The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York, and my Dad's duty station kept changing. It was hard to to only see him in person for short visits. My Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation for African American males. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned to believe in yourself no matter what. My goal is to graduate from a four year University with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world.Here we had fresh air, and the occasional deer in our yard.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, my parents divorced and my Mom and I had moved back to New York. To fill the gap I had from not seeing my Dad often, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation for African American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. I should be selected for this scholarship because I embody perseverance. An African American male from a single parent home with ADHD has consistently defied the odds. My goal is to graduate from North Carolina A&T with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise to help my country and my community. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world.Here we had fresh air, and the occasional deer in our yard.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. My goal is to graduate from a four year University with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise to help my country. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I was on my way to understanding that I could conquer anything. After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I not only discovered that I wanted to major in Computer Science, I learned to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

George Floyd, Sarah Bland, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. I never met them, but I know how their life ended. Each time news of another African American who died at the hands of police has appeared on the news, my Mom sits me down for "the talk". The first few times I heard it, I didn't understand. By the time George Floyd was murdered, I was at protests marching next to her and those words became clearer. It also became clear, that to survive, you never trust or think yor safe around law enforcement. As I approach 18 and prepare to go away to college, I think about the images of African Americans murdered by police that I've seen throughout my life in media. Fortunate enough to have had no interactions with the police, I still operate in fear. It is this sad reality that has destroyed the relationship between the African American population and law enforcement. There are 3 steps law enforcement agencies can do to improve relationships: train officers to respond with non life threatening injuries if they must use force, each officer must be trained in de-escalation and mediation , and tighter laws and immediate termination or charges for officers who abuse power. When an officer engages with a suspect , it should not end in the supsects death. Officers should be trained that if they have to discharge their weapon, that an injury to an arm, a leg or buttocks is a safer option than the chest. The African American community is struggling with a mental health epidemic. When officers are called to the scene, they need skills to mediate and de-escalate the situation. Someone on the scene needs to listen and not react immediately. Lastly, officers who abuse power or use brute force the first time, especially with clear evidence, should be immediately terminated and charged. These strategies can create trust, regain a feeling of safety and respect with officers, and begin to heal the relationship between the two communities. A final strategy for law enforcement is mandated therapy. All humans are the sum of their experiences, and it is those experiences that largely influence our behavior, good or bad. La enforcement officers should be mandated to attend bi-weekly therapy sessions, specifically around triggers, power constructs, and ego. Officers need an internal gauge of are they responding because of the law or because of ego. This mental health work can help officers with de escalation and decisions about how to engage with civilians. If I don't have to continue to live with fear that any interaction with a police officer could mean my death, or ever have to have " the talk " with my children, then law enforcement would have done the intentional work of changing the relationship with the Black community.

My name is Kaleb Webb, and I am the living example of perserverance.After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. I noticed that each opportunity I was granted placed me as the only African - American, but I didn't give up.Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the Black kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. At the program's end, I not only discovered I wanted to pursue Computer Science in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with, and never give up.Computer Science allows me to not on lt further develop my skills but move into the constantly evolving space of technology. With my degree, I'd like to secure employment with the Department of Defense and create a coding program for boys with ADhd. Technology unlocked the world for me, and I'd like to pay it forward. The advice I would give anyone , is defy the labels placed on you. They build invisible limits and boundaries, chase your dreams despite the noise.

