I attend an HBCU because I believe having a sense of community is important when choosing where to spend the next four years of your life. HBCUs are some of the highest examples of black excellence. They serve as prime examples of perseverance and determination. The generations before us fought long and hard to create spaces for young black people when they didn’t have any for themselves. It’s important for young black individuals to see other black scholars actively working towards a goal and succeeding. I know for certain that I benefit from being around such brilliance. I want to see other young black individuals thriving, as it has only encouraged me to do the same. While, of course, students vary academically, it is different than a PWI because you're not held to lower expectations simply because you're black. At an HBCU you’ve got a student body you can resonate with and black staff and administration who offer a caring and nurturing surrounding. There is nothing like game days, battle of the bands, and step shows like that of an HBCU–as well as being around your own people. My first tailgate at Alabama A&M University was one of the best experiences of my life. I had never been to a tailgate before so I really had no idea what to expect. It felt like a huge backyard cookout full of hundreds of cousins I'd never met. Even hundreds of miles away from my family, I still felt right at home.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt stuck between two worlds. My parents instilled in me the value of education, ensuring I knew it was a privilege to attend school and earn good grades. Report cards held significant weight; good grades meant happy parents and perhaps some extra money from older relatives. For my parents, my academic success validated their emphasis on education and their efforts to provide me with the necessary tools for success. When middle school arrived, I maintained my reputation, earning all A’s from 6th to 8th grade. Despite my academic achievements, something was missing. I felt a constant fear of missing out (FOMO) when thinking about my peers, particularly my cousin. She attended a more formal middle school, had more friends, different experiences, and enjoyed popularity. In contrast, I had no social life. Before middle school, I discovered my passion for hip-hop dance. Though I never took formal classes, I knew I had a gift and wanted to showcase it. This passion led me to a golden opportunity: joining the Pomkits, a well-known and highly favored dance team at my high school. While all the women in my family had been cheerleaders, I was determined to dance. “Why don't you cheer instead?” they asked. Nevertheless, I tried out for the team the summer between 8th and 9th grade and made it. Joining the dance team boosted my social status and shifted my circle of friends. I gained new friends, received attention from boys, and increased my followers on social media. It was a teenage girl's dream, but I felt my old self slipping away. I found myself trying to appear less scholarly to be more relatable to new friends who didn’t care much about their grades. I spent less time with my scholarly friends and wasn’t being true to myself. The truth is I was a good student, and I cared about my academic reputation. I wanted to excel academically, yet I still needed to figure out how to exist as a social person. Over time, I managed to create a healthy balance between my social life and my academic life. Accepting who I was allowed me to exist in both spaces simultaneously. I’ve learned it’s okay to be multi-dimensional and fit in various spaces. What once felt like a crutch throughout my academic career became a strength I intend to carry with me into college and beyond. Resilience has profoundly shaped my character and influenced my decision to attend an HBCU. Throughout my life, I have faced numerous challenges that required me to adapt and persevere, from balancing academic demands with my passion for dance to navigating social dynamics that often made me feel out of place. These experiences taught me the importance of staying true to myself and pushing through adversity. Embracing my dual identity as both a dedicated student and a passionate dancer has taught me that it’s possible to pursue diverse interests without compromising who I am. This has prepared me for the challenges ahead, reminding me that being true to myself is the key to genuine fulfillment and success. Attending an HBCU will provide me with a supportive community where I can continue to grow and thrive. Surrounded by peers and mentors who share my background and values, I am confident that this environment will further strengthen my resilience and help me achieve my goals. An HBCU will offer cultural experiences and a sense of belonging that I have long sought. The traditions, strong community, and focus on black excellence will empower me to reach my full potential.

