Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have been constant practices in my life. At a very young age, my mother instilled in me the importance of giving back to the communities where we live and serve through consistent volunteerism and support. Following in my mother's footsteps, I, too, use my gifts and talents to positively impact the lives of others. I have served my community through my church for six years. I am a Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church. Here, I connect hundreds of teens with the ministry through music, prayer, and worship at weekly church services, student events, and online chat platforms. I plan and collaborate with other student leaders on group activities, games, and testimonies. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign. I mixed my passions for music and ministry to reach and influence students of my generation. This eye-opening experience impacted my local community and confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in International Business.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have been constant practices in my life. At a very young age, my mother instilled in me the importance of giving back to the communities where we live and serve through consistent volunteerism and support. Growing up, I watched my mother volunteer her time and gifts through the art of dance. She taught dance at daycares, after-school programs, community centers, nursing homes, and churches free of charge. As a teacher by profession, she believed in arts education and did not put a price on sharing and exposing it to anyone who wanted to learn. Following in my mother's footsteps, I, too, use my gifts and talents to positively impact the lives of others. My whole life, I've grown up in the church. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, church has shaped me into the man I am today. I have served my community through my church for six years. I am a Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church. Here, I connect hundreds of teens with the ministry through music, prayer, and worship at weekly church services, student events, and online chat platforms where I can give with my time and talents. I spend about 6-10 hours per week serving at my church year-round. I support the Youth Director with setting up and breaking down Wednesday and Sunday services, planning and collaborating with other student leaders on group activities, games, and testimonies, and assisting the Youth Pastor with creative ways to connect with our generation through social media platforms. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign. As the featured artist, it was an opportunity to mix my passions for music and ministry to reach and influence students of my generation. This eye-opening experience impacted my local community and confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in International Business as I prepare to embark upon the college experience. Through my volunteer work, my path for my future has become clear. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. Enrollment and graduation from these programs will provide an excellent foundation to pursue my professional goals and tap into the broad spectrum of alumni connections and entertainment business resources. I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian music artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I am clear on my purpose, direction, and mission for my life, and with the help of this award, I can transform my financial future. I am a well-prepared, well-rounded applicant ready to engage in the next chapter of my life, and your support will have a substantial impact now and in the future.

My whole life, I’ve grown up in the church. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, church has shaped me into the man I am today. Growing up, I did not have my father in my life because he was killed when I was very young. In his absence, the church taught me to transform my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. As a student leader at my church for the past six years, I have used my musical talents and communication skills to minister and connect hundreds of students in my generation to the Lord. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign. As the featured artist on this project, it was an opportunity to mix my passions for music and ministry, and this experience confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in international business. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. Enrollment and graduation from these programs will provide an excellent foundation to pursue my professional goals and tap into the broad spectrum of alumni connections and entertainment business resources. During this educational journey, I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian music artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I plan to leverage virtual reality (VR) systems to enhance the consumer/fan experience and artificial intelligence (AI) software as an artist resource for creative content and trends. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. Through this organization, one of my primary initiatives will be a summer program where students will write, produce, and record original songs and perform them in a community concert/talent search at the end of the summer. All proceeds would go back to the community, and the top artists offered an opportunity to sign with my label for further development. I am deserving of this scholarship because I am clear on my purpose, direction, and mission for my life. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have always been consistent practices, and with the help of this award, I can transform my financial future. For thirteen years, I have seen my mother carry the financial burden of being a single parent. She has been my only source of financial support throughout my life and she does not have the resources to fund my college education. This scholarship will help to alleviate those costs by covering numerous expenses and eliminating the need for loans. I am a well-prepared, well-rounded applicant ready to engage in the next chapter of my life, and with your support, it will have a substantial impact now and in the future.

