Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school, due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and the quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this, I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interests you,” something that you love. With that simple saying, I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being a strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

A leader is an individual who steers, affects, or motivates others in the direction of a shared objective. Leadership goes beyond just holding a title or having authority; it is primarily about how one behaves and the effect one has on others. The person who best fits my idea of leadership is my inspiring godmother, Kimberly Evans Killon. Kimberly Evans Killon is a woman of integrity and strong character. Kimberly Evans Killon is an Executive Vice President at Northern Trust. She is also the Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact. She is the sole creator for creating and leading strategies for sustainability, inclusion, and social impact at the company. She has over 25 years of experience in financial services and business strategy. She is well-known for business transformation and leading change initiatives. In the role, she faces many challenges however the main one being diverse opinions on diversity due to being a Black woman. This results in addressing challenges caused by prompting inclusion and diversity across the company that contains various aspects of people from diverse backgrounds. Throughout her career this small guide of seeing everyone has led her to led business transformation efforts and manage teams across regions including America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and lastly the Asia- Pacific. Kimberly Evans Killon shows great leadership skills being intelligence, determination, and integrity. These few traits have been the key for here to gain such a networking and trustworthy bond with other company heads. With skills of such companies are more likely to do business due to pleasant business working happening. Being intelligent, determined, and having integrity can help a lot in the business world, especially as a Black businessperson. Intelligence helps you make smart decisions and solve problems when things do not go as planned. Due to this demotration of constant leadership I am a good scholarship candidate due to the fact that I have such a passion for becoming a strong leader and furthering my education in learning. I am on my pathways to becoming a successful businesswoman with a marketing degree. Addition to being a great candidate, is my need to take on challenges. I enjoy task requirements me to be creative while also brainstorming new creative ways to find a solution. I am someone who strives to be a better person than I was yesterday. By doing so I try to be more open with everyone I meet. I do so by opening up to everyone. I strive to converse with someone new everyday this helps me not only work on commutation skills but also learn about people backgrounds and time lessons on all stories I hear. I am an enthusiastic black leader who has worked under Dean of Students at SIUe since my freshman year of college. I am someone who is in charge of all things marketing, additionally of all thing dealing with giving back to the campus along with the community. I am the leader of all food donations along with clothing donations. I am in charge of commutation with all donors, along with all donations that come into the Cougar Cupboard store. With this leadership role it has taught to always give back and always have compassion for others. I feel emphatic and compassion is the best quality to have in a person.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. I am an enthusiastic black leader who has worked under Dean of Students at SIUe since my freshman year of college. I am someone who is in charge of all things marketing, additionally of all thing dealing with giving back to the campus along with the community. I am the leader of all food donations along with clothing donations. I am in charge of commutation with all donors, along with all donations that come into the Cougar Cupboard store. With this leadership role it has taught to always give back and always have compassion for others. I feel emphatic and compassion is the best quality to have in a person. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother,my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. I am an enthusiastic black leader who has worked under Dean of Students at SIUe since my freshman year of college. I am someone who is in charge of all things marketing, additionally of all thing dealing with giving back to the campus along with the community. I am the leader of all food donations along with clothing donations. I am in charge of commutation with all donors, along with all donations that come into the Cougar Cupboard store. With this leadership role it has taught to always give back and always have compassion for others. I feel emphatic and compassion is the best quality to have in a person. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother,my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother,my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. I am a good scholarship candidate due to the fact that I have such a passion for becoming a strong leader and furthering my education in learning. I am on my pathways to becoming a successful businesswoman with a marketing degree. Addition to being a great candidate, is my need to take on challenges. I enjoy task requirements me to be creative while also brainstorming new creative ways to find a solution. I am someone who strives to be a better person than I was yesterday. By doing so I try to be more open with everyone I meet. I strive to converse with someone new everyday this helps me not only work on commutation skills.

Number 3) Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole.

