We all have that one person who inspires us to do something. Whether it was a celebrity who motivated you to go on a diet or a friend who encouraged you to travel somewhere new, I have a deep desire and passion to use my skills and experiences to continue serving my community, and I thank my brother for inspiring me to get involved in the community in the first place. On a Tuesday night, my brother and I wanted some late-night snacks. As we were walking towards the store, he turned to me and said, "I want to start a nonprofit for kids." I was quite shocked to hear him say that. He was only five years old and yet was already ready to help those in need. Because of his young desire to help others, I began exploring my own interests in community service by joining a volunteer club at my school. It was there that I realized how to use my creativity to serve my community through projects and ideas. Some of those ideas included making yarn bookmarks for libraries and turning recycled plastic bags into mats for the homeless. Through these creative projects, we inspired over 100 more members eager to share their ideas and help their community. Around the beginning of December, I created a project where I cooperated with the Boys and Girls Club to have the kids create Christmas decorations for the local nursing home. As I was passing out the colored pencils, a little girl came up to me and asked what the paper ornaments were for. I told her they were for the nursing home, and she said, “I’ve never done something for the community before; we never do that.” That was an honest shock to me, and thanks to her and her friends, we were able to donate decorations to two more nursing homes. That was the moment I realized that it was not just my brother, but other kids had the desire to help their communities too. Now that I am in college, I have joined numerous community outreach clubs and events and have even become a volunteer tutor, which has helped me refine my communication, organization, and adaptation skills. As the next semester rolls around, I aim to continue adding knowledge and connections to my artillery and utilizing every community outreach event and skill-building opportunity so I can give back to the community to the fullest. With those skills, I aim to create a website with numerous community project ideas focusing on helping kids serve their communities. Being inspired is a feeling like no other. It motivates you to try something new that can lead to something wonderful. Thanks to my brother's eagerness to help others, I too have found a passion for serving those around me and helping kids like my brother have the opportunity to experience the joy of giving. As I continue my education to achieve my goal of becoming a UX designer, I am also continuing my journey to help communities because one's success should benefit the world, and through my college experience, I aim to change the world.

To this day, I have never been fishing. I have never laid a single finger on a fishing pole or fish bait. Even though I have never been fishing, I do know that fishing requires patience, organization, and strategy. Even though I have never experienced fishing before, I have been able to gain similar skills through my experience as a camp counselor. I know what you might be thinking: How is being a camp counselor similar to fishing? Being a camp counselor requires being patient with campers, knowing how to organize the kids and materials, and making quick and strategic decisions during every hour of the day. Like how fishermen patiently wait for the fish, organize their equipment, and strategically plan which equipment to use. Expressing patience is one of the many characters I have to exhibit while being a camp counselor. I show patience when a camper is being disobedient or simply upset, like when Brennen refuses to play the group game. I show kindness when campers are having a disagreement, like when Madison and Timmy are arguing over who has the best lunch. And I show curiosity when campers have created something or have a story they want to share, like when Drew wants to explain all his magic tricks. Like how a fisherman organizes their equipment and bait, being organized is also something I have had to master, which has allowed me to use ethical working practices. Like being able to support and communicate with fellow counselors. Listening to campers opinions despite their unique ideas. Paying attention to details like signs of neglect or needing more sunscreen. Showing leadership and compassion while managing campers. And even being able to adapt to the wants and needs of campers in different situations, like entertaining the kids who do not want to play certain games. Like in fishing, I also have to be strategic all the time while also being a good sport. Whether that is buying my own materials to entertain my campers or encouraging good sportsmanship through being respectful and listening, For instance, before Jacob and Braxton became the camp's best friends duo, they both would always fight. Every time, I would ask for both sides of their story and make sure they saw each other's perspective. I also have to be strategic in my word choices, encouraging positive behavior, and especially providing creative solutions to conflicts. Being a camp counselor has been a profound learning experience. It's taught me ethical decision-making, organizational prowess, and strategic thinking—all while nurturing my character. Though I've yet to cast a fishing line, I've discovered the same valuable lessons through being a counselor. Like Travis Ely, I want to make an impact on my community by being the best camp counselor I can be, and I want to continue pursuing my degree so that I can use my knowledge and resources to achieve my other goals, like supporting women in STEAM and providing kids with the opportunity to serve their communities. While I look forward to the day I catch my own fish, for now, I cherish the invaluable rewards that being a camp counselor brings.

"Oh wow, is your dad in the military?" That is a question I have been asked numerous times in my life because every time I mentioned I had a parent in the military, people immediately thought I had a buff dad who would force me to do intense military training. In fact, it was quite the opposite for me. Every time someone asks me which of my parents is in the military, I always proudly puff my chest and say, "My mom." My mom is the kindestand the gentlest person I know. What makes me admire her even more is that she defies the stereotype of women not being able to endure military training by driving through sandstorms and enduring the rigors training of American soldier, all while being a shorter than average African American woman.​ ​ We all have experienced moments in our lives where we felt distressing emotions that have shaped us through enduring them. During these moments, you may look up to a friend, a family member, or your favorite artist, and for me, I looked up to my mom. Growing up, I wasn't the greatest at sports or the most social, but I also wasn't the worst artistically or the least intellectual. I was how I felt—nothing special. Due to that feeling, I never tried anything because I feared failing.​ My fears became the source of my instinct to hit a wall and just sit there, wishing I had tried to climb over it. The fear of failure followed me from kindergarten to 9th grade, and as you would imagine, it did not foster the best of emotions. I would constantly feel guilt, loneliness, hurt, frustration, and even rejection. With her bright smile and elegance, my mom served as an example of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. Her kindness and determination gave me the energy and courage to begin pursuing my own goals and passions. She made me realize that it's ok to fail; I’d have to try and fail over and over to earn the skills and experience I wanted to take with me throughout my life. So, I began to actively seek out opportunities for growth and development, pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges. ​ One of these opportunities was a Cisco Cybersecurity Certification Program I applied for and was accepted into. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there was only one girl, me. Stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me believe I was insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to thrive. Although I did not earn a Cisco certification, I gained a desire to support women as they pursue their passions, despite uncomfortable working conditions. ​ My mother had a similar experience in the army. The military is predominantly male, but she challenged herself to assert her place while still being the caring person she is. She even helped other women, like my aunt, feel comfortable and urged them to keep pursuing their goals despite the male dominance. My mom went through the same training the men did and the same punishments the men did, and despite wanting to quite numerous times, she persevered, and that is what I want to do with my life. I want to establish a place in the tech industry where women can feel welcome and be encouraged to pursue their professional goals despite the obstacles and discrimination they may face. Having a strong woman by my side to support me and lead by example is something I will be forever grateful for. My mom is an example of how women are not limited by societal roles. And because of her, I truly believe that if you work hard enough, you can achieve all of your dreams. My mom gave me the strength to persevere, and now I will use that strength to give other women the courage they need to overcome the obstacles in their way.​

