Writing plays a vital role in my life as it has become not only a means of expression but also a sanctuary where I can find solace and inspiration. During my junior year in high school, I experienced a significant setback when my Title IV Civil Rights were violated. This unfortunate event left me feeling lost and disheartened, searching for a way to heal and regain my strength. In the midst of this turmoil, I turned to writing as a cathartic outlet. It became a refuge where I could escape from the harsh realities of life and dive into a world of imagination and creativity. Initially, I began by writing affirmations, filling my room with pastel squares that held positive messages and encouraged me to persevere. As I delved deeper into the realm of writing, I discovered the power of journaling. Through pouring my thoughts and emotions onto paper, I found a therapeutic release that allowed me to process my experiences and gain clarity. The act of writing became an exercise in introspection, helping me understand myself better and navigate through the emotional turmoil of this unfortunate event. During this transformative period, my passion for music played a significant role in inspiring my writing. As a musician, I am constantly captivated by the melodies that dance through the air, stirring my soul and evoking a range of emotions. Music became the catalyst that propelled me to explore the depths of my being, encouraging me to question and seek answers beyond the confines of my comfort zone. Drawing upon the enchantment of music, I channeled my creative energy into writing my first book, titled "The Magic of Music: A Chronicle of Instrumental Influences". Through this endeavor, I aimed to inspire people of all ages, backgrounds and identities to take an interest in instrumental music. I wanted to channel my energy positively, thus avoiding self-pity and taking ownership of an unfortunate infraction against me. Most importantly, I wanted to inspire others to use positive forces to help combat adversity. Writing has become my voice, my sanctuary, and my source of strength. It has allowed me to transform adversity into triumph and find beauty amidst the chaos. Through the power of written words, I have discovered a profound sense of self and the limitless possibilities that exist within and beyond. In conclusion, writing holds immense importance in my life. It has provided me with an avenue to express myself, heal from the challenges I faced, and delve into the depths of my creativity. By intertwining my love for music with the written word, I have discovered a world of endless inspiration and possibilities. Writing has become an integral part of my journey, shaping my identity and serving as a constant companion as I navigate through life's highs and lows. As I move forward in life, I will continue to write and publish more literature. I am currently writing the second series of my first book.

As a resident of Orange Mound, Memphis, our Nation's first African-American neighborhood, I have personally encountered numerous obstacles, particularly growing up in a single-family household with a mother facing challenging disabilities. In a community inspired by cultural heritage and diminished by economic disparity, I have been against many odds. However, I have chosen not to let these adversities define me. Throughout my journey, I have remained dedicated to my academics, nurtured my passion for music, and consistently engaged in community service. This scholarship would aid me in my education making an impact on my educational journey. Despite the challenges I face, I have never allowed them to obstruct my pursuit of an education. By becoming an autodidact at the age of twelve, I eagerly took advantage of every opportunity to enhance my education. Through self-study, I have composed and produced over one hundred sound recordings, showcasing both my determination and passion for music. Nevertheless, while self-study has undoubtedly contributed to my growth, a scholarship would provide the necessary financial support to access formal education that can enhance my creativity, refine my skills, and equip me with invaluable industry knowledge. The music industry has always been my true calling. It is through music that I find solace, empowerment, and purpose. However, realizing my dreams within such a competitive industry demands not only talent but also funding. A scholarship would alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing an education in music, thus enabling me to focus on honing my skills, expanding my musical repertoire, and gaining a deeper understanding of the music business. With this scholarship, I would be able to purchase books and supplies, add to my tuition, housing meals, dorm essentials and even travel expenses. It will no doubt serve me in a meaningful way. The significance of a scholarship cannot be overlooked as it has the power to transform my life. For someone who has faced numerous struggles and challenges, living in Orange Mound Memphis, this scholarship holds importance in helping me in college. With its financial support, I will be grateful to use it toward my college expenses. As I stand at the crossroads of my future, I am grateful for the resources a scholarship can provide, allowing me to unlock my full potential, embrace my passions wholeheartedly, and ultimately become a force for good in the world. Your gift will help alleviate uncertainties. Thank you for being so kind to share with scholars like me.

