As a Black student studying finance, I understand the importance of financial literacy in breaking the cycle of poverty and creating generational wealth. Growing up in a low-income community, I witnessed firsthand how a lack of financial knowledge can lead to poor financial decision-making, which in turn perpetuates the cycle of poverty. This scholarship presents a valuable opportunity for me to continue to empower myself and others in my community with the financial tools needed to break free from this cycle. In order to educate my community about financial literacy in healthcare, I plan to volunteer at local community centers and schools to teach financial literacy workshops. These workshops will cover topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. I believe that it is essential to focus on financial literacy in healthcare because it is an area where many individuals face financial strain due to healthcare costs. By educating my community on how to manage these costs and plan for unexpected medical expenses, we can help break the cycle of poverty and improve overall financial stability. I also plan to create a financial literacy blog aimed at my community. Through the blog, I will share practical tips and advice on financial planning and management. This platform will serve as a resource for individuals who may not have access to traditional financial education resources. Another way I plan to educate my community on financial literacy is through mentorship programs. I believe that it is crucial to have mentors who can guide and support individuals through the financial planning and decision-making process. By mentoring younger individuals in my community, I can pass on the knowledge and skills I have gained to the next generation, helping to break the cycle of poverty. In addition, I plan to organize financial literacy events in my community, such as financial fairs and workshops. These events will provide individuals with access to financial resources, including financial advisors, credit counselors, and community organizations that provide financial assistance. In conclusion, as a Black student committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in my community, I believe that financial literacy is an essential tool for empowering individuals with the financial knowledge and skills needed to create generational wealth. Through my volunteer work, blog, mentorship programs, and financial literacy events, I plan to educate my community on financial literacy in healthcare and provide individuals with the tools they need to achieve financial stability and success. I am honored to apply for this scholarship, as it will help me further my mission to empower individuals in my community through financial education.

W.E.B Du Bois is one of my biggest role models, and there are many reasons why I admire him. As a leading figure in the civil rights movement and a prolific scholar, Du Bois dedicated his life to fighting for justice and equality for African Americans. One of the things I admire most about Du Bois is his commitment to education. Despite facing tremendous discrimination and obstacles throughout his life, he pursued education with a passion, earning degrees from Fisk University, Harvard University, and the University of Berlin. Du Bois believed that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and oppression that so many African Americans faced. He founded and served as the director of the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically Black colleges and universities that provided opportunities for higher education to thousands of students. Du Bois also believed in the power of scholarship and research to effect change. He conducted groundbreaking studies on race and inequality, including his famous book "The Souls of Black Folk," which explored the experiences of African Americans in the United States. Through his work, Du Bois challenged the prevailing beliefs about race and helped to lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement. Another reason why I admire Du Bois is his lifelong commitment to activism. He was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and he used his platform as a writer and scholar to advocate for racial equality and justice. Du Bois also worked as an editor for several African American newspapers, using his voice to call attention to issues of injustice and inequality. Du Bois's dedication to education, scholarship, and activism has inspired me to pursue my own passions and goals. Like Du Bois, I believe in the power of education to effect change and the importance of research and scholarship in advancing social justice. I also believe in the power of community activism and advocacy to create positive change in the world. By following in Du Bois's footsteps, I hope to make a difference in the lives of those who have been marginalized and oppressed and to help create a more just and equitable society for all. In conclusion, W.E.B Du Bois is one of my biggest role models because of his commitment to education, scholarship, and activism. His work has inspired me to pursue my own passions and goals and to use my skills and abilities to create positive change in the world. I am grateful for the legacy that Du Bois has left behind and am honored to be able to follow in his footsteps.

