A quote I will always live by is "Real queens fix each other's crowns." Since a little girl, I have always embraced my melanin & always presented myself as a queen. I loved leveling up and becoming the black woman am today! It always isn't easy, with the stereotypes and people against me it can become discouraging. There's always someone trying to bring me down and tell me I can't be a nurse, I can't be an entrepreneur all because they judge off of the color of my beautiful skin. Dealing with things like this could be very hurtful and discouraging but I learned to brush it off and realize people don't wanna see you win no matter what. I have always held my ground and NEVER let it get to my head to the point where I wanted to change myself. This has shaped me to become even stronger & confident which led me to feel more inspired to help other females like me . Being able to be so strong is one of my best qualities which makes me want to share this with even more beautiful black queens. I will use this as something to show those who are against us that they won't be able to bring us down no matter what. I will uplift every woman that goes through people constantly attempting to bring them down. I will take all of the strength & confidence I have built up and give it to other black women to show them they are queens. Nobody will bring us down, in fact, they will want to lift us up too!

It was a chilly afternoon in 2013 when a 10-year-old young and ambitious black girl from New York set out her goal to attend a historically black college to change the world. HBCUs have been an inspiration to me since the day I learned about them. Hearing the stories behind why these schools were built was something very important to me. This was because learning about the long periods of segregation was very heartbreaking to hear. This is when I knew I had to fulfill my ancestors’ dreams. Knowing that they took a stance against people of color not being able to attend school so our generation now could be able to attend school pushes me to want to go harder. They are the reason I could attend school with no issues now, so why not learn where it all started for people like me? This right here is what made me choose an HBCU. I wanted to be around people just like me, I wanted to make a difference and show how successful I can be while meeting classmates with the same drive and goals. It’s our time to make a difference. This is what Robert J Reynolds wanted for my generation when he founded my beautiful HBCU. The illustrious Delaware State University, formerly known as Delaware College For Colored Students on May 15th, 1891. “NICU Nurse Charged With Injuring Several Infants In Madison Hospital” “Nurse gets 13 years for hurting babies in NICU” “Former nurse pleads guilty to abusing nine infants, leaving them with broken ribs, legs” These are just a few article titles that have hurt my heart knowing this is something that happens way too much with defenseless NICU babies. This makes me want to make a change which is why after obtaining my bachelor's degree, I aspire to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. This career is so dear to my heart & because of this, I want to make an impact as a black neonatal nurse practitioner. After hearing all the stories it makes me want to show the world there are good-hearted and genuine people like myself who just want to do nothing but help any way I can. My career path will positively impact the lives of many individuals in the US & across the globe because it will show people that there is always someone who wants to make a change with these big situations. I will do everything in my will to assure I help these NICU mothers & their babies no matter what it takes. This is the reason I will put my all into my studies & spread awareness. I will inspire other individuals to take this career path and make a change with me.