Some of the best works of literature start with letters, written by main characters to connect to the reader. Writing is a divine art that I believe is fundamental for the spirit to flourish and thrive. For me writing is everything. I write to express my feelings, share my deepest thoughts, and build a narrative. Sometimes when I cannot express myself I turn to my pen and let my hand run away into wonderland. Writing is my strong suit and is what I believe I am truly good at. In school, English is my favorite subject. In my AP English class, we write often. Many of my peers complain, but I honestly get excited. I have so many thoughts flowing through my brain and I get to let them out when I write. But writing has always had significance to me. When I was younger, my father was shot and killed. To deal with the pain, I would write about my hurt and write about wishing I had him with me. Writing was all I had. The only things I have left of my father are his pictures, his wallet, and the letters he wrote to my mom and me. Writing builds connections that many people may overlook. When I write, I do not have to worry about judgment or feel silenced. I could carry on for centuries if I wanted to. Writing is the scope of imagination. Not only do I write about reality, but I enjoy writing about imaginary characters with similar lives to mine. I believe this is why I enjoy literature as much as I do. Authors cleverly write to express messages and universal themes that people become fond of. Relating to characters and building relationships with people in books makes me feel like I'm not alone in this world. If it wasn't for writing I believe that I would be lost. I have been able to overcome so many challenges in my life by simply taking the time out of my day to write. For example, writing this essay for this application. Writing helps me in the present, but it also helps me in my future. Writing has such a powerful impact on my life and can ultimately change my life. Our words are mighty and meaningful and putting them down in print or digital can allow people to gain your perspective. Writing should not be undervalued because we all need it, especially me.

Being a student-athlete has come with a lot of responsibilities. Being a student-athlete is not an easy task to uphold. I have learned the importance of time management and sacrifice. I am a softball player on my school's varsity team and I love my sport more than anything. I have learned so much about life by just being a member of the team. I have built a community and a family within my team dynamic and it has been the best. Being a student-athlete has shaped me into a leader. I have taken on great responsibility with helping my team make the best decisions possible. I have learned to be an encourager for the people I care about when they are down in the dumps. I have also learned how to take a loss and to be able to accept it and work harder for the next game. All these aspects of softball apply to the real world, but most importantly my future. I want to be a leader and make a true difference in this world. I want to advocate for minorities, build a sense of community with groups of people, encourage people in their hard times, and push for people to work harder. I have learned all these virtues just by being a part of a team. Being a player in any team does not just teach you skills about the sport, but it teaches you life lessons that will take you far in the real world. Student-athletes truly learn what self-discipline is and how to operate it even when it can be hard. Everything that I have learned from softball I often apply it to my other interests outside of my sport. I am in a handful of other clubs and extracurriculars such as four honor societies at my school. I am also a founding member of my school's NAACP Youth Council. Lastly, I am the leader of the first Fellowship Of Christian Athletes (F.C.A) at a public school. In all of these groups, I lead my peers, I manage my time wisely, and I help plan for new ways we can make a difference in someone's life. I have learned all these impactful and charitable ways and more just from being a student-athlete. I am grateful for all the long practices, tough games, and challenging times because in the end I was rewarded with the greatest gift of all, knowledge.

