Education is only the beginning of my collegiate journey. I expect to receive my bachelor’s degree, but what I am really looking to gain is practical experience in my field of study, critical thinking skills to be able to overcome relative challenges, and advanced understanding of what is expected to come in professional field. I aim to walk in excellence and be a leader on my campus and professional industry. To reach my goals, I must exercise discipline and persistence daily as I am constantly challenged in my efforts due to my diagnoses of having Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Excellence is a daily practice. I strive hourly and daily to be at my best in the classroom, in the community and when I am in the eye of public. Although I am not perfect, I learn from my shortcomings and try not to repeat the same mistakes. I try to speak with confidence and humility, as well as hear the perspective of others when I am in their presence. I try to portray an image of maturity when I am with others but allow myself to soak up the wisdom of those who have gone before me. In my efforts to pursue excellence, I have made it a point to work on time management and organizational skills. Keeping people in my circle that understand my challenges has helped to keep me on task and aware of upcoming deadlines. Technology can often be a distraction, but I have found ways to use it to keep me prepared, engaged and more importantly on time. Education is important, whether is it is book knowledge or practical knowledge. Understanding one’s situation, surroundings and opportunities allows one to make the best decision. Once, I have learned something, I try to impart that wisdom into my friends, my family, or someone that I feel could benefit from the knowledge. The reason I decided to seek higher education is because I want to be a leader within the graphic design community. Anyone can have a career in the field, but I want to be an industry leader. I want to innovate and solve problems that advances the industry to new heights and create opportunities for employment and creation. That comes with practical experience and understanding. Therefore, during my time in college, I will make sure to strike the right balance of studying, working and fun. That balance will be vital to allow me to absorb what is being taught, to practice what I learned and to have general interaction with other students. This balance is also key for my daily routine in my efforts to find success through ADHD. Being diagnosed with ADHD when I was elementary school was confusing. I maintained excellent grades, but I found myself always getting in trouble from talking to others, not being focused on the task at hand or general mischief. My pediatrician and parents all talked to me about the diagnosis, and they worked to find a medicine that would work for me. In doing so, I lost my appetite, I felt sluggish and uninterested in what once gave me excitement and joy. I began to dislike school and even more started to sabotage my schooling by not taking notes, not using a calendar, and waiting until the last minute to do assignments. It was not until my last couple years of high school that I decided to make better decisions and not let the diagnosis define me. Now, I am a High School graduate attending my dream college pursuing my degree and my dreams. I will succeed.

Computer coding offers a world that allows digital creation through formulas, math and unlimited creativity. The computer game Minecraft was the Christmas gift that opened my mind and decided my future. Minecraft had me doing research and taking notes on how to create needed items, build massive monuments and towers. Adding to that the ability design custom worlds and overcome game rules by making mods, I fell in love with the power to create, design and alter programs with my own fingertips. I found myself making friends with other gamers around the world sharing insight about mods and coding. Minecraft opened the possibilities that a computer is a gateway to creation and information. Throughout my High School years, I have dreamed about being an entrepreneur and building a lasting business. My sophomore year I took what I learned from my business classes and my family and started my own Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). My LLC focuses on graphic design and digital creation. This all stemmed from my hours of creative play and research into the coding world of Minecraft. My company thrived through high school allowing me to choose if I wanted to work a traditional part time job. Having success with my company allowed me to enjoy school and classes even more, which allowed me to achieve a 3.51 GPA (even through all the shut down and virtual learning hurdles). Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful built their legacies. I have a passion for graphic design, and I know that expanding my opportunities with a higher education will be beneficial to my professional career. It was because of my interest in coding and interest in the digital creation that I decided to pursuit computer and graphic design courses. Ever since my first class studying and using Adobe, I have continued to take Career and Technical Education courses to learn more about technology and art. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses in college will enhance my skills and make me more marketable when I expand my business into designing streetwear. Coding engaged me with opportunities to develop problem-solving techniques by navigating obstacles, as well as gaining critical thinking skills by having to react quickly and efficiently to solve live problems and determine quick work arounds. I found myself using YouTube and other various tools to learn more about a particular issue. I was driven to solve problem and overcome various obstacles. I become more confident in my ability to code to open digital doors to various programs, to change the "rules" within a program to fit my own wishes, and even more to redesign computer programs and applications to fit my needs. Once the light comes on from coding, the computer world becomes enormous. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education with the support of your Scholarship will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community.