Creating an impact has always been a driving force in my life. For me, it means using my skills and abilities to make a positive difference in the world, no matter how small or large the impact may be. I have been fortunate enough to have several opportunities to create my own Net Impact, but one that stands out to me was my involvement in a community service project in my hometown. As a high school student, I was the vice president of my school's beta club and we focused on improving the lives of people in our community. We organized various service projects throughout the year, from volunteering at local food banks to community clean-ups. One year, we decided to tackle a larger project: renovating a local community center that had fallen into disrepair. The community center was an important resource for the people in our town, particularly for those who couldn't afford to join a gym or other recreational facilities. However, the building had not been maintained for several years, and it was in dire need of a facelift. Our volunteer group worked tirelessly for several months to clean up the space, repaint the walls, and install new equipment. The impact that we created through this project was significant. Not only did we improve the physical space of the community center, but we also created a renewed sense of community among the people who used it. People who had previously felt disconnected from the center began to use it more frequently, and new programs and activities were implemented to meet the needs of the community. To me, creating an impact means making a positive difference in the lives of others, whether that be through volunteering, donating to a cause, or using my skills and abilities to create something new. It means recognizing that my actions have the power to create change and using that power to make a difference. Net Impact Berkeley's focus on creating impact across many domains aligns with my own values and goals. I believe that by working together and pooling our skills and resources, we can make a greater impact than we could individually. The consulting projects that Net Impact Berkeley takes on are particularly inspiring to me, as they allow for the application of business skills to create real-world solutions to complex problems. In the future, I hope to continue creating my own Net Impact in whatever way I can. Whether that be through volunteering, advocating for important causes, or using my career to make a difference, I am committed to using my skills and abilities to create positive change in the world. One of my long-term goals is to open a hospital or clinic that is accessible to those who are less fortunate. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their economic status. By creating a space that is specifically designed to meet the needs of those who are most vulnerable, I hope to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of my community. I am excited about the potential for collaboration and impact through Net Impact Berkeley and am eager to contribute to this community of changemakers.

I am choosing to major in healthcare management because I have a deep desire to help people who are living below the poverty line have access to quality healthcare. Access to healthcare is a basic human right, yet millions of people across the world are unable to receive necessary medical care because of financial constraints. As someone who is passionate about making a positive difference in the world, I believe that by studying healthcare management, I can play a significant role in improving access to healthcare for those who need it most. The issue of poverty and access to healthcare is a significant concern for many countries, including the United States. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 27.5 million Americans are uninsured, and many more are underinsured. These individuals are more likely to delay or forego necessary medical treatment, leading to poorer health outcomes and decreased quality of life. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the struggles of individuals living in poverty, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to help improve access to healthcare for these individuals. Through studying healthcare management, I hope to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create sustainable and effective healthcare systems that can provide quality care to those who need it most. I am particularly interested in exploring innovative solutions that leverage technology and community-based programs to improve access to care. By learning about healthcare policy, economics, and administration, I hope to gain a holistic understanding of the healthcare system and identify areas where I can make a positive impact. In addition to gaining knowledge in healthcare management, I also plan to supplement my education with real-world experience. I hope to intern with healthcare organizations that are working to improve access to care for low-income populations, such as community health clinics and non-profit organizations. By working with these organizations, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who lack access to healthcare and develop practical skills in healthcare management. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and experience to help create a more equitable healthcare system that provides quality care to all individuals, regardless of their financial situation. I believe that by focusing on improving access to care for those who are most vulnerable, we can create a healthier and more just society for everyone. While this is a complex issue that will require the efforts of many individuals and organizations, I am confident that by pursuing a degree in healthcare management, I can contribute to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. In conclusion, I am choosing to major in healthcare management because I am passionate about improving access to healthcare for individuals living in poverty. Through my studies and real-world experience, I hope to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create sustainable and effective healthcare systems that can provide quality care to all individuals. I am committed to making a positive difference in the world, and I believe that pursuing a degree in healthcare management is an important step towards achieving that goal.

Scholarships like the #GenerationalWealth Scholarship are incredibly important to me as a black woman because they offer opportunities that are not always readily available in our communities. As a group that has historically been subjected to systemic racism and discrimination, black people have faced significant challenges in building wealth and passing it down to future generations. However, scholarships like this one provide a pathway for black students to pursue higher education and create a better future for themselves and their families. To me, generational wealth means having financial stability and security that can be passed down to future generations. It means breaking the cycle of poverty and providing opportunities for my family to achieve their dreams. It means being able to invest in my community and make a positive impact for generations to come. In order to achieve generational wealth, I plan to continue pursuing my education and developing my skills in my chosen field. I believe that education is key to unlocking opportunities and building a strong foundation for success. I also plan to seek out mentors and role models who can offer guidance and support as I navigate my career and financial goals. Building a strong network of like-minded individuals who share my vision for the future is essential to achieving long-term success. In addition to pursuing education and seeking out mentorship, I plan to be strategic in my financial decisions and investments. I believe that building wealth requires a combination of smart planning, hard work, and taking calculated risks. I will continue to educate myself on personal finance and investment strategies in order to make informed decisions that can benefit me and my family in the long term. Finally, I believe that giving back to my community is an essential part of building generational wealth. By investing in programs and organizations that support education, entrepreneurship, and economic development in black communities, I can help create opportunities for future generations to succeed. I hope to use my education and resources to make a positive impact and help break down the systemic barriers that have prevented so many black families from achieving generational wealth. In summary, to me, generational wealth means financial stability, security, and opportunity that can be passed down to future generations. I plan to achieve it by pursuing education, seeking out mentorship and support, being strategic in my financial decisions and investments, and giving back to my community. The #GenerationalWealth Scholarship offers a crucial opportunity for black students to pursue higher education and create a better future for themselves and their families. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply and continue on my path toward building generational wealth. I hope this scholarship goes to someone who will put it towards not only their future, but the future of generations to come.

