“How come you never talk?'' Just five words rattled my brain constantly, yet I could never think of a good enough answer. I believe it began in middle school when I tried befriending the other black girls in my grade. I tried to be vulnerable, expressing my thoughts and reasoning, hoping for new connections; however, they made me feel weird because the things I cared about did not match their own. How come nobody understands me? I thought. I did not know who I was or what I liked for a long time. All I knew was that I was different. I started to change who I was. How I talked, dressed, and acted in public was no longer genuine. Though it seemed I was fitting in, I didn’t feel like myself at all. Soon, I became a recluse. Then it rained. I thought, does the rain know its purpose? An odd question, yes, but a life-changing one for me. The rain falls and the world watches, acknowledging its existence but wishing it would go away. We look for the sun because it seems to give more comfort as it’s what we associate with happiness, life, and beauty. But rain is a key element of the water cycle, vital to all life on Earth and of the Earth itself. This cycle holds our world together, replenishing aquifers, regulating climates, and feeding plants, animals, and humans. How come we often fail to see its beauty, its importance, and all it has to offer? At that moment, I understood. Through all the judgment, the rain never changes, never questions itself, or belittles itself; it continues to be what it is: rain. Drawing parallels to my own life, I decided to stop waiting for others to understand me. Rain or shine, I remembered to be true to myself. My personality may be misunderstood, but I realized I didn’t need to change. I knew who I was, who I wanted to be, and the impression I wanted to leave. This discovery drew me toward Cognitive Science and who we are as humans. My new interest empowered me to create a community that would welcome other teens like me (especially Black girls) and help them understand themselves as well. This led me to co-found an Anthropology Club at my high school, creating a safe space for students from all backgrounds, identities, and cultures, to communicate and connect. As a child of Nigerian immigrants with five siblings, our finances have always been an obstacle for us. Over the past few years, we have struggled to put food on the table and buy necessities for one person, let alone eight people. The Barbara J DeVaney Memorial Scholarship would lift a major weight off my shoulders, as well as my parents, as it finally gives us the chance at saving money. The scholarship would be used for my college education at Northwestern University, where I will be studying Cognitive Science and Data Science. My dream has been to help others discover their passions, and as much as that fuels me, I also fight to create a future for myself where I can give back to my parents who have sacrificed everything for their children. Receiving this scholarship would fund my college education, and subsequently, my future career endeavors of paving the way for Black girls in STEM; recognizing their potential in our society. This money would be a stepping stone to my future aspirations to give back to the Black community and my parents, as they have all shaped me into the young woman I am today.

“How come you never talk?'' Just five words rattled my brain constantly, yet I could never think of a good enough answer. I believe it began in middle school when I tried befriending the other black girls in my grade. I tried to be vulnerable, expressing my thoughts and reasoning, hoping for new connections; however, they made me feel weird because the things I cared about did not match their own. How come nobody understands me? I thought. I did not know who I was or what I liked for a long time. All I knew was that I was different. I started to change who I was. How I talked, dressed, and acted in public was no longer genuine. Though it seemed I was fitting in, I didn’t feel like myself at all. Losing myself, I became a recluse. Then it rained. I thought, does the rain know its purpose? An odd question, yes, but a life-changing one for me. The rain falls and the world watches, acknowledging its existence but wishing it would go away. We look for the sun because it seems to give more comfort as it’s what we associate with happiness, life, and beauty. But rain is a key element of the water cycle, vital to all life on Earth and of the Earth itself. This cycle is what holds our world together. Replenishing aquifers, regulating climates, and feeding plants, animals, and humans. How come we often fail to see its beauty, its importance, and all it has to offer? At that moment, I understood. Through all the judgment, the rain never changes, never questions itself, or belittles itself; it continues to be what it is: rain. Drawing parallels to my own life, I decided to stop waiting for others to understand me. Rain or shine, I remembered to be true to myself. My personality may be misunderstood, but I realized I didn’t need to change. I knew who I was, who I wanted to be, and the impression I wanted to leave. This discovery drew me toward Cognitive Science and who we are as humans. My new interest empowered me to create a community that would welcome other teens like me (especially Black girls) and help them understand themselves as well. This led me to co-found an Anthropology Club at my high school, creating a safe space for students from all backgrounds, identities, and cultures, to communicate and connect. Furthermore, I aspire to bring that type of community wherever I go. I hope to demonstrate what finding yourself and being confident can do, empowering those I meet to do the same. Bringing my own experiences and the knowledge I acquire through my undergraduate studies, I plan to challenge the standards of conformity in our society as a whole, as well as in the Black community. I want to serve as an example to my fellow Black girls who struggle to see themselves as beautiful, unique, and strong. I hope to show them the versatility of embracing different world views and using them to spark change—big or small. I hope they’re compelled to break down barriers. My career in Cognitive Science would allow me to look at the world and humans in a new light, curating intuitive and meaningful findings that will influence others in the Cognitive Science community and beyond. “How come you never talk?” A question that I still don’t have a complete answer to, but through those long rainy days, is now a reminder of how far I’ve come, and my push for an even better future.

