My name is TaKiyah Sims and I am an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am ambitious, caring, and most importantly a leader. Throughout the course of my middle school career I wondered about my transition into high school, thinking if it were to be anything like the movies? Death is everywhere and is an inevitable part of life that we all must go through. Just two months into my sophomore year my entire world changed as I experienced the sudden death of my father. I was fifteen years old, navigating through the challenges of life, the stresses of school and the confusion of teenhood while also dealing with a loss that most don’t experience until later in life. The past three years have been extremely difficult as my life has not gone the way in which I pictured it, exposing me to the realities of the world. I often felt as though the weight of the world was weighing down on my mind as my thoughts were vast and never ending about what was to come. With so much uncertainty around me I knew the one consistent thing in my life is what I was meant to do. My love for books and storytelling fostered itself from a young age and was reflected within me. There was no feeling like watching "Between the Lions", "Barney's Great Adventure" and "Beauty and the Beast", concluding that I just had to have a house library when I grew up. My love grew stronger and stronger the older I got and is now a crucial aspect of life that I cannot fathom putting into words. Literature gives me the ability to escape when the challenges of life seem more than I can handle, reminding me of the diversity of phases we all go through. Growing up I learned life is exactly like the movies, there will be highs and lows, happiness and sadness, confidence and uncertainty yet every story is just as beautiful as the next. Learning and improving within my field of study has healed me and my inner child in a multitude of ways, providing a safe space for me to flourish and honor my dad, my family and myself in a way that I did not always know would be possible. I wish to bring this experience to those around me presenting opportunities for creativity to shine by providing diversity and representation within the field of humanities, striving to own a bookstore one day. I know that life is unpredictable and tomorrow is not promised and am grateful for the opportunity that I have to study what I love and share my love with others. Something about me I have yet to mention is my honesty. I believe that I am deserving of receiving this Scholarship as my determination and hardships are what push me forward. I am confident that who I am as a person will take me far in life and that my transparency allows me to advocate for myself and my future. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity.

Throughout the course of my middle school career I wondered about my transition into high school, thinking if it were to be anything like the movies? Death is everywhere and is an inevitable part of life that we all must go through. Just two months into my sophomore year my entire world changed as I experienced the sudden death of my father. I was fifteen years old, navigating through the challenges of life, the stresses of school and the confusion of teenhood while also dealing with a loss that most don’t experience until later in life. The past four years have been extremely difficult as my life has not gone the way in which I pictured it, exposing me to the realities of the world. With so many changing factors in my life, a big change was the transition from high school to college. I often felt as though the weight of the world was weighing down on my mind as my thoughts were vast and never ending about what was to come. With so much uncertainty around me I knew the one consistent thing in my life is what I was meant to do. My love for books and storytelling fostered itself from a young age and was reflected within me. There was no feeling like watching "Between the Lions", "Barney's Great Adventure" and "Beauty and the Beast", concluding that I just had to have a house library when I grew up. My love grew stronger and stronger the older I became and is now a crucial aspect of life that I cannot fathom putting into words. Literature gives me the ability to escape when the challenges of life seem more than I can handle, reminding me of the diversity of phases we all go through. Growing up I learned life is exactly like the movies, there will be highs and lows, happiness and sadness, confidence and uncertainty yet every story is just as beautiful as the next. Harvesting my love for stories has allowed me to declare myself an English & Comparative Literature Major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learning and improving within my field of study has healed me and my inner child in a multitude of ways, providing a safe space for me to flourish and honor my dad, my family and myself in a way that I did not always know would be possible. My favorite part of my major is its diversity, allowing me to branch into numerous fields of study. While my biggest career goal is to open up my own Bookstore, I also wish to experience as many opportunities as possible. Knowing life is unpredictable and tomorrow is not promised, I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to study what I love and am optimistic for the future. Potentially being granted this scholarship means a lot to me as it would provide financial assistance to my upcoming journey. I learned to grow up fast because even as my world was shifting, I knew there was still immense work to be done. The road is far from easy but I plan to put my best foot forward everyday. I believe that I am deserving of receiving this Scholarship as my determination and hardships are what push me forward. I am confident that who I am as a person will take me far in life and that my transparency allows me to advocate for myself and my future. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity.

