I am Taniya Precious Teamer, a first-generation Business Management student from Chicago, Illinois with a 3.5 GPA. I developed an interest in business after having not-so-great consumer experiences. I recognized that in order to drive change in certain businesses— in my case, entertainment industries— I would have to understand the process of a business from within first. Although it is a very niche route to follow with a business career, I want to become a talent agent and own my agency. There is where I can develop a safe space for talents and uplift them in all endeavors. I want to start by placing my business in a low income community to assist the talents like me— from the “hood” and often disregarded and given seldom opportunity. I am adamant on using my education to create a safe space and platform for talents in low income communities and neighborhoods. Growing up, I found a love for the performing arts but quickly realized there weren’t many opportunities where I lived. And due to the funding issues quickly arising with Chicago Public Schools, the funding for any programs fizzled out. I want to develop a performing arts academy and talent management agency starting in low income and defunded communities. This way, I can give children that are like me the chance to immerse themselves in a plethora of activities and outlets that weren't available to me in my adolescence — and are still not available now. There is so much talent in communities like mine but they get overlooked and have no one to invest in their wellbeing, uplift them, and provide new opportunities. Furthermore, I often see that talent—specifically Black talent— from these communities aren’t as appreciated or they aren’t given the recognition and support they deserve from their own management. I want these things to change. That is why when I am able to obtain my degree, I am going to be that change. My business will support and protect the talent that flourished from the communities that many overlooked. But first, I will have to fully get my education so I can create this. I am very thankful to have an opportunity to earn this scholarship. Coming from a city and a community that has been given up on, I want to be a beacon of hope and a support system. I plan to use my knowledge from college to create a business that will bring light and opportunity to neighborhoods that don’t have it.

Hello, I am Taniya Precious Teamer. I am a Chicago native and sophomore business management major minoring in Dance at the HBCU that is home to the hornets, Alabama State University.I need this scholarship because I often find myself stressed about my remaining balance on my student account. It often frightens me that money will keep me from continuing my academic journey. I need this scholarship so I can continue learning and reach my goals and aspirations. In the future, I am adamant on creating a safe space and platform for talents in low income communities and neighborhoods. Growing up, I found a love for the performing arts but quickly realized there weren’t many opportunities where I lived. And due to the funding issues quickly arising with Chicago Public Schools, the funding for any programs fizzled out. I want to develop a performing arts academy and talent management agency starting in low income and defunded communities. This way, I can give children that are like me the chance to immerse themselves in a plethora of activities and outlets that weren't available to me in my adolescence — and are still not available now. There is so much talent in communities like mine but they get overlooked and have no one to invest in their wellbeing, uplift them, and provide new opportunities. Furthermore, I often see that talent—specifically Black talent— from these communities aren’t as appreciated or they aren’t given the recognition and support they deserve from their own management. I want these things to change. That is why when I am able to obtain my degree, I am going to be that change. My business will support and protect the talent that flourished from the communities that many overlooked. I am very big on service. My history with community service goes back to high school with Embarc Chicago and from then, I haven’t stopped. My range of community service spans across assistance with campus events like Hornet Haul where we help freshmen move-in, an endless amount of events with the University Programs and Activities Board which I am a part of, to STEM fairs for communities with low STEM funding in schools. I have even volunteered with animals as well as children at Best Wishes Daycare and aspiring dancers at George Westinghouse College Prep. I have even created a book organization that takes pride in enhancing literacy in the youth whether that’s us reading to the children or possibly even having a book drive and donating new books to them in the near future. I love to help out all types of people who are in need. I always want to be of service to communities because I personally know how someone reaching out to help can mean a lot. I would be very thankful to be blessed with this scholarship as it will help drive forward my academics by eliminating financial burdens. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

