I'd like to share a bit about my background, as it's integral to who I am and why I'm passionate about my career in computer science. I grew up in a household headed by my single mother, and this experience had a profound impact on me. At the young age of 12, I understood what poverty looked like — not just from the tangible signs of empty cupboards and threadbare clothes but also from the weariness etched into my mother's face each night as she counted the meager bills and whispered prayers for a brighter tomorrow. My father's departure left my two siblings and me in the care of my mother, making her a single parent. Life became exceptionally challenging for her. As she grappled with the emotional toll of abandonment, she also had to navigate the harsh realities of providing for a family on her own. Our days were filled with uncertainty, and the weight of financial strain bore down on her like an unrelenting burden. My mother, the embodiment of strength and resilience, juggled multiple jobs and made countless sacrifices to provide for my two younger siblings and me. Her unwavering determination in the face of adversity left an indelible mark on my character. It taught me the true meaning of empathy, gratitude, and the value of community support. My chosen path in computer science is deeply rooted in my desire to give back and make a positive impact on the world. I believe that technology has the power to transform lives, and I'm committed to using my skills to harness that potential. My career is not just about coding and algorithms; it's about addressing real-world challenges and making a difference in people's lives. I envision a future where technology bridges gaps and empowers underserved communities. Whether it's creating innovative educational platforms to enhance access to quality education or developing sustainable tech solutions to tackle pressing environmental issues, my goal is to be at the forefront of positive change. But I also understand that creating impact goes beyond code. Just as my family and community supported me during tough times, I'm eager to give back by actively engaging in tech-driven social initiatives and mentoring the next generation of computer scientists. Mentorship, to me, is not just a passing gesture; it's a lifeline that can transform lives. I want to be the mentor I wish I had when I was starting my journey in the world of computer science. I believe in the immense potential of diverse voices in shaping the future of technology. By reaching out to underrepresented individuals and fostering an inclusive environment, we can unlock innovative solutions and perspectives that benefit us all. Through mentoring, I aim to provide guidance, share knowledge, and offer unwavering support to those who are often underrepresented and face unique challenges in the tech industry. I want to empower young minds to dream big and believe that they belong in this field, irrespective of their background or identity. In essence, my background has made me acutely aware of the transformative power of technology and the importance of empathy in problem-solving. Through my career in computer science, I aim to be a force for good, working passionately to address global challenges and uplift the communities I serve. It's personal to me because it's a way to honor the resilience and love that my family showed me during our most trying moments.

Growing up in a single income household, financial topics weren't encouraged as much as was necessary, I had to go out on my own and do personal research and create personal financial goals, scopes and deadlines to achieve this goal. I started to take personal finance seriously as a senior in high school because it was almost time for college, and I was going to have to figure out a way to afford it. Either with loans or paying it myself while working through college, I weighed my options and if I wanted loans, I didn't have enough credit history to work around that. This motivated me to start my personal research on the best routes to take to financial independence. I stumbled upon a video about some financial advice for incoming college students, it talked about opening a credit card, either a secured loan or an unsecured loan and learning discipline to spend and pay back whatever was spent in order to have a good credit history. I decided then to take out a small loan of 1000 dollars, I made sure the utilization rate always stayed below 30%and the full balance was made on time and in less than one year I grew my credit history from an empty file to a good credit history and my credit score grew to about 730 FICO score. Over the three years of college I maintained that credit score and a good credit history, I made sure to never have any late payments and less than 3 hard enquires in all my credit history lifespan. Taking the bold step to make this decision set the trajectory for my financial independence and as time went I became interested in investing. I opened up my first Roth IRA during the second semester of my freshman year, I started with as little as a 100 USD from my bi-weekly paychecks and at the end of the year I decided to invest it into the stock market. I bought a few shares of the S & P500, some shares of major social media platforms like twitter and some electronic companies like apple and tesla. By my Junior year I grew to putting aside 500 USD at the end of the month to meet the limit set by the IRS of 6000 USD and reinvest it back into a well-researched stock option and I can proudly say that investment has grown and will keep growing. To manage my finances took discipline and perserverance. I stopped spending without having clarity on the necessity of an item or a service before it was purchased. I also had to cut down on extravagant spending and channel that money into a high yields saving account. This account was created strictly for emergency purposes. I also learned that keeping one stream of income wasn't going to help me achieve my financial goals, so I had to look to other avenues. I went into babysitting during the weekends and since I already had knowledge about social media, I started reaching out to small and local brands to help them manage their social media prescence for a fee. This drive has helped me move up the ladder on the path to my financial goal It hasn’t been an easy journey and neither has it been a straightforward journey but with discipline, commitment and a goal oriented lifestyle, I can say it has been possible and this has been my biggest financial achievements.