Being a first-generation college student and high school graduate has influenced me in a lot of ways, making me stand out and have an impact. My heritage's vast cultural diversity and the insight I gain from navigating environments where I am frequently one of the few people from my background make me special. I take advantage of this distinctiveness by using it as a platform and acknowledging that both individuals I know and others I don't are watching. It inspires me to lead by example and assume duties that go beyond my own. I carry with me the vivid and robust spirit of my ancestors, who valued compassion and community, since I am Afro-Caribbean. Being of Caribbean descent at a Historically Black University (Jackson State University), it makes me stand out in a unique way. I was able to join the international students organization to connect with other people who are experiencing different culture at my university. It distinguishes me because I'm frequently thought of as a link between various cultural contexts. I inspire people with this identity, especially those who think their differences are a hindrance. Rather, I demonstrate to them that being different may actually be an asset, both to you and to those who might be quietly observing and picking up tips from you. Since I'm a first-generation college student, I understand the importance of my experience. Service is something I take seriously and is a priority in my life, if I am able to help someone in any way then why not do it? I utilize my position to encourage others because many people from my background don't have the same opportunities. When I visited my relatives in Princes Town, Trinidad, for my 21st birthday, this became quite evident to me. Instead of just celebrating, I got together with other students to organize a financial contribution campaign on my college campus. I used those money to make care packages and purchase necessities for Trinidad's homeless population. Through this experience, I learned how to use my platform to benefit the world as well as further my own goals. I want to teach people that they, too, can make a difference—even if they are unaware of who might be watching—by using my voice, both locally and globally. I take delight in the fact that every activity, no matter how tiny, has the power to inspire someone else. I hope my story inspires the younger generation to never give on the goals or things you want to do in life because of where you are in life.

Generational wealth means everything to me. Coming from a low-income family, I know what it's like to struggle and worry about finances. I don't want my kids to ever have to experience that. I want them to grow up better than I did, with access to all the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. To me, generational wealth means that not only am I taken care of financially, but that my family is as well. I want to be able to provide for them and ensure that they never have to worry about how they're going to pay for school or afford a meal. I want to be able to give them the life that I never had. That's why I'm so passionate about finishing my degree at Jackson State University. I believe that healthcare is a basic human right, and I want to do my part to make sure that everyone has access to it. I plan to use my degree to open up my own facility, which will then grow into more facilities nationwide. I want to be able to provide quality healthcare to lower-income areas, where people often don't have access to the resources they need to stay healthy. I believe that by doing this, I'll be able to make a real difference in the world and help others. Achieving generational wealth isn't just about me. It's about my family and the future generations to come. I want to be able to leave a legacy for my kids and their kids, so that they never have to worry about finances or struggle to make ends meet. I want them to have access to all the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. I know that achieving generational wealth isn't going to be easy. But I'm willing to put in the effort to make it happen. I know that with the right mindset and work ethic, anything is possible. Overall, generational wealth means more than just making sure I am financially stable. It's about providing for my family and ensuring that they have access to all the resources they need to succeed as well. I'm passionate about achieving this goal, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I'm excited to see where the future takes me, and I know that with hard work and dedication, I'll be able to achieve my dreams.

Growing up, my family didn't have a lot of money. We were always struggling to make ends meet, and I knew that I wanted more for myself. I was the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college, which was a huge accomplishment for me. It inspired me to set higher standards for myself and to chase my dreams, no matter how big they are. I think that my experiences have given me a unique perspective on life, and they've helped me become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. One of the things that I'm most proud of is the donation drive that I started for Haiti during my freshman year of college. I was able to raise over 250 donations and spread awareness about what the people in Haiti are going through. It was a really rewarding experience, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to make a difference in the world. The biggest thing that I learned from my first service project is that you don't need a lot to help someone in need. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of effort and a lot of heart. I think that this has taught me a lot about character development and leadership skills, and it's inspired me to start more service projects in the future. I want to make a real impact in the world and help others, which is why I'm pursuing a career in healthcare administration. My ultimate goal is to open up my own facility that provides affordable healthcare to lower-income areas. I believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their financial situation. I'm passionate about this dream because I know that it's possible. I've seen firsthand how healthcare disparities affect lower-income areas, and I want to do something about it. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can make a real difference in the world. I think that healthcare is a basic human right, and I want to do my part to make sure that everyone has access to it. I know that there are going to be challenges along the way, but I'm ready to face them head-on. Overall, I'm excited to see where my career in healthcare administration takes me. I know that there are going to be ups and downs, but I'm confident in my ability to overcome them. I'm passionate about my dreams because I know that they're achievable, and I'm willing to work hard to make them a reality. I'm grateful for the opportunities that I've had so far, and I'm excited to see where the future takes me.