I can’t say I’ve always had the “going above and beyond” kind of spirit as a kid, but I can now. Growing up, I wasn't the greatest at sports or the most social, but I also wasn't the worst artistically or the least intellectual. I was how I felt—nothing special. Due to that feeling, I never tried anything because I feared failing. This was a problem I wrestled with for years, and I am still working through it. Despite not fully conquering my fear of failing just yet, taking the steps to do so has built a road where there was none before, all because of the one day of my life when I decided to step up my game. ​ My fear of failing became the source of my instinct to hit a wall and just sit there, wishing I had tried to climb over it. The fear of failure followed me from kindergarten to grade 9.th grade, and as you would imagine, it did not foster the best of emotions. I would constantly feel guilt, loneliness, hurt, frustration, and even rejection. But I never felt bitter or even envious of people who had what I was looking for. Instead, they served as examples of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. ​ The habit of hitting a wall and crying lasted until COVID-19, when we were thrust into virtual schooling. That is when I realized that it's ok to fail; I’d have to try and fail over and over to earn the skills and experience I wanted to take with me throughout my life. I began to actively seek out opportunities for growth and development, pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges. ​ I wanted to be more involved in my community, so I began recommending community projects people could do anywhere, at any time. I wanted to get into sports, so I began exercising and playing sports like badminton at home. I wanted to make friends, so I began talking and introducing myself to people I knew had the same morals and goals as me. All while still putting my education first and maintaining my grades. After the pandemic, everyone was thrust back into school. I was determined to put my newfound confidence to the test and achieve my dreams of having a social life, finding my hobbies, discovering my dream job, and still maintaining my academic success at the same time, and that’s exactly what I did. ​ In 10th grade, I stepped out of my comfort zone and applied for a Cisco Cybersecurity certification program. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there was only one girl, me. Stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me believe I was insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to feel comfortable and thrive. Although I did not earn a Cisco certification, I gained a desire to support women as they pursue their passions, despite uncomfortable working conditions. ​ At the same time, I became president of a volunteer club at my high school. Being president unexpectedly helped me overcome the challenges I was facing while in the Cisco program. I discovered my creative problem-solving skills by creating and executing service projects that members could do anytime and anywhere. I've been involved in the club since freshman year, and during COVID-19, I would suggest ways people could serve the community and earn service hours virtually. Once we returned to school, I was elected president, and I continued creating a plethora of service hour opportunities that benefited different parts of the community. For instance, people had a bunch of paper bags, so I created a project where we recycled them by cutting out shapes and letting kids color them to create Christmas decorations for nursing homes. Another time was when my mom wanted to throw away bags of yarn, so instead I asked members to make yarn bookmark kits at school so others could take the kits and make yarn bookmarks at home, which we donated to libraries. Even now, I use it to create fun and interactive lessons for my tutee, so she can continue to find joy in learning. ​ As a woman entering the field of STEM, I know my goals are tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. By earning my degree, I will not only become prosperous for myself but also to help society in hopes of inspiring individuals, especially women, to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. I also aim to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the joyous feeling of serving others and the importance of education. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion and lead with empathy and determination to empower people to support each other when entering STEM and to empower the community through creative problem solving and providing more opportunities for people to get involved in making a change. Because change can only happen if we support one another. ​ ​ ​

From my Philippine grandfather's journey to America to my Native American grandparents and African ancestors, my family's history is marked by generations of poverty. Before my grandma died, she urged my father to go to college and pull our family out of poverty. He embraced this promise with all his heart and began working towards his degree. Despite a near death accident that forced him to drop out of school, the passing of several family members, and an acciedent that left my uncle unable to walk he persevered and took on three jobs and re-entered college. Earning his degree was just the beginning; he still faced numerous obstacles, including discrimination, and continued to overcome them to assert his place in the tech industry until he was able to move us all to a better place. Education and dedication were an important part of my dad's success, which is why my parents are big on education. ​ ​ Like my dad, I am the oldest, and like him, I have to be an example for my family, but I never felt like I had the skills my dad had to help our family prosper the way he did. I felt like I had nothing worth offering the world and felt like a disappointment in everything my dad worked so hard for, and due to that feeling, I never tried anything because I feared failing. I would constantly feel guilt, loneliness, hurt, frustration, and even rejection. But I never felt bitter or even envious of people who had what I was looking for. Instead, they served as illustrations of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. ​ In 10th grade, I stepped out of my comfort zone and applied for a Cisco Cybersecurity certification program. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there was only one girl, me. Stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me believe I was insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to thrive. Although I did not earn a Cisco certification, I gained a desire to support women as they pursue their passions, despite uncomfortable working conditions. ​ At the same time, I became president of a volunteer club at my high school where I found my love of community service. I discovered my creative problem-solving skills by creating and executing service projects that members could do anytime and anywhere. I created a plethora of service hour opportunities that benefited different parts of the community. For instance, people had a bunch of paper bags, so I created a project where we recycled them by cutting out shapes and letting kids color them to create Christmas decorations for nursing homes. Even now, I use it to create fun and interactive lessons for my tutee, so she can continue to find joy in learning.​​ My dream is to earn a bachelor's degree and help increase the number of women in the tech industry. My goal is to help my family and others find joy in education. And my passion is to use my creativity and other skills to provide children with the chance to serve their communities and feel the joy of giving. These are my goals, my dreams, and my passions. I was blessed with a role model I can push myself to be like, and doing so allows me to grow and helps those around me flourish too. ​ ​ ​