As a resident of Orange Mound, Memphis, our Nation's first African-American neighborhood, I have personally encountered numerous obstacles, particularly growing up in a single-family household with a mother facing challenging disabilities. In a community inspired by cultural heritage and diminished by economic disparity, I have been against many odds. However, I have chosen not to let these adversities define me. Throughout my journey, I have remained dedicated to my academics, nurtured my passion for music, and consistently engaged in community service. This scholarship would aid me in my education making an impact on my educational journey. Despite the challenges I face, I have never allowed them to obstruct my pursuit of an education. By becoming an autodidact at the age of twelve, I eagerly took advantage of every opportunity to enhance my education. Through self-study, I have composed and produced over one hundred sound recordings, showcasing both my determination and passion for music. Nevertheless, while self-study has undoubtedly contributed to my growth, a scholarship would provide financial support to pay for things, I currently do not have the resources to afford. The music industry has always been my true calling. It is through music that I find solace, empowerment, and purpose. However, realizing my dreams within such a competitive industry demands not only talent but also funding. A scholarship would alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing an education in music, thus enabling me to focus on honing my skills, expanding my musical repertoire, and gaining a deeper understanding of the music business. With this scholarship, I would be able to purchase books and supplies, add to my tuition, housing meals, dorm essentials and even travel expenses. It will no doubt serve me in a meaningful way. The significance of a scholarship cannot be overlooked as it has the power to transform my life. For someone who has faced numerous struggles and challenges, living in Orange Mound Memphis, this scholarship holds importance in helping me in college. With its financial support, I will be grateful to use it toward my college expenses. In my career, I aim to support artists that are underrepresented in the industry. Many talented musicians and music artists have no resources to showcase their work and get the proper recognition. I hope to be a catalyst for artists needing a highly skilled advocate to protect their rights and ensure they get the best deal. In my career, I will establish a non-profit organization that will provide intense instrumental training to youth who are disadvantaged. Recently, I wrote and self-published a book, "The Magic of Music - A Chronicle of Instrumental Influences", aimed to inspire youth of all races and ages to take instrumental lessons. I hope to aid in promoting a harmonious world of music through diversity and inclusion of all people. As I stand at the crossroads of my future, I am grateful for the resources a scholarship can provide, allowing me to unlock my full potential, embrace my passions wholeheartedly, and ultimately become a force for good in the world. Your gift can help alleviate some uncertainties. Thank you for being so kind to share with scholars like me.

As a resident of Orange Mound, Memphis, our Nation's first African-American neighborhood, I have personally encountered numerous obstacles, particularly growing up in a single-family household with a mother facing challenging disabilities. In a community inspired by cultural heritage and diminished by economic disparity, I have been against many odds. However, I have chosen not to let these adversities define me. Throughout my journey, I have remained dedicated to my academics, nurtured my passion for music, and consistently engaged in community service. This scholarship would aid me in my education making an impact on my educational journey. Despite the challenges I face, I have never allowed them to obstruct my pursuit of an education. By becoming an autodidact at the age of twelve, I eagerly took advantage of every opportunity to enhance my education. Through self-study, I have composed and produced over one hundred sound recordings, showcasing both my determination and passion for music. Nevertheless, while self-study has undoubtedly contributed to my growth, a scholarship would provide financial support to pay for things, I currently do not have the resources to afford. The music industry has always been my true calling. It is through music that I find solace, empowerment, and purpose. However, realizing my dreams within such a competitive industry demands not only talent but also funding. A scholarship would alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing an education in music, thus enabling me to focus on honing my skills, expanding my musical repertoire, and gaining a deeper understanding of the music business. With this scholarship, I would be able to purchase books and supplies, add to my tuition, housing meals, dorm essentials and even travel expenses. It will no doubt serve me in a meaningful way. The significance of a scholarship cannot be overlooked as it has the power to transform my life. For someone who has faced numerous struggles and challenges, living in Orange Mound Memphis, this scholarship holds importance in helping me in college. With its financial support, I will be grateful to use it toward my college expenses. As I stand at the crossroads of my future, I am grateful for the resources a scholarship can provide, allowing me to unlock my full potential, embrace my passions wholeheartedly, and ultimately become a force for good in the world. Your gift can help alleviate some uncertainties. Thank you for being so kind to share with scholars like me.

