"I don't think I'm going to make it." Those were the words running through my mind when my parents divorced and I made the difficult decision to stay home and attend community college instead of immediately pursuing my dream of attending an HBCU. While my friends moved away to four-year universities, I worried that I was falling behind. I questioned my future, my finances, and whether I would ever achieve the goals I had set for myself. What carried me through that uncertainty was not a scholarship, a program, or a perfect plan. It was people. My mother was one of those people. As a small business owner, she worked tirelessly to support our family while navigating challenges I did not fully understand at the time. Through her example, I learned that success is not measured by what you accomplish for yourself, but by the opportunities you create for others. That lesson inspired my involvement in causes centered around community empowerment, restorative justice, and youth development. As a Community Event Organizer, RJOY Apprentice and Circle Facilitator, and Empower Her Mentor, I have worked with young people facing challenges similar to those I once faced. One student, Reign, entered our program frequently involved in fights and disciplinary issues. Over time, I watched her develop self-awareness, accountability, and confidence. Today, she is a high school senior applying to colleges. Witnessing her growth reinforced my belief that people thrive when someone invests in their potential. I also support community healing through organizations like Planting Justice. One experience that stayed with me was watching a family plant a tree in honor of a loved one lost to gun violence. What began as a lesson about agriculture became a powerful example of healing, resilience, and hope. Experiences like these showed me that meaningful change happens when communities come together to support one another. Today, I am pursuing a degree in Film Studies with a minor in Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University. My goal is to use storytelling as a tool for social impact through my future company, Purpose Crafted Media. I plan to create films and media campaigns that amplify underrepresented voices, support community organizations, and help mission-driven businesses share their stories. I believe stories can inspire action, challenge stereotypes, and help people recognize their own potential. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve financial barriers during my final year of college and allow me to focus on developing the skills needed to achieve that vision. More importantly, it would be an investment in the communities I hope to serve. The people who believed in me changed the course of my life. Through storytelling, mentorship, and advocacy, I hope to create that same opportunity for others.

"Go down to Ms. Johnson's store and grab a loaf of bread." My grandmother says those words used to mean something different. They meant trust. They meant community. They meant knowing that every face along the walk home belonged to someone who would look out for you. Today, in many neighborhoods, that kind of trust feels like a story from another era. I want to build a future where it is reality again. Not by building a single store, but by building a network of thriving Black-owned businesses connected through storytelling, community investment, and sustainable entrepreneurship. I believe strong communities are built when people know one another, support one another, and have access to businesses that reinvest in the neighborhoods they serve. As a student majoring in Film Studies and minoring in Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University, I want to combine storytelling and entrepreneurship to help strengthen Black communities. Films have the power to shape how people see themselves and what they believe is possible. Stories of resilience, innovation, and success can inspire people to pursue their goals, support local businesses, and invest in their neighborhoods. Through film, I will highlight the creativity and strength that already exist within Black communities while encouraging others to become part of that story. However, inspiration alone is not enough. Sustainable change requires economic opportunity. That is why I am also minoring in business administration. Understanding how businesses grow, access funding, and remain financially healthy will allow me to support entrepreneurs in practical ways. I want to help create businesses that provide jobs, circulate wealth locally, and address community needs through sustainable practices. The future I hope to build is one where local businesses are more than places to make purchases. They are gathering spaces, sources of mentorship, and anchors of community pride. They can help address challenges such as food insecurity, economic displacement, and environmental inequities while creating opportunities for future generations. This vision will have a positive impact on me by allowing me to use both of my passions: storytelling and business. More importantly, it will benefit my community by helping restore the trust, connection, and economic stability that many neighborhoods have lost. When communities have strong local businesses, people are more likely to know their neighbors, support one another, and feel invested in their shared future. I may not be building a skyscraper or inventing a new technology, but I believe building stronger communities is just as important. By combining storytelling with sustainable entrepreneurship, I hope to help create neighborhoods where future generations can once again hear the words, "Go down to Ms. Johnson's store and grab a loaf of bread," and feel completely at ease.

