I am passionate about the extracurricular activities I'm involved in because I want to see a change in the world. Participating in these activities allow me to connect with people and plant a seed in their hearts that will influence them to grow. Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is where we help lead students and athletes to grow in their faith and build their relationship with God. God has helped me in so many ways even when I was at the lowest point in life. I want other people to open their hearts up to the Lord so that they too can experience peace and love. Romans 3:23-24 says "For everyone has sinned we all fall short of God's glorious standard; Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in his sight." I want to be a light to all people and lead them to God. I've also participated in the Black Student Union (BSU) where I helped represent and advocate for African American culture in school. BSU allowed students to unite and develop their black culture; promoting awareness in school. This activity helped black students navigate through their challenges and experiences. BSU can also have a positive affect on a student's academic performance and identity development. Many Black students believe they have limited access and exposure; so being apart of a supporting environment is very important. BSU offers cultural affirmation and a safe haven for students. I believe these activities will strongly benefit the community. These activities cultivate personal growth. They allow students to feel empowered and increased self esteem. This will help them grow in all aspects of their lives. They help build relationships with all types of people; fostering students to equate with unique individuals. A lot of students can feel alone and isolated in school, but these activities create a supporting circle around them. Furthermore, they allow us to balance our social life with our personal life. Participating in these activities can provide gateways to students releasing their stress and overwhelming feelings. With the state that society is in right now; creating spaces for people to feel seen and heard is something that we all need. Being able to connect with people who may have the same thoughts, ideas, and values is an essential part to building a better community. I am passionate about making a change in the world and these activities help make a difference. I plan to continue these activities in college to build a stronger foundation and contribute to the growth to the community.

I am moved by Jack Terry's story and his perseverance to keep going. Being able to strive through the unimaginable hardships that he faced is something that should not be overlooked. I am truly inspired by Jack Terry because his story reminds me that no matter what we go through, we can get through it. Life is full of unexpected events; and in the blink of an eye your life can change forever. What I admire about Jack Terry is his resilience; that even with the hardships that was placed in front of him, he didn't let it define him. I believe that this story will touch many people's hearts. It will make us reflect on our lives and give us a new perspective. A perspective that allows us to view our situations differently, and change our mindsets. This story helps give us a positive outlook on the situations that we face. Jack Terry's story is the epitome of perseverance, drive, and ambition. Dealing with loss is one of the hardest things to overcome. It forces us to let go of the things we love the most. In November, 2020 I lost my father. My father's passing was shattering and it took a huge toll on me. My dad was my best friend so it was hard to move on from his loss. Each day I was searching for ways to fill the void that his passing left me. It felt like the burden was too heavy for me to carry; but through the adversity, I've learned how to thrive. Living most of my teenage years without a father figure allowed me to grow up on my own. I had to adapt to this new lifestyle without the presence of my father. At times it felt like I wouldn't be able to move on from his loss; but now I can say that I’m grateful to have made it this far. This surreal moment gave me a new perspective on life, and an understanding that allowed me to flourish. It reminded me that life is real and unexpected. It taught me to live in the present and to cherish the things I love the most. I always try to find good in the bad because I know that the worst is never the worst. No matter how hard something may be, I know I have the strength to get through it. The struggle that I went through helped build and shape my character into the person I am today. Although it's hard to deal with the grief, I try to remember what my father instilled in me. They say, “A son is a reflection of his father’s heart." Even though he's gone, I know he's still with me. I plan to pursue a career in Information systems. My goal is to graduate with a college degree and pursue Information Systems in the future. I know how hard life can be and I want to share with other people who may have been through difficult times that with a hopeful heart and a positive mindset, you can get through anything. Jack Terry's story is truly inspirational and impactful. I am thankful for the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to fulfill my goals, and I will strive to make the most out of it.

My name is Karon Evans and I am a senior in High School. I am touched by Kalia D. Davis and this story because I have also been impacted by loss in my life. I lost my dad in November of 2020. His loss left me with many unanswered questions: If my dad were still here, would I be where I am right now? Would I have met the people I met in my life? Would I be the person I am today? How would my life be different? Now I suppose these are some questions that I will never know the answer to; perhaps I’m not meant to find the answer. If I learned one thing from losing my dad, it’s that I am exactly where I need to be in life right now; and no number of answers can change that. Although my father's passing was devastating; I've gained the resilience to keep moving forward and to take the next big steps in my life. I am inspired by Kalia D. Davis to keep going no matter the circumstances. Her story is the epitome of what young students like myself should be striving to achieve. People like her is what we need more of in the world; work ethic, kindness, and ambition. I admire her hard work and dedication to doing what she loved. Hearing of her story allowed me to reflect on my life. In honor of her I want to exhibit the same work ethic, kindness, and ambition to accomplish my goals. Having dealt with adversity, it allowed me to grow, as well as build my character. I've participated in activities such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) where we help lead students and athletes to grow in their faith and build their relationship with God. I've also participated in the Black Student Union (BSU) where I helped represent and advocate for African American culture in school. BSU allowed students to unite and develop their black culture. Receiving this financial aid will be extremely helpful for me and my family. It has been a struggle to cope with the passing of my father. Living under a single income household; my mom does a lot to provide for us and strives to manage financially, so this scholarship will be a huge help. With my mom being on her own, my brother in his junior year of college, and me soon to be a first-year student in college; all financial aid will be helpful and won't be taken for granted. I plan to pursue a career in Information Systems and this scholarship will help put me on the track to do so. My goal is to graduate with a college degree and pursue Information Systems. I am moved by Kalia D. Davis' story and am thankful for the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship. I will strive to make the most out of it in honor of her!

