Community service has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve grown up in the church, surrounded by ministry and people who dedicate their lives to serving others. My grandpa is a former pastor at Reid Temple Church, which is also the private school I attended when I was younger, showing that even outside of church services, my life has always been connected to faith and community. He is now a current deacon at Zion Church Fort Washington. My great uncle and aunt are the pastor and first lady of Connect Church Waldorf, and my dad has been involved in the church since before I was even conscious enough to remember, now serving as a pastor at Zion Church Fort Washington. Being a pastor’s kid has shaped how I view community, generosity, and the importance of giving back. It taught me early that life isn’t just about what you can gain for yourself, but how you can help those around you feel seen, loved, and supported. Throughout my life, I’ve volunteered in countless ways at my church. I’ve helped set up and clean up after communion Sundays and baptism services, prepared for children and teen ministry events, assisted at trunk-or-treats, served during summer cookouts and field days, and volunteered in the Children’s Church ministry, where I helped plan and implement activities for kids ages 5-12 and created a safe, welcoming environment for them to learn and grow. Each of these experiences showed me how every small task adds up to create a bigger impact for others. Currently, I volunteer with the women’s ministry at my church, led by my mom. Although I’m often working behind the scenes, many of the ideas and planning come from me. I help organize events, create group structures, and think of ways to better serve the women in our community. Seeing how these efforts bring women together to support and uplift each other has shown me the power of creating spaces for connection and growth. My community service experiences have helped me develop skills that I know will be useful in my future career. I’ve learned to communicate with people of all ages and backgrounds, to adapt to different needs, and to always approach situations with empathy. I’ve met people from many different cultures and walks of life through church, which has given me a broader understanding of the world and how different experiences shape people’s needs. I plan to major in architecture and interior design, while also earning my real estate license. My goal is to design homes, businesses, and community spaces that aren’t just beautiful but truly functional and meaningful for the people who use them. I want to invest in real estate properties that create opportunities for families in underrepresented communities, giving them a safe and comfortable place to live. I also want to create community centers and outreach spaces that bring people together the same way my church has always done for me. Community service is important to me because it reminds me that life is bigger than myself. It keeps me grounded and connected to what truly matters: helping others feel valued and supported. This scholarship would help me continue my education without putting a financial strain on my family and allow me to stay focused on my goals of using my degree to uplift others. I want to carry forward the legacy of leaders like Bishop Ron O. Beazer Sr. by creating spaces that bring people hope, purpose, and the feeling that anything is possible.

If you ask me what motivated my dreams, I’ll tell you it wasn’t a person in a suit giving a TED Talk or a celebrity flaunting their success. It was my Nana, sitting in her recliner during quarantine, humming gospel songs as cancer quietly stole her strength. It was my mom, scarred and healing after her double mastectomy just months later, still managing to smile at me through the pain. My ambition was born in a living room that felt like both a home and a hospital room. That is where I learned that life can change in an instant and that pain, if you let it, can fuel purpose. When my grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, we didn’t find out until it was too late. Treatments were far beyond what she could afford and hospital bills were impossible to pay. Bringing her home felt like surrendering and that guilt stayed with me. Just two months later, my mom was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Grief became layered with fear. After her double mastectomy, she had to take so many medications to keep the cancer from returning and she still does to this day. I buried myself in schoolwork, finding comfort in the one thing I could control. I stopped allowing myself to feel sadness, telling myself I had to stay strong for my family. But grief has a way of catching up to you. Through it all, my mindset shifted. Losing Nana and almost losing my mom opened my eyes to how deeply our environments impact our lives and health. The living room where Nana spent her last days was cluttered, dim, and cramped. I always wished I could redesign it to make her feel calmer and more dignified in her final moments. That thought never left me. This experience planted a seed. I want to create spaces that make people feel safe, healed, and seen. My dream is to become an architect and interior designer, but not just to design beautiful homes or offices. I want to establish my own design firm that prioritizes health-focused and inclusive spaces. I plan to double major in business and architecture so I can open my firm and mentor young Black women who rarely see themselves represented in these fields. I want to design hospitals and care centers that bring warmth to families in crisis, homes that feel like sanctuaries, and community centers where children can feel inspired to dream. I envision creating spaces that are accessible to people with disabilities, calming for those with mental health challenges, and empowering for underserved communities. At the same time, I want to build a business that creates internships and leadership opportunities for students of color pursuing design, engineering, or business because representation matters. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to continue my education without the constant fear of financial limitations holding me back. It would give me the freedom to invest fully in building the skills I need to make this dream a reality. Cancer stole so much from my family, but it also gave me purpose. I want my firm to be a place where pain transforms into healing and where every design is rooted in empathy just as my goals are rooted in my Nana’s and my mother’s stories. My experience living a life impacted by cancer has shown me how fragile health is, how critical dignity is, and how important it is to use whatever you create, whether a building, a business, or a life, to uplift others. That is what I plan to do.

