"What makes you work so hard?" It's a question I hear all the time. My classmates see me juggling a full course load while working three jobs. My coworkers ask how I always seem to have another responsibility on my plate. Professors wonder how I balance school, work, and leadership without slowing down. The answer has always been the same: my parents. I am one of triplets, which has shaped my life in more ways than I can count. While most families prepare for one college tuition, my parents are preparing for three. That reality has created financial challenges throughout our lives, but it has also given me something invaluable—a front-row seat to what true hard work looks like. Both of my parents commute over an hour each way to work every day. They leave before sunrise, work long days, and come home exhausted, yet they continue to put my siblings' and my future before their own. Even with their incredible work ethic, supporting three children through college at the same time is a financial strain. Watching their sacrifices has become the greatest motivation in my life. Everything I do is my way of saying thank you. Their example has shaped the person I am today. I believe that if they can make those sacrifices for me, then I owe it to them to make every opportunity count. That mindset is reflected in how I spend my time. During the week, I intern Monday through Friday at a CPA firm, gaining real-world experience in the accounting profession while continuing to grow academically. On weekends, I work closing shifts as a host at a restaurant. During the summer, I also serve as a Resident Assistant on campus, helping create a welcoming environment for students while earning money toward my education. Balancing three jobs alongside college is not always easy, but I have learned that discipline, resilience, and consistency are what turn goals into achievements. Beyond work, I have challenged myself through athletics and community service. Sports taught me perseverance, accountability, and teamwork, while volunteering showed me the importance of giving back to the people around me. Whether I am in the classroom, at work, or serving my community, I strive to lead by example because I know my actions reflect the values my parents worked so hard to instill in me. Receiving the Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would make a meaningful difference for my family. With three children pursuing higher education at the same time, every scholarship helps ease the financial burden my parents carry. This award would allow me to focus more on my education, continue gaining valuable experience through my internship, and pursue my career goals without adding unnecessary financial stress to my family. More importantly, this scholarship represents the qualities Kalia D. Davis embodied—hard work, ambition, kindness, and excellence. Those are the same values that have guided my life. I hope to honor her legacy by continuing to work tirelessly, serve others, and make the most of every opportunity I am given. People may ask what makes me work so hard, but the answer has never changed. My parents have spent my entire life investing in me. Everything I accomplish is my way of investing back in them, making their sacrifices worthwhile, and proving that every early morning, every long commute, and every difficult day they endured was not in vain.

From a young age, I understood that success doesn’t come from what you have—it comes from what you give. My parents gave everything. On a single income, they raised triplets with relentless determination and motivation. They made daily sacrifices, not so we would feel the weight of their struggles, but so we wouldn’t have to. Our childhood wasn’t shaped by what we lacked, but by how deeply we were loved. They worked tirelessly to give us lives full of possibility. We didn’t grow up with extravagance, but we were never without support, encouragement, or the freedom to dream. My parents didn’t want our memories to be marked by hardship, so they carried it themselves. Looking back, I realize how often they put their own needs aside to ensure we never felt the burden of what they carried. The strength it takes to make struggle invisible is something I admire now more than ever. Beside me through every step of life have been my two sisters—my built-in teammates, motivators, and role models. As triplets, we share a bond that is unspoken but unbreakable. Each of us is different, but we’ve grown by watching and learning from one another. Seeing them set goals, persevere through setbacks, and chase their passions has constantly inspired me to rise to my own potential. We’ve grown in different directions, but never apart—and I carry their strength with me every day. That’s why I am determined to achieve my dream of becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and one day, opening my own accounting firm. To many, accounting is just numbers. But to me, it’s about people. It’s about helping families like mine find clarity, peace of mind, and a path forward. I want to build something meaningful—something that reflects the values my parents instilled in me: integrity, hard work, and compassion. I want to give back to the people who gave me everything. I want my parents to know that their sacrifices built something lasting. I want my sisters to see that the dreams we talked about as kids are becoming real. I want my future to be not only a reflection of where I came from but a legacy I can proudly pass on. The people in my life that have supported me through everything are the reason I believe my dreams are worth aspiring. My dreams matter because they carry the hopes of more than just myself—they are a reflection of the love that raised me, the strength that surrounded me, and the sacrifices that made it all possible. They are built on the foundation of those who believed in me before I even believed in myself, and they are driven by the desire to honor all that has been given to me

