Neither of my parents ever attended a college or university. Neither one of them entered or graduated high school or the equivalent of it in my birth country, Ghana - a lack of funds and access prohibited them from doing so. I know for my father, in particular, if he had the chance to finish high school and attend college, he would have. I am certain of this because, even though I never got to fully know him as he passed away when I was 6 years old, on the lock screen of my phone is an old picture of him laying down on a couch with two tomes next to him while reading another, that will resemble my future law student-self. He was well-read but had never received a formal education. Unlike my parents, I have been blessed with a life where I can pursue higher education. This has only been possible through the support given to me by my half-sister/adoptive mother, Kim. As someone who has always been passionate about social justice and civil rights issues, I plan to use my education in law to make a positive impact on the world by working towards creating a more just and equitable society. Specifically, I am devoted to addressing the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. Currently, I am studying International Political Economy at Fordham University. My educational pursuits have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. I have been committed to pursuing a career in public service to address these issues and work towards creating a more equitable society. I aspire to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, focusing on civil rights and social justice issues. One cause that I am particularly passionate about is promoting civic engagement and voter participation. Through my work with Michelle Obama's organization WHEN WE ALL VOTE, I saw firsthand the power that ordinary people have to make a difference in their communities. I believe that increasing voter participation and promoting civic engagement is critical to cultivating a more impartial society. As an attorney, I plan to work with organizations that focus on voter rights and work toward eliminating voter suppression tactics. Another cause that I am dedicated to is promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. As a tutor for South Bronx United, I have seen the impact that education can have on a young person's life and how the lack of proper preparation in high school can deter or decrease the confidence one feels when entering college/university. I believe that every child deserves access to quality education and mentorship, regardless of their background. As a Philadelphia resident and former student in the Philadelphia school district system, I have witnessed firsthand how the school district system fails to provide adequate education, making it difficult for students to attend decent high schools. As an attorney, I plan to work with organizations that provide educational assistance, college admission guidance, mentorship, and other services to underprivileged youth. I believe that my education in law will provide me with the tools and knowledge necessary to make a positive impact in my community. By working to promote civic engagement and voter participation, and foster educational opportunities for underprivileged youth, I hope to create a better future for all. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Chapman for this scholarship and the opportunities it will provide me. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Neither of my parents ever attended a college or university. Neither one of them entered or graduated high school or the equivalent of it in my birth country, Ghana - a lack of funds and access prohibited them from doing so. I know for my father, in particular, if he had the chance to finish high school and attend college, he would have. I am certain of this because, even though I never got to fully know him as he passed away when I was 6 years old, on the lock screen of my phone is an old picture of him laying down on a couch with two tomes next to him while reading another, that will resemble my future law student-self. He was well-read but had never received a formal education. Unlike my parents, I have been blessed with a life where I can pursue higher education. This has only been possible through the support given to me by my half-sister/adoptive mother, Kim. As someone who has always been passionate about social justice and civil rights issues, I plan to use my education in law to make a positive impact on the world by working towards creating a more just and equitable society. Specifically, I am devoted to addressing the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. Currently, I am studying International Political Economy at Fordham University. My educational pursuits have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. I have been committed to pursuing a career in public service to address these issues and work towards creating a more equitable society. I aspire to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, focusing on civil rights and social justice issues. One cause that I am particularly passionate about is promoting civic engagement and voter participation. Through my work with Michelle Obama's organization WHEN WE ALL VOTE, I saw firsthand the power that ordinary people have to make a difference in their communities. I believe that increasing voter participation and promoting civic engagement is critical to cultivating a more impartial society. As an attorney, I plan to work with organizations that focus on voter rights and work toward eliminating voter suppression tactics. Another cause that I am dedicated to is promoting educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. As a tutor for South Bronx United, I have seen the impact that education can have on a young person's life and how the lack of proper preparation in high school can deter or decrease the confidence one feels when entering college/university. I believe that every child deserves access to quality education and mentorship, regardless of their background. As a Philadelphia resident and former student in the Philadelphia school district system, I have witnessed firsthand how the school district system fails to provide adequate education, making it difficult for students to attend decent high schools. As an attorney, I plan to work with organizations that provide educational assistance, college admission guidance, mentorship, and other services to underprivileged youth. I believe that my education in law will provide me with the tools and knowledge necessary to make a positive impact in my community. By working to promote civic engagement and voter participation, and foster educational opportunities for underprivileged youth, I hope to create a better future for all. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Crowson Family for this scholarship and the opportunities it will provide me. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Neither of my parents ever attended a college or university. Neither one of them entered or graduated high school or the equivalent of it in my birth country, Ghana - a lack of funds and access prohibited them from doing so. I know for my father, in particular, if he had the chance to finish high school and attend college, he would have. I am certain of this because, even though I never got to fully know him as he passed away when I was 6 years old, on the lock screen of my phone is an old picture of him laying down on a couch with two tomes next to him while reading another, that will resemble my future law student-self. He was well-read but had never received a formal education. Unlike my parents, I have been blessed with a life where I can pursue higher education. This has only been possible through the support given to me by my half-sister/adoptive mother, Kim. My mother is my whole world. I attribute much of my willingness to enter these roles to my mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion she instilled in me to help others. After my father died when I was 6 years old and without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I didn’t know I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me. It took 4 years for my sister to adopt me since she didn’t know how to begin the process and was just starting her career, after college, as a single individual. My journey to college has been greatly supported and motivated by her, and she continues to inspire me as I pursue higher education and aspire to attend law school. As a single person, dealing with the loss of her father and how to take care of her sister who resided in a different country was a challenge that I didn't fully understand until my teenage years. I am constantly appreciative of the sacrifices my sister made to give me a life that I couldn't have envisioned. She is my primary inspiration for achieving success and a constant reminder to pay it forward. Despite facing numerous obstacles throughout my life, including adjusting to a new environment from a different country, I have remained committed to achieving my educational pursuits, career/life aspirations, and giving back to my community. Currently, I am studying International Political Economy at Fordham University. My educational pursuits have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. I have been passionate about pursuing a career in public service to address these issues and work towards creating a more equitable society. Working with youth groups through organizations such as PA YOUTH VOTE, SOUTH BRONX UNITED, and WHEN WE ALL VOTE, has further cemented my goals to build a better social, and educational environment for those in need. I aspire to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, focusing on civil rights and social justice issues. I want to express my deepest gratitude for this scholarship and the opportunities it will provide me. Thank you for your generosity and support.

