My Personal Journey and Commitment to Change Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of domestic violence within my own home. The emotional and physical abuse endured by my mother left deep scars—not only on her, but also on me. As a child, I often felt helpless, silenced by fear and confusion. The lack of support and understanding from outside systems, including law enforcement, healthcare providers, and social services, highlighted the critical gaps in care, especially for African American women. This experience ignited a passion in me to not only break the cycle of violence in my own life but to become an advocate for others facing the same battles. My personal experiences have made me painfully aware of how systemic racism, cultural stigma, and a lack of culturally competent services contribute to the poor outcomes African American women face in domestic violence situations. These women are often unheard, under-served, and misunderstood. As I pursue my higher education in early childhood education, I am driven by a mission to change that narrative and be a positive beacon of light to those families. I am very understanding that the children I serve may or may not be exposed to domestic violence as I have faced as a child. Through my education, I plan to focus on developing culturally responsive approaches to domestic violence care. I want to work within and beyond traditional systems to improve coordination between healthcare providers, shelters, law enforcement, schools, and mental health professionals. African American women need spaces where they are believed, protected, and healed—and that requires not just services, but trust and understanding. African American women need safe havens: people who truly support them and see them. I envision creating or contributing to programs that provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care that prioritizes the voices of Black women. My goal is to help train professionals on implicit bias, cultural humility, and effective communication so that every African American woman impacted by domestic violence feels safe seeking help. Ultimately, I want to use my education as both a shield and a tool—to protect others and to build bridges between communities and institutions. By improving care coordination and fostering communication rooted in empathy and equity, I believe we can create systems that truly serve those most in need. My journey began in pain, but it will continue in purpose—and I am committed to making sure no woman feels as invisible as my mother once did.

I deserve this scholarship because I'm evil and a bank robber. I just love to get my hands on free money and terrorize others. My academic and/or career goals are to not work or scam people out of their money so my son and I can live a more fabulous life. I'm tired of worrying about the risks I take daily as a bank robber. I don't get to spend much time with my son and I would hate to unintentionally involve him in this life style. I've overcome an obstacle by not getting caught as a bank robber. The suspense of not knowing if Id be caught or not is mind-blowing.

Losing my grandmother hit me hard she was the rock of the family and she raised me she was like my mom. My grandmother and I were together always, any time you would se her you would see me along side her. My grandmother provided the best advice and could help me solve any issue I had. One thing my grandmother would stress about is furthering my education. My grandmother taught me by having education you will be able to sit in certain places and accomplish certain things in life. Her spirit and the rich things that she has instilled in me has caused me to focus on what matters most in my life and want to "fight" to achieve. She has always said to me when she was alive don't put your life on hold if I ever leave this earth. You stay focused and achieve your goals. Due to this I have been focused on achieving my degree. I've started this journey in for ten years now and I haven't given up. Life situations like having a baby and taking time away from school may have slowed me up but it did not stop my fight to continue to chase after my dreams.

I believe the meaning of taking up space is to put yourself out there and place yourself in rooms you would have never thought to be in or taking chances. When someone tells you no, or you cant, or you don't belong you push harder to show them that you can, you do belong, and you create room for yes. Creating an opportunity of success for you. Doing something different that may benefit you positively. We have to create success stories for ourselves as women. No one no longer wants to wait on an opportunity to come to them or have someone provide that opportunity for you in return they might hold that over your head. Women are now realizing they can achieve and accomplish things just as men can. Women are wanting to achieve things on their own. This brings out the best for women to practice the skill of ambition and drive. Woman are saying, "I can do that task and I will show just how well I can do the task." Times are changing and not everyone is meant to be behind the scenes. I apply this to my daily life by being positive and believing in myself. When something or someone tries to stop me I keep trying or I think of another plan for me to achieve it. Don't allow fear to hold me back because I could miss out on wonderful opportunities. My grandmother raised me to stand on my words and choice. Her favorite line was " Never let anyone dictate your path, not even me." I have always been afraid of rejection not knowing that the worst they could say is no. My grandmother has taught me to put myself and different spaces in life if not you would never know what space was meant for you to take up. I build myself up in thinking I am meant for whatever I set my heart out to do. I also instill this way of thinking into my children so when they are face with negative thoughts of not being able to do something or not fitting in, they too will change their mindset and believe they are. No one is in charge of your destiny but you. When you do take the chance by taking up a space you inspire so many others to do the same as well. Taking up spaces are important they spread seeds of success and history.

Life has prepared me for success by placing me with the right people to show me greater opportunities and providing me with plenty of resources to help me improve with what ever it was at that time. For example , I needed a better job so I could find my own car. A fellow coworker told me about a job she worked part-time. I applied to the job and I have been here every since. That job has blessed me with so many opportunities and I am grateful for my coworkers help. If not I would have not found success in finding a better paying job. Fellow classmates informing about programs that would pay for my schooling or just taking the time to do my own research. By doing so this is how I came across the bold.org website. I wanted to provide other opportunities to help me pay for school. All these things accounts for how life has prepared me for success. That could be success with schooling, success in parenthood, success in the workforce, and just by believing in myself and staying true to the process. In my opinion success is what you make it or anything in your life that you deem important. Success looks different in everyone's eyes. My success is fulfilling the goals I have set for myself to keep me on track in life. Being a better parent, furthering my education, helping others, etc. Success is just making progress, showing growth, or being a better individual you were than yesterday. Success doesn't have to be big or small, as long as it's what makes the individual happy. In 20 years from now I see myself already obtained my bachelors degree and working in the field of social work. I love the feeling of helping individuals and seeing their faces of appreciation when they have been helped. Also, I have experienced some of the issues social workers deal with during their career. I have seen domestic violence, know what it feels like to request assistance, relocate when you don't want to, to go with out food, etc. Helping my now two year old son by then find his path to adulthood. Providing him advice, resources, or whatever he needs from me has a mom wanting to be proud of her child. I hope to have my own non-profit business to give back into my community that played an important part for the woman I am today.