Throughout my life, I have encountered many challenges that have shaped me into the person I am today. These personal and financial challenges have tested my strength, perseverance, and resilience. I have faced adversity, but each hardship has taught me invaluable lessons, driven me to push forward, and reinforced my commitment to achieving my goals. Above all, the loss of my mother has been a pivotal moment in my life, one that has deepened my understanding of the importance of family, education, and the power of determination. When I was in the third grade, my life was forever altered by the passing of my mother. She was my best friend, I did everything with her. Her death left a void in my heart, one that I still feel every day. For months after her passing, I was sad, but 10-year-old me just thought life would continue that same way, but as I got older the more I realized that life would not be the same at all, not hearing her voice and seeing her every day killed me. I learned how to juggle multiple responsibilities, prioritize my time, and push through all the emotions that I go through every day. This scholarship will be instrumental in helping me achieve my educational goals by providing the financial support I need to focus entirely on my studies without the constant worry of how to cover tuition and other expenses. With this scholarship, I will be able to reduce the number of hours I need to work, allowing me to dedicate more time to my coursework, extracurricular activities, and internships that will enhance my learning experience. It will also enable me to access resources and opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach due to financial constraints. By easing my financial burden, this scholarship will empower me to pursue academic excellence and fully immerse myself in the experiences and skills that will help me succeed in my future career.

I plan to make a positive impact by working through small businesses. I plan to help small businesses grow and to create jobs. I have a desire to understand how organizations operate and how they can be leveraged to create value not just for shareholders, but for society as a whole. I enjoy communicating with people. There are a lot of things that I can do with a business degree for example. With focus on sustainability, I can advocate for environmentally responsible business practices, helping companies reduce their carbon footprint and promote ethical sourcing. Community development is something else that I would do with a business degree using business skills to support local economies, whether through consulting or by helping small businesses thrive, can strengthen communities and create lasting change. When I was in the 11th grade and I took a business law class, I began to realize how interested I was and that I wanted to know more. I was really dedicated to that class and it was one of the first classes I desired to take seriously. That's when I knew how much I was interested in business. I also joined a program called Young Life and as of right now I have to communicate and fundraise with people in order to pay for a trip this summer. At first, I was scared but I realized that if I wanted to be in the business field, talking, communicating, networking, and marketing myself would be something that I would have to do. Doing the fundraiser amplified my love for business. Now I am very sure that majoring in business is something that I would love to do. The dynamic nature of business, combined with the potential to innovate and drive change, makes it an exciting field to be a part of. The blend of creativity, strategy, and impact aligns well with my vision of how I can contribute positively to the world. I still don’t know what type of business I want to do in the future, but I am excited to take classes in a variety of areas like marketing, sales, accounting, and finance to see what area my skills and interests might align with. I know that business is something that I would dedicate my time and energy into. I am very excited for college and to learn about the business field and I know that I can make a more positive impact in the world just with business.