My faith in Islam and belief in Allah have influenced every aspect of my life, shaping my perspectives, values, and decision-making process. Islam has provided me with the strength, guidance, and purpose needed to navigate through life's challenges and uncertainties. It has illuminated a path of trust in Allah, reminding me that I am not alone and that everything in this temporary world is part of a divine plan. Throughout my journey, I have experienced doubt and wavering commitment to my faith, but through research, reflection, and prayer, I have deepened my understanding of Islam. Islam has become a constant source of strength, urging me not to give up and to trust in Allah's wisdom. I find solace in the knowledge that this world is fleeting, and my ultimate goal lies in the eternal life to come, where joy, happiness, and peace will prevail. Islam has taught me that life is a test, and the trials I face are opportunities for growth and spiritual development. One of the most powerful aspects of Islam that have guided me is the concept of making supplications (Duas) to Allah. It has become a practice that grounds me during challenging times. I have sought guidance, comfort, and blessings through Duas, and I believe that Allah answers them in His own time and in the way that is best for me. I have learned to trust in His decisions, even when they may not align with my desires, knowing that Allah knows what is best for me. Islamic teachings have also influenced my decision-making process. Istikhara, a form of prayer for guidance, is a beautiful practice to seek divine direction when making important life choices. My faith instills in me the desire to create a future where I can fully adhere to its principles, such as memorizing the Quran and learning Hadiths. As I contemplate starting my hijab journey, I trust that Allah will guide me to the right time for this meaningful step. Looking ahead to my career, I envision that my faith will be a driving force in shaping my professional conduct and interactions. The five daily prayers are a crucial aspect of my faith that will provide me with a sense of tranquility and focus, even amid a demanding career. Honesty, kindness, and building trust are essential values emphasized in Islam, and I firmly believe that these virtues will not only lead to personal growth but also foster positive relationships with colleagues, and customers. Islam encourages compassion, understanding, and non-judgmental attitudes toward others, promoting a harmonious and respectful work environment. In my continuous journey of improving my character, I seek to apologize and make amends when I make mistakes, realizing that self-improvement requires effort and accountability. As I pursue my aspiration of becoming an entrepreneur, the legacy of Khadija (R.A) serves as an inspiration. Her brilliance in business, strong character, and unwavering faith set a powerful example for me. I aim to learn more about the business field, including Islamic finance, to ensure that my ventures align with my religious principles and avoid practices such as Interest (Riba), which are impermissible in Islam. In conclusion, my Muslim identity and faith have been instrumental in guiding me through life's challenges, inspiring personal growth, and influencing my career goals. Islam has taught me to trust in Allah's plan, seek guidance through prayer, and adhere to the values of honesty and integrity. As I embark on my journey toward entrepreneurship, I carry with me the lessons of my faith, aiming to make a positive impact in the business world while upholding the principles of Islam.

A business I'll like to start in my local community is selling Abayas, and hijabs - modest fashion clothes for Muslim women. This business of mine will target Muslim women who are interested in fashion and at the same time interested in dressing modestly based on their values. For me to develop such a business, I'll need to know the basics of what "business" is, including what to expect, what is needed to be avoided, and the ability to deal with competitors and take risks. As a Sole Proprietorship, who will be running a business in a local community, a franchise is a way I could promote my business which could later reach a global market. As an owner of the product which will be Abayas and hijabs, I’ll get payment in addition to royalties on every dollar the business earns. Effective standards and procedures will be provided in the global market. After expanding to a global market, I’ll get lots of benefits such as an increased revenue stream - expanding to a global market would be seen as an investment opportunity for my business. I could also gain marketing insights into my business, as I’ll be informed of how the target clients and customers I want to reach view my business. I’ll also be able to see how I compare to the competitors, aid in my understanding of how to interact with them and guide the planning of my next actions. This business of mine will contribute to the general welfare of my local community by providing access to modest fashion, my business would provide a local source for women who prefer modest fashion options. Many women in my community may currently have to order abayas and hijabs online or travel to larger cities to find what they are looking for. By providing these clothing options locally, I'll be helping to fill a gap in the local market and make these items more accessible to women in my community. Creating Jobs is another way I'll contribute to the welfare of my community. As my business grows, I may need to hire employees to help me with tasks like managing inventory, fulfilling orders, and running my store (if I decide to have one). By creating jobs in my local community, I'll be contributing to the local economy and helping to reduce unemployment. Fostering a Sense of Community is also another way, by providing a local source for modest fashion, I may be able to create a sense of community among Muslim women who share this interest. I could host events or workshops to showcase my products, provide styling tips, or simply provide a space for women to connect with each other. This could help to strengthen social bonds within the community and promote a sense of unity. And lastly, by selling abayas and hijabs to non-Muslims, I could also help to promote cultural understanding and appreciation. By showcasing the beauty of Islamic fashion, I may be able to break down stereotypes and promote a more inclusive and tolerant community.