As someone who was adopted from Ghana by my half-sister at the age of 10, I understand the importance of having a support system and a strong sense of community. Growing up in a single-parent household, after losing my father at the age of 6 - having an absentee mother, I quickly learned the value of hard work, determination, and perseverance. Despite facing numerous obstacles throughout my life, including adjusting to a new environment from a different country, I have remained committed to achieving my educational pursuits, career/life aspirations, and giving back to my community. Currently, I am studying International Political Economy at Fordham University. My educational pursuits have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the political, social, and economic issues facing communities of color in the United States and abroad. I have been passionate about pursuing a career in public service to address these issues and work towards creating a more equitable society. I aspire to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law, focusing on civil rights and social justice issues. In addition to my academic achievements, I have also been actively involved in my community. I was honored to receive Pennsylvania's Governor's Civic Engagement Award 2x for my work registering over 90% of the eligible students at my high school and working on the national voter registration campaign headed by Michelle Obama’s organization WHEN WE ALL VOTE. This experience not only provided me with an opportunity to meet the former first lady but also inspired me to continue to be a champion for civic engagement and social justice issues. I also volunteer as a tutor for South Bronx United, an organization that leverages soccer as a tool for societal transformation by merging sports with educational assistance, college admission guidance, mentorship, immigration legal assistance, and other services. This experience has allowed me to give back to the community in a meaningful way and make a positive impact on the lives of young people. Despite my achievements, I currently owe over $30,000 in student loans. If I were to receive financial assistance to pay down my student loans, I would use the money to continue to pursue my education and career aspirations as I work to enter law school. I firmly believe that education is the key to creating a better future for myself and my community. By investing in my education, I will be better equipped to address the systemic issues facing communities of color and work towards creating a more just and equitable society.

