I am a multiracial Black queer woman from Texas, and I think existing at the intersection of those identities shaped the way I understand the world very early on. I notice patterns quickly because I had to, just to survive. I notice who gets protected and who does not. I saw who gets treated like they belong in certain spaces and who is seen as out of place, like me. Being queer and multiracial in Texas has made me deeply aware of systems and social structures because I am constantly navigating them whether I want to or not. The University I attend is a PWI. There is this expectation that everyone should assimilate into the culture and not question things too loudly, but I do question things loudly. I push for critical thinking and understanding despite what others want to sweep under the rug. I am not interested in conformity or pretending harmful systems are normal just because they are traditional. My effect on women’s empowerment comes from that willingness to challenge systems and create space for others to do the same. A major part of my identity is dance. I have danced for years, and while people often separate the arts and sciences, to me they are not separate. Growing up as a Black dancer in predominantly white dance spaces was difficult at times because ballet especially idolizes a very narrow body type and aesthetic. During puberty, I suddenly looked physically different from many of the other dancers around me, and there was pressure to feel like my body did not belong in ballet spaces. Seeing dancers like Misty Copeland succeed meant everything to me because I could see someone who actually made it. Misty Copeland helped me continue dancing. By continuing to take up space in environments where people like me have historically been underrepresented, I hope younger girls can see new possibilities for themselves the same way I did. My mother is my biggest role model in life. Despite dealing with chronic illness, she always created a safe environment for our family and encouraged my interests in science, activism, and the arts. She even brought me to protests when I was younger and taught me that caring about people requires action. My mother taught me empathy, but she also taught me to question authority and think critically about the world around me. That shaped my thinking skills because now I instinctively question systems instead of just trusting them. I carry those lessons into my academic work, my activism, and the way I engage with other women. Empowerment is not only about individual success; it is about helping others recognize their own power and worth. In the future, I want to work in community centered environmental urban planning specifically focused on oppressed communities. I want to help design safer and healthier environments while also making environmental knowledge more accessible outside of just universities. My politics are rooted in a deep love of humanity and an unwavering belief that we can do better. I want to help create a future where clean air, safe water, sustainable infrastructure, and healthy environments are accessible human rights. Through my work, advocacy, and willingness to challenge systems that exclude people, I hope to contribute to a world where more women, especially Black women, queer women, and women from marginalized communities, feel empowered to participate, lead, and shape the future.

Living with ADHD has shaped my life in ways that are both challenging and deeply formative. It has affected how I experience education, how I manage time and responsibilities, and how I understand my own potential. At the same time, it has also influenced my creativity, curiosity, and ability to think deeply about subjects I care about, especially environmental justice and human rights. From a young age, I have always been extremely curious about the world. I was the child who carried around an animal encyclopedia until it literally fell apart, constantly learning and sharing facts about ecosystems and living systems. That same curiosity is still present in me today, but ADHD has sometimes made it difficult to translate that passion into consistent academic structure. While I can become fully immersed in topics I love, I have also struggled with organization, time management, and maintaining focus on tasks that do not immediately engage me. In academic settings, this often created a gap between what I knew I was capable of and what I was able to consistently demonstrate. I understood ideas deeply, especially in subjects that connected to environmental systems, social inequality, and history, but managing deadlines, planning assignments, and balancing multiple responsibilities required significantly more effort. There were moments when I became frustrated with myself because my potential felt greater than my output. Over time, I learned that overcoming these challenges was not about forcing myself to function like everyone else, but about developing strategies that actually work for my brain. I began using structure in intentional ways: breaking large tasks into smaller steps, creating systems for deadlines, and relying on organization tools to stay grounded. These adaptations did not eliminate the challenges, but they helped me move forward with more consistency and less self-doubt. ADHD has also shaped how I engage with my academic interests in a positive way. When something captures my attention, I engage with it deeply and persistently. This is part of why I have become so invested in environmental studies and human rights. I do not approach these subjects casually; I feel compelled to understand systems fully, especially how environmental injustice affects Black, Indigenous, and low-income communities. My ability to focus intensely on meaningful topics has helped me connect academic ideas to real-world issues in a way that feels purposeful and urgent. My mother has also played an important role in how I navigate challenges. She taught me to think critically, question systems, and understand that caring about people requires action. That mindset has helped me reframe ADHD not as a limitation, but as something I can learn to work with rather than against. Living with ADHD has not made my academic journey easy, but it has made me resilient. It has taught me patience with myself, adaptability, and persistence. These are the same qualities I rely on in my broader goals of studying environmental justice and working toward community-centered urban planning. I understand that meaningful change, whether personal or systemic, requires continued effort even when things are difficult. Ultimately, ADHD is part of my story, but it does not define its limits. Instead, it has shaped how I learn, how I think, and how I continue to push myself toward the future I want to build.

