Growing up in a small town in the South (Amite, Louisiana), I was not exposed to many opportunities that would strengthen particular social skills, education, and development programs as a child. In my environment, the quota for a child that wanted to advance in life was to graduate from high school, go to college, and make it in the world. However, there were limited tools that taught you how to do so. In my particular case, my goal was to escape the limitations of my environment and expand my mind and opportunities by experiencing new educational programs in my area. One program that was a key component in my transition from high school to college was a program called Upward Bound. This program was created to mentor students by exposing them to the reality of college life through firsthand experience. We were able to take college-based courses at a local university and experience the life and responsibility of college. A challenge that I faced while being exposed to college life was communicating effectively with others. I grew up as a shy and quiet child and needed to learn and be challenged to speak my mind because my voice and opinions were valuable. Through the four-year experience, I was able to perfect my skills and have healthy debates when I felt my message needed to be heard. The process was nerve-racking because speaking out as an introverted person is difficult. Constantly overthinking and debating amongst myself if my point was good enough to be heard was a constant battle, but through time and building my confidence, I pushed through. As a college student, I have had time to contemplate how my life lessons and college experience will be helpful to the next person. I plan on using my education in STEM to promote awareness in marginalized groups and communities to encourage change. I would develop this idea by creating a volunteer program for high school and undergraduate students can participate in and aid their community. Creating a program such as this would allow students to see firsthand what the meaning of leadership and community service is all about, helping those in need. I believe that diversity is needed in environments of economic power to promote health literacy and equity. Having equal opportunities for those from vast backgrounds is important to accurately contribute to the needs of different cultures and communities. One major career field that exemplifies such diversity is public health. Health promotion is what improves the community and displaying different communities' health disparities is important for change. Change starts with an idea that implements positive outcomes for those who are underserved or underrepresented in this world. The more we are able to share our experiences and have the opportunity to be heard is when health prevention works best.

Growing up in a small town in the South (Amite, Louisiana), I was not exposed to many opportunities that would strengthen particular social skills, education, and development programs as a child. In my environment, the quota for a child that wanted to advance in life was to graduate from high school, go to college, and make it in the world. However, there were limited tools that taught you how to do so. In my particular case, my goal was to escape the limitations of my environment and expand my mind and opportunities by experiencing new educational programs in my area. One program that was a key component in my transition from high school to college was a program called Upward Bound. This program was created to mentor students by exposing them to the reality of college life through firsthand experience. We were able to take college-based courses at a local university and experience the life and responsibility of college. As a college student, I have had time to contemplate how my life lessons and college experience will be helpful to the next person. I plan on using my education to promote awareness in marginalized groups and communities to encourage change. I would develop this idea by creating a volunteer program for high school and undergraduate students can participate in and aid their community. Creating a program such as this would allow students to see firsthand what the meaning of leadership and community service is all about, helping those in need. I feel as though this would be a great way for students to build their resumes as well as for the community to be uplifted by those who came from similar beginnings. Change starts with an idea that implements positive outcomes for those who are underserved or underrepresented. A way that I saw fit to give back to my community while balancing STEM classes was through community service. I made it my duty to lend my time to families and organizations that valued the service I was able to give. For example, an organization that I joined by the name of Mobilization at Xavier 2.0 allowed me to aid victims that were impacted by Hurricane Ida back in August of 2021. I was able to help clean out homes that suffered water damage and collected mold and mildew. After doing so, fellow volunteers and I were able to listen to the perspective of the community and how the storm impacted their lives as a result. Based on that experience alone, I understood the bond and level of empathy and compassion we as African Americans have for one another. Along with this experience, I also was granted the opportunity to intern for the Office of Public Health's Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Department under their Legislative and Policy Summer Institute program in 2022. There I learned about the intricate process of creating laws and policies that affect not only marginalized communities, but the entire state of Louisiana. In addition to giving back, I plan on impacting my community by pursuing a career in Public Health so that I am able to help disenfranchised communities and marginalized groups of people at a higher scale. Holding a position in the field of public health gives me the opportunity to advocate for people who share the same background and story as me in the black community. This form of effective change would be the start of a tremendous accomplishment at equality for African Americans.

