Mothers, women who not only look out for themselves but also you. My mother is my hero.She has done all that she can, while simultaneously being the only one to provide for my siblings and I. In ways my mother attributed to the dual trope in her ability to play two figures one that being the motherly, and playing the fatherly figure as well. My mother had a dream when she came to America when I was just 8 months old. She wanted to live out that American Dream she heard of, however that dream was destroyed when my father decided leave our family. As a child, I struggled to understand the reason behind his leaving witnessing my mother experienced as she had to navigate the exit of her partner.In ways that his departure affected our family, everything fell into my mothers arms. She was left of the burden of raising my 6 siblings and I alone. However this setback didn’t stop my mother from making sure we were doing well academically, and recommended that we play sports to gain other opportunities in life. My father at the time was a great beneficiary financially in our household. The final implication resulting from his departure further strained our family’s stability, adding additional stress and hardships to my mother. So my mother had to go find another job to work at nights, there were days I didn’t even see my mother. There was a lot of hate in my heart for my father, but my mother always told us that our fathers decision was on him, and not us. My mothers dreams of wanting to go to nursing school were demolished, she had my father as a backbone but he left and she had to fend for herself. She would take us out to eat, and us not knowing that was for the rent, but since we were hungry she sacrificed. The struggle that I endured in my childhood only made me want to work even harder, it fueled growth, and also found myself pushed into adult responsibilities. With my mom working long hours we all had to look out for each other. We took care of household chores, and became emotional support for my siblings. The shift in responsibilities at such a young age strained my development, however it impacted my abilities to growth, and academics.The amount of thank you that I gave to my mother wouldn't even be half of it. She deserves the world for everything she dreamed of, but her dreams were put on a stop to be a mother. I think we forget that our parents had dreams and aspirations before they had children and when they don’t fulfill those aspirations they feel like failures, however in my eye my mother can never be a failure; she has raised 7 children all by herself she is my superwoman with her as my mother I am who i am today. I can build healthy relationships, giving me a life my mother couldn’t obtain characterized by her personal experiences. Mary Mabil Achuel, you are my hero. I love you, you are the embodiment and epitome of what a mother should be. You didn’t give up when you were the only parent standing.You gave up on your dreams to be there for your children and you didn’t hate us for that. You showed Amalia, Esta, Khamisa, Linda, and I what it is to be women, and Bol, Robert what it is to be men. Thank you again, mama my Queen, you deserve all the flowers.

My name is Sandy Akoy, and I’m a 19 year old girl just trying to make it through college without having to worry about financial disparities. My mother raised 7 children all by herself with no help, when my father left us to live his life. I’m a shy yet social butterfly that loves to read and journal in my free time. My mothers sacrifice to stop her dreams of the American dream to raise us made my passions and drive for greatness better. My goals mainly consist of passing all my classes at the University of Houston, and graduating with a bachelors in MIS making my mother proud of me. This scholarship is going to be a blessing in disguise. I say that because yes the scholarship is a wonderful thing but it’s a deterrent of what can be. Scholarship helps many students everywhere from the littlest amount to a full ride. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career aspirations because I will be able to afford to continue my education at the University of Houston. Not only will it continue my education but also it will ease my mind. We all know college is expensive. With that thought in my mind that I don’t have to worry about being kicked out because I couldn’t make payments will make me happy. My hero, my mother wouldn’t have to take out loans on behalf of me because I couldn’t make payments. This scholarship will help me cover my tuition, fees, and living costs. With this scholarship I’ll be able to attend Bauer College of Business which I’ve been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

Education is a fundamental component of today’s perception of reality. Without education people are viewed as less than for not graduating high school and or college if they decided to attend. With education economic, social, and political factors would benefit you in the long run. To me, without it I don’t know where I would be today. Education is important because with it you will have endless opportunities that would take you places you didn’t even know were possible. You have a sense of accomplishment. It's not easy to have an education that comes with the cost of attendance, tuition, classes, and jobs. Education represents the drive and passion to be better and make a life of yourself. My mother would be an example throughout the duration of my life. My mother always instilled education above all else. She came to America to give us the dream she couldn’t obtain. She is the reason I go so hard to walk across the stage at my graduation and get my bachelor’s degree. My mother works too hard for us. I would never give up on education because without it and her I don’t know if I would’ve made it out. The way that it brought value to me is the end goal. I know at the end of the day I will have a degree and a job with that education is a blessing and I’m going to do whatever possible to use it. My mother would be proud, which is something I’ve always wanted when we came to America. My mom left her life behind and started a new one but just being a mother raising 7 children all by her lonesome. She is my inspiration and drive to do my best in life because she would be awarded for all she has done for me and my siblings. With existing I will be able to improve my networking skills and get me out there more, through career opportunities, talking to everyone that comes my way because then my communication can improve and I’m set for the better. A place where my goals and aspirations can come true, all it takes is hard work and dedication because you have to want it and not just need it. Education is going to improve my future in enormous ways and I’ll be thankful that I can use that education for the rest of my life.

