Hello, my name is ShaMiyah. Being the oldest in my family made me grow up fast. I watched my mama struggle to keep everything together when money was low. There were times we had to move in with my grandma because things were not stable yet. We did not always have what other people had, but we always had each other. I saw my mama keep pushing even when it was hard, and that stuck with me. It made me understand early that money problems are real and they affect everything. Over time, things slowly got better. We moved into an apartment and later into our own house. Now all of us, including my three brothers, my sister, me, and my mom, live in the same household together. My mom is a single parent, so she handles everything on her own and still makes sure we are taken care of. She pays the rent, lights, water, and the rest of the bills. When it comes to personal things I want, I mostly rely on my dad. He helps me a lot, especially now that I am older. Because of that, I try not to ask my mom for much since she already has so much to handle. My brothers and sister still want things too, and I understand that. I do not get upset if she cannot always get me something because I know my dad will help me if I truly need it. Being the oldest, I naturally put them ahead of myself. Now I am 18 and getting ready for college, and money feels even more real. I think about paying for my dorm supplies, gas, food, and other expenses on my own. I am already stressing about senior fees for prom and graduation. Those moments are supposed to be exciting, but they also come with costs. That alone shows me how fast money can go. Since I started working, I save more than I spend. I try not to waste money on things I do not really need because I know how important it is to be prepared. Financial education means more to me than just learning about money. It means understanding how to manage what I earn so I do not live in stress all the time. In the future, I plan to budget carefully, build good credit, and avoid unnecessary debt. I want to make smart choices in college and beyond so I can be financially stable. My goal is not just to succeed for myself, but to help my family too. I grew up seeing what struggle looked like, and that is why I am determined to build something better for us.

To me, legacy isn’t about money or fame, it’s about how people remember you for the way you treated them, the help you gave, or the example you set. I want my legacy to show that even when life gets hard you can still work hard, stay kind, and make a difference. Being the oldest of five kids has taught me a lot about responsibility and caring for others. I’ve always had to stay home and take care of my siblings even when I wanna go out or just have some time for myself. It’s not always easy but it’s helped me build patience and strength, and I hope that’s part of the legacy I leave. The person who modeled resilience for me is my mom. She works so hard to provide for us even when money is tight or life gets complicated. I see her keep going no matter what and it inspires me to do the same. I try to carry that forward by not giving up on school, sports, or my dreams even when it feels like the world is against me. I’ve learned to turn a “no” into a “not yet.” Like when I wanted to try out for a team or apply for something and didn’t make it the first time, I kept practicing and trying until I reached it. I’m also breaking cycles in my family and community. I see how some opportunities are limited for us but I want to push past that and create better chances for myself and the people who come after me. I try to be the example that hard work and determination can pay off even if you don’t have a lot. I want my siblings and other kids around me to see that it’s possible to chase your dreams no matter what you start with. My career goal is to become a nurse and I’ve also thought about joining the military one day to travel and gain experience. I want to use my future career to give back by helping people who need care the most. I want to show kindness, provide comfort, and support people in ways that make their lives better. I also want to inspire other kids in my community to know that even with challenges you can rise above and reach your goals. Legacy is about impact not perfection. I’m building mine every day by staying resilient, helping my family, breaking barriers, and keeping my goals alive no matter what. I might not have everything but I got heart, drive, and the will to make it. I just want a real shot at becoming the best version of myself and proving that even with challenges I can make a difference and leave something meaningful behind.

