Long before I entered the technology field, I learned how to keep moving forward without having a path to follow. I am a Black woman, an orphan, a first-generation university graduate, and the first girl from my village to attend university. I am pursuing a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science at Marquette University. Reaching this point has required courage, sacrifice, and determination. Growing up in a village, attending university was not something many girls had the opportunity to do. I did not have relatives who could guide me through higher education or show me how to build a career in STEM. As an orphan, I had to face life decisions without the emotional and financial support that many students receive from their parents. There was no parent to call when tuition was due, when I felt overwhelmed, or when I needed reassurance. I had to become my own source of motivation while holding onto the belief that education could change my life. My first degree was in the arts, so transitioning into computer science was challenging. Many of my classmates already had strong technical backgrounds, while I had to build mine from the beginning. I spent time learning programming, system administration, databases, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other areas of technology. There were moments when I questioned whether I belonged, in spaces where few people looked like me or shared my background. However, each challenge strengthened my determination. My progress has taught me that success is not determined by where a person begins but by their willingness to learn and persevere. My passion for STEM comes from its power to solve real problems and improve people’s lives. Through my coursework, I have completed projects involving healthcare technology, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and computer systems. These experiences helped me realize that technology should not only be advanced; it should also be accessible, secure, and designed around the needs of people. I am especially interested in using technology to improve services in healthcare and underserved communities. I have demonstrated service and leadership through my work as a Technical Support Assistant at Marquette University Law School. I support faculty, staff, and students when they experience classroom technology, computer, software, or connectivity problems. I also help ensure that classrooms are ready for teaching and learning. This position requires patience, responsibility, clear communication, and the ability to remain calm when others are depending on me. It has shown me that leadership is not always about holding a title. Sometimes, it means being dependable, listening carefully, and using your knowledge to help someone else succeed. Financial hardship remains the greatest obstacle between me and graduation. Without parental support, I have taken out loans to pursue my master’s degree and have balanced employment with demanding coursework. I am now approaching the finish line, but I am struggling to finance my final two credits next spring. After overcoming the barriers of poverty, loss, underrepresentation, relocation and changing careers, it is painful to know that one final financial obstacle could delay the dream I have worked so hard to achieve. Receiving the Gigabyte Award would help me pay for my remaining credits and complete my degree without taking on further financial strain. This award would help an orphan become a master’s graduate and enable the first girl from her village to establish a career in technology. I plan to use my education to create human-centered solutions and encourage other Black girls to pursue STEM. I want my journey to show them that their circumstances may shape their beginning, but they do not have to determine their future.

My understanding of mental illness changed forever when my uncle lost his life to suicide by hanging. Before his death, he had been experiencing mental health challenges, but my family did not fully understand the seriousness of what he was going through. After his death, we discovered a note in which he had written, “I can’t take this anymore.” Those few words were painful because they revealed how deeply he had been suffering, even when the people around him could not completely see or understand his pain. Losing my uncle in such a tragic way affected my entire family. We were left with grief, confusion and many unanswered questions. We wondered whether we had missed warning signs, whether he had tried to communicate his pain in ways we did not recognize and whether something could have been done to save him. His death taught us that mental illness can be silent. A person may smile, have conversations and continue with normal activities while privately fighting an emotional battle that feels impossible to overcome. In the community where I grew up, mental health was not discussed openly. Depression and other mental illnesses were often misunderstood or treated as personal weakness. People were encouraged to be strong, pray, or simply stop thinking about their problems. Although faith and family support can be valuable, I learned through my uncle’s death that mental illness may also require professional counseling, medical care, and continuous support. Telling someone to “be strong” is not always enough when that person has reached a point where life feels unbearable. My uncle’s death changed how I listen to and interact with others. I no longer assume that someone is fine simply because they appear happy or continue fulfilling their responsibilities. I try to pay attention when people withdraw, lose interest in things they once enjoyed, or begin expressing hopelessness. I have learned to ask sincere questions, listen without judgment, and take statements about suicide seriously. Sometimes a person does not need an immediate solution; they first need to know that someone sees their pain and is willing to stay beside them while they seek help. I am currently an international graduate student studying Computer and Information Science at Marquette University. Moving away from home, adjusting to another culture, managing academic pressure and dealing with personal responsibilities have helped me recognize the importance of protecting my own mental well-being. I have learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of courage and self-preservation. I cannot change what happened to my uncle, but I can choose what I do with the lesson his life and death left behind. His final words remind me that emotional pain should never be ignored until someone can no longer endure it. I want to help create a world where people can say, “I am not okay,” and receive compassion rather than judgment. By speaking openly about my family’s experience, I hope to honor my uncle’s memory, challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness, and encourage others to seek help before their pain becomes unbearable.