Hello, my name is Mya Taylor and I am currently an undergraduate student at Xavier University of Louisiana. I am pursuing my third year as a Public Health Science major while minoring in Biology. To share a little bit about my life story, I will begin with my upbringing. I grew up in a small town called Amite, Louisiana as the youngest in my immediate family. Growing up in a low-income family showed me the value of hard work and dedication. I learned firsthand how your environment does not minimize your opportunities as an individual based on my academic accomplishments. However, my environment did limit certain factors such as nutrition and some resource, but I prevailed. My goal is to inspire the youth of underprivileged and underserved communities by achieving my goals in healthcare so that I can be an aid to those in need. My area of study as a college student is public health science with a minor in biology. I found it to be a necessity in my life because of the importance of ensuring optimal health for the public. Choosing this major meant that I could contribute to my community by implementing healthier alternatives to the lives of those in need. With this area of study, my goal is to contribute to creating and providing resources to marginalized communities that are underserved as a whole. For example, regions that are affected as far as being accustomed to food deserts, poverty, crime, and lack of opportunities are my area of focus in the future. As a citizen that grew up in a rural low income household, I can be a voice of reason for communities that have and still endure high levels of poverty in the United States. Providing a voice for those who may be underrepresented in this world is my mission in life because I believe that everyone should be granted a chance at living a comfortable life. Knowing my education would allow me access to doors that would aid to my cause and promote change for those who may not have the resources to help themselves is rewarding. Making a difference in the world is my achievement in life. Finding your purpose is doing what aids others in a positive light. I believe my efforts in implementing positive alternatives to poverty and rural-driven areas would not only improve the community but encourage the youth to lend a helping hand to their environment and those who are underserved.

My experience with mental health has been an impactful journey in my life. Processing how you feel and what experiences or events influence you internally can be a challenging fate to overcome. My introduction to the positive aspects as well as the negative was explored through my exposure to social media as a teenager. Understanding the importance of the mind was something I further researched to enhance my way of living. Obstacles such as family trauma, college, and unexpected family loss tested my ability to control the health of my mind. These experiences shaped the person I am today and hope to continue to be in the future. Mental health overall was a bit confusing to digest because of the learned behavior I was taught as a child. For instance, there were times that I was subject to verbal abuse that diminished my confidence and voice as a child, but because it was continuous behavior it seemed normal. This challenged my belief in more ways than one. On one side, I wanted to improve and rebuild myself wholeheartedly by changing the way I viewed certain people that damaged my spirit. On the other hand, I believed that they did not deserve a relationship with me because of the toxic mindset they rendered. Still, I wanted to change for the better, and doing that meant that I needed to mend all relationships to the best of my ability because a person’s behavior is heavily influenced by their environment and upbringing. We all deserve the opportunity to better ourselves, but you must put forth the work. Coping with my mental health status has also allowed me to strengthen bonds with family members, friends, and communication skills with those around me. I found that dealing with my mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress by finding positive alternatives to improve my mood worked best. As a college student, I undergo stress and anxiety regularly due to the rigorous academic requirements. Finding time to relax and focus on self-care is a tedious effort since I have such little time throughout the day. However, when I am able to recharge and concentrate on myself, I find time to work on my goals and aspirations despite my struggle with maintaining a healthy mental health status. One major factor in the downfall of several college students' mental health was the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. The toll it still has on the youth of today has been a tremendous weight on the mental state of the people. Managing school while also trying to protect my overall health was extremely difficult for me because of the number of family members I lost to Covid-19. As the days go on and the pandemic thrives, the motivating factor for my career comes to mind. My career goal was to occupy a position in the medical field, but I could not decide what environment I wanted to specialize in. After experiencing this level of illness spread throughout the world I aspire to have a career in the public health field under policy and law. I want to aid my community by helping those to live fruitful lives by implementing policies that benefit their health and mental health status rather than diminish it in the process.

