If you had told me years ago that I would be here today, a Black woman balancing motherhood, marriage, work, and a 3.63 GPA while chasing her dream. I’m not sure I would have believed you. But here I am, living proof that resilience can outshine circumstance, and that education can be the bridge between survival and true leadership. Growing up, I didn’t see many examples of women who looked like me earning degrees, leading programs, or standing at the front of classrooms. I learned early that for Black women, the road to success is often steep, lonely, and paved with sacrifices. That’s why I hold my education so close to my heart, it is not just for me, it is for every little girl who was ever told she wasn’t enough. Today, I proudly wear many hats, student, health coach, social work intern, advocate, aunt, mother, and wife. Each role has shaped me into someone who doesn’t just dream of change but actively works to build it. I’m currently completing my Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and preparing to enter an MSW program (05/2025), fueled by a vision to uplift marginalized communities, particularly young mothers, veterans, and families facing homelessness. My goal is to develop programs that offer more than temporary relief. I want to create pathways to lasting empowerment. Transitional housing, mental health support, financial literacy, leadership development. I believe communities thrive when we address both immediate needs and future possibilities. I want to lead initiatives that change the narrative around who deserves opportunity and stability. Receiving the Michele L. Durant Scholarship would be a profound honor. Like Michele Durant, I believe in being a “forever student.” I carry the same belief that education, though costly and challenging, is a radical and necessary act for Black women. I understand firsthand the financial strain that comes with pursuing higher education, but I also know that the doors it opens are worth every sacrifice. This scholarship would ease that burden, freeing me to focus more deeply on leadership development, community work, and building programs that matter. In the future, I see myself founding a nonprofit in Detroit focused on helping young mothers transition from crisis to confidence, offering housing, counseling, education support, and career pathways. I plan to mentor girls and women who need to see someone who looks like them breaking barriers. I also aspire to advocate for policy changes that dismantle systemic inequities and build stronger, more compassionate communities. Michele L. Durant’s legacy is a powerful reminder that our lives are bigger than ourselves. Every degree she earned, every sacrifice she made, created ripples that continue to inspire. I hope to continue that ripple to be the kind of woman who lifts others as she climbs. Thank you for considering my story. I am ready to honor Michele’s memory by becoming the leader, advocate, and changemaker my community deserves.

My experience with substance abuse, particularly growing up with a parent who struggled with addiction, has profoundly shaped my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. While I have not personally battled addiction, I have lived through its impact, witnessing firsthand how it can alter the course of a person’s life and affect the well-being of an entire family. These experiences have given me a unique perspective on substance use disorder, reinforcing my belief in the importance of compassion, support, and access to resources for those affected. One of the most significant ways my experience has influenced my beliefs is by challenging the stigma surrounding addiction. I have seen how easy it is for society to judge those struggling with substance use, often labeling them as weak, irresponsible, or beyond help. However, I know that addiction is not a moral failing—it is a complex issue influenced by trauma, mental health, and systemic barriers. Watching my mother navigate her battle with addiction, from using stronger substances to eventually being on methadone, has shown me how difficult recovery can be and how vital it is to approach addiction with empathy rather than judgment. This belief drives me to advocate for treatment and recovery services that address both the individual and the root causes of their struggles. My relationships have also been shaped by these experiences. Growing up, addiction created instability in my family, forcing me to develop resilience and independence at an early age. It also taught me the importance of boundaries and self-preservation. While I deeply love my mother and recognize the pain that led her to substance use, I have had to navigate the balance between supporting her and protecting my own well-being. This has carried over into other relationships, where I have learned the value of emotional boundaries, healthy communication, and recognizing when a situation is beyond my control. These experiences have fueled my passion for social work and have played a significant role in shaping my career aspirations. I want to work with individuals and families affected by addiction, offering them the support and resources that my family often struggled to find. My goal is to help break cycles of trauma and substance use by providing education, advocacy, and direct interventions that address the complexities of addiction. Through my work in social services and my continued education, I aim to create safe spaces for those battling addiction and help them find pathways to healing and stability. Ultimately, my experience with substance abuse has given me both a personal and professional sense of purpose. It has reinforced my belief in the power of resilience, the importance of addressing mental health and trauma, and the necessity of compassionate, community-based interventions. I am committed to using my lived experience to inform my work, ensuring that I approach addiction and recovery with the understanding, empathy, and dedication that every individual deserves.