The adversity I overcame in my life has shaped my goals, values, and passions. By going to college and taking advantage of opportunities, I intend to encourage women to enter STEM, so they never feel alone. I also aim to give back to the community, especially by providing kids with the chance to experience the joy of giving back firsthand. As a kid, I felt like I had nothing to offer and because of it developed a fear of failing. I constantly felt guilt, loneliness, hurt, and frustration, but I never felt bitter or envious. Instead, they served as illustrations of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. Only in 10th grade did I step out of my comfort zone and apply for a Cisco Cybersecurity certification program. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there was only one girl, me. Stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me believe I was insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to feel comfortable and thrive. Although I did not earn a Cisco certification, I gained a desire to support women as they pursue their passions, despite uncomfortable working conditions. During the same time, I became president of a volunteer club at my high school. Being president unexpectedly helped me overcome the challenges I was facing while in the Cisco program. I discovered my creative problem-solving skills by creating and executing service projects that members could do at anytime and anywhere. I've been involved in the club since freshman year, and during COVID-19, I would suggest ways people could serve the community and earn service hours virtually. Once we returned to school, I was elected president, and I continued creating a plethora of service hour opportunities that benefited different parts of the community. For instance, people had a bunch of paper bags, so I created a project where we recycled them by cutting out shapes and letting kids color them to create Christmas decorations for nursing homes. Another time was when my mom wanted to throw away bags of yarn, so instead I asked members to make yarn bookmark kits at school so others could take the kits and make yarn bookmarks at home, which we donated to libraries. Even now, I use it to create fun and interactive lessons for my tutee, so she can continue to find joy in learning. As a woman entering the field of STEM, I know my goals are tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. By earning my degree, I will not only become prosperous for myself but also to help society in hopes of inspiring individuals, especially women, to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. I also aim to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the joyous feeling of serving others and the importance of education. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion and lead with empathy and determination to empower people to support each other when entering STEM and to empower the community through creative problem solving and providing more opportunities for people to get involved in making a change. Because change can only happen if we support one another.

My family's history is marked by generations of poverty. When dad was young and his grandma was passing, she urged him to earn a degree and get the family out of poverty. He embraced this promise with all his heart and began working towards his degree. Despite a near death car accident that forced him to drop out of school temporarily, he persevered. Even after the passing of several of our family members and an accident that left our uncle unable to walk, he took on three jobs and kept up with his classes. Earning the degree was just the beginning; my dad still faced numerous obstacles he overcame, including discrimination, and we just kept working hard to assert his place in the tech field. It took him years of focusing on his career and education for him to move to the suburbs and help the rest of my family do the same. Education and dedication were an important part of my dad's success, which is why my parents were big on education. My dad worked hard to provide me with the best education, and to be honest, I did not love school as much as people thought I did growing up. I would spend hours continuously reading, taking notes, and practicing every day, and because of it, I earned the best grades, but even though my grades were perfect, I still felt insignificant, awkward, and even a bit bitter. Like my dad, I am the oldest, and like him, I have to be an example for my family, but I never felt like I had the skills my dad had to help our family prosper the way he did. I felt like I had nothing worth offering the world and felt like a disappointment in everything my dad worked so hard for, and due to that feeling, I never tried anything because I feared failing. The fear of failure followed me from kindergarten to 9th grade, and as you would imagine, it did not foster the best of emotions. I would constantly feel guilt, loneliness, hurt, frustration, and even rejection. But I never felt bitter or even envious of people who had what I was looking for. Instead, they served as illustrations of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. Only in 10th grade did I step out of my comfort zone and apply for a Cisco Cybersecurity certification program, which, to my surprise, I was accepted for. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there were only two girls: me and a girl named Tori. Tori rarely showed up to class, so it ended up being me and 28 guys in a small portable for hours. As you could imagine, stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me constantly frustrated, alone, and overall insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to feel comfortable and thrive in the male-dominated space I was in. Even though I did not earn a Cisco certification, I did gain a desire to assure other women entering the STEM industry that they would never feel the way I did. I want to support them as they pursue their passions, despite how alone they may feel. During the same time in my life, I became president of a volunteer club at my high school. Being president unexpectedly helped me overcome the challenges I was facing while in the Cisco program. It allowed me to feel more confident in my speaking abilities and discover my creative problem-solving skills by creating, planning, presenting, and executing service projects that members could do at any time and anywhere. I've been involved in the club since freshman year, and during COVID-19, I was able to suggest ways people could serve the community and earn service hours virtually at home for my school's Key Club. Once we returned to school, I was elected president, where I continued to use my creative problem-solving skills to create a plethora of service hour opportunities that benefited different parts of the community. For instance, people had a bunch of paper bags, so I created a project where we recycled them by cutting out shapes and letting kids color them to create Christmas decorations for nursing homes. Another time was when my mom wanted to throw away bags of yarn, so instead I asked members to make yarn book mark kits at school so others could take the kits and make yarn book marks at home, which we donated to libraries. Even now, I use it to create fun and interactive lessons for my tutee, so she can continue to find joy in learning. As a woman entering the field of STEM, I know my goals are tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. By earning my degree, I will not only become prosperous for myself but also to help my dad support the family and to help society in hopes of inspiring individuals, especially women, to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. I also aim to continue feeding my desire. to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the joyous feeling of serving others and the importance of education. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I have learned compassion, reasonability, and a feeling of joy. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion. I hope to lead with empathy, determination, and kindness to empower people to support each other when entering STEM and to support community empowerment through creative problem solving and providing more opportunities for people to get involved in making a change. Because change can only happen if we support one another.

