I’ve followed Taylor’s career since the beginning, and her music has accompanied me from child to adulthood. Her self-titled debut album along with my favorite album of all time, “Speak Now” were the soundtracks to my late elementary school and middle school years. Her albums made me feel like I wasn’t alone, and I was grateful for the amazing musical outlet her music provided. In addition to getting me through many romantic ups and downs, Taylor’s music has also been a source of empowerment for me. I always feel like the release of “Reputation” is ironic because it perfectly aligned with the point of my life where I really started to discover and find myself. I graduated high school in 2015, and listened to a variety of artists leading up to my graduation. My diverse taste in musical artists was also reflected in my taste in friends. I had friend groups from all ethnicities and social groups. I will never forget how torn I felt about my passion and love for Taylor Swift’s music. When I was with my Black friends, they would relentlessly tease me, and would constantly ask questions like, “Why do you listen to that white people's music?” I began to feel ashamed about who I was and my musical taste, vowing to never listen to her in front of my friends again, but it was too late. My friends dubbed me with the nickname “White Girl ''. Of course, I played it off but inside I was deeply hurt, especially since being bi-racial meant I never knew where I fit in in the first place. As time went on I carried that hurt with me, but as I began to find my place in the real world I became more confident in myself and my ability to overcome difficult situations. In 2017 “Reputation” was released and with it a whole new understanding of myself. At this point, it had been two years since I graduated High School, and I had sustained a massive amount of personal growth in such a short period. I started junior college and started a job as a Special Education Substitute Assistant. I met lots of friends in college who liked the same things I did, and I began to realize that there were people like me who didn’t physically represent what society thinks a certain musical audience should look like. This realization was enforced when I took two days off work to attend The Eras Tour stop in Santa Clara. As I looked around the crowd people of all colors, ethnicities and genders gathered together, united by one common factor. When I left Levi’s Stadium I excitedly talked with other attendees about the amazing performance, and in doing so discovered something new. The amount of joy I felt from trading bracelets and dancing with strangers was the happiest I felt in a long time. It didn’t matter if we weren’t the same age, race, or gender, we all connected on a deeper level. The Eras Tour not only taught me to always break in my shoes before dancing for three hours, but more importantly I discovered that I am proud to be a Swiftie. I am proud of everything I’ve accomplished and who I am, including a lifelong Taylor Swift fan. The Eras tour has given me the opportunity to express who I am while allowing me to feel confident in both life and my musical preferences, and I am forever grateful for her music and tour.

At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now I am working at the Sacramento Food Bank and it’s something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as the Black Child Legacy Campaign or the Bayanihan Clinic. The Bayanihan Clinic provides accessible primary and preventative healthcare to Filipino immigrants and all diverse, underserved communities of the Greater Sacramento area, while honoring the legacy of Filipino veterans through advocacy and community engagement. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me.

For as long as I could remember, I’ve loved being in a classroom. Anything and everything that involved a teacher in a classroom I was interested in. In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to want to further my education after Highschool, and Once I graduate with my degree it will be time to focus on my career. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now I am working at the Sacramento Food Bank and it’s something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. After shadowing Terri and having spent some time learning about the Sacramento Food Bank Program, I think her position would more than fulfill my career goal. My career goal is to find a job that allows me to work with kids and families, connecting them to community resources. Once I graduate with my degree, if there's a opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

For as long as I could remember, I’ve loved being in a classroom. Anything and everything that involved a teacher in a classroom I was interested in. As a child I would do anything that allowed me involvement in my class; anything from working with my teachers to help make my classroom better, to assisting in passing out materials, to even staying in from recess to help prep with the teacher. My involvement in the classroom was so impactful that my fourth grade after school program instructor allowed me to be a teacher for a day. I was ecstatic for the opportunity to “Be the boss” for a day. I had spent my allowance on a notebook and spent a week planning how I wanted my day of power to go. When the day finally came not everything went as planned but I had a ton of fun anyways. On that day I recognized my career was meant to be a teacher, and I have been fulfilling that destiny ever since. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to want to further my education after Highschool, and Once I graduate with my degree it will be time to focus on my career. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now I am working at the Sacramento Food Bank and it’s something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. After shadowing Terri and having spent some time learning about the Sacramento Food Bank Program, I think her position would more than fulfill my career goal. My career goal is to find a job that allows me to work with kids and families, connecting them to community resources. Once I graduate with my degree, if there's a opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Wherever I end up after graduation, my objective is to never lose sight of why I went into the field. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