Supporting others in their time of need is what brings joy to others and me. You never know how impactful a small act of kindness may be to the person on the receiving end. Being a selfless person is an innate characteristic in my opinion because giving is the optimal goal. Serving others and gaining no effort in return is a selfless person because it comes from a genuine place. When trying to encourage others, I relate my life story or past experiences to their particular circumstance so that they can relate on a personal level. Connecting through a place of relatability is the most reliable element when I try to encourage someone to further their future. For example, as a college student, I mentor students and family members entering college in hope of strengthening their determination and aspirations to continue with their academic careers. Simply relaying affirmations to those in need is how I continue to motivate those around me.

Confidence to me is the essence of an individual's ability to be unapologetically themselves. Confidence is knowing the value your presence and voice have in any environment deemed necessary. Having confidence does not have to be assumed as being arrogant or cocky according to the stereotypes in the world. It is simply having a certain flare or ora about yourself that commands the attention of others without being forceful. Having confidence is being true to yourself no matter the social norms that have been set by society. Expressing confidence in every instance is challenging for me because I am more of a reserved person. However, I make an effort to improve my confidence when speaking to those who ask or admire my opinion on topics because I understand that my voice is worth being heard. There can be times that I observe rather than share my experience within group settings and that is something I am working on. Public speaking is not my strong suit, still, I have made it my goal to improve traits that I am lacking and allow myself to speak up when I want to be heard.

Life has a way of exposing the true character of a person by showing how resilient they are when faced with hurdles. Having the strength to overcome adversity and continue the journey called life is remarkable. Everyone has this ability, but it is those who use it to build themselves back up that are labeled strong individuals. When people are faced with any form of tragedy or adversity showing that you acknowledge their downfall and offer support is key. This is called sowing empathy. Empathy provides a level of psychological support that aids a person’s mental status. The best form of empathy is the relationship between friends. I show empathy by acts of service when met with the chance. There are many forms of supporting someone who may be down or stressed and not one way is wrong, but for me showing my support through visual tokens is for me. Seeing the smile on someone’s face after facing adversity is what fuels my acts of service. Also, treating someone with empathy is important because one day you might need that same support that you are giving.

Mental health to me is an important element in a person's journey throughout life. Honing in on what drives certain decisions in your life is key to progressing and enhancing your mind. When dealing with my mental health status, I tend to overlook some habits, but just like everyone else in the world, I am growing. Relaxation is a major key for me because I am able to unwind and allow my mind to be in a state of peace from the unrest it endures daily. For example, in my yearly calendar, there is a mandatory self-care day that I set each month so that I am able to recuperate after a long day. This self-care day can come in several forms such as a home spa day, shopping, eating my favorite meal, or even taking a nap. Caring for your body, mind, and soul is what's popularized in the world, however, actually taking the time to repair trauma, ideologies, and cultural teachings that negatively affect a person’s mental state is difficult to overcome. I learned that facing the truth of what was taught can be stressful at times but having a healthy mind is worth the struggle. I protect and improve my mental health by doing research on false information, surrounding myself with those who add to my life and finding time to enjoy my environment.

As a college student, my time is mostly occupied with studying and submitting assignments, but I do find time to express myself with outside activities. When I come across spare time in my schedule, to enhance my resume and contribute to my community, I volunteer. This would involve on or off-campus community service in hopes of improving my environment and lending a helping hand to those who are in need. An organization I joined that promotes social responsibility and community awareness is Mobilization at Xavier 2.0. Its mission is to advocate and promote awareness for underserved communities and organizations in the Greater New Orleans area. Along with serving as a hobby, I often find time to relax and enjoy my day by drawing, cooking, and catching up on Netflix. Around this time I am at my happiest because I am focusing on recharging my body and self-care so that I am able to continue with future work and hone in on my responsibilities.

