I believe God has given each of us gifts and a purpose, and I want to use my engineering education to serve others and give back to the foundation that has helped shape me into the young woman I am today. I am a first-year Industrial Engineering student at Florida State University, and I chose engineering because I have always been drawn to problem-solving and finding ways to improve the world around me. My mother, who is also an engineer, has been one of my greatest inspirations. Growing up, I watched her use engineering to solve problems and serve her community, showing me that engineering is about more than numbers and technical skills. It can be a way to improve people’s lives. My experiences have continued to shape the kind of engineer I want to become. Through working in my family’s restaurant, I have gained experience with finances, inventory, operations, employees, and improving efficiency. These experiences showed me how intentional improvements to a system can create meaningful results. They are also a major reason I chose Industrial Engineering. I hope to use my degree to develop solutions that positively impact communities, particularly through infrastructure, public service, and economic development. Most importantly, I want my career to reflect Christ through the way I lead, serve, and treat others. A verse I frequently return to is 1 Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.” This verse reminds me that my future is greater than what I can currently see or understand. I have been intentional about growing in my walk with Christ because I know none of my success would have been possible without Him. I trust Him with every area of my life, including my finances, emotions, education, relationships, and future. Because of that trust, I do not view my engineering degree simply as a personal achievement. I see it as an opportunity God has given me to eventually pour back into others. My faith is also reflected in how I serve. I volunteer at my church, and serving others has helped me understand that faith is not only something I believe, but something I should put into action. As I enter new stages of life, I plan to remain connected to a church community, continue volunteering, attend services and Bible studies, study Scripture, and make time for prayer. I want Christ to remain my foundation even as my responsibilities and environment change. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve the financial pressure that comes with pursuing an engineering degree. Expenses such as housing, textbooks, transportation, and other educational necessities can create a significant burden. This support would allow me to focus more fully on my coursework, develop my engineering skills, and pursue internships and opportunities that prepare me for my future career. I may not know exactly where God will lead me, but I trust His plans are greater than anything I can imagine. My goal is to become an engineer who succeeds professionally while remembering the foundation that made my journey possible. I want to use the knowledge and blessings God gives me to give back, serve my community, and create opportunities for others. Ultimately, I hope my career is a reflection of my faith and a testimony of what God can accomplish through someone willing to trust Him.

My life is a reflection of the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of two incredible women: my grandmother and my mother. Both were single mothers who carried the responsibility of raising and providing for their families while creating opportunities for the next generation. I am where I am today because of their perseverance, and I hope my education and future career will serve as proof that their sacrifices created something meaningful and lasting. My grandmother came to the United States from Haiti with very little and became a single mother who worked multiple jobs to keep a roof over her family's head. She sacrificed her own comfort so that her children could have opportunities she did not have, including higher education. Her resilience influenced my mother, who followed a similar path as a single mother while pursuing her own career. My mother is an engineer, and I grew up watching her balance the demands of her profession with raising me and my siblings. Despite the responsibilities she carried, she continued working relentlessly to provide for our family and build a better future for us. She showed me that a woman can be a dedicated mother, a successful professional, and a source of strength for an entire family. Watching my mother navigate motherhood and an engineering career profoundly influenced my own goals. I saw firsthand how hard she worked to give my siblings and me opportunities, and I eventually realized that I wanted to follow a similar path. I chose to pursue industrial engineering, the same discipline my mother pursued, because I want to build upon the example she set for me. Becoming an industrial engineer is more than a career choice; it is one of the ways I hope to honor her. She invested so much of herself into giving me opportunities, including helping me reach college, and I want to use those opportunities to build a future that reflects her sacrifices. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering at Florida State University after earning my Associate of Arts degree with a 4.0 GPA. My goal is to become an engineer who uses problem-solving, innovation, and process improvement to create meaningful solutions while encouraging other young women to pursue STEM. I want my success to extend beyond myself by creating opportunities and becoming a role model for others. Receiving this scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of completing my education and allow me to focus more fully on my engineering studies and professional development. My twin sister and I are both pursuing college while my mother continues to support our family, making college expenses a significant responsibility. I am proud to be a product of the resilience of two single mothers. I am living proof that the hardships my grandmother and mother endured produced a positive impact on this world. Their sacrifices created opportunities that carried forward into my life, and I want my education and career to continue that legacy. By becoming an industrial engineer like my mother, I hope to honor everything she sacrificed for me, make her proud, and create opportunities for the generations that follow.

