and curiosity. As a person of color, I plan to pursue this career to be an inspiration to others wanting to pursue my career. I will make way for diversity and inclusion within the field. As a person of color, I will continue to share my experiences in hopes to have an impact on others like me. I can advocate for myself and add diversity within the STEM field.

I realize that as a minority in education, I will have to advocate for myself more than I should have to. I am one of four young black women in the International Baccalaureate Program at my school. I had a new teacher at the beginning of the year and I observed quickly that he knew many students from the year prior. He repeatedly called on the same students, volunteering them to give out answers, and participate. Oftentimes I raised my hand to answer a question. Eventually I realized he hadn’t put in any effort into learning my name as with the other minorities in the class. I brushed this off because he knew a lot of the students from the previous year. It was about halfway through the school year and I decided I had to say something. I felt like I wasn’t part of the class. I don’t believe he meant to show favoritism but I wanted to make him aware of it. I talked to him after class and he apologized. He started including me in the class more often. He also began calling on other minorities that he had rarely called on before our conversation. This shaped my perspectives because it allowed me to see that bias does exist within the classroom whether it is intentional or not. I've never had a problem speaking up for myself but I don’t like being marginalized. This helped me become an advocate for fairness and inclusion for myself and others. Occurrences like this also inspired me to be a part of the International Baccalaureate Advisory Board. On this board, we recruit future IB students, give tours, and promote the program. On this board, I can dictate who is exposed to this program as an option and who is asked to apply. When I was in middle school, my mom found this opportunity for me. I want to recruit people into the program that look like me. They should be exposed to the same opportunities as other kids. I hope with the addition of other minorities, teachers will become aware of their biases and become more inclusive. This will also inspire other minorities to join the program. Learned experiences combined with being a minority in an educational setting will contribute to any classroom environment I am put in by promoting growth, empathy, and a deeper view of social dynamics. This experience of bias in the classroom fostered critical thinking and reflection. It made me advocate for myself and challenge injustice. I was able to come to my teacher respectfully to solve an issue. As a minority in my classroom, I offer different perspectives to broaden my classmates' view of the world. When this incident was addressed, it transformed my challenges into an opportunity to grow. In that moment of advocacy, I felt the most empowered I had ever been. My experiences and perspectives will create a significantly respectful, inclusive, and diverse learning environment in any classroom I set foot in.

Imagine an interest that combines art, science, and engineering all in one. After seeing family members with oral problems all your life, you desired to fix them. One with twisted brown teeth. One with missing teeth. The other has constant mouth pain. Why would they let it get this bad and why didn’t they let anyone fix it? Maybe they didn’t have anyone they felt could assist them without judgment. It could have been that they were ashamed. Nonetheless, helping them with their oral problems has always been a dream of mine. My mom has the prettiest smile. Even when we were not in the best situations, her smile got us through. A smile from someone can boost your confidence as my mom’s did for me. As I grew up, I watched my mom become a self-employed boss whom I admired. This sparked my interest in dentistry because I can help craft people’s smiles and be an artist at the same time. I remember always being the go-to of the family for everything. As one of the eldest children on both sides of my family, I was expected to babysit and tend to the younger ones. This included fixing any of their broken toys, helping them when they were sick, and teaching them art skills I had accumulated over time. I explored this interest by shadowing my Dentist, an intern, and a Dental Hygienist. I watched a young girl enjoy getting her teeth cleaned. She didn't enjoy it because she liked having her teeth brushed, she liked it because of the person brushing her teeth. The dentist made sure she was comfortable and made conversation with her. Within this business, there was a sense of community and comfort that came with the experience. The interpersonal relationships that can be developed are also intriguing. Building a patient’s trust and making ethical decisions are intertwined into the dental practice. These aspects deepen my intellectual curiosity by exploring human nature in dentistry. While shadowing my dentist, she revealed to me the career path she took. She majored in business which I didn’t think was the traditional way to become a dentist. With this approach, I believe she was able to learn communication skills. This increased my curiosity because I didn't realize how many factors relate to the world of dentistry. The artistic nature of dentistry is intellectually rewarding. As I shadowed I realized that each patient came with a unique set of challenges that required specific treatment plans and innovative solutions. Whether it’s planning an orthodontic treatment or 3D scanning the mouth on a computer, the engineering and artistic nature keeps me constantly asking questions and observing new technology. Dentistry piqued my curiosity with its intricate blend of art, science, and engineering. The combination of artistic creativity, human interaction, and technological advancements all play a role in the fascinating career of a dentist. This wonderfully complex field offers endless possibilities for learning and growth; creating a constant stream of intellectual stimulation and curiosity.