I am a young black girl overweight and had to learn to love myself. I was first made aware that my weight was an issue with other people when I was in headstart. I remember being called fat and the "jolly green giant" by my classmates. At the age of six, I weighed in at a little over one hundred pounds and stood almost five feet. I did not fit in with the other kids in my school or my community. I avoided other kids and only played with my cousins. They were my playmates because they accepted me and loved me unconditionally. Sadly, they were taken from me in a house fire that killed them alone with my aunt and grandma. I was devasted. I went into a depression grieving my best friends as well as for being rejected by my peers. I stayed in the house playing alone. This isolation caused me to eat more and more. As a result, I gained more weight and started to hate myself. One day, my Mom and I visited our local library. I came across a book entitled "Being Me". This book changed my life. It is a very small simple book; however, the message is so impactful. It helped me to explore my strengths instead of concentrating on my weaknesses. As an outcome, I learned things about myself that I buried subconsciously because I concentrated on my imperfections. This book helped me to realize that being confident does not mean that I wear the same dress size as the other girls or that I looked like them. It simply means that I have confidence in who I am. Being confident also meant that it was okay for me to realize that I have weaknesses that need improvement. It meant that it was okay for me to struggle with getting it right as long as I was willing to continue to make things better. As time when on, I began to join the other kids for play. Some accepted me and some did not. Initially, the rejection hurt my feelings. However, my social confidence has grown. I have learned to take responsibility for my emotions and not allow others to dictate my feelings. Now, I am a sophomore in high school and have a weighted GPA of 4.05. I have the confidence to try anything that interests me. I just recently won Miss Sophomore with the majority votes of my peers. I am still struggling with my weight and now stand six feet tall. I have many friends and are considered to be very popular in my school. My greatest accomplishment is learning to be my own best friend. I look at myself and I love being me even my imperfections. I stand tall mentally and I am not easily depreciated by others. I overcame what I feel is the biggest adversity of all which is self-hate. I have turned the negative toxic feelings that I had into an admiration for myself that shines like the morning sun.

Hello, I am an AP/Honor sophomore. I am the only minor child of my single mother. I plan to pursue a career in STEM as well as a second degree in music. I have researched if this is possible . I have learned that this is indeed possible if with a dual enrollment at Harvard University and Berklee School of Music. It will be hard work but I believe that I can accomplish this goal. I come from a family of gospel music. My maternal grandmother and all of my uncles and aunts lived in Mississippi and performed as a gospel group. Even though I never got to see them perform, I have been told all the stories of how they would sing their hearts out at many gospel events. I have never been told that I have been blessed with pleasant-sounding vocals, however, I have acquired a very impressive talent in instrumental music. I write and compose music for my repertoire as well as for my high school band. I dream of one day owning a recording studio and becoming a very successful music producer. My knowledge and interest in STEM have been acquired through classroom learning. I excel in science and math. I am amused with discovering new things about biochemistry. I hope to obtain a degree in this field and work as a scientist researching diseases and cures. My biggest obstacle to date is overcoming the death of eight family members at one time. The death of my grandmother, aunt, and cousins happened a few years ago from a house fire in Memphis. It was truly the saddest time of my life. In the midst of my grief, I learned that I did not really like myself and was now alone without friends. As a small child, I began to gain excessive weight and was bullied and ridiculed. My safe zone was my cousins who accepted me and removed my need for other friends. After their death, I had to face the most challenging thing of all time. I was forced to build confidence in myself. It was hard. I attended grief counseling but my love for myself did not start to happen until I discovered a book in our local library entitled "Being Me" by Wendy Moss. This book is a very simple short book. It is packed with power. The narrative in this book gave me encouragement and a feeling of being in charge of making or breaking my self-esteem. I must have read this book more than ten times. Even though I am still a work in progress, I can say that I no longer devalue myself because of my weight. I am very outgoing in school and I perform well academically. I have lost a few pounds and I am working on being the best me. I was just crowned Miss Sophomore because I dared to be me. I have learned that everyone has flaws and that there is no such person on earth that is perfect. I have also learned that if there is something I don't like about myself I have the power to change it. No one has the ability to make me feel less than unless I receive it and allow it.