In Olivia Rodrigo's song "Lacy" from the GUTS album, the lyric, "I feel your compliments like bullets on skin," strikes a chord with me as a young Black woman who is affected by societal beauty standards. The song's vivid description of Lacy having skin similar to puff pastries instantly let me know that the song was not just about wishing you could be like any random girl but specifically like a lighter—whiter girl. For me, this song captures the yearning and envy surrounding white women's privilege, has become melodic background noise to my personal reflections and feelings. From my formative years, the media often tethered beauty and delicacy exclusively to white women. As a young girl, this narrative, made me feel excluded from the conventional definition of beauty. Now, as a teenage girl, I still feel that way. Compliments, especially from white women, carried a heavy, uneasy weight. I knew their “compliments” were more like a complex interplay of microaggressions and backhanded remarks most of the time. If they were calling me pretty, the underlying message was still clear that they actually meant: “You’re pretty—for a Black girl, of course”. The so-called compliments reinforced the idea that I could never embody the precious sweetness and fragility associated with white women. This dynamic made those compliments feel like bullets on my skin— they were penetrating, painful reminders of the unattainable standards that were imposed upon me from birth. This lyric specifically captures the essence of growing up as a teenage girl of color with the challenge of constantly wishing you could be just as desirable as your white counterparts. Going through these experiences, the impact of compliments, even when well-intentioned, felt like emotional bullets, leaving lasting impressions on my self-esteem. The song lyric serves as a gentle reminder of the intricate emotions tied to beauty standards teen girls try so hard to keep up with and it for me it fosters empathy for the struggles faced by young Black girls in growing up with unrealistic standards set by society. In a world where beauty ideals often are exclusive to one kind of woman, the song's portrayal of envy becomes a relatable narrative. It softly underscores the yearning to break free from the constraints and comparison caused by society too. I believe that as we progress, it is crucial to create an environment where diverse forms of beauty are acknowledged and celebrated. Olivia Rodrigo’s song "Lacy" serves as a reminder that, beneath the layers of societal expectations, lies the shared human experience of longing for acceptance and understanding. In acknowledging these shared emotions, we can collectively contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate narrative surrounding beauty for the youth.

Hello, thank you so much for this scholarship opportunity. I am Taniya Teamer, a Chicago native and undergraduate student at Alabama State University. Since I was a young girl, dance has been my emotional outlet. In addition, being able to dance after school gave me somewhere safer to be instead of being out in my dangerous neighborhood. That’s why I am pursuing a career that allows me to manage dance studios in low-income areas and give their children a safe space and an outlet for expression. This way I could help protect children and give them opportunities in the way I know best. In many communities that low-income, Black people live in, there aren't many resources and creative outlets for the children. It’s common to see many performing arts places in higher-income areas of cities rather than the lower-income areas. From the start, children in lower-income communities aren’t even exposed to the arts. And because they are low-income, the schools they attend probably aren't the most wealthy either. Meaning there's an even lower chance that the children are exposed to creative arts because they can’t even access them in schools. Time after time, I’ve seen so many school art programs be discontinued because they aren’t funded like others are. It’s saddening to see communities where there is no exposure to the arts inside or outside of school. This can be detrimental because depending on the environment they live in, they could turn to more dangerous “extracurriculars" because they never had access to positive ones. Being exposed to the arts can be that eye-opener for someone. The arts, whether it be visual or performing, can be great for a child's development because it allows them to express their creativity. I’ve seen kids grow up and turn to the streets because it’s all they know and they aren’t given the chance and resources growing up to even show them that they are capable of more and have other options. My ultimate goal is just to provide communities with a space to grow and express themselves. I want to teach healthy coping mechanisms other than drugs and alcohol as addiction to those substances is prevalent in the low-income communities I grew up in. I want to teach them that they can healthily express their feelings through activities like painting, dancing, or acting. They will have a space to learn and be free without judgment. Furthermore, if they wanted to take a step forward with the arts, I want my talent management branch of the business to provide just as many performance opportunities and art showcases as any higher-income company can. Although my approach to impact the world may seem niche, it is very dear to me. I often see the people in these communities get overlooked. I feel that helping the world using an artistic approach will be a unique assistance that will be special and helpful for many people.