The adversity I overcame in my life has shaped my goals, values, and passions. By going to college and taking advantage of opportunities, I intend to encourage women to enter STEM, so they never feel alone. I also aim to give back to the community, especially by providing kids with the chance to experience the joy of giving back firsthand. As a kid, I felt like I had nothing to offer and developed a fear of failing. I constantly felt guilt, loneliness, hurt, and frustration, but I never felt bitter or envious. Instead, they served as illustrations of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future. Only in 10th grade did I step out of my comfort zone and apply for a Cisco Cybersecurity certification program. I understood that there were few women in STEM, but I did not realize I would face that reality so soon. Out of the 30 students accepted, there was only one girl, me. Stepping out of my comfort zone to then be put into a male-dominated environment made me believe I was insignificant and small-minded. Despite feeling these emotions, I pushed myself to feel comfortable and thrive. Although I did not earn a Cisco certification, I gained a desire to support women as they pursue their passions, despite uncomfortable working conditions. During the same time, I became president of a volunteer club at my high school. Being president unexpectedly helped me overcome the challenges I was facing while in the Cisco program. I discovered my creative problem-solving skills by creating and executing service projects that members could do at anytime and anywhere. I've been involved in the club since freshman year, and during COVID-19, I would suggest ways people could serve the community and earn service hours virtually. Once we returned to school, I was elected president, and I continued creating a plethora of service hour opportunities that benefited different parts of the community. For instance, people had a bunch of paper bags, so I created a project where we recycled them by cutting out shapes and letting kids color them to create Christmas decorations for nursing homes. Another time was when my mom wanted to throw away bags of yarn, so instead I asked members to make yarn bookmark kits at school so others could take the kits and make yarn bookmarks at home, which we donated to libraries. Even now, I use it to create fun and interactive lessons for my tutee, so she can continue to find joy in learning. As a woman entering the field of STEM, I know my goals are tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. By earning my degree, I will not only become prosperous for myself but also to help society in hopes of inspiring individuals, especially women, to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities. I also aim to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the joyous feeling of serving others and the importance of education. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I have learned compassion, reasonability, and a feeling of joy. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion. I hope to lead with empathy and determination to empower people to support each other when entering STEM and to support community empowerment through creative problem solving and providing more opportunities for people to get involved in making a change. Because change can only happen if we support one another.

Taking it up to eleven is great, but I like to take it up a few more notches than that. I can’t say I’ve always had the “going above and beyond” kind of spirit as a kid, but I can now. Growing up, I wasn't the greatest at sports or the most social, but I also wasn't the worst artistically or the least intellectual. I was how I felt, nothing special. Due to that feeling at a young age, I never tried anything because I feared failing. This was a problem I wrestled with for years, and I am still working through it. Despite not fully conquering my fear of failing just yet, taking the steps to do so has built a road where there was none before, all because of the one day of my life, when I decided to take it up to eleven. As I mentioned before, the feeling of being a failure was one of the biggest challenges I faced, and because of that fear, it became the source of my instinct to hit a wall and just sit there, wishing I had tried to climb over it. The fear of failure followed me from kindergarten to 9th grade, and as you would imagine, it did not foster the best of emotions. I would constantly feel guilt, loneliness, hurt, frustration, and even rejection. But I never felt bitter or even envious of people who had what I was looking for. Instead, they served as examples of what I wanted to strive for and achieve in my future.  The habit of hitting a wall and crying lasted until COVID-19, when we were thrust into virtual schooling. That is when I realized that it's ok to fail; I’d have to try and fail over and over to earn the skills and experience I wanted to take with me throughout my life.  I began to actively seek out opportunities for growth and development, pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone and take on new challenges. I wanted to be more involved in my community, so I began recommending community projects people could do anywhere, at any time. I wanted to get into sports, so I began exercising and playing sports like badminton at home. I wanted to make friends, so I began talking and introducing myself to people I knew had the same morals and goals as me. All while still putting my education first and maintaining my grades. After the pandemic, everyone was thrust back into school. I was determined to put my newfound confidence to the test and achieve my dreams of having a social life, finding my hobbies, discovering my dream job, and still maintaining my academic success at the same time, and that’s exactly what I did.  During this experience, I learned what I was passionate about and what I am now pursuing in college: a career in UX and a passion for public service. Even though I still have a long way to go to get over my fear of failing, I’ve come farther than a five year old me could have imagined. I’ve learned that I love website design and dread politics. I learned that I am great at making presentations and creative problem solving. Now I feel the confidence and courage to encourage others to get out of their shells and take a chance to pursue what they want, because nothing good is just handed to you; it is earned. I finally learned how to turn it up to 11 and am ready to turn it up even more.