"Knowledge is that which benefits not that which is memorized" - Imam al -Shafi'i (RA) - I find this quote beautiful as it says how knowledge won't benefit you if you just memorize it. What's the purpose of knowledge if it's not put to use? Knowledge is what I hope to retain as I grow older, and for me to put the knowledge I learned to fulfill my career goals in the future, this scholarship will be of great help to me. I plan to be an entrepreneur, study business, own a business, and make my family and me proud, but the future might not always go as planned, and sometimes you have to hustle through life and not give up. Coming to the US from Nigeria at the age of 12 to study was a difficult choice, I was given an opportunity and I wouldn't want those who worked hard for me to come here and let their hardships be of waste. To go to college and study, I need scholarships to reduce the struggles of my family and this scholarship will be a helpful starting point toward my career goals. Obtaining this scholarship will not only make me hopeful but will also reduce the pressure of college and education fees. After applying to lots of scholarship applications, I could only think about how I might not be able to win one and how my struggles are going to be failures. Days go by where I have to double check on what my future is going to be like, the journey I have to go through and perhaps I might have to give up on my career goals but do you know what kept me going? My brother is back in Nigeria, the one I haven't seen in years, we were separated when we were 4-5 yrs of age after the death of our parents and haven't been able to reunite. Not just that, my uncle and aunts tried their best to create a good future for me and even students around the world who had applied for scholarships and hadn't won a single one could only motivate me. I could only think about the present by applying to this scholarship hoping it'll help me towards being an entrepreneur, and be a guide to a place of knowledge to build the skills of an entrepreneur. I'm thankful to Spring Piatek for putting up this scholarship and making me hopeful about the future. This scholarship once again will be of great help to me and my family towards my studies in fulfilling the big role of being an entrepreneur.

Her Words From a foundation of the black race And the home of legends A tribe called Yoruba Filled with our cultural essence With our unique style of dressing Tribal marks that show our identity Our distinguished dishes have an aroma That invites you to want it We are of a unique culture Elegant with our etiquette As we embrace our people With different folktales, religions, and philosophy Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment And knowledge of one’s Ori” Influencing personal destiny and success is what “Ori” is And yet I, a descendant from the Yoruba's view Life as a currency I close my eyes thinking of this life Whether to be attached or not Then I remember the life I’ve been given is nothing but ‘Temporary’ Filled with beautiful lies Illusions that feel so real Just like the temporary pain And again, “Deen over Dunya” I learned here is not the resting place but a testing place Our culture views life as a sight that "Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” And I learned not to prefer this world but the Hereafter And the culture has the proverbs Words Of the father of fathers “It is with both wisdom and patience that an elder runs from a cow’ The words are just so original expressing a basic truth about patience “Patience is bitter, but the sweetness of its fruits will prevail you and will forget any bitterness that you’ve ever tasted” I decided to keep my intentions Pure, knowing my values and standards And learning through patience Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” Through my knowledge, I try to learn more And to search for my meaning And the treasure founded was like A Chest of Reminders enclosed in knowledge The reminders gotten showed my purpose And I set goals My goals were not of this Life And I thought to achieve the goals in silence The Journey is more of a mystery And “How beautiful it is to remain a mystery in a world of people who have nothing left to hide” Yet the travel for the journey took years to arrive at the particular destination Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” We, the Yoruba’s inhabit a world of myths, allegories, poetry And the love of wisdom, including the “Ifa divination system” And through words, life can be a book filled with treasures mysteries that are waiting to be unfolded The knowledge that might be limited but could be more when gained And just like a journey with an open book full of blank pages waiting to be filled with words of its story And the home of legends entangled with its Culture and practices that show its world “Yet the Message behind the Words is the Voice of the Heart”.