Social media is something almost everybody uses now. It’s fun cause you can post pictures, watch videos, and talk to people from different places. You can meet new friends, find funny stuff, or even learn things you didn’t know. But it also got a bad side that people don’t really think about. Some people just use it to spread hate or judge others. Everyone has their own opinions and they say whatever they want like it’s nothing even when it hurts somebody’s feelings. Sometimes people forget that words actually matter even if they said it through a screen and that can make it hard to enjoy social media the way it’s supposed to be. I seen how social media can mess with people’s heads. One mean comment can make somebody doubt themselves. You can post something you like and if nobody likes it or someone says something rude you start feeling like you not good enough. People compare themselves to others all the time thinking their life should look like what they see online. But the truth is most of that stuff isn’t even real. People only show the good parts, the happy moments, and the perfect angles. Nobody posts their bad days. I even catch myself comparing sometimes then I remember everyone got their own story that you can’t see from a post. It’s easy to forget that when you scroll for hours and see people living perfect lives. It’s crazy cause people will change how they act talk or look just to fit in online and that can really mess up someone’s confidence. You start to feel like you gotta look perfect all the time or have a certain lifestyle just so people won’t talk about you. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. It’s sad cause people care more about how things look online than how they really feel in real life and it makes social media stressful for some people even when it should be fun. Still, social media isn’t all bad. It helps people share their talents their art or things they care about. It gives people a voice. You just gotta learn how to use it right. Take breaks when you need to. Don’t believe everything you see and don’t let likes or followers control how you feel. I think schools and parents should also talk more about it cause a lot of teens go through this but keep it to themselves. Social media can also inspire people and help them connect with others they wouldn’t meet in real life. I think the best way to deal with social media is to stay real. Not everybody’s gonna like you and that’s okay. You just gotta be you. People will always have opinions but you don’t have to listen to all of them. As long as you stay true to yourself and don’t let hate get in your head social media can be a fun place again instead of something that brings you down. It’s all about knowing when to step away and remember that your worth isn’t determined by followers or likes.

Being the oldest of five kids is a lot sometimes. I always have to stay home and take care of my siblings even when I wanna go out or just have some time for myself. It’s like I’m stuck in the house most of the time watching everyone else live their lives while I’m trying to make sure everything at home is okay. I love my family but it’s hard. When I get something for myself I usually have to share it which I don’t hate but sometimes I just wish I could keep my own stuff. There’s been nights where I cried about it or felt depressed but I never let it stop me. Even with all that I’m still curious about the world. I wanna travel try new foods learn new languages play sports draw and take pictures. I’m pretty quiet in person and it takes me a while to get comfortable but I’m actually really nice and outgoing once people get to know me. I like meeting new people even though sometimes the world feels scary now with all the bad stuff that happens like kidnappings and violence. But I still want to experience life just in my own way. I feel like my generation doesn’t get as many chances as people use to. Everything feels more limited now and it’s harder to find real opportunities. That’s why something like this grant means a lot to me. It’s not just about money it’s about finally getting a chance to focus on myself and what I want to do. I’ve always been the one helping others and I just want to do something that makes me proud. My dream is to become a nurse travel the world and help people who really need it. I’ve been through a lot but it made me stronger and more determined. I know how it feels to struggle and I want to turn that into something good. I’m also thinking about going to the military one day to help pay for school and travel while learning more about the world. If I get this support I’ll use it to keep pushing forward finish school and make something out of my life. I might not have everything but I got heart drive and the will to make it. I just want a real shot at becoming the best version of myself and proving that even with all the challenges I can still rise above it and make my family proud.

When I was little I remember staying at home with my siblings because my mom was a single parent. I had to make sure everyone was okay and help with little things even though I was just a kid myself. Being the oldest of five has taught me how to step up, take care of others, and manage my time. I’m quiet at first so I don’t really stand out but once you get to know me I’m outgoing and energetic. I’m really athletic and active and I play multiple sports which keeps me busy and focused. This semester I’m in JROTC which has helped me build strength, confidence, and discipline. It challenges me in ways I didn’t expect and I like seeing myself improve every week. I like helping people even if I don’t volunteer a lot. At church I help by preparing food for Sunday school or other events and I sing sometimes even though I’m nervous to perform in front of people. I try anyway because being involved feels rewarding. At school my sports team and I go to elementary schools to read to kids, teach them things, and help wherever we can. We also organize fundraisers for our sports club mostly to support girls sports programs. Doing things like that makes it feel like we making a difference even if it’s small and it motivates me to keep stepping up. I’m also really interested in learning about different languages and cultures. I like trying new things even though I can’t always speak the language or fully understand the culture. It’s interesting to explore stuff I didn’t grow up with. I want to travel someday and see more of the world because everything around my generation feels kind of limited. My dream is to be a nurse because it feels like a career where I can actually help people and make a difference. I also want to join the military because I like the idea of challenge, discipline, and serving others. Life isn’t always easy. I get really busy sometimes and I get depressed but I try to push through and stay focused on my goals. Even though I’m quiet at first I like finding ways to help people and do things that matter. I like being active, exploring new things, and being there for others when they need it. That’s me hardworking, curious, outgoing and always trying to grow for myself and the people around me.