Every child has dreams, goals, and passions that develop and change over time. Over the years, I discovered that my goals were tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. To be honest, I did not love school as much as people thought I did. Growing up, my parents were big on education and made sure that I knew how to take notes and study at a young age. I would spend hours continuously reading, taking notes, and practicing every day, and because of it, I earned the best grades, but even though my grades were perfect, my psychological health wasn’t. For me, school was just a place to watch others enjoy themselves while I missed out on opportunities to resume studying after school. It made me feel lonely, insignificant, awkward, and even a bit bitter.  You would think the pandemic made these feelings more prevalent, but instead it diminished these feelings in total for me. During the pandemic, God flipped a switch in me, and I suddenly became determined to improve myself. I wanted to be more involved in my community, so I began recommending community projects people could do anywhere, at any time. I wanted to get into sports, so I began exercising and playing sports like badminton at home. I wanted to make friends, so I began talking and introducing myself to people I knew had the same morals and goals as me. All while still putting my education first and maintaining my grades. My dedication to community service also flourished during the pandemic. Even though I didn't quite love school, I loved volunteering, thanks to my aunt Tonya. I like to think that my aunt Tonya was the one who started this need to give and learn in our family because she was the oldest. Since she was the oldest, she was the role model, the one everyone in our family looked to as an example of how to live their lives. She was the one who planned games for the kids at cookouts to bring us fun. She was the one who worked long shifts at the disability center to bring people comfort. And she spent Sundays driving people to church to give them hope. Like her, I am the oldest, and like her, I want to show my family and peers that serving the community and focusing on schooling is not a waste of time. In college, I plan to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the feeling of serving others. After the pandemic, everyone was thrust back into school. I was determined to achieve my dreams of having a social life, finding my hobbies, discovering my dream job, and still prosper academically, and that’s exactly what I did.  The pandemic was a hard time for everyone in the world, including myself, because I lost my aunt Tonya. It made me realize that I had to stop letting opportunities pass by and start creating my own. My dream is to earn a bachelor's degree and work in the STEM field for a nonprofit. My goal is to help my family and others find joy in education and serving their community. And my passion is to use my creativity and other skills to provide children with the chance to serve their communities and feel the joy of giving. These are my goals, my dreams, and my passions and I am excited to share them with the world.

Every child has dreams, goals, and passions that develop and change over time. Over the years, I discovered that my goals were tightly intertwined with pursuing my education. To be honest, I did not love school as much as people thought I did. Growing up, my parents were big on education and made sure that I knew how to take notes and study at a young age. I would spend hours continuously reading, taking notes, and practicing every day, and because of it, I earned the best grades, but even though my grades were perfect, my psychological health wasn’t. For me, school was just a place to watch others enjoy themselves while I missed out on opportunities to resume studying after school. It made me feel lonely, insignificant, awkward, and even a bit bitter.  You would think the pandemic made these feelings more prevalent, but instead it diminished these feelings in total for me. During the pandemic, God flipped a switch in me, and I suddenly became determined to improve myself. I wanted to be more involved in my community, so I began recommending community projects people could do anywhere, at any time. I wanted to get into sports, so I began exercising and playing sports like badminton at home. I wanted to make friends, so I began talking and introducing myself to people I knew had the same morals and goals as me. All while still putting my education first and maintaining my grades. My dedication to community service also flourished during the pandemic. Even though I didn't quite love school, I loved volunteering, thanks to my aunt Tonya. I like to think that my aunt Tonya was the one who started this need to give and learn in our family because she was the oldest. Since she was the oldest, she was the role model, the one everyone in our family looked to as an example of how to live their lives. She was the one who planned games for the kids at cookouts to bring us fun. She was the one who worked long shifts at the disability center to bring people comfort. And she spent Sundays driving people to church to give them hope. Like her, I am the oldest, and like her, I want to show my family and peers that serving the community and focusing on schooling is not a waste of time. In college, I plan to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the feeling of serving others. After the pandemic, everyone was thrust back into school. I was determined to achieve my dreams of having a social life, finding my hobbies, discovering my dream job, and still prosper academically, and that’s exactly what I did.  The pandemic was a hard time for everyone in the world, including myself, because I lost my aunt Tonya. It made me realize that I had to stop letting opportunities pass by and start creating my own. My dream is to earn a bachelor's degree and work in the STEM field for a nonprofit. My goal is to help my family and others find joy in education and serving their community. And my passion is to use my creativity and other skills to provide children with the chance to serve their communities and feel the joy of giving. These are my goals, my dreams, and my passions and I am excited to share them with the world.

People have been fighting for decades to solve the issues prevalent in society, such as poverty, discrimination, mental health, and homelessness, and are still doing so today. There have been thousands of solutions that have brought the world closer to becoming equal and just, but we still have a long way to go. As a woman and a minority, I want to help other women and people of color who feel limited by societal challenges such as discrimination and racism through community service. Now, I know what you might be thinking: how can volunteering help solve social issues like racism and poverty? How would you even get people engaged in volunteering?  Volunteering is the perfect solution because it provides a joyful environment for people to work and understand one another. Volunteering requires people to be sympathetic, understanding, and collaborative. People have to work with others of different backgrounds and ethnicities, which helps eliminate stereotypes. The relationships fostered and the work completed through this teamwork create less discrimination based on gender and color, ultimately opening more opportunities for minorities and women. Through my aunt Tonya's influence, I developed a deep passion for community service and making a positive impact on others. This drive led me to become president of a volunteer club in high school, where I utilized my leadership skills to create diverse volunteering projects that catered to various interests and different groups within the community, including the elderly. I was able to encourage my fellow students to discover the joy of giving back and promote a culture of compassion and empathy among my peers. At the end of the year, we had over 80 more members eager to share their community service ideas and to help improve people's lives. Even though my aunt Tonyn is not with us today, I know she would be proud of my efforts and eagerness to help my family and community, just as she did.  Like her, I am the oldest, and like her, I want to show my family and peers that serving the community is not a waste of time. In college, I plan on continuing to feed my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the feeling of serving others. Children are the key to creating a brighter future for our society through community service. By instilling in them the values of empathy and compassion, we can cultivate a generation that is patient, respectful, understanding, non-discriminatory, and culturally sensitive. Which will help eliminate the common cases of discrimination against certain genders, races, and people with certain living conditions. Going to college will provide me with the resources, educators, and opportunities to help accomplish my goals, like providing community service opportunities for kids and for my family to see firsthand how fun and rewarding education can be.