The relationships that have shaped me most are rooted in people who chose to invest in others. During one of the most uncertain periods of my life, my family was navigating my parents’ divorce, and I made the difficult decision to stay home and attend community college, putting my dream of attending an HBCU on hold. As I struggled with uncertainty about my future and how I would pay for school, I feared I was becoming the failure I had always tried to avoid. Instead, that season taught me that I was rich in something far more valuable: people who believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself. My mother is one of those people. As a business owner, she demonstrated perseverance, faith, and selflessness through every challenge our family faced. Through her example, I learned that success is not only about achieving your own goals—it is about creating opportunities for others. That lesson guided my work as a Community Event Organizer, RJOY Apprentice and Circle Facilitator, and Empower Her Mentor. One student who deeply impacted me was a high school junior named Reign. When she entered our program, she was constantly getting into fights and frequently ended up in the principal’s office. Over six weeks, I watched her learn to pause before reacting and choose growth over anger. Today, she is a high school senior applying to colleges. Watching her transformation reminded me that people can thrive when someone believes in their potential. Her journey later inspired one of the first short films I created, showing me how storytelling can extend the impact of lived experiences. Through Planting Justice, I witnessed another powerful example of healing. I met the Waqia family as they planted a tree in honor of a cousin who had been killed by gun violence. What began as an agricultural lesson became an act of remembrance, healing, and unity. Watching grief transformed into something living taught me that growth can emerge even from loss. These detour in my academic plan angered me at first, until it inspired me to pursue a degree in Film Studies with a minor in Business Administration at Clark Atlanta University and to build Purpose Crafted Media, a company dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices and supporting community organizations through storytelling. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue developing the skills and experiences necessary to pursue that vision. More importantly, it would expand my ability to create opportunities for others. The people who invested in me changed my life. My goal is to use storytelling to ensure that investment continues, creating a ripple effect that reaches far beyond myself.

My experience with mental health has been shaped most deeply through my work in restorative justice with RJOY, where I’ve learned what it means to sit with people during some of the most emotionally intense moments of their lives. In restorative justice circles, I’ve been part of conversations between people affected by incarceration and people who have caused harm. These spaces take more than empathy. They take presence, emotional control, and the ability to stay grounded while sitting in uncomfortable truths. At first, I struggled with that balance. I would take in everything I was hearing and carry it with me long after the sessions ended. I cared a lot, but I didn’t yet know how to separate caring from internalizing everything. At the same time, my personal life started to reflect similar emotional weight. When people close to me were impacted by the incarceration system, I felt a kind of helplessness that was hard to put into words. I understood the systems behind what was happening and wanted to help, but I also realized that understanding something doesn’t always mean you can fix it. That gap between awareness and control affected me emotionally more than I expected. Over time, I learned something important about mental health: you can be present for people without carrying everything for them. I had to start figuring out what was mine to hold onto and what I needed to release after the moment passed. That didn’t mean caring less—it meant learning how to care in a way I could sustain. I began to understand that I show up better for others when I’m also taking care of myself. That experience changed how I see the world. I started to understand that healing doesn’t happen alone. It depends on community, environment, and having safe spaces where people can actually process what they’re going through. I also learned that when people stay silent about what they feel, it can build up in harmful ways. But when there is space to be honest and human, it can open the door to healing instead of destruction. Because of this work, my goals have become more focused on storytelling and advocacy. I want to build a career in film and post-production that reflects real people and real emotional experiences, especially the ones that don’t always get seen. Working in restorative justice showed me that people are never defined by their worst moment. There is always more to their story and more to who they can become. I want my work to reflect that truth. At the end of the day, my understanding of mental health has come down to learning how to stay open without getting lost, how to care deeply without losing myself, and how to be present in hard spaces without carrying everything home.

