I have been on both ends of the spectrum, being in a single-parent household and a severely low-income household when I had two parents. I grew up in a small West African country known as Ghana where my family struggled greatly to make ends meet. With no previous education, both of my parents worked trade jobs selling in the market. Life was tough and it took a worse turn when my father got ill. His illness caused him to be bedridden and my mother had to step up and become the main provider. In those moments even as a young child I pondered over these things and realized that gaining an education would be my only fighting chance to succeed. Fate was on our side however and my mother gained the opportunity to seek greener pastures by winning the American lottery system. She worked tirelessly in the United States and soon she was able to file to bring my dad and me to the United States. It's been 4 years since I left my home country of Ghana to live in the United States and although times are still tough here, I see a bright future in the books for me. The several hardships and struggles I have been through have motivated me and kept me determined to achieve my educational goals. I plan on becoming a computer and electrical engineer in hopes of helping my home country revolutionize itself. Currently, I am an incoming second-year university student double majoring in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Technology I think is a vital part of a nation's development and its growth on the world surface and I hope my major can someday help create a positive impact.

I vividly recall the day my father left our home in Ghana for the U.S. Even as a child, I understood that his departure marked the beginning of a long, difficult journey for our family. His absence throughout my childhood was painful, but it instilled in me a deep understanding that education would be my key to breaking the cycle of struggle. As an immigrant and a first-generation student from West Africa, my relationship with education has always been personal. It has represented not just knowledge, but a promise of a more secure and successful life. My father’s decision to leave Ghana and endure hardship in a foreign land was motivated by the hope that one day his family would have access to the opportunities he never had. That hope now drives me in my own pursuit of higher education. In 2019, after many years of separation, my mother and I were finally reunited with my father in the United States. It was a joyful moment but, it also signaled the beginning of new challenges. Moving to a new country and adjusting to a completely different way of life was not easy. In high school, I struggled to fit in. I quickly learned that my accent became a point of difference that isolated me from my peers. However, instead of allowing these difficulties to hold me back, I chose to face them. In an effort to adapt, I joined my high school’s college club, where I found a sense of belonging and encouragement. The club not only introduced me to the college application process but also provided me with a support system of individuals who were determined to succeed. Through the club, I realized that the path to higher education was not just possible for me, it was necessary. When the time came to choose a college major, I knew I wanted to focus on something that would secure my own future and allow me to give back to the communities that shaped me. Growing up in Ghana, I had firsthand experience with the limitations caused by a lack of access to technology. In contrast, the U.S had an abundance of resources, from the availability of computers to the ease with which information could be accessed. It became clear to me that technological advancement was a critical component of economic growth and development. I chose Electrical and Computer Engineering to secure my future and give back to the communities that shaped me. Technology is essential for development, and I believe I can use my skills to help bridge the gap between developed and developing nations, contributing to a future where people like my parents don’t have to leave their homes to find opportunities. The decision to attend college is deeply rooted in my desire for personal growth, but it is also driven by a broader goal to honor the sacrifices my parents made. My father’s journey to the U.S was not just a physical one it was a journey of hope and belief in the power of opportunity. Now, as I embark on my own educational journey, I carry that same belief with me. I am determined to use my college experience not only to build a career for myself but to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others, particularly those who face the same challenges my family and I have endured. Attending college is about more than personal growth, it’s about honoring my parents’ sacrifices and ensuring that the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to access are extended to those who need them most.