Growing up, my family didn't have a lot of money. We were always struggling to make ends meet, and I knew that I wanted more for myself. I was the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college, which was a huge accomplishment for me. It inspired me to set higher standards for myself and to chase my dreams, no matter how big they were. Coming to college was a huge eye-opener for me. I had never traveled out of state before, so I didn't know what to expect. But once I got here, I realized how much the world had to offer. There were so many opportunities out there for me, and I knew that I had to take advantage of them. That's why I'm so passionate about my dreams. I know that there's so much out there for me to explore and discover, and I don't want to miss out on any of it. I want to make a real impact in the world and help others, which is why I'm pursuing a career in healthcare administration. My ultimate goal is to open up my own facility that provides affordable healthcare to lower-income areas. I believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their financial situation. I know that this is a big dream, but I'm determined to make it a reality. I'm passionate about this dream because I know that it's possible. I've seen firsthand how healthcare disparities affect lower-income areas, and I want to do something about it. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can make a real difference in the world. This is something that I truly believe in. I think that healthcare is a basic human right, and I want to do my part to make sure that everyone has access to it. I know that there are going to be challenges along the way, but I'm ready to face them head-on. Overall, I'm excited to see where my career in healthcare administration takes me. I know that there are going to be ups and downs, but I'm confident in my ability to overcome them. I'm determined to keep pursuing my dreams because I know that they're achievable, and I'm willing to work hard to make them a reality. I'm grateful for the opportunities that I've had so far, and I'm excited to see where the future takes me.

I've always been passionate about healthcare and helping others. That's why I've decided to major in healthcare administration at Jackson State University. My ultimate goal is to open up my own facility that provides affordable healthcare to lower-income areas. I believe that everyone should have access to quality healthcare, regardless of their financial situation. I want to make a real difference in the world, and I think that this is one of the ways that I can do it. Being black means being me. It means that I'm a strong, independent woman who won't let discrimination stop me from achieving my goals. I've faced a lot of challenges in my life, but I've always been able to overcome them. I think that my experiences have made me a more resilient and determined person, and I'm proud of who I am. That's why I chose to go to a HBCU. I wanted to be grounded in my roots and surrounded by black excellence. Going to an HBCU has been an amazing experience for me. It's motivated me to strive for more and to not give up on my dreams. I think that being surrounded by people who look like me and who have similar experiences has been really empowering. Overall, I'm excited to see where my career in healthcare administration takes me. I know that there are going to be challenges along the way, but I'm confident that I have what it takes to overcome them.