Campus life in urban city with cutting edge technology and a variety of cultural history excites me. I am looking forward to being in an environment with other students that want to challenge the status quo as well as engage in educational and professional growth. I know that higher education is the place for me and that I must maintain a balance of physical and mental health in cooperation with the mental exercises that will take place during my undergraduate years. To reach my goals in the classroom, I plan to engage in continual efforts to maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul. My decision to attend a Historically Black College and University was based in part on my effort to maintain peace in my mind. Most of family have attended and received degrees from HBCU’s from all over the country. The confidence they consistently show along with the continued success they have experienced makes me believe that I can have the same success. It is also important to me to be at a university where the culture speaks to me. I plan to join various student organizations which will allow me to interact with other students and challenge me reach mutual goals with fellow students. I also look forward to the student life that only a HBCU can give (Homecoming)! For me to succeed and eventually help others, I knew that the culture and network of an HBCU would be the best and most affordable option. I have to admit that I am somewhat self-conscious about my appearance and how I look. Throughout high school I remained healthy and active, and I plan to continue that in college. I enjoy sports and being active, and I am lucky that where I will be attending college there are several locations to try new and exciting adventures such as white-water rafting, sporting events, museums, concerts, rope-courses, and festivals. I have already made plans to attend various events and learn more about issues that I have a curiosity about. My goal will be to maintain an active lifestyle that allows my body to remain healthy. These steps along a gym routine and healthy eating should keep me energized to continue learning and enhancing my skills during college. Lastly, I will be feeding my soul daily. My reading, mediation, and prayer will continue from what was instilled in me from my family. I have always been active in church activities and will continue to be so. The comfort of reading encouraging passages from various sources and finding ways to apply the author’s wisdom and practices are an important tool in keeping my soul aligned with my goals and purpose. There will be test and challenges that want to pull me away, but I will make every effort to put routines in place to continue to fill my soul with inspiration and faith. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education, with the support of your Scholarship will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male allowing me to help others along the way, but to do this successfully, I understand my balance of a healthy mind, body and soul are key.

Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how to create, share and maintain success. My passion is in graphic design, and I know that higher education is the place for me to learn more about that field and improve all aspects of my professionalism, business acumen and technical understanding of career choice. In ninth grade, I took my first course pertaining to graphic design and started using the basics of Photoshop. Since that class, I have taken Career and Technical Education courses to improve my skills in technology and art. Furthermore, I started my own graphic design company and have been successfully providing graphic design products for local and mainstream clients for over 2 years. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses will improve my understanding and techniques, allowing me to become more marketable as I continue to expand my business. My growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations, and social groups. I am a proud brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter, which I joined Spring of 2020. A lot of African American males in my community are often easily influenced to choose the wrong path, and for several of us, joining Theta has changed our lives for the better. With the support of my Theta brothers, school staff and of course my family, I grew a desire to improve my education, raise my goals and dreams. I plan to continue to stay involved with my community by coming back to my community and high school to share my journey and the many opportunities of success available. At this time, my current goal is to find ways to make college affordable to allow me to focus on education rather than the financial burden it imposes. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, and energy to help me achieve my dreams. They have both sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education is a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They have shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can continue my education without taking on crippling debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. I know I will be successful and that I will reach my dreams, hopefully with your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. With the support of this scholarship, I will have greater opportunities to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. This will also give me opportunity for professional, educational, and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is a lasting opportunity to allow me to positively impact my community by showing other young men how they can achieve their dreams.

Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful built their legacies. I have a passion for computer science and graphic design, and I am committed to pursuing these fields and expanding my business, which I started my sophomore year. Ever since I took my first Career and Technical Education courses, I began to become enamored with computer science and graphics wanting to learn more about technology and art. I still use Adobe Suite to make logos, flyers, album covers and more as a hobby. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses within the walls of higher education will enhance my skills and make me more marketable when I expand my business into designing streetwear. During my sophomore year I had the opportunity to start my on company that allowed me to earn income while practicing computer technical skills and graphic design. Taking what I learned at school and using independent research through tools such as Google, YouTube and Stitch my skills increased and I was able to grow my brand. I have been hired by artist, musicians, private business owners and more to provide services and product for their business and or private needs. Through all this, I have come to realize that there are many opportunities for me to find success without higher education, however, with stated education and opportunity to engage and learn with other like minded individuals, the options are limitless. I am now pursuing mental and professional growth along with the ability to provide even better quality of service to clients. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, energy, and love to help me reach my dreams. And yes, my parents have sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education becomes a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can go to college without taking on crippling and lasting debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. As I stated before, I know I will be successful. I will reach my dreams, and I hope to reach them with your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education with the support of your scholarship opportunity, will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male allowing me to help others along the way.

Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how to create, share and maintain success. My passion is in graphic design, and I know that Johnson C. Smith University is the place for me to learn more about that field. In ninth grade, I took my first course pertaining to graphic design and started using the basics of Photoshop. Since that class, I have taken Career and Technical Education courses to improve my skills in technology and art. Furthermore, I started my own graphic design company and have been successfully providing graphic design products for local and mainstream clients for over 2 years. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses will improve my understanding and techniques, allowing me to become more marketable as I continue to expand my business. My growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations, and social groups. I am a proud brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter, which I joined Spring of 2020. Through brotherhood and scholarship I developed strong leadership and communication skills. With those skills, I held various leadership positions in my fraternity and became a spokesperson for my graduating class by coordinating community events and fundraisers. With the support of my Theta brothers, school staff and of course my family, I grew a desire to improve my education, raise my goals and dreams. Now, my current goal is to find ways to make college affordable. Knowledge is important, whether is it is book knowledge or street knowledge. Once, I have learned something, I try to impart that wisdom into my friends, my cousins, or someone that I feel could benefit from the knowledge. At fourteen years old I decided to start my own company and I have been profitable every month since. During my sophomore year I began chasing my dream by filing for an LLC. Since then, I have used the skills that I gained to pursuit opportunities in graphic design and other entrepreneurial endeavors. With my success I have been able to teach others and provide legal part-time income for friends. Even more, I have helped friends and family members start their own companies and establish lasting multiple streams of income for themselves. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, and energy to help me achieve my dreams. They have both sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education is a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They have shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can continue my education without taking on crippling debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. I know I will be successful and that I will reach my dreams, hopefully with your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. With the support of your generous scholarship, I will have greater opportunities to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. This will also give me opportunity for professional, educational, and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is a lasting opportunity to allow me to positively impact my community by showing other young men how they can achieve their dreams.