"Footprints" is one of the most inspiring pieces of art I have come across so far in my life. This artwork hangs in the entryway of our home. As you can see, it is a picture of Jesus carrying a woman. The context of the poem is that even when she thought she was walking along and she could not see any efforts other than her own will, Jesus was carrying her and not her. This illustration and poem remind me of the struggles of my mother. As a child of a single mom, I have witnessed very difficult times. However, amid the most strenuous times for us, there has always been a light in the dark clouds. I remember needing things for school and many times when it appears as if we were down to our last meals my mother will encourage me by reminding me that things will work out in their way. It has worked out so far for my mom and me and I am continuously inspired by this painting. As life continues for me, I plan to often reflect on this painting and its narrative. It will replenish my hope in difficult times. I will find comfort knowing that through my Christian belief a Superior is Being looked over me. This artwork will be my affirmation to keep moving and know that I am not alone.

I am one of four children and the youngest born to my mother and father. The sibling that is next in line is fifteen years older than me. With this information, you have probably figured out that all the older siblings have moved out and are living their best life. Being the "only child", I quickly learned to do things without the assistance of others. My best independent trait is time management. I feel free as an individual when I am not micro-managed by my parents or teachers to keep up with academics, chores, and tasks. Since middle school, I used my alarm clock to awakened myself for school without the aid of my mother. I am also able to adjust my time well when balancing school work and fellowshipping with my friends. Over the summer, I worked my first paid job. I felt empowered to make purchases from the money that I earned. My willingness to get a job allowed me to make purchases that are not affordable for my parents. I felt empowered working and earning my own spending allowance. Now that I am in high school, the ability to choose my area of studies such as STEM or the Business curriculum gave me a big boost of independence. This practice helps me to feel confident in my independent choices as I prepare for fields of study in college. Besides knowing how to complete my laundry and cook some food for myself, I am learning to drive. Driving requires that I think independently and use good judgment in serious life or death situations. My mental development exemplifies my independence. The record of my proven ability to act and think independently in age-appropriate situations has impacted my relationship with my mother positively.

"Good things come to those who wait". If you paraphrase this statement it simply means that patience is rewarded. I remember an illustrated project my mom and I completed to help me to understand patience. One summer I wanted to plant sunflowers. We planted the seeds. Each day, I would go out to water the soil. After several days, I began to get discouraged and wanted to abandon the project. My mom encouraged me to continue to water the seeds even if at the current time I did not see any evidence of them. I took her advice and continued to water the seeds each day. After about two weeks, I finally saw a seedling. I was super excited. I continued to water the flower each day. As time went on, the sprout got taller and taller. By summer's end, my sunflowers towered in our garden beautifully. Patience taught me to trust the process. I realize that as I persevere with determination, I must also exercise patience. Without patience, my hard work will never fully solidify and my full potential will never be met. Patience is an important must-have virtue.

"A merry heart doeth good like a good medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones". This is one of my favorite Proverbs in the Bible. This verse makes it clear that being happy is life and to be sad is death. So how do we be merry? I believe that laughing infuses positive energy in the soul and heals negative emotions. Have you ever tried to smile and respond to a person that has been negative towards you? Your smile delivery instantly defuses the intended offense. It is proven, you can not be angry with a smile on your face. Laughter brightens the mood. When you are feeling tensed reading a joke or finding a comedy movie to watch will induce laughing and instantly relieve the tension. Your mental and physical state will respond in accordingly to one another. In return, you get the healing of stress which is the number one underlying condition that causes heart diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, drinking, and other addictions. These conditions shorten the lives of millions of people in the world each day. I also believe that in order to live a merry life, we must be grateful. We should look around daily and count our blessings. It is so easy to have a broken spirit worrying about things we are unable to change. When we worry, it causes anxiety and depression which will deplete us of happiness and the will to live. Openly being thankful gives us hope for better days and a future. Living a long healthy life is to go about each day purposely searching for laughter and gratitude.

