I wanted to quit. I was raised by a single mother who sacrificed everything to raise my brother and I. My mother was forced to choose between her education and getting multiple full-time jobs to raise and support me. She has always said an angel came to her when I was born and told her that I was meant to do a lot of good and that I was going to help a lot of people in my life. I've kept these things close to my heart for a very long time. Because of this, going to college and getting a degree was my mother's dream for me, she knew getting an education would open doors for me that would ultimately aid in helping others. Thankfully I was blessed with a love of learning so going to college was never an issue and something I was set on doing. Now finishing? That was a whole other ball game. My humble beginnings meant I needed to work full time to support myself. As anyone who has worked and attended school full-time will tell you, it is not easy. My sophomore year of college was the real challenge. I was getting into harder classes, had less time and money, and was all-around stressed with the typical pressures in life. My mental state took a hard hit, I found myself skipping class, turning in work late, if at all, and missing the drive and motivation I've had my whole life, I didn't want to be in college, I wanted to throw it all away just get some sort of relief. I felt like the walls were caving in on me, and I could not catch a break. I didn't recognize who I was becoming, and when I looked in the mirror I realized I didn't like it, not one bit. There was an edge that I couldn't put my finger on. When I was looking at myself, something caught my eye, it was my necklace. A gold cross that I haven't taken off since I was about 11 or 12. I know now that it was God speaking to me. In that moment, I was hit with a sense of knowing. I knew that I needed to keep on this path, one of my favorite verses is "No weapon formed against you shall prosper" and that's exactly what God was telling me. I was going to make it through. He has guided me through my darkest days, days I thought for sure I wasn't going to make it through, I needed a reminder of that. I picked up my Bible, and I read. Anytime I needed a break or my thoughts turned dark I picked it up, I would listen to the audio version on the way to work, school, and home. Over time I started to feel like myself again, when I looked at myself I could see the light God has given us all shining again. With God's help, not only did I strengthen my resolve to finish school I also got a GPA boost that semester. Now anytime I begin to feel lost I resume my Bible routine to remind myself that I am a child of the Lord, I am blessed and highly favored, through him I will not just survive, but I will thrive in all I wish to achieve.

My career is in Account Management for a health and wellness company, my overall goal is to develop myself professionally to be the best version of myself. After extensive research and careful consideration, I have decided on obtaining a Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate as I feel this will not only improve my current skillset, but add more to my tool belt. You may be asking yourself how does project management correlate to the Account Management occupation? Superficially, it doesn't, most people assume I send emails and take calls all day. While in reality, there is so much more that goes into managing the programs in a book of business than meets the eye. These skills include project planning, resource allocation, strategy, and relationship management, all of which can be obtained and sharpened through the process of receiving a project management certification. Once I decided on the certification I wished to gain, I set out to make a plan. I have presented this roadmap to my boss and senior coworkers seeking transparency, feedback, and constructive criticism.I believe to make a truly good plan you need to consider every angle possible, even the ones you may not anticipate yourself. They were kind enough to work out the kinks of my initial thought processes, providing invaluable insights, for example, I had initially thought I could take the PMP course directly after completing the bare minimum in classroom hours. After more information was presented to me, it was clear that was an unrealistic plan of action and would not set me up for success. After taking my initial plan and the perspectives of my colleagues into account, I have developed a 7-month plan that includes milestones such as dedicating 10-15 hours to study weekly , completing Google's Project Management Course, as well as study materials for the PMP test. Preparation to do well on the PMP exam includes utilizing resources like Udemy, PMBOK guides, practice exams, and online study groups. After studying, maximizing my resources, and completing the required amount of hours for the exam, I will submit my application and schedule my final exam. Including the courses, resources, and exam fee, I am budgeting $1850 in overall expenses. I am definitely aiming to successfully pass this course in one attempt. Long term, this certification and the subsequent skills gained through its obtainment will serve to help me efficiently plan and execute account plans, foster client relationships and position myself for leadership positions. This journey is not just about obtaining a credential, it's about planning my work and working my plan to the best version of myself.

My name is Olivia and like many of us in the POC community I had to grow up quickly. I am a second-generation U.S. citizen as my grandmother immigrated to the U.S at the age of 16 with her mother. I had a single mother who worked hard and sacrificed her education to provide for her family. I come from a long line of strong women, who fought for a better life for the generations to come. These women have taught me invaluable lessons. However, there is one lesson I apply in every aspect of my life: you only lose when you give up. I firmly believe it to be true, no matter how many times I stumble or fall in life, I can't lose if I keep getting up. I'd say this lesson applies most to my education. I've had two jobs consistently since I was 17 and sometimes even three at a time during my college career. As a first-gen student working 40+ hours a week typically doesn't leave a whole lot of energy for homework or assignments. I am not afraid to admit that I wanted to quit. I was tired,making money already; what did I need this degree for? I had to remind myself of my goals. I view college as a way to improve yourself and experience perspectives from many different walks of life. You don't get that by staying in the same circle doing the same thing every day, once you are exposed to the outside world you realize it's much bigger than you. My degree allowed me to study abroad in Singapore which is a melting pot of cultures, it took my worldview to another level. My degree in International Relations required a foreign language; I grew up in Texas, everyone thought I was insane for choosing to study Mandarin. I'll tell you when I knew I was on the right path. I was working as a waitress in a Cajun restaurant. One day we got a group of Chinese tourists in my section, as I walked up I could hear them discussing the menu and trying to figure it out, long story short they were very confused. When I opened my mouth and answered their question in Mandarin, you could have heard a pin drop in the short bout of silence . All of a sudden they all smiled and spoke at once very excitedly, I could hear the relief and joy in their voices, and that's when I knew. It was something small, but I could see the impact. That feeling I get when I help someone is what I live for, in pursuit of this I have become a student of people. Through community services such as volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, soup kitchens, and women's shelters I learn people's stories and struggles which allows me to become a better resource to help. This overall goal to be of service has also driven my career. I currently work for a health and wellness company whose main objective is to get people (specifically those in blue-collar industries) out of pain and give them a higher quality of life. Because this mission aligns with my own I have been empowered to develop and implement initiatives that enable the company to help even more people, for example, a diagnostic system that highlights areas of improvement for current programs. This scholarship would enable me to pay down my debt, giving me the freedom to redirect my time and resources to my ultimate mission of being of service and uplifting my local communities.