Turning my dreams into reality requires a combination of determination, strategic planning, and unwavering perseverance. My dream is to build a career in social work that allows me to uplift individuals and communities, particularly those who have faced struggles similar to my own. Having grown up in an environment shaped by grief, addiction, and instability, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate life without the right support. That is why I am committed to making a difference not only for myself but for those who need guidance, resources, and advocacy. One of the most important steps in making my dreams a reality is education. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Social Work and will be graduating in May 2025. From there, I plan to continue my studies and obtain my Master of Social Work, starting in June 2025. This advanced degree will give me the skills, credentials, and deeper knowledge needed to work effectively in my field. Education has always been my pathway to breaking cycles of hardship, and I see it as the foundation for the impact I want to make. Beyond my academic goals, I am actively gaining experience in the field. My work in social services, including my internship at Cass Community Social Services, has given me firsthand experience with the realities of homelessness, addiction, and systemic barriers. These experiences are shaping me into a well-rounded social worker, reinforcing my commitment to being a compassionate and resourceful advocate. By continuing to immerse myself in this work, I am building the knowledge and connections necessary to create meaningful change. Another key aspect of turning my dreams into reality is personal growth. I recognize that my journey is not just about professional development but also about becoming the best version of myself. This means continuing to work through my own challenges, prioritizing self-care, and ensuring that I am mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the work ahead. As someone who has faced adversity, I know that resilience is built through perseverance, but it also requires balance. I am committed to maintaining my well-being so that I can be effective in helping others. In addition to my education and experience, I am taking actionable steps to position myself for long-term success. I am seeking mentorship from experienced social workers, networking with professionals in the field, and exploring opportunities for advocacy and leadership. I also plan to use my lived experiences to inform my work, ensuring that I approach social services with empathy, cultural competence, and a deep understanding of the challenges marginalized communities face. Ultimately, my dream is not just about securing a job it’s about creating lasting change. I want to work with individuals and families to help them find stability, support, and hope. Whether through direct practice, policy advocacy, or community outreach, I am committed to using my voice and expertise to uplift those in need. My dream is fueled by my past, but it is focused on the future, a future where I can make a meaningful impact and help others turn their own dreams into reality.

One of the biggest hardships I have faced in my life is growing up with instability due to my mother’s struggles with addiction. My mother’s substance use began after the loss of my sister, a tragedy that deeply affected our family. Grief consumed her, and what started as a way to numb the pain quickly turned into a long battle with addiction. As a child, I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but I felt the impact of it every day. It shaped how I was raised, how I saw the world, and how I learned to survive. Growing up in this environment meant facing a lot of challenges—emotional instability, financial hardship, and having to take on responsibilities beyond my years. There were times when I had to be the one to step up, to make sense of the chaos around me, and to navigate situations that no child should have to handle. It was an uphill battle, but one that ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. Overcoming this hardship wasn’t easy, and in many ways, it’s a journey I’m still on. Education became my escape, my way of creating opportunities for myself outside of the circumstances I was born into. I was determined not to let my past define my future. I became a teenage mother, which brought its own set of struggles, but instead of letting it hold me back, I used it as motivation to push forward. I worked hard, pursued my education, and committed myself to breaking generational cycles of trauma and instability. The impact of this struggle has been profound. It taught me resilience, empathy, and the power of perseverance. It also deepened my passion for social work because I know firsthand how much support, resources, and guidance can make a difference in someone’s life. I have used my experiences to connect with others who have faced similar hardships, offering them the understanding and support that I once needed. Through my work in social services and my studies in social work, I aim to be a voice for those who feel unheard. I want to advocate for families dealing with addiction, help young parents find stability, and support individuals who are trying to overcome the very struggles I once faced. My goal is to use my past not as a weight holding me down, but as a driving force to lift others up. This hardship has shaped me, but it has not broken me. Instead, it has fueled my purpose, strengthening my commitment to creating change not just in my own life, but in the lives of those who need it most.