My experiences in educational settings were so impactful, that as a child I knew I belonged in an educational setting. I am choosing to return to school to complete my degree because in order to reach my goal, I realize that I must pursue (at least) a bachelor’s in Child Development. In addition to college education being a necessity, I believe a college education not only makes me a smarter, more conscious person, but also a better educator. After I graduated ARC with an Associate degree and Social Science Degree, I took some time off from school. My “gap time” was used not only to mentally and financially prepare myself for a University, but to also give myself the chance to decide what concentration I wanted to narrow down my major to. After a lot of thought, research, and consideration I decided to study Child Development with a concentration in Social and Community Settings. This degree is designed to help prepare students to work with children and families in a variety of settings. Once I graduate with my degree it will be time to focus on my career. At just 24 years old I have held many positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher, and a two time after school program site director. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now I am working at the Sacramento Food Bank and it’s something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. After shadowing Terri and having spent some time learning about the Sacramento Food Bank Program, I think her position would more than fulfill my career goal. My career goal is to find a job that allows me to work with kids and families, connecting them to community resources. Once I graduate with my degree if there's a opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Wherever I end up after graduation, my objective is to never lose sight of why I went into the field. I take my career very seriously and will continue doing copious amounts of research to ensure any future career will be a good fit. My ultimate career goal is to utilize my education and experience to make a difference one family at a time.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to rescoures, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.

In the fourth grade my after school teacher allowed me to take her place for the day, and it changed my life. My brief experience as a teacher in the fourth grade changed my life forever, and what would be labeled as a “defining moment” for me. My defining moment has driven me to further not only my education but my career as well. At just 24 years old I have held many leadership positions including a daycare aide, after school teacher at multiple YMCA sites, and after school program director for both the YMCA and Champions programs. I have no intentions of slowing down and plan to become a Family Specialist or Parent Educator, which would allow me to make positive impacts in children's lives on a grander scale. As of right now one of my two jobs is working at the Sacramento Food Bank. I have had the pleasure of meeting Terri, the Parent Education Coordinator, and I would love to have a job like hers when I graduate with my degree. Once I obtain my degree, if there's an opening I plan on applying for a higher position within the Food Bank or looking into similar organizations such as First Five or the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Whatever organization I work with in the future it is important to me that their end goal aligns with mine; make our community a safer and more prosperous place. One of my proudest accomplishments is the positive impact I’ve had on my community through my community service. Throughout the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering my time with multiple organizations such as Fairytale Town, Bradshaw Animal Shelter, and Front Street Animal Shelter. In addition to my past community service, in the future I also want to give back to those whose struggles are more personal to me. As a little girl whose mom was Filipino and dad was Black I struggled with my bi-racial identity. My peers would tease me, and would ask me why isn't my hair pretty (long and straight) like my moms. I don’t want the next generation to have the same struggles as I did. It’s taken me years to learn how to love myself and it’s disheartening to think of how children of the upcoming generation might go through the same thing. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have chosen to use my experiences as motivation to give back to my community and give them the tools they need to be strong academically, physically, and mentally. In 3-5 years down the line I would love to have a career connecting families to resources, especially African American families. I would also like to create or co-run a program that boosts children's self confidence and pride in their heritage, especially those who are bi-racial. I wish as a child there was a program like that for me. To conclude, I have been committed to educating the next generation, and continue to educate myself so I can do great things in the future for them. All of my professional experience has allowed me to become more integrated in my community, and I want to do more for those who are underrepresented and overlooked. Based on my financial situation, I am grateful for the opportunity that scholarships, such as this one, are available for students like me. I know that the financial relief this scholarship will help provide will allow me to concentrate on what matters, my education. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and the time taken to evaluate my application.