Redefining Passion “I turned to my left with the confidence a child has running to his mamma when he is afraid or in distress. to say to Virgil: 'Not a single drop of blood remains in me that does not tremble--I know the signs of the ancient flame. ‘But Virgil had departed, leaving us bereft: Virgil, sweetest of fathers, Virgil, to whom I gave myself for my salvation. And not all our ancient mother lost could save my cheeks, washed in the dew, from being stained again with tears.” The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri uses a first-person perspective to follow the Poet’s spiritual journey through Inferno, Purgatory and finally Paradise. Irish songwriter Hozier, inspired by the Comedy, released the song “Hymn to Virgil” in 2023. The song is written from Dante’s point of view, illustrating the relationship between the Poet and Virgil. Hozier hones in on the pain Dante endures just before he reaches Paradise as he must leave Virgil behind. Hozier’s “Hymn to Virgil” stresses the notion of platonic relationships having just as much, if not more passion than romantic relationships through his allusion to the Divine Comedy by incorporating themes of devotion, sacrifice and desperation within his piece. The Divine Comedy is made up of three canticles, Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso . The bond between Dante and his mentor, Virgil is established within the first canticle, Inferno, in which Virgil leads Dante through the nine circles of hell, teaching him about spirituality by contrasting the effects of sin with the peace found in virtue . Following the first canticle Dante and Virgil travel through Purgatory, a space divided into seven platforms, each representing one of the seven deadly sins. The journey prepares Dante for his assent to Paradise. However, before Dante leaves, he realizes Virgil is no longer with him, as he becomes trapped in Purgatory indefinitely due to his pagan beliefs. With Virgil forced to live in never ending pain and forced purification, Dante is left mourning his loss. Devotion can be described as an immense “loyalty and love or care for someone or something.” It is a common theme within “Hymn to Virgil” as Hozier continuously reinforces Dante’s devotion to Virgil in his writing. He writes “If I held in my hands everything gold could buy, I'd still not have a thing worth giving you” , emphasizing the love Dante holds for Virgil as even if he possessed all that the world had to offer, it would not equate to what Virgil deserves. This line establishes a pedestal to which Dante put Virgil on, showcasing his admiration and fondness for him. Further into the song another lyric reads “I wouldn't be seen walking through any door, some place that you're not welcome to.” This oath-like statement solidifies Dante’s loyalty as he promises to stand by Virgil, never associating himself with anything that fails to respect and praise him in the same manner in which he does. Dante’s unwavering devotion to Virgil is visible through Hozier’s use of declarations from him to Virgil. These declarations parallel to that of wedding vows, typically spoken between two individuals who share a romantic connection. This correspondence is intentional as the song illustrates how the promises and commitments between individuals can exist outside of romantic spheres. Devotion not only allows one to showcase their loyalty and love but also aids the formation of an altruistic bond. In extreme matters such as this, devotion can manifest into self-sacrifice, another theme adopted within “Hymn to Virgil”. Making a sacrifice is the action of giving “up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person.” Hozier makes reference to the sacrifices Virgil made for Dante by adding moments of reflection within his piece. The lyric, “You tell me the sun is shining in paradise, And I have to watch your lips turn blue” reminisces on the teachings of Heaven from Virgil to Dante while simultaneously recognizing that Virgil was not able to experience what he taught. Another line reads, “You stare at the faces smiling from somewhere warm, from some place the sunlight won’t come through.” Once again, the song acknowledges Virgil’s unfortunate situation as he witnesses the happiness of others while suffering from a forgotten place that not even the sun can reach. These quotes encapsulate the scale of Virgil’s suffering as he is stuck within a cold and dark place left with nothing but the view of those in Paradise. Virgil’s act serves as the ultimate sacrifice as he chose to help Dante after seeing his state of discontentment and daze , knowing he could not reside in paradise with him as he would become stuck within the confines of Purgatory. The compassion and empathy given to Dante by Virgil spans beyond that of couples as Virgil held the desire to relieve Dante’s suffering, even before knowing him personally. This aspiration to assist Dante marked the beginning stages of passion, which both grew to have. Virgil and Dante’s devotion lead to self-sacrifice, allowing Dante to reach Paradise ultimately changing his life for the better. However, this caused Dante to experience