Greetings, and humble salutations! I am Randall Leath Jr. a third year finance business administration major from Cary, NC and I'm here to tell you my story of adversity. My struggle was not one of rags to riches but an internal struggle where I was basically lost on the path of life, I was a bad middle and high school student due to the discrimination I faced in my classes where my teachers would actually throw away my test scores for my ap classes to keep me behind to the point my parents had to step in and clear up the entire predicament. Facing this predicament I noticed it became more apparent as I went along in life and I began to lose myself in the void of laziness because nothing seemed to be worth the effort to accomplish (keep in mind I live in a family full of athletes). As years went on and I was in my final years of high school I had realized that I had wasted most of my life on menial things like video games because, they created the most comfort for me and I actually happened to be pretty good at them to the point I was on the pro-circuit, but that is besides the point. In my final year of high school I went to do my college application and I was sitting on an extraordinary 2.2 GPA, I don't know about you but no college I cared for would accept a student with a 2.2 GPA. As this was going on I was also actively pursuing an athletic scholarship because I was a 6'8" basketball player who had "raw potential," but raw potential only goes so far in your final year because people are recruited when they are freshman nowadays. With so many things going against me and my own family down my backs I fell into a very depressive state where I could not even think about my own well being because I was clawing tooth and nail and every little opportunity I could get just to even be admitted into college. I came to the conclusion that college wasn't meant for me when all this occurred and nearly gave up until, I was approached by the basketball coach from Florida A&M University that summer of my final year to come play for them. I was immediately shocked and emotional because I never thought I was going to be able to get into a legitimate university and thought my life was over before it even started. From the day I first stepped on campus I never looked back and pushed myself to the limits and achieved consecutive 4.0 semesters as a CS major who then transferred into the Business Administration major because I actually enjoyed business much more. Everyday I reflect on the moments I spent doubting myself and understand the opportunities that I am granted everyday. Today I am proud of myself because I am a President's list student with many accolades and internships to back my journey to become a titan in the financial services industry. I currently work at a large asset manager in Boston, MA and have been on a dedicated path to realizing my dreams of bringing financial literacy to underrepresented communities. My story may not be the traditional rags to riches journey but, I am proud of the adversity I have overcame because it has shaped me to be the man I always wanted to be and to always push through failure rather than sit around and wait for things to happen. I am a 3.7 GPA student going into his fourth year of college, interning at the largest privately owned asset manager in the world. who is also founded many financial organizations on campus (Chief Financiers Organization, Scholars of Finance, etc.) and hold coveted student government positions. This is a testament to anyone who thinks they can't make it, if I can make it you can just don't waste your time dwelling on it like I did. Thank you for listening to my story, Sincerely, Randall Leath Jr.

My hero is a popular rapper who had a lot of success switching to a movie star. That person is Will Smith. I chose Smith because he is a great motivation, a generous person, and a hilarious man. My role model is Will Smith. He is my role model because he used to be a high school boy who got picked on but now he is a multi-million dollar actor, rapper, and producer. He chased all of his dreams even when times were hard for him. He is my role model because I also want to become an actor but nobody knows it. Will became an actor and surprised most of his family members. He also got started rapping and made millions of dollars. He also has helped dozens of charity organizations. Will Smith is such a good person and I’m trying to be like him. On television he was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a streetwise Philadelphian sent to live with wealthy relatives in California. In real life, he is Will Smith, a streetwise Philadelphian who has-by virtue of hard work and infectious charm-found stardom and wealth in Los Angeles. Smith has enjoyed vast success in two different fields of popular entertainment. While still too young to drink legally he released several platinum rap albums and won the first-ever Grammy Award given in the rap category. With his accomplishment in the music industry behind him, Smith moved to television situation comedy and scored a hit with "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." In the mid-1990s, while still a young man by any standards, Smith is in demand for television and film roles, some of which seriously test his acting talent. Premiere magazine contributor Veronica Chambers cited Smith for his "white-bread appeal that very few black men possess," noting that the engaging star is "Ben Franklin with a backward baseball cap." Acting, for Smith, has often meant being his own quirky self in front of a camera. He has worked hard over the years to invest some realism into the character he played on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air-even if that meant flying in the face of stereotype. "Look what the Fresh Prince represents," Smith told Essence magazine. "He operates on several different levels-a symbols of urban youth, a symbol of Black youth and, most specifically, of Black male youth." After the fame of his first show, Smith started to act and starred in many popular films such as Men in Black, Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, and many more. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office, eleven consecutive films gross over $150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films in which he starred open at the number one spot in the domestic box office tally. Will Smith is a positive role model for many young members of the African-American community to aspire to be, and he continues to make a mark on the world of celebrity and black culture.