My experience in life has been a rollercoaster of high achievements and unexpected tragedies along the way. Although everyone's experience in life is different, I believe that the true meaning of life is acknowledging that your time is limited so you should live life to the fullest. Life is not only about achieving remarkable goals or attaining materialistic things, it's finding your purpose in the world. Finding what makes you truly happy and influences those around you in a positive light. In my journey to achieving my meaning in this world, I continuously surround myself with individuals that add meaning and purpose to my life rather than strictly benefit from my presence. My lifelong goal is to continue to search for my purpose in life by simply experiencing life and all its endeavors. The meaning of life can be defined in multiple ways, but the everlasting result will be finding your purpose in this world.

Hope for me means to aspire for optimal growth in all things no matter the circumstance. Understand that there will be moments that bring doubt, but there are also moments that inspire change for the better. I believe in seeing the world from an optimistic point of view, however, acknowledging the benefits of undesirable outcomes. Believing in hope allows one to see the world in a positive light while pushing for optimal growth for those around you. One thing that gives me hope that the future will prevail is my trust in the youth of today. The generations of this day and age are advancing at a higher level than those before. Unlike our ancestors, they have access to resources and unlimited information which is the key to achieving success. My confidence stands with our youth of today due to their resilience to fight for change, equality, and social injustice when needed in their community. They hold a prominent element in what is needed to move the world forward and that is confidence. Having confidence and leading with action is what makes an active leader of the community. As a member of the Generation Z population, I can say that the future of our world is in the hands of the youth. Opportunities for improvement and the willingness to fight for what is morally appropriate for the public are what's needed for the world. I believe that this can and will be done by our youth. Having a variety of minds that can collectively advocate for the advancement of unity for the world is what gives me hope. The more diverse our leaders in the world will be, the better our future will be. As a collective, we would have a consensus of what every nationality, race, and culture would need on a national level instead of an unbalanced class system of superior and inferior groups of people. Our chances at a better future would start with the involvement of the youth.

Being selfless is a way of doing for others the way you would want to be done to you. A selfless person is someone who uplifts and encourages those who may not be feeling their best or just need a boost of confidence to carry them on. I believe that I am a selfless individual because I enjoy seeing others prosper and accomplish their goals. I try my best to provide guidance and mentorship to those who may seek out help or just need an unfamiliar boost of encouragement to brighten their day. One selfless act I admire about myself is that despite what I may be dealing with personally, I still manage to help those in need to put a smile on their face. My downfall should not be the reason others cannot seek advice if they are in need. In addition to providing mentorship, I also enjoy doing small gestures of kindness that immediately express a change in a person’s mood. For example, simply having manners can go a long way such as opening a door, complimenting someone, or even acknowledging someone’s presence can improve a person’s day. I found that portraying simple traits such as those is helpful to others without exerting time that you may not have at the moment. Along with kind gestures, my contribution aids others by involving volunteer work. Occasionally, I make an effort to improve my community by lending a helping hand to those who are underserved in communities in the New Orleans area.

Living a healthy lifestyle is not only beneficial to the body but to the mind as well. Creating a healthy lifestyle seems difficult to most people because of limited resources, lack of dedication, or access to food. Despite these limitations, implementing a healthy lifestyle can be done even by accomplishing the smallest milestones. For example, supplementing processed sugary snacks for natural sugar treats such as fruit would increase the status of your health despite it being only one small change. Making a positive effort to impact your life and your contribution to the world by living a healthier lifestyle is the key to health and wellness. My experience as a college student has morphed my perception of a healthy lifestyle based on the variety of examples set by fellow students who come from different backgrounds. Several students exemplify a life of organic food choices, while others succumb to processed food options made available to them. Understanding the long-term effects of consuming processed foods, excess carbohydrates, and fats motivated me to actively improve my diet. As a way to balance my lifestyle, I chose to incorporate fitness into my daily schedule as well as increase my intake of vegetables and fruits. Making this change to my lifestyle was important to me because of my family’s health history. I come from generations of people who suffer from illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Knowing how these conditions affected the lives of my loved ones long-term allowed me to experience firsthand what I did not want to endure. Being healthy does not exempt you from life’s tolls on the body, but it does heighten your chances of living a more desirable life in your olden years.