As the eldest of two children growing up in a single-parent household, my mother always encouraged me to excel, never wanting me to be satisfied with being mediocre. She placed a strong emphasis on academics, extracurricular involvement, community, and church. My whole life, I’ve grown up in the church. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, church has shaped me into the man I am today. Growing up, I did not have my father in my life because he was killed when I was very young. In his absence, the church taught me to transform my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. As a student leader at my church for the past six years, I have used my musical talents and communication skills to minister and connect hundreds of students in my generation to the Lord. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign. As the featured artist on this project, it was an opportunity to mix my passions for music and ministry, and this experience confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in international business. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. Enrollment and graduation from these programs will provide an excellent foundation to pursue my professional goals and tap into the broad spectrum of alumni connections and entertainment business resources. During this educational journey, I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian music artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I plan to leverage virtual reality (VR) systems to enhance the consumer/fan experience and artificial intelligence (AI) software as an artist resource for creative content and trends. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. Through this organization, one of my primary initiatives will be a summer program where students will write, produce, and record original songs and perform them in a community concert/talent search at the end of the summer. All proceeds would go back to the community, and the top artists offered an opportunity to sign with my label for further development. Currently, I am ranked in the top 8% of my class while serving in several leadership roles. I am Public Relations Chair for the Cedar Hill Mayor’s Teen Council, Chaplain for Southern Dallas County Top Teens of America, Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church, and a two-year Captain of the Varsity Basketball team at Sam Houston High School. I am also an active member of the National Honor Society and Kappa League. I am deserving of this scholarship because I am clear on my purpose, direction, and mission for my life. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have always been consistent practices, and with the help of this award, I can transform my financial future. For thirteen years, I have seen my mother carry the financial burden of being a single parent. She has been my only source of financial support throughout my life and she does not have the resources to fund my college education. This scholarship will help to alleviate those costs by covering numerous expenses and eliminating the need for loans. I am a well-prepared, well-rounded applicant ready to engage in the next chapter of my life, and with your support, it will have a substantial impact now and in the future.

Growing up, I didn't have my father in my life because he was killed when I was only five years old. Luckily, in my father’s absence, my Church taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, Church has shaped me into the man I am today. In my community, unfortunately, there are a lot of fatherless young men like me. But, unlike me, they didn’t have the same love, support, and foundation from the Church. Sadly, most of the youth in my community turn to drugs, gang violence, or fighting because they don’t have a healthy way to cope with their emotions. As a young man, it's incredibly challenging to go against the grain, stay true to yourself, and do what is right when what is wrong has been normalized in our community. I see my peers and friends waste their talent and potential because they don’t know any better or are too afraid to do better for themselves. They fear the reality of being different, not understanding that being different doesn't mean bad or weird. I have seen firsthand how many times extremely talented youth who are believers in Christ shy away from promoting a positive message or Christianity because of the fear of being judged or labeled as uncool. I want to blaze a path for Christian music artists to follow that creates the building blocks to effectively promote a positive message and spread the gospel in the 21st century. Music has been a powerful, creative outlet for me, and I want every child to have this opportunity for emotional, social, and cognitive development. Statistically, youth who study music perform better in school by earning higher grades and improved literacy. Despite the multitude of data supporting the benefits of music education and mentorship for youth, far too often, these are the first programs to experience budget cuts or elimination from school campuses. These programs need to be expanded, not cut back, and I plan to contribute to that expansion through my organization. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. Enrollment and graduation from these programs will provide an excellent foundation to pursue my professional goals and tap into the broad spectrum of alumni connections and entertainment business resources. I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies during this educational journey. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music. I plan to use technology through several media outlets to promote my music artists and business on platforms that can reach millions. Designing and creating websites and apps for my artists, tapping into virtual reality technology and use of VR systems during concerts and incorporating AI technology as an artist resource for creative content and trends just to name a few. Lastly, I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production.

