The values of service, sacrifice, and bravery have deeply shaped the way I view both my personal journey and my responsibility to my community. These values represent more than military ideals; they are principles that guide leadership, perseverance, and the willingness to create opportunities for others even during difficult circumstances. Sgt. Albert Dono Ware’s legacy serves as a reminder that meaningful change often requires courage, discipline, and a commitment to serving something greater than oneself. As a young African American student pursuing higher education, I understand the importance of resilience and determination. Growing up, I have seen how many communities within the African diaspora continue to face systemic barriers such as economic inequality, underfunded schools, limited access to healthcare, and a lack of generational wealth. These challenges can discourage people from believing they can achieve success. However, the values of sacrifice and bravery have motivated me to continue pursuing my goals while also thinking about how I can contribute to improving the lives of others. Service has especially influenced my personal journey. I believe true leadership is not measured only by personal success but by the ability to uplift others along the way. My interest in business and entrepreneurship comes from my desire to create economic opportunities in underserved communities. I want to help build pathways for financial literacy, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and job creation because economic empowerment is one of the strongest ways to create lasting change. Too many families within the African diaspora lack access to the resources and networks necessary to build stability and long-term wealth. I hope to use my education and future career to help close those gaps. When addressing the current challenges faced by the African diaspora in the United States, I believe economic and educational reforms are among the most critical. Many underserved communities struggle because of unequal access to quality education and economic opportunities. Schools in lower-income areas are often underfunded, leaving students without the same resources, technology, or academic support available in wealthier communities. Expanding investment in education, mentorship programs, career training, and financial literacy initiatives would help create stronger foundations for future generations. In addition to education, affordable housing and community investment are essential reforms. Many African American communities continue to experience displacement, rising housing costs, and limited access to homeownership opportunities. Policies that support affordable housing development, fair lending practices, and small business growth could help strengthen communities and reduce cycles of poverty. I also believe mental health resources and healthcare access should be prioritized because many underserved communities lack adequate support systems. Creating meaningful change will require collaboration between several key stakeholders. Government leaders play a major role in creating policies and funding programs that promote equity and opportunity. Educational institutions, including HBCUs, are also critical because they provide mentorship, leadership development, and pathways for advancement. Business leaders and entrepreneurs should invest in underserved communities by creating jobs, supporting minority-owned businesses, and mentoring young professionals. Community organizations, faith leaders, and activists are equally important because they often have the closest relationships with the people directly affected by these challenges. Most importantly, young people themselves must be involved in driving change. The next generation understands many of the struggles facing their communities because they experience them firsthand. Empowering youth through leadership opportunities, education, and mentorship can help create innovative solutions for the future. Sgt. Albert Dono Ware’s legacy inspires me to lead with courage, serve with purpose, and remain committed to creating positive change. His example reminds me that progress requires sacrifice and bravery, but it also proves that one person’s dedication can leave a lasting impact on future generations.