First off, I would like to say thank you for this scholarship opportunity. I am Taniya Teamer from Chicago, Illinois, an undergraduate student at Alabama State University as a business management major and dance minor hoping to open my own dance studio and manage my own dance company after college. My whole life I’ve been passionate about the performing arts. I was constantly performing at home. Soon enough, I decided that dance was something I would want to do for the rest of my life. Especially when a dance instructor named Josh came to my elementary school. Josh had given us a space to express ourselves while still maintaining a serious dance space. See, he wanted us to step out of the box and become freer with our bodies and their movements and encouraged us to leave fear at the door when entering the dance space. Not only that, he tried to give us as much information on technique, strength, and conditioning as possible so we could be stronger, healthier dancers. This was huge for me because I never had a dance teacher and I appreciated his guidance. Josh gave us time to learn and make mistakes but made sure to double down so routines were sharp and performance ready. And Josh made a point to remind us he was proud of us after our performances even if we weren't perfect. Once, I messed up during a routine and felt horrible because although I quickly fixed my mistake, I didn't want to let my instructor or teammates down because we had all worked so hard. But he wasn't upset, in fact, he was proud that I knew to keep performing and persevere and that I would perform the dance piece again and have a second chance to do better. He taught me practice doesn't always make perfect--practice makes progress. I now know the importance of growth and confidence thanks to him. Josh was very impactful to my dance education because he was essentially my first-ever dance teacher and I still carry the things that he taught with me today. Now, I am learning the ropes of managing a business while continuing my dance education. I want to own and manage my very own dance studio and company in a Chicago low-income neighborhood. Furthermore, I want to be able to give people from low-income communities access to the performing arts and opportunities through dance like Josh was able to do for me. My favorite experience and probably my most memorable experience in the arts so far is when some years ago, I received a work-study for a popular, professional hip-hop dance company at the time called ImmaBeast. Dancing alongside dancers I watched for hours on youtube and being noticed and appreciated by their company director was affirming for me. Especially since that had been my first-ever dance workshop. Everyone at the workshops had studio training for years but I as a self-taught dancer, managed to still receive a work-study anyway. It will always be a dear experience for me because it is a reminder that although my dance journey was different than theirs, I am not a weakling in comparison. It gives me confidence and reminds me to stay resilient and persistent to achieve my goals.

My favorite thing about Disney is its constant reminder that my goals are not unreachable and unrealistic for someone like me. I, a queer, African American woman pursuing a career in the business industry and entertainment field, always heard from others in my community that I would have to “work twice as hard even to be half as good” for any and everything I want in life. But growing up watching Disney, there was a myriad of characters, films, TV shows, and even actors that made it clear to me that despite the odds that may be against me, my aspirations are not unattainable. In the Disney Channel Original franchise “The Cheetah Girls”, a group of multicultural, teenage girls in a music group strive to become superstars. As a child and even today, it’s inspiring to see girls who weren’t the conventional beauty standard reach their dreams. Especially since they were trying to be in the entertainment industry just as I dreamed of one day. More so, as a young queer girl, seeing Raven Symone, another Black, and queer girl like me in the spotlight was validating to me as well. She was in the spotlight for not only the film franchise but Disney’s entire network at the time, which gave me the certainty that one day, I could be in the spotlight too. Allowing women of color to be seen at the forefront and as leaders growing up was wonderful. Disney showed that girls like me could in fact reach their dreams in spite of others' discriminations. And that means everything to me because I felt and still feel, seen. In the Disney princess movie “Princess and the Frog”, Disney introduces their very first Black Princess. Princess Tiana was a hardworking, resilient woman striving to one day open her very own restaurant in honor of her father. Tiana's story was set in the 1920s where Black people had way fewer rights and opportunities than we do present day, and she still managed to be successful. I was ecstatic to see someone who looked like me, become royalty whilst also being a business owner like I one day wanted to. Disney telling her story was not just exhilarating, but also empowering and affirming for me. I saw that even though I might have to work harder than others, I can still make it in my desired industry and open a business. This Disney character lessened any doubts I could've had about my future career goals and instead reminds me to stay persistent just like Princess Tiana. Regardless of what other people said about my goals, Disney showed the possibilities that could be reached and they didn’t limit those possibilities to one ethnicity either. I was able to see myself in many success stories and events through Disney. I will forever be thankful that Disney has been an inspiration for me and has given me the courage and confidence that I will one day accomplish everything I am working towards.

