I am a first-generation, low-income black women who has learned early on that ambition alone is not always enough, you also need access, opportunity, and the courage to step into spaces where people like you are often underrepresented. As a Black young woman with a passion for sports and business, I have chosen not to be discouraged by those barriers, but instead to be motivated by them. Growing up, I saw how financial instability could limit opportunities. My family has faced challenges, including housing insecurity and the realities of living in a single-parent household. These experiences shaped my understanding of responsibility and resilience, but they also pushed me to think bigger about my future. I knew I wanted a career that not only provided stability, but also allowed me to break barriers and create space for others like me. I plan to pursue a career in sports management or sports journalism, fields that are still heavily male-dominated, especially in leadership roles. Too often, Black women are underrepresented in sports business, despite the industry being built on the talent of athletes who look like us. I want to change that. I want to be part of a new generation of women who are not only present in these spaces, but leading them. One of my biggest inspirations is Nicole Lynn, the President of Football Operations at Klutch Sports Group. She made history by negotiating Jalen Hurts’ five-year, $255 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the largest deals in NFL history. Even more inspiring is that she became the first Black woman to represent a top-three NFL draft pick. Her success shows what is possible when someone refuses to accept limitations placed on them. Seeing her achievements made me realize that I don’t have to follow a traditional path, I can create my own. I plan to start my journey at Louisiana State University, where I hope to immerse myself in the world of college athletics. Whether through internships, student media, or athletic programs, I want to gain hands-on experience in sports management and journalism. My goal is to build both business knowledge and communication skills so I can advocate for athletes, tell their stories authentically, and eventually take on leadership roles within the industry. Through my future career, I want to make a positive impact by increasing representation and mentorship for Black women in sports. I want young girls to see someone who looks like them negotiating contracts, reporting on major games, or running sports organizations, and believe that they can do the same. Representation matters, not just for visibility, but for opportunity. When doors are opened for one person, they can be opened for many more. My long-term goal is not just personal success, but collective progress. I want to use my platform to advocate for fairness in sports, create opportunities for underrepresented groups, and give back to communities like the one I come from. Whether that means mentoring students, funding programs, or simply showing up in spaces where we have historically been excluded, I am committed to making a difference. I am not just pursuing a career in sports, I am pursuing a purpose. And that purpose is to break barriers, create opportunities, and leave the door open behind me for others to walk through.

Giving back to my community has never felt like an obligation, it has always felt like a responsibility shaped by my own experiences. Growing up in a low-income household, I have seen firsthand how much a small act of support can mean to a family or individual going through hardship. When my own family faced instability, including eviction and financial strain, it was the support of others that reminded me how powerful community truly is. That perspective has shaped not only how I view service, but also the role I want to play in the world. What began as an IB CAS project requirement quickly turned into something much more meaningful. I initially organized a donation drive to fulfill a program expectation, but as I started planning and connecting with others, it evolved into a passion project. I took on the responsibility of coordinating every aspect, from outreach and promotion to collecting and distributing donations. What started as a task became something I genuinely cared about, especially as I saw the real impact it had on people in my community. Through this experience, I developed leadership, communication, and organizational skills, but more importantly, I learned how to turn empathy into action. Seeing families receive essential items and knowing that I played a role in easing even a small part of their burden was incredibly powerful. It shifted my mindset from simply completing a requirement to actively seeking ways to create change. That transformation showed me that meaningful service is not about checking a box, it is about commitment and genuine care. Volunteering has also changed how I view my own challenges. Instead of feeling defined by financial hardship, I now see my experiences as motivation to help others facing similar situations. Giving back has given me a sense of purpose and control, reminding me that even in difficult circumstances, I still have the ability to make a difference. It has strengthened my resilience and deepened my awareness of the inequalities that exist in communities like mine. As I look toward my future, my educational goals are deeply connected to these experiences. I plan to attend college and pursue a degree in business, with a focus on finance or investment banking. I understand that this path is competitive, but I am committed to working hard and continuously building my knowledge and skills. My goal is not only to achieve financial stability for myself, but also to use my education to uplift others. Education represents opportunity,the chance to break cycles of financial instability and create a better future for my family. In the long term, I hope to give back on a larger scale by supporting community initiatives, mentoring students from similar backgrounds, and increasing access to financial literacy resources. Giving back has shaped my life by teaching me that impact is not measured by how much you have, but by what you choose to do with what you are given. What started as a requirement became a passion, and that passion continues to guide my goals, my education, and the way I hope to make a difference in the world.

Growing up, financial literacy was not something that was taught explicitly in my household, it was something I learned by observing struggle. I come from a low-income, single-parent household, and financial instability has shaped many of my experiences. Recently, my family faced eviction after our rent was increased beyond what we could afford. My mother, now separated from my stepfather, supports three children on her own. Watching her navigate bills, debt, and difficult decisions without a safety net showed me how critical financial knowledge truly is. For a long time, finances felt overwhelming and out of my control. I didn’t fully understand credit scores, loans, or interest rates, yet I knew they would soon affect my life, especially as I prepared for college. When I received my financial aid packages, I was confronted with numbers that felt impossible. The cost of attendance at my top-choice school exceeded my family’s annual income. For the first time, I had to seriously evaluate loans, compare federal and private options, and think about long-term financial consequences. That experience forced me to become proactive about my financial education. Since then, I have taken the initiative to teach myself. I’ve learned the differences between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, how interest accrues over time, and how credit impacts future opportunities. I’ve also started thinking more critically about budgeting, saving, and investing, even practicing with stock tracking and financial planning tools. These skills have transformed my mindset from one of fear to one of control. Instead of avoiding financial decisions, I learned how to approach them with intent and strategy. In the future, I plan to use financial literacy as a foundation for both personal stability and professional success. I am interested in pursuing a career in business and sports management, potentially in banking or financial management. While I know these fields are competitive, especially coming from a non-target school, I am determined to use my knowledge and work ethic to create opportunities for myself. Understanding finance will not only help me succeed in my career but also allow me to make informed decisions about debt, investments, and long-term wealth building. More importantly, I want to break the cycle of financial uncertainty in my family. By building strong credit, managing my money wisely, and avoiding unnecessary debt, I hope to create a more stable future for myself and eventually support my family. I also want to share what I learn with others in my community, especially young people who, like me, were never formally taught these skills. Financial literacy should not be a privilege, it should be accessible to everyone.