My name is Trinity, and I am a senior at the University of Miami, majoring in public relations. Raised by a single mother, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and resilience. My upbringing taught me that success is earned through perseverance and self-accountability, and I’ve applied this mindset to my academic and personal life, always holding myself to high standards. Accountability has been key to my success in college. Navigating higher education without a guide required me to be self-reliant and proactive. I set clear goals and mapped out the steps to achieve them, understanding that my future depends on the effort I put in today. Whether managing internships, studying for exams, or balancing extracurriculars, I’ve learned to take responsibility for my growth. One of the most impactful ways I’ve held myself accountable is by seeking out leadership opportunities that push me to grow. Serving on the 1,000 Dreams Fund student advisory board helped me empower young women, while my internship at Lumen Technologies sharpened my communication skills. These experiences taught me that accountability isn’t just about meeting deadlines—it’s about showing up with integrity and delivering quality work. Accountability also means learning from failure. In high school, I struggled with my mental health, and my grades suffered. Instead of letting this setback define me, I worked on my well-being and committed to improving academically. By senior year, I was accepted into the University of Miami, my top choice. Holding myself accountable allowed me to turn a difficult period into a stepping stone for success. Beyond academics, accountability drives my passion for advocacy. As PR Chair for the National Council of Negro Women and Miss Black Coral Gables, I advocate for African American women, ensuring my platform reflects a commitment to service and social justice. This responsibility motivates me to amplify the voices of those often overlooked and to pursue my dream of creating a Black-owned, female-led PR agency serving BIPOC clients. Accountability also plays a significant role in my personal life. As a surviving triplet who lost both a sister and brother at birth, I feel a deep responsibility to live a life that honors their memory. This loss has given me a sense of purpose, driving me to excel in everything I do. I hold myself accountable by setting high expectations and refusing to settle for mediocrity. My passion for advocacy and dedication to my studies are grounded in a desire to make the most of every opportunity I’m given. Accountability has been the foundation of my success. By setting goals, embracing challenges, and taking ownership of my actions, I have achieved significant milestones academically and personally. I view accountability not as a burden but as a tool that propels me forward. As I continue my journey, I am committed to upholding the highest standards, knowing that my future is shaped by the choices I make today.

My name is Trinity, and I am a surviving triplet. My mother miscarried my two siblings at 17 weeks, but I survived. I’ve also lost two other siblings, Isaiah and Symara. Isaiah was stillborn, and Symara lived for four days before passing from Trisomy 13. The loss of my five siblings has deeply shaped my life and worldview. Growing up, I felt their presence and believe they are my guardian angels, which gave me a deep sense of responsibility to live intentionally, not just for myself but in honor of their short lives. Navigating the grief of their passing has been a long journey. Initially, I felt sadness and confusion, often asking myself why I survived when they didn’t. These questions led me to experience survivor’s guilt and loneliness. Over time, I realized that their loss is part of my story, and instead of feeling brokenhearted, I’ve chosen to use it as a source of strength. I understand how fragile life is, but it’s also filled with opportunities to grow, love, and make a difference. This experience has taught me to honor my emotions rather than suppress them. I’ve had to face grief, guilt, and gratitude for my life, which has helped me build resilience and compassion. I’ve learned that grieving is important, but so is moving forward and living a life full of joy and purpose. Therapy and journaling have been crucial in helping me process my emotions. Journaling allowed me to put my feelings into words when I couldn’t express them aloud. It became a space where I could pour out my thoughts, fears, and dreams, helping me reflect and grow. Therapy, on the other hand, has provided a sense of reflection and balance. It has helped me sit with my thoughts without judgment and find peace in moments of chaos. These practices have been essential in cultivating inner peace and a deeper understanding of myself. Knowledge is a powerful tool for driving change, and that’s why I am pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Miami. College has been a long-standing dream for me, not just for the opportunities it offers but also for the chance to learn how to advocate for others. I’m passionate about public relations and using media to create platforms where marginalized voices can be heard. I realize that my story is one of many, and I want to help others share theirs. The biggest influence in my life has been my mother. As a single parent, she raised me with incredible strength and resilience. Watching her overcome challenges while providing for me has taught me the value of perseverance. Her love and support have been my foundation. Although she still grieves for her children, we continue to honor them, for example, we're participating in a Steps for Healing 5K walk in November. My journey has been one of loss, but also one of resilience and growth. The passing of my siblings has profoundly shaped who I am, and it’s through therapy, journaling, and the influence of role models like my mother that I’ve found my path. The support from the Enders Scholarship would not only help me financially but also be a meaningful way to honor my siblings. Thank you for your consideration!