I was born in Ghana, a nation in sub-Saharan Africa that is steeped in rich culture, language, and history. I only lived with my father - having an absent mother. When my father passed away when I was only six years old, I was left as an orphan without a mother. Despite the heart-wrenching event, it introduced me to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. After the death of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me, a process which took four years since she was just beginning her career after college as a single individual and didn't know where to begin. I arrived in the United States at the age of ten in November of 2012, frightened since it was my first time on an airplane, yet thrilled because I would be living with my sister. Looking back, I realize that every obstacle and uncertain event, from losing my father to adjusting to a new school and environment, has played a vital role in shaping me into the resilient person I am today. As an individual who is pursuing higher education, I have come to realize the value of learning and its ability to shape a person's future. Despite attending a great though underfunded high school, I have experienced moments where I felt inadequate or uninformed academically, in comparison to my peers, in some college environments. However, I have used these situations to my advantage, recognizing them as opportunities for growth. While my education has given me a competitive edge in some areas, I believe there is room for improvement. My involvement with PA YOUTH VOTE, a non-profit organization focused on empowering young people, has been a significant part of my journey. I have had the privilege of organizing a forum theatre production on voting and youth civic engagement, which we presented at the Philadelphia Mayor's office during Philly youth engagement week. My role in this organization has allowed me to educate students on expressing their opinions on issues that affect them, such as school funding and voter education in schools. As an undergraduate studying International Political Economy at Fordham University, I have also collaborated with high school students on our team podcast, providing them with an enjoyable experience and a platform to discuss their aspirations and challenges in school while remaining true to themselves. My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer who can advocate for underprivileged individuals who lack resources. As a Philadelphia resident, I have witnessed firsthand how the school district system fails to provide adequate education, making it difficult for students to attend decent high schools. I aim to create secure communities that offer necessities, such as access to an education that prepares students for college. I intend to gain a deeper understanding of public policy concerns in the United States through my enrollment in the pre-law program at Fordham University. By leveraging my legal expertise, I hope to make a positive impact on my community in Philadelphia and beyond, ensuring that children can pursue their passions with equal opportunities.

As an individual who has pursued higher education, I have come to realize the value of learning and its ability to shape a person's future. Despite attending an excellent high school, I have experienced moments where I felt inadequate in some college environments. However, I have used these situations to my advantage, recognizing them as opportunities for growth. While my education has given me a competitive edge in some areas, I believe there is room for improvement. My involvement with PA YOUTH VOTE, a non-profit organization focused on empowering young people, has been a significant part of my journey. I have had the privilege of organizing a forum theatre production on voting and youth civic engagement, which we presented at the Philadelphia Mayor's office during Philly youth engagement week. My role in this organization has allowed me to educate students on expressing their opinions on issues that affect them, such as school funding and voter education in schools. As an undergraduate studying International Political Economy at Fordham University, I have also collaborated with high school students on our team podcast, providing them with an enjoyable experience and a platform to discuss their aspirations and challenges in school while remaining true to themselves. Furthermore, I am a volunteer tutor at South Bronx United, an organization that combines sports with educational assistance, college admission guidance, mentorship, immigration legal assistance, and other services. I take great pride in the work I do with high school students who struggle with math. I have been able to use my patience and attentive teaching skills to help them improve their problem-solving abilities and boost their confidence in the subject. Being part of an organization that merges sports and education has allowed me to witness the transformative power of athletics on social change. South Bronx United not only provides academic support and resources but also instills valuable lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, and goal-setting, which translate into academic success and personal growth for the students I work with. My ultimate goal is to become a lawyer who can advocate for underprivileged individuals who lack resources. As a Philadelphia resident, I have witnessed firsthand how the school district system fails to provide adequate education, making it difficult for students to attend decent high schools. I aim to create secure communities that offer necessities, such as access to an education that prepares students for college. I intend to gain a deeper understanding of public policy concerns in the United States through my enrollment in the pre-law program at Fordham University. By leveraging my legal expertise, I hope to make a positive impact on my community in Philadelphia and beyond, ensuring that children can pursue their passions with equal opportunities.

