When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So, I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive a higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning, I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on, I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, lip gloss, shampoo, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. Receiving this scholarship will enable me to continue my education and expand my outreach efforts. With financial support, I can dedicate more time and resources to my community work, ensuring that more young girls have access to the essential items they need. Education has given me the platform to advocate for change, and this scholarship will allow me to further that mission. Though, the memories of being a homeless little girl will forever etch into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm a college student all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience that, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence, income stability and a means to assist me in my life overall. I overcame a myriad of challenging circumstances with ADHD, homelessness and poverty by focusing on my education. Those days of feeling isolated and helpless are in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So, I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive a higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning, I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on, I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, lip gloss, shampoo, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. Receiving this scholarship will enable me to continue my education and expand my outreach efforts. With financial support, I can dedicate more time and resources to my community work, ensuring that more young girls have access to the essential items they need. Education has given me the platform to advocate for change, and this scholarship will allow me to further that mission. Though, the memories of being a homeless little girl will forever etch into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm a college student all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience that, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence, income stability and a means to assist me in my life overall. I overcame a myriad of challenging circumstances with ADHD, homelessness and poverty by focusing on my education. Those days of feeling isolated and helpless are in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being among the few to receive a higher education. Books were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived. My mother always told me, “Knowledge is power.” Even when the future seemed bleak, books gave me hope. Every page I turned gave me hope, every story I read reminded me that there was a world beyond my circumstances. I held onto the belief that our struggles were temporary. During these dark times I would have these vivid dreams but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, with random women always smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me up from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school.The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because this experience helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is a blessing and is something I will always own. Today, the courage and inspiration I find in books continue to guide me as I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, shampoo, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. However, The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear, but even in the darkest moments, books gave me faith. It was my faith that whispered to me that my struggles were temporary. Now as I'm a college student all I see in my life is love, opportunities and many blessings. I learned from that experience, to use my knowledge to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on my knowledge for confidence, income stability, and a means to assist me in my life overall. I overcame a myriad of challenging circumstances with ADHD, homelessness, and poverty by focusing on my education. Now those days of feeling isolated and helpless, are in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being among the few to receive a higher education. My faith was my only escape from the harsh reality I lived. My mother always told me, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen.” Even when the future seemed bleak, I held onto the belief that our struggles were temporary. Because of this I held onto my faith and it protected me. During these dark times I would have these vivid and glorious dreams but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, with random women always smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me up from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. It was my faith that told me the long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I now know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now isa gift and is something I will always own. Today, my faith continues to guide me as I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, lip gloss, nail polish, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. However, The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear, but even in the darkest moments, my faith remained my anchor. It was my faith that whispered to me that my struggles were temporary. Now as I'm a college student all I see in my life is love, opportunities and many blessings. I learned from that experience, to use my faith to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on God for confidence, income stability, and a means to assist me in my life overall. I overcame a myriad of challenging circumstances with ADHD, homelessness, and poverty by trusting in God. Now those days of feeling isolated and helpless are in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless, and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being among the few to receive a higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, lip gloss, nail polish, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. However, The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm a college student all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence, income stability, and a means to assist me in my life overall. I overcame a myriad of challenging circumstances with ADHD, homelessness, and poverty by focusing on my educational grind as a future business leader in America. Those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit are in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I am attending the University of South Carolina to break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. The memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college, all I see in my life is love and opportunities. I learned from that experience, to use my dreams to help propel and further my education, and no matter the dire situation or circumstance I may rely on it for self-confidence and determination as a means to assist me in my life overall. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America. With this scholarship, those days of feeling isolated, helpless, and a misfit will be in the rearview mirror.