My name is Trinity, and I am a passionate advocate for inclusivity and representation in the beauty industry. As a senior studying public relations at the University of Miami, I am committed to creating a space where all voices are heard and celebrated. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate financial burdens and enable me to focus wholeheartedly on my academic and career aspirations. My passion for the beauty industry began at a young age. As a little Black girl, I was disheartened to see how beauty standards often excluded women of color. Many of us struggled to find products that matched our skin tones or celebrated our unique features. This realization sparked a desire to promote inclusivity and representation within the industry. I envision a future where beauty brands ensure that everyone feels represented, valued, and confident in their skin. This scholarship would play a pivotal role in my academic journey, allowing me to invest in resources and opportunities that will enhance my education. With this financial support, I plan to attend workshops and conferences focused on beauty marketing and product development. These experiences will provide me with valuable insights and industry connections, helping me to develop the expertise needed to create impactful change. Additionally, part of the scholarship will fund research projects exploring consumer behavior and the impact of inclusive marketing strategies, further preparing me to contribute meaningfully to the beauty industry. Beyond academics, this scholarship will significantly aid in my personal development. As someone deeply committed to social justice, I aim to create initiatives that empower marginalized communities through beauty. With this support, I will engage in community outreach programs that educate young individuals about self-expression through beauty and the importance of confidence. When people feel beautiful, they are more empowered to pursue their goals and positively impact their communities. My career aspirations are driven by a desire to challenge outdated beauty norms and advocate for diversity. I plan to use my public relations and marketing expertise to help beauty brands authentically represent a range of cultures and identities. Through my work, I hope to create campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences and highlight the significance of inclusivity. By advocating for brands to prioritize diversity in their messaging and product offerings, I aim to shift the industry's perception of beauty and create a lasting impact. Ultimately, I aspire to launch my own beauty brand centered on inclusivity and representation. I want to develop products that cater to a wide range of skin tones and types, ensuring that everyone can find something that makes them feel beautiful. This scholarship will help me gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to bring this vision to life. The Nyadollie Scholarship is not just financial support; it is an investment in my vision for a more inclusive beauty industry. It will empower me to pursue my academic goals, foster personal growth, and make a meaningful impact in a field I am deeply passionate about. Together, we can advance this vision and create a beauty industry that uplifts all people. Thank you for your consideration and for believing in the power of inclusivity.