a newfound desperation as interpreted by Hozier. “A strong readiness to take any action, even extreme ones, to achieve a goal” stems from the feeling of desperation. The heaviness of Virgil’s situation weighed down the mind of Dante according to Hozier causing this feeling to build. The pre chorus and chorus of the song are sung multiple times creating repetition that intensifies its meaning. The pre chorus says, “I would burn the world to bring some heat to you” , openly admitting Dante’s willingness to sin even after experiencing the horrors of Inferno and meeting the Devil himself. The pre chorus serves as a response to Dante's claims in the chorus that “you are the reason I went through it, the only meaning as I knew it. And I can only do my best, I do not do this for myself.” Dante attributes his enlightenment and knowledge to Virgil as he was Dante’s motivation to persevere through the journey, serving as the reason for where he is today. Finally, the chorus concludes with the line “I’d Walk through Hell on living feet for you” , proposing Dante’s inclination to suffer if it meant paying Virgil back in any way. Suffering for the benefit of another is usually seen in romantic contexts as partners do all they can to ensure their significant other is happy . Dante exhibits his eagerness to allow Virgil to experience peace in the same way he has by going against his newfound morality. Letting go of what you believe in to benefit those you care about is an example of how intimacy and passion stretches further than just romantic relationships. By implementing themes of Devotion, Sacrifice and Desperation, Hozier creates a song that conveys the authentic passion and connection shared between Dante and Virgil. The piece confutes societal downplaying of platonic relationships, elevating their importance and the capacity in which they are talked about. By creating an aestheticized depiction of yearning in a non-sexual manner, Hozier is urging society to reconsider the way in which we belittle these relationships. By alluding to the relationship established within the Divine Comedy, Hozier introduced his audience to concepts that develop within romantic relationships as well as platonic ones.

I wish to inform the Scholarship Selection Committee of the special situation that I find myself in and how it has impacted my future. In October of 2021 my father passed away, a month before my sixteenth birthday. I never knew what I envisioned my future to look like but the death of my father altered the entire course of my life for my family and I. Being provided with an opportunity to apply for this scholarship and having the potential to be granted it means a lot to me as it would provide financial assistance to my upcoming journey into young adulthood and pursuing of higher education. My mother is the strongest and most resilient person I know as she has persevered through challenges many people would not have been able to push through as she lets her ambition, determination and faith lead her everyday. My goal in life has always been to help others and I would love to begin with the woman I most admire, my mother. She has balance the hardships of life while continuing to be being an amazing employee, support system and the best mother. Being able to assist my mom with this difficult thing known as life by working hard academically and striving to remove a financial load from her shoulders is a why that pushes me forward. My love for books and storytelling fostered itself from a young age. There was no feeling like watching "Between the Lions", "Barney's Great Adventure" and "Beauty and the Beast", concluding that I just had to have an in-house library when I grew up. My love grew stronger the older I was and is now a crucial aspect of life that I cannot fathom putting into words. Literature gives me the ability to escape when the challenges of life seem more than I can handle, reminding me of the diversity of phases we all go through. Learning about the immense opportunities available for humanities students like myself gave me so much joy and an eagerness to discover the way in which the art of literature has spread throughout the world. Studying what I love is a gift I never take for granted, constantly reflecting on how thankful I am to have the opportunity to pursue what I love. Majoring in English & Comparative Literature with a minor in Classics has allowed me the opportunity to interact with pieces of literature with rich heritage, learn from professors with diverse cultural backgrounds and study at a school with alumni who have made critical advances inside and outside my field of study. My future goal is to experience a range of roles within my field of study, maximizing my exposure to fully grasp the beauty it holds. Being granted this financial opportunity would mean the world to me as it would allow the opportunity to continue to pursue what I love, using my hardships to push me forward. I am confident that who I am as a person will take me far in life and that my transparency allows me to advocate for myself and my future. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity.