Greetings and humble salutations, I am Randall Leath Jr. a third-year finance business administration scholar from Cary, NC. My industry experience and the knowledge gained as an HBCU student of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s School of Business has prepared me with the tools to make a difference in the communities I serve.  I endeavor to provide underrepresented communities with financial literacy to increase the number of minority-owned business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors globally. My passion for finance stems from my parents experience with the 2008 financial crisis which placed my family in a  threatening situation. Foreclosure and defaults on payments became the norm in my household, as my father worked as a stay at home dad and my mother worked at a newspaper to make ends meet. I realized that my family had never saved or had a dollar to their name after all the hard work they had done and I could not sit around and let their sacrifices go to waste. During my college career I have had multiple internships with large asset-management firms across the country including Vanguard, Wellington Management, and EnhancedInvestor. Through these modalities, I have heightened my financial acumen and placed myself in a position to learn the fundamentals of the financial institutions we revere today. I have spearheaded various entrepreneurship programs on my campus, and the creation of my campus's first-ever investment club. I also serve on the student government association representing the entire junior class as a senator of the 51st senate. My goals are large but my ideals are even larger. I plan to become a financial expert in saving money, paying down debt, and accruing sustainable wealth. The next step in my process to rebuild "Black Wall Street" is to become a high net-worth individual through my main investment accounts I hold with various brokerages. Then to begin my journey into the private equity space through the Venture Capital process (start recruiting black-owned start-ups to participate in pitch competitions). And finally to raise the next generation entrepreneurs to be able to run the VC cohort by themselves and formally retire myself. Begin formally recruiting minority executives/entrepreneurs to place in key positions to rebuild Black Wall Street (in Charlotte, NC). Instate lending institutions for underrepresented communities and bring financial literacy to underrepresented communities (to be politically correct). These are my goals, this is my ideal I will make this a reality and I would love for whomever this may concern to be apart of my dreams!

To whom this may concern, GreetingsI am Randall Leath Jr. a third year Finance Business administration scholar from Cary, North Carolina. I am currently a student at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. First, to understand how my college education will not only help achieve my goals but have a beneficial impact on my future career,I must briefly discuss how it has contributed to who I am today. When I began my journey at FAMU, I was like a lot of freshmen. I had lacked direction for the majority of my life. I did not have many clear goals set and most of the things I did, I did for the sake of satisfying my parents. I played basketball to please my dad and I worked diligently to receive a scholarship to also please my parents. When I got to college, I had no goals on what I wanted to do or what I wanted to accomplish. This all changed my freshman year when I took an Econ class. My first “B” grade in a class came from the instructor I respected the most. Dr. Richard Wilson who was a tenured Economics professor who played no games. Professor Wilson prefaced his class with these words “however hard you’re working in my class is not hard enough, if you want an “A” you need to work harder.” At first I wondered “what is this man talking about,” but after only a few weeks I understood that I could not be lackadaisical in my studies of economics. I tried my hardest because the material was very intriguing to me and lit a fire under me that inspired my passion for the industry of finance. As the semester ended in professor Wilson’s class I had showed up to every office hour he had provided seeking his guidance. Professor Wilson told me to stop listening to the complaints of my peers and focus on elaborating on my own notes and exclaimed to me in great detail the potential he saw in me. After I ended the semester with a “B” he came to me in the hallways and told me he gave me a “B” because he “knew I could do better” and it really made me reflect on what I had done. After I took that economics course I developed my passion for finance and economics to the point I have become the youngest analyst at the firm and on track to finish my CFA charter as one of the youngest candidates in the world. My goal is to rebuild “Black Wall Street” and bring financial literacy to underrepresented communities. The institution of college is a blessing, I have met many unique and hard-working individuals who I have had the honor of becoming friends with. I am adamant about surrounding myself with those who are driven to succeed and to always protect the energy around me. One of the steps in my vision statement to rebuild “Black Wall Street” outlines how I would need to develop relationships with key minority executives/leaders across the world and bring them together to instate institutions that the disenfranchised can utilize to lift themselves up from the burden of their circumstances. College has and will continue to provide the necessary challenges that I not only want but seek for myself, I want to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday, and college allows me to stretch my thought muscles as much as possible. College experiences are priceless, a lot of the trials and tribulations I will run into while embarking on this journey will