At only three years old, my father was shot and killed. My mother, a teen mom, was left to take care of me by herself. Since my father did not work enough, the government did not supply us with funds after his death. My mother had to work harder and longer hours to provide me with the things I needed. Growing up I knew my father had died and I was jealous of everyone who still had their dads in their lives. My mother eventually found love again and met my stepdad, who already had two children. It was hard blending our families because me and the other kids always argued. My mother and stepdad had a child of their own, a baby girl, who quickly got all the attention and love. I was once again jealous of seeing another child with a father when mine was dead. After my mom and stepdad married, years later they had two more children. Now all of my siblings had the same dad except for me. All of my siblings looked alike, but I didn't. I always felt like the black sheep trying to adapt to all the changes. My stepdad's family always treated me differently from the other children. On Christmas, I received the least amount of gifts. On the gift wrapping, everyone's name was spelled correctly, except for mine, and I was always last to be asked if I wanted a snack. The small situations broke my heart as a child and I would often cry myself to sleep, praying to God that he would bring my father back to life. I always dreamed of what it would be like if my father was alive and I lived with him, but just dreams they were. As I grew up, I quickly realized that I had to stand up and dust myself off. I realized that many people have the same story as me, but it's up to me to change the narrative. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thought of myself as strong, resilient, and powerful. I changed my mindset and saw things in a more positive aspect. I had a guardian angel watching over me forever. I had a spirit that would help guide me through difficult situations. I had a positive aura over me at all times. Although my dad died, I turned all my pain into perspective that my scars do not subtract from my value. Although I was treated differently as a child, wasn't able to build an unbreakable bond with my biological father, and did not get to create many father-daughter memories, I became one of the most kindest and loving people in this world. I treated others how I longed to be treated. I used my voice to advocate for diminishing gun violence. I became so active in my community that I was recognized for all my amazing traits. I am now a founding member of the NAACP Youth Council, the first in my entire region, where I help spread awareness of issues that people around the world and people like me face. My father's stained blood on the concrete created a blueprint to fulfill a legacy. My name will be known and my story will be heard.

I have so many plans for the future that I intend to carry out. I will be attending a four-year university and getting my degree in education. If accepted, I will be going to Harvard University. I have set high expectations for myself, but I believe I am worthy and capable of attending any college I desire. I have worked hard my entire school career and have always taken my education seriously. If I win this scholarship money I will be using it to aid me with my tuition. Harvard is very expensive, but it is my dream school and I want to go! In college, I will be able to make a difference and give everything I have to make it known that I deserve to be there. I come from a low-income household and I am the product of a teen mom and a father who was brutally shot and killed, I want to prove that even though the odds were not in my favor I can still touch success. I want to prove that an African American Female from Baltimore Maryland is highly educated and with her brain, she can make it out of this dreading place. I am constantly applying myself and taking all the opportunities I see. I do not sit back and wait for things to be given to me, I make a way to try and get them myself. I am a hard and dedicated worker and I want to show everyone that I am more than just a statistic. I want to change the norm and the beliefs of people who think that only privileged white kids attend Harvard and show them that anyone can make it that big! I am the first generation in my family to go to college, I am the role model for my siblings and have so much riding on my success. I am the prime example that everyone can go to college. I know it will not be easy, but I am ready for the journey that awaits me. With the help of this scholarship and many others that I have applied to, and others that I will frantically apply for, I hope to get the opportunity to prove to all the people who doubted me that I was not striving too big. I want to succeed more than anything in the world and I will make sure that I complete any steps to do so.

My name is Laelah Lewis-Amis and I am a future teacher. With all the money I receive, I will be using it to pay for my tuition to attend Harvard University. Many people have been telling me that I am striving too high and that I shouldn't get my hopes up to attend this university. I want to change the minds of everyone who thinks that Harvard is only for privileged white kids. I want to prove to them that an African American female from Baltimore Maryland beat the odds and was able to attend her dream school. I want to prove to everyone that a child of a father who was murdered before the age of 21 and a mother who had her at the age of 17 can prove that she is much more than a statistic. I want to prove that my spars do not subtract from my value and that I am worthy of attending any university I want. I am intelligent, hardworking, resilient, powerful, and I deserve to win. Throughout my high school years, I have given back to my community. I am in numerous clubs and extracurriculars that provide acts of service to our community, inside and outside of the school building. I joined a total of 4 National Honor Societies that all involve community service. I am in the National Honor Society (NHS), Math Honor Society, English Honor Society(NEHS), and Science Honor Society (NSHS) chapters at my school. In NHS we dedicate our time to participate in volunteer work. We participate in blood drives, create cards for veterans and children cancer patients, create toys for animals in pet shelters, create and donate friendship bracelets, create and donate blankets, and participate in trash clean-ups around our school. This group has taught me that giving back to others is effortless. Just as little of an hour of my time can impact someone for the rest of their lives. In Math Honor Society we have also created holiday cards for Kids Helping Hopkins and have taken part in other projects to help spread love and joy with our creativity. This club has taught me that giving your service can be fun. In NEHS, we participate in book drives, and litter cleanups, and create cards for elders who may feel lonely during holidays. This club has taught me that donations of old items can feel new to other people. It has taught me that I should not be so quick to give away items and should stop and think about who may benefit from them. Lastly, in NSHS we have participated in many experiments further pushing our scientific brains and enriching ourselves in science education. We have also cleaned up around our school, making it more "GREEN" This club has taught me that keeping our school clean can make our community look better, but it will also make the students and teachers want to come to school. All of my clubs have taught me the importance of community service. These clubs have taught me that I shouldn't ever say "That's not my job to do" because as a person on earth, I must give acts of service. It is with my experiences of community service in high school that I will continue to be active in my community in the future always trying to make the world a better place.