When I was ten years old, my entire team of playmates died in a tragic house fire. Not only were they my friends, but they were also my family. My aunt, grandma, and eight cousins died all at once. It was the saddest time of my life. My cousins were my escape from needing other friends before the tragedy. I have been overweight since I was a very small child and was always teased and bullied by children in my community. I also remember feeling scrutinized by their parents. The question would always be "how old are you"? The next statement would be "you look very mature for your age". I felt as if I was not accepted because I did not look like the other children. My cousins gave me the security of not needing new friends and having to answer those embarrassing questions. I knew they loved me unconditionally. After their death, my security blanket was no longer there to shield me. I no longer wanted to be in this world without them. However, I did not necessarily want to die. I just wanted to have my friends back and to play with my cousins again. I was so lonely as I watched the children in our apartment complex through my window playing and riding their bikes. I would see them at the pool enjoying themselves on a summer day. I wanted to join them. I was paralyzed with the fear of not being accepted. My mother and I started grief counseling at my church. I explained to the minister and the counselors how I felt about losing my cousins. I explained to them how sad and frightened I was to make new friends. We had many sessions but it was not until my mom and I took a trip to the library that my transformation started. In the library book return cart, I read the title "Being Me". It was a short inspirational book about learning to have confidence and accepting yourself. I read that book over and over again. Finally one day, I decided to go and sit outside. There were some kids that welcomed me and there were a few that said hurtful things. Most importantly, the negativity was not very effective on me. Even though it still hurt my feelings, I felt good about having discovered so many wonderful things about myself. Each day, as I played with my new friends, the negative background noise in my head became distant as I grew more and more confident in myself. The death of my cousins forced me to love myself. I still struggle with my weight today and in some cases being accepted by my peers. The good news is that my self-esteem is rising to the challenge of accepting "me" unconditionally. I will continue to work at being healthy in body and mind. It is not easy. Each day I have to remind myself that I am unique and a masterpiece in the making. I will continue to fight against succumbing to negative feelings about myself and the negative opinions of others.

I live in a community that is predominately African American. In addition, the community is below the poverty line and many of the households rely on government assistance such as SNAP to help supplement or in many cases the main resource for their food. Some families have more than three children. The cost to feed them a healthy meal that is fulfilling can deplete the budget that is provided to them with SNAP. To stretch the food to carry them until the next reload of food stamps, families sacrifice nutrition to purchase food that is more plentiful such as potatoes, meat that is high in fat, and canned vegetables that are high in sodium. For the last three years, I have been a volunteer with my church's Agriculture Conservation Project. The mission of our Ag-Con Project is to grow organic vegetables and sell them at an affordable price to the community. My role as a volunteer is to assist with planting, harvesting, and post-harvest management. Because our promise to the community is to grow organic vegetables, I also assist with collecting spoiled vegetables and other organic plants to add to the compost mixture. After harvesting the vegetables, I assist with selling the vegetable in our farmer's market and pop-up sales after church services. Twice a month, I work to deliver fresh vegetables from the garden to local senior apartments. During my interactions with the customers, I share with them the nutritional values of the vegetables and how they may easily identify them by the color of the vegetables. More families are shopping at our farmer's market to buy vegetables and as result eating more healthily. I would like to see more schools from elementary through high school participate in an Agriculture Conservation Project across our country and globally. I think it is very important that the habit of healthy eating starts at a young age. I personally live in a household that depends on SNAP to supplement our income. I know the challenge of changing my eating habits to make better choices in food and to have an acquired taste for vegetables. I believe that if preschoolers are introduced to growing and eating vegetables early in life, the possibility of them continuing to eat healthy throughout their adulthood will increase substantially. I would also like to see nutritional science added to the curriculum in schools across our country. I feel that this course will teach graduates to prepare nutritious meals for themselves as they embark upon adulthood. It will also help with the selection of food when eating out. Many of my peers have told me that they do not eat vegetables on a regular basis. I believe this will change by educating us on food selections and how to read food labels, calculate serving portions, and knowing what a well-balanced meal looks like on a plate. In doing the above, the school's lunch programs will need to lead by example. The Ag-Con Projects in schools will be a great resource for providing healthy vegetables. Students enrolled in these classes will help in planting, weeding, and harvesting the gardens. I realize that state funding will have to support this idea, however, it is workable and will in return reduce obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other inherited illnesses in young people especially African Americans.