Throughout my High School years, I have dreamed about being an entrepreneur and building a lasting business. I want success so much that I took what I learned from my business classes and my family and started my own Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and began running my own business my sophomore year. Not only did I start my business, but it has also grown and been profitable enough that I have not had to work a traditional part time job. I am confident that I will be successful, but I also understand that having a higher education can improve my skill set, allow me to become more well-rounded, as well as open more doors for me and those behind me. I try to thrive inside and outside the classroom. So far, I have been successful with maintaining a 3.51 GPA (even through all the shut down and virtual learning hurdles). Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful built their legacies. I have a passion for graphic design, and I know that Johnson C. Smith University is the place for me to learn more about that field. I took my first course pertaining to graphic design in 9th grade, at Hillside High School, using the basics of Photoshop. Ever since that class, I have taken Career and Technical Education courses to learn more about technology and art. I still use Adobe Suite to make logos, flyers, album covers and more as a hobby. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses at Johnson C. Smith will enhance my skills and make me more marketable when I expand my business into designing streetwear. My goal is to bring my client’s visions to life. I also want to make affordable clothing for people who want a “designer” look without having to spend “designer” money. In today’s market, one style is not for everyone. While having a variety of styles, you have to also offer quality while making sure your price meets the demand of your market. I also know personally, a lot of other people are like me and want clothes that don’t look cheap but aren’t so marked up. My decision to attend Johnson C. Smith, a Historically Black College and University came naturally. Most of family have attended and received degrees from HBCU’s from all over the country. The confidence they consistently show along with the continued success they have experienced makes me believe that I can have the same success. It is also important to me to be at a university where the culture speaks to me. I want to be in a place where I am in classes and with students who look like me. I also look forward to the student life that only a HBCU can give (Homecoming)! HBCU’s have thrived and developed some of the strongest networking opportunities. For me to succeed and eventually help others, I knew that the culture and network of an HBCU would be the best and most affordable option. A lot of my growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations and social groups. I am currently a brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter. I joined this organization in Spring of 2020, and I currently hold the leadership position of Treasurer. Theta Phi Psi is a brotherhood and community service organization. We serve our community as well as our school. I have helped to organize, plan and participate in community functions such as serving at nursing homes, feeding the homeless, cooking and preparing food for families at the Ronald McDonald house, as well as various community cleanup efforts and mentorship programs. We love to give back to our community. A lot of African American males at my school are often easily influenced to go down a bad path, and for a lot of us joining Theta has changed our life for the better. Our advisor helps us every day to help us become better men in our society. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, energy and love to help me reach my dreams. And yes, my parents have sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education becomes a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can go to college without taking on crippling and lasting debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. As I stated before, I know I will be successful. I will reach my dreams, and I hope to reach them your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education, with the support of the Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male allowing me to help others along the way.

My community is large is population, however it grew infinitely smaller while dealing with COVID-19 and trying to survive the plague that stopped the world. During this time students in my community and all over the world face challenges of just attending class, let alone leaving a positive impact in our community that we never saw. What I learned during this stressful time was that I can help my community best by striving for excellence in all that I do and to look for opportunities to educate and assist others, while continuing to learn myself. Excellence is a continued practice in all areas of life. I strive hourly, daily, and weekly to be at my best in the classroom, in the community and when I am in the eye of public. I am not saying I am perfect or that I don’t make mistakes, however, I am saying I learn from my shortcomings and try not to repeat the same mistakes or similar ones. I try to speak with confidence and humility. I try to hear the perspective of others when I am in their presence. I try to portray an image of maturity when I am with others but allow myself to soak up the wisdom of those who have gone before me. In my efforts to pursuit excellence, I have made it a point to touch the lives of other young black men who have not been as fortunate as me to be raised by 2 black educated parents who both bring in an income. I have taken on mentorship roles, tutoring assignments and done things as simple as being a friend to those who needed a friend. I engaged in conversations with those who were bullied and tried to bring understanding to those who did the bullying. Education is important, whether is it is book knowledge or street knowledge. Understanding the situation and times allows one to make the best decision, even though at times it may not be the right decision. Once, I have learned something, I try to impart that wisdom into my friends, my cousins, or someone that I feel could benefit from the knowledge. Social justice will not happen from just my actions, it must be living thing that is poured into and nurtured by the many. I have always thought I should share what I know, even though at times it has gotten me in trouble. I have taken my experiences and given others’ ideas and opportunities. One specific example is after I started my Limited Liability Company. I found ways to receive income while doing something I love. I took that my experience and shared with friends and family, and in turn some of them started their own LLC’s and/or worked with me to build my brand. It was great feeling to see people follow my advice and benefit from it monetarily. I don’t have any national awareness events or community activist programs that have touched thousands. What I have done is taken what I have experienced and learned and made available for others that I could impact and help. For over 2 years of my high school career, the class of 2022 has been dealing with COVID-19 and overcoming almost insurmountable challenges of learning remotely. Being limited with contact, with job opportunities and social interactions became a daily strain for many of us. With these challenges, many of us excelled to new heights as well as impacted those around us for the better.

Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful built their legacies. I have a passion for graphic design, and I know that Johnson C. Smith University is the place for me to learn more about that field. I took my first course pertaining to graphic design in 9th grade, at Hillside High School, using the basics of Photoshop. Ever since that class, I have taken Career and Technical Education courses to learn more about technology and art. I still use Adobe Suite to make logos, flyers, album covers and more as a hobby. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses at Johnson C. Smith will enhance my skills and make me more marketable when I expand my business into designing streetwear. My growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations, and social groups. I am currently a brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter. I joined this organization in Spring of 2020, and I currently hold the leadership position of Treasurer. Theta Phi Psi is a brotherhood and community service organization. We serve our community as well as our school. I have helped to organize, plan, and participate in community functions such as serving at nursing homes, feeding the homeless, cooking and preparing food for families at the Ronald McDonald house, as well as various community cleanup efforts and mentorship programs. A lot of African American males at my school are often easily influenced to go down a bad path, and for a lot of us joining Theta has changed our life for the better. Our advisor helps us every day to help us become better men in our society. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, energy, and love to help me reach my dreams. And yes, my parents have sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education becomes a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can go to college without taking on crippling and lasting debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. As I stated before, I know I will be successful. I will reach my dreams, and I hope to reach them your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education with the support of this great scholarship opportunity, will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male allowing me to help others along the way.

Throughout my High School years, I have dreamed about being an entrepreneur and building a lasting business. My sophomore year I took what I learned from my business classes and my family and started my own Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). My LLC focused on graphic design, where I create not only avatars for gamers, but album covers, digital graphics, video clips, commercials and graphic arts for clients and/or their business. This all stemmed from my hours of creative play and research into the coding world of Minecraft. Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how successful people like Markus Pearson created and grew the Minecraft empire. I have a passion for graphic design, and I know that expanding my opportunities with a higher education will be beneficial to my professional career. It was because of Minecraft and games like Minecraft that I decided to pursuit computer and graphic design courses in 9th grade, at Hillside High School. Minecraft offers engaging opportunities to learn no matter what level of experience a person has. A person develops problem-solving techniques by navigating obstacles, as well as gaining critical thinking skills by having to react quickly and efficiently to solve in game problems. Furthermore, Minecraft encourages research on how to create and build. I found myself using YouTube and other various tools to learn more about a particular issue. I was driven to solve problem and overcome some in game obstacle. Lastly and most importantly Minecraft encourages math and coding. Minecraft’s ability to be customized and adding mods allows the game to change in an instance. Learning basic and advance coding using Java code fixated me on what I could do with a computer. Once the light comes on from coding, the computer world becomes enormous.

Throughout my High School years, I have dreamed about being an entrepreneur and building a lasting business. My sophomore year I took what I learned from my business classes and my family and started my own Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). My LLC focused on graphic design, where I created not only avatars for gamers, but album covers, digital graphics, video clips, commercials and graphic arts for clients and/or their business. This all stemmed from my hours of creative play and research into YouTube vloggers and video game content creators. My company, Obsidian, LLC thrived through high school allowing me to choose if I wanted to work a traditional part time job. Having success with my company allowed me to enjoy school and classes even more, which allowed me to achieve a 3.51 GPA (even through all the shut down and virtual learning hurdles). Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful individuals like Markus Persson came to create and grow an empire from a simple game like Minecraft. My passion for graphic design, digital arts and videography have only grown through the years because I spend hours researching tools and techniques, practicing my skills with pro bono work for friends and families, and challenging myself to meet professional standards. To enhance my abilities to market standards I continue to challenge my problem-solving techniques by practicing overcoming obstacles such as giving myself artificial deadlines or new rubrics to meet. This allows me to challenge myself and not become settled in what I do know. I constantly research on new techniques, market trends, up and coming video game creators, top graphic designers and the differences with technology available.