I went through a stage of depression myself, and it was a very difficult time in my life. It's hard to explain to others how you're feeling when you don't even understand it yourself. I remember feeling like I was in a dark hole and couldn't find my way out. One of the hardest things for me was learning how to accept love again. When you're in a state of depression, it's easy to feel like you're not worthy of love or that you don't deserve it. I found myself pushing people away, even those who cared about me the most. It took me a long time to realize that I needed to let people in and allow myself to be vulnerable. It was scary, but it was also necessary for my healing process. I also found myself prohibiting myself from getting into relationships or even close friendships. When you're struggling with your mental health, it can be hard to find the energy to socialize and interact with others. I needed so much time to myself to help heal, and I didn't want to burden anyone else with my problems. But I eventually realized that it's okay to lean on others for support. It's hard to be vulnerable with others when you're not feeling your best. But it's important to remember that having a support system can be incredibly helpful when you're struggling. We all need help sometimes, and it's important to have people in our lives who we can trust and rely on. My experience with depression actually inspired me to major in healthcare. I wanted to learn more about the mind and body and how to properly take care of it. I've learned so much about mental health and self-care, and it's made a huge difference in my life. I've learned how to recognize when I'm starting to feel down and how to take steps to prevent myself from spiraling into a depressive episode. I've also learned how to take care of myself physically, which is just as important as taking care of myself mentally. It's so important to prioritize our mental health, especially in today's world where we're constantly bombarded with stress and anxiety. There's such a stigma surrounding mental health, and it's important to break down those barriers and have open and honest conversations about it. The more we talk about it, the more normalized it becomes, and the easier it is for people to seek help when they need it. The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone in this. There are so many people out there who are struggling with their mental health, and there are resources available to help. Talking to a therapist or even a school counselor has helped me work through some of my feelings and develop coping strategies. There are also support groups and hotlines that you can reach out to if you need someone to talk to. I hope this encourages people to take their mental health more seriously and to even consider other people’s mental health when they are having a bad day as well.

What makes me unique? It could be that I play trombone, watch anime, have a single mother, never travelled, or that I like eating raw onions. The thing that makes me stand out the most is being the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college. I know that it was a huge accomplishment for me, and it's something that I worked really hard to achieve. My perseverance and ambition are two of my biggest traits, and I think that they've helped me get to where I am today. Growing up in a low-income household showed me the real-world struggles that families go through financially. It wasn't always easy, but I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. I think that my experiences have given me a unique perspective on life, and they've helped me become more empathetic and compassionate towards others. One of the things that I'm most proud of is the donation drive that I started for Haiti during my freshman year of college. I was able to raise over 250 donations and spread awareness about what the people in Haiti are going through. It was a really rewarding experience, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to make a difference in the world. The biggest thing that I learned from my first service project is that you don't need a lot to help someone in need. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of effort and a lot of heart. I think that this has taught me a lot about character development and leadership skills, and it's inspired me to start more service projects in the future. In terms of giving back, I plan to continue to seek out new opportunities to help others. Whether it's through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading awareness about important issues, I think that there are so many ways that I can make a real impact. I want to use my talents and skills to make a real difference in the world, and I think that I have a lot to offer. Overall, I think that my perseverance, ambition, and commitment to giving back are three of my biggest strengths. They've helped me achieve a lot in my life, and I'm excited to see where they take me in the future. I know that there are going to be challenges along the way, but I'm confident that I have what it takes to overcome them and achieve my goals.

I went through a stage of depression myself, and it was a very difficult time in my life. It's hard to explain to others how you're feeling when you don't even understand it yourself. I remember feeling like I was in a dark hole and couldn't find my way out. One of the hardest things for me was learning how to accept love again. When you're in a state of depression, it's easy to feel like you're not worthy of love or that you don't deserve it. I found myself pushing people away, even those who cared about me the most. It took me a long time to realize that I needed to let people in and allow myself to be vulnerable. It was scary, but it was also necessary for my healing process. I also found myself prohibiting myself from getting into relationships or even close friendships. When you're struggling with your mental health, it can be hard to find the energy to socialize and interact with others. I needed so much time to myself to help heal, and I didn't want to burden anyone else with my problems. But I eventually realized that it's okay to lean on others for support. It's hard to be vulnerable with others when you're not feeling your best. But it's important to remember that having a support system can be incredibly helpful when you're struggling. We all need help sometimes, and it's important to have people in our lives who we can trust and rely on. My experience with depression actually inspired me to major in healthcare. I wanted to learn more about the mind and body and how to properly take care of it. I've learned so much about mental health and self-care, and it's made a huge difference in my life. I've learned how to recognize when I'm starting to feel down and how to take steps to prevent myself from spiraling into a depressive episode. I've also learned how to take care of myself physically, which is just as important as taking care of myself mentally. It's so important to prioritize our mental health, especially in today's world where we're constantly bombarded with stress and anxiety. There's such a stigma surrounding mental health, and it's important to break down those barriers and have open and honest conversations about it. The more we talk about it, the more normalized it becomes, and the easier it is for people to seek help when they need it. The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone in this. There are so many people out there who are struggling with their mental health, and there are resources available to help. Talking to a therapist or even a school counselor has helped me work through some of my feelings and develop coping strategies. There are also support groups and hotlines that you can reach out to if you need someone to talk to. I hope this encourages people to take their mental health more seriously and to even consider other people’s mental health when they are having a bad day as well.

