From a young age, I dreamt of being a doctor, but now I am preparing for welding classes I will take in the spring and summer semesters. What changed? I had dreams of being a peditrician and helping people all over the world who could not get proper access to healthcare treatments. When I finally entered high school, I planed on trying to participate in as many activities as possible to get myself immersed in the field of medicine. However, reality was much different from my expectations. Every opportunity I had grabbed for it, but ended up in a dead end or getting rejected all together. Volunteering opportunities were limited because my family did not own a car. I was too young to shadow a physician, and we were still dealing with the effects of COVID-19; so it made sense hospitals were cautious. This happened all of freshman year, and then some during sophomore. During the winter of sophomore year, students from my school had the chance of applying to our local magnet school. The school would have a three branches: a science, engineering, and trades academy. When looking at all the courses, I had first thought it would be better if I applied for the certified nursing program. However, my mind kept going back to the idea of taking building construction. Why… because of my grandfather. My grandfather, Andre Lawson-Avla, was a legend in my family. My family had some pretty accomplished people to brag about, but for most of my life my grandfather got the most love. He was a general contractor, learning from my maternal great-grandfather, who was the first electrician in the area. Grandpa worked hard, my mother often said he would leave the house early. Building schools, churches, houses, and so much more. He was generous as well helping others build there dream home. I decided to make building construction my first choice and nursing second. I forgot all about the application, not trying to sike myself up for a dream that could have been too big. By April, one of my friends were talking about how they got accepted into their program. I check my portal.. and saw my acceptance. We would spend the summer after sophomore year back home. For the first time I got to see what my grandfather created, and when I saw my great-aunts house I knew I had made the right choice. Junior year had come and I started my journey in my new class. I was one of the two girls in my construction class, and one of the few juniors in a class full of seniors. The first few weeks we were shy and quiet; we would work on our OSHA certification. Allowing us to work on our project of learning to build a residential house. Week after week we would get use to each other as a class; eating lunch together, joking, learning from our wise teacher. When inside the school we would also practice our skills, and see visiting companies explain the opportunities that could happened for us if we worked for them. I was so impressed with how wonderful so many doors opened for me while learning about skills trade. I hoped to create more doors for students like me who could be interested, especially girls like me.

I chose to further my education in STEAM when realizing that having a creative side can help me conquer so much in life. I also understood the important tool Psychology played for many people. Growing up I always wanted to have the best grades and become a student with high grades. I was on the right path until COVID halted my journey. It was difficult for me to focus during and after the pandemic. I felt like a failure until I was given a new start with my construction classes. Getting accepted into Building Construction allowed me to understand what it meant to be safe, work in a team, and of course use your creativity. We would learn how to build a residential house in that class. While also learning carpentry skills. It allowed me to start asking how I would make certain decisions. Senior year I would take Masonry and learn about bricklaying and the importance of aesthetics. Every detail impacted the final look, and precision was important to ensuring that every structure was up to code. The class affected me in so many ways, specifically seeing my two teachers work other jobs as well. My Building Construction teacher works as a volunteer fire-fighter/EMT and teacher. My Masonry teacher was also a volunteer firefighter and teacher. Their lifestyle inspired me to work in medicine and construction. Throughout my senior year, I was working on my community project. Read Our Stresses Away or R.O.S.A. I was inspired by how reading brought me relief when I was stressed during COVID. The goal is to encourage people to use reading for stress. However, that can’t happen when people don’t enjoy reading in general. So I spent most of my senior year reading to the Preschoolers in my high school. This allowed me to complete research when trying to understand the best way to keep the kids engaged (although it was not hard at all). R.O.S.A. is in its baby stages, but I can see a bright future for my organization as I try to inspire more people to read. This scholarship can help me with my education in construction and medicine. As I learn more topics in college such as HVAC, Welding, and Aviation management. While also planning to get my Pharmacy Technician license and my CNA. I hope with my education to help people just like Miss Nicole Monk did. While working in medicine I hope to conduct more research in the future to help children in Miss Nicole Monk’s position. Her legacy is full of battles and brightness, I hope to continue shedding that brightness with this scholarship.

