In January 2009, I began playing golf at The First Tee of Greater Houston. Although I loved the First Tee program, I did not like golf at first. At the time, I found it to be extremely slow and uninteresting, and I would have preferred to be at home watching TV. However, I kept playing after realizing that I had some skill for the sport and could hit the ball quite far. My family was even informed by one of the First Tee teachers that I could be able to play at the collegiate level. I successfully completed First Tee's Ace class, which was the highest level. I liked helping out and mentoring the younger participants on Saturday mornings as well. One of the most significant influences on my life has been golf. I've been incredibly blessed to participate and travel all around Texas and the USA. I've met some amazing people through golf, and I've had the opportunity to play some wonderful courses. The game has also taught me the importance of progress over perfection and instilled in me virtues like patience, perseverance, humility, and the ability to handle adversity. To persevere in an idea, purpose, or task despite impediments is the definition of perseverance. Understanding what perseverance means is simple, but being able to exude it on the golf course in the midst of adversity is challenging. Golf has taught me that despite difficult breaks, poor strokes, and careless mistakes, I must persevere if I want to succeed. Throughout my high school career, I was the number one golfer and the team captain on the Pearland Lady Oiler Golf Team all four years. Including success at our district and regional tournaments throughout high school, my freshman year, I became the first golfer, male or female, from Pearland High School to qualify for the Texas UIL 6A Girls Golf State Championship by shooting a 76, 77 at our regional tournament. My senior year, I shattered the school record by posting a 74, 67 at regionals, to finish 3rd of 93 girls to advance to state for the second time. I advanced to state twice out of three golf seasons. After completing my first year of Division I golf at Howard University, I won Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. As well, in the Northeast Conference I made the NEC All Conference Second Team (May 3, 2022), the All-Tournament Team at NEC Championship (April 22, 2022), and earned NEC Golfer of the Week (March 30, 2022). My aspirations include becoming an LPGA Tour Player, winning tournaments, and major championships. Less than 1% of black women work in the golf industry. More women of color playing golf is essential for the sport's development and continuation throughout the coming generations. My objective is to expand access to golf for minority youngsters after I am professional. My parents and I didn't know anything about the procedure when I started playing junior golf. To further promote diversity across gender, age, and cultural lines, I hope to share my experiences with incoming junior golfers. As a professional golfer, I will be able to serve as a global representative for people who have never considered the sport as an interest or seen themselves in golf.

My name is Kendall Jackson. I am a high school senior at Pearland High School in Pearland, TX. Some of my strongest attributes include communication and leading. Ever since I was younger, I have enjoyed talking to others. Thanks to my church, New Faith Church, they have provided me with multiple opportunities to speak in front of the congregation. That has helped me to have the confidence to present in front of different audiences of various ages. I have been able to use that confidence working with children, both in piano and golf, to help them achieve their full potential. I was a piano teacher at The Music Connection in Pearland, TX. I would help alongside other teachers teaching kids, ages 5 to 15, how to play the piano. We would play different games to help them learn how to read music. When I listened to their songs, I would teach them how to play the notes correctly. I learned that you have to be incredibly patient with kids. Especially kids younger than 8 years old. Sometimes you have to use different teaching techniques with certain kids. I joined The First Tee of Greater Houston in January of 2009. The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Since joining, First Tee has instilled core values in me, for example, integrity and perseverance, and life skills like The Four R’s, “Replay, Relax, Ready, and Re-Do”. This has helped me in competing in junior golf tournaments, in the classroom, and in life. I am now in the highest-level class, the Ace class. On Saturday mornings, I enjoy volunteering and coaching the younger participants. I