I will never forget the unforgettable words, “Jamal is dead”. I fell to my knees and burst into tears. I could not breathe. I sat there on my knees with tears running down my face as my dad explained how one of my closest friends was shot and murdered. “Jamal Pratt lll, the victim in deadly shooting, Dead at 16.” read the headlines. Restless nights brought hours of self-reflection and the regret that I was not able to protect my brother and change his outcome. What hurts most is that Jamal’s death is not an uncommon tragedy in my community. What do I see in my community? I see children with minimum opportunity, bad influences, bad temptations, and a one-way road for their life. My whole life I have been surrounded by the bad decisions of adults and kids around me: domestic and gang violence, drug abuse, and poverty convincing me that I wanted my life to be different. Fortunately, during my freshman year at the local public high school, I was extremely blessed to receive a scholarship at Mullen High School, a private catholic high school, in Denver. I made the decision to leave my old school and friends to better my life and put myself in a better position to succeed. Despite significant and frequent tragedies, I was able to have a very successful academic and athletic career in high school. I am a Colorado State Wrestling Champion. I am graduating with a 3.8 GPA from one of Denver’s premier high schools. Most significantly, I am a future first-generation student who is determined to break the cycle in my family. I intend to dedicate myself in college to working with the same level of determination and dedication to achieve success. In my free time, I want to coach young kids in wrestling. I find great enjoyment in the fact that I am providing a safe and positive place for kids to escape the dangers and temptations of the streets in my community. Hopefully, I can help put them in a similar position to succeed that I was found. I will continue to give back to my community as I get older and hopefully create a future scholarship fund for other kids in situations similar to mine. Loss, especially the loss of someone you love will break you down emotionally, physically, and mentally. It makes your mind spin about all the things you wish you could have done to make the outcome different. I have stopped my mind from spinning and have found a way to move forward toward my future. I am breaking these cycles in my family, and I do not intend to stop. Please, I need your assistance and support to continue this journey.