Helping others has been a part of my lifestyle for years and has shaped my career goals and my skills over time. I have learned that there is nothing like the feeling of helping someone at a young age, such as loading their groceries or picking up their dog's poop. My whole family is filled with givers; however, my aunt Tonya has been the biggest example of caring and sharing in my life. Because of her, I have had a need to serve those around me and help people find the same joy I’ve found in my own life through volunteering. In high school, I became a president that helped my fellow students find an interest in volunteering by creating a diversity of projects that could be done anytime, anywhere, and that also benefited different people in the community, like the elderly. And in my family, I made learning fun by making hand-made books and games to help foster a love for learning in my younger family members. I like to think that my aunt Tonya was the one who started this need to give and learn in our family because she was the oldest. Since she was the oldest, she was the role model, the one everyone in our family looked to as an example of how to live their lives. She was the one who planned games for the kids at cookouts to bring us fun. She was the one who worked long shifts at the disability center to bring people comfort. And she spent Sundays driving people to church to give them hope. Even though my aunt Tonya is not with us today, I know she would be proud of my efforts and eagerness to help my family and community, just as she did. Like her, I am the oldest, and like her, I want to show my family and peers that serving the community and focusing on schooling is not a waste of time. In college, I plan to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children with the opportunity to experience the feeling of serving others. At the same time, I want to continue fostering the desire to learn in my family. Going to college will provide me with the resources, educators, and opportunities to help accomplish my goals, like providing community service opportunities for kids and for my family to see firsthand how fun and rewarding education can be. Giving to others and prioritizing education have changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion passed down to me by people like my aunt Tonya to help others. And focusing on showing kids how to use their creativity and energy to help their community and their education is the first step.

Helping others has been a part of my lifestyle for years and has shaped my career goals and my skills over time. I have learned that there is nothing like the feeling of helping someone at a young age, such as loading their groceries or picking up their dog's poop. My aunt Tonya, dad, and grandma specifically have been the biggest examples of caring and sharing in my life. Growing up, I watched them work hard to help coworkers, the church, and, on top of that, the family every day. Because of my family, I have had a need to serve those around me and help people find the same joy I’ve experienced and found in my own life through volunteering. In high school, I began helping my fellow students find their love for volunteering by creating a diversity of projects that can be done anytime, anywhere, that also benefited different people in the community, such as the elderly and kids at the Boys and Girls Club. I like to think that my aunt Tonya was the one who started this need to give in our family because she was the oldest between my dad and grandma. She was the one who would plan the games for the kids at cookouts to bring us fun. She was the one who worked long shifts at the disability center to bring people comfort. And she spent every Sunday taking people to church to bring them hope. Since she was the oldest, she was the role model, the one everyone in our family looked to as an example of how to live their lives. As the oldest, she demonstrated compassion, dedication, faith, kindness, grace, joy, and charity. Each of which you can see in every member of my family. Even though my aunt Tonyn is not with us today, I know she would be proud of my efforts and eagerness to help my family and community, just as she did. Like her, I am the oldest, and just like her, I want to show my family and the people around me how serving the community is not a waste of time. As I head to college, I plan to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children the opportunity to experience the joy of serving others for the giver and receiver. Going to college will provide me with the resources, educators, and opportunities to help accomplish my goal of providing more chances for kids to experience giving to their communities. The world needs a little joy, and there is nothing that brings more joy than helping others. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I have learned compassion, imagination, optimism, empathy, reasonability, and a feeling of joy. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion passed down to me by people like my aunt Tonya to help others. I am determined to commit the time needed to achieve my own occupational dreams and my community service goals, and with your help, I can continue pursuing my educational goals and my community service dreams.

Helping others has been a part of my lifestyle for years and has shaped my career goals and my skills over time. I have learned that there is nothing like the feeling of helping someone at a young age, such as loading their groceries or picking up their dog's poop. My aunt Tonia, dad, and grandma specifically have been the biggest examples of caring and sharing in my life. Growing up, I watched them work hard to help coworkers, the church, and, on top of that, the family every day. Because of my family, I have had a need to serve those around me and help people find the same joy I’ve experienced and found in my own life through volunteering. In high school, I began helping my fellow students find their love for volunteering by creating a diversity of projects that can be done any time, anywhere, that also benefited different people in the community, such as the elderly and kids at the Boys and Girls Club. I like to think that my aunt Tonia was the one who started this need to give in our family because she was the oldest between my dad and grandma. She was the one who would plan the games for the kids at cookouts to bring us fun. She was the one who worked long shifts at the disability center to bring people comfort. And she spent every Sunday taking people to church to bring them hope. Since she was the oldest, she was the role model, the one everyone in our family looked to as an example of how to live their lives. As the oldest, she demonstrated compassion, dedication, faith, kindness, grace, joy, and charity. Each of which you can see in every member of my family. Even though my aunt Tonia is not with us today, I know she would be proud of my efforts and eagerness to help my family and community, just as she did. Like her, I am the oldest, and just like her, I want to show my family and the people around me how serving the community is not a waste of time. As I head to college, I plan to continue feeding my desire to help others by becoming a leader in the community and specifically focusing on providing children the opportunity to experience the joy of serving others for the giver and receiver. Going to college will provide me with the resources, educators, and opportunities to help accomplish my goal of providing more chances for kids to experience giving to their communities. The world needs a little joy, and there is nothing that brings more joy than helping others. Giving to others has changed my goals, my skillsets, my experiences, and ultimately my life. I have learned compassion, imagination, optimism, empathy, reasonability, and a feeling of joy. I want to continue sharing my ideas and passion passed down to me by people like my aunt Tonia to help others. I am determined to commit the time needed to achieve my own occupational dreams and my community service goals, and with your help, I can continue pursuing my educational goals and my community service dreams.