When I think about architecture and interior design, I see more than just buildings and rooms. I see a field that rarely reflects faces like mine. Black women are deeply underrepresented in architecture and STEM as a whole, and growing up, I never saw anyone in these careers who looked like me. That lack of representation could have discouraged me, but instead, it sparked something inside me, a determination to become the person I never saw. Ever since I was young, I have believed that the spaces we live in hold a deeper power than most people realize. During quarantine, after losing my grandmother, I struggled with grief and depression. My room became my safe haven, not just because it was my own space, but because I had designed it to reflect who I was and what brought me comfort. The colors, decor, and layout made me feel calm, grounded, and secure during a time when everything else felt out of control. That experience showed me that design is about so much more than making a space look nice. It is about creating environments that can heal, motivate, and empower people. It influences how we think, feel, and connect with ourselves and others. This realization led me to my dream of one day creating spaces that uplift entire communities. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in architecture and business so I can open my own firm dedicated to designing both residential and commercial spaces that prioritize mental wellness, inclusivity, and functionality. I want to focus on creating environments that make people feel safe, valued, and inspired, such as sensory-friendly classrooms for neurodivergent students, workplaces that foster creativity, and affordable housing communities designed with dignity and comfort in mind. As a young Black woman, I have rarely seen people who look like me leading in architecture, and I hope to change that. I want to be someone that other young girls of color can look up to and think, “If she can do it, so can I.” Through my firm, I also hope to mentor and create opportunities for students of color in STEM and design, offering internships and leadership development to help bridge the gaps that many of us face. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial strain of college, allowing me to fully focus on my education, professional growth, and building the skills I need to achieve these goals. Often, financial barriers hold students like me back from our dreams, but with this support, I will be able to continue moving forward with confidence and purpose. I envision a future where the buildings and neighborhoods I design create not only beauty but hope, connection, and possibility for the people within them. A future where my business is known for how it lifts up individuals and communities, creating spaces that allow them to grow and thrive. This scholarship would be a critical step in making that vision a reality, and I will carry its impact with me as I continue working to create meaningful change in the world around me.

Since I was a little girl, I have believed that the spaces around us hold deeper meanings than many people realize. During quarantine, as I struggled with depression and grief after losing my grandmother, my room became my sanctuary. But it was not simply the four walls that comforted me; it was the way I designed the space to reflect who I was and what brought me peace. The color scheme, decor, and layout gave me a sense of control and belonging during a time when everything else felt so uncertain. That experience ignited a profound realization: design is not merely about aesthetics; it is about creating environments that foster healing, motivation, comfort, and growth. Design shapes the way we feel, think, and interact with the world. It creates spaces where people can become their most authentic and empowered selves. Because of this, I plan to double major in architecture and business so I can build my own firm specializing in residential and commercial spaces that uplift lives. My vision is to focus on creating inclusive, accessible, and functional designs that prioritize mental health and community needs. Growing up as a young Black woman, I rarely saw people who looked like me in architectural leadership. I want to change that narrative by becoming a leader that other Black girls can look up to, proving that no matter your background, you can innovate, create, and lead with excellence. Through my career, I hope to address overlooked needs in design, such as developing sensory-friendly environments for neurodivergent individuals or designing affordable housing communities that prioritize dignity and livability rather than mere functionality. I believe every person deserves a space that makes them feel safe, valued, and inspired, whether it is a child’s room that fosters creativity, a workplace that encourages innovation, or a community center that unites and uplifts neighborhoods. Beyond design itself, my business aspirations stem from a desire to empower others. I plan to mentor young women of color in STEM and design fields, provide internships, and create opportunities that break the barriers many of us face in accessing these industries. I want my company to be known not only for its projects but for how it builds people and communities from within. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate a significant financial burden, allowing me to focus fully on developing my skills, leadership, and professional network to turn this vision into reality. Financial barriers often hold back students like me, but with this support, I will continue striving to create meaningful change through my education and future work. I envision a world where design becomes more than aesthetics, where it is used as a tool to address community disparities, promote mental wellness, and create spaces that are both beautiful and functional for all. I envision a world where young Black girls can see themselves represented in architecture, transforming skylines and neighborhoods with their creativity and leadership. I envision businesses that are built not merely for profit, but to uplift people, create jobs, and leave behind a legacy of purpose-driven innovation. This is why I wake up driven each day to pursue architecture and business. Because one day, I want to walk through a neighborhood I helped design and see children playing safely, elders resting comfortably on their porches, and families walking into their homes with pride, knowing that I played a role in creating spaces that nurtured them and inspired them to dream beyond what they ever thought possible.