am also one of the leaders of The Winners Circle. We work with girls of all ages to introduce them to the game of golf and help mentor them. During my freshman year of high school on the golf team, even though I was one of the youngest golfers, I never hesitated to set an example for the team. I have been fantastic at encouraging, listening, and giving sound advice to golfers. In my freshman year, I was the first person from Pearland High School to qualify for the Texas UIL 6A Girls Golf State Championship 2017-18. I am interested in Social Sciences because it provides many career opportunities, such as communication, management, and entrepreneurial endeavors. My future career pathway is to earn a business degree and work in personal finances, especially with supporting individuals in money management and investments. Currently, I am enrolled in a Money Matters course that focuses on all aspects of money, including debt management, budgeting, and saving. This class has led me to consider helping others create and maintain their wealth by establishing a money management consulting business to share financial literacy with families and individuals. November of 2020, I received an athletic scholarship to continue my golfing career at Howard University. I am thrilled that I will have the opportunity to elevate my golf journey, by joining Howard University's Women's Golf Team. I know that we will have the opportunity to compete for and win conferences and national championships. The two most important aspects that will help me achieve my goals is time management and having a support team. College is all about staying organized, staying on top of assignments, and managing your time. The better I know how to manage my time now, the more successful I will be in college. Since I will be out of state, I know that I will need both an academic and athletic support team to help me through college. I cannot be afraid to ask for help or advice, since college will be a new and unfamiliar experience. I need to depend on people that know exactly what I am going through. That is going to help prepare me to become a professional golfer. I aspire to not only become an LPGA Tour Player but win tournaments and major championships. Black women make up less than one percent of the golf industry. I want to be able to inspire more minority women into the game of golf. Afterward, I will play in amateur events, then play in LPGA qualifiers, and ultimately earn my way into the LPGA Tour. Lastly, I want to give back to junior golf organizations and establish my own programs and schools to introduce the game of golf to more minorities and females.

I was a piano teacher at The Music Connection in Pearland, TX. I would help alongside other teachers teaching kids, ages 5 to 15, how to play the piano. We would play different games to help them learn how to read music. When I listened to their songs, I would teach them how to play the notes correctly. I learned that you have to be incredibly patient with kids. Especially kids younger than 8 years old. Sometimes you have to use different teaching techniques with certain kids. I joined The First Tee of Greater Houston in January of 2009. The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Since joining, First Tee has instilled core values in me, for example, integrity and perseverance, and life skills like The Four R’s, “Replay, Relax, Ready, and Re-Do”. This has helped me in competing in junior golf tournaments, in the classroom, and in life. I am now in the highest-level class, the Ace class. On Saturday mornings, I enjoy volunteering and coaching the younger participants. I am also one of the leaders of The Winners Circle. We work with girls of all ages to introduce them to the game of golf and help mentor them. I have been offered a partial scholarship to continue my golf journey at Howard University in Washington D.C., however, my parents and I cannot afford to pay the full tuition. Every little bit helps. I am so thankful for this opportunity. My future career pathway is to earn a business degree and work in personal finances, especially with supporting individuals in money management and investments. Currently, I am enrolled in a Money Matters course that focuses on all aspects of money, including debt management, budgeting, and saving. This class has led me to consider helping others create and maintain their wealth by establishing a money management consulting business to share financial literacy with families and individuals. I also plan to pursue golf professionally. I want to not only give back to junior golf organizations but create programs and schools that expose minorities to all aspects of the game of golf.