Influencing others through guidance and motivation is the key to mentorship. Allowing your life’s journey and experiences to be shared and relieved by verbal influence is a common way to impact a person’s future. Most mentoring is most receptive to those who come from similar backgrounds as the person being spoken to. As a college student, I have taken on the responsibility of mentoring students at other universities in hopes of being an aid to their needs in this journey we call life. In my efforts, I hope to be an influential component in individuals' life stories as they encounter hurdles and accomplish goals in their life. My long-term goal as a mentor is to encourage those who do not have access to resources and opportunities in their environment that there is hope for them to succeed. Their dreams and aspirations can be met, but true hard work, dedication, and resilience are going to be asked of them in the process. Aspirations without work are merely ideas awaiting the next person to fulfill them. Aiding people in need that want better for themselves is my passion in mentorship.

Making an effort to change community issues in a positive light is the goal of providing a better foundation for the youth in the future. By doing so, one should first ask the target group their needs and wants for their community. Things that would better benefit their lives and provide opportunities for improvement to those in underrepresented areas. This would allocate funds and services to the proper areas instead of mismanaging, wasting time, and miscommunication. The goal for community change is through proper implementation. Implementing change can be provided through policy and law or organization, but it stems from the behavior of the individual. Those who are affected by marginalized communities and disenfranchised areas behave in certain manners because they are products of their environment. Violence and crime rates are heightened because of an individual's thought process in trying to survive in poverty-driven communities. For some, this is the only way to live, but with the proper efforts of implementation to target audiences opportunities for positive outcomes can be arranged for the future. Supplying tools for those in need is the primary goal for local community change. For example, in poverty-driven environments, one can conduct a survey that questions the condition of the neighborhood as well as the community's input on conducting improvements to the area.

Growing up in a low-income two-parent household as a child inspired me to want more for myself as well as my family. I always dreamed of the fairytale lifestyle of being financially stable and having the opportunity to give back to my community. However, the reality of achieving such aspirations seemed slim because I was not exposed to many opportunities outside of my environment. One particular achievement that was monumental in my life would be graduating high school with honors and being ranked third in my class. Accomplishing this goal was very special to me because of an event that I encountered months before. Sadly as I entered my senior year of high school I suffered the loss of my mother at the age of seventeen. As a result, I underwent a series of depression and mental health issues while coping with the tragedy. Although my life took a toll for the worse I never gave up on my goals. My inspiration for achieving greatness was my mother and I honored that in her memory. In addition to such great achievements at a young age, the greatest to date would be my acceptance letter into the university of my choice. In hopes of changing my life for the better by surrounding myself with fellow students that aligned with my style of learning, I applied to a private university. Escaping my environment and increasing my opportunity to network with those who could provide mentorship is the reason why I chose to apply to my current Historically Black College or University (HBCU) Xavier University of Louisiana. Xavier has been a light in my life and a way to escape and refocus my talents to further my passions. Hearing that I, a student from a small town in Louisiana, was accepted into a prestigious university was the most exciting and heartfelt news in my life. I finally made a way for myself and my life to succeed further than those who came before me. Xavier taught me how to face challenges head-on and to remember why I chose to be amongst those who see themselves as future doctors, pharmacists, and more. I learned that my time was valuable and worth being heard no matter the background I was created from. In the future, I hope and plan to pursue a career in public health as well as advocacy work to spread awareness for poor enfranchised communities that suffer from disparities in their environment. I want to be an aid to those who are underserved and underrepresented in communities such as mine. Proving to the world that the statistics of low-income families can be broken through exposure and opportunity is my primary goal in my career field.