In 2005, my parents decided to build their lives back from scratch in a new country with four children. For my parents, there was no such thing as staying still. They believed that we must always be working and fighting for a greater future, just as they had done for themselves and their family. Born just months after my family emigrated to the United States, I was the beginning of a new legacy in a new country. With that special task, I struggled to figure out who I was. I realized that a major reason for not knowing myself was that I never knew my heritage. In June 2022, we began a new journey back to Nigeria. The biggest aspect of the trip was self-reflection. I noticed that I was finally in Nigeria and around the culture I had always lacked experience in, but felt odd. It hadn’t been processed in my mind that growing up in the U.S. instead of Nigeria, is a huge factor in who I am. I expected to snap into the mold of being a “native Nigerian” just by living there for a month. This time allowed me to heal my turmoil regarding constantly moving. Constantly working, studying for the SAT, and staying up thinking of whether or not I had a real academic future. I learned to slow down and look at all you have to offer to this world. My time in Nigeria and out of it, showed me different career paths, even those outside of the “Nigerian norm.” I have discovered a new identity for myself as a Nigerian, one that I am not afraid to hide or forced to live into; but instead one that encapsulates my full capabilities and passions I bring to my heritage and my future.

In the age of various types of social media and rising tensions with social issues, performative activism and activism through social media seem to have skyrocketed. As an avid TikTok user, I come across dozens of videos each day discussing several issues around the world, but that is not the issue. The issue with many of the videos I see are from non-people of color, talking about issues concerning people of color. Generally, these videos mean no harm and show the creator's genuine interest or heartfelt concern, but disparity becomes present when similar videos from people of color are created. Videos created by people of color on issues regarding people of color tend to get less attention on social media, especially TikTok. As a Black person and someone who advocates for the Black community, my focus for this topic will be videos created regarding Black issues. Black creators on social media are often passively silenced by the algorithm, while white creators can speak on the same issue and be regarded as “knowing what they are talking about.” A major issue with this is because of the power dynamic in Society and especially in the areas of Society that can create change for the Black community and other people of color. The United States government is widely white, protestant, cis-gendered males, who claim they care about people of color and making a difference in those communities. They create legislation based on what they see fit, more often than not, disregarding the people of the communities they are affecting with their legislation. This is especially evident recently with the passing of a “Cop City” in Atlanta, Georgia, a project millions of people oppose and have protested against. Additionally, the actions taken against Trans people, especially Trans youth, show the staggering disconnect between those in power and those who are supposedly underneath them. Time and time again, the voices of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised have been ignored, while the often performative feelings of those more powerful have been highlighted. This cycle of picking and choosing who and what to listen to has and continues to hurt the lives of millions and is creating a hidden, but deadly, version of force. The use of social media in spreading information regarding these issues has been a silent aggressor in belittling those already reeling from discrimination on various scales, and Society must change its look on it. That does not mean social media should not be used to further advancements for those who are disadvantaged, rather it means that the voices of the disadvantaged should be the ones we hear and see primarily. The people who were born into a Society that has done everything to keep them from success should have the first and best look into what should be done better. The only way for the problems of the disadvantaged to be truly addressed is for us as a whole to open our eyes to the actions put forth by the oppressed and the harm that our attention to the opinions of those who are not oppressed is posing to the success of all aspects of our Society.

“Who are you and what do you want?” A simple, yet confusing, question I repeatedly asked myself. I never had a community growing up. I stayed inside my room and my head, confused and alone. The isolation affected me, leading my thoughts to be overcome with hatred and sadness. The time spent by myself made me wonder who I even was or what I wanted to do with myself. I searched day in and day out but to no avail. I knew my mind wasn’t “okay,” but I didn’t know why and I didn’t know how my thoughts and feelings got to that point. Being the curious person I am, I used the internet to figure out what was wrong. My discovery of psychology and cognition changed my life forever, opening my existential confusion but also my path to a real community. Continuing my research on Cognitive Science and Psychology, immediately Anthropology caught my eye; I knew I saw that word before. At that time I was trying to find clubs to join to find friends and I learned that my school had an Anthropology Club. Though it was on the list of clubs offered, nobody was in the club, so I made the effort to join. Attending the first meeting was eye-opening: I was in love with this topic and I knew there were other students who would love to hear about it too. I took on the responsibility of creating posters and flyers to tell incoming freshmen at their orientation about the club. My plan was to create a comfortable and interesting space where students can share their experiences, learn about others and their experiences, and create a community. Throughout my time curating the club, I had always wished I could have brought the mission further. I knew there were and would be countless minorities at my school who needed just one person on their side. The club was open to everyone, but many may not have the accessibility to stay after school. I wanted to create a website or social media page that would address the club and all it entails, in the hopes of drawing more to the community. Incorporating technology into the project would allow more of my fellow classmates and even people across my state or the country. As someone who dealt with identity issues as a Black girl, I spent my time searching for a sense of community online, and at times, those online communities saved my life. Now for me to pursue a degree in technology, I am furthering my knowledge in areas I know I can use to give back to people who are like me: lost, confused, and unmotivated. Pursuing technology allows me and others to work behind the scenes to create one-of-a-kind projects that can stretch across the world, and that is what my next mission is: to bring a community to anyone who needs it.

