Growing up I wasn’t the favorite child because I was the youngest in the family. Every family event, everyone asked for my brother. “Where’s your brother?” became a never ending statement from my cousins, aunties, grandparents, and family friends. With this reality, I created my own community. I am an 18 year old entrepreneur and became well known around my community. My clients and my brand are my community. Meeting new people and building something I love over the past 4 years has allowed me to grow as a person and give back to the community I created. This includes, coming out of my shell, organizing back to school giveaways, and being a mentor to young ladies who does not have the support at home who are interested in starting their own business as well. Having the opportunity to be considered a leader in my community and changing young individuals lives is my purpose. I am currently a high school senior with a 4.4 GPA, taking all honors, Dual enrollment , and AP courses planning to further my eduction in business management. I plan to continue to give back to the people who supported me and my dreams. I am living my mine and everyone should have the opportunity to live theirs.

The first time I earned my own money didn’t come from a typical job. It came from a folding table, a steady hand, and the courage to turn my creativity into a business. At a young age, I realized that ambition is not just a dream, but action. Building my nail business taught me responsibility, discipline, and confidence before most people expect a teenager to learn those lessons. I am a motivated high school senior who believes in working toward goals with intention and persistence. I maintain a strong academic record while challenging myself with advanced coursework to prepare for college. Outside the classroom, I serve as a majorette captain, where leadership means more than performing. I am responsible for motivating my team, staying organized, and leading by example. These roles have strengthened my time management skills and taught me how to stay committed even when pressure is high. My dedication to higher education comes from understanding that education is a powerful tool for change. I have seen how determination alone is not always enough without knowledge and opportunity. College represents a chance to expand my skills, challenge my thinking, and gain the tools necessary to create stability for myself and others. I am committed to pursuing higher education because I want to transform my passion into a sustainable and impactful career. With my degree, I plan to major in business or entrepreneurship. My long term goal is to own a full service nail salon that serves as a place of empowerment, creativity, and opportunity. I want to create jobs, mentor young women, and show that success can come from combining education with passion. My business will not only focus on beauty, but also on confidence, leadership, and community growth. This scholarship would be a meaningful investment in my future. It would reduce financial barriers and allow me to focus on my education and leadership responsibilities. I am determined to make the most of every opportunity that is given to me. With ambition, drive, and a commitment to impact, I will continue building a future that reflects hard work, purpose, and resilience. I do not measure success only by personal achievement, but by the lives I can influence positively. Through education, leadership, and entrepreneurship, I plan to leave a legacy of service, growth, and inspiration for those who come after me. This scholarship helps turn my vision into lasting reality.

Growing up, my mother worked long hours to make ends meet, so the person who spent the most time with me was my grandmother, Laverne Mason. She was more than just my grandmother. She was my best friend, my comfort, and the person who made me feel safe. She always put others before herself and would give her last to make sure everyone around her was taken care of. From her, I learned what love and selflessness truly looked like. Before COVID, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. At first, the diagnosis did not change much in our daily lives. She was still alert, talkative, and full of love. She remembered me, laughed with me, and continued spreading kindness to everyone she met. Even with Alzheimer’s, she remained the same warm and caring person I had always known. Everything changed in 2020 when COVID entered our household. I was in seventh grade at the time, and while the virus affected everyone in my family, it affected my grandmother the most. In only four months, COVID caused her Alzheimer’s to rapidly progress from stage three to stage seven. Watching her decline so quickly was heartbreaking and confusing, especially at such a young age. My family did everything we could to care for her. We placed her on hospice, hired in home caretakers, and turned her bedroom into a hospital room. I helped however I could, whether that meant sitting with her, talking to her, or simply holding her hand. Even though she was still physically there, I could tell she was slowly slipping away. Her responses became fewer, and the light in her eyes began to fade. Still, she fought every day, and her strength inspired me more than she ever knew. On April 11, 2022, my grandmother passed away, finally free from the pain caused by Alzheimer’s. I had seen her alive just a few hours earlier, which made her passing even harder to accept. In the beginning, her death deeply affected me. I felt lost, broken, and unsure of how to move forward without the person who had always been my support system. Over time, I realized my grandmother would never want me to stay stuck in sadness. She lived a life filled with love, service, and strength, and I knew the best way to honor her was to continue living with those same values. One of my favorite memories with her was the first time she let me do her nails. She sat patiently, smiling and encouraging me, telling me how proud she was. That moment meant more to me than I realized at the time. Today, I run my own nail business, and it all started with her. What began as a simple bonding moment became a way for me to heal, grow, and build confidence. Through my experience with Alzheimer’s, I learned compassion, patience, and resilience. I learned how to care for others during difficult times and how to stay strong when things feel out of my control. Although Alzheimer’s took my grandmother’s memories, it did not take her impact. Her love lives on through me. As I continue my education and work toward my future, I carry her lessons with me. I am committed to serving others, staying resilient, and living with purpose. My grandmother’s journey shaped who I am today, and her legacy will guide me for the rest of my life.