In today’s age, mental health is popularized in hopes of advocating and promoting awareness among those who suffer from mental disorders. Although this rise in awareness is a positive outcome for everyone involved, I can personally remember a time when acknowledging mental health was taboo. As a teenager, I grew up not understanding the true concept of mental health because like in most black households it was not encouraged to discuss. Growing up I can remember experiencing verbal abuse from family members and feeling down or discouraged about the event, but because it was a reoccurring thing it felt normal to feel that way. No one explained to a young black girl that experiencing any form of abuse was damaging to her mental health. I did not realize all that I had gone through until I learned about the long-term outcomes of hostile events that can trigger mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. One tragic memory that caused my mental health to take a toll for the worse was the death of my mother. At the time, I was seventeen years old entering my senior year of high school. In any child's life, these years are the pinnacle for how they experience the world and interact with others. After losing my mother, I was diagnosed with depression which affected how I viewed myself, relationships, and the world around me. I had a hard time processing this experience and it is something that I live with even four years later. Despite my grief, I understand that acknowledging that you are experiencing something that is out of your control but can be improved through work is key. I never lost sight of my goals because I had a motivating factor in my life that pushed me to want more for myself, my mom. Achieving my goals became my top priority regardless of my circumstance. Coping with a loss is difficult and affects my mental health status daily, but I have learned to incorporate things that bring me joy, life, and laughter to help me negate the pain and replace it with promise.

Allyship is a way of life that is created to support and advance the interests of those who are underserved and underrepresented. As a college student at a Historical Black College or University (HBCU), I have access to a number of opportunities to aid those who are suffering from limitations in their community. Being that I am a student at the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana, there are endless options to dedicate your time and efforts to marginalized groups in the inner city. New Orleans is a city that is most known for its expression of diversity and rich culture, but also for its poverty rates. Living in the city inspired me to invoke change in my newly found community through community service. To aid those who were not able to access the resources as I am, I joined organizations on campus that promote awareness and social responsibility in the Greater New Orleans area. The name of this organization is Mobilization at Xavier 2.0. Through this leadership opportunity, I was able to give a helping hand to non-profit organizations such as the Crown Community Garden located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fellow volunteers and I aided in gardening, recycling, and revamping the grounds of the garden to produce fresh and healthier food options for the community to access. The impact we made for the people in that community was minute in retrospect but powerful because we helped produce in an area that lacked organic fruits and vegetables. Another instance would be my involvement in Hurricane relief this past semester. I volunteered to help serve families that were impacted by Hurricane Ida during the Spring 2022 semester. We were able to lend a helping hand by cleaning homes that had endured water damage and formed mold and mildew from the storm as well as listening to the resident’s perspectives of how they were impacted. Their stories gave me inspiration and gratification to continue to help those in need and be an active leader in the process. The most gratifying moment of all is knowing that your efforts to assist people that come from similar backgrounds as yours are welcomed with open arms. Empathizing with those who have endured the unimaginable and stopping for one moment and realizing that you can improve their life by supporting them and providing guidance is what makes allyship worthwhile. Working together as a group is how we can impact one another’s lives as well as our view of the world.

Growing up in a small town in the South (Amite, Louisiana), I was not exposed to many opportunities that would strengthen particular social skills, education, and development programs as a child. In my environment, the quota for a child that wanted to advance in life was to graduate from high school, go to college, and make it in the world. However, there were limited tools that taught you how to do so. In my particular case, my goal was to escape the limitations of my environment and expand my mind and opportunities by experiencing new educational programs in my area. One program that was a key component in my transition from high school to college was a program called Upward Bound. This program was created to mentor students by exposing them to the reality of college life through firsthand experience. We were able to take college-based courses at a local university and experience the life and responsibility of college. A challenge that I faced while being exposed to college life was communicating effectively with others. I grew up as a shy and quiet child and needed to learn and be challenged to speak my mind because my voice and opinions were valuable. Through the four-year experience, I was able to perfect my skills and have healthy debates when I felt my message needed to be heard. The process was nerve-racking because speaking out as an introverted person is difficult. Constantly overthinking and debating to yourself if your point is good enough to be heard was a constant battle, but through time and building my confidence I pushed through. As a college student, I have had time to contemplate how my life lessons and college experience will be helpful to the next person. I plan on using my education to promote awareness in marginalized groups and communities to encourage change. I would develop this idea by creating a volunteer program for high school and undergraduate students can participate in and aid their community. Creating a program such as this would allow students to see firsthand what the meaning of leadership and community service is all about, helping those in need. I feel as though this would be a great way for students to build their resumes as well as for the community to be uplifted by those who came from similar beginnings. Change starts with an idea that implements positive outcomes for those who are underserved or underrepresented.