It is said that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Through my trials and tribulations, I have found that to be true. All my life, I've been known as "a basketball player" until I experienced a potentially career-ending ankle injury going into my senior year. This incident temporarily took away my ability to play and gave me time to consider my life without basketball. Growing up, I did not have my father in my life because he was killed when I was very young and the one thing he left with me was a love for basketball. This sport is how I honor him, and in most cases, this is my only connection to him. When I lost basketball, I felt as if my connection with my father was gone, and my identity, too. However, this time away helped me realize that I am more than just "a basketball player," and I always have been. I overlooked so many things in my life because they were not athletic. As the eldest of two children in a single-parent household, my mother always encouraged me to excel. She strongly emphasized academics, extracurricular involvement, community, and church. Even during my early years, I achieved many accomplishments outside of basketball. I was the elementary school-wide oratorical winner, earned numerous science fair project trophies, and received a lifetime of honor roll achievement awards while competing at a high level in athletics. Currently, I am ranked in the top 8% of my senior class while serving in several leadership roles. I am Public Relations Chair for the Cedar Hill Mayor's Teen Council, Chaplain for the Southern Dallas County Top Teens of America, a Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church, and a two-year Captain of the Varsity Boys' Basketball team at Sam Houston High School. I am also a member of the National Honor Society and the Mansfield and Cedar Hill Chapter of the Kappa League. My whole life I’ve grown up in the church. In my father's absence, the church has shaped me into the man I am today and taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign mixing my passions for music and ministry to reach and influence students of my generation. This eye-opening experience confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in International Business. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. This time of reflection has helped me realize that I have always been more than "a basketball player." Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have always been consistent practices throughout my life, and I have honored my father with my commitment to excellence. Once I realized that I was my biggest critique and biggest advocate my perspective and life changed.

Growing up, I didn't have my father in my life because he was killed when I was only five years old. Luckily, in my father’s absence, my Church taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, Church has shaped me into the man I am today. In my community, unfortunately, there are a lot of fatherless young men like me. But, unlike me, they didn’t have the same love, support, and foundation from the Church. Sadly, most of the youth in my community turn to drugs, gang violence, or fighting because they don’t have a healthy way to cope with their emotions. As a young man, it's incredibly challenging to go against the grain, stay true to yourself, and do what is right when what is wrong has been normalized in our community. I see my peers and friends waste their talent and potential because they don’t know any better or are too afraid to do better for themselves. They fear the reality of being different, not understanding that being different doesn't mean bad or weird. I have seen firsthand how many times extremely talented youth who are believers in Christ shy away from promoting a positive message or Christianity because of the fear of being judged or labeled as uncool. I want to blaze a path for Christian music artists to follow that creates the building blocks to effectively promote a positive message and spread the gospel in the 21st century. Music has been a powerful, creative outlet for me, and I want every child to have this opportunity for emotional, social, and cognitive development. Statistically, youth who study music perform better in school by earning higher grades and improved literacy. Despite the multitude of data supporting the benefits of music education and mentorship for youth, far too often, these are the first programs to experience budget cuts or elimination from school campuses. These programs need to be expanded, not cut back, and I plan to contribute to that expansion through my organization. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, opening doors for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have been consistent practices throughout my life. I’m ready to engage in my next chapter by significantly impacting one child at a time through my music education and mentorship initiatives.

Growing up, I didn't have my father in my life because he was killed when I was only five years old. Luckily, in my father’s absence, my Church taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, Church has shaped me into the man I am today. In my community, unfortunately, there are a lot of fatherless young men like me. But, unlike me, they didn’t have the same love, support, and foundation from the Church. Sadly, most of the youth in my community turn to drugs, gang violence, or fighting because they don’t have a healthy way to cope with their emotions. As a young man, it's incredibly challenging to go against the grain, stay true to yourself, and do what is right when what is wrong has been normalized in our community. I see my peers and friends waste their talent and potential because they don’t know any better or are too afraid to do better for themselves. They fear the reality of being different, not understanding that being different doesn't mean bad or weird. I have seen firsthand how many times extremely talented youth who are believers in Christ shy away from promoting a positive message or Christianity because of the fear of being judged or labeled as uncool. I want to blaze a path for Christian music artists to follow that creates the building blocks to effectively promote a positive message and spread the gospel in the 21st century. Music has been a powerful, creative outlet for me, and I want every child to have this opportunity for emotional, social, and cognitive development. Statistically, youth who study music perform better in school by earning higher grades and improved literacy. Despite the multitude of data supporting the benefits of music education and mentorship for youth, far too often, these are the first programs to experience budget cuts or elimination from school campuses. These programs need to be expanded, not cut back, and I plan to contribute to that expansion through my organization. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, opening doors for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have been consistent practices throughout my life. I’m ready to engage in my next chapter by significantly impacting one child at a time through my music education and mentorship initiatives.