Throughout the course of my middle school career I wondered about my transition into high school, thinking if it were to be anything like the movies? Death is everywhere and is an inevitable part of life that we all must go through. Just two months into my sophomore year my entire world changed as I experienced the sudden death of my father. I was fifteen years old, navigating through the challenges of life, the stresses of school and the confusion of teenhood while also dealing with a loss that most don’t experience until later in life. The past four years have been extremely difficult as my life has not gone the way in which I pictured it, exposing me to the realities of the world. With so many changing factors in my life, a big change was the transition from high school to college. I often felt as though the weight of the world was weighing down on my mind as my thoughts were vast and never ending about what was to come. With so much uncertainty around me I knew the one consistent thing in my life is what I was meant to do. My love for books and storytelling fostered itself from a young age and was reflected within me. There was no feeling like watching "Between the Lions", "Barney's Great Adventure" and "Beauty and the Beast", concluding that I just had to have a house library when I grew up. My love grew stronger and stronger the older I became and is now a crucial aspect of life that I cannot fathom putting into words. Literature gives me the ability to escape when the challenges of life seem more than I can handle, reminding me of the diversity of phases we all go through. Growing up I learned life is exactly like the movies, there will be highs and lows, happiness and sadness, confidence and uncertainty yet every story is just as beautiful as the next. Harvesting my love for stories has allowed me to declare myself an English & Comparative Literature Major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learning and improving within my field of study has healed me and my inner child in a multitude of ways, providing a safe space for me to flourish and honor my dad, my family and myself in a way that I did not always know would be possible. My favorite part of my major is its diversity, allowing me to branch into numerous fields of study. While my biggest career goal is to open up my own Bookstore, I also wish to experience as many opportunities as possible. Knowing life is unpredictable and tomorrow is not promised, I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to study what I love and am optimistic for the future. Potentially being granted this scholarship means a lot to me as it would provide financial assistance to my upcoming journey. I learned to grow up fast because even as my world was shifting, I knew there was still immense work to be done. The road is far from easy but I plan to put my best foot forward everyday. I believe that I am deserving of receiving this Scholarship as my determination and hardships are what push me forward. I am confident that who I am as a person will take me far in life and that my transparency allows me to advocate for myself and my future. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity.

Throughout the course of my middle school career I wondered about my transition into highschool, thinking if it were to be anything like the movies? Death is everywhere and is an inevitable part of life that we all must go through. Just two months into my sophomore year my entire world changed as I experienced the sudden death of my father. I was fifteen years old, navigating through the challenges of life, the stresses of school and the confusion of teenhood while also dealing with a loss that most don’t experience until later in life. The past three years have been extremely difficult as my life has not gone the way in which I pictured it, exposing me to the realities of the world. With so many changing factors in my life, my biggest upcoming change is the transition from highschool to college. I often feel as though the weight of the world is weighing down my mind as my thoughts are vast and never ending about the future and what is to come. Academic success is a big weight I struggle with as there are many expectations and requirements that come with maintaining a high academic standing, supporting and encouraging the class of 2024 as we move into the new chapters of our lives. As Valedictorian I strive to be a role model and support system to my schoolmates, giving me a reason to push even harder to succeed and model the possibilities of what anyone is capable of. This upcoming fall semester I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My major is currently undecided as I have always found difficulty in deciding what I wish to do with the rest of my life. I am someone who loves leadership and creativity though when it comes to determining what I consider to be one of the hardest decisions I will be making, I draw a blank in my mind as to where I see myself in the future. I am hopeful that if I am to receive this scholarship, I will be able to implement all that I have learned throughout my academic career and life to reach my biggest goal in life which is to obtain happiness not only for myself but for others as well. Receiving this scholarship would mean a lot to me as it can assist in supporting my future, making this big transition from highschool to college a little easier. I believe that my leadership, resilience, ambition and creativity will take me far in life, guiding my future in a positive direction and with help from this scholarship, I will be able to use these traits to do so. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity that has been given to me. Thank you.