The movie that has had the greatest impact on my life is Hidden Figures. This powerful and inspiring film tells the true story of three black women who overcame significant barriers to make significant contributions to the field of space exploration during the 1960s. Watching this movie was a turning point for me, as it helped me realize the importance of diversity and inclusivity in all fields, particularly in STEM and business fields that have historically been dominated by white men. Growing up, I always had a passion for science and history, but I often felt discouraged and out of place because there were so few people who looked like me in these fields or even in upper-level classes. Seeing the incredible achievements of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson in Hidden Figures was a revelation for me. These women faced unimaginable obstacles, including segregation and discrimination, but they persevered and made groundbreaking contributions to the space program. Watching Hidden Figures made me realize that I had the potential to achieve great things, even in fields where people like me were underrepresented and underappreciated. It also showed me the power of determination, resilience, and community in achieving one's goals. The women in the movie worked together and supported each other to overcome the challenges they faced, and this taught me the importance of building strong networks and seeking out mentors who can help guide and encourage me on my own journey. In the business world, diversity and inclusion are critical components of success. Businesses that prioritize diversity and inclusivity tend to be more innovative, creative, and successful. They are better able to understand and respond to the needs and desires of diverse customer bases, and they are able to tap into the unique perspectives and experiences of a wide range of employees. Since watching Hidden Figures, I have been even more committed to pursuing a career in business and working to increase diversity and inclusivity in this field. I have sought out mentors and role models who share my values and goals, and I have worked to build a strong network of support that can help me navigate the challenges ahead. I believe that by promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, I can help to create a more just and equitable society. In addition to inspiring me to pursue a career in business, Hidden Figures has also taught me important lessons about the importance of representation. When we see people who look like us achieving great things, it helps us to believe that we too can achieve great things. This is particularly important for young people of color who may not have many role models or examples of success in their communities. By promoting diversity and inclusion in all fields, we can help to create a more equitable and just society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Overall, Hidden Figures has had a profound impact on my life, teaching me valuable lessons about perseverance, community, and the power of representation. I am grateful for the opportunity to have watched this movie and for the inspiration it has provided me on my own journey of personal and professional growth. I am excited to continue working towards my goals and to help create a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable society for all.

The Scholarship Collective is dedicated to supporting dreamers who believe in themselves, and my dream version of my future self is a healthcare management leader who helps increase access to quality healthcare for underserved communities.

Since middle school, I've dedicated myself to community service and volunteer work because I care about making the world a better place one step at a time. I joined my school's volunteer organization and participated in the events they ran. Now, as a senior in high school, I created and lead events for my club members to volunteer at within our community. Not only that, but many other organizations will come to us for volunteers because they know we always have enthusiastic and dedicated students to help out at every event. Because of the club's effort, the other officers and I were invited by the city council to be acknowledged for our hard work. While there we used our platform to advocate for funding to become an affiliate of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. This money would go towards more large-scale projects that we could never accomplish alone. Later we were invited to a luncheon with the governor and other affiliates of the program where we talked about strategies for environmental conservation. Every platform I had the honor of receiving, I used towards my community because I want to build something to leave behind when I lease for college. I want to know that while I'm gone, my club member will continue to keep Zachary, Louisiana as beautiful as ever. I also participate in numerous other clubs and organizations that give me more opportunities needed to make a change. For example, on the school council, I work with other officers to get recycling bins in our school, and I often volunteer at my local farmer's market. I do all of these activities, not for recognition, but because I want to be a better person than I was yesterday. Even if it's only making people happy for a moment or cleaning trash that will be back the next day, it makes me happy knowing I'm doing something to help. In the future, I want a career where I can help others. My current goal is to graduate with as little debt as possible to help my family out. My mother is putting her dreams on the back burner to help me get ahead in life and I want to be able to give back to her in any way I can. Once I have my degree, I plan to build a community that people from all walks of life can turn to when they are in need. Specifically, I want to help people with medical debt because no one should have to choose between life or money. Volunteering isn't just about events to add to my academic resume. Being of service to others has taught me that I have a lot to offer others and that I am capable of making a difference in the world. It has also shown me that I am capable of working hard and being a better person than I was yesterday.