From a young age, I learned the importance of creating my own opportunities. Growing up, I did not always have consistent support, so I made a promise to myself to become someone strong, independent, and confident in my future. That mindset now guides me through high school, my interests, and the goals I plan to pursue after graduation. I currently attend Middle College High School, where I push myself academically and stay involved in several activities that help me grow as both a student and a leader. One of my biggest passions is my nail business, which I built from the ground up. Doing nails is more than a hobby for me. It allows me to express creativity, connect with others, and build real relationships with people in my community. I enjoy the confidence my clients feel after leaving my chair, and I love knowing I helped make their day better. Outside of my business, I also participate in school activities such as majorette dance and volunteer events. Being a majorette has taught me discipline, teamwork, and commitment. It has also given me a supportive community and a space to express myself through performance. My community involvement mainly focuses on giving back through school service projects and helping younger students whenever I can. I grew up understanding how important support is, so I try to be the person who provides it to others. After high school, I plan to attend college and major in a field that will allow me to expand my business or work in a profession that helps people feel confident and supported. I want to further my education so I can build a life with stability, purpose, and the ability to help others in ways I once needed myself. If I could start my own charity, it would be called Rising Girls Foundation. The mission would be to support teenage girls who come from unstable homes or who feel alone in their personal journeys. I want to create a safe place where young women can learn skills, receive mentorship, and find confidence in themselves. My charity would focus on emotional growth, academic assistance, and creative expression. Rising Girls Foundation would serve girls from middle school to senior year of high school. Many young women struggle silently with confidence, family problems, or lack of guidance. I want them to know that they are not defined by their circumstances. Volunteers in my charity would help with tutoring sessions, workshops on self esteem and college planning, and creative activities such as art, dance, beauty classes, or journaling sessions. There would also be mentorship groups where girls can talk openly about their struggles and goals. My goal is to create the support system I once needed. Everything I have experienced has shaped me into someone who values strength, kindness, and community. I want to use my future, my education, and my passion to lift up others. I believe that giving young girls a space to be heard can change their lives, and I hope to be the person who helps make that possible.

When I look at the person I am becoming, I see someone shaped by experiences that forced me to grow up early. I faced situations that required emotional strength, maturity, and reflection long before I understood what those words meant. Because of this, several IB learner traits stand out in my character today, especially caring, reflective, thinker, and principled. These traits are not just ideas to me. They are qualities I live by every single day. Caring became a natural part of who I am because I know what it feels like to need comfort and not receive it. Growing up without consistent support from my biological father made me determined to be the person who listens, checks in, and cares for others. When my friends are stressed or overwhelmed, I am the one who sits with them, helps them organize their work, or simply gives them a safe space to talk. As a nail artist, I also show care by giving my clients a place where they feel seen and appreciated. I enjoy talking to them, encouraging them, and making them feel beautiful. Caring is my way of giving others the stability I once wished for. I also show the reflective trait every time I stop to think about how my past shapes my actions. When my father came back into my life after years of disappearing, I had to reflect carefully on what was best for me. It was hard to admit that someone I once adored was not capable of giving me the support I needed. Reflecting helped me understand that I could love someone from a distance while still protecting my peace. That lesson changed how I carry myself. It taught me to slow down, analyze my decisions, and always choose what aligns with my future. The thinker trait appears in the way I approach challenges. Whether I am working on school assignments, planning nail designs, or solving personal problems, I try to understand the deeper meaning behind everything. I ask myself questions like why something happened, what I can learn from it, and how I can improve. Thinking through situations helps me stay calm and confident. It allows me to turn setbacks into lessons instead of letting them break me. Being principled is a trait that means everything to me. I grew up watching someone make choices that hurt the people who loved him most. I promised myself that I would do the opposite. I want to be honest, loyal, and responsible. I want people to trust me because I keep my word. Whether I am in school, managing my business, or helping my family, I stay committed to doing what is right. My values guide me even when nobody is paying attention. These IB traits are not just labels. They are reflections of the journey that shaped me. They remind me of how far I have come and how far I can go. They guide me through challenges, motivate me to stay focused, and give me the strength to keep building the future I want. I am proud of the person I am becoming, and I know these traits will continue to shape my path as I move forward in life.