The future is filled with mysteries, unknown choices, and decisions leading to a permanent or temporary life event. An example of a life event is generational wealth. Generational wealth is financial value in different assets such as; money, education, land, habits, companies, etc, passed down from one generation of the family to another. In my perspective, generational wealth is basically the inheritance of property passed within a family. In the future, I plan on achieving generational wealth in various ways. First, will be to study hard and graduate high school, take a gap year to figure out a specific career I want to major in before going to college or go to college immediately after high school. It all depends on the choices I make in a few months. In college, I'll strive by being focused on my studies, take business classes, and get a job for the time being. I'll learn how money works, the algorithms, and ways to build a business. After graduating from college, I'll make a plan on what career I want to focus on, which could be an entrepreneur. I'll create my own business, which will begin the journey of achieving generational wealth, the journey might be risky and challenging but I'll have to not give up. I would want to leave something in my children's hands, something that would flourish throughout the family. Creating a company for my business is another step, and being successful in the business. Life goes around in mysteries though. When my business is successful and I have my own family, sad but true reality, there'll be a time of death, a time when I'll be old, so before then, I'll write a will, this will is going to include specific details and instructions on my assets and last wishes. To help my family members find my financial holdings, I'll list my financial assets in the will but if I were unable to write a will due to some circumstances, the state might decide what happens to my children, money, and property. Another way in achieving generational wealth is investing in my money through stocks, cryptocurrencies, real estate, and more which could take many shapes like heirlooms, antiques, savings, cash, life insurance policies, etc. Having all the above strategies are step to achieving the goal but consistency is the main key. Not being consistent is going to lead the failure, although being consistent might be challenging if there are other financial responsibilities to take care of. Being consistent needs focus, routine, being organized, and systematic. The future will definitely be challenging while trying to build generational wealth but it's better than all efforts going to waste after death, at the same time confusion and conflict building towards family members. '

I've always wanted to pour my feelings, and experiences into words but never knew how, so I really appreciate Cat Zingano for putting up this scholarship. Losing both of my parents at the age of four, and getting separated from my younger brother caused me to focus on reuniting with my little brother and the ability to "FIGHT" to be an Entrepreneur. My Mom died while I was young due to an unknown illness, 6 months after, my Dad also left the world due to the loss of his wife. After the death of my parents, I found myself being taken to a new state together with my Dad's brother and his wife who probably planned on adopting me without my younger brother. As I grow under the care of my Uncle, I had faint memories, I knew they weren't my parents, and I knew I had a brother but I couldn't bring it up since they never did. Being under the care of my Uncle, I was mistreated badly, and scars now that will never heal are rooted in my skin. I thought I was the bad kid but now in present, I realized their method of raising kids was just lacking and brutal. I was always causing trouble for them without meaning to, in return, I get scolded and get beaten up, and neighbors hear my cries, and sometimes try to beg my stepmom to stop. This continued almost every week. I hated my life, I tried running away but couldn't. Days come when I get hurt by my stepmom and she tries to hide it from my uncle which sometimes works successfully. They both tend to argue most of the time and sometimes I'm the reason for their argument. My Step Mom siblings always pitied me, especially one of her siblings in the United States, she pitied me and wasn't sure if I could last long together with her own sister and so she asked my uncle and stepmom If I could come study in the US. They refused which eventually led to a family conflict. The sibling in the US gave up but her other siblings begged her to argue more together with her sister and my uncle so I could be sent to the US which I was in the end. At the age of 12, I was sent to the US, I had to learn how to adapt to this new world, everyone was nice, and I had no more scars piling up on my body, it was weird. My new guardian which is my stepmom's sister welcomed me with open arms, she cared for me and corrected me whenever I did anything wrong without raising her hands toward me. She was my new Mom and I was happy for once in my life without having to force myself to laugh or smile but I lacked feelings. Today, I have no sense of feelings or just haven't found out yet, I am very sensitive and sentimental towards myself but not to others. Whenever she's going to work her daughter always greets her with "love you" and she replies "love you too" but I only greeted her with "bye". She realized it one day and told me, I could also say "love you" to her too but I couldn't, it felt weird and awkward even now. Four years passed since I left the abusive world and I'm now in a world where people care for me. The loss of my loved ones gave me a reason to "FIGHT" to be an Entrepreneur. A few months ago, I decided to search for my biological parents online, and fortunately, I found some information about my Dad who was a politician but little information about my Mom. Fortunately, a few days back, my Guardian called me to show me a picture of a woman. She asked if I knew who she was and I immediately knew she was my Mom. I have no idea how but she was my mom and I was right. I was happy to finally see a picture of her since I had no memories of how she looked like. My Guardian told me my late parents were wealthy and once I turned 18, I might reunite with my little brother which I haven't seen for 10-12 years but I wouldn't be able to inherit anything since my Biological dad's brothers might have used the money leaving nothing else. And since I found out, I wanted to fight for my little brother who hasn't seen his big sister, my late parents who left the world 6 months apart without seeing their kids grow up, and also myself who got separated from my family. This is my "FIGHT" toward being an entrepreneur in the future.