Growing up with separated parents wasn’t the easiest, but my dad being incarcerated made it worse. For 5 years I was unable to see my father, it felt like a part of me was gone. I would write him letters every day and he would mail me back when he was able to. I held on to those letters and still have them to this day. I was only in 4th grade at the time, therefore I was confused about what was happening and why. Being the oldest, I didn’t want my siblings to see me sad because they were too young to understand what was going on. All I wanted was to be able to go to my dad’s house and spend time with him again. The kids at my school would make the stereotypical African American dad jokes. I would go to school and hear things like “Your dad went to the store and isn’t coming back,” and “Most black dads leave their kids and lie about coming back.” My feelings were hurt, I didn’t want to go to school anymore. My parents both dropped out and got their GEDs, and all I wanted to do was make them proud and bring home the first diploma for our family. I began to lose my motivation for going to school, each day felt like a new setback. When I got to middle school, my determination slowly came back. It was getting closer to my dad’s release date and I couldn’t wait to see him. In all the letters he would send me he would encourage me to ignore the school bullies because once I graduate nothing they said will matter. He was right, when I was able to walk across the stage and receive my diploma with both my parents there, nothing else mattered. This was the biggest moment of my life, and I am forever grateful that I had both my parents by my side. I am proud of myself for not giving up when life got hard at home and in school. Dealing with my dad being gone for so long, kids bullying me in school, the pressure of passing school, and trying to take care of my mental health caused so much stress. I still prevailed with both of my parent’s support, I graduated high school with a 3.2 GPA. Now I am continuing to make them proud by pursuing my bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration at Jackson State University.

“Follow the rhythm of life,” is something my mom used to say to me. Meaning to follow where life takes us, going with the flow of the music. Having music in my life is something I am beyond grateful for. The way it has changed my life in so many ways has amazed me. Learning about the many different genres of music, or even just the different artists has always fascinated me to want to know more about it. So I followed my heart and explored the endless possibilities of what music has to offer. Music has been there for my happy, sad, angry, and tired moods. I listen to music to fall asleep, to make me happy, to let out my anger, or to just sit and cry sometimes. It has always been an outlet for me no matter what the circumstances were. Listening to songs and hearing other people’s stories in their music was inspiring. If I couldn’t play my instrument, then the radio, and if I couldn’t reach a radio, then I would be humming or tapping. When I couldn’t speak, the songs would tell my story for me. Listening to or even playing songs helped me talk in ways I didn’t know were possible. Some of the lowest points of my life I remember hearing a song and not feeling so alone anymore. It was comforting for me, knowing if they got through then so can I. Even just listening to a song would calm me down or cheer me up, the melody repeating in my head. I also play the trombone and tuba in my school’s marching band and wind ensemble. Which allowed me to extend my love for music even more. Our school’s band is a HBCU style, so I am able to have black culture infused into it. I am currently auditioning to play the tuba for the college I am attending so that music will continue to travel with me. Being able to make different sounds and play along with other people has always intrigued me. I have always enjoyed being a part of a band and growing as a musician with other people around me. Subsequently, music has played a major role in my life. It has helped me get through tough times and allowed me to express myself in many different ways. I am truly grateful for the access I have received to music and I dream to share my passion with others one day too. I’m always amazed by the outcome and effects that music can leave on people. I hope to spread the positivity it has brought into my life onto others.