Having emerged from the shadows of domestic violence, I am committed to raising awareness and advocating against this pervasive issue. Through education, support, advocacy, collaboration, and engaging men and boys, I seek to empower survivors and effect positive change. By shining a light on the dark reality of domestic violence, I aim to transform lives and inspire others to join the cause. When growing up in the eyes of outsiders, my family embodied the picture-perfect ideal. But beneath the surface, a stark reality unfolded. My father, an abusive alcoholic, wielded emotional, physical, and financial abuse to control my mother. The sirens of police cars and the threats of violence became the soundtrack of my early years. Amidst the confusion, I grappled with the paradox of how a man capable of such cruelty could claim to love. I plan to help children in similar situations understand the complex dynamics that can exist within abusive relationships. As I reached the tender age of six, the darkness intensified, casting its oppressive shadow upon our fragile existence. Helplessly, I watched my mother, the embodiment of strength, become a victim once again. Sensing the urgency to shield my innocence my brother, an unsung hero in his own right, resorted to desperate measures. He conjured a momentary diversion, the enchanting world of Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses. Hestated "Watch the movie and don't look away," the decree echoed in my ears, a plea to protect me from witnessing the brutality that unfolded in our living room.My eyes clung to the movie, as if their twirls and pirouettes could somehow drown out the chaos that echoed through the walls of our home. It was an act of survival, a desperate measure to shield my fragile heart from witnessing the horrors inflicted upon my mother. However, as the seconds ticked by, curiosity gnawed at my young mind, tempting me to glimpse at the commotion unfolding beyond the confines of the screen. In that fleeting moment, the gravity of the situation revealed itself in all its terrifying glory. The scene that unfolded before my eyes was Hell before my eyes. The piercing sirens outside heralded the arrival of the police, whose presence had become a hauntingly familiar. My father, consumed by a volatile mix of rage and desperation, fought against the impending arrest reaching for the officer's taser. Time seemed to slow, the air heavy with tension, as the officer reacted with lightning-swift instinct. In a split second, my father found himself subdued, his resistance quelled by a forceful grip and the weight of consequences. The living room transformed into an arena of struggle, a battleground between justice and chaos. The officer's knee pinning my father down, a suffocating chokehold that mirrored the suffocating grip of fear that had long clutched our hearts. With each passing second, the scene unfolded and fear gripped me, like an icy hand squeezing my heart, and regret flooded my being. Why did I succumb to the temptation to peek? If only I had obeyed, kept my eyes locked on the movie, perhaps I could have shielded myself from the harsh reality unfolding. These are events no child should have to witness. By exposing the harsh realities of domestic violence, my aim is to transform lives, inspire others to join the cause, and provide children in similar situations with a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics within abusive relationships.

When I was nine years old my family became homeless. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. The memories of being a child, homeless and helpless are branded into my brain. So I use those painstaking feelings of dependency and the mercy of others in a cruel world as a catalyst for me to lift my family out of poverty and financial instability. I hope to attend the University of South Carolina and break the generational curses that have haunted my family by being one of the few to receive a higher education. My dreams were my only escape from the harsh reality I lived, but even those were constantly interrupted. My careless, drug-dealing uncle would often wake me up stumbling in the house, smelling of alcohol and marijuana, waking me from my slumber on the lumpy living room couch I shared with my mom as a bed. Sometimes he would bring women home with him. Always ensuring to turn on the lights and loudly exclaim "Make yourself at home." and to not mind me or my disabled mother resting. The next morning I would then have to wake at 4:30 AM, the sun may not have been awake, but I was. Thanks to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a cab was to be my chauffeur. An old, often smelly, yellow cab would pick me up every day for a roundtrip of 40 miles to and from school. The long cab ride to school was worth every mile. I know this because it helped me realize the concept of education and its importance to my life. As time went on I realized my education then and now is something I will always own. Today, I give back to those in similar situations. I supply homeless girls with feminine hygiene products. Many basic needs for women, such as menstrual products, are considered "luxury items." This makes them ineligible to purchase with government-assisted funds, such as SNAP/EBT, or WIC. I remember being a young girl, homeless and destitute, wishing to have something of my own. In those moments, I needed something that could not be stripped from me. Because of this, I supply girls with menstrual products, self-care items, underwear, body wash, and body mist so girls in similar situations can possess these small essentials. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to go to SC Business Week. I was blessed to spend my summer at UofSC, Darla Moore School of Business, and reside at The Honors College Residence Hall while participating in this program. I hope to use the experience and knowledge from that program as my entryway into the Business community of South Carolina. I plan to use that opportunity of a lifetime to hone my skills, nurture relationships, and gain invaluable knowledge. This scholarship opportunity will assist me in attending the University of South Carolina. This will pave the way for me to break the generational curses that have plagued my family. My dreams and aspirations are now within reach, and I am confident that this scholarship will aid in making them a reality. Though the memories of being a homeless little girl will forever be etched into my brain. I look back on that time in my nine-year-old life when it was full of pain and fear. But now as I'm on the cusp of attending college all I see in my life is love and opportunities. The financial support provided by this scholarship will allow me to focus on my educational grind and become a future business leader in America.