The major I'll be pursuing in the future is Business. I am passionate about adhering to this major because I want to be an entrepreneur. There was no inspiration from anyone to pursue this career but just a choice of mine. I realize I didn't want to work for someone else but just be my own boss, being Muslim and working for someone else in a world where Haram has been normalized will make it harder for me as I won't be able to pray peacefully due to working under someone else. As a Muslim, I want to follow Islamic teachings by being an entrepreneur, by choosing the business major, I'll learn a lot about currency and how the world revolves around money. Being a business major in the future will let me broaden my knowledge about Islamic finance and what to avoid in being an entrepreneur. It's important for me to seek higher education in order to have a clear view of my future, I was given an opportunity to study in the US and I want to make use of it as I want to make my parents, siblings, family, and most importantly myself proud. I'll also get to expand my knowledge, and gain skills to express myself in order to make decisions and choices. I aspire to use my degree to work in various fields of majors I choose. With the business degree, I'll be able to start my own business, being a Muslim entrepreneur will allow me to create value in the lives of customers and improve their lives and society as a whole. As an entrepreneur, I'll be able to control my schedule which gives me freedom, at the same time being able to spend some time and build a connection with Allah SWT. A difference I made in my community is helping clean the Mosque and keeping it tidy, especially in classes where students learn Arabic and Qur'an. As a Muslim, I believe in Allah and his Messenger Muhammad (S.A.W), and I'm able to follow the teachings of the prophet. And to be honest, I can't imagine a life where I won't go to google to check if this is "haram or halal". Going onto the search bar and searching if this food is halal or if this act is haram makes me happy as it shows how much I want to strengthen myself and be closer to Allah, including being a better Muslim. Being a Muslim means a lot to me, and I'm very proud I was born a Muslim. I see life differently, I learn every day and get to see things from a whole different perspective. As a Muslim, I realize how temporary this Dunya is and how Jannah is our home, I sometimes get carried away but Alhamdulillah, Allah guides me back towards him and it makes me realize how lucky I am to have the gift and blessing of being a Muslim.