What makes a superhero film so super, you may say? Well I’ve always been a sucker for all superhero movies, but the X-Men movie series are definitely my favorite. Sure the fighting scenes are great, but behind all of that there’s so much more to the story. There are many different characteristics in this movie that make it stand out from all the superhero movies. X-men series are movies about mutants who live amongst humans, and only want to be accepted by mankind. Professor X or Charles Xavier is the founder of the group, he created a school as a safeplace for the mutants around the world. They face so many challenges, whether it's adapting into society, being accepted by humans, loving themselves, or controlling their emotions with their powers. “Mankind has always feared what it doesn’t understand.” My first time hearing that in the movie, my mind was blown. It made me start thinking about how segregation became a thing. White men didn’t understand what black people were and instead of accepting them into society they enslaved them. Just as in the movie mutants are exiled and not accepted, African Americans are still struggling with the same problems as them today. Although this doesn’t just apply to African Americans, it applies to all people of color; asian hate crimes are rising, hispanics are being told to go back to where they came from, muslims are being prejudged and hated on. But then I heard this quote, “Mutant and Proud,” which gave me the confidence to love who I am. No matter what our differences are, we are on Earth together so why hate?

Her name is, Flora, after my favorite character from Winx Club. I’ve had her for 8 years now, and she makes me the happiest person ever. We found her outside walking in the road on my way to school, and then returned her to only find out they didn’t want her. So we took her in as our own and ever since then things have been great. In the last photo I took her with me to take my senior photos, since they told me to bring something that has made a huge impact on my life.

There’s a start to every story, a first for every adventure, and I am that first for my generation. Both of parents dropped out of high school and got their GEDs, and both only received an associates degree in college. Also being the oldest of my two younger siblings allowed me to set the bar. I don’t see any of this as a setback in life, I allow this to motivate myself to become an achiever. I am now graduating on May 27, 2021, from Heritage High school with my high school diploma and a 3.3 GPA. I have been accepted into my favorite college, and now I’m fully admitted for fall 2021. I will be attending Jackson State University for a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. I am the spark that starts the fire of greatness in our family, and it will continue to grow with my siblings and future children. Without the parents I have today I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am beyond grateful for everything that they have done for me, and I hope this inspires my siblings to be great. Growing up I would always wish I had an older brother or sister to look up to, or even just learn from. Being the oldest I had responsibilities of taking care of my younger siblings as well, so sometimes things were hard but I love them so it made me happy. Once I reached highschool things really changed for me, since I had no older siblings to ask questions, and my parents weren’t able to help much since they dropped out. I had to research information on taking the SAT, applying for colleges, financial aid, etc. There were times where life was very stressful and confusing because it was hard finding help, and I would have breakdowns. But I never gave up, I stayed motivated and focused on my goals, which helped me become the person I am today. Subsequently, I am a first generation for the Bloom family and I am proud. I wouldn’t go back and change a thing, my life has taught to lead by example. I hope my story inspires not only my family, but other people who are struggling to push through and become the start of a story. This is only the first chapter for me, many more things are to come in my future and I hope to help others as well. Although I am the first of my family to graduate from high school and go to college for a bachelor’s degree, I am surely not the last one. The name Miracle Bloom will go down in history, I am speaking my success into existence.

There are so many different women in the world who are outstanding in every way. Although, someone who stands out for me since I was a child is Zendaya Coleman. Me being an African-American child and seeing an African-American girl on TV was so intriguing to me. Then to learn about her life outside of acting, she was such an amazing person. I wanted to be just like her growing up, she inspired me to try so many different things. Even today as a 17 year old I continue to look up to her, she truly has made an impact on my life. My first time ever seeing her was on the disney channel show, Shake It up. I instantly fell in love with her character, I started looking forward to watching just her. She was also a singer and dancer, which was so awesome to me. I had to get to know her more, so I looked her up on social media and blogs. She also has a modeling career too, and this one thing really caught my attention. She spoke out and asked not to be photoshopped, because she didn’t want to give younger girls a false perception of ‘beauty.’ She posted on her instagram the real photos and asked for the photoshopped ones to be taken down. She then said "These are the things that make women self conscious, that create unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have. Anyone who knows I am knows I stand for honest and pure self love.” This made me feel so much better about myself physically. As for today, she has inspired me to help other younger girls to love themselves. To see her accomplish so many things in life at such a young age, really made me want to be better. I am able to try new activities with confidence, and strive for excellence. I continue to spread awareness for the self love that younger girls need, and reach out to help them. I am strong and independent, ready to help others and becoming an inspiring role model. I love seeing all the new empowering women in our society today, we are able to achieve great things. I am beyond grateful for all the women that have inspired me growing up in my life. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to have become who I am today as a person.