When I hear the word “leadership,” my mind instantly thinks of the influential women in my life: my mother, my older cousin, and even my former English teacher. These women have lit the pathway to success for me, and it is only right that I pay it forward by becoming a leader myself. From a young age, I have had a passion for dance. When I considered leadership-based community service, it was clear that something dance-related would be my first choice. Among the several service projects I have taken part in, being a volunteer dance coach has had the most impact on me. I was a member of the ETHS Pomkits from 2019 to 2023, a hip-hop dance team that performs at halftime shows and participates in dance competitions. Through this team, I learned the importance of sisterhood, teamwork, and self-love—values I am committed to passing on to the younger generation. As a little girl, I vividly remember watching the Pomkits perform in my city’s annual 4th of July parade. The high schoolers would wave and smile at us aspiring dancers on the sidelines, inspiring dreams of being in their position one day. When it was finally my turn to join the team, I knew I had big shoes to fill. Being a positive role model is one of the Pomkits' core values, and I embraced this responsibility. As Pomkits, we engage in a lot of outreach with middle and elementary school girls. In April of 2022, I had the privilege of mentoring young girls at the Family Focus-Our Place welcome center under Joann Avery, a prominent community leader. I spent several hours teaching the girls fundamental dance techniques and a routine. This experience inspired my determination to reach out to young girls and build community through the power of dance. Thanks to the organization "Girls Play Sports," I was able to volunteer in 2023 and continue this mission. During our sessions, we taught the girls essential routines they’d need to know if they planned on joining the team one day, as well as dance routines we had choreographed ourselves. But the best part was witnessing the confidence blossom within these young girls. Dancing can be challenging, and learning a high school-level routine in just 35 minutes as a 10-year-old is no easy feat. Initially, the girls came in shy and anxious about their developing dance abilities. This is where we, as mentors and leaders, stepped in to bridge the gap between their confidence and their potential. Having the confidence to do something is 50% of the job; after that, you just have to do it! We taught the girls that it’s okay if you don’t have all the moves down perfectly. It’s ok if you stumble a few times. It’s ok if you’re nervous at first. We encouraged them to believe in themselves. Week after week, we exercised patience and compassion. Seeing kids who would typically stand in the back of the gym take the initiative to come to the front lines and perform in front of the group truly warmed my heart. I watched as those young girls developed a newfound self-love that can take teenagers years to find. Through these experiences, I have learned that leadership is about more than just guiding others; it's about inspiring confidence and nurturing potential. By investing in these young dancers, I feel I have left a positive mark on the next generation.

Nya Hopson B.A.B.Y.L.O.V.E. Scholarship Nyasunshine12@gmail.com June 11, 2024 I have had a passion for dance for as long as I can remember. So, when it came down to community service, something dance-related was my first choice. I’ve done several service projects, but the one that stuck with me the most was being a volunteer dance coach. I was a part of the ETHS Pomkits from 2019 to 2023. The Pomkits are a primary hip-hop dance team that performs halftime and participates in dance competitions. Through this team, I have learned the meaning of sisterhood, teamwork, and self-love, which I am determined to pass on to the younger generation. As a little girl, I remember watching Pomkits perform in my city’s annual 4th of July parade. The high schoolers would wave and smile at us aspiring little girls on the sidelines, cheering and dreaming of being in their position one day. So when it was finally my turn to join the team, I knew I had big shoes to fill. Being a positive role model is one of the Pomkit's core values. As Pomkits, we do lots of outreach with middle and elementary school girls. In April of 2022, I had the privilege to mentor some young girls over at the Family Focus-Our Place welcome center under Joann Avery, a prominent community leader. I spent a few hours teaching the girls fundamentals and a dance routine. Since then, I have been determined to reach young girls and build community through the power of dance. Thanks to the organization “Girls Play Sports,” I was able to do just that through volunteering in 2023. We taught the girls essential routines they’d need to know if they planned on joining the team one day. We also taught them fun and simple dance routines we’d choreographed ourselves. But the best part was seeing the confidence blossom within these young girls. As one might imagine, dancing isn’t the easiest task. Moreover, trying to learn a high school-level routine in just 35 minutes as a 10-year-old doesn’t make it any easier. Initially, the girls came in shy and anxious regarding their developing dance abilities. This is where we, as mentors, step in to bridge the gap between their confidence and their potential. Having the confidence to do something is 50% of the job; after that, you just have to do it! We taught the girls that it’s ok if you don’t have all the moves. It’s ok if you stumble a few times. It’s ok if you’re nervous at first. We wanted them to believe in themselves and encouraged them to do so. We worked with the girls week after week, exercising patience and compassion. Seeing kids who would typically stand in the back of the gym take the initiative to come to the front lines and perform in front of the group truly warmed my heart. I watched as those young girls developed a newfound self-love for themselves that can take teenagers years to find. I can say I feel I have left a positive mark on the next generation of dancers in my community.