I realize that as a minority in education, I will have to advocate for myself more than I should have to. I am one of four young black women in the International Baccalaureate Program at my school. I had a new teacher at the beginning of the year and I observed quickly that he knew many students from the year prior. He repeatedly called on the same students, volunteering them to give out answers, and participate. Oftentimes I raised my hand to answer a question. Eventually I realized he hadn’t put in any effort into learning my name as with the other minorities in the class. I brushed this off because he knew a lot of the students from the previous year. It was about halfway through the school year and I decided I had to say something. I felt like I wasn’t part of the class. I don’t believe he meant to show favoritism but I wanted to make him aware of it. I talked to him after class and he apologized. He started including me in the class more often. He also began calling on other minorities that he had rarely called on before our conversation. This shaped my perspectives because it allowed me to see that bias does exist within the classroom whether it is intentional or not. I've never had a problem speaking up for myself but I don’t like being marginalized. This helped me become an advocate for fairness and inclusion for myself and others. Occurrences like this also inspired me to be a part of the International Baccalaureate Advisory Board. On this board, we recruit future IB students, give tours, and promote the program. On this board, I can dictate who is exposed to this program as an option and who is asked to apply. When I was in middle school, my mom found this opportunity for me. I want to recruit people into the program that look like me. They should be exposed to the same opportunities as other kids. I hope with the addition of other minorities, teachers will become aware of their biases and become more inclusive. This will also inspire other minorities to join the program. Learned experiences combined with being a minority in an educational setting will contribute to any classroom environment I am put in by promoting growth, empathy, and a deeper view of social dynamics. This experience of bias in the classroom fostered critical thinking and reflection. It made me advocate for myself and challenge injustice. I was able to come to my teacher respectfully to solve an issue. As a minority in my classroom, I offer different perspectives to broaden my classmates' view of the world. When this incident was addressed, it transformed my challenges into an opportunity to grow. In that moment of advocacy, I felt the most empowered I had ever been. My experiences and perspectives will create a significantly respectful, inclusive, and diverse learning environment in any classroom I set foot in.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves. I will utilize this money to further my service project in college and further my career. With this, I won't have to worry about debt after college. This will also allow me to give back to my community as I gain higher education and build connections with others.