“How come you never talk?'' Just five words rattled my brain constantly, yet I could never think of a good enough answer. I believe it began in middle school when I tried befriending the other black girls in my grade. I tried to be vulnerable, expressing my thoughts and reasoning, hoping for new connections; however, they made me feel weird because the things I cared about did not match their own. How come nobody understands me? I thought. I did not know who I was or what I liked for a long time. All I knew was that I was different. I started to change who I was. How I talked, dressed, and acted in public was no longer genuine. Though it seemed I was fitting in, I didn’t feel like myself at all. Losing myself, I became a depressed. Then it rained. I thought, does the rain know its purpose? An odd question, yes, but a life-changing one for me. The rain falls and the world watches, acknowledging its existence but wishing it would go away. We look for the sun because it seems to give more comfort as it’s what we associate with happiness, life, and beauty. But rain is a key element of the water cycle, vital to all life on Earth and of the Earth itself. This cycle is what holds our world together. Replenishing aquifers, regulating climates, and feeding plants, animals, and humans. How come we often fail to see its beauty, its importance, and all it has to offer? At that moment, I understood. Through all the judgment, the rain never changes, never questions itself, or belittles itself; it continues to be what it is: rain. Drawing parallels to my own life, I decided to stop waiting for others to understand me. Rain or shine, I remembered to be true to myself. My personality may be misunderstood, but I realized I didn’t need to change. I knew who I was, who I wanted to be, and the impression I wanted to leave. This discovery drew me toward Cognitive Science and who we are as humans. My new interest empowered me to create a community that would welcome other teens like me (especially Black girls) and help them understand themselves as well. This led me to co-found an Anthropology Club at my high school, creating a safe space for students from all backgrounds, identities, and cultures, to communicate and connect. Furthermore, I aspire to bring that type of community wherever I go. I hope to demonstrate what finding yourself and being confident can do, empowering those I meet to do the same. Bringing my own experiences and the knowledge I acquire through my undergraduate studies, I plan to challenge the standards of conformity in our society as a whole, as well as in the Black community. I want to serve as an example to my fellow Black girls who struggle to see themselves as beautiful, unique, and strong. I hope to show them the versatility of embracing different world views and using them to spark change—big or small. I hope they’re compelled to break down barriers. I will inspire others to speak up and go where their voices will be valued, just as I now do. “How come you never talk?” A question that I still don’t have a complete answer to, but through those long rainy days, is now a reminder of how far I’ve come, and my push for an even better future.

“How come you never talk?'' Just five words rattled my brain constantly, yet I could never think of a good enough answer. I believe it began in middle school when I tried befriending the other black girls in my grade. I tried to be vulnerable, expressing my thoughts and reasoning, hoping for new connections; however, they made me feel weird because the things I cared about did not match their own. How come nobody understands me? I thought. I did not know who I was or what I liked for a long time. All I knew was that I was different. I started to change who I was. How I talked, dressed, and acted in public was no longer genuine. Though it seemed I was fitting in, I didn’t feel like myself at all. Losing myself, I became a recluse. Then it rained. I thought, does the rain know its purpose? An odd question, yes, but a life-changing one for me. The rain falls and the world watches, acknowledging its existence but wishing it would go away. We look for the sun because it seems to give more comfort as it’s what we associate with happiness, life, and beauty. But rain is a key element of the water cycle, vital to all life on Earth and of the Earth itself. This cycle is what holds our world together. Replenishing aquifers, regulating climates, and feeding plants, animals, and humans. How come we often fail to see its beauty, its importance, and all it has to offer? At that moment, I understood. Through all the judgment, the rain never changes, never questions itself, or belittles itself; it continues to be what it is: rain. Drawing parallels to my own life, I decided to stop waiting for others to understand me. Rain or shine, I remembered to be true to myself. My personality may be misunderstood, but I realized I didn’t need to change. I knew who I was, who I wanted to be, and the impression I wanted to leave. This discovery drew me toward Cognitive Science and who we are as humans. My new interest empowered me to create a community that would welcome other teens like me (especially Black girls) and help them understand themselves as well. This led me to co-found an Anthropology Club at my high school, creating a safe space for students from all backgrounds, identities, and cultures, to communicate and connect. Furthermore, I aspire to bring that type of community wherever I go. I hope to demonstrate what finding yourself and being confident can do, empowering those I meet to do the same. Bringing my own experiences and the knowledge I acquire through my undergraduate studies, I plan to challenge the standards of conformity in our society as a whole, as well as in the Black community. I want to serve as an example to my fellow Black girls who struggle to see themselves as beautiful, unique, and strong. I hope to show them the versatility of embracing different world views and using them to spark change—big or small. I hope they’re compelled to break down barriers. I will inspire others to speak up and go where their voices will be valued, just as I now do. “How come you never talk?” A question that I still don’t have a complete answer to, but through those long rainy days, is now a reminder of how far I’ve come, and my push for an even better future.