Service-related PTSD has taught me that strength is not always visible. Before learning about PTSD, I believed that military service members and veterans were expected to always appear tough, emotionally strong, and unaffected by the experiences they endured. However, through learning about the realities of PTSD, I have come to understand that trauma can deeply impact a person long after their service ends. I have learned that mental health struggles do not make someone weak; instead, acknowledging those struggles and seeking help requires courage and resilience. PTSD also taught me how important support systems are for veterans. Many veterans return home carrying emotional burdens that others cannot fully understand. Some struggle with anxiety, depression, flashbacks, isolation, or difficulty adjusting to civilian life. Unfortunately, many veterans suffer silently because of fear of judgment or because they feel alone. This has shown me how important compassion, awareness, and community support are in helping veterans heal. The world around us often praises military service, but not enough attention is given to the emotional and mental challenges that can follow that service. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of listening without judgment. Veterans who suffer from PTSD often need understanding more than criticism. Small acts of kindness, patience, and support can make a major difference in someone’s life. I have also learned that healing is not always immediate. Recovery is a process that requires access to mental health resources, encouragement, and people who genuinely care. My experiences and understanding of PTSD have inspired me to help other veterans who may currently be struggling. I hope to use my voice to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding PTSD. Too many veterans feel pressured to hide their pain because they fear being viewed differently. I want to encourage open conversations about mental health so veterans know they do not have to suffer alone. In the future, I hope to support veterans through mentorship, advocacy, and community outreach. Whether through volunteering, supporting veteran organizations, or simply being someone willing to listen, I want to contribute to creating an environment where veterans feel valued and supported. I also hope to use my education and future career to help create opportunities that improve veterans’ quality of life, including access to employment, housing, and mental health services. Additionally, I want to inspire younger generations to better understand the sacrifices veterans make beyond their time in uniform. PTSD is not something that disappears overnight, and many veterans continue battling invisible wounds every day. By increasing awareness and showing empathy, society can do a better job of supporting those who have served our country. The Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship would allow me to continue my education while also strengthening my commitment to helping others. More importantly, it would motivate me to continue advocating for mental health awareness and support for veterans suffering from PTSD. I believe no veteran should feel forgotten after their service, and I hope to use my experiences and future career to make a positive impact in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much.

Growing up, I learned early that access to opportunity is not equal. In many underrepresented communities, people are filled with talent, ambition, and creativity, yet they often lack the resources, mentorship, education, and financial support necessary to transform their ideas into success. I believe economic empowerment is one of the most effective ways to create lasting change because when individuals gain financial stability and ownership opportunities, they can positively impact not only their own lives but also future generations within their communities. Business innovation has the power to solve real problems in underserved areas. Many communities of color continue to face issues such as limited access to affordable housing, unemployment, underfunded schools, and lack of investment. Entrepreneurs and business leaders can help close these gaps by creating companies that prioritize both profitability and community impact. Innovation is not only about developing new technology; it is also about creating systems that improve people’s quality of life. Whether through financial literacy programs, real estate development, or minority-owned businesses, innovative thinking can create opportunities where they have historically been limited. As a student attending an HBCU, I understand the importance of education, representation, and leadership. HBCUs have historically produced influential Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who have broken barriers despite systemic obstacles. Being part of this environment motivates me to pursue success not only for myself but also for those who come from similar backgrounds. I want to use business as a tool to empower others and demonstrate that success is achievable regardless of where someone starts. My career goals align closely with my desire to promote social equity and justice. I am pursuing a path in business and entrepreneurship with a strong interest in real estate and community development. My long-term goal is to build businesses that create opportunities for underserved individuals while also helping revitalize communities that have been overlooked for years. Real estate is more than buying and selling property; it can be a way to improve neighborhoods, create affordable housing opportunities, and stimulate local economies. I want to be part of building environments where families feel safe, businesses can grow, and young people can see examples of success within their own communities. In addition to real estate, I hope to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs and provide resources to those who may not have access to traditional networks or financial guidance. Many talented young people never pursue their ideas because they lack support or exposure to business education. I believe mentorship and knowledge-sharing are essential for creating generational change. By helping others understand