The loss of my sister is a part of my story, but it is one I experienced more through the eyes of those around me than through my own direct memories. I was very young when she passed, and while I may not remember every detail, I have lived with the ripple effects of her absence my entire life. My sister’s death was ruled as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and she passed away while spending the night at my grandmother’s house, sleeping in the bed with two of my aunts. That moment changed the course of my family’s life in ways that still affect us today. What stands out the most to me is how my mother and aunts carried that grief, how it reshaped them, and ultimately, how it shaped me. My grandmother, before she passed, was never quite the same after losing her grandchild. The pain of losing a child is something I can only imagine, but I didn’t have to imagine its effects I saw it play out daily in my mother’s struggle with addiction. After my sister’s passing, my mother turned to substances as a way to cope. What started as an attempt to numb the pain grew into an addiction to stronger substances, leading to a long battle with substance use disorder. Today, she is on methadone, and while that is a step toward stability, it is a reminder of the deep wounds left behind by loss. Growing up with a parent struggling with addiction meant that my childhood was deeply affected by my sister’s passing, even though I was too young to fully understand it at the time. Addiction has a way of shifting family dynamics, forcing children to grow up faster than they should. It meant dealing with instability, emotional distance, and, at times, feeling like I had to parent myself. My mother’s grief shaped how she raised us, and in many ways, her pain became the undercurrent of our household. Losing my sister also changed how love and loss were handled in my family. I saw my aunts carry guilt, my grandmother wrestle with sadness, and my mother battle her demons in the wake of that one tragic night. It created a pattern of emotional suppression grief was not something we talked about much, but it was always there, lingering in the background. I learned early on that people cope in different ways, not all of them healthy, but all of them human. As an adult, I reflect on how loss, addiction, and resilience are deeply intertwined. My sister’s death is a loss I never got to fully process as a child, but its effects have been present in my life in ways I couldn’t ignore. It has made me more empathetic, more aware of how trauma shapes people, and more determined to break cycles of pain rather than be consumed by them. While I cannot change the past, I can use my experiences to build a different future one where grief is acknowledged, healing is prioritized, and love is not drowned in addiction but embraced with openness. Her passing may have been the catalyst for my mother’s struggles, but it has also been a defining piece of my story, shaping who I am and the path I am on today.

I have always been drawn to social work because of my lived experiences navigating adversity, resilience, and the need for advocacy. At 35, I have faced the unique challenges that come with chronic illness and disability, living with lupus, Adult-Onset Still’s Disease (AOSD), and Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (Essential Thrombocythemia - ET). These conditions have shaped not only my personal journey but also my passion for supporting others who experience similar struggles. My experiences have taught me the complexities of managing health conditions while balancing everyday responsibilities, including work, family, and education. They have given me firsthand insight into the barriers that many people with chronic illness and disability face—whether in accessing healthcare, maintaining employment, or simply being understood by those around them. Because of this, I plan to focus my social work career on advocating for individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities, ensuring they have access to necessary resources, accommodations, and support systems. Living with these conditions has also deepened my empathy and strengthened my resolve to work with marginalized communities, particularly those who are navigating health disparities, medical trauma, and systemic barriers to care. I understand the frustration of not being believed by medical professionals, the exhaustion of fighting for accommodations, and the emotional toll of managing an unpredictable health condition. These experiences will inform my approach to social work, allowing me to advocate from both a professional and personal perspective. Ultimately, my goal is to empower individuals with chronic illness and disabilities by ensuring they have the tools and support they need to live fulfilling lives. Whether through direct client work, policy advocacy, or program development, I want to be part of creating a system that uplifts and validates people like myself—people who deserve care, dignity, and the ability to thrive despite the challenges they face. Another crucial aspect of my journey is understanding the intersection of chronic illness, disability, and mental health. The emotional and psychological toll of living with unpredictable health conditions can often be just as challenging as the physical symptoms. I have personally faced moments of frustration, grief, and isolation, struggling to navigate a world that often overlooks the needs of those with invisible illnesses. This has deepened my commitment to advocating for holistic, trauma-informed, and person-centered care that not only addresses physical health but also mental and emotional well-being. I believe that social workers must play a critical role in breaking down the stigma surrounding disability and chronic illness, helping individuals access mental health resources, build support networks, and reclaim their sense of agency. By bringing this perspective into my work, I hope to create inclusive, accessible spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported—whether they are seeking healthcare, employment, or simply understanding from those around them.