The earliest memory I have was from 2nd grade. I cannot tell you why, but I remembered not feeling like others. I didn't think like them, I wasn't as cool, and I never felt as smart as them. This way of thinking created a mold around me that I was too scared to break. I never shared my real interests or ideas because I was afraid of what people would think of me. Sure, I talked to people but they never knew anything about me. This mold hardened over time until it felt impossible to break. When I turned 9, my grandmother passed and it felt like there was an irreversible shift in my family's life. My father and mother worked long inconsistent hours, so I never had them around when I needed help and my brother was dealing with depression, which I could not understand at the time. I would go to school, feeling alone in a crowd of people just to come home to that same loneliness. Like all children, I wanted to feel seen and the best way I found was by causing trouble. In about 3 years, I ran away from home at least 5 times. I needed to know I mattered and sometimes the look of sadness on my family’s face was the only way I could tell. Acting out in class and not doing my homework were some of the other ways I tried to get their attention, even if it was negative. At age 12, my life took a turn for the better. My parents got jobs that let him be home a lot more often and my brother went away to college where he was much happier with his new freedom. My grades slowly increased and because of this, I started working toward a new type of attention. I picked up new hobbies like writing, theater, and community service along with new friends who pushed me to be a better person. I used to be unmotivated and uninterested in doing anything that would make me stick out or seem like a ‘try hard'. Now I have shattered that clay mold and will continue to allow myself to grow in ways I never would have thought possible. Now at 17, I am heavily involved in student government, I help with a community initiative to keep litter off streets, and I have friends who, I feel, know the real me. My 10-year-old self never believed that I could do anything worthwhile. She thought she would always be the girl who said the wrong things and got the lowest grades. Also in the future, I see myself becoming an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) because I want a career where I can heal others and make a difference in people’s lives. I have also always admired my mother for all the work she does as a nurse, even if I did not understand when I was younger. She is one of my biggest inspirations and she taught me to care about others. On the other hand, my father taught me to do things that make me happy, even if others think I am weird for it. If I could go back in time to tell my 10-year-old self-one thing, I would say, “Break that mold and let love guide you in the direction you really want to go.”

I think that the way children play with toys gives a look into their psyche. For example, the bobo doll experiment where children mimic the aggression that was shown to them. I, however, was just really freaking weird. I watched the mafia movies that my dad had on in the living room, but I also watched the real housewife tv shows my mom listened to while folding clothes. I didn't understand the plot of either because I was only passing through, but I knew enough to mimic everything I saw. One story that sticks with me to this day was a messy love triangle filled with romance, murder, and deception. It was something a child shouldn't be doing, but I would give anything to have the level of creativity again. For context, I had at least 40 dolls but only 3 of them were boys, so a lot of them were being cheated on at all times. Now into the story, they were all a part of rival gangs that were led by one of my guy dolls and his favorite girl (usually the doll I liked the most at the moment). Each doll gang had control over different turfs (areas of my room), but I was the head of all of them. They could have their little turf wars, but they should never cross me or else... One day, the girlfriend of one of my guy dolls was killed in the barbie dream house. They believed she was murdered by the gang on that side of town because she was from the desk gang (the group of dolls that ruled my desk and the surrounding area). To gain more information, they went to the biggest club in the city to gain information from the people she used to party with. When the trail ran cold they had to visit the elders of the closet (my old stuffed animals I didn't play with anymore). They informed them that it was a rouge who was tasked with taking down the desk gang's head but hit the wrong person. After they found out, they tracked her down in a high-speed chase on the busiest highway in the country (the hallway next to my room). The chase ended in the bathroom where she was standing at the edge of the tub threatening to jump if they came any closer. Her plan was cut short when I decided to step in. This doll carried out a hit on one of MY girls on MY term and she thought she was going to get away? Absolutely not. I placed all my dolls on the side of the tub and made them watch as I made an example out of the. I water border her and threatened to drown her unless she gave me all the information I needed. How DARE she make me seem like a fool who can't even manage her own turfs and leaders. The most heartbreaking thing is that I never finished this story. My mom told me to get out the water because, "It's probably cold by now." To this day, I still wonder what the secret was that I needed so badly that I was willing to drown one of my dolls. However, the very next day I decided to have a cheating scandal between those same dolls that was recorded "live" on television.