Dear Scholarship Committee, My name is Taylor Ragland. I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I live with my grandmother who has been my legal guardian since I was in middle school. I am currently a rising junior at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia. Upon completion of my studies at Clark Atlanta University, I intend to pursue a career in criminal justice. The education and experience from Clark Atlanta make me confident that I can make a difference in this field. My degree will provide me with the knowledge and skills to help create a safer society. Each component of the criminal justice system is essential to maintaining public safety, but many challenges come with working in this field. The job can be physically demanding, emotionally draining, and often involves dealing with dangerous situations. It also requires an understanding of complex legal systems and procedures, as well as the ability to remain impartial and unbiased when making decisions. To pursue a career in criminal justice, I must have a strong understanding of the law and how it is applied in different situations. My degree from Clark Atlanta University will provide me with the knowledge I need to understand legal concepts and procedures. Courses such as criminology, psychology, sociology, and other related fields will be beneficial in pursuing my career in criminal justice. My goal is to become an FBI agent. So, after graduation, I plan to join the military to gain experience that will help qualify me for a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I recognize the negativity surrounding the legal system, but my life has been positively impacted by the legal system. My experiences with the judge that presided over my guardianship case had a positive impact. He knew that I was afraid to speak up, so he allowed me to talk with just him and the court clerk. I felt comfortable telling him about my experiences with my parents, and he decided that being with my grandmother was best for me. After leaving court, I decided to improve my grades and attitude so that I could attend college to study criminal justice. The experience with the judge is one reason I chose criminal justice as my major. I hope to show others that law enforcement can be practiced with care, compassion, and humility. I think the best impact that I have contributed to my community is not becoming a statistic of crime and violence. Given the neighborhood that I grew up in, I think I am an example that a person does not have to be a product of the environment that they grew up in. Despite some challenges, I pushed myself to graduate from one of the top high schools in Baltimore City. I struggled early in high school because of bad choices but my grandmother and teachers helped me to realize my potential. I learned that leadership means having respect for everyone regardless of race, gender, or background. There were often few African American girls in most of the activities my grandmother made me attend. I learned to make friends and that everyone in the group was important and we could all work together to complete a project and accomplish our goals despite racial or economic backgrounds. I think often people limit their potential based on their community. I want to be an example to my community that with hard work and determination, your environment does not have to limit your potential for success. Thanks for your consideration. Taylor Ragland 443-244-2641

Dear Scholarship Committee, My name is Taylor Ragland. I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I live with my grandmother who has been my legal guardian since I was in middle school. I am currently a rising junior at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia. Upon completion of my studies at Clark Atlanta University, I intend to pursue a career in criminal justice. The education and experience from Clark Atlanta make me confident that I can make a difference in this field. My degree will provide me with the knowledge and skills to help create a safer society. Each component of the criminal justice system is essential to maintaining public safety, but many challenges come with working in this field. The job can be physically demanding, emotionally draining, and often involves dealing with dangerous situations. It also requires an understanding of complex legal systems and procedures, as well as the ability to remain impartial and unbiased when making decisions. To pursue a career in criminal justice, I must have a strong understanding of the law and how it is applied in different situations. My degree from Clark Atlanta University will provide me with the knowledge I need to understand legal concepts and procedures. Courses such as criminology, psychology, sociology, and other related fields will be beneficial in pursuing my career in criminal justice. My goal is to become an FBI agent. So, after graduation, I plan to join the military to gain experience that will help qualify me for a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). I recognize the negativity surrounding the legal system, but my life has been positively impacted by the legal system. My experiences with the judge that presided over my guardianship case had a positive impact. He knew that I was afraid to speak up, so he allowed me to talk with just him and the court clerk. I felt comfortable telling him about my experiences with my parents, and he decided that being with my grandmother was best for me. After leaving court, I decided to improve my grades and attitude so that I could attend college to study criminal justice. The experience with the judge is one reason I chose criminal justice as my major. I hope to show others that law enforcement can be practiced with care, compassion, and humility. I think the best impact that I have contributed to my community is not becoming a statistic of crime and violence. Given the neighborhood that I grew up in, I think I am an example that a person does not have to be a product of the environment that they grew up in. Despite some challenges, I pushed myself to graduate from one of the top high schools in Baltimore City. I struggled early in high school because of bad choices but my grandmother and teachers helped me to realize my potential. I learned that leadership means having respect for everyone regardless of race, gender, or background. There were often few African American girls in most of the activities my grandmother made me attend. I learned to make friends and that everyone in the group was important and we could all work together to complete a project and accomplish our goals despite racial or economic backgrounds. I think often people limit their potential based on their community. I want to be an example to my community that with hard work and determination, your environment does not have to limit your potential for success. Thanks for your consideration. Taylor Ragland 443-244-2641

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou This quote helps me to remember to be nice to people. Words are powerful and they can encourage or destroy a person. I think people should be especially careful how they speak to children and young people. Words can destroy a person's self esteem and make them think that they have no value or are not likely to be successful in life. One of my counselors in high school said I would never be accepted into a university so I should plan to attend community college. I believed her but when the pandemic started and schools went to virtual learning I became more focused and worked hard to increase my GPA. I was accepted in Clark Atlanta University in the fall. I was excited the day I got my acceptance letter to Clark but I still remembered the day my school counselor made me feel that I was not smart enough to attend a four year university.