I can remember several instances in my home country Ghana where living and even going to school was difficult for me. My dad had been in the United States working and he provided for my family through his work while my mom took care of us. My dad was involved in a serious accident that left him away from work for weeks. Times were tough during those moments and I remember staying home for weeks because we simply didn't have the funds to pay for my school fees. Looking back at those instances and remembering their impact has been a constant reminder to strive harder. In 2019 my dad moved my mom and me to the United States. This was one of the first times I had experienced living with my father since for a greater part of my life he was working in the United States. As I was getting adjusted to the new environment now a high schooler with different people from all walks of life, Covid 19 hit and my dad who works in the airline service industry was heavily impacted. He is cut away from work and to make matters worse contracts a deadly bout of Covid. With the new turn of events, my mom quickly steps up and gains a job working in a warehouse for Amazon. The Covid era severely impacted my family and at times we often debated if going back to our home country would be for the best. Thankfully, light was at the end of the tunnel for us and my dad got better gradually and beat COVID. To try and make up lost ground, my dad picked up a second job since the airline industry was a bit laid back. He worked tirelessly along with my mom and brought us back on our feet. Online education for me was a little challenging at the start as certain cultural barriers I had were still unbroken. Being a native speaker of the English language helped but constant reminders by my peers of a strong accent and always having to repeat myself hindered my social abilities. As a way to combat that I joined sports and other campus-held clubs including a college club to better socialize myself in the system. My main motivation was recounting the many times my family and I had struggled and soon, I was able to adjust to the American lifestyle including the academic workflow. I take pride in my background of being an immigrant and a first-generation student and I always strive to be the best in whatever I do. My struggles define who I am and are a constant reminder of who I can be. I am always grateful for the opportunity to better myself in a land where the possibilities are endless and I have my family to thank for that.

A lyric from Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS that resonates with my teenage experience comes from her song "teenage dream," where she sings: "They all say that it gets better It gets better, but what if I don’t?" This lyric encapsulates the internal struggle many teenagers face as they try to navigate the pressures of growing up. It speaks to the fears of not living up to societal expectations and the overwhelming uncertainty that comes with adolescence. These lines hit close to home for me because they capture the tension between external reassurances and internal doubts, a theme that has been central to my teenage life. Throughout adolescence, there's a constant narrative from adults that things will improve over time. "It gets better" becomes a mantra we believe, but it's not always that simple. The lyric, "but what if I don’t?" strikes at the disconnect between expectation and reality. It suggests a fear that despite time passing and despite efforts to grow, some of us might not reach that “better” version of ourselves. For me, this lyric reflects the pressure I’ve felt to constantly improve, achieve, and "become" something greater, even when I don’t always feel equipped to meet those expectations. Growing up as a teenager, particularly in today's digital world, has come with its own set of challenges. Social media amplifies the pressure to present a perfect life, achievements, and a self. Scrolling through curated posts of peers seemingly having it all together often made me question why I didn’t feel the same way. As an electrical engineering major, I’ve found myself juggling intense academic expectations alongside the desire for social approval, and there have been moments where I wondered if I’d ever feel confident in my abilities or myself. This lyric also captures a broader truth about adolescence: the fear of stagnation. At a time when everyone around me seems to be growing and finding their path, I’ve sometimes felt stuck in place. While friends might be thriving in their personal or academic lives, there have been moments where I’ve questioned whether I’m achieving or even changing enough. "What if I don’t?" isn’t just a question of growth—it's a question of belonging and self-worth. The pressure to "grow into yourself" by the end of high school or by the time you enter college is real. There's this unspoken expectation that as we transition from our teenage years into adulthood, we should have figured out who and where we’re headed. But the truth is, most of us don’t have it figured out and that’s okay. Olivia Rodrigo’s lyric speaks to this fear that despite all the time and effort, we might not become who we want to be or who others expect us to be. This resonates with my own experience as a student trying to excel in a demanding field like electrical engineering, where every test, every project, and every assignment feels like a measure of my worth and potential. Ultimately, this lyric captures the essence of adolescence in its vulnerability. It’s a reminder that teenage years are full of uncertainties and the ever-present question of whether or not we will “make it.” But it also serves as a validation of those fears. It tells us that it’s okay to question the future, and it's okay to be unsure of the person we’re becoming. In my own life, I’ve learned to embrace that uncertainty and take things one step at a time. Whether or not I "get better" in the way others expect, I’m beginning to understand that my journey is my own, and I’ll grow at my own pace.

I met my father for the first time when I was 11, when I was 14 I moved to the United States away from my home country Ghana. My parents decided to invest in my education and made the ultimate sacrifice of saving up for me to study abroad. Being a first in the family to achieve this feat in not only pursuing a degree but also in being overseas, I take pride in my education and striving to learn and know more. I am currently pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree and it is very important I succeed not only for myself but also for my parents. Pursuing a degree would allow me to secure a future for myself and keep me financially stable. A degree isn't the only path to financial freedom but it is the path I have chosen to best aid me and possibly my family. I hope my entry for this scholarship will be taken seriously. Thank You