“I’m black and I’m proud,” is a quote I will never stop saying. Being African American isn’t just my race but it always defines who I am as a person. I am strong, determined, beautiful, intelligent, and proud of my brown skin. My goals in life are to go to a historically black college or university(HBCU), get my bachelor’s degree, pay for college, and start a successful career as a healthcare administrator. With all the things I accomplished in the past four years of high school I am determined to reach my goals. Firstly, my high school career has been an amazing learning experience for me. I was able to involve myself in many different activities such as, the National Spanish Honor Society, marching band, sports medicine program, and sports. The marching band copied the style of different HBCUs, therefore, I was able to learn more about the culture and environment at a HBCU. For my sports medicine program I received my 100 volunteer hours, and passed my certification exam to become a certified medical administrative assistant. I was involved in many different sports such as, basketball, tennis, cross country, and golf. They all taught me the importance of working together as a team, and leading by example. Following, my goals for my future have really motivated me to never give up. My first goal is to go to a HBCU, and I have been accepted into Jackson State University. Now I am on track to get my bachelors degree, and become a role model for my siblings. Next is paying for college, I plan on applying for as many scholarships as possible and auditioning for a band scholarship. Last but not least, is to start a successful career, after I get my degree I will jump straight into the work field and give it my all. Lastly, my life as of today will only get harder but will be for the better. I am currently working and saving for my college education. Retaking my SAT soon for a better score, and applying to many different scholarships. Working hard to raise my weighted GPA to a 3.8, when I currently have a 3.1. I practice every morning and night on my tuba for my marching band auditions. Although my parents didn’t graduate high school with their diplomas, I want to show my younger siblings that it is possible. Covid has affected my life in so many ways but I choose to not let it hold me back, and I wish to motivate my friends and family to do the same. Altogether, life right now is a bit stressful and full of surprises but it’s also taking a turn for the better. I want to be a motivator for other African Americans who are feeling setback in life right, and a role model for all the younger generations of color. High school has taught me many things, and I’m ready to bring that knowledge with me to college. Nothing will stop me from reaching all my goals no matter how hard it gets. I will continue to strive and be a better person. I hope that I was able to inspire others to be great and never give up as well.

“I’m black and I’m proud,” is a quote I will never stop saying. Being African American isn’t just my race but it always defines who I am as a person. I am strong, determined, beautiful, intelligent, and proud of my brown skin. My goals in life are to go to a historically black college or university(HBCU), get my bachelor’s degree, pay for college, and start a successful career as a healthcare administrator. With all the things I accomplished in the past four years of high school I am determined to reach my goals. Firstly, my high school career has been an amazing learning experience for me. I was able to involve myself in many different activities such as, the National Spanish Honor Society, marching band, sports medicine program, and sports. The marching band copied the style of different HBCUs, therefore, I was able to learn more about the culture and environment at a HBCU. For my sports medicine program I received my 100 medical volunteer hours, and passed my certification exam to become a certified medical administrative assistant. I was involved in many different sports such as, basketball, tennis, cross country, and golf. They all taught me the importance of working together as a team, and leading by example. Following, my goals for my future have really motivated me to never give up. My first goal is to go to a HBCU, and I have been accepted into Jackson State University. Now I am on track to get my bachelors degree, and become a role model for my siblings. While in college I also plan on interning at a hospital for more medical experience. Last but not least, is to start a successful career, after I get my degree I will jump straight into the work field and give it my all. Lastly, my life as of today will only get harder but will be for the better. I wish to receive all the knowledge I can on the medical field so I will continue to do research. I’m working hard to raise my weighted GPA to a 3.8, when I currently have a 3.1. I will be CPR certified by the end of this school year as well. Although my mom didn’t graduate high school with her diploma, she was able to make a career with nursing school. Ever since then she has inspired me and it has grown my love for the medical field even more. Covid has affected my life in so many ways but I choose to not let it hold me back, and I wish to motivate my friends and family to do the same. Altogether, life right now is a bit stressful and full of surprises but it’s also taking a turn for the better. I want to be a motivator for other African Americans who are feeling setback in life right, and a role model for all the younger generations of color. The medical field has so many different options of career paths which is something I love about it. Becoming a medical administrator is my top priority and I won’t stop working until it is complete. I will continue to strive and be a better person. I hope that I was able to inspire others to be great and never give up as well.

