Technically, I did not get into Georgia Tech. That statement might sound contradictory because I am a Georgia Tech student today. On April 20, 2022, I received a rejection letter from my dream university. At the time, my dream was not simply to attend Georgia Tech, it was to become a computer engineer, and I believed Georgia Tech was the only path to achieving that goal. Despite ranking among the top students in my class, excelling on the ACT, and completing the rigorous International Baccalaureate curriculum, the answer was still “no.” I was devastated. I questioned my abilities and wondered whether I was capable of succeeding in engineering. Looking back, I realize that rejection did not define my potential, it redirected my path. A family friend encouraged me to attend Spelman College, believing it would become one of the best decisions of my life. Choosing Spelman required faith from both me and my family. My parents were approaching retirement, and paying for my education would require a significant financial sacrifice. I had to explain why I believed Spelman would prepare me to become the engineer I aspired to be, even if the path looked different from the one I had planned. Once on campus, I discovered Spelman's Dual Degree Engineering Program, which allows students to complete three years at Spelman before transferring to an engineering institution. Georgia Tech, the university that had once rejected me, was one of those partner schools. The opportunity came with a challenge. I had only three years to complete nearly four years of coursework before transferring. To stay on track, I enrolled in rigorous course loads and attended summer school for three consecutive years. Outside the classroom, I served as a Spelman Student Ambassador and competed as a Morehouse College cheerleader. Those experiences strengthened my leadership, discipline, teamwork, and ability to thrive under pressure while balancing demanding responsibilities. After three years of long nights, accelerated coursework, and personal sacrifice, I applied to transfer into Georgia Tech's College of Engineering. The fear I had felt as a high school senior returned, but this time I was different. Spelman had given me the confidence, preparation, and community to recognize my own potential before anyone else did. When I was accepted into Georgia Tech to pursue computer engineering, the moment represented far more than attending my dream school. It was proof that perseverance, discipline, and resilience could accomplish what rejection once convinced me was impossible. Today, I am earning degrees in computer science and computer engineering through two institutions that have shaped me in different ways. Spelman taught me the importance of leadership, service, and community, while Georgia Tech continues to strengthen my technical skills. My goal is to become a computer engineer who develops innovative technology that improves lives while helping expand the representation of Black women in STEM. I hope to inspire young women who look like me to pursue careers in fields where they remain underrepresented. Receiving the Teria Onwuaduegbo Memorial Scholarship would help ease the financial burden of completing my dual-degree education while allowing me to focus on research, professional development, and preparing for a career in engineering. More importantly, it would support a student who refused to let rejection define her future. I did not get into Georgia Tech in 2022. I earned my way there three years later.

The future is being written in code—but who holds the pen? Technology shapes everything from job opportunities to healthcare access, yet it consistently fails to see Black women. Facial recognition software misidentifies our faces. Hiring algorithms overlook our resumes. Medical AI systems underdiagnose our conditions. These aren’t just software bugs—they are symptoms of a much larger problem: the lack of Black women in rooms where decisions are made and data is designed. As a future Black woman engineer, I’m not just learning to code—I’m learning to lead with purpose. To me, true innovation begins with inclusion and ends with impact. To combat this, I’m developing a platform called EquiData, a mobile and web tool that empowers underrepresented communities to contribute to ethical, inclusive AI development. In a world where data determines who gets hired, approved, or protected, EquiData ensures our data is not only included but respected. Users can log in (anonymously or named), choose causes they care about—such as improving skin tone diversity in medical imaging—and contribute relevant data like images, audio, or demographic details. Their contributions help developers build fairer, more representative algorithms. My vision is for EquiData to become a cornerstone in creating AI that sees and serves everyone. But this mission extends beyond algorithms. It’s also about access and visibility. As a Black girl in STEM, I’ve often been “the only one” in the room. That loneliness can be discouraging and lead many to turn away from the field altogether. To change that, I’m building a mentorship initiative called CodeHer Legacy that pairs Black college students in STEM with Black high school girls interested in tech. Through workshops, coding projects, college prep, and open conversations, I want to create a community where Black girls see what’s possible—and feel supported every step of the way. Additionally, I plan to extend this program to offer Saturday tech literacy sessions for senior citizens, ensuring that knowledge and digital access stretch across generations, like those who have left a legacy for us to continue. The Rosa A. Wilson Scholarship honors leadership, service, and the empowerment of Black women—values that fuel every project I pursue. Whether I’m designing platforms like EquiData or mentoring the next generation of technologists, my goal is clear: to create a tech world where Black women are not only present but powerful. I plan to leave the door open wider than I found it—and light the way for those still waiting to be seen.