Nya Hopson Tamika A. Nurse Fashionista Memorial Scholarship June 11, 2023 According to Wikipedia, An “It girl” can be defined as "an attractive young woman who is perceived to have both sex appeal and a personality that is especially engaging”. However, to me, a true IT girl is much more than just sexual attraction. A proper IT girl is a woman who carries herself with class and has an element of mystique. In today's day and age, it is common to give so much of ourselves through vessels like social media. Whether it's sharing our lives, relationships, or bodies, everything is free game. Young women are encouraged to be as sexual as possible to be marketable, being influenced to commodify their bodies without a second thought. However, I believe that there is power in mystery and that some things are to be left to the imagination. True IT girls are women people look up to. They are the ones we aspire to be like because they are authentic to themselves. It has become normal to fit one stereotypical standard of women in today's society, but I say a real IT girl follows her own mind, moving with integrity and self-respect. IT girls are confident women know the power they hold within themselves. I believe it is possible to be an IT girl regardless of the industry you work in; it’s not solely exclusive to women in the fashion industry. Being an It girl is truly about navigating challenges with resilience, building meaningful connections, and leveraging opportunities for growth and advancement. As a woman aspiring to be in the fashion industry, I plan to apply my own rules about being an IT girl as well as Ms.Tamika Nurse’s. In her book, Ms.Nurse advises girls to be proactive in their career development. I find these rules especially important because, as an undergrad student, it can be very intimidating to chase your dreams and get out of your comfort zone. I have had times where I doubt myself and second guess my abiites. However, the only way we will grow is by seeking new challenges and being open to new opportunities. Dreams do not work unless we do. Additionally, Ms.Nurse teaches us the power of building your resume. An impressive resume can help set you apart from the competition by showcasing your skills and experiences. This is why it has become a personal goal of mine to gain experience and knowledge through serving my community. Service has become a massive part of my life these last few years as a rising/current college student. I want to indulge in giving back to my community. Impacting communities of black youth is vital to me. I want to use my future experiences, resources, and successes to inspire and uplift the next generation. I can help bridge gaps in education, economic access, and representation by providing mentorship, support, and opportunities. I want to give those behind me safe spaces to be creative. I would one day like to open a maker space centered around encouraging children's interest in visual arts, such as fashion, photography, ceramics, etc., in the community. Giving back creates a sense of solidarity and empowerment, ensuring that young people of color see role models who look like them and understand their specific challenges. Investing in the growth and development of black youth not only strengthens our communities but also contributes to a more equitable and just society.

I want to attend an HBCU because I believe having a sense of community and familiarity is important in college. I am originally from Evanston, which is very diverse. Moreover, I attend Evanston Township High School, which is also considered to be highly diverse. However, my high school is still a PWI as most of the students there are white. While these experiences of diversity have positively impacted my life, I believe I would thrive in a predominantly black environment. No matter how much you have in common with a person, there is nothing like being around your race of people. Black people come from all walks of life but still have a shared experience that only those who are also black will understand. In my opinion, HBCUs are some of the highest examples of black excellence. I know for certain that I will benefit from being around such excellence. I need to see other young black individuals thriving in their element as it will only encourage me to do the same. Furthermore, black students like myself need a safe space to be normal. As a black student in America, one often feels pressured to overachieve in an attempt to be seen as equal to white counterparts. At an HBCU, while of course students are different academically, it is different because you're not held to high expectations simply because you're black. Finally, I am going to an HBCU because there is nothing like being around your own people. Even hundreds of miles away from my family, I know I'll still feel right at home.