Value can be measured in many ways. I have always been told by my family, that "I have value," "Don't let your value decrease,” or "Your values is what makes you stand out." Those statements have stuck with me and ended up being daily mantras that motivated me to exceed by exemplifying the practice of continuing to strive for excellence in all parts of my life. Whether it is schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, household chores or reading to my younger cousins, I strive to be excellent in what I do. Excellence is a continued practice in all areas of life. I strive hourly, daily, and weekly to be at my best in the classroom, in the community and when I am in the eye of public. I am not saying I am perfect or that I don’t make mistakes, however, I am saying I learn from my shortcomings and try not to repeat the same mistakes or similar ones. I try to speak with confidence and humility. I try to hear the perspective of others when I am in their presence. I try to portray an image of maturity when I am with others but allow myself to soak up the wisdom of those who have gone before me. Many people strive to be perfect, and that is ok. I strive to perfect my decision making and critical thinking so that I can be best that I can be. My father told me, there will never be a perfect person, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't continue to better yourself and perfect what you can. His wisdom helped me to understand that I may fail, however, I have the decision to get up, do it again, and be better.

My community is large is population, however it grew infinitely smaller while dealing with COVID-19 and trying to survive the plague that stopped the world. During this time students in my community and all over the world face challenges of just attending class, let alone leaving a positive impact in our community that we never saw. What I learned during this stressful time was that I can help my community best by striving for excellence in all that I do and to look for opportunities to educate and assist others, while continuing to learn myself. Excellence is a continued practice in all areas of life. I strive hourly, daily, and weekly to be at my best in the classroom, in the community and when I am in the eye of public. I am not saying I am perfect or that I don’t make mistakes, however, I am saying I learn from my shortcomings and try not to repeat the same mistakes or similar ones. I try to speak with confidence and humility. I try to hear the perspective of others when I am in their presence. I try to portray an image of maturity when I am with others but allow myself to soak up the wisdom of those who have gone before me. In my efforts to pursuit excellence, I have made it a point to touch the lives of other young black men who have not been as fortunate as me to be raised by 2 black educated parents who both bring in an income. I have taken on mentorship roles, tutoring assignments and done things as simple as being a friend to those who needed a friend. I engaged in conversations with those who were bullied and tried to bring understanding to those who did the bullying. Education is important, whether is it is book knowledge or street knowledge. Understanding the situation and times allows one to make the best decision, even though at times it may not be the right decision. Once, I have learned something, I try to impart that wisdom into my friends, my cousins, or someone that I feel could benefit from the knowledge. Social justice will not happen from just my actions, it must be living thing that is poured into and nurtured by the many. I have always thought I should share what I know, even though at times it has gotten me in trouble. I have taken my experiences and given others’ ideas and opportunities. One specific example is after I started my Limited Liability Company. I found ways to receive income while doing something I love. I took that my experience and shared with friends and family, and in turn some of them started their own LLC’s and/or worked with me to build my brand. It was great feeling to see people follow my advice and benefit from it monetarily. I don’t have any national awareness events or community activist programs that have touched thousands. What I have done is taken what I have experienced and learned and made available for others that I could impact and help. For over 2 years of my high school career, the class of 2022 has been dealing with COVID-19 and overcoming almost insurmountable challenges of learning remotely. Being limited with contact, with job opportunities and social interactions became a daily strain for many of us. With these challenges, many of us excelled to new heights as well as impacted those around us for the better.

