Every Friday evening, my mother left for chama(rotating savings groups) meetings with other women in our community. As a child, I barely noticed them. They were simply part of our family's routine. Only years later did I understand that those gatherings helped pay my school fees, cover household expenses, and create opportunities my family could not have afforded alone. Education was never something I took for granted because I knew it was made possible by sacrifice, not only by my parents but by an entire community that believed investing in one another could change lives. As a first-generation college student, education represents possibility. It is the opportunity to ask questions that once seemed beyond my reach and to build a future that previous generations in my family could only imagine. Every class I take is a reminder that I am carrying forward the hopes of the people who invested in me long before I understood what they were giving. Growing up, I was always curious. I wanted to understand why patterns emerge, why systems succeed or fail, and why people facing similar circumstances often experience very different outcomes. That curiosity eventually led me to mathematics and economics. Today, I am pursuing both disciplines at Bryn Mawr College because they allow me to explore difficult questions with logic, creativity, and purpose. Education has taught me that learning is not about memorizing answers; it is about developing the confidence to ask better questions. The classroom has given me knowledge, but experience has shown me how that knowledge can create impact. As a Digital Technology Intern, I transformed years of institutional data into interactive dashboards that improved access to information for students and applicants. As a Financial Analysis Intern, I use data to help organizations make informed decisions. Working in information technology has taught me to solve problems patiently while helping others navigate challenges. These experiences have shown me that education becomes meaningful when it is used in service of other people. Education has also shaped the kind of leader I want to become. Volunteering and collaborating with others have taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about listening, creating opportunities, and helping others succeed. As a woman pursuing STEM, I understand how important representation can be. I hope to encourage more young women, especially first-generation students and women of color, to pursue careers in mathematics, technology, and finance without doubting whether they belong. To me, education is more than earning a degree. It is a responsibility. It is taking the opportunities created by those who came before me and using them to create opportunities for those who come after. The women in my mother's chama invested in my future without knowing where it would lead. Every achievement I earn is, in many ways, a reflection of their belief that education can transform not just one life, but an entire community. That is what education means to me: hope made tangible, opportunity made possible, and a lifelong commitment to opening doors for others.

Every Friday evening, my mother would leave for chama(rotating savings groups) meetings with other women in our community. As a child growing up in Kenya, I thought they were simply social gatherings. Years later, I realized they were sophisticated financial systems built on trust, shared responsibility, and collective investment. Through these rotating savings groups, families paid school fees, covered emergencies, started businesses, and supported one another through life's most important milestones. Watching those meetings sparked my fascination with mathematics long before I knew what financial modeling or economics meant. Today, I am pursuing dual degrees in Mathematics and Economics at Bryn Mawr College because I want to build a career in quantitative finance, where mathematical models, data analysis, and technology are used to solve complex financial problems and improve decision-making. My long-term goal is to develop innovative financial solutions that expand economic opportunity while mentoring the next generation of women, especially Black women, who aspire to careers in STEM. To prepare for that career, I have intentionally sought opportunities that challenge me both technically and professionally. As a Financial Analysis Intern with AESOP Academy & Advisory, I analyze business performance using Excel, SQL, dashboards, and AI tools to generate strategic recommendations. This experience has shown me how mathematical reasoning translates into real business decisions and reinforced my interest in using data to solve practical problems. Last summer, as a Digital Technology Intern at Bryn Mawr College, I transformed five years of institutional data into more than twenty interactive Tableau dashboards that made important information more accessible to students, faculty, and prospective applicants. Presenting this work at both the Tri-Co Digital Scholarship Conference and the Institute for Liberal Arts Digital Scholarship Conference strengthened my ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and demonstrated how data visualization can create meaningful institutional impact. My curiosity has also led me beyond finance. During a Stanford Medicine consulting externship, I collaborated on redesigning clinical workflows using analytical tools such as decision trees, root cause analysis, and AI-assisted process design. Although the project focused on healthcare, it reinforced an important lesson: mathematics is not confined to classrooms or textbooks. It is a powerful framework for improving systems and solving real-world challenges across industries. Alongside these experiences, I continue strengthening my technical foundation through rigorous coursework in econometrics, corporate finance, real analysis, and abstract algebra while developing proficiency in SQL, Python, Tableau, R, Stata, Bloomberg Terminal, and financial modeling. Working as a Student Technician in Bryn Mawr's Information Technology department has also sharpened my problem-solving skills by teaching me to diagnose technical issues, communicate effectively under pressure, and deliver dependable solutions. As a Black woman in mathematics, I recognize that representation in STEM remains limited. Throughout my journey, I have often found myself in spaces where few people share my background. Rather than viewing that as a barrier, I see it as motivation to excel and to help create pathways for others. I want young Black women to see that they belong in mathematics classrooms, research labs, financial institutions, and leadership positions where diverse perspectives are essential. The women in my mother's chama taught me that strong financial systems can transform lives and strengthen communities. Their example inspired my passion for mathematics and finance, and every opportunity I have pursued since has brought me one step closer to that vision. Receiving the Teria Onwuaduegbo Black Women in STEM Scholarship would not only support my education but also strengthen my commitment to using STEM to create opportunities for others and to honor the legacy of women who have shown me the power of resilience, knowledge, and community.