I was born in Ghana and I am happy that Catrina got to visit my country. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister decided to adopt me. It took her 5 years but I was finally adopted and able to come to America. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - as I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system in Philadelphia isn’t good. I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of opportunities. I became Vice-president of the Voter registration team, Founding Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in high schools. I wish to help build a safe community that provides basic necessities such as food & water, and a meritorious education to all people. Ever since I took my first social studies class, I’ve had an interest in government. There are many ways a lawyer can make an impact in the world. The life Catrina led as a lawyer, helping others, especially the less fortunate, who are far too often ignored, is inspirational and a reflection of what I plan to accomplish in my legal career. I grew up in a country, Ghana, where children working rather than receiving a proper education is normalized. Also, I currently live in a poverty-stricken community, Philadelphia, where the school-district system has failed to provide proper education for students and has made it a competition for students to get into an excellent high school. As a graduate of one of the best-ranked high schools in Philadelphia, and having taken 5 Advanced Placement classes, two specializing in research studies, I understand the level of work needed to pass advanced-level courses and some of the possible challenges younger students may face. I continue to be a resource for them while I expand my education as an International Political Economy (IPE) major at Fordham University. I want to expand my studies by furthering my understanding of the public policy issues of the United States. One of the steps I have taken thus far is enrolling in the pre-law symposium course at Fordham, where I learned from many lawyers in different fields the paths they took to reach their position as legal experts. I hope to use my legal expertise to improve my community in Philadelphia and other areas so that children are given a fair chance at exploring their own passions. Thank You!

Both of my parents never attended a college or university. Neither one of them even graduate high school or the equivalent of it in my birth country, Ghana. If given the chance, I know they would have wanted to further their education, however, some circumstances in their life never permitted them the opportunity. I know for my father, in particular, if he had the chance to finish high school and attend college, he would. I know this because, even though I never got to know him as he passed away when I was 6 years old, on my locked screen is a old picture of him laying down on a couch by two tomes while reading another, that would make my future law student-self squirm as I open it to read the content covering its pages. I have been blessed with a life where I am able to pursue higher education. I believe it is important to understand the amount of power and level of value a person is able to bring into a room when they are well-educated. Knowledge is priceless. It is a value that cannot be taken from you and in the changing economy, as I learned in one of the courses I took this semester at Fordham University, it is needed in order to set yourself apart from the pack in the job market. Besides that, college is awesome. It is your last chance at making incredible long-lasting friendships, and making connections with international people whose cultures may pique your interests. More so, you get to join many different clubs and if you aren’t that athletic but still want to join a sports team - like me - intramural clubs are a great option. Most importantly, you don’t have to have it all figured out when you get there. You get to spend 4 years in an institution with professors and staff members that are willing to help mentor you and position you for the future career that you would like, even if you are an undecided major. Trust me, like high school it will be over before you know it and you may miss it. I already do and it is only the summer after my first year.

My mother is my whole world. I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me. It took 4 years for my sister to adopt me since she didn’t even know how to begin the process by herself as a single-individual, but I was finally able to come to America because she never gave up. There were moments throughout the years of waiting that the idea of me being accepted into the U.S. and moving closer to my family seemed hopeless. However, the countless trips my half-sister took yearly to visit me made it better. When the time finally came in November of 2012, I was scared because it was my first time on a plane, sad because I was leaving my care-giver of 4 years, and excited because I would be living with my sister, my mother. In addition, I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother balancing work and taking a 10 year old to school. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. All throughout my years in middle school, I tried my best to ask for as little help as possible from my mother since I could tell how hard of a job she had. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. This was surprising for both my mother and I since she didn’t need to do that when she transitioned schools. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. I joined various clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Captain of my junior varsity basketball team, Vice-president of voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. I attribute much of my willingness to enter these roles to my mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion she instilled in me to help others. I hope I can get this scholarship so my mother doesn’t have to worry about my education as I pursue my Bachelor’s degree. Thank You!