Her Words From a foundation of the black race And the home of legends A tribe called Yoruba Filled with our cultural essence With our unique style of dressing Tribal marks that show our identity Our distinguished dishes have an aroma That invites you to want it We are of a unique culture Elegant with our etiquette As we embrace our people With different folktales, religions, and philosophy Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment And knowledge of one’s Ori” Influencing personal destiny and success is what “Ori” is And yet I, a descendant from the Yoruba's view Life as a currency I close my eyes thinking of this life Whether to be attached or not Then I remember the life I’ve been given is nothing but ‘Temporary’ Filled with beautiful lies Illusions that feel so real Just like the temporary pain And again, “Deen over Dunya” I learned here is not the resting place but a testing place Our culture views life as a sight that "Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” And I learned not to prefer this world but the Hereafter And the culture has the proverbs Words Of the father of fathers “It is with both wisdom and patience that an elder runs from a cow’ The words are just so original expressing a basic truth about patience “Patience is bitter, but the sweetness of its fruits will prevail you and will forget any bitterness that you’ve ever tasted” I decided to keep my intentions Pure, knowing my values and standards And learning through patience Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” Through my knowledge, I try to learn more And to search for my meaning And the treasure founded was like A Chest of Reminders enclosed in knowledge The reminders gotten showed my purpose And I set goals My goals were not of this Life And I thought to achieve the goals in silence The Journey is more of a mystery And “How beautiful it is to remain a mystery in a world of people who have nothing left to hide” Yet the travel for the journey took years to arrive at the particular destination Our culture views life as a sight that “Depends on proper alignment and Knowledge of one’s Ori” We, the Yoruba’s inhabit a world of myths, allegories, poetry And the love of wisdom, including the “Ifa divination system” And through the words, life can be a book filled with treasures mysteries that are waiting to be unfolded The knowledge that might be limited but could be more when gained And just like a journey with an open book full of blank pages waiting to be filled with words of its story And the home of legends entangled with its Culture and practices that show its world “Yet the Message behind the Words is the Voice of the Heart”.

What will be your major be and why are you passionate about pursuing it? -A major I'm pursuing is business and computer science because it gives and sets lots of different career opportunities. Did someone inspire you to pursue this career? If so, who? -To be honest, no one did, I just explored career options that would suit me. Why is it important for you to seek higher education and what do you aspire to do with your degree? -It's important because I'll get to expand my knowledge, and gain skills to express myself in order to make decisions and choices. I aspire to use my degree to work in various fields of majors I choose. How have you made a difference in your community? - I am still working on making a difference in my community by helping out in the library and giving to charity. What does being a Muslim / Palestinian mean to you? -Being a Muslim means believing in Allah and the five pillars of Islam. Knowing that this Dunya is a trial and living in it knowing it's an illusion. Not getting attached to it and knowing Jannah is home as this world is temporary.

My Mindset is something I value most in myself, having a mindset of how temporary this world is and knowing that the journey ahead is filled with battles that need to be fought head-on, hardships that need to be faced, being able to be aware that all in this world is temporary. We live in a world filled with beautiful lies and illusions; at the same time, I remind myself not to get attached to it. Having been a Muslim made me realize that there has to be someone who created this world. When I think about my purpose, "why am I here, who created this world ?" - I question myself. And all sorts of curiosity build up inside me. I learned about my religion, enough to know the Creator. I learned He is the life behind all of nature. He is the One who squeezes a seed to create a tree, the One whose love changes stones into gold. One with no holes, no parts, no separation. He is the forger of time, the molder of space, the weaver of souls, the turner of hearts, the One who creates everything in stages yet is beyond the limits of time. Life is created from His breath, the cosmos forms from the vibration of His speech, and love is birthed from the womb of His mercy. And what else did I learn about Him? I learned He is the inspiration at the heart of every lover, the beauty behind the song of a nightingale, the mathematician behind the symmetrical perfection in the fractals of nature. And while searching this world, trying to obtain more knowledge, I learned about myself and how my Creator made me; He wrote my story with the pen of mercy, poured His love into every cell that dances and twirls inside of me, and blew His spirit into my mold of clay, making me a bridge between Heaven and Earth. I learned to be able to love myself while having the mindset of a temporary world. I learned I am far more beautiful than mirrors can sing about, far too intricate for language to weave into words because I am the product of a divine love that is so holy and infinite that finite hands fall short in painting my truth. And that includes my thought and mindset. This Mindset will be helpful in my life journey as I won't get attached to relationships knowing I'm a daughter of a respected man and a future wife of another. I didn't have to set myself to follow the beauty standards or to impress the world rather than to impress my Creator. While reading a book, the author wrote "You are not just the sum of your success, subtracted by your failures. Your worth is not just an equation of how much you can offer to the world. Your value does not just come from what you give, say, or do; there is more to you than just output"- And I fell in love with the sentence. Having Self-discipline is something I put in my mindset, remembering I'm not a currency to fall and rise in value. Realized that sometimes not all the things I want will come to my hands. Like a flawless emerald would not require a beautiful setting to dictate its worth, the value of my spirit is intrinsic because it belongs to my creator. And her Creator is the best of Planners as he is the one who knows what her life journey holds.

