I’ve always had a heart for helping others since I was a kid. Whether it was consoling a friend, helping a family member, or just being someone that people could talk to, I found myself stepping into that role. Altough I didn't think much of it at the time, I just knew it felt right. As I got older I began to recognize this was not just me, but something that gave me a real sense of purpose. I then knew I wanted to turn my passion for helping into a career that I would love for a lifetime. This is why I believe ¨I didn't choose social work, social work choose me ¨. As a current junior at Johnson C Smith university, I am enrolled as a social work major, as my first step to becoming a pediatric medical social worker. Through my coursework I am creating a strong foundation of expirence, skills, and knowledge needed to support children and families who face medical challenges. After completing my undergraduate degree program, I plan to attend graduate school to obtain a Master of Social Work degree and get fully lisence . Furthering my education will equip me with specialized clinical skills, allow me to provide counseling and train me to collaborate with healthcare teams to improve the lives of my patients. Overall by attending higher education will qualify me to make a greater impact in the field of social work and communities. Although I will not graduate until 2028, I seize every opportunity to create a positive impact on the world. As a student at an HBCU, I regularly participate in service projects and initiatives that support underserved communities. I serve as Membership Chair for the Johnson C. Smith University chapter of the National Council of Negro Women. This role has allowed me to step into leadership and advocate for causes that are meaningful to me. During the previous school year, I worked to successfully reinstate our chapter, providing a positive community for girls on my campus. Since then, we have organized a period product drive, completed community service projects, attended leadership conferences, and raised funds to support our mission. I have also served as a student poll monitor, helping ensure that voters could exercise their right to vote in a fair and informed environment. I currently hold 2 jobs that aim to uplift the youth. I am currently employed as an after-school program staff member for grades 3-5 and Upward Bound Counselor for low income high schoolers. While working my Upward bound job, I met a young student who struggled with social interaction and managing their emotions. I could tell that she had built up anger from her mother passing and I let her open up, cry, and get all of her pain out as we prayed together. Afterwards I saw a change with how she approached me from being standoffish to wanting to talk things out.This interaction showed me the difference a caring adult can make in a child’s life. These experiences, along with my upcoming opportunities as a NAMI Lead Presenter and Teach For America Fellow, have strengthened my commitment to helping others and advocating for youth. For me, social work is more than a career, but it is a passion and a purpose. Higher education will provide me with skills that will carry into my career in social work. I am excited to continue learning, growing, and using my education to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

There I was, the only black girl sitting in a class of other students who did not look, think, nor act like me. During my time in grade school this was reoccurring because I was very intelligent, yet I didn’t feel like I belonged in these advanced academic courses. Despite my doubts I wanted to prove myself, work hard, and challenge myself, to complete every AP, IB, and dual enrollment course. I particularly noticed early on that these courses were intended to teach the value of perseverance and hard work. For example, AP European history was one of the most challenging classes I have ever taken. Although I love history, I was not prepared for the amount of work required to excel in the course. In the beginning, I struggled heavily seeing lower grades than what I was used to. Although I felt discouraged, I wanted to use this as motivation instead of as defeat. I was always taught that if you quit, you missed every opportunity the would have been. Therefore, instead of dwelling on my setbacks, I began studying to improve. By committing to my success, I began to see myself develop stronger study habits, and discipline. I immersed myself in the stories of greats such as Queen Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, and Alexander the great. I was inspired by their leadership and resilience to never give up. In the end, I earned an A and taught myself the meaning of hard work and determination. My advanced standing courses also instilled kindness and empathy into me. As someone who fell out of place, I learned build a sense of belonging. I built a bond with my peers as we encouraged each other to succeed. We built study groups, shared resources, and uplifted one another when we needed support . This expirence taught me the value of collaboration and teamwork. As a current, junior social work major I carry these lessons with me every day. I also learned that success is more meaningful when done alongside others, rather than alone. Financially, college is very costly burden on my family and I. Although I receive a merit scholarship $10,000, it is not nearly enough to cover my cost of attendance that is $35,000. I am a hard-working student who participates in several clubs and organizations, works a job, and upkeeps a 3.8 GPA. Although my hard work pays off academically and professionally, I am still in need of financial support. I have taken out thousands of dollars in loans to continue my journey towards creating change and social justice.This scholarship would significantly relieve stress and allow me to focus on my studies. Throughout my life I have never let my challenges define me. I will continue to work hard towards graduation and becoming a change maker the for the next generation.