be presented to me through my experiences in college and will shape and assist me in maneuvering reality as a young man trying to make it happen. The wealth of knowledge that professors provide is immense, I have learned an unfathomable amount of information from my instructors that I wish I could repay someday. I am an avid believer in the mantra that is “knowledge is power,” I believe that knowledge rules the world and that in order to achieve my goals I must acquire the necessary knowledge to accomplish my endeavors. College provides opportunities that people could only wish for, whether it be networking opportunities, actual work, or scholarships. The vast amount of opportunities that are provided for college students really underscores the level of support a four-year institution provides. My mentors have wholeheartedly shaped who I am today, my very first class I took on FAMU campus was “College Physics” with Professor Tucker. This man created the most fun and engaging science class I’ve ever had in my life to the point I visited his office hours every day and still do till this day. He has raised two successful young men and is satisfied with his life and just mentors me on how to approach life as a young man in America. He has shaped me in his image, and I am proud to call him my mentor and friend.

To whom this may concern, GreetingsI am Randall Leath Jr. a third year Finance Business administration scholar from Cary, North Carolina. I am currently a student at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. First, to understand how my college education will not only help achieve my goals but have a beneficial impact on my future career,I must briefly discuss how it has contributed to who I am today. When I began my journey at FAMU, I was like a lot of freshmen. I had lacked direction for the majority of my life. I did not have many clear goals set and most of the things I did, I did for the sake of satisfying my parents. I played basketball to please my dad and I worked diligently to receive a scholarship to also please my parents. When I got to college, I had no goals on what I wanted to do or what I wanted to accomplish. This all changed my freshman year when I took an Econ class. My first “B” grade in a class came from the instructor I respected the most. Dr. Richard Wilson who was a tenured Economics professor who played no games. Professor Wilson prefaced his class with these words “however hard you’re working in my class is not hard enough, if you want an “A” you need to work harder.” At first I wondered “what is this man talking about,” but after only a few weeks I understood that I could not be lackadaisical in my studies of economics. I tried my hardest because the material was very intriguing to me and lit a fire under me that inspired my passion for the industry of finance. As the semester ended in professor Wilson’s class I had showed up to every office hour he had provided seeking his guidance. Professor Wilson told me to stop listening to the complaints of my peers and focus on elaborating on my own notes and exclaimed to me in great detail the potential he saw in me. After I ended the semester with a “B” he came to me in the hallways and told me he gave me a “B” because he “knew I could do better” and it really made me reflect on what I had done. After I took that economics course I developed my passion for finance and economics to the point I have become the youngest analyst at the firm and on track to finish my CFA charter as one of the youngest candidates in the world. My goal is to rebuild “Black Wall Street” and bring financial literacy to underrepresented communities. The institution of college is a blessing, I have met many unique and hard-working individuals who I have had the honor of becoming friends with. I am adamant about surrounding myself with those who are driven to succeed and to always protect the energy around me. One of the steps in my vision statement to rebuild “Black Wall Street” outlines how I would need to develop relationships with key minority executives/leaders across the world and bring them together to instate institutions that the disenfranchised can utilize to lift themselves up from the burden of their circumstances. College has and will continue to provide the necessary challenges that I not only want but seek for myself, I want to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday, and college allows me to stretch my thought muscles as much as possible. College experiences are priceless, a lot of the trials and tribulations I will run into while embarking on this journey will be presented to me through my experiences in college and will shape and assist me in maneuvering reality as a young man trying to make it happen. The wealth of knowledge that professors provide is immense, I have learned an unfathomable amount of information from my instructors that I wish I could repay someday. I am an avid believer in the mantra that is “knowledge is power,” I believe that knowledge rules the world and that in order to achieve my goals I must acquire the necessary knowledge to accomplish my endeavors. College provides opportunities that people could only wish for, whether it be networking opportunities, actual work, or scholarships. The vast amount of opportunities that are provided for college students really underscores the level of support a four-year institution provides. My mentors have wholeheartedly shaped who I am today, my very first class I took on FAMU campus was “College Physics” with Professor Tucker. This man created the most fun and engaging science class I’ve ever had in my life to the point I visited his office hours every day and still do till this day. He has raised two successful young men and is satisfied with his life and just mentors me on how to approach life as a young man in America. He has shaped me in his image, and I am proud to call him my mentor and friend.