I have never understood why people have a hard time speaking up for themselves in any aspect of life. My brother has trouble telling our parents if he’s interested in soccer or baseball. My friend is scared to ask questions in Math so she sits there clueless. A girl on my cheer team shared a personal traumatic experience with people on the team she had known for two weeks but hadn't told her parents. I, however, believe self-advocacy is the most important trait one can possess. To advocate for yourself is to show people who you are and what you stand for. These various life experiences helped me to recognize the importance of using my advocacy skills to help others. I have and will continue to advocate for anyone around me who doesn't feel strong enough to use the voice they were given. At my high school one year, I found out that a trusted faculty member was “grooming” a student and had inappropriate relations with them. There are people my age who need a voice. After this incident, I sought out peers who needed assistance along with peers who wanted to assist. At school, I am a part of a club called “Get in the Game.” We focus on the topics of kindness, empathy, diversity, and dignity. The club attempts to raise awareness for any problems that students have faced or seen in our school or community. We then suggest solutions to these problems. As one of the group leaders, I recruited a team then promoted my idea of focusing on grooming within the school environment. I realized my involvement in the club was the perfect outlet to teach self advocacy skills to my peers. The presentation was difficult for us to start. Although I didn’t know the student personally, I was deeply motivated and affected by her situation. We decided the best way to bring awareness to this topic was to hear feedback from students in our school. We sent out two surveys in total. The first survey was to get an idea of how many students knew what grooming was. The survey revealed that almost half of the students were never taught about grooming even after the situation that happened at our school. From there, my group and I organized a campaign event to raise awareness. We created an acronym “TTM” which stands for “The Truth Matters” and “Talk To Me.” I created the logo, organized our campaign event, and got about two-hundred people to fill out our second survey. It was open ended with an opportunity to anonymously share experiences with grooming. Multiple experiences of child molestation, predators, and trauma were shared. As a result, I communicate with my peers during lunch time with informal sessions. We cover various topics ranging from strong self advocacy to awareness of inappropriate relationships. Through this experience, I have reflected on myself and how I want to use my voice in this world. I believe self-advocacy is the most important thing you can possess because it gives you self confidence, assertion, self empowerment, and independence. My work is not done, I am still actively working on this project for this school year and will continue to advocate for anyone who needs help advocating for themselves. This has allowed me to show compassion and empathy for others within my community. I was not only able to empathize for these individuals. I was able to do something about it. As my life goes on, I plan to carry on this project or join an organization with similar goals as mine.

I realize that as a minority in higher-level education, I will have to advocate for myself more than I should have to. I am one of four black women in the International Baccalaureate Program at my school. I had a new teacher at the beginning of the year and I observed quickly that he knew a lot of students from the year prior. He liked to call on the same students frequently, volunteer them to give out answers and participate. I raised my hand to participate but observed that he had not given any effort to learn my name, unlike the other students who were white. I brushed this off and excused it because he knew a lot of the students from the previous year. It was about halfway through the school year and I had to say something. I felt like I wasn’t a part of the class. I don’t believe he meant to show favoritism, I wanted to make him aware. I talked to him after class and he apologized and started including me in the class more often. He also began calling on other minorities that he had rarely called on before our conversation. This shaped my perspectives because it allowed me to see that bias does exist within the classroom whether it is intentional or not. I've never had a problem speaking up for myself but I don’t like being marginalized. This helped me become an advocate for fairness and inclusion for myself and others. Occurrences like this inspired me to be a part of the International Baccalaureate Advisory Board. On this board, we recruit future IB students, give tours, and promote the program. On this board, I can dictate who is exposed to this program as an option and who is asked to apply. When I was in middle school, my mom found this opportunity for me herself. I want to recruit people into the program that look like me. They should be exposed to the same opportunities as other kids. I hope with the addition of other minorities, teachers will become aware of their biases and become more inclusive. This will also inspire other minorities to join the program. Learned experiences combined with being a minority in an educational setting will contribute to any classroom environment I am put in by promoting growth, empathy, and a deeper view of social dynamics. This experience of bias in the classroom fostered critical thinking and reflection. It made me advocate for myself and challenge injustice. I was able to come to my teacher respectfully to solve an issue. As a minority in my classroom, I offer different perspectives to broaden my classmates' view of the world. When this incident was addressed, it transformed my challenges into an opportunity to grow. In that moment of advocacy, I felt the most empowered I had ever been. My experiences and perspectives will create a significantly respectful, inclusive, and diverse learning environment in any classroom I set foot in. I shared this experience with another minority student in the program and she was inspired by my actions. From what she told me, her teacher had been giving her unfair treatment. She felt like it was because of her race. She too showed favoritism towards the majority race of students. She told me later that she set up a meeting with one of her teachers and her mom. My resilience allowed my peer to see that she was not alone in feeling neglected or treated unfairly. We both stand up for ourselves and empower one another to advocate for change.