financial literacy, investing, and entrepreneurship, I can contribute to breaking cycles of poverty and dependence. Economic empowerment also creates a ripple effect. When one person succeeds, they often inspire and support others around them. Minority-owned businesses create jobs, strengthen local economies, and encourage community pride. This is why I believe business leadership should include a commitment to ethics, equity, and service. Success should not only be measured by profit margins but also by the positive impact made on people’s lives. Receiving the SCFU Scholarship would help me continue pursuing my education and career goals while reducing financial barriers that many students face. More importantly, it would serve as an investment in my vision to create opportunities for underserved communities through business innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. I am committed to using my education and future career to help build a more equitable future where economic opportunity is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

To be honest my life has not been perfectly planned out. I did not always have everything figured out but I have always known one thing. I want more for my life than what I have seen growing up.The way I think about my life is what made me take my school seriously.I think about my future with the company and also my future in general in a way now because of this mindset. I have always wanted more for my life. That is what drives me to make good choices about my school and my future. My journey has been, about trying to make a life for myself and that is what matters most to me I have always wanted more from life. This is what motivates me to make decisions about my education and my career. Making a life for myself is what I am working towards and my education and my career are very important, to my life. My education and my career are the things that I think about when I think about making a life for myself. As a freshman at Alabama State University, I've put a lot of effort into keeping my GPA at 3.6. That was not an easy task. I'm from a place where you truly have to work things out on your own. Nothing is simply given to you. As a result, I've had to grow up early and begin considering my actual obligations, particularly with regard to money and the future. School is a lot to handle and thinking about how I'm going to support myself is always on my mind. School and supporting myself can be very tough.I am also thinking about school bills and my job and school work and what comes after I graduate from school.. Instead of letting the stress of school and money stop me from doing my school work it makes me want to work even harder and stay focused, on my school goals and support myself after school. One of the biggest things that shaped me is my interest in building something for myself. I started learning about real estate and entrepreneurship because I didn’t want to depend on a regular 9–5 job for the rest of my life. I wanted to understand how money works and how to create opportunities. I've been learning about deals and wholesaling. I still make mistakes every day. I'm getting better. I know what I want to achieve with deals and wholesaling. Attending an HBCU means a deal to me. This is due to the fact that an HBCU is not just a school. I can interact with others who resemble me there. These folks are aware of the difficulties I face.. We are all working towards something than ourselves at an HBCU. The energy at an HBCU is special. The support at an HBCU is special too. To truly grasp what it's like, you have to go through it yourself. An HBCU challenges you to grow as a person. It helps you grow as a student. It also helps you grow as a person. Attending an HBCU is a deal to me because of the way it makes me feel. An HBCU is a place where I can be myself and learn from people who're, like me. To me being at an HBCU is about building confidence and learning how to lead at an HBCU. It is about being in a place where I'm encouraged to think bigger at this HBCU and not limit myself. That is important because where you come from can sometimes make you feel like your options are limited. Being at this HBCU reminds me that my options are not limited when I am, at an HBCU. Looking forward my goal is to make a difference for my family and my community. I want to be in a position where I can create opportunities for my family and my community.Real estate is one way I plan to do that.I want to help people understand ownership.I want to help people build wealth that they can pass down to their kids.I want to help create communities where that is often missing.That is why I am interested in estate.It helps people achieve their goals.I am excited about the opportunities in estate.My goal is to help my community.Real estate will help me achieve my goal.I believe in the power of ownership.It creates stability.It builds wealth.That is my goal.However here is a sensible responseMy goal is to make a real difference for my family and my community. I want to create opportunities not for myself but, for others too.Real estate is one way I plan to do that. For my family success means I can take some weight off their shoulders. It means we do not have to worry about money all the time. I can help them out when they need it. I want to be the person my family can count on the person who makes things better for them. Success for my family is when I can make a difference, in their lives so they know they can depend on me on my family to make things okay. For my community it means being an example. I want to demonstrate to my community that attending college is feasible. It's important for my community to realize that they can use their lives to create something. Then they can come back to my community. Help other people do the same thing. A lot of people in my community just need to see that going to college and building something is possible, for them.. I’m still growing and still figuring things out, but I know I’m on the right path. I’m willing to put in the work, learn from my mistakes, and keep pushing forward. This scholarship would help take some of the financial pressure off me and allow me to focus more on building the future I’m working toward.