Nearly five years ago, my life changed in a way I have yet to fully recover from. During quarantine, my grandmother, Nana, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. We didn’t find out until it was too late. The cancer had already spread, and treatments were far beyond what she could afford. We couldn’t keep her in the hospital since my family couldn’t afford the cost. Bringing her home felt like surrendering to reality, and I carried that guilt for years. When she passed away, I didn’t just lose her; I lost the person who gave me my deepest sense of safety and hope. At the time, everyone tried to prepare me and my sister for what was coming. I smiled and convinced myself and everyone else that Nana would pull through. I clung to optimism because accepting the alternative felt impossible. After her death, I stayed quiet, trying to remain strong for my family, but inside, I was overwhelmed. That silence turned into isolation, which soon became unhealthy coping mechanisms: overeating, pulling out my hair, self-harm, and searching for validation in people who never valued me. Only two months later, my mom was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, still in the midst of quarantine. The grief was already suffocating, and now I had to carry another heavy secret. I didn’t tell anyone at first. I kept my head down, focusing on school as the only thing I could control. I felt responsible for everyone’s emotional well-being, yet I didn’t even know how to begin grieving myself. For years, I kept moving. I joined clubs, sports, and volunteer activities not simply to build my resume but because staying busy kept me from being alone with my thoughts. With my sister away at college and my parents always working, home no longer felt like a place of comfort. So I avoided it. I distracted myself from everything I hadn’t processed, believing that constant motion meant I was moving forward. But grief has a way of catching up with you. As I begin preparing for college and my senior year, I started reflecting on the past five years. I remembered a conversation with Nana at the start of sixth grade. I had been upset over a teacher, and she told me to be patient, that people are human, and life is about how we choose to respond. At the time, I didn’t understand, but now I do. Her words remain with me, especially as I face challenges that make me question everything about myself. Losing Nana and nearly losing my mom made me realize how vital early detection and prevention are. If Nana had undergone routine screenings and known her family history, perhaps we could have caught her cancer before it became untreatable. Genetic testing empowers people with knowledge about their risks before it is too late. Knowing one’s family history, getting regular mammograms, and performing self-exams are powerful tools in fighting breast cancer. My mom’s early detection is the reason she is still here today. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I have transformed my grief into motivation. Despite the weight of loss and fear, I have remained driven in my academics. I hope to continue my education so I can create spaces, whether through engineering, design, or community outreach, that help people feel safe, valued, and empowered, just as Nana made me feel. Cancer took so much from me, but it also gave me a purpose to ensure that no one I love, and no one in my community, ever feels powerless against something they could not see coming.

Like Kalia, I ran track and cross country in high school, and starting this essay by mentioning that is important to me because running shaped who I am today. Track taught me discipline and how to push myself past what I thought were my limits, while cross country taught me mental strength and endurance. Even when I felt like giving up, I learned to keep moving forward step by step. These lessons have carried over into every part of my life, especially my academics. Whenever school became overwhelming, I remembered what running taught me that progress is built through small, consistent steps, and that setbacks do not define my outcome. I carry this mindset into my volunteer work as well. At Zion Church, I’ve worked with children’s ministry, women’s outreach events, and community prayer walks. Volunteering has taught me empathy, responsibility, and communication skills that have helped me in school group projects, presentations, and even in understanding my teachers better. Mentoring elementary students in STEM through MESA showed me how much I value helping others learn and grow, and it reminded me that true success is about lifting others as you climb. Academically, I plan to major in architecture and interior design while also pursuing my real estate license. Design has always been a passion of mine because it combines creativity with purpose. Whether I’m creating detailed homes on Roblox Studio or redesigning my sister’s dorm room to support her ADHD needs, I see design as a way to make people feel safe, understood, and inspired. I want to use my future career to create spaces that truly help people, whether that’s a comforting home, an efficient workspace, or a community center that brings people together. One of my biggest dreams is to attend an out-of-state college. I want to experience new environments and cultures so I can grow into a better designer and person. Seeing different styles of architecture, understanding how people live in different places, and meeting people with diverse perspectives will allow me to design with empathy and purpose. I believe that to create for the world, I have to first experience the world. However, going out of state adds a major financial burden to me and my family. My mom has always shown me what true strength looks like. After losing my grandmother to stage 4 breast cancer because we couldn’t afford to keep her in the hospital, my mom found out two months later that she had stage 2 breast cancer herself. She fought through treatment and beat it, but seeing her struggle financially, to pay off hospital bills, as well as struggling emotionally showed me the importance of creating a life where I can support her the way she has always supported me. This scholarship would ease the financial strain of attending college out of state. It would allow me to focus fully on my education and growth instead of worrying about how I will afford to stay in school each semester. Receiving this scholarship would not only honor Kalia’s legacy of excellence, kindness, and drive, but it would motivate me to keep working hard so I can create a future where I serve and uplift others, just as she did.