Charity is important to me because it’s about helping people who are going through tough times. Growing up, I saw how some families struggled just to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare. It made me realize how unfair the world can be and how much of a difference it makes when someone steps in to help. Charity isn’t just about giving money—it’s also about giving time, support, and care to people who need it. I believe that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact. This belief is one of the main reasons I decided to become a social worker. I want a career where I can make a real difference in people’s lives. As a future social worker, I plan to work with communities that face poverty, mental health challenges, and other hardships. I want to help people find the resources they need and support them in getting back on their feet. In the future, I also hope to volunteer with local organizations, support youth programs, and maybe even start my own nonprofit one day. Charity is more than just something I care about—it’s a big part of who I am and the kind of life I want to live. I want to spend my life giving back and helping others feel seen and supported.

“I don’t think one parent can raise a child. I don’t think two parents can raise a child. You really need the whole village.” – Toni Morrison. I am forever grateful to have grown up surrounded by strong examples, loving support systems, and real-life role models who shaped me into the person I am today. I come from a hardworking African American family where dedication, community, and resilience were not just talked about but lived out every day. From a young age, I watched my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents work two or more jobs to provide not just for our needs but also for our wants. Even when they came home tired and drained, they still found the energy to instill in us values that would prepare us for the real world. They taught me the importance of empathy, humility, and strength. One moment I’ll never forget is when I made a joke about homelessness as a little girl, and my father immediately corrected me. He said, “Don’t joke about others’ situations because you never know when that could be you.” That stuck with me. It’s small moments like that, filled with love, guidance, and correction, that shaped my character and taught me what it truly means to be a good person. My father, who works as a medical assistant, is my greatest inspiration. I’ve watched him for years, working long shifts and putting others’ needs before his own, never once complaining. His quiet strength and selflessness planted the seed for my own passion to serve others. I learned from him that true fulfillment comes not from what we have, but from what we give. Because of him and the values my family has instilled in me, I’ve chosen to pursue a career in social work. I am currently an undergraduate student at Johnson C Smith University working toward my degree in social work. My ultimate goal is to earn my master’s and become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I dream of working in a children’s hospital where I can offer emotional support, care, and consistency to children and families during some of their most vulnerable times. I want to be a source of strength and guidance, just like my family was for me. Today, I continue to live out my purpose by volunteering wherever I am needed. My passion lies in helping others, and my story, rooted in love, community, and service, is what drives me every day. This scholarship would bring me closer to my goals and allow me to become part of someone else’s village, just as others were for me.

My name is Kenneydi Woodberry, and I’m currently a sophomore at Johnson C. Smith University, where I’m a rising sophomore majoring in pre-social work and a minor in psychology . For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt deeply connected to the idea that education should go beyond personal achievement. To me, it’s about gaining the knowledge and tools necessary to help others, uplift communities, and create positive, lasting change in the world around us. Growing up, I found myself naturally stepping into the role of a helper. Whether it was comforting a friend going through a hard time, assisting a family member, or volunteering for community events, I always felt a sense of purpose in being someone people could rely on. These experiences didn’t just bring me joy—they helped me realize that my passion lies in being of service to others. Over time, I came to understand that this wasn’t just something I was good at; it was something that truly gave my life meaning. That realization is what led me to pursue a career in social work. Even now, as a student, I’m doing my best to make a meaningful difference wherever I can. I’ve been actively volunteering with local homeless shelters, food banks, and youth programs. These opportunities have opened my eyes to the complex struggles many people face and have helped me grow both personally and professionally. I’m learning not only about the challenges within our communities but also about the strength, resilience, and potential that exist within every person. These moments continue to shape who I am and solidify my commitment to this field. Academically, I take my studies seriously because I know that education is a vital part of becoming an effective advocate. My goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker, ideally working in a children’s hospital. I want to be there for young patients and their families, providing emotional support, helping them access important resources, and making sure they feel heard and cared for during incredibly difficult times. Looking ahead, I also hope to become an adjunct professor of social work. It would be incredibly meaningful to give back by mentoring and teaching the next generation of social workers. I want to inspire others to lead with empathy, fight for justice, believe in the power of community ,and do their part in creating a better future for the next generation. Ultimately, I’m committed to using my voice, my education, and my compassion to bring hope and healing to those who need it most.