US Naval Sea Cadets summer boot camp. It was my first time at boot camp and it was different from any other summer camp that my grandmother had made me attend. One day was really difficult for me. I was frustrated because I couldn't climb the wall. After my third attempt I wanted to give up. I found the strength, courage and determination to try again. I was the last cadet to make it to the top. After I scaled the wall and reached the top I realized that I can overcome any challenge if I don’t give up.

Most of my life I transitioned between my mother and father as freely as I wanted up until I was about 10years old. My parents decided to get a court order for joint custody. My father lived in Baltimore County and my mother lived in Baltimore City. So not only was I in two completely different households every week but I was in two completely different environments ,not to mention I would switch between schools almost every year so I never really had a stable group of friends because I would have to make new ones every year . One of the things me and my grandmother would do was watch Law and Order and this is where I grew my love for criminal investigation. I became more interested in criminal justice after my grandmother enrolled my in a summer murder mystery camp. At the end of the camp my group performed a play . I was the arresting detective so I had to read the suspect her Miranda rights. I started to get mentally and physically abused by my parents just like some of the children I saw in the television shows. One day it was so bad my grandmother saw my bruises. She told me that I shouldn't give up and that I shouldn't let anyone beat on me because I was worth more than that and that I should speak up and tell someone. The conversation she had with me encouraged me to keep pushing through life and to not give up. I think the best impact that I have contributed to my community is not becoming a statistic of crime and violence. Given the neighborhood that I grew up in I think I am an example that a person does not have to be a product of the environment that they grew up in. Despite some challenges I pushed myself to graduate from one of the top high schools in Baltimore City. I struggled early in high school because of bad choices but my grandmother and teachers help me to realize my potential. I learned that leadership means having respect for everyone regardless of race, gender or background. I think the time I spent in summer camps, and basketball camps and Exelon STEM camp for girls and the Navel Sea Cadets taught me to be comfortable with people outside of my community and allowed me to make friends with people that I would not have met if I did not venture outside of my neighborhood. There were few African American girls in most of the activities my grandmother made me attend. I learned to make friends and that everyone in the group was important and we could all work together to complete a project and accomplish our goals My life has been positively impacted by the legal system. One of my experiences with the judge that presided over my guardianship case made a positive impact. He knew that I was afraid to speak up so he allowed me to talk with just him and the court clerk. I felt comfortable to tell him things that I experienced with my parents and he decided that being with my grandmother was best for me. That day after I left court I decided to improve my grades and attitude so that I could attend college after high school to study criminal justice. The experience with the judge, my time in summer camps and my love for watching crime television shows with my grandmother is the reason I chose criminal justice as my major.

Most of my life I transitioned between my mother and father as freely as I wanted up until I was about 10years old. My parents decided to get a court order for joint custody. My father lived in Baltimore County and my mother lived in Baltimore City. So not only was I in two completely different households every week but I was in two completely different environments ,not to mention I would switch between schools almost every year so I never really had a stable group of friends because I would have to make new ones every year . One of the things me and my grandmother would do was watch Law and Order and this is where I grew my love for criminal investigation. I became more interested in criminal justice after my grandmother enrolled my in a summer murder mystery camp. At the end of the camp my group performed a play . I was the arresting detective so I had to read the suspect her Miranda rights. I started to get mentally and physically abused by my parents just like some of the children I saw in the television shows. One day it was so bad my grandmother saw my bruises. She told me that I shouldn't give up and that I shouldn't let anyone beat on me because I was worth more than that and that I should speak up and tell someone. The conversation she had with me encouraged me to keep pushing through life and to not give up. I think the best impact that I have contributed to my community is not becoming a statistic of crime and violence. Given the neighborhood that I grew up in I think I am an example that a person does not have to be a product of the environment that they grew up in. Despite some challenges I pushed myself to graduate from one of the top high schools in Baltimore City. I struggled early in high school because of bad choices but my grandmother and teachers help me to realize my potential. I learned that leadership means having respect for everyone regardless of race, gender or background. I think the time I spent in summer camps, and basketball camps and Exelon STEM camp for girls and the Navel Sea Cadets taught me to be comfortable with people outside of my community and allowed me to make friends with people that I would not have met if I did not venture outside of my neighborhood. There were few African American girls in most of the activities my grandmother made me attend. I learned to make friends and that everyone in the group was important and we could all work together to complete a project and accomplish our goals My life has been positively impacted by the legal system. One of my experiences with the judge that presided over my guardianship case made a positive impact. He knew that I was afraid to speak up so he allowed me to talk with just him and the court clerk. I felt comfortable to tell him things that I experienced with my parents and he decided that being with my grandmother was best for me. That day after I left court I decided to improve my grades and attitude so that I could attend college after high school to study criminal justice. The experience with the judge, my time in summer camps and my love for watching crime television shows with my grandmother is the reason I chose criminal justice as my major.