Every day, we wake up and deal with the demands of life, but we rarely stop to consider the importance of self-care. For me, nothing is more fulfilling than creating a space where someone feels comfortable enough to relax, quiet their mind, and truly decompress. Working in the nonprofit sector, I’ve seen firsthand the toll that self-neglect can take on both mental and physical well-being. Sometimes, that neglect even shows up in the skin. When clients visit me at school, I love being able to help them feel refreshed, confident, and just a little more at ease — giving them the clarity and calm they need to face life’s decisions. Cosmetology has always been a passion of mine, but growing up in a marginalized community meant I didn’t have access to the resources or support to pursue it early in life. Instead, my path led me into technology, where I worked hard to earn certifications in software engineering and application administration, including Salesforce, Airtable, and Jira. With these skills, I was able to help build the infrastructure for my organization, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people at risk of homelessness, lacking access to healthcare, struggling with food insecurity, and unemployment. Working in this nonprofit space gave me a deeper understanding of how neglecting basic needs can affect every aspect of a person’s life. It also helped me rediscover my original passion — cosmetology. This time, however, my focus shifted from hair to skincare and makeup. I realized that self-care is often treated as a luxury when, in reality, it is a necessity. Taking care of oneself is essential for mental clarity, confidence, and overall well-being. Something as simple as feeling refreshed in your skin or confident in your appearance can make a tremendous difference in the way a person shows up for themselves and makes decisions in life. My goal is to use my education in cosmetology to create spaces where people feel seen, cared for, and empowered. I want to bridge my background in technology, nonprofit work, and beauty to design services that make self-care more accessible, especially to those who, like me, grew up without access to such resources. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education but also give me the tools to transform my passion into a career that allows me to serve my community in a new, impactful way. I am deeply motivated to show that cosmetology is more than just beauty — it is about wellness, confidence, and dignity. With your support, I can continue building a future where self-care is not considered a privilege, but a right.

I am a survivor of domestic violence, and that experience has shaped every part of who I am today. Living through it gave me firsthand understanding of how trauma affects the mind, body, and spirit. It is not something that ends the moment you leave, it lingers in the form of self-doubt, fear, and sometimes even neglect of your own well-being. As an African American woman, I also know how cultural stigmas and systemic barriers can make it harder to access the care and support needed to heal. These experiences have fueled my commitment to creating spaces where women like me can restore confidence, dignity, and peace of mind. My journey did not unfold the way I once imagined. As a young woman, I dreamed of becoming a cosmetologist, but growing up in a marginalized community meant I lacked the resources and support to pursue that dream. Instead, I turned toward technology, where I earned certifications in software engineering and application administration. I became skilled in platforms such as Salesforce, Airtable, and Jira, and used those skills to help build infrastructure for the nonprofit where I work today. Working in the nonprofit sector gave me a unique perspective. Every day, I see the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment, and the long-term effects of domestic violence and substance abuse. I also see how fragmented systems and poor communication between service providers often leave women without the comprehensive care they need. This showed me that addressing trauma requires more than emergency support, it requires coordination, compassion, and tools that empower women to rebuild their lives. At the same time, I rediscovered my original passion for cosmetology. My focus, however, shifted from hair to skincare and makeup. I came to understand that self-care is not superficial; it is a form of healing. For survivors, something as simple as feeling confident in your skin or taking time to nurture yourself can be life-changing. It can restore clarity, encourage resilience, and give women the strength to make decisions that move them forward. My goal is to bridge my background in technology, nonprofit service, and cosmetology to create holistic programs that improve outcomes for African American women impacted by domestic violence and substance abuse. With the knowledge I gain through higher education, I plan to develop services that not only provide beauty and skincare, but also connect women to resources, encourage peer support, and strengthen communication between survivors and providers. I envision creating community-based spaces where women can access both practical support and opportunities for self-care, recognizing that wellness is a necessity, not a luxury. This scholarship would allow me to take the next step in making this vision a reality. It would support my education, give me the tools to expand my impact, and help me transform my passion into a career that uplifts African American women. As a survivor, I know how powerful it is to be reminded of your worth and to be given the chance to start again. With your support, I am committed to building a future where survivors are not just surviving, but truly thriving.

Every day, we wake up and deal with the demands of life, but we rarely stop to consider the importance of self-care. For me, nothing is more fulfilling than creating a space where someone feels comfortable enough to relax, quiet their mind, and truly decompress. Working in the nonprofit sector, I’ve seen firsthand the toll that self-neglect can take on both mental and physical well-being. Sometimes, that neglect even shows up in the skin. When clients visit me at school, I love being able to help them feel refreshed, confident, and just a little more at ease, giving them the clarity and calm they need to face life’s decisions. Cosmetology has always been a passion of mine, but growing up in a marginalized community meant I didn’t have access to the resources or support to pursue it early in life. Instead, my path led me into technology, where I worked hard to earn certifications in software engineering and application administration, including Salesforce, Airtable, and Jira. With these skills, I was able to help build the infrastructure for my organization, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people at risk of homelessness, lacking access to healthcare, struggling with food insecurity, and unemployment. Working in this nonprofit space gave me a deeper understanding of how neglecting basic needs can affect every aspect of a person’s life. It also helped me rediscover my original passion — cosmetology. This time, however, my focus shifted from hair to skincare and makeup. I realized that self-care is often treated as a luxury when, in reality, it is a necessity. Taking care of oneself is essential for mental clarity, confidence, and overall well-being. Something as simple as feeling refreshed in your skin or confident in your appearance can make a tremendous difference in the way a person shows up for themselves and makes decisions in life. My goal is to use my education in cosmetology to create spaces where people feel seen, cared for, and empowered. I want to bridge my background in technology, nonprofit work, and beauty to design services that make self-care more accessible, especially to those who, like me, grew up without access to such resources. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education but also give me the tools to transform my passion into a career that allows me to serve my community in a new, impactful way. I am deeply motivated to show that cosmetology is more than just beauty, it is about wellness, confidence, and dignity. With your support, I can continue building a future where self-care is not considered a privilege, but a right.