To whom this may concern, GreetingsI am Randall Leath Jr. a third year Finance Business administration scholar from Cary, North Carolina. I am currently a student at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. First, to understand how my college education will not only help achieve my goals but have a beneficial impact on my future career,I must briefly discuss how it has contributed to who I am today. When I began my journey at FAMU, I was like a lot of freshmen. I had lacked direction for the majority of my life. I did not have many clear goals set and most of the things I did, I did for the sake of satisfying my parents. I played basketball to please my dad and I worked diligently to receive a scholarship to also please my parents. When I got to college, I had no goals on what I wanted to do or what I wanted to accomplish. This all changed my freshman year when I took an Econ class. My first “B” grade in a class came from the instructor I respected the most. Dr. Richard Wilson who was a tenured Economics professor who played no games. Professor Wilson prefaced his class with these words “however hard you’re working in my class is not hard enough, if you want an “A” you need to work harder.” At first I wondered “what is this man talking about,” but after only a few weeks I understood that I could not be lackadaisical in my studies of economics. I tried my hardest because the material was very intriguing to me and lit a fire under me that inspired my passion for the industry of finance. As the semester ended in professor Wilson’s class I had showed up to every office hour he had provided seeking his guidance. Professor Wilson told me to stop listening to the complaints of my peers and focus on elaborating on my own notes and exclaimed to me in great detail the potential he saw in me. After I ended the semester with a “B” he came to me in the hallways and told me he gave me a “B” because he “knew I could do better” and it really made me reflect on what I had done. After I took that economics course I developed my passion for finance and economics to the point I have become the youngest analyst at the firm and on track to finish my CFA charter as one of the youngest candidates in the world. My goal is to rebuild “Black Wall Street” and bring financial literacy to underrepresented communities. The institution of college is a blessing, I have met many unique and hard-working individuals who I have had the honor of becoming friends with. I am adamant about surrounding myself with those who are driven to succeed and to always protect the energy around me. One of the steps in my vision statement to rebuild “Black Wall Street” outlines how I would need to develop relationships with key minority executives/leaders across the world and bring them together to instate institutions that the disenfranchised can utilize to lift themselves up from the burden of their circumstances. College has and will continue to provide the necessary challenges that I not only want but seek for myself, I want to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday, and college allows me to stretch my thought muscles as much as possible. College experiences are priceless, a lot of the trials and tribulations I will run into while embarking on this journey will be presented to me through my experiences in college and will shape and assist me in maneuvering reality as a young man trying to make it happen. The wealth of knowledge that professors provide is immense, I have learned an unfathomable amount of information from my instructors that I wish I could repay someday. I am an avid believer in the mantra that is “knowledge is power,” I believe that knowledge rules the world and that in order to achieve my goals I must acquire the necessary knowledge to accomplish my endeavors. College provides opportunities that people could only wish for, whether it be networking opportunities, actual work, or scholarships. The vast amount of opportunities that are provided for college students really underscores the level of support a four-year institution provides. My mentors have wholeheartedly shaped who I am today, my very first class I took on FAMU campus was “College Physics” with Professor Tucker. This man created the most fun and engaging science class I’ve ever had in my life to the point I visited his office hours every day and still do till this day. He has raised two successful young men and is satisfied with his life and just mentors me on how to approach life as a young man in America. He has shaped me in his image, and I am proud to call him my mentor and friend.