My name is Kaleb Webb, and I am the living example of perserverance.After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. I noticed that each opportunity I was granted placed me as the only African - American, but I didn't give up.Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the Black kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with, and never give up. Advice I would give anyone , is defy the labels placed on you. They build invisible limits and boundaries, chase your dreams despite the noise.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world, where not many people looked like me, a huge change from the cultural melting pot in Brooklyn.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation for African American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. My Dad and I built my PC and for Christmas he bought me flight simulation games. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. The impact I plan to have on the STEM field is representation. II'd like to create fellowships aimed towards recruiting more American males. In each STEM program I attended, I was the only African American. This did not deter me, it further proved that I belonged. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I was on my way to understanding that I could conquer anything. To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing an aviation program in 9th grade, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. At the end of these programs I builts beta games and coded websites. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course.This past October I participated in a Symposium titled, Ai & education 2.0- Cultivating Synergies, Shaping the Future. I was a student leader on a panel discussion about how Ai supports student learning. Each day Ai is evolving and the world is becoming more comfortable with how it has impacted society. As with any new technology, there is always a threat of misuse. By pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity, my expertise will impact the feild ensuring that there are safety nets protecting Ai and its evolution.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. College means that I am normal.I've always felt different because of my learning needs, and have always fought to excel along with my peers. A degree in computer science/ cybersecurity will help me secure a job atthe department o f defense fighting cyber attacks across America.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers in coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. I no longer had to face social anxiety and focused on transforming my new world. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success. I now understand that collaboration, effort, organization, courage, and commitment are crucial to my success, revealing that I had the tools I needed all along. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success. Success looks like perseverance. I hope to work for the DEpartment of Defense in Cyberthreat intelligence. WInning this scholarship helps me obtain a debt free degree, crucial to launching success in my next chapter.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success. I now understand that collaboration, effort, organization, courage, and commitment are crucial to my success, revealing that I had the tools I needed all along. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. The three things I'd like to promise to the future version of myself are, perseverance, commitment and courage. With these I 'll be able to face any challenge. This scholarship fits the image of a better life because it will support me in obtaining a debt free degree. My Mom is a single Mom who take care of my grandparents and I. We are working hard to find scholarships so that we wont need loans.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success.This scholarship will help lessen the financial burden for my parents so that I can complete my degree with little debt.

After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. Each of these programs were challenging, but with each success, no matter how small, affirmed that I belonged in these spaces. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with. My journey with ADHD, academic challenges,and new experiences has shown that a learning disability is not a boundary to success. I now understand that collaboration, effort, courage, and commitment are crucial to my success.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world.Here we had fresh air, and the occasional deer in our yard.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. My goal is to graduate from a four year University with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise to help my country. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world.Here we had fresh air, and the occasional deer in our yard.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. My goal is to graduate from a four year University with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise to help my country. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

My name is Kaleb Webb, and I am the living example of perserverance.After being diagnosed with ADHD in fourth grade, I understood that my learning needs would require me to work harder so that I wouldn’t fall behind my peers. When the pandemic closed schools, I no longer had the distractions that interrupted my focus, so I stopped taking my medication. With my Mom’s help, I set schedules, broke tasks down into manageable pieces, and created a more structured environment for myself at home. These new habits became the turning point of my academic journey, and gave me confidence when I returned to in person learning. High school started slow, as everyone tried to return to normal.To fill my weekends,my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation among African-American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity.On weekends, I learned airport codes, ground control commands, and flight operations.During the week,I tackled homework projects and studying. I was concerned that I couldn't handle both school and aviation class, but curiosity and the excitement of learning something new pushed me forward. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft .This experience taught me about perseverance. I had faced down insecurity and pushed through, gaining both confidence and valuable knowledge. As I began my junior year, I began exploring potential careers blending coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. A self-proclaimed introvert, I found the courage to seek help from peers who intimidated me. These were students from around the world with 4.0’s, and I was the kid riding the train from Brooklyn every day, fighting to stay focused and absorb new concepts. At the program's end, I not only discovered the major I wanted to pursue in college, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what I’m faced with, and never give up. After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology that power aircraft, which eventually led to my love for coding and game design. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. In the past I’d been too shy to step up as leader, but now I invited the opportunities to demonstrate my strengths. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. While I exemplify perseverance, my greatest are of improvement is time management. I'm not sure if my procrastination is a manifestation of my ADHD, or i'm just a teenanger, either way, it is something , I actively work on . As I prepare for college, Im learning how to tackle this, specifically because of my IB courses. These college level courses require organization and strong time management. The plan I have in place for time management currently is, I set reminders on my Alexa so that I'm reminded of deadlines for schoolwork. I also set these reminders in my calendar app. On my refrigerator I have. a dry erase board that I use to add reminders, or small tasks that have to be completed related to upcoming assignments, such as, "go to office hours", or "check if lab partner completed slides."At the end of each day, I read through my assignments and notes , and create plans to complete assignments. Lastly, I print out important assignment sheets and place them on my door, as visual reminders of assignments that are due. While these strategies work for me now in high school, I know they work to complete tasks but as I need to develop mastery in my college courses, ultimately , I need to develop a study plan . With a study plan , i will be able to not only complete my assignments, but score high as well.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world, where not many people looked like me, a huge change from the cultural melting pot in Brooklyn.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation for African American males. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. My Dad and I built my PC and for Christmas he bought me flight simulation games. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. The impact I plan to have on the STEM field is representation. II'd like to create fellowships aimed towards recruiting more American males. In each STEM program I attended, I was the only African American. This did not deter me, it further proved that I belonged. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.

