I am an African American girl from Detroit, Michigan, raised by a single mother. My mother was a teen mom in the early 2000s, she was in her senior year of high school- With that being said, I’m sure you can imagine how much scrutiny and difficulties she faced. Before getting pregnant with me, she was always active inside and out of high school. She was a popular girl, a part of band, a friend to many, and even class president! But after I was conceived, she had to sacrifice some things for my well being. She began to do school from home, but people were jealous of her. They made her lose her role as president because they were bitter that she was still glowing while being a teen mom. Despite the struggle, she graduated on time and she held me proudly. My father was very active in my life, he and my mother were high school sweethearts and childhood friends- but when I was eight he passed away. This was a hard blow to my mother and I. She wanted to get a higher education, but had to wait for me to grow older. But when she finally started attending college and got comfortable, she was sabotaged by her toxic partner. She never did go back, and she regrets that decision. The reason I began this essay telling my mother’s story is because of one thing- My mother is my everything. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I am the perfect replica of her and my father, and I’m proud of it. She has shown me many things, and so I want to give her the credit that she deserves. I have always had a love for art. I've dabbled in all types of art; I always have my nose in books and love creating my own stories. This love for creativity is what inspired me to become a journalist. I want to travel and to use journalism to teach people. I dream to report from all over the world and share diverse voices. I aspire to inspire people, especially young African American women like me, to realize their true potential and pursue their dreams. Throughout high school, I have maintained strong grades and challenged myself with AP and honors courses. But I am not reserved despite focusing on my lessons; I am quite the social butterfly. I'm very open-minded and love connecting with others. I participate in various extracurricular activities, including the Student Council, clubs, NHS, and Link Crew, where I am known as a reliable sister. I take pride in these roles because they allow me to support and connect with others while contributing to my school community. I want to go to college, not only for myself, but for my mom. She wasn’t able to have that experience or choice because of her circumstances, so I don’t want to let this opportunity pass. We don’t have a lot of money because she has three other children, so I’m taking on the responsibility of finding funding. Receiving a higher education can open up so many doors. I can get a good paying job and help support my family. I can finally repay her while also having a career I love. I want to make my mother proud and show her that she no longer has to sacrifice for me. I'm growing up fast and will soon be graduating like she once had. I’m now the age she was when she created me, and I’m just as brilliant and outgoing as my dear mother.

I am an African American girl from Detroit, Michigan, raised by a single mother due to my father passing away when I was young. If I were to leave it at that, one would think I'm trying to beat stereotypes by going to college, or that I'm cliche. But that assumption would be far from the truth. I am in fact, much more than a fatherless girl from the city – I am compassionate, creative, and hardworking. Going to college has been my dream since I was a little girl! I used to stay up late watching shows about high schoolers transitioning to college on TV, and now I am dedicated to making it my reality. I have always had a strong connection to art. I've dabbled in all types of art: literature, film, music, visual arts, and especially fashion. I always have my nose in books and love creating my own stories. The creative sphere is what inspired me to become a journalist; it led me to discover that art and expression are my callings. I want to travel and to use journalism to teach people. I dream to report from all over the world and share diverse voices. I aspire to inspire people, especially young African American women like me, to realize their true potential and pursue their dreams. Aside from my artsy pursuits, one would say I am quite the study bug. Throughout high school, I have maintained strong grades. Challenging myself with AP and honors courses, I can say that I've built a strong enough foundation for my future college classes. But I am not reserved despite focusing on my lessons; I am quite the social butterfly. I'm very open-minded and love connecting with others. I participate in various extracurricular activities, including the Student Council, Book Club, National Honor Society, and Link Crew, where I am known as a reliable sister. I take pride in these roles because they allow me to support and connect with others while contributing to my school community. However, pursuing my dreams comes with hefty financial challenges. As the eldest of four children, I've experienced how it feels to be the last to receive the newest things. It's difficult to stretch one paycheck across multiple needs, and even harder to indulge in wants. My mother has worked hard to provide for the household all on her own. I love her with all my heart, and I know she wants to support my education, but with limited income, there isn’t much to spare for college. That is why this scholarship is so important to me. It would relieve a significant part of the financial burden and allow me to focus on my future without fretting about the cost. This scholarship would allow me to pursue a higher education and experience a whole new world– without a mountain of debt, of course. I could put money into my tuition and supplies to continue my journey of becoming a journalist. Every bit of financial assistance would make a difference, and each dollar would bring me closer to achieving my goal and giving back to the community.

From a young age, I’ve always been attached to my academics because I knew the impact it would have on my future. My family gave up helping me with homework early on because they struggled to understand new-gen education. Due to this, I learned to be independent. I figured out assignments on my own and forced myself to study. People around me claimed that I was an extremely bright child, which may explain the gap between my family and I. As I grew older, it became clear that college was the best path for me and my passions. Higher education can form a door to the future I want, so I want to open it as soon as possible. People have high expectations of me. They expect me to go to college and become someone big. Although I disagree with them, I know that college can help me gain knowledge and practical skills needed to build a solid career. Choosing a higher education will break my family's cycle and open doors we’ve never had, we desperately need that. I want to prove to everyone that I can do something productive and great despite my background. Preparing for college as a first generation student has been very difficult. It takes a great deal of initiative and self motivation, which is hard to uphold while in the beginning of my senior year. Without a network for guidance, I took on the responsibility of researching colleges, funding options, networking opportunities, mentorships, and resources to support me throughout my upcoming college years. Since I didn’t have a support system to guide me through this transition, I personally reached out to teachers and counselors to learn from their experiences. I wanted to know college tips and the reality of it all, so I sought out advice from people who had been through it already. I have managed to keep everything organized by tracking deadlines, scholarship requirements, and necessary documents. Staying organized has been crucial in preparing for college. Beyond college and scholarships applications, I’ve worked hard in high school. I took challenging courses and dedicated myself to maintaining good grades. I've been involved in activities that would build useful skills and a nice resume. These activities taught me responsibility, teamwork, and commitment—all of which I know will be essential in college. I feel confident in the foundation I’ve built. I have extremely mixed feelings about taking this next step because there is so much to do– but that is what makes everything so exciting. I am doing my absolute best and have high hopes for my future.