My field of interest is industrial engineering because it combines everything I enjoy most: problem-solving, mathematics, business, and innovation. Growing up, I watched my mother build and manage her own businesses, and I became fascinated by the way she analyzed problems, improved operations, and made strategic decisions that kept everything running efficiently. Those experiences taught me that even small improvements to a system can have a meaningful impact on people's lives. As I learned more about industrial engineering, I realized it was the perfect career for me because it focuses on designing more efficient systems, reducing waste, and creating solutions that improve industries and communities. As a Black woman pursuing engineering, I understand that I am entering a field where women, especially Black women, remain significantly underrepresented. Throughout my academic journey, I have often been met with surprise when I tell people I plan to become an engineer. Rather than allowing those reactions to discourage me, they have motivated me to work even harder. Representation matters, and I want to help redefine what an engineer looks like. I hope that my success will encourage other young Black girls to pursue STEM careers with confidence, knowing they belong in these spaces just as much as anyone else. I have taken significant steps toward achieving my goals. While still in high school, I earned my Associate of Arts degree through dual enrollment, allowing me to enter college as a junior and accelerate my path toward a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering. I have maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 5.2 weighted GPA while completing rigorous coursework. I have also earned industry-recognized certifications, including Project Management Ready (PMI), QuickBooks Certified User, and Entrepreneurship & Small Business (ESB). These certifications have strengthened my understanding of project planning, financial management, and business operations, all of which complement my engineering aspirations. Outside the classroom, I have gained real-world experience serving as the Chief Financial Officer of my family's restaurant, where I manage budgeting, inventory, and financial records while learning how efficient systems contribute to a successful business. Beyond academics, I am committed to using my education to uplift others. Through Junior Achievement, I have mentored elementary students by teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and I have remained active in organizations such as the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. My long-term goal is not only to become an industrial engineer but also to mentor young women interested in STEM and advocate for greater diversity in engineering. I want to build on the legacy of resilience established by my grandmother, who immigrated from Haiti with very little and worked tirelessly to create opportunities for my family, and my mother, who turned those opportunities into successful businesses. Their perseverance inspires me to continue breaking barriers, and I hope to become an example for the next generation of Black women who dream of changing the world through engineering.

From an early age, I developed a passion for engineering by watching my mother solve problems through her businesses. Whether she was optimizing operations, managing finances, or finding creative solutions to everyday challenges, I became fascinated by the process of improving systems and making them more efficient. As I grew older, I realized that these same principles are at the heart of industrial engineering. I enjoy analyzing how things work and finding ways to make them better, whether in manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, or business operations. Industrial engineering combines my strengths in mathematics, problem-solving, and leadership while allowing me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. My short-term goal is to earn my bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering while gaining hands-on experience through internships in engineering and project management. Entering college as a junior after earning my Associate of Arts degree during high school has allowed me to accelerate my education and prepare for the workforce earlier. I want to continue developing technical skills, earn professional certifications, and gain experience working with multidisciplinary teams. My long-term goal is to become an industrial engineer who improves operational efficiency and develops innovative solutions that help organizations reduce waste, increase productivity, and better serve their communities. I also hope to eventually lead engineering projects and mentor young women interested in STEM careers. As a Black woman pursuing engineering, I recognize that I am entering a field where women, particularly women of color, remain underrepresented. Rather than discouraging me, this reality motivates me to succeed. Growing up, I often noticed the surprise on people's faces when I shared my career aspirations, and those reactions reinforced the importance of representation. I want to help change the perception of who belongs in engineering by demonstrating that determination, intelligence, and leadership are not defined by gender or race. I hope my success encourages younger girls, especially those from backgrounds similar to mine, to pursue careers in STEM with confidence. Just as my grandmother immigrated from Haiti with very little and worked tirelessly to create opportunities for my mother, and my mother built upon that foundation by earning her education and becoming a successful entrepreneur, I hope to continue that legacy by opening doors for the next generation. Receiving this scholarship would significantly reduce the financial burden of pursuing my education. My twin sister and I will both be attending college at the same time, and my mother is a single parent supporting not only us but also our two younger siblings and our older brother. Although she has worked incredibly hard to provide for our family, covering housing, books, transportation, and other college expenses would place a substantial strain on our finances. This scholarship would allow me to focus more of my time and energy on my coursework, internships, and professional development rather than worrying about the costs of earning my degree. More importantly, it would be an investment in my future and the future of the communities I hope to serve through engineering, leadership, and mentorship. I am committed to using the opportunities I receive to make a lasting impact. My goal is not only to build a successful engineering career but also to become a leader who inspires others, advocates for greater diversity in STEM, and creates opportunities for young women who dream of following a similar path. I believe that education has the power to transform lives, and with the support of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to achieving my goals while continuing my family's legacy of perseverance, resilience, and service.