I believe it is my purpose to spread love and support to others. Ever since I was young, I’ve always had a passion for helping others in anyway way shape or form I can. As I went through high school my friends would go through personal issues and I would offer a listening ear and a support system to them and would feel very fulfilled that I was able to offer my support to help someone else through difficult situations. I can use my qualities to better the world and others lives to the best of my ability.Being able to identify these qualities about myself really led me to deciding on becoming a social worker. I love how rewarding social work is not only for me but for others and the community. As a social worker I will have the power to positively impact individuals and communities. I can use my career to help one person or many people. I can guide someone through personal issues or even use it to advocate for a change in my community. I can use my career to get to know many groups of diverse people in my community. I can work with older, younger, low income, high income, etc. Each day will bring new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow as a person. I will be able to deeper understand my community and society and advocate for change where needed. Being a social worker allows will allow me to empower others. I will be able to provide others with support and resources that can be life changing for them. As a social workers play a I could crucial role in advocating for social justice and equality. I can work towards creating systemic changes and addressing societal issues such as poverty, discrimination, and inequality. Personally I see myself working as a medical social worker in a children hospital to make sure patients and their families cope with illnesses and the challenges of the medical system. I feel very passionate about social work because of the many ways I can offer my gift to improve the lives of others. In order to pursue the career that I am so passionate about I’ve had to give a many of my own desires. One of those are choosing a school that is far from my hometown. in order to attend the school with a good social work program I will be going to an entirely new state from which I am not used to. I’ve grown up in Florence SC, which is a small town compared to Charlotte. This means I am going to have to get used to the how the big city works in the lifestyle of the people there. I also have been working all summer and plan to come back to work at least twice a month in order to put some money towards paying back my student loans and paying for the tuition which will be coming up every semester. It also means that I will have to work a bit harder than others to apply for scholarships and make the money to pay to go to school so that I can pursue my career because I know I will be a good asset to the social work field be able to be a part of bettering so many peoples lives. Overall, I am so passionate and prepared to do whatever it takes so that I can get my degree and social work and eventually get my masters . be as fortunate, but make a change in today’s society.

I believe it is my purpose to spread love and support to others. Ever since I was young, I’ve always had a passion for helping others in anyway way shape or form I can. As I went through high school and middle school, my friends would go through personal issues and I would offer a listening ear and a support system to them and would feel very fulfilled that I was able to offer something that would help them feel better. I then realized that God put me on earth for that purpose I could use my qualities to better the world and others lives to the best of my ability.Being able to identify this things about myself really led me to deciding on becoming a social worker. I love how rewarding social work is not only for me but for others and the community. As a social worker I will have the power to positively impact individuals and communities. I can use my career to help one person or many people. I can guide someone through personal issues or even use it to advocate for a change in my community. I can use my career to get to know many groups of diverse people in my community. I can work with older, younger, low income, high income, etc. Each day will bring new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow as a person. I will be able to deeper understand my community and society and advocate for change where needed. Such as help a family gain government assistance to be able to able to live in today’s inflation or advocate for reconstruction of torn down areas. Being a social worker allows will allow me to empower others. I will be able to provide others with support and resources that can be life changing for them. An example would be recommending someone who struggles mentally to a therapist. As a social workers play a I could crucial role in advocating for social justice and equality. I can work towards creating systemic changes and addressing societal issues such as poverty, discrimination, and inequality. Such as veteran benefits for homeless veterans Lastly, I love how diverse the field is. Personally I see myself working as a medical social worker in a children hospital to make sure patients and their families cope with illnesses and the challenges of the medical system. there are many other ways i can help others with the degree such as become a welfare social workers, substance abuse counselor, case manager, etc overall, I feel very passionate about social work because of the many ways I can offer my gift to improve the lives of others.