When I think about my future, I think about the destiny it may hold. I find peace in creativity, joy in reading and passion in purpose and originality. Yet when I look at my future I draw, not a definitive answer but a list of possibilities instead. My mind is vast and my thoughts are never ending, leading to my proactive lifestyle filled with analysis. Ten years from now I will have graduated from college, entering a time of creation, growth and self awareness as I develop into the person I wish to become. I see myself beginning to complete my biggest life journey of fulfillment, peace and happiness. In the future I wish to have my own business and career geared towards providing joy within not just my life but also the lives of others. Choosing a career path for myself has proven to be difficult as I find interest in many things and recognize the endless paths in which my life can take. The one thing I am sure of is that in ten years I see myself using my gifts, knowledge, experiences and insight to make the world a happier place, healing myself and helping others in the process. I love entertainment and building social relationships. The world needs more kindness, enjoyment, laughter, community and support and in my future, I see myself contributing to make these things happen. As I am beginning a new chapter of my life, expanding my education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I think of their mission statement. UNC strives to serve as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders. Through my UNC education combined with my life experiences and preexisting knowledge I will have the tools necessary to contribute to the change that I wish to see in the world. A leader is a person who rules, guides or inspires others. Of the immense changes that we must undergo as we develop in life, I wish to never lose my ability to lead as a role model for others. In the future I wish to guide others in a positive, joyous direction while continuing to lead myself down a path of success, resilience and pride in all that I do. Although life is filled with what ifs and the fates are endless, in the future I see myself growing into the person I wish to be while implementing my education, knowledge and experiences to add happiness to the world we live in. Potentially being granted this scholarship means a lot to me as it would provide financial assistance to my upcoming journey. The road is far from easy but I plan to put my best foot forward everyday. I believe that I am deserving of receiving this Scholarship as my determination and hardships are what push me forward. I am confident that who I am as a person will take me far in life and that my transparency allows me to advocate for myself and my future. I am honored to be considered for this scholarship and thank you for the opportunity.

One of the biggest challenges I have ever faced was the loss of my father when I was fifteen years old. I can confidently say that this was the most monumental period of my life and has shaped me into the person that I am today. The hardest part about losing a parent is reflecting on what you could have done differently and how your life will never be the same from this point on. I have undergone a multitude of emotions and have spent many hours trying to determine where I go from here? The path to healing has been rocky and everyday is different. I wish I could say that things get easier but that is not always the case. I have gained a higher sense of anxiety and have experienced a period of unidentified anger and sadness. I sit and think about how my life would be different if the accident never occurred, but it did. Although I am nowhere near perfect and have no intentions to be, the loss of my father has taught me to live everyday to the fullest because you never know what each day will bring. My father passed away one month before my sixteenth birthday and after his passing, I felt as if there was a hole in the pages of my life, creating a gap that could never be filled. I became very discouraged about what was to come and how losing a parent would affect me. I was no longer excited for my birthday because how could I have a sweet sixteen without my funniest supporter by my side. Going back to school was difficult and life from that point on could only be described as different. I felt as if I lacked control over myself, my emotions and my future, putting my life on pause. However, I had to realize that life is not perfect but when times get hard you should not stop living. So I inserted myself into school activities, made more friends, became more invested in my schoolwork and strived to live a life that I could be proud of. I want to look back on my life, take pride in my decisions and feel accomplished with my achievements. Life is hard and there’s no way to get around that. Everything will not come easily, things take hard work and unfortunate circumstances will arise. But life is also beautiful and can create memories and bonds that can last a lifetime. I know I am not perfect. I know that some days will be harder than others. I know that bad things happen and there is not always a solution to everything. But I know that there will always be better days. I know that after every storm there is sunshine and that there are so many reasons to keep living. So although the loss of my father has forever changed my outlook on life, the person I am and what my future holds, I will continue to grow into the person I wish to be and will try my best to live everyday to the fullest in honor of my father.