One of my biggest role models to this day is my mother. My mom has faced and persevered through several challenges and obstacles. Despite this, she is still the same strong, independent and supportive mother to this day. My mom gave birth to triplets during the most challenging time of her life. She had recently been laid off from work and struggled with several family issues. She did everything in her power to provide us with a life full of memories and happiness. She made her obstacles seem small which is what I admire about her the most. I am beyond blessed to have such a powerful role model in my life. My main goal is to make a positive impact on the world, whether it is spreading kindness, building friendships and connections with people, or participating in community service. I always believed I was made to make others feel appreciated and loved, and I share these values with others. Being a triplet has given me a strong relationship with my sisters. They have taught me the importance of sharing, patience and communication, personal attributes that will always help me in life. I am so grateful to them for the love and support they have shown me. I enjoy motivating others to succeed. In all aspects of life, I strive to focus on developing strong work habits with a commitment to my goals. Another personal value I developed throughout high school was having confidence, an essential part of success. It was difficult to believe in myself in moments where I struggled, but I always found it helpful to surround myself with people that provided encouragement and appreciated me. With these personal goals and values, I am able to continue excellence every day. The Spackenkill Community I grew up in taught me to value public service and kindness. Some community service I have participated in is at my church. After Sunday mass, I would help set up and serve breakfast to our parishioners. This would put a smile on peoples’ faces, and I loved talking to the younger kids and their families. Furthermore, my teammates and I also helped run a youth basketball camp every summer. We helped younger students with dribbling, shooting, and other skills. I still love to see them when I can. I also volunteer at our local animal shelter, providing dogs with walks, food, and comfort. This community service has built a new hobby for me and is something I look forward to every week. In addition, I have also participated in various car washes to help raise money for charities for school clubs. Overall, it is important to give back to my community in hopes of spreading kindness and positivity.

As I look toward the future, I have set ambitious goals that reflect both my passions and desire to help people. My plan is to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a goal that requires dedication, focus, and perseverance. In addition to this, I am also pursuing my dream of becoming a real estate agent, as I find the world of property sales and investments both exciting and rewarding. Both professions are goals of mine that I work towards everyday in college and on breaks. I am currently attending Siena College, as a freshman. I plan to study accounting in the 3 + 1 program on track to graduate in four years with my masters. With this I want to get my Certified Public Accountant license after I graduate. In addition, I have always had a dream of owning and selling real estate specializing for first time buyers for families. I love meeting new people and would love to be a part of a family's journey finding a place they can call home. In addition, I love participating in community service in my hometown volunteering at my local dog shelter, my church and summer camps for sports. I believe contributing to my community has created positivity in my life and has helped me build friendships. With real estate, although I would love to start full- time out of high school, I believe receiving a college education is important. With my home life, from a young age I knew I wanted to go away to school. I believed I would be able to grow individually and academically if I moved away. With moving away, I am constantly surrounded by the worries of paying for college, taking out loans and thinking about post-grad even as a freshman. These thoughts consume me at times and make me question the path I am on. Siena College has provided me with many tools to be successful that I will certainly take advantage of. I am learning so much about myself that I never discovered back at home. I am able to be my own person and develop new hobbies, goals and ambitions. Since I was little, I have put so many high expectations on myself, to accomplish my goals and dreams but worry this will prevent me. With this scholarship, It will go directly toward paying off my tuition and college expenses. I believe any amount can help and make a big difference in this. Most importantly, I've always wanted to make my parents proud. I hope to one day help them with financial struggles and provide support to them. I am grateful for the life that they have given me and the good memories I have. The Bright Lights Scholarship would be an incredible resource to help me navigate the financial difficulties of college. It would provide the financial relief necessary to ease some of the burden on my family, allowing me to focus more on my education and professional development. With this scholarship, I would be able to access additional resources, such as study materials, internships, and networking opportunities, all of which are essential to my success. It would also give me the chance to pursue real estate certifications without the constant worry of how to balance my finances.

From a young age, I have been passionate about helping others succeed. I have come to realize that true fulfillment in life comes from seeing those around you thrive. Whether in the classroom, in sports, or in personal development, my purpose has been to inspire others to reach their full potential. Through various volunteer experiences, including mentoring at a local basketball camp, I have developed the skills necessary to lead, motivate, and support others in their growth. One pivotal experience that shaped my commitment to helping others was volunteering at a local basketball camp for middle school students. As varsity basketball player, I had the privilege of mentoring younger athletes who were eager to improve their skills but lacked the confidence to believe in themselves. I worked as a camp counselor, teaching basketball fundamentals while also emphasizing the importance of teamwork, communication, and perseverance. It became clear to me that many of the players weren’t just struggling with their basketball abilities—they were also battling self-doubt. I made it my goal to create an environment where they felt safe to make mistakes, learn, and grow, not only as players but as individuals. By the end of the camp, I watched shy, unsure kids become more confident, both on and off the court. This experience solidified my passion for helping others believe in themselves and work towards their goals, regardless of the obstacles they may face. In addition to the basketball camp, I have actively sought out other opportunities to develop my skills in leadership, communication, and empathy. Throughout high school, I took on leadership roles in student organizations, including the community service club and sports. These experiences taught me how to motivate my peers, listen actively to their needs, and work collaboratively toward a common goal. I learned that leadership isn’t just about directing others—it’s about being a supportive and compassionate guide, helping those around me discover their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. My commitment to helping others has also been shown in my involvement in tutoring and mentoring. I have volunteered at after-school programs, offering academic support to students struggling in subjects like math and science. In these roles, I’ve found that the key to helping others succeed is not only teaching them content but also helping them develop confidence and a growth mindset. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned through my volunteering experiences is the importance of empathy. It’s not enough to simply offer guidance; I must listen to the unique needs and challenges each person faces. Whether I’m counseling a peer, coaching a young athlete, or tutoring a student, I approach each situation with understanding and care. As I move forward in my education, I plan to pursue a degree in accounting with minors in finance and marketing. I also hope to do real estate on the side to build strong relationships and provide support to families. I mainly want to provide good in the world in some way, teaching others to do the same. With this, Having positive relationships with people is very important to me as I continue to grow and learn. This scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to further my education and deepen my understanding of how to help others reach their potential. The skills I have developed through volunteering—leadership, communication, empathy, and mentorship—are the foundation of my purpose and passion. I am dedicated to using these skills to inspire and empower others, just as I have been inspired and empowered by those who believed in me.