Women’s empowerment has always been deeply personal to me because I have witnessed its impact across generations in my own family. My grandmother immigrated from Haiti with very little and worked multiple jobs to provide for her family and keep a roof over everyone’s head on her own. Although she faced financial hardship and countless obstacles, she never allowed those challenges to define her future. Instead, she created opportunities that made it possible for my mother to pursue a higher education. Inspired by my grandmother's sacrifices, my mother became an entrepreneur and started her own business, demonstrating that determination, education, and resilience can transform not only one person's life but an entire family's future. Watching these two women overcome adversity has shown me that empowerment is about creating opportunities for yourself while opening doors for others. Their examples have shaped the way I choose to impact the people around me. As a young Black woman pursuing industrial engineering, I understand that I am entering a field where women, especially women of color, remain underrepresented. Instead of viewing that as a barrier, I see it as an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and inspire others to pursue careers they may have once believed were out of reach. Every time I share my career aspirations, maintain academic excellence, or earn certifications in project management and business, I hope to demonstrate that women belong in technical and leadership roles just as much as anyone else. I want younger girls to see someone who looks like them succeeding in STEM and realize that they can achieve the same goals through dedication and hard work. I also strive to empower others through service and mentorship. As a Junior Achievement mentor, I taught elementary students financial literacy and entrepreneurship, encouraging them to believe in their own potential from a young age. Through community service and leadership organizations, I have learned that empowerment is not only about personal success but also about helping others discover their own abilities. Whether I am mentoring younger students, volunteering in my community, or simply encouraging my peers, I aim to create an environment where others feel confident enough to pursue their ambitions without fear of judgment or limitation. My goal is to continue the legacy my grandmother began and my mother expanded. I hope to become an engineer who not only develops innovative solutions but also advocates for greater representation of women in STEM through mentorship, outreach, and leadership. I want to return to my community to speak with young women about engineering, support organizations that encourage girls to pursue science and technology, and demonstrate that success is possible regardless of one's background. If even one young girl chooses to pursue her dreams because she saw my journey, then I will know I have made a meaningful impact on women's empowerment. To me, true empowerment is measured not only by the success you achieve but by the opportunities you create for the women who come after you.