I chose to pursue STEM because since I was a little girl, I’ve always been curious about how things work and how I could make them better. In elementary school, I joined math club and MESA club under the bridge team where I measured and constructed bridges, learning about weight distribution and structural strength. I even joined Lego club, and my room was filled with so many Legos that stepping on the floor meant one would always get stuck to your foot. Those early experiences sparked my love for building, creating, and engineering. Today, I continue to pursue that passion through my high school’s engineering CTE program, which is one of the most rigorous programs offered. Being in this program has allowed me to challenge myself, apply problem-solving skills to real-world designs, and prepare for a future in STEM. My interest has grown into architecture because it combines engineering, math, and technology to create structures that impact people’s everyday lives in ways that often go unnoticed. During quarantine, when I felt alone and isolated, my safe space became my room. It wasn’t just because it was my own space, but because I had intentionally designed it to feel comforting and safe. From choosing structural layouts to learning about spatial organization and functionality, I created a space that represented me. This showed me the true power of architecture and how building and designing can change the way people feel, live, and function in a space. What started as a distraction during hard times became a true passion. I realized that I wanted to use architectural design to help people feel the same sense of peace, safety, and belonging that I felt in my room. I began designing concepts for my sister’s dorm room to help her feel calm and focused with her ADHD, creating layout plans for my family’s basement remodel to optimize space and structure, and helping my parents redesign parts of our home to make it more functional and comfortable for everyone. As a young Black woman pursuing STEM, I hope to make a difference by using architecture to create spaces that empower people and make them feel seen, included, and supported. I want to break the false narrative that women aren’t as capable in this field, because we are. I want to be someone young girls can look up to and know that they belong in STEM too. My goal is to use my passion for architecture to design buildings and environments that improve people’s quality of life and to show the world that women, can thrive in engineering and architecture and make meaningful change. This scholarship would help me continue my education and lessen the financial burden that often holds young women back from their goals. It will allow me to focus on learning and building the skills I need to achieve my dreams and contribute to creating a community of women empowered by knowledge, driven by curiosity, and ready to make a difference in the STEM field.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always shown an interest in creating a greater impact to innovate society as we know it. In elementary school, I participated in activities like math club, MESA club under the bridge team where I measured and constructed bridges, and even Lego club. I had so many Legos around my room that stepping on the floor meant one would always get stuck to your foot. Today, that same passion for building and design has grown into something much greater. Currently, I’m in the engineering CTE program at my high school, which is one of the most rigorous programs offered. Being in this program continues to fuel my passion for STEAM fields and challenges me to think creatively and analytically. I’ve realized over time that I want to focus on architecture and interior design because I’ve experienced firsthand how design impacts people’s lives in ways that often go unnoticed. During quarantine, when I felt isolated and alone, my safe space became my room. It wasn’t just because it was my personal space, but because I had designed it myself with colors, decor, and styles that made me feel comfortable and at home. That sense of self-expression through design helped me get through the hardest times. What started as a distraction became a true passion. I began helping my sister design her dorm room to help her manage her ADHD and feel calm and comfortable. I created layout designs for my family’s basement remodel and even designed new concepts to redecorate and restructure parts of our home so that everyone felt comfortable and compatible within the space. Designing, building, and creating have always been a part of who I am. From building Lego houses as a child to leading group projects in my engineering program that involve designing functional prototypes to advance technology, I’ve learned how much I love this field and how impactful it can be. My goal is to continue my education in architecture and interior design to create spaces that help people feel safe, inspired, and at home, just like my room did for me. This scholarship would provide me with the aid and stepping stone I need to reach my goals at the best academic institutions. It will allow me to continue this passion and truly make a difference in the world, especially for young Black women like myself. Since I was little, I’ve wanted to be someone young Black girls can look up to because in this field, Black women are often overlooked or not taken seriously. I want to prove that narrative wrong. This scholarship will help me achieve that by supporting my education and allowing me to focus on building the skills and knowledge needed to break barriers in architecture and interior design. I am determined to use my drive, ambition, and passion to make a difference in society and to show others that no matter your background, you can create and build the life and impact you dream of.