Sometimes movement cannot be seen by the naked eye. Movement of an object can be so subtle that it cannot be perceived, but there is movement none-the-less. This is my experience with the social justice movement over the past couple years. Stemming from the eight years of President Barak Obama to the needed and often violent Black Lives Matter movement, there is a growing under current within many communities to see people of color overcome deep-rooted racial prejudice. I am limited in my perspective of social justice, racial inequity, and social reform but I have been able to have discussions about these issues with family, friends, and school staff. I had the privilege to attend a majority black High School in Durham, North Carolina. During school, we discussed issues such as racial profiling, police brutality and mass incarceration. In these discussions we talked about the images that portrayed of people of color, and our roles in those images. What I learned from these conversations is that I must 1) strive for excellence in all that I do, 2) be mindful of the fact that I am always being watched and judged, and 3) look for opportunities to educate and assist others, while continuing to learn myself. Excellence is a continued practice in all areas of life. I strive hourly, daily, and weekly to be at my best in the classroom, in the community and when I am in the eye of public. I am not saying I am perfect or that I don’t make mistakes, however, I am saying I learn from my shortcomings and try not to repeat the same mistakes or similar ones. I try to speak with confidence and humility. I try to hear the perspective of others when I am in their presence. I try to portray an image of maturity when I am with others but allow myself to soak up the wisdom of those who have gone before me. Understanding that we are always being watched and judged bothers me. I do not fit in anyone’s hypothetical box of a teenager, black man, or person. However, I am learning that this is societies method of measuring a person’s capabilities, whether it is fair or not. Knowing that I am being monitored in such a way, I must remind myself that I can’t always be silly and cut jokes. My friends and I have learned that unnecessary attention can lead to legal and judicial ramifications. Even the slightest move that looks like a threat can trigger a person that could lead to my or other lives being endangered. Therefore, I must compose myself and act accordingly to my surroundings. Education is important, whether is it is book knowledge or street knowledge. Understanding the situation and times allows one to make the best decision, even though at times it may not be the right decision. Once, I have learned something, I try to impart that wisdom into my friends, my cousins, or someone that I feel could benefit from the knowledge. Social justice will not happen from just my actions, it must be living thing that is poured into and nurtured by the many. As I continue to learn, I will pass that information on. This may not be typical radical social justice movement someone wants to see, but this is how the social justice movement that has inspired me and allowed me to grow. It has awoken my understanding of my capabilities and what I can bring to my community. Social Justice will not end with me, but it does start within me.

At 14 years old I decided to start my own company. I used YouTube, my family and my computer and filed for my own Limited Liability Company. I have been profitable every month since. During my sophomore year I began chasing my dream by filing for an LLC. Since then, I have used the skills that I gained from CTE courses (as well as trial and error) to create and sell logos, album covers and digital graphics. The experiences of starting my own company and creating my clients vision excites me. I am now motivated to learn more so that I can continue to deliver higher quality results and expand into other areas of Computer Technology and Information Technology. My personal growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations and social groups. I am currently a brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter. Theta Phi Psi is a brotherhood and community service organization. We serve our community as well as our school. I have helped to organize, plan, and participate in community functions such as serving at nursing homes, feeding the homeless, cooking and preparing food for families at the Ronald McDonald house, as well as various community cleanup efforts and mentorship programs. We love to give back to our community. A lot of African American males at my school are often easily influenced to go down a bad path, and for a lot of us joining Theta has changed our life for the better. I see my educational opportunity as an opportunity to come back to my community and show others that opportunities for success can be found. College was not always my path. I wanted success and independence and I didn’t believe college could do anything for me. It was my belief that college was scam and that only crazy people paid to go to school when they could be making money. Up until my junior year, I was adamant that college wasn’t for me and that I had the tools to build my own empire. I knew I could be successful without college, but over the past couple years, I have realized that College is chance to set a solid foundation and even more, a launching pad to untapped resources when used correctly. My story can lift someone else. My story can change another student’s perspective. My journey might be what someone else needs to see motivates them through their doubts. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, energy, and love to help me reach my dreams. And yes, my parents have sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education becomes a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can go to college without taking on crippling and lasting debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded and with the support of the Stephan L. Daniels Lift As We Climb Scholarship, I will have the chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also allow me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male. Help me help others.