Growing up, I didn't have my father in my life because he was killed when I was only five years old. Luckily, in my father’s absence, my Church taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, Church has shaped me into the man I am today. In my community, unfortunately, there are a lot of fatherless young men like me. But, unlike me, they didn’t have the same love, support, and foundation from the Church. Sadly, most of the youth in my community turn to drugs, gang violence, or fighting because they don’t have a healthy way to cope with their emotions. As a young man, it's incredibly challenging to go against the grain, stay true to yourself, and do what is right when what is wrong has been normalized in our community. I see my peers and friends waste their talent and potential because they don’t know any better or are too afraid to do better for themselves. They fear the reality of being different, not understanding that being different doesn't mean bad or weird. I have seen firsthand how many times extremely talented youth who are believers in Christ shy away from promoting a positive message or Christianity because of the fear of being judged or labeled as uncool. I want to blaze a path for Christian music artists to follow that creates the building blocks to effectively promote a positive message and spread the gospel in the 21st century. Music has been a powerful, creative outlet for me, and I want every child to have this opportunity for emotional, social, and cognitive development. Statistically, youth who study music perform better in school by earning higher grades and improved literacy. Despite the multitude of data supporting the benefits of music education and mentorship for youth, far too often, these are the first programs to experience budget cuts or elimination from school campuses. These programs need to be expanded, not cut back, and I plan to contribute to that expansion through my organization. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian music artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, opening doors for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have been consistent practices throughout my life. I’m ready to engage in my next chapter by significantly impacting one child at a time through my music education and mentorship initiatives.

It is said that the Lord works in mysterious ways. Through my trials and tribulations, I have found that to be true. All my life, I've been known as "a basketball player" until I experienced a potentially career-ending ankle injury going into my senior year. This incident temporarily took away my ability to play and gave me time to consider my life without basketball. Growing up, I did not have my father in my life because he was killed when I was very young. I don't have many memories of my father, but one thing he left with me was a love for basketball. This sport is how I honor him, and in most cases, this is my only connection to him. When I lost basketball, I felt as if my connection with my father was gone, and my identity, too. However, this was a blessing in disguise. The time away helped me realize that I am more than just "a basketball player," and I always have been. I overlooked so many things in my life because they were not athletic. As the eldest of two children in a single-parent household, my mother always encouraged me to excel. She never wanted me to be satisfied with being mediocre. She strongly emphasized academics, extracurricular involvement, community, and church. The discipline that my mother instilled in me kept me focused and motivated to never settle for less. She told me the sky was the limit, and I reached for it in everything I pursued. Even during my early years, I achieved many accomplishments outside of basketball. I was the elementary school-wide oratorical champion for six years running. I earned numerous science fair project trophies. I received a lifetime of honor roll achievement awards while competing at a high level in athletics, receiving local, state, and national recognition. Unlike most kids my age, I have never owned or had the time to play video games. It was not uncommon for me to leave home well before sunrise and not return until long after sunset in my pursuit of excellence. Currently, I am ranked in the top 8% of my senior class while serving in several leadership roles. I am Public Relations Chair for the Cedar Hill Mayor's Teen Council, Chaplain for the Southern Dallas County Top Teens of America, a Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church, and a two-year Captain of the Varsity Boys' Basketball team at Sam Houston High School. I am also a member of the National Honor Society, the Mansfield and Cedar Hill Chapter of the Kappa League, and a participant in the 47th Annual Beautillion hosted by Jack and Jill of America, Inc. My whole life I’ve grown up in the church. From summer day camps to Bible study on Wednesdays to Sunday service, church has shaped me into the man I am today. In my father's absence, the church taught me to turn my story and talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. One of my proudest achievements has been the opportunity to use my musical skills to write, record, and perform as the featured artist for Concord Church's "Everyday Sunday" Back to School Youth Campaign. As the featured artist, it was an opportunity to mix my passions for music and ministry to reach and influence students of my generation. This eye-opening experience confirmed my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in International Business. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. Enrollment and graduation from these programs will provide an excellent foundation to pursue my professional goals and tap into the broad spectrum of alumni connections and entertainment business resources. I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies during this educational journey. I aim to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that invests in and promotes Christian artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change how society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund youth programs for music production. This time of reflection has helped me realize that I have always been more than "a basketball player." Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have always been consistent practices throughout my life, and I have honored my father with my commitment to excellence. My mother has been a strong supporter of me during my developmental years. This scholarship will help alleviate the heavy financial burden of my education so she can focus on developing my younger sister's gifts and talents. I am a well-prepared, well-rounded applicant ready to engage in the next chapter of my life and participate in the movement to change the world.

