Growing up in a majority of low-income areas, my community didn't provide a lot of opportunities for activities outside of sports which made it hard for many kids that wanted to do things outside of basketball, football, and cheer; moving to South Carolina, the opportunities became even slimmer, but I am happy to say I was able to attend Palmetto Girls State at Presbyterian College, in Clinton, South Carolina and having other academic options such as painting businesses in a small town named Elloree, South Carolina. Still, there weren't many law enforcement or law opportunities in the rural area I live in currently. That is why I want to go to school and major in Criminal Justice to be able to go to other small rural regions of South Carolina and be able to share my experience with other people of color who live in rural areas and low-income individuals that are like me. Criminal Justice has been a passion of mines since I was in junior high, and I am happy to say that receiving this money can help my future in pursuing Criminal Justice on a federal level. With the schooling and many scholarship opportunities, I can give back to my community by possibly getting government funding for after-school programs for many hobbies or activities I and others weren't given. Other clubs that weren't athletic, I am saying more and better art, music, law, auto mechanic, business, and other neighborhood activities such as neighborhood cleaning, tutoring, community gardening, cleaner and safer parks, and having a better community center in general that we don't have to drive an hour or more away to attend. This proposal can help lower the crime rate in many low-income and rural areas such as the one I live in. I want to major in Criminal Justice, as previously mentioned numerous times, and possibly have a minor in a different language because helping individuals is something I have wanted to do for a long time. The first step is understanding and empathizing with individuals who aren't like me—at the same time, realizing what is needed and the steps we need to clean up our communities and make it safer for kids to have a safe place to play outside without worrying about getting hit by a stray bullet or speeding car. Having these better opportunities would also help individuals do things outside of social media and other things that can interest them outside of a phone or a tablet by letting people be themselves without the judgment and crowd of others.

Community service and education are important to me because I know that many families cannot afford the education that we are required by law to have, let alone the resources needed to help us while we are in school or even consider furthering our education. Community service is something that can be used to show that not only one person but an entire community cares enough about your environment and education. Having a community that cares about those things will help more students not be afraid and not feel like outcasts for wanting to go to college and do something outside of their community. I remember how I felt when I moved from one state to another; we still didn't have the proper resources, which made me even more afraid and made me feel like an outcast for wanting to do something and having big dreams to make a difference at such a young age. I wasn't necessarily living in the best environment physically, financially, and emotionally, and if I had lived in a community that wasn't so closed-minded, I wouldn't have felt embarrassed and scared about wanting to major in criminal justice. I knew my family was trying their best, and they still are, but it's hard financially and emotionally in rural communities. I believe that community service in my city will benefit students more by providing them with a space where they can be themselves without being judged or fearful for their lives, rather than being on the streets because that's all they knew, and by allowing them to make the best decision and future for themselves. Having community service can also help families see a future outside of poverty and outside of the mindset that selling drugs, fast money and they are only good for the military. Many kids like myself that lived in rural and urban areas don't see many positive things and aren't used to them things because of how small the area is and many do not think of the areas that are not on the map. You do not get that many opportunities versus if you were in a big city and had a better income which doesn't help many kids like myself. You don't have the one-on-one tutoring sections, we didn't have that many computers, not enough desks for students, not enough teachers, not enough events outside of sports and the proper counseling needed for parents and kids. Those are just a few of the things I believe are why community service and education are so important to me and how they can positively affect me and my community.