Prior to covid-19, one of my favorite places to volunteer was at the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) food kitchen. I helped prepare and package medically appropriate meals for neighbors who are battling severe illnesses. Volunteering at MANNA was a way for me to give back to a community that has already given me so much. I have been able to make Philadelphia my home as an immigrant from Ghana, and learn about new cultures in this city. I have been able to meet many different people while working there, including the famed Tuesday crew with their retired old-age wisdom and good-natured jokes. I have worked in most corners of the kitchen: packaging fruits, making burgers, stirring the big soup pots, and showing new volunteers how to manage different tasks. Not only do they have an amazing staff and dedicated volunteers, like myself, but the food always smells incredible. I love working at the soup section, the aroma of homemade chicken noodle soup or vegetarian MANNA Minestrone always makes me hungry. The community of people helping to create these dishes reminded me of our big Sunday dinners in Ghana, where it took several relatives to create delicious traditional dishes. It takes a village. MANNA’s mission is to provide nourishment to those living at nutritional risk due to life-threatening illness. I am happy to be able to help with this mission. Unfortunately, due to covid-19 I had to stop my volunteer work at MANNA after 141 hours of volunteer work, so that I could prevent my family from catching the virus. Fortunately I was able to transition into an online form of volunteer work. I volunteered for Ambassador Fellow at When We All Vote. While a part of this program, I collaborated alongside National Regional Organizers to shape the ideas, outputs, and long-term trajectory of our national program. I also created a blueprint and deployed tactics using Instagram DMs, virtual class visits, and peer-to-peer messaging to help register over 30,000 young people nationally in just 7 months. In addition, I planned and facilitated conversations during weekly meetings, and focused my state's team on delivering voter registration presentations in classrooms during the week of action, as well as created original content for official MSV social media pages: @whenphilyvotes, @ghsvotes, @votethatjawnchs. I also helped host voter registration drives all across the city of Philadelphia and in many schools in the city. At the end of my work with this incredible organization, I was featured in an article by USA Today. I moved on to help create a new more state-based organization called PA YOUTH VOTE with the same initiative as When We All Vote. I personally worked to recruit students and provide leadership opportunities where students could lead presentations for other students on civic-related topics, create graphics/posters that are informative and showcase their artistry, and more. Through my work, I have been able to meet a lot of students in different schools across Philadelphia and build friendships. I have also been able to build my own leadership skills and help them develop their own - which is the most rewarding part. I attribute much of my work to my mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion she instilled in me to help others. I hope I can get this scholarship so my mother doesn’t have to worry about my education as I pursue my Bachelor’s degree. Thank You!

My mother is my whole world. I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me. It took 4 years for my sister to adopt me since she didn’t even know how to begin the process by herself as a single-individual, but I was finally able to come to America because she never gave up. There were moments throughout the years of waiting that the idea of me being accepted into the U.S. and moving closer to my family seemed hopeless. However, the countless trips my half-sister took yearly to visit me made it better. When the time finally came in November of 2012, I was scared because it was my first time on a plane, sad because I was leaving my care-giver of 4 years, and excited because I would be living with my sister. In addition, I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother balancing work and taking a 10 year old to school. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. All throughout my years in middle school, I tried my best to ask for as little help as possible from my mother since I could tell how hard of a job she had. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. This was surprising for both my mother and I since she didn’t need to do that when she transitioned schools. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. I joined various clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Captain of my junior varsity basketball team, Vice-president of voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. I attribute much of my willingness to enter these roles to my mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion she instilled in me to help others. I hope I can get this scholarship so my mother doesn’t have to worry about my education as I pursue my Bachelor’s degree. Thank You!

I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister decided to adopt me. It took 5 years for my sister to adopt me since she didn’t even know how to begin the process, but I was finally able to come to America because she never gave up. I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother, though I still struggled. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. I joined various clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Captain of my junior varsity basketball team, Vice-president of voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. I attribute much of my willingness to enter these roles to my half-sister/mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion I have for helping others. My aspirations in life are to help build a community that is safe and provide basic necessities such as food & water and education to all people. I wish to help develop more sound economies to benefit children both domestically and internationally. One of my immediate goals is to help tutor young children and provide support and guidance to them as they take on educational challenges. As a graduate of Central High School, and having taken 5 Advanced Placement classes, two specializing in research studies, I understand the level of work needed to pass advanced level courses and some of the possible challenges younger students may face. I will continue to be a resource for them while I expand my education as an International Political Economy major at Fordham University. I want to expand on my studies so I can better my understanding of the public policy issues of the United States and how it relates to other regions of the world. Thank you!

I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister decided to adopt me. It took 5 years but I was finally adopted and able to come to America. I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother, though I still struggled. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of how to succeed or what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. By taking advantage of these opportunities, I joined various clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Vice-president of the voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. It was difficult entering these roles, especially since I’m an introvert. I attribute much of my willingness to reach outside of my comforts to my half-sister/mother, who is the hardest working person I know, and the passion I have for helping others. My aspirations in life are to help build a community that is safe and provide basic necessities such as food & water, and education to all people. I wish to help develop more sound economies to benefit children both domestically and internationally. One of my immediate goals is to help tutor young children and provide support and guidance to them as they take on educational challenges. As a graduate of one of the best-ranked high schools in Philadelphia, and having taken 5 Advanced Placement classes, two specializing in research studies, I understand the level of work needed to pass advanced-level courses and some of the possible challenges younger students may face. I will continue to be a resource for them while I expand my education as an International Political Economy (IPE) major at Fordham University. I want to expand my studies by furthering my understanding of the public policy issues of the United States and how it relates to the other regions of the world. My studies as an IPE major will help to increase my knowledge of international affairs, businesses, and non-profit organizations to create my own non-profit organization centered on child education and more. My passion to create a better environment for those younger than me has always been a motivating factor in my life. As a result, I helped to create a non-profit organization called PA YOUTH VOTE that works to enable students to become more civically engaged members of their community. I personally worked to recruit students and provide leadership opportunities such as leading presentations for other students on civic-related topics, creating graphics/posters that are informative and showcase their artistry, and more. I plan to continue to bring civics into the education of all children because the youth voice in and comprehension of government matters. Thank you!