As I became and matured, I came to realize that I couldn't depend only on my surroundings if I wanted a different existence. I had to see beyond my current circumstances. Although attending an HBCU is very important to me, I don't see college as merely obtaining a degree and moving on. I see it as an opportunity to genuinely alter my future. I am not going to pretend that every aspect has turned out straightforward simply because it hasn't been. Sometimes it is occasionally hard to maintain focus during class although thinking about money. Occasionally I think about the way I'll manage to budget for stuff, and on top of that, I have tasks and obligations. Sometimes it's a lot. Instead of giving up, though, that pressure caused me to start thinking differently. I was incredibly motivated to learn about real estate because of that. I wanted something that could truly give me independence, not simply regular work for the rest of my life. I therefore began researching wholesaling and the workings of transactions. I've remained continuing even when I am still developing skills, doing basic errors, trying to figure things out. It is more essential to me personally compared to money. I would like to have the ability to be able to provide for my family without worrying about continuing to have trouble in the same manner. One aspect about Tia Lukeya Woods' story that I personally discovered most fascinating had been her lack of desire to limit herself. She explored, discovered new places, and learned information not only in the learning environment. I desired these opportunities, though I haven't really encountered those yet, which caught my interest. My goal is to experience new locations, travel, and just gain greater insight in comparison to what has taken place throughout my life. That type of experience, in my view, has the ability to completely change a person's perspective. If my actions are completely honest I would really benefit from this scholarship. This scholarship would help me with the money problems that students like me face. It would give me a bit of time to focus on my studies and do things that the scholarship would make possible for me. The scholarship would be a help to me because it would let me take part in things that I cannot pay for now. At the end of the day I want to do more than just finish college and get a degree. I want to build a life for myself. College is a part of this. I want to be in a position where I can help people who come from college situations like mine because I know what it feels like to be in college situations like mine. Not having everything figured out when you are in college not always having the resources you need when you are in college. This is something that happens to a lot of people, in college. I’m still learning, still growing, and still trying to figure out my path, but I know I want more for my life. And I’m willing to work for it. This scholarship wouldn’t just be financial help—it would be a step forward for me.

A government shutdown can have bad effects on people who are living with mental illness. Most people think that shutdowns are about money problems like not getting paid or not being able to use government services.. The effects on mental health are much deeper and can last a long time. For people who are already dealing with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder the uncertainty of a shutdown can make their symptoms much worse. Disrupt the care they need. One of the problems is that mental health services get interrupted. A lot of people rely on government programs like Medicaid, community health clinics and public assistance to get therapy, medication and support. When there is a shutdown these services might not be available. They might be delayed. Even a short break in treatment can cause people to relapse go to the hospital often or feel worse overall. For someone who needs to take medication all the time even a small disruption can be very serious. Money problems are another issue. People with illness are more likely to have trouble finding a job and many of them rely on disability benefits or programs that help low-income people. A shutdown can delay these payments, which causes stress right away. This extra stress can make symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks and depression worse. Not knowing how long the shutdown will last just adds to the burden making it harder for people to stay stable. The impact of a shutdown is not about money and it is not just a short-term problem. The emotional effects can last a time after the government starts working again. Ongoing stress, fear and uncertainty can change a persons health in a bad way leading to long-term problems with recovery. People may also lose trust in the systems that are supposed to help them, which makes them less likely to ask for help in the future. For someone who is already struggling losing trust can be very damaging and isolating. To solve these problems we need to do a things. First mental health services should be considered essential so they keep working during a shutdown. This would prevent interruptions in therapy, medication and crisis services. Second we need to have a plan in place to make sure that people who are vulnerable like those who get disability benefits or mental health support keep getting their benefits without any interruptions. We should also make sure that telehealth services are available and protected during shutdowns. Online therapy sessions can help people keep getting care when they cannot see someone, in person. We should also make sure that people know about crisis hotlines and online support groups and that they can access them easily. This can help people stay connected and supported during times. Finally policymakers should prioritize health by investing in community programs that can work independently of federal shutdowns. Building local support networks ensures that people can get care even when the national systems are not working. In conclusion a government shutdown affects people with illness in many ways that go beyond just financial problems. It disrupts their care increases their stress and can lead to term mental health problems. To fix these issues we need to plan change policies and make sure that mental health care is treated as an essential service.