One specific moment that solidified my decision to pursue engineering happened while I was shadowing my mother at her job. I remember sitting quietly beside her as she worked through a problem that was complex and time sensitive. Instead of reacting with stress, she slowed everything down and began breaking the issue into smaller parts. She checked details carefully, tested possible solutions, and stayed calm even when things were not working right away. What stood out to me most was not just that she solved the problem, but how she approached it with patience and confidence. In that moment, something clicked for me. I realized engineering is not about instantly knowing the answer. It is about persistence, logic, and refusing to give up when something is difficult. I had always been interested in how things work, but seeing that process in real time made it feel real and possible for me. It showed me that I could take my curiosity and turn it into something meaningful and structured. That experience became a turning point where engineering stopped being just an interest and started becoming a goal. Another important influence on my decision has been my experience navigating STEM as a Black teenage girl. When I share that I want to pursue engineering, I am often met with surprise. At first, those reactions made me question whether I truly belonged in this field. Over time, however, I began to see them differently. They revealed how underrepresented voices still are in STEM spaces and strengthened my desire to change that reality. Instead of feeling discouraged, I became more determined to prove that I belong not because I need to fit expectations, but because I am capable and passionate. The inspiration I gained from my mother and from my own experiences has shaped how I plan to move forward in my career. I want to carry the same patience, discipline, and problem solving mindset that I observed in her work. More importantly, I want to apply it in ways that benefit others. I plan to pursue engineering work that improves systems and creates solutions that make everyday life more efficient and accessible. I also want to pay that inspiration forward by becoming someone who encourages and supports students who may not always see themselves represented in STEM. I know what it feels like to question your place in a field, and I want to be the kind of engineer who helps others feel seen, capable, and welcomed. Whether through mentorship, outreach, or simply leading by example, I hope to show that success in engineering is possible for anyone willing to learn, persist, and believe in their own potential. Ultimately, that moment watching my mother did more than inspire me. It gave me direction, purpose, and a responsibility to use my future career to open doors for others as well.

I am passionate about the degree I am pursuing because engineering feels like the most natural extension of how I think and how I see the world. I have always been someone who asks questions about everything around me. I do not just want to know what something does, I want to understand how it works and why it was designed that way. Over time, that curiosity turned into a deeper interest in solving problems instead of only observing them. A big part of where this passion comes from is my experience shadowing my mother in her career. Watching her work showed me what real problem solving looks like in practice. I saw her deal with challenges that required patience and focus, and I noticed how she never rushed to answers. Instead, she would break problems down step by step until she understood them fully. That taught me that engineering is not about being perfect on the first try. It is about persistence, critical thinking, and being willing to keep working through frustration until something makes sense. That mindset has stayed with me and shaped how I approach my own academic challenges. My passion also comes from the way I want to impact the world around me. I am drawn to engineering because it is not just theoretical; it is practical and visible. The things engineers create and improve affect people’s daily lives, even if they do not always notice it. I like the idea that something I design or contribute to could make a system more efficient, solve a real issue, or make something more accessible for someone who needs it. That kind of impact feels meaningful to me in a way that goes beyond just earning a degree. At the same time, my journey has been shaped by how I am seen in STEM spaces. As a Black teenage girl pursuing engineering, I have often experienced moments where people seem surprised by my interests or my goals. In the past, that made me question whether I belonged in these spaces. But instead of letting that discourage me, I started using it as motivation. It pushed me to take myself more seriously and to be more confident in the path I chose. It also made me more aware of how important representation is. I want to be someone younger students can look at and see that they belong in STEM, too. Engineering also challenges me in a way I enjoy. It forces me to think differently, to stay patient when problems are difficult, and to keep learning even when I feel unsure. I like that it is not easy, because it means I am constantly growing. Every time I understand a new concept or solve a difficult problem, I feel like I am getting closer to the kind of engineer I want to become. Ultimately, I am passionate about engineering because it combines everything I care about. It connects my curiosity, my lived experiences, and my desire to make a real difference. I do not just want to study engineering. I want to use it to build solutions that matter and to create opportunities for others who may not always see themselves represented in this field.