My vision for economic empowerment begins with preserving businesses that give communities identity. Growing up in California, one of the places that shaped my childhood was Sassy Sweets, a Black-owned restaurant and bakery operated by a brother and sister just down the street from my elementary school. Families gathered there for breakfast, lunch, desserts, and conversation. It was a place that felt like home. When my mother told me Sassy Sweets was closing, I was devastated. As a child, I could not fully understand why a business so loved by the community could disappear. Over time, I watched other minority-owned businesses attempt to occupy the same space. A frozen yogurt shop, Pirate’s Cove, owned by a Latino family, came and went. Other businesses followed. Eventually, what had once been a thriving community gathering place became a parking lot. Watching that transformation forced me to ask a question that still drives me today: What does it take for community-centered businesses to survive and thrive? As a Film Studies major and Business Administration minor at Clark Atlanta University, I am pursuing the tools to answer that question. I believe economic empowerment and business innovation create lasting change by giving communities ownership over their futures. Strong local businesses generate jobs, circulate wealth within neighborhoods, and provide examples of success that inspire future generations. They become anchors that help communities withstand challenges such as disinvestment, gentrification, food insecurity, and environmental injustice. I also recognize the critical role that publicity, marketing, and word-of-mouth play in helping businesses succeed. After all, people cannot support a business they have never heard of. As someone interested in marketing with a concentration in Radio, Television, and Film, I want to use my education to help community staples increase their visibility, strengthen customer engagement, and build the kind of public awareness that keeps local businesses thriving for generations. My career goal is to grow my business, Purpose Crafted Media, into a post-production and storytelling company that amplifies underrepresented voices while helping mission-driven businesses and organizations expand their impact. Storytelling has the power to shape culture and inspire action. Through film and digital media, I hope to spotlight entrepreneurs who are solving community challenges and sustainably demonstrate sustainable economic growth. I will also help businesses strengthen their marketing and community outreach by creating campaigns that connect with local customers, building relationships with community organizations, and encouraging satisfied customers to share their experiences. I am already working toward this vision through community engagement. Through non-profit organizations like Planting Justice, I have helped expose youth and families to agriculture and food accessibility initiatives. Through RJOY (Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth), I have supported programs that promote mental health, healing, and restorative approaches to conflict. As a mentor with EmpowerHer, I have encouraged young women to recognize their potential and pursue opportunities in spite of fear. These experiences have shown me lasting change happens when people are equipped with both resources and belief in their ability to succeed. Business and social justice are interconnected. Communities cannot achieve equity without economic opportunity, and economic opportunity is strongest when it is accessible to everyone. My goal is not simply to build a successful company. It is to create stories, partnerships, and opportunities that help underrepresented communities build wealth, culture, and investment in future generations. I think back to Sassy Sweets and remember my life’s work is rooted in the belief that community staples should not become memories. Through business innovation, marketing, and storytelling, I hope to help create communities where local businesses are not only able to survive, but are empowered to become lasting legacies.

Legacy is not something I hope to leave behind after I am gone. It is something I strive to build through every story I tell, every person I help, and every opportunity I create for others. I want my legacy to be one of empowerment—a legacy that reminds people that their voices matter and that their stories deserve to be heard. As a film student, entrepreneur, and creative, I plan to create this legacy through storytelling. Throughout my life, I have seen how powerful stories can be. They can heal, educate, inspire action, and help people feel less alone. Whether I am producing a documentary, editing a video, or creating digital content, I want my work to shine a light on experiences that are often overlooked. I am especially passionate about amplifying the voices of young people, communities of color, and individuals whose stories are frequently misunderstood or ignored. One day, I will build a full-service post-production and media company that specializes in meaningful storytelling. My vision is to create a business that provides editing, production, and creative services while also serving as a launchpad for emerging creatives. I want to mentor young filmmakers, editors, and artists who may not have access to industry connections or resources. By creating my media company, Purpose Crafted Media, I have already began creating opportunities for others and myself to develop our talents. My impact will extend far beyond the projects I personally create. I also want my business to bridge the gap between creativity and community service. Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and local organizations, I hope to produce media that educates, advocates, and inspires change. I believe businesses have the power to be more than profit-generating organizations; expansively, they can become platforms for social impact and community growth. I shine my light by using my gifts in service of others. Whether I am volunteering with youth organizations, helping tell someone’s story through photography or video, or encouraging others to pursue opportunities such as scholarships and higher education, I try to use what I have learned to open doors for someone else. Growing up, I was not fortunate to receive support from people who believed in my potential; however, experiencing that never discouraged my ability to do so. It only encouraged it. The talents we are given are meant to be shared, not hidden. Because of that, I create work that reflects integrity, compassion, and hope. Success for me is not measured only by awards, revenue, or recognition. It is measured by the lives impacted, the stories preserved, and the opportunities created for future generations. If I can continue to build a company that helps people feel seen, inspires meaningful change, and equips others to tell their own stories, then I will know I have created a legacy that lasts.