Some may say I am a hopeless romantic. I don’t think I could disagree with them either. Love is something so beautiful and special. And despite any setbacks or heartbreaks, I still believe it’ll come my way one way or another. That’s why it is so fitting that my favorite Taylor Swift song from her ‘1989’ album is a song that captures what it feels like to be a hopeless romantic to me, ‘Wildest Dreams’. The mystical instrumental instantly captivated me. Its dreaminess reminds me of how I feel when I experience romance. That feeling of being in a daze and focused on my partner is almost indescribable in words but the instrumental manages to capture the lightness that I feel in those moments. Not only that, the beats that are present throughout the majority of the record mimic those of a heartbeat. The thumping reminds me of the nervousness that comes with a new romance. It also reminds me of the adrenaline and dopamine that I had whenever I even thought of a girl I was crushing on and even more so the intensity in my chest whenever I was actually around her. Although it causes me to reminisce, it is comforting in a way. From 2:38 in the song, the heartbeats stop for a moment, reminding me of what it feels like seconds before embracing them. I think moments like that are almost impossible to explain in words but I love that the instrumental itself on this song can explain it all and it allows others to feel that feeling as if they’d never felt it before. The lyrics do pull me back to reality while still pumping fuel into my hopeless romantic-ness. The first lyric is “He said, ‘Let's get out of this town, Drive out of the city, away from the crowds”. Immediately, I began to think of an idyllic movie plot where two lovers run away together. Whether it was to get away from drama or a boring town, the story would always be about them learning and growing closer together and I think that’s lovely. It’s just two people being allowed to love each other without judgment. Just the two existing together. However, Taylor Swift does backtrack and she reminds me, “Nothing lasts forever”. As someone who feels emotions deeply, I do have to remind myself of that so I won’t feel as bad if I get hurt. And this may be seen as ego-fulfilling or desperate in some capacity for some people but I do love the lyric from the chorus that says, “Say you’ll remember me…Say you’ll see me again Even if it’s just in your Wildest Dreams”. I love the lyric because it hints that despite whatever happened between the two former lovers, they’d still have respect and some type of love for each other. I think that's nice to have instead of extreme hatred in the heart for a previous partner. That’s the type of love I want to experience. The type of love that even if we don’t work out if we do ever think of each other, it's positive and not negative. But again, that may be romantic in me. The song doesn't just give an instrumental that demonstrates how I feel about love but also contains lyrics that do that as well. For me, that is rare to find the feeling I am searching for in both instrumental and lyricism but Taylor Swift mastered this art with this song. It tells me to be realistic with love but to still never stop believing in it.

I want to use my degree in business management to open up and manage a performing arts business and academy in my Black, low-income community in Chicago. I want to create a safe space to teach the arts, specifically dance, and manage talent. By doing so, I will be able to provide opportunities that are rarely offered to those in the community. In many communities that low-income, Black people live in, there aren't many resources and creative outlets for the children. It’s common to see many performing arts places in higher-income areas of cities rather than the lower-income areas. From the start, children in lower-income communities aren’t even exposed to the arts. And because they are low-income, the schools they attend probably aren't the most wealthy either. Meaning there's an even lower chance that the children are exposed to creative arts because they can’t even access them in schools. Time after time, I’ve seen so many school art programs be discontinued because they aren’t funded like others are. It’s saddening to see communities where there is no exposure to the arts inside or outside of school. This can be detrimental because depending on the environment they live in, they could turn to more dangerous “extracurriculars" because they never had access to positive ones. Being exposed to the arts can be that eye-opener for someone. The arts, whether it be visual or performing, can be great for a child's development because it allows them to express their creativity. I’ve seen kids grow up and turn to the streets because it’s all they know and they aren’t given the chance and resources growing up to even show them that they are capable of more and have other options. And although I want a part of my business to be a talent management company for those who grow up and decide they want to seriously pursue the arts, my ultimate goal is just to provide the community with a space to grow and express themselves. I want to teach healthy coping mechanisms other than drugs and alcohol as addiction to those substances is prevalent in the low-income communities I grew up in. I want to teach them that they can healthily express their feelings through activities like painting, dancing, or acting. They will have a space to learn and be free without judgment. Furthermore, if they wanted to take a step forward with the arts, I want my talent management branch of the business to provide just as many performance opportunities and art showcases as any higher-income company can. I even want to use my business as a space for community events as well. I know my intentions with my degree can bring joy and opportunities to my community. The benefits my business will provide for the community will be endless and worth every second of hard work.

