Paying for college is a challenge for me as I go to school and get ready for my future job. I know that getting a college degree is an investment in myself but I also know that having a lot of student loan debt after I graduate can be a big problem. So I have made a plan to borrow as money as possible by working while I am in school applying for college scholarships and being careful with my money. My goal is to graduate with little debt as possible so I can focus on my career and help my community instead of worrying about money. Working while I am in school is a part of my plan to pay for college. Having a part-time job helps me pay for tuition, books, transportation and other school expenses. It can be hard to balance work and school. I think it has helped me become more disciplined and taught me important life skills. Every time I get paid it feels like I am investing in my education and taking a step towards not having to borrow much money. In addition to working I look for college scholarship opportunities all year round. I know that every scholarship can make a difference no matter how much money it is. Applying for scholarships takes time and effort. I think it is worth it because it can help me achieve my goals. Getting a scholarship not helps me with money but it also motivates me to keep doing well in school and to keep growing as a person. My goal is to apply for many scholarships as I can because I know that each one will help me graduate with less debt. I also think that being careful with my money is important for paying for college. I make a budget. Prioritize what I need to spend money on and I try not to spend money on things I do not need. By being careful with my money I can make it go further and still achieve my goals. These habits will help me even after I graduate, when I have to manage my money and make decisions about my career. Even though I know I might still need to borrow some money I am trying to borrow little as possible. My plan is to use the money I earn from my job the scholarships I get and my budget to minimize the amount of debt I have. This way I can invest in my education without worrying about my future. Going to college is a chance for me to build a future for myself and the people around me. By working looking for scholarships and being careful with my money I am taking control of my education and my future. I am determined to achieve my goals. I know that with hard work and the help of scholarships I can graduate and have a successful career without being weighed down by debt. My education is an investment in myself. I know it will be worth it, in the end.

Applying to colleges, conservatories, or any type of program is, without a doubt, one of the most determining factors for how the rest of your life will play out. Choosing how the next phase of your life unfolds is one of the most challenging decisions to make, and while it’s taken me a long time, I believe I have settled on a stable and meaningful path. While in college (or a conservatory), I wish to refine and strengthen my technical abilities and the artistic expression I pursue through dance. As a late dancer, I have been thrown into a beautiful world that I am just learning to become fully aware of. While I have a solid technical foundation in dance, the opportunity to nourish and develop my abilities to their maximum potential is going to set me up for the best possibilities in the future. In addition, the social environment that is provided to me by being around individuals with aspirations and goals such as mine will push me farther, not only as a dancer but as a member of society. Not only will I improve on my artistic abilities, but I will also gain new perspectives from an educational and societal standpoint. The liberal arts program provided by the University of Oklahoma prepares students for an analytical and personal approach to social norms and how those norms are perceived in the world. While at OU and training with the OU School of Dance, I plan to reinforce my political interests by minoring or double-majoring in Political Science or African American Studies. As the President of my school’s Black Student Union, I strive to embrace my culture as an African-American, and to live through my history and lineage by not only educating myself on the past, but also being able to represent and teach the upcoming generations. While pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance, I aim to get involved with my community at University of Oklahoma, including joining clubs and getting active in the vibrant life centered in Oklahoma City, visiting museums, and participating in public events. After graduating from college, I plan to either continue my studies at the Ailey School in the Independent Study program or join a company for dance. In detail, option one allows me to continue developing my dance abilities while maintaining a strong presence at Ailey and in New York City. While the other option allows me to get an idea of what it is truly like to dance professionally and mature my formal understanding of dance performance. If I choose the second option, I would like to either begin dancing at Dallas Black Dance Theatre, A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, Ailey II, or if absolutely possible, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. My dream for the future is to dance in the Ailey company, as when I watched Revelations by Alvin Ailey for the first time, I immediately made up my mind, knowing for a fact that there was no other place I’d rather be. The incredible repertoire of the company, partnered with the immeasurable talent from the dancers, and the artistic vision of the board, has created arguably the greatest modern dance company the world has ever seen. In conclusion, I have visions and goals of sharpening my dance technique while in college and getting a solid structure in the liberal arts. Furthermore, after college, I wish to continue my dance career, eventually joining the Ailey company to continue to express myself in the art form I love most.