I was born on October 10, 2002, in Houston, TX. I currently live in Pearland, TX where I attend Pearland High School. Some of my strongest attributes include communication and leading. Ever since I was younger, I have enjoyed talking to others. Thanks to my church, New Faith Church, they have provided me with multiple opportunities to speak in front of the congregation. That has helped me to have the confidence to present in front of different audiences of various ages. I have been able to use that confidence working with children, both in golf and piano, to help them achieve their full potential. During my freshman year of high school on the golf team, even though I was one of the youngest golfers, I never hesitated to set an example for the team. I have been fantastic at encouraging, listening, and giving sound advice to golfers. At my church, I have been a youth usher since 2010, and I am currently the Head Youth Usher. I was able to join the Faith Kids Children’s Choir from 2011-2014, then graduate to the Youth Choir the following year. I was able to perform in plays in the Youth Drama Ministry I’m extremely grateful for the lessons I have learned from the three girls’ ministries that have shaped me into the young woman I am today. Girls’ Rights of Passage, Alumnae, and ‘N Style. I was a piano teacher at The Music Connection in Pearland, TX. I would help alongside other teachers teaching kids, ages 5 to 15, how to play the piano. We would play different games to help them learn how to read music. When I listened to their songs, I would teach them how to play the notes correctly. I learned that you have to be incredibly patient with kids. Especially kids younger than 8 years old. Sometimes you have to use different teaching techniques with certain kids. I joined The First Tee of Greater Houston in January of 2009. The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Since joining, First Tee has instilled core values in me, for example, integrity and perseverance, and life skills like The Four R’s, “Replay, Relax, Ready, and Re-Do”. This has helped me in competing in junior golf tournaments, in the classroom, and in life. I am now in the highest-level class, the Ace class. On Saturday mornings, I enjoy volunteering and coaching the younger participants. I am also one of the leaders of The Winners Circle. We work with girls of all ages to introduce them to the game of golf and help mentor them. In August of 2019, Golden State Warriors’ Guard, Stephen Curry, committed to funding Howard’s Men and Women’s golf teams for six years. I am blessed to say that I have been accepted and that I am committed to playing Division I Golf at Howard University in the fall of 2021. I know the school has been getting incredible support from sponsors like Under Armour and Callaway. I am thrilled that I will have the opportunity to play with other black female collegiate golfers. I want to continue my golf journey as a professional and give back to junior golf organizations and allow more access to minorities in the game of golf. I know that Howard University will not only help me achieve my academic and athletic pursuits, but Howard will also help shape and mold the young successful woman I strive to become. With an enrollment of over 11,000 students, Howard University is a melting pot of different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. Having attended predominantly white schools from elementary through high school, there have not been many opportunities to engage with peers who share my culture and history. Howard will provide me with experiences to make connections with diverse blacks, including African Americans, from across the United States. My future career pathway is to earn a business degree and work in personal finances, especially with supporting individuals in money management and investments. Currently, I am enrolled in a Money Matters course that focuses on all aspects of money, including debt management, budgeting, and saving. This class has led me to consider helping others create and maintain their wealth by establishing a money management consulting business to share financial literacy with families and individuals. I am so thankful that I have been able to share different aspects of my story on television, radio, and newspaper interviews, podcasts, and commercials.

My name is Kendall Jackson. I am a high school senior at Pearland High School in Pearland, TX. Some of my strongest attributes include communication and leading. Ever since I was younger, I have enjoyed talking to others. Thanks to my church, New Faith Church, they have provided me with multiple opportunities to speak in front of the congregation. That has helped me to have the confidence to present in front of different audiences of various ages. I have been able to use that confidence working with children, both in piano and golf, to help them achieve their full potential. I was a piano teacher at The Music Connection in Pearland, TX. I would help alongside other teachers teaching kids, ages 5 to 15, how to play the piano. We would play different games to help them learn how to read music. When I listened to their songs, I would teach them how to play the notes correctly. I learned that you have to be incredibly patient with kids. Especially kids younger than 8 years old. Sometimes you have to use different teaching techniques with certain kids. I joined The First Tee of Greater Houston in January of 2009. The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Since joining, First Tee has instilled core values in me, for example, integrity and perseverance, and life skills like The Four R’s, “Replay, Relax, Ready, and Re-Do”. This has helped me in competing in junior golf tournaments, in the classroom, and in life. I am now in the highest-level class, the Ace class. On Saturday mornings, I enjoy volunteering and coaching the younger participants. I am also one of the leaders of The Winners Circle. We work with girls of all ages to introduce them to the game of golf and help mentor them. During my freshman year of high school on the golf team, even though I was one of the youngest golfers, I never hesitated to set an example for the team. I have been fantastic at encouraging, listening, and giving sound advice to golfers. In my freshman year, I was the first person from Pearland High School to qualify for the Texas UIL 6A Girls Golf State Championship 2017-18. I am interested in Social Sciences because it provides many career opportunities, such as communication, management, and entrepreneurial endeavors. My future career pathway is to earn a business degree and work in personal finances, especially with supporting individuals in money management and investments. Currently, I am enrolled in a Money Matters course that focuses on all aspects of money, including debt management, budgeting, and saving. This class has led me to consider helping others create and maintain their wealth by establishing a money management consulting business to share financial literacy with families and individuals. I know young adults, especially those in college, have a lack of financial knowledge. I want to be able to set them on the right track before they end up spending the rest of their lives in debt.