As a young child, I was often told I was “gifted”. I was thrown into advanced work and would often leave my grade at certain times of the day to learn and do classwork with higher grades. Eventually, I no longer enjoyed school and learning because everyone expected so much from me and I often felt as if they forgot I was just a kid. This did cause a bit of a burnout for me by the time I entered middle school. I stopped engaging in schoolwork but still breezed by because the things the teachers taught to the class, I had already learned years prior. In high school, I felt the same for the majority of it. When the work did begin to get a bit hard, I did the bare minimum so I could pass but not too much that the adults and teachers in my life would begin to be overbearing and overwork me again. Now, as a college student, I created a goal to build a healthy relationship with school. My goal is to not just do the bare minimum and work at my full potential, on my terms. I plan to earn the best grades possible without burning out again. And most importantly, with this goal, I’m prioritizing being a great student for myself and not for others because that’s what caused a dent in my relationship with my education in the first place and took a toll on my mental health. Professionally, my goal is to open performing arts academies in low-income neighborhoods. I’ve always been passionate about the arts and I know how having access to the performing arts can be great for child development. With my business being located near lower-income areas, it gives people in the neighborhoods a safe space and a positive outlet. Especially for the children who grow up in these neighborhoods without positive influences. Because most are never shown that they can be above the “street life” and that they could have other goals in life. My business can be that eye-opener for them. Lastly, there are people who do want to pursue the arts but there aren’t even many opportunities for the arts in low-income communities and I personally know how saddening that can be. Most have to travel to neighborhoods that are upper-class and even then, it usually isn’t affordable. So, I want to become a performing arts resource. As a member of the Embarc program, I volunteered at a homeless shelter in my neighborhood. In doing so, I served them food and also got to learn more about the people that lived there whom I would see outside while I walked my dog. I helped clean up after as well. I saw how the outside of the shelter looked nice but it wasn’t entirely perfect on the inside. It does make me want for the world to have better conditions for homeless people to live but more so, makes me want to find solutions to decrease the homeless population in general because everyone deserves a place to live and shouldn’t be treated unfairly and be given a chance to work towards getting housing.

I believe that I can one day open up a performing arts business in my Black, low-income community in Chicago. I want to create a safe space to teach the arts, specifically dance, and manage talent. By doing so, I will be able to provide opportunities that are rarely offered to those in the community. In many communities that low-income, Black people live in, there aren't many resources and creative outlets for the children. It’s common to see many performing arts places in higher-income areas of cities rather than the lower-income areas. From the start, children in lower income communities aren’t even exposed to the arts. And because they are low-income, the schools they attend probably aren't the most wealthy either. Meaning there's an even lower chance that the children are exposed to creative arts because they can’t even access them in schools. Time after time, I’ve seen so many school art programs be discontinued because they aren’t funded like others are. It’s saddening to see communities where there is no exposure to the arts inside or outside of school. This can be detrimental because depending on the environment they live in, they could turn to more dangerous “extracurriculars" because they never had access to positive ones. Being exposed to the arts can be that eye-opener for someone. The arts, whether it be visual or performing, can be great for a child's development because it allows them to express their creativity. I’ve seen kids grow up and turn to the streets because it’s all they know and they aren’t given the chance and resources growing up to even show them that they are capable of more and have other options. And although I want a part of my business to be a talent management company for those who grow up and decide they want to seriously pursue the arts, my ultimate goal is just to provide the community with a space to grow and express themselves. I want to teach healthy coping mechanisms other than drugs and alcohol as addiction to those substances is prevalent in the low-income communities I grew up in. I want to teach them that they can healthily express their feelings through activities like painting, dancing, or acting. They will have a space to learn and be free without judgment. Furthermore, if they wanted to take a step forward with the arts, I want my talent management branch of the business to provide just as many performance opportunities and art showcases as any higher-income company can. To develop this business, my first step is to get my degree in business management. Earning this degree will help me learn the ends and outs of owning a business and managing it. I am also minoring in dance to ensure my technique is up to par so I’m qualified to teach others. I have already begun to network and meet others in the performing arts field who have the desire to teach. Having these connections could assist me when it comes time to hire other teachers and workers for my business. Finance-wise, I would have to find an affordable space and there is a chance some of the generous people I’ve met in the field would be nice enough to donate or invest in the business when I begin my startup fundraising. My business won't open overnight but I know no longer how long it will take for it to be established, the benefits my business will provide for the community will be endless and worth every second of hard work.

