To those who much has been given, much will be expected. This statement has been drilled into me throughout my high school years and has become an integral part of who I am. My volunteering experiences have been crucial in shaping who I am today, instilling values of empathy, resilience, and a deep-seated desire to create meaningful impact. Growing up, community service was not just an activity but a way of life. My experiences at the Dimock Center, a community hub in one of Boston’s most under-resourced neighborhoods, have been particularly transformative. I have been involved in various initiatives, from organizing holiday drives to helping manage summer wellness programs. Every Christmas break, I lead a volunteer team to gather donations from stores across Boston, sort them, and create gift packages for families at the substance use recovery center and women's shelter. This hands-on involvement taught me the importance of giving back and the impact of even the smallest acts of kindness. Another significant aspect of my volunteering journey has been tech tutoring for the elderly at my high school. Every week, I assist elderly men and women in navigating technology, from accessing pictures to safeguarding their online data to teaching them simple things like how to call their loved ones. This experience has been incredibly rewarding, as I get to bridge the generational gap and empower seniors with the tools to stay connected in an increasingly digital world. Hearing their life stories and struggles has reinforced my belief in the power of intergenerational learning and the importance of patience and compassion. On top of this, I am currently developing Harmony AI, an AI responsive journaling platform designed to be an outlet to help solve the mental health crisis, especially among black men. I expanded on this project in the LEAD summer program at the University of Pittsburgh, where we were challenged to create a business proposal to solve a social problem. Winning the national LEAD business proposal challenge with Harmony AI was a milestone, but it also deepened my commitment to using technology for social good and helped me realize that there is a real space in the business world to try and create positive change. Harmony AI uses AI-powered responsive journaling to help Black men better learn how to understand and address their feelings and connect them to therapists if needed, addressing unique cultural stigmas and barriers to mental health care. Looking forward, I plan to continue my work helping others by expanding Harmony AI and similar initiatives. I hope to use my time in the School of Business to learn to create scalable, sustainable solutions that address mental health challenges and other social issues. I am particularly excited about the potential of AI to broaden access to mental health resources and tailor support to the needs of marginalized communities. Additionally, I intend to stay actively involved in community service. Whether it's through organizing more volunteer drives, continuing tech tutoring, or mentoring younger students of color through initiatives like the Black Information Collective, I am committed to giving back and fostering an environment of support and empowerment. At Howard University I plan to be a part of clubs involving community service and seek chances to give back whenever I can. All in all, my volunteering experiences have shaped my worldview and solidified my dream to use my skills and passions for the greater good. They have taught me that helping others is not just a duty but a privilege, and I am eager to continue this journey of service and innovation, making a lasting impact wherever I go.

One social issue that deeply resonates with me is the mental health crisis, especially amongst Black men, who are often overlooked in discussions about mental health care. When doing research into black men's mental health I found that black men are more likely to experience severe psychosis than other men. They also often see mental health as a sign of weakness and do not always want to speak to a person to get the help they need. This is the reason that I decided to try to develop Harmony AI, an AI-powered responsive journaling app designed to help reduce the stigma around mental health, especially in the black community, and help make access to mental help more widespread. Throughout my career, I dream of taking part in more projects like Harmony AI, identifying pressing problems, especially in my community, and using groundbreaking technology to help create change. I envision continuing to develop Harmony AI as the mental health issue continues to grow and as AI continues to evolve. I believe that the automation of processes such as simple therapy and responsive journaling can add a lot of help to mental health disparities. My community service experiences have further fueled my passion for social good. I Organized volunteer drives at the Dimock Center and engaged in tech tutoring for the elderly. These experiences have shown me the impact of service and the importance of addressing unmet needs in the community. Tech tutoring is an example of an underrepresented problem that needs help in our world. The elderly do not always understand how newer technology works and because of this they are very susceptible to hackers and scammers. As technology evolves, and people can use it to imitate voices and even faces, the people who do not understand the technology are at risk of losing a lot. In the long run, I hope to be an entrepreneur who leads technology-based businesses that prioritize social impact. My goal is to create a legacy where innovation is based on the priority of helping the greater good, ensuring that technological advancements are designed with the well-being of individuals in mind. I am particularly inspired by the potential of AI to transform health care and many other fields. I believe that with the right team and resources, initiatives like Harmony AI can make a significant difference. Howard University's commitment to fostering diverse leadership and its focus on service aligns perfectly with my aspirations. I am excited to be a part of the vibrant Howard community, contributing my experiences, and learning from others who share my dedication to social justice and innovation. The university’s emphasis on addressing systemic inequalities and promoting mental health aligns with my core values and the values I hope to prioritize when it comes to business. In conclusion, addressing the mental health crisis among Black men is a cause that I am deeply passionate about. Through my career, I hope to develop and implement technological solutions that make mental health care more accessible, effective, and culturally sensitive. By integrating my technical skills with a strong sense of social responsibility, I aim to create a meaningful impact that echoes Howard's values of leadership, service, and excellence.