As a volunteer for my church's Agriculture Conservation Project, I assist with planting organic vegetables, installing the high tunnel, harvesting, and post-harvest management. The mission of our Ag-Con Project is to provide affordable healthy vegetables to the people of the community. During the various planting seasons of the year, I work with local farmers and other volunteers with maintaining the garden. After harvesting, I assist with selling the vegetables in our pop-up market after church on Sundays. In addition, I participate in delivering vegetables to senior housing once a month. During the summer months, I work in the market weekdays during its open season. I share information about the nutritional values of the produce with shoppers to aid them with making better food choices. In the mornings at the market opens, I assist our culinary assistance with making fresh salads and help deliver to local businesses during lunch for purchase. Working with our Ag-Con Project in servicing my community is very rewarding to me. Not only have I learned so much information about agriculture, but it also pleases me to be a part of an effort to encourage a healthier way of eating.

My utopian idea for optimum mental health in the  Black Communities is living where there is no discrimination and everyone is treated equally.  A minor interaction with police does not lead to a traumatic episode.  Black community residents are confident that the decision of approval or denial is not based on the color of their skin.  The morale of fathers and mothers is confident because they know that their capability is only limited to their own effort and is not unfairly restrained by people of power.  Students receive equal education, access to technology, and nutritional lunches regardless of their zip code.  This in return heightens the black scholars' enthusiasm to pursue higher education and hope that their chance of obtaining their career goal is not contingent on the color of their skin or family's financial status.      I often daydream of a utopia similar to what I have described above. Sadly, the reality of it is far from where we are now in our society.   Due to stereotyping,  people of color are often mistreated by public servants.  They are discriminated against in employment opportunities and not allowed fair buying power when purchasing a home. Social injustice has induced stress, anxiety, and other psychological illnesses in black communities. As a result, the inability to cope leads to addictions and explosive disorders.  I believe that public servants such as police officers should be assigned to the precincts in which they live. Being familiar with the culture and establishing a working relationship with their own communities will significantly reduce phobia and increase trust for both the residents and those that serve them. In addition, I believe that everyone that works with the public should be required to engage in formal training illustrating how to service a person of color without discriminating, racial profiling, and unjustified fears. These types of judgments cause low self-esteem, anger, phobia, and depression among our black citizens. In conclusion, I feel that a better working relationship with elected officials, community activists, and leaders would help to improve mental health care in Black communities by addressing disparities.  Statistics prove that our society fails to nurture and care for black communities the way it gives attention to others.  In cases such as medical care for COVID-19, aid during natural disasters, and protection against police brutality, reports show significant disproportion in black communities.  Equality in these areas will provide a sense of inclusion and increase the overall mental health in Black communities. By standing together and working together we will all get better. 

