According to the ideal of the American Dream, everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue happiness and economic prosperity (Investopedia, Nov. 28, 2022). Coming from a single-parent, immigrant household with one income I understand the importance of the American Dream. I grew up in an overly underprivileged community in New York City called Harlem. Harlem is a radius of 1,400 sq miles, from East to West, North to South with little wiggle room. My community is made up of projects, tenements, a few family homes, and Brownstones (which are now owned by the wealthy) which reminds us of the limitations set within our community. Attending a public school (grade school to High school) in my community, there was little discussion based on the importance of financial literacy. Therefore, when it was time to enter junior high school, my mother made the choice to send me to schools outside of my set zone, as she knew how important it was to learn beyond the bare minimum. I was enrolled in programs that provided me guidance and enlightened my mindset with literacy. My first introduction to financial literacy was in a six-month program that I attended in eighth grade called the National Black MBA Association (N.B.M.B.A.A.). I first attended this program in junior high school shadowing a high school student, while my mother was also a mentor in the program. Once I became a high school student myself the following year, I enrolled as a mentee in the program and continued to participate for the next 4 years until completing the program and graduating high school. One of the best pieces of financial advice I was given from one of my mentors was the 50/30/20 rule. I never thought about how to budget my money, just knew it was important to “have” money. I learned tools and steps I could use and share on how to make my money more effective, avoid financial stress and gain stability, all at a young age. Understanding what a budget is, is the first step to the 50/30/20 rule, creating a realistic budget is just as important. Next, is the importance of tracking my spending (only purchasing what is most important; avoiding my wants before my needs). Last, is the power to save, saving for emergencies, a rainy day, or an unexpected issue. As I am now a college student studying a major in finance and economics, I am happy to have the tools of the 50/30/20 rule to help me master the curve balls and obstacles that a college student faces, especially when coming from a non-wealthy family. As we know, college students and their families face the burden and stress of college costs, however, it is not impossible to achieve the goals of completing college if you have a plan. I have used the 50/30/20 rule when applying it to simple things like my meal plan disbursement: cafeteria meals vs college bucks (college bucks: Are limited monies used for personal or preferred items like Starbucks, McDonald's, College Merchandise, etc.), when I take advantage of my three meals offered in my meal plan and avoid spending my college bucks, except when necessary or real need to use. While in college, I also make it my duty to help my peers understand their options for spending, teaching them how to start a budget and how to follow it, which takes a lot of mental strength and discipline, along with some good tools and support. My goal is to continue learning and provide the best tools and resources to help not only myself but others who look like me, coming from a community like mine, and know that they too can do it. I want to encourage others to understand that they have options and choices to succeed, although, it may not be easy. This scholarship will help me pay for bills associated with college, as I continue to learn, grow, and evolve in the person I am becoming. I plan to give back to my community and set an example to the next generation of underprivileged scholars, seeking an opportunity to become the best version of themselves, never forgetting where I came from. For this reason, is why, I am applying for this scholarship, to have a chance to worry less about finances and to prove who I came to be, without the worries of cost. Some people have an opportunity to college without the burden of financial stress, I am here for a chance to be in the race.

In my senior year and as I matriculate through college, I want to continue to be an advocate to issues important to minorities and the African American communities. My goal is to encourage others to chase what they believe in, to be an example for others from my community. This scholarship will help me pay for bills associated with the move of going to college , necessary items such as sheets, towels , soap and the basic needs. I come from a single parent, immigrant household with one income. Making it to graduating high school and going off to college is a big deal where I am from. However, it is a financial burden, with Mom and I alone. For this reason, is why, I am applying for this scholarship, to have a chance to worry less about finances and to prove who I came to be, without the worries of cost. Some people have an opportunity to college without the burden of financial stress, I am here for a chance to be in the race.

Growing up, I was encouraged to always take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves. Therefore, starting from freshman year in high school, I took that advice to do my best in everything I do. Over the years, I have taken the initiative to volunteer, coach and motivate other individuals to make choices that they can be proud of. I, am glad of the choices I have made, putting in the time and commitment to each project or activity I am apart of takes a lot of discipline. As a 17-year-old Senior, it is with pleasure to say that I have been a teen advocate at Channel 21 - WNET Student Advisory Board, a current Navy Junior R.O.T.C. cadet, a current intern at Harlem Youth Corp., a Member of the National Black MBA Association, just to name a few. With these platforms, I have been able to present ideas, solutions, and act on creating change on current situations affecting many like myself. For example, having discussions within my community that relate to topics such as gun violence, immigration, transgender rights, climate change, healthcare, and other important issues has pushed me to continue this marathon. In my senior year and as I matriculate through college, I want to continue to be an advocate to issues important to minorities and the African American communities. My goal is to encourage others to chase what they believe in, to be an example for others from my community. For this reason, is why, I am applying for this scholarship, to have a chance to prove who I can be, without the worries of cost. Some people have an opportunity to college without the burden of financial stress, I am here for a chance to be in the race.

Coming from one of the underprivileged neighborhoods of New York City, Harlem; I knew how significant the topic of Gun Violence would be to myself , my family, my community, and my generation of peers. Tylek Allen, was a friend of mines, leader, inspiring football player and positive role model in my neighborhood. He was only 18 years old, an only child for his mother and he was killed in 2017, due to gun violence. Tylek was the varsity football player of his high school football team and inspired to study law at John Jay College after graduation. My mother and his mother were friends; therefore, this touched me to know he was gone, murdered, with no arrest. "In the U.S. each year, firearms kill almost 1,300 American youngsters; boys and black children are most often the victims." (Rapaport,L. 2017). The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution allows the “Right to bear arm,” but, what does this mean? Some people believe that the Amendment's phrase "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" gives any individual a constitutional right to simply carry a gun if they choose. This creates a scary and horrifying image of the U.S. gun laws in the minds of many, including myself. In the United States guns are said to be more privately owned then in any other country. "Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. They experience 10 times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly 3 times the fatal police shootings of white Americans." (everytownresearch.org, 2022) Several weeks ago, there was a mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas that killed 19 children and 2 teachers. This makes me think, if this can occur at an elementary school , “How safe will I be for the next four years at a college campus?” Congress has the ability and power to create and put into effect, stricter gun laws. After the Texas shooting, I have seen many advocates, celebrities and other individuals speak on the importance of changing and tightening the gun control laws in the U.S. However, the U.S. gun laws still remain the same. I believe that if there is no change in the U.S. gun laws, we will continues to grieve over many more incidents live lost of gun violence, unnecessary shootings, murders and homicides, not only in schools and underprivileged neighborhoods but in churches, your local daycare, your after school programs and anywhere else people of the public can be. In my senior year and as I matriculate through college, I want to continue to be an advocate to issues important to minorities and the African American communities. My goal is to encourage others to chase what they believe in, to be an example for others from my community. For this reason, is why, I am applying for this scholarship, to have a chance to prove who I can be, without the worries of cost. Many of my choices I have made in life are because I've had a vision of my future being better than where I am now. Therefore, I volunteer , mentor, and am a Navy junior R.O.T.C. cadet. All these decisions were my choice to become the best version of the future me. Some people have an opportunity to college without the burden of financial stress, I am here for a chance to be in the race. I want to create opportunities for others who look like me , empower, motivate and inspire others to know, the world is bigger than our 1,400 sq miles in Harlem.