One of the biggest challenges I have ever faced was the loss of my father when I was fifteen years old. I can confidently say that this was the most monumental period of my life and has shaped me into the person that I am today. The hardest part about losing a parent is reflecting on what you could have done differently and how your life will never be the same from this point on. I have undergone a multitude of emotions and have spent many hours trying to determine where I go from here? The path to healing has been rocky and everyday is different. I wish I could say that things get easier but that is not always the case. I have gained a higher sense of anxiety and have experienced a period of unidentified anger and sadness. I sit and think about how my life would be different if the accident never occurred, but it did. Although I am nowhere near perfect and have no intentions to be, the loss of my father has taught me to live everyday to the fullest because you never know what each day will bring. My father passed away one month before my sixteenth birthday and after his passing, I felt as if there was a hole in the pages of my life, creating a gap that could never be filled. I became very discouraged about what was to come and how losing a parent would affect me. I was no longer excited for my birthday because how could I have a sweet sixteen without my funniest supporter by my side. Going back to school was difficult and life from that point on could only be described as different. I felt as if I lacked control over myself, my emotions and my future, putting my life on pause. However, I had to realize that life is not perfect but when times get hard you should not stop living. So I inserted myself into school activities, made more friends, became more invested in my schoolwork and strived to live a life that I could be proud of. I want to look back on my life, take pride in my decisions and feel accomplished with my achievements. Life is hard and there’s no way to get around that. Everything will not come easily, things take hard work and unfortunate circumstances will arise. But life is also beautiful and can create memories and bonds that can last a lifetime. I know I am not perfect. I know that some days will be harder than others. I know that bad things happen and there is not always a solution to everything. But I know that there will always be better days. I know that after every storm there is sunshine and that there are so many reasons to keep living. So although the loss of my father has forever changed my outlook on life, the person I am and what my future holds, I will continue to grow into the person I wish to be and will try my best to live everyday to the fullest in honor of my father.

One of the biggest challenges I have ever faced was the loss of my father when I was fifteen years old. I can confidently say that this was the most monumental period of my life and has shaped me into the person that I am today. The hardest part about losing a parent is reflecting on what you could have done differently and how your life will never be the same from this point on. I have undergone a multitude of emotions and have spent many hours trying to determine where I go from here? The path to healing has been rocky and everyday is different. I wish I could say that things get easier but that is not always the case. I have gained a higher sense of anxiety and have experienced a period of unidentified anger and sadness. I sit and think about how my life would be different if the accident never occurred, but it did. Although I am nowhere near perfect and have no intentions to be, the loss of my father has taught me to live everyday to the fullest because you never know what each day will bring. My father passed away one month before my sixteenth birthday and after his passing, I felt as if there was a hole in the pages of my life, creating a gap that could never be filled. I became very discouraged about what was to come and how losing a parent would affect me. I was no longer excited for my birthday because how could I have a sweet sixteen without my funniest supporter by my side. Going back to school was difficult and life from that point on could only be described as different. I felt as if I lacked control over myself, my emotions and my future, putting my life on pause. However, I had to realize that life is not perfect but when times get hard you should not stop living. So I inserted myself into school activities, made more friends, became more invested in my schoolwork and strived to live a life that I could be proud of. I want to look back on my life, take pride in my decisions and feel accomplished with my achievements. Life is hard and there’s no way to get around that. Everything will not come easily, things take hard work and unfortunate circumstances will arise. But life is also beautiful and can create memories and bonds that can last a lifetime. I know I am not perfect. I know that some days will be harder than others. I know that bad things happen and there is not always a solution to everything. But I know that there will always be better days. I know that after every storm there is sunshine and that there are so many reasons to keep living. So although the loss of my father has forever changed my outlook on life, the person I am and what my future holds, I will continue to grow into the person I wish to be and will try my best to live everyday to the fullest in honor of my father.