From an early age, I learned to approach the world with curiosity and I constantly asked how things work and how they could work better. That mindset grew stronger while shadowing my mother in her career. I watched her solve problems with patience, precision, and persistence while breaking down complex issues into manageable steps. Through her example, I learned that engineering is not just about technical ability but also about discipline, creativity, and the willingness to keep going when solutions are not immediate. As I began to define my own interests, I gravitated toward engineering because it blends logic with real world impact. I am especially drawn to designing systems and solutions that improve everyday life. Whether it is making processes more efficient or creating technology that expands access and opportunity, I am motivated by the possibility of turning ideas into something tangible and useful. At the same time, my journey has not been without challenges. As a Black teenage girl pursuing STEM, I have often been met with surprise when I share my intended major. In the past, those reactions made me question whether I truly belonged in these spaces. Over time, I learned to reframe those moments. Instead of allowing doubt to take root, I used it as motivation to work harder and stay focused. Those experiences strengthened my confidence and reinforced my belief that representation matters not only for others who may follow a similar path but also for my own sense of purpose and identity. Leadership for me is rooted in service and support. I have taken on roles where I help peers understand difficult concepts, encourage collaboration, and ensure that everyone feels included in group settings. These experiences have shown me that leadership is not about being the loudest voice but about creating space for others, staying accountable, and helping a team succeed together. Pursuing a degree in engineering will give me the technical foundation and problem solving skills necessary to turn my goals into reality. Through rigorous coursework in mathematics, science, and design, I will gain the tools needed to analyze complex problems and develop effective solutions. Just as importantly, I will build resilience, adaptability, and collaboration skills that are essential in the field. My long term goal is to use my education to create meaningful impact in communities that are often overlooked in technological advancement. I want to contribute to innovations that improve infrastructure, access, and opportunity. Beyond that, I hope to serve as representation and mentorship for younger students who may not yet see themselves in STEM. If my journey can inspire even one person to believe they belong in these spaces, then my impact will extend beyond my own achievements and into the future of others.

My name is Kourtney. On the outside, people often describe me as driven, goal-oriented, and “smart” based on my achievements. While those things are part of my story, they are not the full picture of who I am. In reality, I am bubbly, curious, and always questioning the world around me. I would not be myself without the word “why.” I am constantly wondering how things work, how the world came to be the way it is, and why problems exist in the first place. That curiosity is what pushes me to look deeper instead of accepting surface-level answers. I enjoy solving problems and finding patterns in things others might overlook. Whether it is in school, daily life, or something new I am learning, I naturally gravitate toward understanding and improving what is in front of me. What defines me most is not just my accomplishments but my curiosity and persistence. They shape the way I think, the way I learn, and the way I move through the world. At my core, I am someone who wants to understand as much as I can and use that understanding to grow and make an impact.

My story did not change because of one dramatic event. It changed through years of quiet moments that slowly shaped who I am and who I want to become. From a young age, I followed my mother through her career and watched her solve problems with confidence and determination. I was fascinated by the way she approached challenges with logic and creativity instead of giving up when things became difficult. Those experiences planted the first seeds of my passion for engineering and showed me that innovation begins with curiosity. As I grew older, I noticed that my career goals often surprised people. When I told others that I wanted to pursue engineering, I was sometimes met with raised eyebrows or doubtful expressions. As a Black young woman entering a field where people who look like me are still underrepresented, I became aware of the stereotypes that exist. At first, those reactions made me question whether I belonged. Eventually, they became the motivation that pushed me to work even harder. That shift in perspective became the turning point in my life. I realized that I did not need anyone else's approval to pursue my dreams. I only needed the confidence to believe in my own abilities and the discipline to keep learning. Since then, I have approached every academic challenge as another opportunity to prove to myself that I am capable. My commitment to education comes from understanding that knowledge is the foundation for creating solutions that improve people's lives. The lessons I have learned extend beyond the classroom. I believe that success has little meaning if it is not used to uplift others. Whether I am encouraging classmates, participating in service opportunities, or simply sharing my experiences with younger students, I want to show that STEM is a place where everyone deserves to feel welcome. Representation matters because seeing someone who shares your background can make an impossible dream seem achievable. Looking ahead, I hope to become an engineer who develops practical solutions to real problems while also helping inspire the next generation of innovators. I want to contribute to projects that improve communities and make technology more accessible. Just as importantly, I want to mentor young students who may doubt themselves because of their gender, race, or circumstances. I know firsthand how powerful encouragement can be when someone is deciding whether to pursue an ambitious goal. The future I am building is driven by perseverance, curiosity, and a desire to create opportunities for others. The turning point in my story was realizing that I could define success on my own terms and refuse to let others' expectations determine my path. Every challenge I overcome strengthens my commitment to my education and reinforces my belief that barriers are meant to be broken. I am pursuing engineering not only because I love solving problems but because I want to become proof that passion, hard work, and resilience can open doors for those willing to walk through them. I hope my journey encourages others to do the same.