Who am I? I get asked this question on a daily basis, so let me introduce myself. My name is Sandy Majak Akoy. I'm a South Sudanese 19 year old girl. I've lived in the United States for about 19 years now. I’ve been told that I’m quiet, intimidating, talented, and honest. I love journaling, reading, and everything natural . I’m a sucker for books. If I can read forever I would. I love playing volleyball with my friends and family. I love medicine and business which is why I wanted to major in Management Information Systems and minor in Health Management. I’ve always wanted to work in the hospital but didn’t know specifically what exactly I wanted to do but I knew it had something to do with technology. My career goals consist of honesty to create an astonishing future for myself, give back to my community, and network and or make new connections.College to me would be a challenge I say that because high school to me was a ballpark. College is a place that can get me to another level in a sense of accomplishment that can better my future in multiple ways. Through internships, mentorship, and academic support that comes with classes that students in college take. Going to school can help me give back to my community by making volunteer contributions to kids in my community by having book reading with kids in the neighborhood, mental health days just checking in with them because mental health is very important and should be taken seriously. Lastly, school can better my networking skills and get me out there more, through career opportunities, talking to everyone that comes my way because then my communication can improve and I’m set for the better. School can be a place where your goals and aspirations can come true, all it takes is hard work and dedication because you have to want it and not just need it. School is going to improve my future in enormous ways and I’ll be thankful that I can use that education for the rest of my life. As I said before, community outreach is something I’m very passionate and interested about. Having absence of community can lead to addiction, crime, violence, suicidal thoughts, and everything bad. Community is a place where everyone is welcome whether that be a school, church, a store having a community can improve someone’s life for the better. Not having someone to talk to can lead to unforeseen situations where just having a talk to someone, or even just having a welcoming spirit could’ve helped the situation not lead to where it went. Everyone needs a community whether that be in school, church, a neighborhood, or at home I believe having a sense of community everything can be better because at least then you have someone. My involvement in my community mostly consists of me having children attend the church on Sunday to have bible study, having certain days where the kids can come to the church and just talk to one another about anything having someone to talk to can better understand what’s happening in that person's point of view. At work I believe my sense of community has made my life easier in the sense that I can go to my manager and explain my feelings without being judged. I can wholeheartedly say that I have my community that makes me happy to talk to all of them. I couldn't ask for anything better.

Business has always been fascinating to me, I not only loved the numbers in business but also the drive for success. As a young girl I was obsessed with business and healthcare. I would always tell my mom I’m going to be a doctor and accountant. I still don’t know why my mother didn’t tell me how hard that would be, but knowing the mother she was, she wanted us to dream and live it out even if it was an exaggeration. As I got older I learned more about business and that there can be a pathway with medicine. Which is why I plan to major in Management Information Systems and a minor in Health Management. I blended my two worlds of business and medicine which I didn't know was possible. My mother’s passion for not only me and my 6 other siblings was to do great in life and to make her proud. She raised us by her lonesome working two jobs to feed us, clean us. My mother is my inspiration and reason to keep going and graduate college and buy her that house she always wanted to give her the life she sees in me, the life she left behind when she came to America to give us the dream. Getting my Bachelors in MIS will not only make me proud but also my mother. She's the reason I came into this life, and the reason I’m going to live my life. This degree will help me establish a good life for myself. I would also like to do what I love , which is tech and medicine. Hopefully a field in data analytics in a hospital where I can help people for the better. I wouldn’t have to struggle like my mother. I have a stable living income where I don’t have to worry about my next meal, where I’m going to live,and what to wear. I'll be able to spoil my mother because she deserves it. She deserves the world in my eyes, raising 7 children by herself. She's superwomen and when I get my first check from my big job it’s going all to her because she made me who I am today. My degree will help not only bless myself but also my mother. This is an accomplishment to get a bachelors in MIS, and degree in Health management because I will have the skills needed to go on in life, I’m going to be a better person. All thanks to GOD, and my mother for instilling greatness in me to go to college and graduate to make a life of myself and with my degrees i would be able to live my life the way i want to and doing what I love the most.

Community outreach is something I’m very passionate and interested about. Having absence of community can lead to addiction, crime, violence, suicidal thoughts, and everything bad. Community is a place where everyone is welcome whether that be a school, church, a store having a community can improve someone’s life for the better. Not having someone to talk to can lead to unforeseen situations where just having a talk to someone, or even just having a welcoming spirit could’ve helped the situation not lead to where it went. Everyone needs a community whether that be in school, church, a neighborhood, or at home I believe having a sense of community everything can be better because at least then you have someone. My involvement in my community mostly consists of me having children attend the church on Sunday to have bible study, having certain days where the kids can come to the church and just talk to one another about anything having someone to talk to can better understand what’s happening in that person's point of view. At work I believe my sense of community has made my life easier in the sense that I can go to my manager and explain my feelings without being judged. I can wholeheartedly say that I have my community that makes me happy to talk to all of them. I couldn't ask for anything better. In other ways I have been able to impact my community by having grief meetings with my people. With the passing of my oldest sister Linda, I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about how I was feeling the guilt and anger I felt was so overwhelming I didn’t know what to do. So my mother came up with the idea to hold a meeting in my house with my siblings and also people I go to church with. These meetings were so good for me I was able to be vulnerable which comes very hard to me, and honestly let all my feelings out. It not only helped me, but also the people who attended were able to all cry and talk about how they were dealing with grief. Losing someone is very hard, however having people that you can rely on to cry, and talk can be very important because then depression, anxiety,and suicidal thoughts can be at an all time low because someone is there for YOU. I believe that my actions created a special connection with not only myself. I learned that it's okay to cry, it doesn't make you weak. My bond siblings were better and people that attended these grief sessions. Having a sense of community can make you a better person, not feeling like you’re in this world by yourself can feel better with a community. I love the community that I made because without them I don’t know where I would be today.