As the eldest of two children growing up in a single-parent household, my mother always encouraged me to excel, never wanting me to be satisfied with being mediocre. She placed a strong emphasis on academics, extracurricular involvement, community, and church. It was not uncommon for me to leave home well before the sun rose and not return until long after the sunset in my pursuit of excellence. My whole life I've grown up in the church. From summer day camps, to Bible study on Wednesdays, to service on Sundays, church has shaped me to be the man I am today. Growing up, I didn't have my father in my life because he was killed when I was very young. In my father’s absence, the church taught me to turn my story and my talents into innovative forms of expression to motivate and impact others. This experience was confirmation of my desire to combine my love for music with my interest in International Business. Currently, I am ranked in the top 8% of my senior class while serving in several leadership roles. I am Public Relations Chair for the Cedar Hill Mayor’s Teen Council, Chaplain for Southern Dallas County Top Teens of America, Student Leader for the Next Gen Student Ministry at Concord Church, and also a two-year Captain of the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team at Sam Houston High School. I am also an active member of the National Honor Society, the Mansfield Cedar Hill Chapter of Kappa League, and the Dallas Chapter of Jack and Jill of America’s 47th Annual Beautillion presentation. I aspire to major in Business Management with a minor in Music at Howard University and then earn a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship at a top-ranked business school. During this educational journey, I plan to study internationally and acquire internships with music, media, and entertainment companies. My goal is to become the owner and chief executive officer of an international record label that will invest in and promote Christian artists. My company will be a safe space for young Christian artists to innovatively change the way society experiences praise and worship music, blazing a path for a new generation of Christian music globally. I will also establish a 501(c)(3) charitable organization to raise awareness for music education, mentor young artists, and fund music production youth programs. Academic excellence, leadership, and community service have always been a consistent practice throughout the story of my life, and my mother has been a strong supporter of me during my developmental years. This scholarship will help to alleviate the heavy financial burden of my education so she can focus on investing in the development of my younger sister's gifts and talents. I believe that I am a well-prepared, well-rounded applicant who is ready to engage in the next chapter of my life and be a part of the movement to change the world.

My late father was killed in a shooting when I was only five years old. That day was the last day that I was just a kid. Unlike other kids who cried and had the comfort of their mother behind them, I had to be strong and comfort my mother. From that day forward I had to be the man of the house. My father's death still to this day brings grief to my heart, but honestly, his death changed me for the better. It lit an eternal flame in my soul to make him proud of the man that I am becoming and showed me that tomorrow is not promised, so every second that I am on this earth I will chase my dream and leave no room for regret of not being great or successful in my sport and not only my sport but any passion of mine I choose to pursue. I have faced many challenges, but my biggest one was change. I read this quote that stuck with me “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced," wrote James Baldwin. Growing up in an inner city neighborhood in a fatherless single-parent household, everybody thought I would either be dead, in jail, or running the streets selling drugs. I never wanted that for myself. I have seen cousins, uncles, and even my father fall victim to that way of life. Since the day my father died when I was five, I told myself I would never put myself or my future family in that situation. I had to break the generational curse and not let my environment dictate the type of life I wanted to live. I had to change my mindset to change my outcome. Since I was young when my father passed, there aren’t a lot of memories I have of him. One thing my father left me with is a genuine love for basketball. This sport is how I honor my father and in most cases, this is my only connection to him. Also being so busy with the everyday walk of a student-athlete, I use it as a coping mechanism for stress. When I’m on the court I feel like all my worries go away and my mind is turned off like my body is on autopilot. I love both the physical and mental aspects of the game and the competitive nature of it all. It’s improving my skills to be better than others but to also compete against myself and continuously exceed my limits. Through this sport, I have made many friends and have networked with amazing individuals which has produced opportunities for myself. For example, I played against who is now my manager over my gospel rap career. I’ve learned so many life skills such as self-discipline, leadership skills, communication skills, and how to be persistent. This game has been so influential in my life and I’ve grown to love it how it loved me.