Growing up I was dreading the decision in deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. One thing I was sure of was I did not want to work an average desk job and working a job that was not passionate about. I wanted to be hands-on and create change in my special way. I would like to study mechanical engineering because of the versatility of the major. For my future profession, I would like to be a rollercoaster engineer/ attraction designer. I took an interest in this profession because of my experiences when I was younger. My favorite vacation spot was Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My family members would dread sitting next to me because I would talk throughout the entire ride asking questions and sharing what I am observing. I went to this show in particular called Fantasmic which is in Hollywood Studios Park, and I fell in love with it. It was a pyrotechnic, firework, light show nighttime spectacular. I was so captivated. I especially was obsessed with the big Maleficent dragon towards the end of the show. I started to get curious as to how it worked, and I started to google and YouTube until I found my answers. I even created a little book of all the Maleficent dragons in every Disney Park and how each one is different and what could I do to make it better. That one dragon sparked a flame in my love of rollercoasters and animatronics, and I did even more research and notes. My family members would even get a little upset with me because I would ruin the Disney magic, but I just could not help myself. My goal in this profession is to give just a little bit of the joy I felt in Disney World back to the world. I would like to attend the Georgia Institute of technology and major in mechanical engineering. I am also passionate about perusing this career because of the lack of diversity within the field. The field of engineering is typically male-dominated, and I would like to change that dynamic. When I first researched that statistic, I became a little discouraged, but it quickly motivated me even more. The world needs to see new faces and the power of the new generation. I want other girls to look at me and my work and become inspired to pursue a career in STEM. I would like to spread the message that black girls can do anything they set their mind to not matter what professional field they are in. I would like to travel abroad and study technological innovation and learn from one of the best schools for engineering in the country. My close friends and family consider me to be a very passionate person and I make it a priority to never shield that but instead let it shine. This aspect is what makes me unique. I yearn to create and be a part of the change. I now love when people ask me the question of what I want to be when I grow up.

Growing up I was dreading the decision in deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. One thing I was sure of was I did not want to work an average desk job. I wanted to be hands-on and create change in my special way. I would like to study mechanical engineering because of the versatility of the major. For my future profession, I would like to be a rollercoaster engineer/ attraction designer. I took an interest in this profession because of my experiences when I was younger. My favorite vacation spot was Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My family members would dread sitting next to me because I would talk throughout the entire ride asking questions and sharing what I am observing. I went to this show in particular called Fantasmic which is in Hollywood Studios Park, and I fell in love with it. It was a pyrotechnic, firework, light show nighttime spectacular. I was so captivated. I especially was obsessed with the big Maleficent dragon towards the end of the show. I started to get curious as to how it worked, and I started to google and YouTube until I found my answers. I even created a little book of all the Maleficent dragons in every Disney Park and how each one is different and what could I do to make it better. That one dragon sparked a flame in my love of rollercoasters and animatronics, and I did even more research and notes. My family members would even get a little upset with me because I would ruin the Disney magic, but I just could not help myself. My goal in this profession is to give just a little bit of the joy I felt in Disney World back to the world. I am also passionate about perusing this career because of the lack of diversity within the field and the confidence it gave me within myself. I am an all-star cheerleader at the Stingray Allstars in Marietta, Georgia and the mental health problems with cheerleading are often overlooked. We face the opinions of the world every time we step out on the blue mat. It is so easy to let those problems interfere with your outside cheer life. There was a time in my cheer career when I started to develop an eating disorder due to comparing myself to others. That lack of confidence carried into my school work. I was in such a dark place and tried to change who I was based on the opinion of others. I looked in the mirror and didn't even recognize the once powerful, independent, and strong opinionated black girl. The field of engineering is typically white male-dominated. When I first researched that statistic, I became discouraged. It took a long journey but I am so proud of myself for picking myself back and becoming even stronger. I feel ready to take on the world. I want other little black girls to look at me and my work and become inspired to pursue a career in STEM. I would like to travel abroad and study technological innovation and learn from one of the best schools for engineering in the country. I now love when people ask me the question of what I want to be when I grow up.

Growing up I was dreading the decision in deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. One thing I was definitely sure was I did not want to work an average desk job. I wanted to be hands on and create change in my own special way. I would like to study mechanical engineering because of the versatility of the major. For my future profession I would like to be a rollercoaster engineer/ attraction designer. I took an interest in this profession because of my experiences when I was younger. My favorite vacation spot was Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My family members would dread sitting next to me because I would talk throughout the entire ride asking questions and sharing what I am observing. I went to this show in particular called Fantasmic which is in the Hollywood Studios Park, and I fell in love with it. It was a pyrotechnic, firework, lightshow nighttime spectacular. I was so captivated. I especially was obsessed with the big Maleficent dragon towards the end of the show. I started to get curious as to how it worked, and I started to google and YouTube until I found my answers. I even created a little book of all the Maleficent dragons in every Disney Park and how each one is different and what could I do to make it better. That one dragon sparked a flame to my love of rollercoasters and animatronics, and I did even more research and notes. My family members would even get a little upset with me because I would ruin the Disney magic, but I just could not help myself. My goal in this profession is to give just a little bit of the joy I felt in Disney World back to the world. I am also passionate about perusing this career because of the lack of diversity within the field. The field of engineering is typically male dominated, and I would like to change that dynamic. When I first researched that statistic I became a little discourage but it quickly motivated me even more. I want other girls to look at me and my work and become inspired to pursue a career in STEM. I would like to travel abroad and study technological innovation and learn from one of the best schools for engineering in the country. I now love when people ask me the question of what I want to be when I grow up.