One of the most significant losses I have ever experienced was losing my father while he was still alive. I was a child who adored him. I followed him everywhere, and I believed he could fix anything. At that time, I did not understand the world of drugs that he was slipping into. I only saw the love he showed me, so I never imagined that one day he would disappear completely from my life. When I was twelve, he walked out of my world without warning. For years, I carried the weight of not knowing where he was or if he was even alive. I constantly wondered if he was safe, if he thought about me, or if he cared at all. That confusion shaped the way I viewed myself and the people around me. I tried to fill the empty space he left behind with hope. I kept telling myself that one day he would come back. In January of 2025, I learned the truth. He had been arrested for dangerous drug charges. Hearing that news hurt, but it also gave me clarity. It forced me to understand that the man I loved as a little girl was gone in a way that felt permanent. The loss was not physical, but emotional. I felt like I lost someone who was still breathing. That realization changed the way I saw life. It pushed me to grow up faster and taught me that love does not always mean someone will stay. After he was released, he tried to reconnect with me as if nothing had happened. He asked about school, my birthday, and even suggested going back to the ice cream shop we used to visit when I was small. But I was no longer that child. I was seventeen, learning who I was, and he was still talking to a memory. When he disappeared again, and when I later received a prepaid call from a jail phone, I finally accepted that I could not depend on him for the support I deserved. This loss shaped me into someone who wants stability, purpose, and a future built on strength. I learned to take control of my life through my education, my leadership roles, and my business. The pain I experienced gave me the drive to work harder and create the life that he could not give me. It also taught me how important it is to have people who truly show up. I was blessed with a father figure who stepped in without being asked. That taught me that real love is consistent and patient. This experience changed my goals and outlook. I want to build a future where I can inspire others who feel abandoned or overlooked. I want to help young people understand that they are more than the pain they grew up with. I want to make a difference through community work and through the example of my own achievements. Losing my father emotionally showed me what it means to grow from loss rather than fall because of it. I live my life today with purpose, strength, and the understanding that I can rise above anything. The loss hurt me, but it also shaped me into someone determined to create a better future.

The last time I heard my father’s real voice outside of a jail phone was when I was twelve. For years, I held onto the hope that he would come back and be the dad I remembered. When I was little, he took me for ice cream and made me feel like the world was safe. I did not realize that behind all of that, he was struggling with drugs. At the time, I was a little girl who loved her father, and I did not see what was really going on. As I got older, the truth came out. In January of 2025, I found out he had been arrested for dangerous drug charges. In a strange way, it felt like answers to questions I had carried for years. I used to wonder if he was alive or gone forever. Learning the truth was painful, but it also helped me understand that I could not change him. What I could change was the direction of my own life. When he got out, he tried to reconnect as if nothing had happened. He asked about my day, my birthday, and even suggested going back to the same ice cream shop from my childhood. But I was seventeen, and life was not the same. He still talked to me like I was his little girl, but he did not try to learn who I am now. A few months later, he disappeared again. Then in November 2025 I received a prepaid call from a jail phone. Hearing his name in that voicemail hurt, but it did not break me like before. Instead, it made me realize that I needed real change in my life, and that change had to start with me. To move toward my goals, I focused on my education, my responsibilities, and my future. I worked hard in school, stayed active in programs, and built my nail business from the ground up. These steps taught me how to be disciplined, patient, and independent. I also learned that family is not always about blood. Someone else stepped into the father role and gave me the support and guidance that my biological father did not. That support helped me stay focused on who I want to become. This scholarship would help me continue pushing forward without being held back by financial stress. It would allow me to attend college and stay committed to my education instead of worrying about how to afford it. I want to study, grow, and create a stable future that breaks the patterns I grew up with. I also plan to pay it forward. I want to help other students who come from unstable homes or who feel like their family situation limits their potential. Through mentorship, community work, and even through my nail business, I want to encourage younger girls to believe in themselves. I want them to know that their past does not control their future. I am choosing to create a better life, not only for myself but for the people who will look up to me one day. My father’s choices do not define me. My strength, my goals, and my determination do.

The brown bristles, the chemical fumes filling the tight space—these are the scents and sights of my childhood dreams. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to do nails. I remember telling my mom, “One day, I’m going to be doing nails in a real nail shop.” That dream stuck with me. I began practicing on my grandmother, my mom, and eventually my friends. I didn’t have proper tools, just passion and creativity. One day, I showed up to school with my nails done, and a girl complimented them. She asked if I could do hers. I was shocked—no one had ever asked me that before, let alone offered to pay. We set up a day and time. I was nervous but excited. But that day came, and she never showed. No message, no reason, just silence. It crushed me. I started to doubt myself. But I didn’t let that moment define me. I kept going. I started taking nails more seriously. I spent long nights studying videos, practicing different techniques, and comparing my progress to top artists on social media. At the same time, I struggled with being shy and not having much clientele. The few people who did book rarely came back—my work was still developing, and I wasn’t confident enough to promote myself. Fast forward two years: I’m now a licensed nail tech from Memphis, TN. I’ve built my own client base, earned respect in my community, and continue to grow every day. Doing nails helped me become more social, more determined, and more in love with the craft. I’ve turned my childhood dream into a real, working business. So when I’m asked, “Why are you worth the dreams you aspire to achieve?”—my answer is simple: Because I never gave up. I stayed true to what I loved, even when things got hard. I took a moment of disappointment and used it as motivation. My journey is far from over, but every set of nails, every late night of practice, and every challenge has prepared me to keep pushing forward. For others because everyone has something special to offer. We all go through things that shape us, and just because someone’s path looks different doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a shot. If you’re working hard, trying your best, and not giving up—even when it’s tough—that already shows you’re serious about your goals. Nobody has it all figured out, especially at our age, but that doesn’t make our dreams any less real. Everyone should get the chance to go after what they love, because those dreams are what keep us going and growing.