My name is Kendall Jackson. I am a high school senior at Pearland High School in Pearland, TX. Some of my strongest attributes include communication and leading. Ever since I was younger, I have enjoyed talking to others. Thanks to my church, New Faith Church, they have provided me with multiple opportunities to speak in front of the congregation. That has helped me to have the confidence to present in front of different audiences of various ages. I have been able to use that confidence working with children, both in piano and golf, to help them achieve their full potential. I was a piano teacher at The Music Connection in Pearland, TX. I would help alongside other teachers teaching kids, ages 5 to 15, how to play the piano. We would play different games to help them learn how to read music. When I listened to their songs, I would teach them how to play the notes correctly. I learned that you have to be incredibly patient with kids. Especially kids younger than 8 years old. Sometimes you have to use different teaching techniques with certain kids. I joined The First Tee of Greater Houston in January of 2009. The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Since joining, First Tee has instilled core values in me, for example, integrity and perseverance, and life skills like The Four R’s, “Replay, Relax, Ready, and Re-Do”. This has helped me in competing in junior golf tournaments, in the classroom, and in life. I am now in the highest-level class, the Ace class. On Saturday mornings, I enjoy volunteering and coaching the younger participants. I am also one of the leaders of The Winners Circle. We work with girls of all ages to introduce them to the game of golf and help mentor them. During my freshman year of high school on the golf team, even though I was one of the youngest golfers, I never hesitated to set an example for the team. I have been fantastic at encouraging, listening, and giving sound advice to golfers. During my freshman year, I was the first person from Pearland High School to qualify for the Texas UIL 6A Girls Golf State Championship in 2017-18. I am interested in Social Sciences because it provides many career opportunities, such as communication, management, and entrepreneurial endeavors. My future career pathway is to earn a business degree and work in personal finances, especially with supporting individuals in money management and investments. Currently, I am enrolled in a Money Matters course that focuses on all aspects of money, including debt management, budgeting, and saving. This class has led me to consider helping others create and maintain their wealth by establishing a money management consulting business to share financial literacy with families and individuals. Last month, I received an athletic scholarship to continue my golfing career at Howard University. I am thrilled that I will have the opportunity to elevate my golf journey, by joining Howard University's Women's Golf Team. I know that we will have the opportunity to compete for and win conferences and national championships. The two most important aspects that will help me achieve my goals is time management and having a support team. College is all about staying organized, staying on top of assignments, and managing your time. The better I know how to manage my time now, the more successful I will be in college. Since I will be out of state, I know that I will need both an academic and athletic support team to help me through college. I cannot be afraid to ask for help or advice, since college will be a new and unfamiliar experience. I need to depend on people that know exactly what I am going through.