On November 1st, 2020, I had gotten news that I had lost my father. When I heard the news I fell to my knees and wept. My father was my best friend and we did almost everything together. I couldn't imagine a life without him. I didn't want to believe he was gone. I remember being in the car with my dad one cold night. We were on our way home, and he was giving me one of those little pep talks that he liked to do. He said to me, “One day, I’m not going to be here to tell you everything. You’re going to have to learn how to navigate life on your own.” I stared at the window in silence. I couldn’t imagine life without my father. As a kid that’s not something you want to think about. I never would’ve thought that what he said to me this night would be the story of the rest of my life. Dealing with loss is one of the hardest things to overcome. It forces you to let go of the thigs you love the most. It was hard to accept the fact that I would have to live the rest of my life without a father. It has been hard for my family and I these past couple of years. Living in a single-income household makes it hard for my mom to manage financially. With my brother in his junior year of college, and me soon to be a first-year student, all financial aid will be very helpful. Although there have been times where I've wanted to give up, I remind myself that I have to keep going for him. Through it all I've gained resilience and endurance. Growing up without a father figure forced me to become the man I wanted to be; the man that my father would've wanted me to be. Each day I strive to grow into a better person and not let my hardships stop me from flourishing. I plan to continue an education in college studying information systems. My goal is to graduate college with my degree and to become successful in my major; and this scholarship will help put me on the right track to do so. I am thankful for given the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to fulfill my goals and I plan on making the most out of it.

My dad was born on October 13th, 1975, and passed away on November 1st, 2020. When Fall comes around it reminds me of the changes that affected my life. The color of the leaves starts to change from green to red and we watch them slowly fall from the trees. I reminisce about the time I spent with my father as they slowly turn into vast memories. The temperature starts to cool so we put on more layers to keep us warm. I try to adjust to the cold feeling that the passing of my father left me. The days suddenly get shorter, and the nights get longer, causing less daylight and more darkness. For me, fall represented life and death; and was the season of change that sparked my growth. When my dad passed away, it was like nothing seemed real. I didn’t want to believe that he was gone. From waking up and seeing him every day, to not seeing him at all was shattering. I’d look outside and see his car there and hope that out of some amazing possibility he would still be here; but he wasn’t. That was when I realized he was truly gone. Those nights started to feel longer and colder. It was hard to accept the fact that I would have to live the rest of my life without a father. I tried to escape this season of sorrow; but it taught me that change is needed for growth. October 13th and November 1st remind me how unexpected life really is. With life and death being so close, I learned how to have gratitude which gave me a new purpose. Instead of dwelling on the difficult changes of my life, I learned to appreciate the influence it had on me. Living most of my teenage years without a father figure forced me to become the man I wanted to be. I knew that without my father here, I would have to learn how to grow up on my own. I had to adapt to this new lifestyle without the presence of my father. Although it was hard to move on from this loss, I learned how to be resilient. All the times I wanted to give up, I was reminded that I had to keep going because that’s what he would’ve wanted. This perspective allowed me to develop a strong mindset; and is how I tackle any hardships I face. Overcoming the adversity of living without my father and being able to strive through the struggles is what built my character. It shaped me into the person I am today. We often overlook the positive effect change has on us because all we can focus on is what’s gone. When I used to think of him, I could only think about how much I missed him. Now when I think of him, I think of his jokes, his contagious smile, and his charm towards other people. I had to realize that those leaves that fall from the trees grow back even brighter; that bitter cold feeling starts to turn warm; those long dark nights get shorter, and the sun stays out. Seasons pass and so do the hardships we face as we step into the next season of our lives.

Receiving this financial aid will be extremely helpful for me and my family. My dad passed away in 2020, and it has been a struggle to cope with it as a family. Living most of my teenage years without a father figure forced me to become the man I wanted to be. I knew that without my father here, I would have to learn how to grow up on my own. I had to adapt to this new lifestyle without the presence of my father. Living under a single income household; my mom does a lot to provide for us and strives to manage financially, so this scholarship will be a huge help. With my mom being on her own, my brother in his junior year of college, and me soon to be a first-year student in college; all financial aid will be helpful and won't be taken for granted. Users of information systems can gather, store, organize, and distribute data; as well as conduct tasks that can benefit businesses in a multitude of ways. Many companies use information systems to increase productivity and manage resources. For competition in international marketplaces, most people depend on Information systems. I plan to pursue a career in Info systems and this scholarship will help put me on the track to do so. These funds will allow me to get on the right path so that I can become successful in my major. My goal is to graduate with a college degree and pursue Information Systems, and this scholarship will help me take those next big steps toward my career. I am thankful for the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to fulfill my goals, and I will strive to make the most out of it. My goal is to graduate with a college degree and pursue Information Systems. I will use what I learn to set goals for myself to succeed in areas of my life such as my career, education, finances, and overall personal growth. I will strive to better my future with my education because I know that is what my dad would have wanted. Although my father's passing was devastating; I have gained the resilience to keep moving forward and to take the next big steps in my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to be awarded a scholarship to fulfill my goals, and I will strive to make the most out of it.