My name is Laelah Lewis-Amis and I am a future teacher. As a kid, I always played "school" and had a class full of imaginary students. I rewarded them on their tests. Sat and talked to them when they cried. Pick a "star student" every day. I even had to raise my voice a little to get them to quiet down. I have always had a passion for teaching and to this day at 17 years old, I still wholeheartedly want to be a teacher. When I entered high school, I enrolled in the magnet program at my school for "The Teacher Academy of Maryland" also known as TAM. I thrived in this class every period and always wished I was back in the classroom. From 9th grade to 12th, I have been able to create a portfolio of work for my teaching education. I have learned about the development of children and how not only their home environment affects them, but so does their school environment. I have learned about how you have to adapt your teaching styles to fit the needs of every student's learning style in the classroom. I have learned so much about how effective having an appropriate relationship with your students is as it relates to their success in the classroom. I have received countless information about what it takes to be a teacher, but knowing all that information cannot just make you a teacher. It takes having the heart and desire to make you a teacher, and I have both. I am currently a student intern at an elementary school and I love what I do every day. I feel like I make an impact on the developing minds of little children. Watching them grow and make every little ounce of progress fulfills my heart. Not everyone is cut out to be a teacher and I know it will not always be easy I will have my days where I feel regretful, but I will push past that temporary feeling and always think back to my bigger purpose. Creating a positive impactful on the lives of hundreds will always be worth any frustration or stress I ever feel. Being a teacher isn't just a job, it is a role and a responsibility that I am willing and ready to take. No matter how many challenges I encounter, I will always come out more resilient.

At three years old I became a statistic. People see me as a happy, always smiling young woman, but behind my smile, a dreadful little girl is weeping for help. From the beginning of my life, I was struck with misfortune, that turned to heartbreak when my father was shot and killed. At only 3 years old I became a fatherless child. I did not get a chance to grow a strong and unbreakable bond with my biological father. I do not have unforgettable memories with him, instead, I am left in the shadows of his remembrance. I am always told that I am my father’s twin. What good is a twin without their other half? Growing up I was filled with pure jealousy for the girls who had their fathers in their lives. I was overwhelmed with envy. Even after the loss of my father, the world did not feel empathetic for me. I was dealt another bad hand. My grandmother was a drug addict and still is. As a child, she always promised me that she would come and pick me up so that we could spend quality time together. On many occasions, I waited for what felt like centuries, and I still await the moment when she chooses her family over substances. As a little girl, I quickly understood the definition of a liar. She damaged my heart and filled it with broken promises. As the years went on everyone moved on with their lives, especially my mother. She had met a new man, who is now my stepfather. As my mother found happiness and a new beginning, I still grieve the pain that had been built up through my childhood. Some people may think that I should be grateful that God gave me a second chance at having a father. I am beyond grateful for his presence and my mom’s happiness, but it’s not that easy. How do you think a girl feels when everyone in the house has the same father as her? It is crushing that I know all my siblings came from the same man, that when I look in the mirror I do not resemble my siblings or their dad. It is crushing being the odd one out. It is a crushing feeling like I am the black sheep of the family, and I often retreat to solitude to avoid having to deal with the discomfort. That was until one day my mother sat me down and told me that I was just as important as anybody else in our household and that she admired my strength to go on. Over the past few years, I have turned my solitude into activism and my pain into positivity. My father’s blood-stained on the concrete has pushed me to advocate for reducing black-on-black crime and gun violence. It is my pain that drives me to fight for the survival of African-American men and women. It is with my pain that I have become a founding member of Parkville High School NAACP Youth Council, where we help fight for change, specifically in Baltimore Maryland. I’ve become a freedom fighter who works to remove all barriers and problems affecting African Americans. It is my crushing losses that will help me shape the world into a place where black people and other people of color will not fear for their lives. Going forward, I will work to instill peace in the world so that black fathers do not have to worry about dying before their children can even say “Daddy.”In college, I will continue to lead and advocate for a change so that little girls at the age of three do not become statistics. The challenges I faced in life were fundamental to my future, and I’m ready to prove I’m more than just a statistic.