I never planned to be a social worker—until life made it clear that I had no choice. Growing up, I experienced firsthand the struggles of poverty, the instability of homelessness, and the weight of responsibilities far beyond my years. As a teenage mother, I navigated a world that wasn’t built to support me, and I quickly learned that survival depended not just on my own strength but on the rare moments when someone extended a hand to help. It was those moments—those people—that shaped my decision to pursue social work. When I entered my social work program, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted: to be a voice for those often unheard, to advocate for the underserved, and to create tangible change. My focus was simple—help those who, like me, needed resources, guidance, and a system that actually worked for them. But as I moved deeper into the field, my perspective expanded. I realized that social work isn’t just about giving people resources; it’s about empowerment—teaching them to advocate for themselves, helping them regain control, and addressing systemic barriers that keep them stuck in cycles of hardship. Since starting my program, my understanding of social work has evolved beyond direct service into something larger—policy, community engagement, and program development. While I will always have a heart for one-on-one work, I now see the bigger picture: changing systems to ensure that future generations don’t face the same struggles I did. My mission is clear: I want to help marginalized communities, particularly unhoused individuals, young mothers, and struggling families. Through my work in shelters and outreach programs, I’ve seen the gaps firsthand—how lack of access to mental health care, financial literacy, and basic life skills can create lifelong barriers. I want to bridge those gaps, whether through crisis intervention, community programming, or policy reform. Giving back isn’t just a goal for me—it’s a responsibility. My past is proof that when someone believes in you, even at your lowest, it can change everything. Now, I want to be that person for someone else. At my core, I am driven by the belief that no one should have to navigate their struggles alone. I know what it feels like to fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, and to fight battles that seem impossible to win. But I also know the power of resilience, and I refuse to let my past define me in a way that holds me back—it fuels me. Every challenge I’ve faced has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and a relentless determination to be the support system for others that I once needed. Social work, to me, is not just a profession; it’s a calling. It’s a way to transform pain into purpose and turn adversity into action. I want to be the person who reminds others that they are not invisible, that their struggles matter, and that hope is not just a distant dream but a tangible reality we can build together.

I never planned to be a social worker until life made it clear that I had no choice. Growing up, I experienced firsthand the struggles of poverty, the instability of homelessness, and the weight of responsibilities far beyond my years. As a teenage mother, I navigated a world that wasn’t built to support me, and I quickly learned that survival depended not just on my own strength but on the rare moments when someone extended a hand to help. It was those moments—those people—that shaped my decision to pursue social work. When I entered my social work program, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted: to be a voice for those often unheard, to advocate for the underserved, and to create tangible change. My focus was simple help those who, like me, needed resources, guidance, and a system that actually worked for them. But as I moved deeper into the field, my perspective expanded. I realized that social work isn’t just about giving people resources; it’s about empowerment teaching them to advocate for themselves, helping them regain control, and addressing systemic barriers that keep them stuck in cycles of hardship. Since starting my program, my understanding of social work has evolved beyond direct service into something larger policy, community engagement, and program development. While I will always have a heart for one-on-one work, I now see the bigger picture: changing systems to ensure that future generations don’t face the same struggles I did. My mission is clear: I want to help marginalized communities, particularly unhoused individuals, young mothers, and struggling families. Through my work in shelters and outreach programs, I’ve seen the gaps firsthand—how lack of access to mental health care, financial literacy, and basic life skills can create lifelong barriers. I want to bridge those gaps, whether through crisis intervention, community programming, or policy reform. Giving back isn’t just a goal for me it’s a responsibility. My past is proof that when someone believes in you, even at your lowest, it can change everything. Now, I want to be that person for someone else. At my core, I am driven by the belief that no one should have to navigate their struggles alone. I know what it feels like to fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, and to fight battles that seem impossible to win. But I also know the power of resilience, and I refuse to let my past define me in a way that holds me back it fuels me. Every challenge I’ve faced has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and a relentless determination to be the support system for others that I once needed. Social work, to me, is not just a profession; it’s a calling. It’s a way to transform pain into purpose and turn adversity into action. I want to be the person who reminds others that they are not invisible, that their struggles matter, and that hope is not just a distant dream but a tangible reality we can build together.