I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, art, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me. It took 5 years but I was finally adopted and able to come to America. I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother, though I still struggled. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of how to succeed or what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. I joined various clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Captain of my junior varsity basketball team, Vice-president of voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. I attribute much of my willingness to enter these roles to my half-sister/mother, the hardest working person I know, and the passion I have for helping others. My passion to create a better environment for those younger than me, by helping to educate them, has always been a motivating factor in my life. As a result, I helped to create a non-profit organization called PA YOUTH VOTE that works to enable students to become more civically engaged members of their community. I personally worked to recruit students and provide leadership opportunities such as leading presentations for other students or creating graphics/posters that are informative and showcase their artistry and more. One of my immediate goals is to help tutor young children and provide support and guidance to them as they take on educational challenges. Being a graduate of Central High School, and having taken 5 Advanced Placement classes, two specializing in research studies, I understand the level of work needed to pass Advanced level courses and some of the possible challenges younger students may face. I will continue to be a resource for them while I expand my education as an International Political Economy major at Fordham University. I plan to continue to bring civics in the education of black children because our voice in and comprehension of government matters. Thank you!

I was born in Ghana, a country in sub-Saharan Africa, rich in culture, language, art, and history. In Ghana, I only lived with my father, having an absentee mother. However, my father died when I was just 6 years old. Without a mother present, I became an orphan. This incident, though devastating, brought me closer to a family I never knew I had. Although I was born in Ghana, they were born and raised in the United States. These unknown relatives were my adult half-siblings from my father’s marriage when he lived in the United States. After the loss of our father, my half-sister, Kim, decided to adopt me. It took 5 years but I was finally adopted and able to come to America. I was blessed to be given a chance at an education in America, however, it did not come without its challenges. Although I was fortunate to receive an education in Ghana, prior to coming to America, I was behind in most of my subjects. My half-sister/mother helped me where she could as a newly single mother, though I still struggled. With time and effort, I was able to grasp the new teaching style and the materials being taught in class for both my elementary and middle school years. High school brought on additional obstacles. The journey into high school for me was similar to college - I had to apply to the high school I wanted to attend because the public school system isn’t good. I was once again placed in a new environment with little understanding of how to succeed or what success looked like in the end, but I had worked hard to gain good grades in order to be accepted into a great public high school with a lot of different opportunities. By taking advantage of these opportunities, I joined various sports teams, clubs, and organizations and often took up leadership roles such as Captain of my junior varsity basketball team, Vice-president of voter registration team, Ambassador for Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship, and more. I was also an Ambassador Fellow for When We All Vote, a non-profit organization started by Michelle Obama to help close the race and age voting gap, where I led a group of students in Philadelphia to create voter registration clubs in schools. It was difficult entering these roles, especially since I’m an introvert. I attribute much of my willingness to reach outside of my comforts to my half-sister/mother, who is the hardest working person I know, and the passion I have for helping others. My passion to create a better environment for those younger than me, by helping to educate them, has always been a motivating factor in my life. As a result, I helped to create a non-profit organization called PA YOUTH VOTE that works to enable students to become more civically engaged members of their community. I personally worked to recruit students and provide leadership opportunities such as leading presentations for other students or creating graphics/posters that are informative and showcase their artistry and more. One of my immediate goals is to help tutor young children and provide support and guidance to them as they take on educational challenges. Being a graduate of Central High School, and having taken 5 Advanced Placement classes, two specializing in research studies, I understand the level of work needed to pass Advanced level courses and some of the possible challenges younger students may face. I will continue to be a resource for them while I expand my education as an International Political Economy major at Fordham University. Thank you!