The person whose story changed mine is my mother. She is not a public figure, a politician, or a celebrity. She is a woman who has spent her life caring for others despite facing significant challenges of her own. Watching her navigate chronic illness while creating a safe, loving, and supportive environment for our family fundamentally shaped how I see the world and my place within it. From a young age, my mother encouraged my curiosity. When I became fascinated by animals, ecosystems, and science, she nurtured those interests rather than dismissing them. More importantly, she taught me to think critically about the world around me. She showed me that caring about people requires action. When I was younger, she brought me to protests and introduced me to the idea that ordinary people have the power and responsibility to challenge injustice. Through her example, I learned that empathy is not passive. It means paying attention to who is being overlooked and asking why. Because of her influence, I became deeply interested in environmental justice and human rights. As I grew older, I began noticing patterns that many people seemed willing to ignore. I noticed that environmental problems are not distributed equally. Communities that contribute the least to pollution and environmental degradation are often the ones forced to endure the greatest consequences. One problem in my community that many people walk past is environmental inequality. Most people think of environmental issues as distant problems involving melting ice caps or endangered species. While those issues matter, I notice something closer to home. I notice that low-income communities, historically segregated neighborhoods, and communities of color are often exposed to more pollution, have fewer green spaces, and receive fewer environmental protections. I notice how failing infrastructure, extreme heat, and environmental neglect disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Many people see these conditions as unfortunate but inevitable. I do not. Through my studies and personal experiences, I have learned that these patterns are the result of decisions, policies, and systems that have developed over time. Communities that were historically redlined continue to face environmental burdens today. Access to clean air, safe water, and healthy public spaces often depends on factors that people cannot control, such as where they were born or how much money they have. If I had the resources to act, I would focus on community-centered environmental urban planning. I want to help create cities where sustainability and equity work together. I would invest in expanding green spaces in underserved neighborhoods, improving public transportation, modernizing environmental infrastructure, and ensuring that environmental protections prioritize vulnerable communities rather than corporate interests. I believe technology, thoughtful planning, and community involvement can help create healthier and more sustainable environments for everyone. My mother's story changed mine because she taught me to look beyond what is visible on the surface. She taught me to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and care deeply about the wellbeing of others. Because of her, I do not simply want to study environmental problems. I want to help solve them. The greatest lesson she gave me is that meaningful change begins when someone chooses to notice what others overlook and decides that those overlooked people matter. That lesson continues to guide my education, my goals, and the future I hope to build for my community.

“Environmentalism without class action is just gardening.” — Chico Mendes This quote from a famous Environmental activist explains my philosophy towards my interest in Environmental Studies. I am drawn to this field because I believe environmental work is inseparable from justice, equity, and accountability, and needs to be studied and pursued. As urbanization and globalization continue to accelerate, environmental harm is not experienced equally. Communities shaped by racial and socioeconomic inequality, particularly Black and other marginalized communities, are the most vulnerable to climate change, pollution, and inadequate environmental infrastructure. My decision to study Environmental Studies is rooted in a desire to confront these inequities directly and help contribute towards the solutions through community organizing, research, and public education I am particularly interested in how cities can be reimagined as spaces where environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and community well-being coexist. I am inspired by the idea of a solarpunk future, one in which technology works in harmony with nature rather than against it. Through my studies, I hope to learn how environmental policy, urban planning, and sustainable technologies can be applied in ways that prioritize people who have historically been excluded from environmental decision making. While research shows that racial minorities express deep concern for environmental issues, there remains a significant lack of investment and attention focused on environmental problems in minority and low-income communities. Climate change, toxic exposure, and failing infrastructure disproportionately affect Black communities, not because of individual choices, but because of long-standing purposeful structural neglect. This injustice motivates my academic and professional goals. I plan to use the knowledge and skills I gain through my degree to work directly with underserved communities, ensuring that environmental protection and innovation are not privileges reserved for wealthy or predominantly white cities. In the future, I hope to work in community centered environmental advocacy and urban design, both locally and globally. I want to collaborate with communities facing socioeconomic inequality to help design cities that are healthier, safer, and more sustainable. Whether through policy work, research, or grassroots organizing, my goal is to ensure that environmental solutions are informed by the voices and needs of the people most affected, like my loved ones. The advice I give to my family has to be nuanced because we are a low-income, people of color family. Environmentally friendly options often are the most expensive and are frankly out of budget for most people including my family; however that means that they do not overconsume. However, luckily, personal individual choices are not the main drivers of climate change are manufacturing, industrial sectors, and oil and gas energy sectors are the problem and the ones that we need to focus on regulating.