Did you know that 47% of Americans like cake? I am one of those Americans for sure, one of my favorite cakes in the world is a two-layered raspberry lemon cake covered in swirls of vanilla whipped cream. Like the raspberries packed in my favorite lemon cake, my life is filled with goals and dreams. Going to college has been my dream since I was in elementary school. I aim to earn my bachelor's degree in information science, find my dream job, continue serving my community, and continue being an example of a Godly woman. Like how an oven helps a cake bake college is helping me achieve my goals because it provides me the resources and opportunities to intellectually grow and to spiritually connect others to God through clubs and classes. Like a kitchen, the church has been the place where I meet with the chef. It has been the place where I have found my connection with God. The God that pulls out the eggshells in the batter and removes the negative people in my life. The God that mixed up unique gifts, talents, and experiences to make me who I am today. Not everyone has that place or opportunity to connect with God and like a rotten cake, tend to feel unbalanced or hopeless. Growing up I would never mention God despite his miracles. I would always say “I did that” or “It’s all thanks to my parents.” Even though that may be true to an extent God was the one who provided the resources and opportunities for me every day. Not giving him thanks was like not putting the icing on a cake and still calling it a cake, it’s not right. As I entered college my fear of being judged for mentioning his name suddenly faded. I began to give him praise daily, and people noticed. Instead of feeling judged I felt welcomed to glorify his name in any conversation. Once I put God first and began giving him the credit, he deserved I felt our connection grow, and I felt the same in the people around me. I have always had a passion for church and community service so combining them is something I am committed to. I am part of ten clubs, each of which has to complete five service hours. Two of the clubs I am in have volunteered at a Christian farm called First Fruit Farm which harvests and donates 100% of their crops. It is still early in the semester so not every club has begun completing their service hours yet. However, I have offered the clubs to help out at church events and for the church to help at school events. College is one of the places you need God most because it is one of the most stressful times in a person's life. Even though I have gone through trials and tribulations my faith has been strong and my worries frail, all thanks to God. Even though I am a freshman in college I have been able to help introduce God to my colleagues despite my inexperience compared to others around me. As I continue my four years in college, I plan to continue connecting with my peers and the church and being a person whom people feel comfortable mentioning his name. I want to help those around me achieve their goals and feel at peace, even when the oven gets too hot or when they get the worst teacher in the school. But that feeling can only be found in God and trusting him and his word.

I dream, I pray, I know that my future self will be as unique and grand as the alphabet; Active, Blessed, Compassionate, Disciplined, Eager, Forgiving, Gentle, Hardworking, Innovative, Jaunty, Kind, Loyal, Motivated, Nimble, Organized, Positive, Quick-witted, Rational, Self-aware, Trustworthy, Understanding, Virianting, Welcoming, Xenodochial, Yaring, and Zestful.

Did you know that there are over 100 types of clouds? When I was younger I would have considered myself as a light and wispy Cirrus fibratus cloud because I was shy but creative and compassionate. Now I think of myself as a wide cotton-looking cumulus humilis cloud because I am confident, rational, patient, collaborative, and cheerful. As a kid, I never knew what cloud I wanted to be when I grew up. Since I was little I have watched my parents give back to their church, community, and family which spawned my urge to do the same. When I became Key Club president my goal was to help my community by helping others find the same joy in giving I saw in my parents and felt in my own experiences. I aimed to accomplish this goal by creating projects that appealed to the interests of members while supporting the needs of the community. One of those projects was Christmas decorations for the seniors in the senior center that kids could help design. I remember going to help some kids color decorations and one of the little girls said “I have never donated before, we don’t do a lot of volunteering here.” I do not know if she plans on continuing to volunteer in the future, but I do know that the seniors were overjoyed by the number of decorations she created for them. Helping her make the community a happier place made me realize that I wanted to start helping give kids the chance to serve their communities. During this time I was also taking classes like accounting, business, cybersecurity, and graphic design to try and determine what I wanted in my dream career. After High school, I finally narrowed down what kind of cloud I wanted to be and what I wanted as that cloud. I want a job where I can create innovative solutions and presentations, make graphic designs, as well as collect, organize, and analyze data. But most importantly I want a job where I can use my skills in some way to continue serving my community and showing others the joy in it. To accomplish this dream I am attending the University of Maryland, College Park to major in information science. After I earn my bachelor's degree I plan on continuing my education by earning several associates while serving my community and showing others the benefits of education and volunteering. I am very close to achieving my dreams of going to college and finding my dream job. Sadly, achieving dreams always comes with a price and the price of attending college is quite high. Earning the Valiyah Young Scholarship grants me time to focus on my studies and my community and less on whether I can afford to go to school for another semester. With this scholarship, the financial burdens that keep me from putting all my efforts into my classes and my community will be lifted. I can continue to fulfill my dreams to the fullest despite the mental, physical, and financial problems that chase students. My grandma always said that money was a way to filter out who could and could not attend college. I do not want to let that financial filter stop me from obtaining my dreams, I won’t let it. I am doing all I can to pay for college, but I can’t do it alone. Everyone needs a helping hand and this scholarship will help me just as much as the clouds help the earth, and just as much as I intend to help the community.