Growing up in a rural community in Zimbabwe, I learned the value of perseverance long before I understood what it meant. My family had limited financial resources, and many opportunities that others considered normal were out of reach for us. We did not have easy access to technology or educational resources, but my family always believed that education was the one thing that could change our future. That belief became my motivation to keep working hard, even when the road ahead seemed impossible. Coming to the United States to pursue my education was a dream come true. I still remember the excitement of knowing that I had been given an opportunity that many young people from my community only dream about. At the same time, it meant leaving behind my family, friends, and everything that was familiar. As a first-generation immigrant student, I had to adjust to a new culture, a different education system, and life far away from home. There were moments of loneliness and uncertainty, but every challenge strengthened my determination to succeed. Today, I am pursuing a graduate degree in Computer and Information Science at Marquette University. Like many international students, I am only allowed to work up to 20 hours per week on campus. While I am grateful to have a job, my earnings mainly cover my living expenses, leaving the cost of my education as a constant financial challenge. Despite these difficulties, I continue to work hard because I know that earning this degree will create opportunities not only for me but also for my family and future generations. My career aspiration is to become a software engineer who develops technology that solves real-world problems and improves people's lives. Throughout my studies, I have enjoyed building practical software solutions and learning how technology can make services more efficient and accessible. I hope to use my education to contribute to meaningful innovations while also giving back to communities with limited access to technology, especially those like the one where I grew up. Being an immigrant has shaped me into someone who does not give up easily. It has taught me resilience, adaptability, and gratitude. Every obstacle I have faced has reminded me that success is earned through persistence, not convenience. I have learned how to overcome challenges, embrace change, and remain focused on my long-term goals even when circumstances are difficult. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial assistance. It would allow me to continue my education with less financial stress and devote more time to learning, growing, and preparing for my career. More importantly, it would affirm that hard work and determination can open doors, regardless of where someone begins. I hope to honor this opportunity by building a successful career, supporting my family, and inspiring other young people from rural communities and immigrant backgrounds to believe that their dreams are possible. My journey began in a small village, but my aspirations reach far beyond it, and I am committed to making a lasting difference wherever my career takes me.

Being a first generation student means carrying the hopes of my family and community while walking a path that no one before me had the opportunity to take. I grew up in a rural village in Zimbabwe, where educational resources were limited and many people viewed higher education as an impossible dream. I became the first woman in my area to attend university and the first person in my family of ten children including five older siblings to reach university. The journey was never easy. My family struggled financially, and there were times when continuing my education seemed impossible. Because no one in my family had attended university before, many people did not fully understand the value of higher education or why I wanted to keep studying. Despite these challenges, I refused to give up. One of the people who changed my life was my female teacher. She believed in me when I doubted myself and showed me that my background did not have to determine my future. Her encouragement gave me the confidence to dream beyond the limits of my circumstances. That dream has led me to the United States, where I am pursuing a Master's degree in Computer and Information Science. Transitioning from an arts background into technology was challenging, but I embraced the opportunity to learn. Through hard work and determination, I have maintained strong academic performance and was honored with a Student of the Year award. Every achievement reminds me that perseverance can overcome obstacles. My goal is to build a career in artificial intelligence and use technology to solve real world problems, especially in underserved communities like the one where I grew up. I want to create opportunities for others by mentoring young people, particularly girls, and showing them that they, too, can pursue careers in technology regardless of where they come from. Receiving this scholarship would bring me one step closer to achieving that dream. As an international student, financing my education has been one of my greatest challenges. This scholarship would ease that burden, allowing me to focus on completing my degree as I am left with 12 credits to finish and preparing for a career where I can make a meaningful impact. My journey has taught me that success is not determined by where you begin but by the courage to keep moving forward. I hope my story encourages others to believe that even the most unlikely dreams can become reality through determination, hard work, and the support of those who believe in you.