The plane shook violently, but as I pulled back the throttle, the aircraft continued to climb. "Control tower, this is Charlie Delta ready for takeoff," I recited the commands, my voice steady despite my nervousness. My instructor smiled. The ground disappeared beneath us. I pulled the lever to lift the wheels and leveled the plane out. "I did it!" my inner voice screamed. I was flying! Everything was so blue and peaceful. As I aligned the aircraft with the horizon, anxiety and fear left my body. I felt invincible. I could, and will, conquer anything. Moving is hard. When I was in 3rd grade my family moved from Brooklyn, New York to my Dad's new station on the Fort Campbell, Kentucky army base. My Dad was a member of the 74th 101st Airborne. I was in awe of this new world.Here we had fresh air, and the occasional deer in our yard.For three years, I went to school on base, and on weekends, my Dad would take me to air shows, or we would build a new memory system for his PC if he wasn't away. This experience led me to fall in love with airplanes and technology, which ultimately led me to Computer Science. By the time I entered High school, we had moved back to New York. To fill my weekends, my Mom enrolled me in Aviation For Us, a program aimed at developing an interest in aviation. Although aviation was a field I knew little about, my fascination with how things work led me to embrace the opportunity. By the end of the program, I’d earned 12 ground school hours and, at 14, piloted my first of several flights in a small Cessna aircraft . After completing the aviation program, my curiosity expanded to the computers and technology. My Dad and I built my PC and for Christmas he bought me flight simulation games. In the Summer of 2022, I participated in All Star Code, a program designed to teach coding to teens. I learned basic JAVA and HTML coding and led a team in developing a website aimed at keeping families updated about their loved ones nursing home care. This project strengthened my leadership skills. Soon after completing All Star Code, I learned coding for games on the GameMaker and Unity platforms at New York University’s (NYU) Future Game Design and the School of Interactive Arts programs. As I began my junior year, I explored potential careers that blended coding, technology, and problem-solving while tackling the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Quickly, I learned that my success depended on mastering time management and organization. Last minute studying was replaced by daily note reviews. In June, after successfully completing junior year in the IB program, I was accepted into Columbia University’s Summer pre-college Cybersecurity course. Through threat simulations, we solved problems and assessed vulnerabilities. Initially, I couldn’t grasp concepts like insider threats and ransomware attacks, so I resorted to YouTube videos and lunch-time chats with classmates. At the program's end, I was not only confident about majoring in Computer Science, but I learned a valuable lesson, to believe in yourself no matter what. My goal is to graduate from a four year University with a degree in Computer Science and work for the Department of Defense. Like my Dad, I want to be a part of something that matters, and use my expertise to help my country. Moving around was hard, but it taught me perseverance. Thanks to these experiences, I can soar beyond any challenge—just like in that moment when I first took flight.