As a person driven by compassion, creativity, and resilience, my values play a pivotal role in shaping my career aspirations, particularly in business. These values not only define who I am but also guide my actions and decisions, influencing the impact I aim to have on individuals and organizations. I am currently double majoring in finance and legal studies. I have always thought of myself as a compassionate person. I understand the value of empathy and understanding, especially when it comes to mental health. With compassion guiding how I carry myself, it allows me to contribute to the well-being of the people around me, and to be a source of support and comfort. With the business sector being very stressful, it is important to prioritize mental health. I often find myself very stressed and anxious when it comes to important things in my life, so I find it very important to carry myself with compassion because you never know what someone else is going through. By fostering a culture of compassion, I aim to create an environment where individuals feel supported, both personally and professionally. This approach, I believe, not only enhances the overall work experience but also contributes to increased productivity and satisfaction among team members. Creativity is another cornerstone of my values, serving as a catalyst for innovation and problem-solving. I see creativity as a means to explore alternative therapeutic approaches and provide an outlet to express oneself in some otherwise rigid roles in business. Additionally, I hope to go into Wealth Management or Investment Banking. These roles carry a lot of weight and require a lot of analytical thinking; however, I am drawn to using my creativity to find innovative solutions to complex challenges. I believe that a creative approach not only differentiates a business from its competitors but also fosters an environment where continuous improvement is the norm. Resilience is the third pillar of my values, representing my unwavering commitment to overcoming obstacles. In times when my mental health is not very strong, I find it difficult to persevere; however, more often than not, when I am resilient the results are better than I had ever expected. In the business arena, resilience is the driving force behind my ability to adapt to changing circumstances. I understand that setbacks are inevitable, but my resilience ensures that I view challenges as opportunities for growth. This mindset enables me to lead teams through uncertainty, steering businesses toward sustainable success. Additionally, I have been taught from a very young age that when things do not go your way it is only a test of your resilience and a redirection to a new and better path, In conclusion, my values of compassion, creativity, and resilience form the foundation of my aspirations in the business field. Whether supporting individuals on their mental health journeys or steering businesses toward innovation and growth, these values serve as a compass, guiding me toward making a positive impact on both individuals and the broader community.

In my local community of Miami, I have identified a promising business opportunity that aligns with my passion for matcha and addresses a gap in the market. I envision establishing a small food cart specializing in premium specialty matcha beverages. This venture not only caters to my personal preference for high-quality matcha but also meets the demand for such beverages, which is currently limited in Miami, especially at specialized establishments. The primary focus of this business would be to offer a diverse menu of premium specialty matcha beverages. The food cart would be strategically located near my university to cater to the student population. Additionally, I plan to set up pop-up locations at gyms, hotels, activewear stores, and other places around Miami where health-conscious individuals and matcha enthusiasts are likely to frequent. My matcha business would contribute to the general welfare of the local community in several ways. Firstly, it addresses a gap in the market by providing a dedicated and accessible source of premium matcha beverages. Residents and students, in particular, would benefit from having a convenient option for satisfying their matcha cravings, especially because most of the cafes that currently offer matcha beverages primarily use premade matcha beverage mixes to keep profit margins very high. Additionally, the business aims to create a positive impact on local businesses and establishments through pop-up collaborations. By partnering with gyms, hotels, and activewear stores, the matcha cart can enhance the overall experience for their customers, contributing to the success of these businesses, and creating a connection with our community. Furthermore, the emphasis on sourcing high-quality ingredients and potentially incorporating sustainability initiatives, such as eco-friendly packaging, aligns with the growing trend of environmentally conscious consumerism. This not only enhances the overall image of the business but also contributes to the community's well-being by promoting sustainable practices. In terms of the development of my business, I would first begin with the most important step in my opinion which is market research. This has been my dream for the past 6 months, so I have already begun doing my research to understand the demand for matcha beverages in Miami as well as identify target demographics, competitors, and optimal locations for the food cart and pop-up events. The next step would be to develop the menu. I would like to offer thoughtfully crafted drinks that are unique such as a honey matcha with honey cold foam, rose matcha, black sesame cream matcha, and a signature coconut milk matcha with whipped coconut cream. Another step would be to establish relationships with reputable suppliers to source high-quality matcha powder. The emphasis on premium ingredients will differentiate the business and attract customers seeking a top-notch matcha experience. As well as ensuring compliance with all necessary licenses and permits required to operate a food cart in Miami. This includes health permits and business licenses. The next crucial part in developing the business would be to explore collaborations with gyms, hotels, and activewear stores for pop-up events. Building partnerships that mutually benefit both the matcha business and the host establishments. Lastly, Implementing a diversified marketing strategy using social media platforms to create awareness, engage with the target audience, and announce pop-up locations and promotions is vital to the success of any business in the food industry. By developing a specialty matcha food cart with a strategic approach, this business has the potential to not only meet the demands of the local community but also positively contribute to the general welfare by enhancing accessibility to premium matcha beverages and fostering collaborations with other local establishments.

