Redefining Success from the Inside Out By Lanell Mathis In a world that often defines success through narrow metrics—titles, income, and prestige—I’ve come to understand it very differently. To me, success means living a life of resilience, alignment, and impact. It means learning how to turn challenges into momentum, and showing up fully for the people and communities I care about—especially when the path is anything but traditional. Success has looked different in each chapter of my life. As a first-generation college student, it meant navigating higher education without a roadmap, working to fund my own tuition, and persevering through setbacks while maintaining academic excellence. It meant finding ways to support others while continuing to grow myself—through tutoring, volunteering, and championing community improvement efforts that made a difference close to home. More recently, success has meant learning to lead with purpose. I spent nearly a decade working in nonprofit energy efficiency services, coordinating large-scale efforts to make housing safer, healthier, and more energy-efficient for underserved communities. My favorite part of the job was seeing the tangible results: reduced utility bills, warmer homes, and a sense of dignity restored to those we served. I loved aligning energy efficiency and increased sustainability with real-world impact for underrepresented communities—and that experience lit a spark in me that has only grown brighter over time. Now, success looks like returning to graduate school with fresh vision and a strong sense of direction. I’ve been accepted into the Master of Science in Engineering, Sustainability, and Health (MESH) program at the University of San Diego, where I plan to focus on community resilience, food security, and regenerative systems. These aren’t just academic interests—they’re urgent priorities in the communities I’ve worked with, and I want to be part of a generation that creates long-term solutions rooted in equity and innovation. Looking ahead, my goal is to translate what I learn in graduate school into high-impact projects—supporting sustainable development, advocating for systems that serve everyone, and building a more just and resilient future. I want to work in spaces where knowledge meets compassion, and where leadership looks like collaboration, not control. But success isn’t just about what I’m doing—it’s about how I’m doing it. It means showing up every day with intention, integrity, and curiosity. It means advocating for others as I grow—especially for women, nontraditional students, and those whose stories often go untold. It means building bridges, cultivating empathy, and using my own journey as a platform to help others find their own. Receiving the Redefining Victory Scholarship would not only ease the financial strain of graduate school—it would honor the path I’ve taken to get here. It would allow me to focus more fully on my studies, expand my community work, and explore ways to scale sustainable systems that truly serve people and the planet. I’ve learned that traditional markers of success may not always capture the full story—and I’m okay with that. Because for me, success isn’t a finish line. It’s a way of living: grounded, wholehearted, and committed to growth that matters.