My mother unexpectantly became pregnant with me at the age of forty-four. She often tells me how scared she was even though she had given birth to three siblings with the youngest one being sixteen years older than me. My mother has shared that during her pregnancy, she was faced with the most fear in her life. My Mother is a type-1 diabetic; she suffers from high blood pressure and has heart disease. The constant consultations with doctors and all the genetic testing she had to endure left her with little hope. She was advised of the danger to carry me to term and that death or a serious illness to both of us could be the outcome. Fifteen years later we are still here. I am perfectly and wonderfully made. Alongside extra height, I was also blessed with above-average intelligence. My mother prayed over me every day during her pregnancy. She spoke good health and success into my life. She purchased a pregnant microphone to strap to her belly so that I could hear music. She played "Brown Baby" by Nina Simone and watched as I would respond with kicks and nudges through her stretched skin. She knew that I would be okay. She knew that I would be something big and make a big statement in this world. Even until this day, my dear sweet "ma" speaks life into me. She is my advocate and ensures that most importantly I do right and that I am treated fairly. It's just us at home now because my siblings have long ventured out on their own. My mom and I spend a lot of time together cooking, watching movies, and going out to dinner. She hosts a lot of playdates with me and my friends. On the days when she doesn't feel well, I care for her. She has developed an eye disease and I make sure to put her drops in her eyes each night. She doesn't need me to do it. I just do it because it makes me feel good to care for my mommy. I pray for her as often as she prays for me. I hope that she sees her harvest from the seed that she planted. From a very young age, I saw myself in college. I remember in first grade, the teacher asked that the students tell her what they wanted to be when they grew up. I told her that I wanted to attend college to be a crossing guard. The teacher ridiculed me for saying that. She said that my dreams were not high enough. I did not understand it at the time. I just knew that she made me feel bad for being amused by the adults commanding traffic with the cool hand gestures and the whistles. When my mother picked me up that afternoon, I was in tears. After explaining what happened, my mom immediately talked with the teacher. She made sure that they understood that at my age, it was more important that I was inspired to go to college. My mother held my hand and we proudly walked out. As a token of encouragement, she stopped and purchased me a toy whistle. At that moment, I was convinced that there is something really big about college and that I was going to be a part of it. I do not want her faith to go in vain. My mother believed in me at the most sacrificial time of her life. She knew I was special. I planned to be educated as well!

I am fifteen years old and stand six feet tall. My height beckons attention when I enter a room. I love my statue and know that every molecule of my being was purposely and wonderfully made. What's most amazing is that I have been at this height since I was twelve. My height is a conversation starter. I meet new friends quickly when asked my most frequent question "How did you get so tall?" My height attracts opportunities to join sports teams and develop new skills. I was approached to join the volleyball team and the basketball team. I know that it was my height that show potential to the coaches. With tall legs along come long arms. I remember being able to play the violin in elementary even though I did not meet the age requirement. This was simply because my arms were long enough to position the violin correctly. In addition, my height aids me in helping my mother and big sister around the house. They are both less than five feet, five inches tall which means they depend on me a lot to get to those hard-to-reach places. I remember when my sister moved into her first apartment. She wanted to add decor to the top of her kitchen cabinets. I was her go-to person for help. I gladly placed the vases, pictures, and statues where she directed me. It felt really good to be a part of this milestone in her life. My height promotes my self-esteem. I stand tall physically and mentally. I love my gift.

I can truly say that my toughest time was existing during COVID 2020 lockdown. Amid learning of one family member after another being stricken with this illness, the constant coverage of America's despair was very depressing. It took so much of my brainpower to remain focused. I had to accept no longer having dates with my friends. There were no more in-person worshipping services. I did not see my only sister for nine months. I was unable to attend extra-curriculum activities such as dance lessons and theater classes. Worst of all, visitations with my non-custodial parent were non-existent. Reading became my therapy. I would bury myself in a book and allow my mind to recreate my environment and my world. I would sometimes be in space while reading "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky. My favorite escape was while reading "Becoming" by Michelle Obama. I was her. I was that little black girl so smart and intelligent. I saw myself as one of the most influential women of color in the world. I was inspired to study harder. I started to pretend virtual learning was practicing for online college courses. When Vice President, Kamala Harris won the election, it gave me hope for my goals. I began to research facts about her and was happy to read that she attended one of my target schools. My mom bought me two parakeet birds. I would sit and watch them live happily in a cage singing their little hearts out. I realized that if a bird can do it, I can too if just for a little while.