Do you know any kids that like brushing their teeth or eating their veggies? Most people don’t. Most people think of education and community service as burdens, like how kids think of brushing their teeth and eating their veggies. It's hard for people to see the benefits of community service and education because they are caught up in thinking about what we associate with education, like working hard and spending time on uninteresting subjects. I want to show people the benefits of education and that education doesn’t just mean going to school and learning how to read. It also means discovering and improving one's talents, skills, and knowledge. Even extracurricular activities are considered educational and beneficial because you get to learn and improve your talents, skills, and knowledge whether you're in soccer, book club, or drama. When it comes to book and paper learning, moving to schools where I was sometimes the only black girl in class, and being in a Cisco Cybersecurity program where I was the only girl in the class was an obstacle for me. I felt lonely, the course was fast-paced, and I didn’t even want to pursue Cybersecurity as a profession. Instead of dropping the class I adjusted my mindset and changed my study method to excel in the fast-paced male-dominated environment. Another obstacle that I struggled with for years was transportation. I could not play sports, join after-school clubs, or participate in volunteering events because I had transportation issues. It was frustrating and I felt like I was missing out on all the educational benefits of extracurricular activities like time management, teamwork, and creative problem-solving. Because of this I started playing sports at home and decided to create projects to help the community. I knew other kids had the same problem so I recommended service project ideas to a club I was in until I became president where I then started planning and leading projects that members could do during school or at home so that they could still help their communities despite time and transportation issues. Because of this, my club went from 28 members to 108 members all of whom love serving their community. The obstacles in my life led to educational experiences where I discovered my passion for computers, leading, and serving the community. Through community service, I found confidence, felt joy, and learned how to network, communicate, and collaborate with others. I want to encourage people to pursue education and community service by showing people that learning and serving isn’t a waste of time. They are the key to personal and communal growth, and we all find joy in growth.

“Click click click” “learn learn learn” “talk talk talk” “think think think” “listen listen listen”. Most people despise the repetition of these actions because they associate them with education. Of course, not everyone hates learning. Some people want to continue learning because they want to become smarter. And I do too, I want to continue my education to expand my knowledge and to help others do the same. I also want another powerful thing education provides participants that no one really thinks of; character building. I want to continue learning so I can make intelligent decisions and actions so I can be a positive example to the people around me. Earning the Bright Light Scholarship would help me pay for school so I can focus on earning my bachelor's degree, associate's, and certifications. It will also grant me the time to continue serving my community and strengthen my character to be the best role model I can be for my family, friends, and others around me. Educationally and socially I have a significant amount of ambitions. I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in information science at the University of Maryland, College Park. I plan on giving my school and outside communities a helping hand. I plan on showing and helping people how to pursue their aspirations despite what may seem to be mountains in the road. I also am going to help lead women into STEM and become a leader in the computer industry, despite the few African American women in it. Continuing my education is a sizable part of obtaining my dreams. It allows me to learn things related and unrelated to my future career. Education allows me to harness and acquire the technical and soft skills I will need in my professional and social life. Education also helps me find things I didn’t see in myself before. I never knew I liked digital art, presenting, planning, and learning, I never knew I had a passion for serving my community, I never knew I didn’t like computer science, and I especially never knew I had the ability to lead. Education has opened so many opportunities for me and I want nothing but the same for others. Not everyone gets the luxury of being able to further their education. Some people live in countries that can't provide it, and some people like my family live in places where college is a far-off dream that only the rich can afford. My father did it though, he went to college and led his family to do the same. Furthering my education is the goal, but of course with that you need time and money. I know that $1,000 and the hours I have spent on this essay won’t be enough to achieve that dream, but every penny, every drop, every pebble counts. I would be grateful for this scholarship because it pushes me closer to not only changing my life but being able to change others through my actions and my story.

Having the skills to be a leader is like the flour in a cupcake, it brings everything together and shows the best qualities of everyone. Because of my leadership skills, I have been blessed to be a leader and a role model in my family, friends, and others' lives. Before I was president of Key Club they did not have service projects for people with transportation issues, presentations and service opportunities were redundantly unattractive, and there was little interaction between club leaders and members. As president I showed leadership by making and leading eye-catching and engaging presentations, I created projects that people could do from home, provided service events and projects that appealed to a plethora of different social needs, and made sure members could share, vote, and present their ideas and opinions on the club. During my presidency, my school's Key Club went from 23 members to 106 all of whom now love serving their community. While I was president I was also accepted into a Cisco Cyber Security program. There were 21 boys and only 2 girls including myself. The other girl rarely showed up to class so I was the only girl out of 21 boys for the majority of the program. I felt lonely, the course was fast-paced, and I didn’t even want to pursue Cybersecurity as a profession. Instead of dropping the class I adjusted my mindset and changed my study method to excel in the fast-paced male-dominated environment. Every few months 8th graders would come to visit our portable classroom to learn about the Cisco program. I used my leadership skills to speak to the few girls in the groups to interest them in the program and in STEM by showing them the benefits, possible trials, and by answering questions they had about cybersecurity. The girls would tell me about their goals and I got to share my own too, now there are six girls in the program. I was exhilarated to have been able to encourage them in their pursuit to enter STEM even if it was for a few minutes. Other than showing leadership through actions I also wanted to show people like my family how to be internally compassionate and persistent people. As the oldest I am dedicated to being the best example I can be. I want my siblings and cousins to press on when things get tough, I want them to always think of the solutions instead of the problems, I want them to be passionate about learning and dreaming, I want them to be kind and caring, I want them to confident and self-aware, I want them to be excited about others success as if it were their own. These are all things I do and exhibit because I want them to see that success is possible despite what seems to be mountains in the road. Having the skills and passion to lead was something I found in myself after I stopped being shy and quiet and started being myself instead. Now I get to use these newfound skills to fulfill my dreams and passions. I want to join the effort in leading women into STEM, continue serving communities, and continue being an example of where hard work, kindness, and dedication can take you. I know this is a big dream with big obstacles and exertion, but because of my leadership skills and the other skills I have acquired through it I know I can make my dream a reality despite the long hard climb ahead of me.