Growing up I saw incarceration close. It wasn't something I heard about on the news. My grandfather was in prison throughout my mother's childhood, my older brother has been in and out of prison as long as I can remember, and my uncle has been in prison since my mother was a little girl. Several close friends lost their freedom before they could build their futures. Watching people I love disappear into the prison system changed how I see the world, my community and myself. As a Black man I learned that incarceration affects more than just the person in prison. It leaves financial and psychological scars on entire families. Birthdays, holidays and everyday moments are never the same when someone you love is missing. I learned how easily opportunities can be taken away and how important it is to stay focused on my goals. I also learned that people are more than their mistakes. Everyone deserves to be seen as a being who can grow and change. Dance helps me process these experiences. Of letting pain turn into anger I turn it into movement. I created choreographed works about the incarceration of Black Americans because I want audiences to feel the emotions that statistics can't capture. Through dance I tell stories of separation, resilience, hope and healing. My performances honor the people I love and call for understanding and conversations about justice, inequality and mass incarceration. These experiences shaped my career goals. I want to study dance in college strengthen my artistry and use performance for change. I believe dance is more, than entertainment. It's education, advocacy and healing. My goal is to become a dancer and choreographer who challenges audiences to think critically about issues affecting Black families impacted by incarceration. The prison system taught me resilience, empathy and purpose. While I can't change what my family and friends experienced I can choose how I respond. I choose to create art that gives a voice to those who're often unheard. I choose to pursue education to refine my craft and expand my impact. Importantly I choose to prove that my story isn't defined by incarceration but by my determination to turn hardship into hope and inspire others to believe that change is possible.

When people think about changing the world they usually imagine politicians, doctors or inventors. I think about dancers. I am a 17 year old Black male who discovered later than the average dancer and at first I worried that I had missed my chance. I compared myself to others who had years of experience. I soon realized that passion, determination and heart are just as powerful as an early start in dance. Dance has become more than something I do. It has become the way I express who I am and who I hope to become through dance. Growing up I didn't always see young Black men encouraged to pursue dance. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged in the dance studio. Every dance class I took reminded me that dance is a language that welcomes everyone. It gave me confidence when I doubted myself, discipline when I wanted to quit, and hope when life became difficult. Dance taught me that my story matters and that I have the power to inspire others by being myself through dance. My greatest dream is to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For decades the company has celebrated the beauty, strength and resilience of culture while inspiring audiences around the world with dance. Watching their dance performances has shown me that dance can tell stories that words cannot. It can honor history bring people together and encourage conversations about justice, identity and hope through dance. I want to be part of a legacy that uses dance and movement to uplift communities and remind people that our differences make us stronger. Although I started dancing later than many of my peers I refuse to let that define my future in dance. Instead it motivates me to work harder every day to improve my dance skills. I spend hours practicing dance technique, improving my flexibility and learning from every correction my dance instructors give me. I know success does not happen overnight and I truly believe that persistence in dance creates opportunity. Every dance rehearsal is another step toward becoming the dancer and leader I want to be in dance. Receiving this scholarship would bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a dancer. It would allow me to continue training in dance and to attend dance opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach and focus on developing my dance talent without barriers standing in the way. Importantly it would be an investment in someone who wants to give back through dance. I hope to mentor dancers, especially Black boys who may feel that dance is not a place for them. I want them to see someone who started late worked hard and refused to let fear or stereotypes determine his future in dance. I may not have started my journey early however I have started it with purpose and a passion for dance. I believe my experiences have shaped me into a resilient, compassionate and determined man through dance. Through dance I want to inspire others to believe in themselves embrace their individuality and never let the timing of their dreams stop them from pursuing greatness in dance. Joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is just my dream. It is the path I hope will allow me to make a lasting difference, in the world through dance.