My Muslim identity has significantly influenced my academic and career goals in numerous ways. I'm about to begin my second year at the University of Miami, and to be honest, my faith (iman) was quite low. While I would observe Ramadan and adhere to the rules, I didn't find myself yearning to pray to Allah SWT, as I felt that there wasn't much of a difference. Halfway through my first year, I not only realized but also understood the importance of having religious faith. There were many moments of stress, anxiety, and fear of not performing well during my freshman year; however, I started to recognize that if you seek Allah's help, He will guide you towards what is right for you. With this philosophy in mind, I was able to excel in my classes and began to trust more in my ability to succeed in my future career. My majors consist of a BSBA in Finance and Business Analytics, which is a highly competitive and uncertain sector. Nevertheless, I continued to apply myself in my classes and clubs with the guidance of Allah SWT, and soon found myself performing much better in my classes, and more confident in my strength. Everytime that I would be worried or anxious about my grades etc.., I would call my mother and subhanallah all of my worries would simply melt away and I would almost regain my consciousness towards what I needed to do. This relies on a core Islamic value which in my Moroccan culutre we call " Redaa al Walidaayn" which means that your parents satisfaction and love for you can help you overcome much harship. So, using my Muslim identity as a core way of living my life, I want to be able to be successful and excel in my career so that I can take care of my family, and my community. I aspire to do what is right, to make myself proud of who I am, and ultimately, to become a kind, generous, and compassionate leader. This scholarship would be of tremendous assistance in achieving that goal, as unfortunately, University expenses can be quite burdensome. The additional support would relieve some of the financial burden on my family and me. I often have a lot of anxiety relating to the cost of school, so being able to have some of that worry lifted will help me focus more on what is important to me in my life to be successful with the help of Allah SWT.

“What do you want to study? Where do you want to work?” From the moment that I could speak, adults have been asking me these questions. The issue that resides is that I give a different answer each time, especially as I’m exposed to new fields of study. For example, while I have spent a great majority of my education focusing on the biomedical field, I recently became captivated by the study of economics after researching healthcare economics while working on my FBLA project. This prompted me to join my first macroeconomics class this semester. While the class was difficult, I was immediately captivated. I knew that I wanted to learn more about the study of economics and finance. Throughout school, we are often taught to yearn for stability. We were taught that a paragraph was 5-6 sentences. We were taught to balance chemical equations. We were taught to look for symmetry. After years of mindless memorization, I was fatigued. When I was first exposed to the study of economics, the field presented a breath of fresh air, and I was mesmerized by the methods of learning. I felt that I was finally learning to learn. Rather than being reliant on straight memorization, economics required prolonged analysis and real-world application, while implementing concepts from other fields such as philosophy and physics. There is a risk factor in economics that manufactures a certain dynamism, which excites me as a learner. I think that female representation in the field of Finance is direly needed. As a young woman, I hope to be able to break through the impermeability of the financial sector, which is so dominated by men. Looking back on the classes that I took such as Macroeconomics, Business Calculus, Statistics, and Microeconomics; these subjects are so interconnected which allows versatility in the field. For example, recently I became captivated with the world of cryptocurrency. I think that the creators of these cryptocurrencies understand the need for change within ancient systems. Creating a decentralized form of banking allows for increased security and privacy which is a revolutionary change within the banking world that is increasing efficiency. I think that the same principle applies to females in the Finance sector as these old stereotypes of the ideal investment banker or broker is extremely outdated. By changing the composition of the field to include more females we are accepting change to optimize the field . I hope to be able to take my interest in Finance and Tech and use my strengths as a powerful young woman to make changes that will revolutionize the systems that we use every day.