At three years old I became a statistic. People see me as a happy, always smiling young woman, but behind my smile, a dreadful little girl is weeping for help. From the beginning of my life, I was struck with misfortune, that turned to heartbreak when my father was shot and killed. At only 3 years old I became a fatherless child. I did not get a chance to grow a strong and unbreakable bond with my biological father. I do not have unforgettable memories with him, instead, I am left in the shadows of his remembrance. Even after the loss of my father, the world did not feel empathetic for me. I was dealt another bad hand. My grandmother was a drug addict and still is. As a child, she always promised me that she would come and pick me up so that we could spend quality time together. On many occasions, I waited for what felt like centuries, and I still await the moment when she chooses her family over substances. As a little girl, I quickly understood the definition of a liar. As the years went on everyone moved on with their lives, especially my mother. She had met a new man, who is now my stepfather. As my mother found happiness and a new beginning, I still grieve the pain that had been built up through my childhood. Some people may think that I should be grateful that God gave me a second chance at having a father. I am beyond grateful for his presence and my mom’s happiness, but it’s not that easy. How do you think a girl feels when everyone in the house has the same father as her? It is crushing that I know all my siblings came from the same man, that when I look in the mirror I do not resemble my siblings or their dad. It is crushing being the odd one out. It is a crushing feeling like I am the black sheep of the family, and I often retreat to solitude to avoid having to deal with the discomfort. That was until one day my mother sat me down and told me that I was just as important as anybody else in our household and that she admired my strength to go on. Over the past few years, I have turned my solitude into activism and my pain into positivity. My father’s blood-stained on the concrete has pushed me to advocate for reducing black-on-black crime and gun violence. It is my pain that drives me to fight for the survival of African-American men and women. It is with my pain that I have become a founding member of Parkville High School NAACP Youth Council, where we help fight for change, specifically in Baltimore Maryland. I’ve become a freedom fighter who works to remove all barriers and problems affecting African Americans. It is my crushing losses that will help me shape the world into a place where black people and other people of color will not fear for their lives. Going forward, I will work to instill peace in the world so that black fathers do not have to worry about dying before their children can even say “Daddy.”In college, I will continue to lead and advocate for a change so that little girls at the age of three do not become statistics. The challenges I faced in life were fundamental to my future, and I’m ready to prove I’m more than just a statistic.

"You are the product of your environment" So why not make your environment a better place? Community service is important to me because I believe everyone should give back to the world and lend a helping hand to those in need. When I started High School I was determined to be active within my school community. I joined numerous clubs and extracurricular activities that involved the work of community service. I joined a total of 4 National Honor Societies that all involve community service. I am in the National Honor Society (NHS), Math Honor Society, English Honor Society(NEHS), and Science Honor Society (NSHS) chapters at my school. In NHS we dedicate our time to participate in volunteer work. We participate in blood drives, create cards for veterans and children cancer patients, create toys for animals in pet shelters, create and donate friendship bracelets, create and donate blankets, and participate in trash clean-ups around our school. This group has taught me that giving back to others is effortless. Just as little of an hour of my time can impact someone for the rest of their lives. In Math Honor Society we have also created holiday cards for Kids Helping Hopkins and have taken part in other projects to help spread love and joy with our creativity. This club has taught me that giving your service can be fun. In NEHS, we participate in book drives, and litter cleanups, and create cards for elders who may feel lonely during holidays. This club has taught me that donations of old items can feel new to other people. It has taught me that I should not be so quick to give away items and should stop and think about who may benefit from them. Lastly, in NSHS we have participated in many experiments further pushing our scientific brains and enriching ourselves in science education. We have also cleaned up around our school, making it more "GREEN" This club has taught me that keeping our school clean can make our community look better, but it will also make the students and teachers want to come to school. All of my clubs have taught me the importance of community service. These clubs have taught me that I shouldn't ever say "That's not my job to do" because as a person on earth, I must give acts of service. It is with my experiences of community service in high school that I will continue to be active in my community in the future. Always trying to make the world a better place.