"The day you realize this world is temporary, the people are temporary, relationships are temporary, the purpose of your life is served"- Islam changed my perspective in my life and for me not to get attached to this world since it isn't perfect. Growing up in Nigeria, I knew nothing more than being an obedient kid who follows the rules. Having lost my parents in 2010 and separating from my younger brother. I didn't know what to do. There was nothing I could do. I was taken in by my Uncle and his wife who lived in a different state from where I was originally born. I was taught to follow my family religion which is Islam. While living with my uncle, I was known to be a troublesome kid who didn't follow the rules but in reality, I lived in fear and scars. There is an opinion that if you are born in a Muslim household, you later have to find Islam yourself. And that was what happened to me. Although my stepparents made me follow Islam because they were Muslim, I wasn't taught why I had to follow it Until I came to the US at the age of 12. I stumbled onto a social network that gave tips on being a Muslim. And due to being a girl always filled with curiosity, I tried aiming for more knowledge of Islam. I found quotes, lessons, and lots of descriptions, it broadened my knowledge and brought back my memory which led to my biological parents and my sibling. Being matured from a young age through my learnings. I learned this life is filled with beautiful illusions. I'm still learning but one thing I know is through Islam I was able to find my purpose in life.

Shatter Me, a dystopian trilogy by Tahereh Mafi is one of my favorite books that I've read that caught my attention. A novel filled with suspense, romance, and action. The novel was unpredictable and I read the first series in a day while flipping each page to find out what was happening. One of the things I loved about this dystopian trilogy was the writing style! Strikethroughs expressed the thoughts of the protagonist as if she were writing in her diary. The characters development and the story line were amazing. In this novel, the main protagonist is Juliette Ferrars, a 17-year-old girl who has been locked up alone in a dark asylum for the past 264 days. Society does not recognize Juliette's superpowers. Lethal touch and extraordinary strength are the two superpowers Juliette acquires. Because of this, Juliette has the power to smash through steel and concrete as well as murder people by simply touching them. Juliette had a significant impact on the story because of the challenges she overcame, which prompted unexpected turns throughout the book. From my perspective, I liked the protagonist as she went through lots of hardships in losing her loved ones, not gaining any parental love, and experiencing that she can't touch anyone. She is a strong character. Through out the book, Juliette Ferrars reveals most of her inner thoughts despite feeling uncomfortable. Furthermore, the writing style in the book contained many strikethroughs, both negative and positive that symbolized her inner thoughts. In reality, everyone has inner thoughts kept to themselves. Ultimately, it was an amazing book that deserves to be one of my favorites. the protagonist comes to accept and love herself. She may have made mistakes and harbored concerns, but she was willing to accept herself for who she was.

Someone I admire in History would be Prophet Muhammad - The founder of Islam. A role model of equality, honesty, and kindness. He was a spiritual teacher, a fantastic parent, a lovely spouse, a devoted friend, a firm believer, a social and political reformer, and the ideal companion. He was born in Makkah in the year 570. He was an orphan. So he was raised by his uncle Abd al-Muttalib, a member of the Quraysh tribe. He is simple and charismatic, and his life advice inspires his followers. Life, as he lives, is very beneficial to the human body's health and has a high value. "A white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over a white except by piety and good action" - this statement was made by the prophet who was sent to spread the message of Islam throughout the world. He was also a reformer who worked to achieve racial equality. Throughout his life, the Prophet made clear statements against racism and ensured that his actions reflected them. At the time of Muhammad's birth, during the 7th century, women in Arabia had few rights. Even the right to life could be in question. since it was not uncommon for small girls to be buried alive during times of scarcity. Part of his legacy was to end the murder of girls and establish explicit rights for women. His teachings about forgiveness over revenge are part of the things I admire about him. He prayed and cried for humanity. A role model to the world today, One who fought for Islam and taught humanity to be treated with equality, and to love and enjoy life. He taught humanity that the Hardships of life should not result in feeling that life is not worth living.