I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. This made me think of Taylor Swift "Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me" Tour due to her being the fullest version of her. I strive to be the fullest version of me. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole.

I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and the quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. Coming from a low-income family, it pushed me to go after anything and everything possible. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. I want to achieve this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business field. In the future, I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. My Grandfather suffered with sepsis which made my father want more for us due to tomorrow not being promised. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. Her music made me take a risk for change. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole.

One More Customer The clock above the stove read 10:57PM We close at 11:00PM on the dot. However I can go home until I clean the grease trap. Mop the floors. And lastly wipe down the counters. She had been at work since noon. All she wants is to lay in bed at her girly house. The restaurant was empty except for the fact one customer stillnhas not fiished eating their hamburger. The slow chewing the slow sollowing. She watched the customers every move. “were almost done” She told herself Her favorite words to say to herself on the clock. She nodded to herself to cheer herself up. Almost done. She grabbed a chair and flipped it upside down onto a table. Then another. Then another. Outside, the parking lot was dark except for a few streetlights. She could already picture herself getting into her Uber, kicking off her shoes, and collapsing into bed. She kept reminding herself she is almost done and continued cleaing. She glanzed over to the customer eveynow and then to make sure they were almost done. It seemed as if the customer would never finish eating. The customer made a small gasp. A quite voice broke the silence. “I spilled” They said. She looked over to see pickles, tomatoes and cheese on the floor. Half a milkshake on the counter and a nervous smiling customer. The counters she had already cleaned needed to be cleaned again. The floor that was mopped had to be mopped, change the water and mopped again so no sticky residue was left on the ground She let out a big sigh wishing she never picked up today's shift. She thougth tonigths last customer would be easy Take an order. Fill a drink. Bag food. Wipe a spill. Repeat. Her legs felt heavier with every step. Everyday the same thing She grew tired of this, the same thing each day every hour That was when something inside her finally cracked. Not in a dramatic way. She didn't yell. She didn't cry. She just stood there for a second, staring at a handful of sauce packets. All day long she had been rushing. Rush to work. Rush through lunch. Rush through customers. Rush through cleaning. Rush home. Rush to sleep. Then wake up and do it all again. The night had been frustrating. Exhausting, even.Yet somehow she had survived it just like she survived every other long shift. She grabbed her bag from the break room and headed toward the door. Outside, the air felt cool against her face. For the first time all day she felt free. Free of customers free of stress free of all things. Her Uber would get there when it got there. Home would still be waiting. And tomorrow could wait until tomorrow.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I thought changing my career path was a late decision to make as a sophomore. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I thought changing my career path was a late decision to make as a sophomore. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. Mental health sneaks up on you when you least expect it. It's the way as a Black woman in society that we are not allowed to speak on it. In those days that I struggled with my mental health I felt so long, so afraid for myself and my future. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing will provide foundation necessary to achieve these goals. Throughout the program, I will gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior that runs in the business world. These skills will prepare me to succeed in constantly evolving business and help me stand out professionally. By applying what I learn in class and every life lesson, building my leadership experiences and remaining dedication to my goals, I believe I can set up a successful career in marketing making a positive impact on industry and my community as a whole. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interest you,” something that you love. With that simple saying I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. My "awkward" thing that always stands out is my height, and people consider it short. I feel that my height is fine since it is average for women my age. I am 5'5. It is true that I struggle with what is commonly obversion of shortness. The average needing help getting something on a higher shelf. Not being able to ride certain carnival rides due to height requirements. Being the shortest one in a family of tall people; before me the shortest person in my family was 5'9. The constant joke of the "tall gene" skipping me. The talk of the possibility of me being adopted due to being the only short one in my admitted and extended family, despite my face being a copy and paste of everyone else's. The talk of "hand me downs" being to long on both my legs and arms. The talk of every doctor's appointment is that I am done with all growth spurts, and the height I am now will be the height I will remain. Despite my height being what it is, I have always had a volleyball talent. Volleyball is usually labeled as a "tall sport"; however, that has never stopped me from playing and getting the spot I play best, being zone 1,2 and 3 (right front, middle front, left front). I'm usually the one to be blocking the ball with two much taller teammates on each side of me. I find it quite laughable when people on the court underestimate me due to my height. Is full when they see me start off the game in the front or get tapped into the game and shuffle to the front. I feel in their eyes it will be an easy point if they try to get the ball "over me". However, this just challenges me all the time. I always set the ball after a strong spike or fully block it with the help of my teammates or my high jumps. I feel that, despite my height being what it is, it gives me an unfair advantage. Just the thought of being underestimated, I am able to give more sneak attacks on the court. I love my height and would not change it for the world. I it's one of the many things that make me, me!