Anytime I think about my future, I think about my younger self. What she would want or what she would hope I accomplish. I try to keep her in the back of my mind and I hope to never disappoint her. When I was younger I had two dreams. My first dream was to live close to the beach. My second dream was to have a Golden Retriever named Buddy. It seems silly, but I would draw pictures of my dream life all the time to convince myself it would come true. This little dream has never left my mind once. I still think about it everyday as a senior in high school and hope I can make these two dreams come true for her. This scholarship would be extremely helpful in pursuing my future career goals. My dream is to go to school at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. With this, the school is very expensive with out-of-state tuition, room and board, and other fees included. I am a triplet, which makes it financially hard because we are all going to college at the same time. Our family can not cover the cost of three colleges all at once. I would like to prevent taking out many loans and pay off everything as soon as possible. I worry about debt and it is holding me back from pursuing the education I have dreamed of since I was little. At UNCW, I want to pursue a degree in finance with a concentration in real estate. I have always been interested in the real estate industry and would love to work in this field. From all of the experiences, people, and struggles I have faced, I have developed an appreciation and interest in this career path. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in real estate and explore the different roles within the field. When considering a career, I knew I wanted to work with people and make an impact on families' lives. In the real estate career, there are endless possibilities for the jobs and people you can meet. The main reason I would love a job in this field is to create a positive impact on families' lives or give them relief in finding an affordable home. My parents struggled to find a house in the financial budget they had at the time. They always told me about their real estate agent and how helpful she was. This inspired me to look into this career field as well. I have been accepted to this school, but the cost is holding me back. At UNCW, they have classes that pertain to different aspects of real estate such as investing, brokers, marketing, sales, and entrepreneurship that would benefit my knowledge of the career. In the future, I hope to work in the Wilmington area with real estate agencies close by. The money this scholarship would provide would go to tuition or book costs. In addition, I would also use it to help my sister's pay for books and other supplies they would need because they deserve to accomplish their dreams just as much as I do. My sisters play an important role in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t have the same personality or motivation I developed in my life. I am so thankful to have two support buddies going through these next steps in life. They motivate me the most and I can’t wait to see us branch off in different ways to accomplish our future careers.

I believe, in order to provide a life of service to loved ones and the community, I should show appreciation to everyone I encounter but most importantly make others around me feel listened. Growing up as a triplet, my other two sisters and I were never that close. We didn't show each other the appreciation we should have. Through middle and high school we developed a bond that is one of the closest things to me. Now, leaving for college in a couple months seems unimaginable and hard to think about. Through each day, I try to display my appreciation towards them and cherish small and big moments. But most importantly, provide comfort and reassurance to them always. They are an aspect of my life that I never knew I needed until I became older. How I display service to my community is participating in volunteer work locally. I have always made it a priority to check in on my neighbors and make sure they have safe and healthy. With this, I have volunteered at my church breakfast and have volunteered at my schools kids basketball camp each summer. This camp has showed me appreciation for young kids with a passion for the sport. In addition, my job has showed me how to demonstrate kindness and relationships with customers. I work at American Eagle as a brand ambassador/employee. In this job, I have met so many sophisticated people including co-workers and customers. They have shared with me personal stories and life advice that I will keep with me through college and beyond. Although it is an average job to most people, I believe it has given me confidence and respect for all people. I learned everyone has a different story and to treat everyone with respect. It has helped me provide service to the community in an unique way. Lastly, displaying service to my teammates is extremely important to me. My teammates have taught me how to be a good listener as well has how to work together in a collaborative setting. While playing Varsity volleyball and basketball in high school, I tried to devote my time to being a good teammate and player. As a senior this year, one of my biggest roles as a captain is to look after my teammates and make sure they are happy. This year, our basketball team has more younger players that have moved up. As a senior, my role is to make them feel appreciated and respected. As being a good player is important, having good team chemistry is just has important to me. These examples are all aspects of my life that I strive to improve on everyday to provide service to the people I care about. My family, community and teammates are all parts of my life that have shaped me to who I am today. I believe showing appreciation and service towards them is greatly important.