I absolutely admire Mia Gradney! She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and local news anchor on CBS KHOU 11 News in Houston, TX. I had the pleasure of meeting her in April of 2019. A family friend of mine, Mrs. Jennifer Shelton, invited me and a couple of high school girls to the B.E.A.U.T.Y Mentoring Royal High Tea, which is all about helping young ladies gain confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills. Before I arrived there, my dad told me, "You know, KHOU Channel 11 News anchor Mia Gradney is going to be there right?" I replied, "Okay. I do not know who that is, but okay." The first thing I noticed was that the majority of the people were wearing tea hats. I did not hear about that memo. After Mrs. Jennifer and the other girls arrived, a couple of us went to the restroom before the event started. As I was washing my hands, I turned to this lady, who was about the 20th person I had seen wearing a hat, and said, "I didn't know you were supposed to wear a hat." She smiled at me and answered very bubbly, "Oh! It's a good mixture of hats and no hats!" Not only was she absolutely gorgeous, the way she spoke to me, was so upbeat and cheerful, I could have easily spent the rest of the day just talking to her. I joined up with Mrs. Jennifer and the other girls after I left the restroom. We sat at the furthest table from the stage, but I could still see everything. Then all of a sudden, the EXACT same lady who I was just talking to in the restroom, went up to the microphone and introduced herself as the emcee of the event, "Hi! I'm Mia Gradney." I could not believe I met her in the restroom beforehand and did not realize it! Throughout the entire event, I was so captivated by what Gradney had to say. She pulled me in with every word and had my undivided attention the entire time. When the event was over, I made a beeline towards her to take a picture. As I walked up, before I could even say a word, she spoke, "There goes my lady from the restroom!" I was starstruck! She then started to ask me how I am. I was able to mention to her that I play golf. Something I will never forget from that day is, as the emcee of the event, she had plenty of other people to talk to, but she made time to talk with me. Mia Gradney radiates positivity and enjoys helping people in her community. She is an advocate for Dress for Success Houston, an organization that helps local women achieve self-sufficiency, and is deeply involved in Dress to Success to Girls, Inc. In 2019, Gradney was named one of 2019's Top 30 Influential Women of Houston. I absolutely love listening to her podcasts, "Give Mia a Minute", where she interviews an assortment of guests and talks about the good they are promoting out in the world. Before the end of last year, I hardly ever watched the news, but ever since I met her, I have tuned in every weekday to watch her. Gradney does a fantastic job of getting the message across to her viewers. For most people, the news can be extremely depressing, but every time I finish watching her, I am left with a sense of joy and hope. One attribute that I admire about Mia Gradney is her dedication. In the evenings, she anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news. However, sometimes national events that are shown on CBS run overtime, so instead of the 10 p.m. news ending at the usual 10:35 pm, the news can end ten or fifteen minutes later. I remember when I was waiting for the 2020 Republican National Convention to end, so I could watch her, the RNC did not finish until after 10:20 pm, which meant the 10 o'clock news finished after 10:50pm. She did an incredible job, considering it was very late. I love her loyalty to the Houston sports teams. Football, basketball, baseball, and any sport in between, it does not matter if the team is on top of the world or has not won a game, she is always supportive. I love how she connects with people. She is a people person and loves to conversate with people. I am not entirely sure what I want to pursue as a career yet, but I know that if I will be able to talk and connect with people the way Mia Gradney does, I will love my job. On April 10-11, 2020. Mia Gradney had the honor of anchoring the CBS Weekend News for the entire country to watch. I was so excited that people across the United States had the chance to see her. Later that evening I commented on her Twitter post, "You did an AMAZING job!!!", she then replied, "Thank you Kendall for your constant support. You're a star!" I screamed very loudly when I saw her reply. Not only have I loved supporting her in all of her endeavors, but she has also supported me recently when I posted that I would be continuing my academic and golfing career at Howard University in Washington D.C., she commented, "Congrats Kendall! Sky's the limit." I feel such a strong connection to Mia Gradney that I have never felt with anyone else before. I would love to join her on her podcast. I want to learn more about who she is and how she has gotten to where she is today. Mia Gradney is more than a role model to me. She is a delightful, captivating, and inspirational woman, who is beautiful on the inside and outside, and is someone I hope I can one day call one of my closest friends.