When I started high school, I quickly became active within my school community. I joined a variety of clubs and extracurricular activities. I am the secretary of my school's National Math Honor Society. In this club, we worked together to complete projects both math and nonmath-related. We completed many charity work projects to help spread love and joy, such as creating holiday cards for kids who are cancer patients. I am also the Executive Chair of my school's National Honor Society. In this group, we complete various charity works for different organizations and help complete many other acts of service to support our community. We have created veteran cards, and pet toys for animals in shelters, participated in blood drives, and participated in trash cleanups in our school community. I am the leader of my school's first chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). In this group, I lead prayers, devotionals, and help my peers come together to push others to success. I am the founding member of my school's NAACP Youth Council, the first high school chapter in my region. In this group, we advocate for the rights and protection of colored individuals with community service and enrichment projects. I am also a member of my school's Science National Honor Society. In the group, we complete experiments and further enhance our science education as well as promote leadership and service. I am also a member of my school's English Honor Society. We take part in various book drives and further push our creative minds. I am also a student-athlete and play softball. My positions include 1st base and right field. Aside from playing the sport, my team is very active in our community. We take the time out of our day to give our service to other teams in need. During other games, we help set up and run stands. We also have built a family within our team and always help each other when in need. I am very passionate about all of my activities because they make me who I am. I have spent multiple years in these clubs and teams and all the hard work I have put in has made a change within myself and has made a change in the world. Others have benefited from my participation and that puts a smile on my face, and warmth in my heart. I will continue to be this active in college and the future.

At three years old I became a statistic. People see me as a happy, always smiling young woman, but behind my smile, a dreadful little girl is weeping for help. From the beginning of my life, I was struck with misfortune, that turned to heartbreak when my father was shot and killed. At only 3 years old I became a fatherless child. I do not have unforgettable memories with him, instead, I am left in the shadows of his remembrance. Growing up I was filled with pure jealousy for the girls who had their fathers in their lives. Even after the loss of my father, the world did not feel empathetic for me. I was dealt another bad hand. My grandmother was a drug addict and still is. As a child, she always promised me that she would come and pick me up so that we could spend quality time together. On many occasions, I waited for what felt like centuries, and I still await the moment when she chooses her family over substances. As a little girl, I quickly understood the definition of a liar. She damaged my heart and filled it with broken promises. As the years went on everyone moved on with their lives, especially my mother. She had met a new man, who is now my stepfather. As my mother found happiness and a new beginning, I still grieve the pain that had been built up through my childhood. Some people may think that I should be grateful that God gave me a second chance at having a father. I am beyond grateful for his presence and my mom’s happiness, but it’s not that easy. How do you think a girl feels when everyone in the house has the same father as her? It is crushing that I know all my siblings came from the same man, that when I look in the mirror I do not resemble my siblings or their dad. It is crushing being the odd one out. It is a crushing feeling like I am the black sheep of the family, and I often retreat to solitude to avoid having to deal with the discomfort. That was until one day my mother sat me down and told me that I was just as important as anybody else in our household and that she admired my strength to go on. Over the past few years, I have turned my solitude into activism and my pain into positivity. My father’s blood-stained on the concrete has pushed me to advocate for reducing black-on-black crime and gun violence. It is my pain that drives me to fight for the survival of African-American men and women. It is with my pain that I have become a founding member of Parkville High School NAACP Youth Council, where we help fight for change, specifically in Baltimore Maryland. I’ve become a freedom fighter who works to remove all barriers and problems affecting African Americans. It is my crushing losses that will help me shape the world into a place where black people and other people of color will not fear for their lives. Going forward, I will work to instill peace in the world so that black fathers do not have to worry about dying before their children can even say “Daddy.”In college, I will continue to lead and advocate for a change so that little girls at the age of three do not become statistics. The challenges I faced in life were fundamental to my future, and I’m ready to prove I’m more than just a statistic.