Reflecting on my childhood, one question I wished I had been asked more often is, “How do you want to be remembered?” This inquiry, filled with depth and introspection, could have sparked meaningful conversations about my aspirations and values, guiding me toward a clearer understanding of my identity and purpose. Growing up, I often focused on meeting the expectations set by my parents and teachers. I excelled in academics, participated in various extracurricular activities, and strived to be a role model for my peers. However, I rarely paused to consider the legacy I wanted to leave behind. While adults in my life frequently asked what I wanted to do professionally when I grew up, they never asked who I wanted to be. This absence of that pivotal question left me navigating my path without a deeper connection to my personal values and the impact I wished to have on others. My mother, a dedicated social worker like Linda, instilled in me the importance of serving our community. I watched her tirelessly advocate for those in need, often putting others before herself. While I admired her commitment, I didn’t fully grasp how her actions reflected her desire to be remembered as a force for good. It wasn’t until I took on leadership roles in high school that I began to contemplate my own legacy. I realized I wanted to be remembered not just for my achievements, but for how I made others feel and the positive change I contributed to my community. This realization has profoundly influenced my goals and aspirations. Today, I strive to be someone who empowers others, especially young women of color. I actively mentor students, asking them about their dreams and encouraging them to pursue their passions. I want to create a safe space where they can express their aspirations freely and feel valued. By asking this question of them, I hope to inspire reflection and foster a sense of purpose in their lives, just as I wish I had experienced. Moreover, I have become passionate about pursuing a career in public relations, with a focus on social impact. I envision creating campaigns that amplify underrepresented voices, particularly those of marginalized communities. I intend to establish a black-owned, female-led public relations agency to serve BIPOC individuals and address their communications needs, breaking down barriers that hinder young women of color from pursuing higher education and careers in communications. My goal is to be remembered as someone who not only succeeded in my field but also used my platform to advocate for change and inspire others to find their voices. The absence of the question “How do you want to be remembered?” has taught me the value of one’s legacy. I understand now that our actions today shape how we will be perceived tomorrow. I want to leave a legacy rooted in compassion, empowerment, and advocacy. As I continue my academic journey, I remain committed to making choices that reflect this desire. Each volunteer opportunity, mentoring session, and advocacy effort is a step toward fulfilling my goal of being remembered as someone who made a difference in her community. The question of how I want to be remembered has become a guiding principle in my life. It inspires me to lead with purpose and compassion, motivating me to create a positive impact in the lives of others. By embodying these values, I hope to encourage others to dream big and embrace their unique life journeys. By supporting me, the Aitkens family would be investing in a legacy that champions love, service, and education. Thank you for your consideration!

In a society that often prioritizes achievement over compassion, I strive to embody the B.A.B.Y. L.O.V.E. spirit that Joyce Tolbert cherished. As an African American woman in my senior year of college, I recognize the profound impact outreach and education can have on our communities, especially for women of color. My journey, fueled by a desire to serve others, aligns closely with Joyce’s legacy and the principles she instilled in her family. Joyce Tolbert’s commitment to showing God’s love through service resonates deeply with me. Growing up in a Baptist Christian household, my mother ensured we lived by God’s word, allowing me to witness the transformative power of outreach firsthand. Inspired by this example, I serve as an ambassador for the 1,000 Dreams Fund MentorHER initiative as a member of their Student Advisory Board. This role has provided not only an opportunity to help high school students but also a chance for profound personal growth. I’ve watched students overcome imposter syndrome and fears about the college application process, transforming into confident learners. Their success has reinforced my belief in education as a tool for empowerment. Education, particularly for women of color, has always been a central theme in my life. My mother, a strong advocate for education, emphasized its importance, reminding us that no one can take our knowledge away. She earned three college degrees while raising her children as a single mother, instilling in me the understanding that nothing is impossible with God walking alongside you on your journey. Inspired by her resilience, I have made it my mission to excel academically while advocating for equitable access to education in my community. I plan to establish a black-owned, female-led public relations agency to serve BIPOC individuals and address their communications needs, breaking down barriers that hinder young women of color from pursuing higher education and careers in communications. The essence of B.A.B.Y. L.O.V.E. extends beyond personal achievement; it is rooted in a commitment to service. Recently, I served as co-event chair for the United Black Students’ Black Awareness Month initiative. Working with a committee of Black women leaders to highlight Black excellence was an invaluable experience. This initiative allowed me to engage with my community while educating others, and it was an honor to contribute to that process. Additionally, I was inducted into the NAACP and am the PR chair for the National Council of Negro Women, where I look forward to promoting leadership and celebrating Black women at the University of Miami. In all my endeavors, I am driven by a sense of purpose. I understand that my journey is intertwined with the experiences of others, and I embrace the responsibility to lead with compassion. I am dedicated to academic pursuits, community service, and advocacy for social justice, believing that each step can create ripples of change. If my advocacy work can inspire children of single parents to strive for excellence despite stereotypes, I will have succeeded in my life’s mission. Applying for this scholarship is not just about financial support; it represents an opportunity to honor Joyce Tolbert’s legacy by continuing her mission. I am committed to embodying the B.A.B.Y. L.O.V.E. spirit as I pursue my education in public relations, aiming to empower other women of color to harness their potential and create a better future for themselves and their communities. By supporting me, the Tolbert family would be investing in a legacy that champions love, service, and education. Thank you for your consideration!

