My name is Princess Taylor. I am a senior at Thomas Stone High School. I plan to attend a 4-year university majoring in computer science. Acquiring a bachelor's degree in computer science would assist me in pursuing my dream career as a software engineer. I also would like to have my own technology startup and create the next big social media app. One of the requirements to get a job in this field is to at least have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a technology-related field. However, I am almost certain that without completing my college degree I would not be able to achieve my career goals. I have decided that I will attain a career in software engineering since my passion has always been trying to make a significant impact in the world and advance technology to provide better communication and solve worldwide problems. Technology has always been something that interests me because it brings so much to the table such as easier, faster, more effective communication, innovative approaches, less wastage, and more mobility options. Therefore, I believe that pursuing this career will provide me with the opportunity to make the world better with the advancement of technology. In this process, I would like to become an expert in JavaScript and machine learning. These skills will provide me with the foundation to create the next big social media app. I am also a good communicator, have strong time management skills, am organized, persistent, positive, and I am always ready to learn more. These traits will help me be successful as I progress through college and into my career. With this scholarship, I would be able to attend the university of my dreams and pursue the career I desire. As a child, I was aware that we did not have much compared to others. Therefore, I always tried hard at school and was involved in as many extracurricular activities as possible. My mom always said “you could do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. Life will throw curveballs at you, but you just have to find another way.” I always took those words to heart because I knew that I did not want to go through the same struggles I saw my mom go through growing up. I am now a senior about to graduate, trying to decide on a college and applying for scholarships back-to-back. I believe that I deserve this scholarship because it will help me achieve my long-term goals. By furthering my education in computer science, I can work towards my career goals in software engineering. I aim to make a difference not just in my community but in the world. This scholarship will be the difference-maker when it comes to affording the education, I need to make my dreams a reality.

Hello, my name is Princess Taylor, I want to give you a backstory on my life. Since a young child, I have seen my mother struggle again and again to overcome some of the most devastating events. When she was a young adult only about 18 her mother had died which is my grandmother. My mother had 8 other younger siblings which she had to take care of after her mother's passing and because she was so young and didn't even finish high school she wasn't able to make the amount of money that she needs to take care of them. She sacrificed her childhood/ young adulthood to give her siblings a normal ongoing even after the passing other their mother and also, to keep them together. She, later on, had a child of her own at the age of 19 which is my older brother. Soon after she had my brother she went on to get her place and raise my older brother with little help from his father and family members. Years later she was blessed with me, then my younger sister, and my baby sister. She was now a single mother raising 4 children in Washington, D.C. She was struggling to keep up with the bills and always found a way to make sure we had food and clothes on our backs with a roof over our heads. My mother always said she wanted us to do better and be better. She would always give us advice on what not to do and how to learn from other's mistakes. She always made it clear that education was key and that with determination and diligence anything is possible. She'd always say "the sky is the limit and even when you get there, there's so much more to reach for." I watch my mother firsthand struggle with addiction and drug abuse each time she would always try to get better there would always be another relapse. It got better and she did improve, we all ended up in a better environment and my brother even graduated high school and is in his second year of college she was so proud. I wanted to do the same thing and have my mother see me graduate and go off to college. I and my mother had a love-dislike relationship we would have our ups and downs but at the end of the day we would always end up laughing, dancing, and/or singing together. We used to be much closer when I was younger but as I got older I started to realize certain things that I didn't wanna be around so I removed myself. We started to build our relationship and then she relapsed again. This time was different than the other times; it was more serious. She ended up passing away due to drug abuse. Although she is no longer with me, my memories with her are always there by my side. I go back and think of all the lessons and different lectures that my mom gave me and my siblings and think I will make that dream a reality and I will do and be better. I want to attend college to make that dream happen this is the first step.