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school, due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and the quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this, I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interests you,” something that you love. With that simple saying, I started thinking of other career paths. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. As I began on this new journey of marketing, I discovered that it was a combination of many qualities I looked for in a career. Marketing allowed me to not only use the creativity of brainstorming ideas and seeing them come to life but also the use of communication with others, problem- solving, and analytical thinking all at once. With my desire for communications, I became interested in public relations and brand marketing due to the need to understand consumer behavior and finding ways to connect products with people added to the services and message that matters most to them. My goal in working on this aspect is to work within a marketing or public relations agency that serves diverse communities and promotes representation within the industry. My life goals extend beyond just earning a degree. I want to set up sustainable financial stability due to the successes of my successful career. I want to succeed this goal to become a positive example to young Black women pursuing careers in the business path. In the future I would like to mentor young students and professionals who are interested in pursuing in the business field. I believe representation matters so much in the Black community and hope I inspire others to pursue their ambitions regardless of obstacles they may face, the main one being in the young adult life mental health. I myself as a young adult have struggled for so many years with my mental health in many ways. My overcoming was a strong leader being a strong Black women in my life; if it was my therapist, my mother, my sisters, my own build in support system that help me continue the journey I am now continuing on to. My journey has not always been a straight path; however, each experience has played a role in shaping my goals and strengthening my determination to succeed. The lessons and challenges I have faced have helped me as a person grow both physically and mentally. Through hard work, dedication, and my will to continue to learn, I plan to achieve my educational goals and career goals while creating opportunities for myself while also inspiring others to pursue their own aspirations they aim for.

Hello, my name is Kyla Parker. I am an upcoming senior who attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am on my mark pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I strive to be a successful black businesswoman for my future. I have been on the journey for business since my junior year of high school. It all started when I joined a program at my high school called Future Business Leaders of America. By the end of my junior year of high school, due to my dedication, I soon became president of this club and remained until my senior graduation. With this choice marked my future career plans. Something in the business world. Marketing was not my first choice of a career plan. It switched many times through each life lesson that I faced in my young adult life. I began with the passion of accounting; I have always been found with numbers and the quick processing of them. However, due to how easy the processing was for this, I began to become bored. My father always recommended that I do something that” interests you,” something that you love. With that simple saying, I started thinking of other career paths. I thought changing my career path was a late decision to make as a sophomore. I took a chance to start a new journey that would soon be my whole future. I feel the leverage I use to show my uniqueness is my risk of trying new things. I feel that although I have high emotions such as nervousness, fear of new things, and lastly anxiety, I never let these emotions overtake an opportunity. I never let my emotions consume me or control me. I have never noticed this on my own first-hand. This courage has been pointed out to me by my biggest supporter, my younger sister Kadence. Kadence has told me how much my dedication to getting the things I am set on inspires her to not let fear take over. She spoke on how admirable it was to have an older sister who takes a chance on all new things, no matter how difficult or big the job seems to be. Knowing that my younger sister has a role model who happens to be me makes me push myself even more when it comes to new things. I feel that if I cannot do the task for myself now to do it for her. I feel being able to achieve something not only for my own well-being but also for my sister makes the completion ten times better.