“Follow the rhythm of life,” is something my mom used to say to me. Meaning to follow where life takes us, going with the flow of the music. Having music in my life is something I am beyond grateful for. The way it has changed my life in so many ways has amazed me. Learning about different genres of music or even just different artists alway fascinates me to want to know more about it. Music has been there for my happy, sad, angry, and tired moods. I listen to music to fall asleep, to make me happy, to let out my anger, or to just sit and cry sometimes. It has always been an outlet for me no matter what the circumstances were. Listening to songs and hearing other people’s stories in their music was inspiring. If I couldn’t play my instrument, then the radio, and if I couldn’t reach a radio, then I would be humming or tapping. I also play the trombone and tuba in my school’s marching band and wind ensemble. Which allowed me to extend my love for music even more. Our school’s band is a HBCU style, so I am able to have black culture infused into it. I am currently auditioning to play the tuba for the college I am attending so the music will travel with me. Being able to make different sounds and play along with other people has always intrigued me. I am able to create my own music and express my emotions with the music I play as well. Subsequently, music has played a major role in my life. It has helped me get through tough times and allowed me to express myself in many different ways. I am truly grateful for the access I have received to music. I hope to spread the positivity it has brought into my life onto others.

“I’m black and I’m proud,” is a quote I will never stop saying. Being African American isn’t just my race but it always defines who I am as a person. I am strong, determined, beautiful, intelligent, and proud of my brown skin. My goals in life are to go to a historically black college or university(HBCU), get my bachelor’s degree, pay for college, and start a successful career as a healthcare administrator. With all the things I accomplished in the past four years of high school I am determined to reach my goals. Firstly, my high school career has been an amazing learning experience for me. I was able to involve myself in many different activities such as, the National Spanish Honor Society, marching band, sports medicine program, and sports. The marching band copied the style of different HBCUs, therefore, I was able to learn more about the culture and environment at a HBCU. For my sports medicine program I received my 100 volunteer hours, and passed my certification exam to become a certified medical administrative assistant. I was involved in many different sports such as, basketball, tennis, cross country, and golf. They all taught me the importance of working together as a team, and leading by example. Following, my goals for my future have really motivated me to never give up. My first goal is to go to a HBCU, and I have been accepted into Jackson State University. Now I am on track to get my bachelors degree, and become a role model for my siblings. Next is paying for college, I plan on applying for as many scholarships as possible and auditioning for a band scholarship. Last but not least, is to start a successful career, after I get my degree I will jump straight into the work field and give it my all. Lastly, my life as of today will only get harder but will be for the better. I am currently working and saving for my college education. Retaking my SAT soon for a better score, and applying to many different scholarships. Working hard to raise my weighted GPA to a 3.8, when I currently have a 3.1. I practice every morning and night on my tuba for my marching band auditions. Although my parents didn’t graduate high school with their diplomas, I want to show my younger siblings that it is possible. Covid has affected my life in so many ways but I choose to not let it hold me back, and I wish to motivate my friends and family to do the same. Altogether, life right now is a bit stressful and full of surprises but it’s also taking a turn for the better. I want to be a motivator for other African Americans who are feeling setback in life right, and a role model for all the younger generations of color. High school has taught me many things, and I’m ready to bring that knowledge with me to college. Nothing will stop me from reaching all my goals no matter how hard it gets. I will continue to strive and be a better person. I hope that I was able to inspire others to be great and never give up as well.