1. I would love to further my knowledge in masonry, however I am open to learning new things as well. It will come in handy for me in the future. So whether it's welding, automotive, hvac, ect I am ready 2. It started with my great-grandfather who worked as a electrician. Then my grandfather learned from him and later worked as a general contractor. My twin uncles are now carrying the torch working as a general contractor and architectural drawer. Originally, I wanted to be a doctor, but when applying to my magnet school I realized I wanted to give construction a try. I later realized I loved it and working with my hands. My junior year I got the chance to learn building construction, now as a senior I am taking masonry. I love masonry because it is detailed work, a good mason will go places in construction. Especially if the work is beautifully crafted. 3. I received my required safety credentials (OSHA-10, and OSHA-General). I am currently working on obtaining the OSHA-30. I learned how to use tools, such as skill saw, table safe, ect. This is my second year learning, and working on the house project. With training I cut materials that helped build the house, as well as aid in different projects, such as the windows. Currently learning skills in brick work, such as using a grout bag, chimney, and rowlock work for window. 4. I have done research, explored, and visited different companies: Baker, Clark construction, Luck Stone, MWAA, ACL Contractors, Fallon Automotive, AR2 design (IDS metals), and Century 21 Redwood Realty. Our school gives us the opportunity to visit companies with field trips, but I also personally visit most of these companies as well. I hope to go to school, maybe at NOVA (a two year community college) and take classes in skills trade while working for one of these companies. Many people tell me that it will be hard to do school and work, but I have to try because I feel left behind while others are putting their foot in the door for various fields. 5. I believe my masonry teacher, Mr. Coates, can vouch for me. I know he would recommend for me to receive this scholarship because honestly he has seen me make mistakes, but he has also seen me willing to try. It is hard making mistakes because I want him to be proud of me. However, I know deep down he knows my character, how hard I work, my willingness to try, and helping others.

I remember turning sixteen. I was already a teenager, but there was something about being closer to eighteen that made me feel different. A week before school was about to end for winter break and I was so excited to stay home and relax. Until my mom was screaming, when I went to check on her she said she saw a mouse. In a household full of women we killed many things all on our own, but this was the breaking point. Winter was already tough with an influx of crickets trying to find warmth I was trying to stay calm, but at some point I became scared. It did not help the situation when our landlord brushed off the bugs invading our home now with mice I felt like we were trapped. We had to figure out how to get rid of the rodents and also move to a safer location. Through all of this, I was still in school. and the only person I was brave to tell was my counselor, yet her comforting words fell on dead ears because to me she would go home to a safe environment. I realized how much I was trying to act strong, as an older sister, but many times I would break down. Home should be a sanctuary, if you decorated it right, it can be your castle. I loved our childhood home because me and my sisters use to imagine so many things from three rooms, stairs, a living room, and so much more. When you dread coming home that is when you understand something is not right at all about the situation. On a chilly December, I would spend my birthday on my mother's bed trying to avoid mice. I long had left my room after seeing a mouse leave my closet... Fast forward to now, we are in a better apartment, and I spent my seventeen birthday feeling happy and thankful to be in a better environment. The biggest thing I have learned is that life can be crazy and very tough; however, you are the only one dealing with the problem. So live it understanding you can only help yourself. With this in mind, I also questioned why peer pressure decided the decisions I make when ultimately no one is there to help me when I struggled. Looking at it another way, I understand everyone has their problems. The biggest takeaway for me was always trying to find better ways to keep my family safe. Nothing hurts worse than seeing the people you love in distress.

When you're stuck being a student year after year mistakes start to show repeatedly. From bad school lunches, cranky teachers, and too much stress from peers and classwork. I often looked to see what other countries were doing, such as Finland, China, and India. However, I became more impacted by the culture of schools when Operation Varsity Blues was revealed to the public. I question the college system and the pressure of going to a top-tier school. I had always dreamed of going to Harvard, MIT, Cornell, and so much more, but after the story had broke I questioned how effective this system was. The idea was that if you worked hard you would get into a good school, but what if a student just cut their way in? What if you did not have the best opputunies to do well? From elementary school to the beginning of sixth grade, I was a student at St.Mary's County we did not have the worst education, but there was a pattern of bullying and the last year there was a school shooting at a local high school. Compared to my current county, Loudoun County we would move by the end of my sixth-grade year and there was talk of taking home Chromebooks for schoolwork. I was a determined student, but determination could only take you so far. In the new county, everyone had discipline, they understood how important gpa would be, but I didn't. I would struggle the most with time management. The best way to describe it was if I was in a class I enjoyed or was less stressful, I would complete any assignment. This was why History was my favorite subject, with lectures and detailed accounts, I felt like I was in a different world. I sadly could not say the same for math or science. It all came to a crash for me during Covid-19. Everyone struggled so my story is no different, however, I never felt like I never recovered as a student ever since. What has always helped me was my support system. My mother use to expect perfect grades, but now she wants me and my sisters to try our best. Having a good teacher always makes the class breathable, meaning you can always ask questions. With proper teaching methods, it changes how well a student learns as well. Good counselors helped me the most. My middle school teacher Mrs. Kole allowed me to take risks. When I wanted to advance in math, looking back I should have done what I was comfortable with, but it gave me access to different classes. Mrs. Simpkins always tried her best to understand me and was an aid to my mistakes as a high schooler. There are so many people, who are not just teachers, who helped me as well. Librarians, Teacher Assistants, etc. With all of the support I received, I understood that education would always be a helpful tool for me. That is why I focus on growing rather than looking back on the past. I hope to understand the best ways to learn from counties all around the world and combined them into the way I teach my students. Education is a beautiful gift to society, but we must work on maintaining its beauty. From the way, teachers receive aid to the way students apply to college. I plan on teaching in counties struggling the most. School is not just how good your grades are, it is what you have learned and what you are planning to do with that knowledge.