Hello! My name is Taniya Precious Teamer. I’m from the West side of Chicago and I am an undergraduate student at Thee Alabama State University as a business management major and dance minor. My whole life I’ve been passionate about the performing arts. I was constantly performing at home and when the opportunity presented itself, I was performing at school as well. Soon enough, I decided that dance was something I would want to do for the rest of my life. I want to learn the ropes of managing a business while continuing my dance education. I want to own and manage my very own dance studio and company in a Chicago low-income neighborhood. Furthermore, I want to be able to give people from low-income neighborhoods access to the performing arts and opportunities through dance. Dance has been an outlet for me but being from a low-income neighborhood I could never receive the same dance training and opportunities as those who lived in other neighborhoods even though I showed so much potential. To reach these goals, I may receive some No’s but it wouldn’t be the first rejection I’d ever had. For example, when it came to choosing a high school, I set my mind on Chicago’s High School of the Arts. Like any other high school in my city, there was a series of applications and tests to enter high school. So, it was no shock to me when there was an audition for this school. There weren't any dance studios on my side of town so I was intimidated by auditions because I knew I didn’t have the same training as others that may show up. At the audition, there was a barre portion that I quickly caught onto for someone who hadn’t taken a real ballet class before. My solo and interview process went well too. And before I knew it, I had received a callback email. I had made it to the second round of auditions and I was honestly proud of myself– I had no formal training like the other dancers but they still saw something in me to ask me to come back. Unfortunately, as the difficulty in the technique intensified at the audition, I couldn’t keep up as well. When acceptance letters came out, I was ultimately denied and it was like my world shattered. I was so disappointed in myself although, looking back, I know there was barely anything I can do in that situation because I simply didn’t have the resources. I took that audition process as a learning experience. Instead of letting it completely hold me back, I let it drive me. I realized that I had potential as a technical dancer but I had to accept the fact that at the time of auditioning, I wasn’t ready. I saw what I needed to work on and from there,I continuously worked on my technique at home and even began to take more studio classes if I could afford it. Now, I've been accepted as a student at Alabama State in the BFA Dance Program with others who have had years of technical training. Even a few went to the exact high school that I was rejected from! I learned that one rejection doesn’t determine your worth and I’m still capable of succeeding with time.

For me, being Black is being resilient and persevering. Those qualities are essential to me and help me with my future career. In the future, I want to be able to give back to my Black community through the performing art of dance. In many communities that Black people live in, there aren't many resources and creative outlets for children. This can be detrimental because depending on the environment they live in, they could turn to dangerous extracurriculars because they never had access to positive ones. Plus, I know from my own experience there are so many talented Black children who aren't able to access dance studios at all in so many communities because they aren't offered in low-income areas. I want to have a dance studio and company in low-income, Black neighborhoods. In doing so, I will be able to give them a safe space to express themself and give them a positive environment in opposition to the environment that they have in their neighborhoods. In addition, soon after I want to manage my own talent agency to support Black talent. It will give them platforms and opportunities that aren't present. It is why I chose to go to my HBCU, the illustrious Alabama State University. I get to learn the ropes of business ownership and the industry while improving my dance skills so I can be certified to teach others. The resiliency and perseverance I have from being Black will assist me through any obstacles that may come.

I chose to attend an HBCU because I knew there was a great chance that at a Predominately White Insititute, my presence as a Black student would be over looked and underappreciated. Systematically, White people have shown that they believe we are not as capable to reach greatness as them and if we do show some type of potential, they tend to do everything in their power and use their privilege to keep us from reaching great heights in whatever career field we pursue. When in fact, there are so many intelligent, talented Black students out there. But at Predominately White Institutions, they aren't as celebrated. The only time I see some type of recognition is when Black talent applies to sports. I wanted to be somewhere where my talents would be appreciated dearly and not overlooked in comparison to my peers because of my skin color. In addition, when adversities occur to Black students on these Predominately White Campuses, they are swept under the rug or no one seems to quite clearly understand. Some don't even try to see what the issue is or they are a part of the issue. Lastly, there are normal things Black people do on a daily that they get reprimanded for by White people for something as simple as their hair. I didn't want to deal with those dehumanizing issues at a place where I came to learn. I have to experience that in the real world. I don't want it at school. At an HBCU, there are students like me who understand the Black struggle as well as Black Excellence. For my sanity, I needed a safe space to be unapolligectally me and that includes being unapoligettacly Black. And I'm in a space where my doing that, doesn't cause side-eyes, it's celebrated.