Throughout my High School years, I have dreamed about being an entrepreneur and building a lasting business. I want success so much that I took what I learned from my business classes and my family and started my own Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and began running my own business my sophomore year. Not only did I start my business, but it has also grown and been profitable enough that I have not had to work a traditional part time job. I am confident that I will be successful, but I also understand that having a higher education can improve my skill set, allow me to become more well-rounded, as well as open more doors for me and those behind me. I try to thrive inside and outside the classroom. So far I have been successful with maintaining a 3.51 GPA (even through all the shut down and virtual learning hurdles). Higher education has become important to me because I want to learn how the successful built their legacies. I have a passion for graphic design, and I know that Johnson C. Smith University is the place for me to learn more about that field. I took my first course pertaining to graphic design in 9th grade, at Hillside High School, using the basics of Photoshop. Ever since that class, I have taken Career and Technical Education courses to learn more about technology and art. I still use Adobe Suite to make logos, flyers, album covers and more as a hobby. The opportunity to take more challenging educational courses at Johnson C. Smith will enhance my skills and make me more marketable when I expand my business into designing streetwear. My goal is to bring my client’s visions to life. I also want to make affordable clothing for people who want a “designer” look without having to spend “designer” money. In today’s market, one style is not for everyone. While having a variety of styles, you have to also offer quality while making sure your price meets the demand of your market. I also know personally, a lot of other people are like me and want clothes that don’t look cheap but aren’t so marked up. My decision to attend Johnson C. Smith, a Historically Black College and University came naturally. Most of family have attended and received degrees from HBCU’s from all over the country. The confidence they consistently show along with the continued success they have experienced makes me believe that I can have the same success. It is also important to me to be at a university where the culture speaks to me. I want to be in a place where I am in classes and with students who look like me. I also look forward to the student life that only a HBCU can give (Homecoming)! HBCU’s have thrived and developed some of the strongest networking opportunities. For me to succeed and eventually help others, I knew that the culture and network of an HBCU would be the best and most affordable option. A lot of my growth has come from being involved in sports, organizations and social groups. I am currently a brother of the Theta Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc Gamma Chapter. I joined this organization in Spring of 2020, and I currently hold the leadership position of Treasurer. Theta Phi Psi is a brotherhood and community service organization. We serve our community as well as our school. I have helped to organize, plan and participate in community functions such as serving at nursing homes, feeding the homeless, cooking and preparing food for families at the Ronald McDonald house, as well as various community cleanup efforts and mentorship programs. We love to give back to our community. A lot of African American males at my school are often easily influenced to go down a bad path, and for a lot of us joining Theta has changed our life for the better. Our advisor helps us every day to help us become better men in our society. A person’s dreams are important. Sacrifice is important. My parents have sacrificed time, money, energy and love to help me reach my dreams. And yes, my parents have sacrificed some of their dreams to help me excel at mine. Currently, the affordability of a higher education becomes a tall hurdle. I have seen my parents work to pay back college loans and debts. They shared with me for years, that is their hope and desire that I can go to college without taking on crippling and lasting debt. That is why I have worked so hard to find success and opportunities to have my educational expenses covered. As I stated before, I know I will be successful. I will reach my dreams, and I hope to reach them your support. Higher education will offer me the chance to become even more well-rounded. Higher education with the support of the ESOF Academic Scholarship will give me a chance to engage with people from all over that can challenge me to think outside the box. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. Lastly, an affordable higher education is an opportunity to impact my community as an African American male allowing me to help others along the way.

At 14 years old I decided to start my own company. I used YouTube, my family and my computer and filed for my own Limited Liability Company. I have been profitable every month since. During my sophomore year I began chasing my dream by filing for a LLC. Since then, I have used the skills ‘ve obtained from CTE courses (as well as trial and error) to create and sell logos, album covers and digital graphics. The experiences of starting my own company and creating my clients vision excites me. I am excited to take on the challenges in a university to expand my knowledge in computer science, graphic design and information technology while being around students and staff that understand my history. This scholarship will help me meet the financial demands of college allowing me the chance to become even more well-rounded. It will also give me opportunities for educational and personal growth through challenging and hopefully fun courses. My decision to attend a Historically Black College and University came naturally. Most of family have attended and received degrees from HBCU’s from all over the country. The confidence they consistently show along with the continued success they have experienced makes me believe that I can have the same success. It is also important to me to be at a university where the culture speaks to me. I want to be in a place where I am in classes and with students who look like me. I also look forward to the student life that only a HBCU can give (Homecoming)! HBCU’s have thrived and developed some of the strongest networking opportunities. For me to succeed and eventually help others, I knew that the culture and network of an HBCU would be the best and most affordable option.