The thing that inspired me most to pursue my post-educational career at a Historically Black College or University in STEM was the sense of inclusion and family-oriented nature. When I graduated from high school, I knew that I wanted to continue my education in an environment that was similar to my upbringing and aligned with my values and beliefs as an African American in this country. I wanted to be amongst my peers and build lifelong bonds, networks, and friendships while thriving and progressing in our career fields. As an African American, understanding the preconceived notions about our race and how discriminated black people have been against in the educational system as well as in everyday life gave me the motivation to diminish that statistic by leading by example. I wanted to show my community that you can achieve honorable accolades at a prestigious HBCU compared to highly ranked Predominantly White Institutions. Another reason why I chose to enroll in a STEM related major at a Historically Black College or University was that it gave me the chance to see firsthand how unjust the world was to marginalized communities and to hear the views of my peers in efforts to make a change. Realizing that every black person in the United States has somehow been affected by racially unjust sentiments was compelling to comprehend. Even as college students, we are subjected to racially motivated instances based on the color of our skin, and because of that the punishment can be fatal. For example, a simple routine traffic stop can be the end of an African American’s life just because of their skin. The preconceived notion that black people are violent and dangerous is daunting to those who are not a part of our community. In some eyes, we are inferior to them because of our genetic makeup and historical event such as slavery. Still, we persevere as a people to better ourselves and the community through social justice for minorities (African Americans) in this country. A way that I saw fit to give back to my community while balancing STEM classes was through community service. I made it my duty to lend my time to families and organizations that valued the service I was able to give. For example, an organization that I joined by the name of Mobilization at Xavier 2.0 allowed me to aid victims that were impacted by Hurricane Ida back in August of 2021. I was able to help clean out homes that suffered water damage and collected mold and mildew. After doing so, fellow volunteers and I were able to listen to the perspective of the community and how the storm impacted their lives as a result. Based on that experience alone, I understood the bond and level of empathy and compassion we as African Americans have for one another. This is why I chose to embark on my journey at my HBCU Xavier University of Louisiana. In addition to giving back, I plan on impacting my community by pursuing a career in Public Health so that I am able to help disenfranchised communities and marginalized groups of people at a higher scale. Holding a position in the field of public health gives me the opportunity to advocate for people who share the same background and story as me in the black community. This form of effective change would be the start of a tremendous accomplishment at equality for African Americans.

As a person who struggles with managing their mental health on a daily basis, I can say that there is no standard cure for feeling normal, but you can improve your condition. One practical solution to help those who suffer from mental health issues is to incorporate events, things, and or people into your life that bring you joy. Surrounding yourself with things or people that brighten your mood and heighten your emotional state is a key element in improving your mental health. Most people who suffer from mental health just want a break from the overwhelming circumstances they have been subjected to. This can come in forms of depression, stress, obesity, anorexia, body dysmorphia, anxiety, and more. The goal is to find ways to help cope with the person’s specific issue at hand. There are several outlets that can help improve a person’s mental health, however, I believe that incorporating things and or people that they love and enjoy is the most practical solution. One can say that providing this type of solution will only provide a temporary fix to the person’s problem, but regardless of the time frame, the goal is to promote a solution that is practical for a vast number of people. This would ensure that people who struggle with mental health disorders are provided with an outlet no matter the time allotted.

I deserve this scholarship because I simply do not need the money and do not have financial obligations to fulfill for the upcoming semester. My academic goals do not consist of acquiring a degree in Public Health Science and a minor in Biology. My career goals are certainly to not pursue a career in public health and focus on policy change and health disparities in marginalized communities. A time that I overcame an obstacle would not be when I managed to graduate high school ranked number three in my class with honors after the tragic passing of my mother. I also did not earn a scholarship to a private university (Xavier University of Louisiana) while managing my mental health.