I'm passionate about dance because it gave me confidence, and community, and supplied me with a healthy way to process my emotions. I was never the most outgoing child. I often clung to my grandmother whenever she took me to playdates. The most confident I'd ever be was when I was at home dancing. Even though dance was too expensive and I couldn't be enrolled in any studio near me, I never stopped dancing. The feeling I felt while prancing and turning all over my house was something so electric. It introduced a new side of me to my family, something they'd never seen before. I was confident whenever I performed. When they realized how good dance was for me, I was allowed on school teams and somehow, my family found a way to pay for me to take real classes ever so often as I taught myself skills at home through youtube. Now, I've learned to be confident in not only performing but everything in life. Dance also gave me community. I didn't have many friends. And the ones I did happen to have weren't as interested in the things I was like the performing arts. Through dance, I was able to meet people just like me. It felt amazing to be around others who share the same gift and provided me with the space and the energy to move freely without judgment and just be present. Although it was initially intimidating dancing alongside others who I knew had many years of technical training in comparison to me, the dance community always assured me that no matter what my background is, I could always succeed and work to be someone great. There were never any condescending tones or messages, every one is always supportive. A healthy, supportive community is always needed, especially in an industry that is seen as cut-throat. I'm thankful for everyone that I've met just from dance. As mentioned before, I didn't talk to many people prior to dancing, so when it came to processing and explaining my emotions, I struggled. I struggled with my mental health the most when my father was murdered. I couldn't quite verbalize how I felt to counselors and I often turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms instead because I didn't know what words could describe the way I was feeling. I never had a way to express the way I felt healthily until I learned to value the art of movement. When I did learn that value, every feeling of frustration, anger, confusion, and happiness could be expressed with no words needed. Dance gave me a form of communication when nothing could come out verbally. When I dance, it's almost as if I enter a new realm. I'm passionate because it helped me find a new side to myself, introduced me to so many amazing people, and is a translator for my emotions. I honestly don't know where exactly or who I'd be as a person if it wasn't for dance. When I dance I don't dwell too much on the past or future. I'm focused on the present. When I dance there is no uncertainty about my character. In those moments I know exactly who I am and I'm content with the woman I'll grow to be.

I'm from the city of Chicago where gun violence is prevalent. Shootings happened so often, a part of me was almost immune to them. That was until it directly affected me. My father was murdered on the fourth of July. On this day, our family was supposed to come together, pop fireworks, and have an amazing time. But a little after 11 am, we received a phone call that changed our lives. My father had been shot at least ten times. At that moment, my entire world shattered. I never knew a life without him and I never wanted to imagine a life without him in it. The transition to living without him was difficult, to say the least. I had three younger brothers, two of which who could barely speak; ironically, the only words they could say were literally "Da Da". I could tell they were often confused about his lack of presence because one day he was there then he just... wasn't. For me, I was truly numb for months. When school started, I could barely apply myself. But soon I realized my father wouldn't want me to be stuck in a rut. See, he hadn't even finished high school let alone graduated college. Not only did I want to make him proud, but I also owed it to myself and my family. From that moment, I had to lock in and focus. It seemed like getting an education would be the best step to changing the community and protecting my family. Education can be powerful and that's what I need to make my city a better place, I could use what I learned to instill positivity, and hope for better days, and give opportunities to the youth to prevent the devastating, violent cycle of gun violence to continue. What matters most is getting my education to better my life, my family's life, and the community's well-being. I want to fight to achieve a safer environment for not just my family but those in my community. With the means to bring more positive outlets and opportunities to the neighborhood, children don't turn to street violence instead. I know I can't immediately bring my entire family to the safest neighborhood in the world but I can use my talent and my voice to make our community a place we don't have to live in fear in. I want to use my talents to fight against gun violence and violent activity in the city of Chicago.