Single-parent families are commonly perceived as broken homes but I disagree with this perception. My mother refused to let her children lack in any way because of this unforeseen circumstance. She made sure that my siblings and I were always involved in different enrichment activities and extracurriculars. She is our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever passion we pursue and for that, I am eternally grateful. My mother’s continuous support has encouraged me to be bold enough to try new things but to also be courageous enough to fail and try again. I’ve inherited her love for communications and am pursuing a degree in public relations because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. Coming from a single-parent family, my siblings and I are used to working twice as hard as children who come from financially stable two-parent households to succeed. For instance, working as an assistant gymnastics coach to assist my mother with paying for my sister’s competition team participation fees, working as a dance assistant to lower the cost of my dance school tuition, and currently, working a work-study job so that I can afford my bills and groceries. I have always understood the challenges that growing up in a single-parent family presented but that was never an excuse to not strive for excellence in any venture I embark on. My mother received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees while juggling the responsibility of raising 3 children, being a career woman, and being an outreach coordinator in the community as well as a social worker. Her chronic health conditions and frequent hospitalizations didn’t prevent her from continuously showing up for herself and her children daily so observing her strength and perseverance growing up has inspired me to never let adversity prohibit me from chasing my dreams. I am tenacious, compassionate, and organized as a result of my upbringing, and appreciate every adversity that I’ve overcome. My mother instilled the importance of education within me and my siblings from a young age. She’d always say “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” Learning as much as I can during my studies at the University of Miami will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying space but all women of color deserve to achieve their dreams even if they’re the only ones in that environment. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and in doing so cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other children of single parents to strive for excellence despite their circumstances and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. Our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change as we collaborate to nurture this vision. The support from the Dimon A. Williams Memorial Scholarship would be a significant investment in my academic progression and in achieving this dream. Thank you for your consideration!

I thoroughly enjoy my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality, all traits I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and learn from those I collaborate with. The communications industry is male-dominated and this is why I intend to shift this dynamic by including more women of color in the conversation. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my PR classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but this is why adequate reputation is crucial. Racial discrimination and prejudices still exist in the industry, unfortunately. But by creating safe spaces for BIPOC to occupy these professional spaces, others in our community will gain the confidence to let their talent shine and revolutionize the communications industry. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically suppressed in the media because we all deserve the opportunity to be heard and listened to. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy will also be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other black women to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. If we work together to support this vision, our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change. Like Kayla, I have a dream of being the “next Steve Jobs” and use the skills i’ve acquired to create positive societal change and help others reach their goals. It would be my honor to continue Kayla’s legacy and work toward making both of our dreams come true: leaving our marks on the world and our communities.

As a little girl, I struggled with anxiety but didn’t realize it. I thought it was normal to fidget, bite my nails, bounce my leg, sweat profusely, and feel my heart race during mundane moments. This was my norm until 5th grade when my favorite teacher, Mrs. Edwards, openly discussed her ADHD journey. Mrs. Edwards was a 5’3 black woman with the fluffiest afro I had ever seen and enough energy to power a suburban neighborhood. Hearing her symptoms made me suspect I had ADHD, so I told my mom. Although I didn't want to be tested, seeing Mrs. Edwards thrive helped me understand that a diagnosis wouldn't hinder my success. My mental health journey took a turn freshman year of high school when I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety. For 6 months of my freshman year, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were displaced. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being displaced made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. I went from being a straight A student to a C average student. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help because I felt emotionally numb all of the time. My therapist at the time prescribed me a low dosage of Lexapro to see if it improved my anxiety symptoms. One night I had a terrifying intrusive thought to swallow the entire bottle of pills. I knew I was going through a period of mental struggle but I had never had suicidal thoughts before or a history of self harm so this thought crossing my mind was not my own, I realized it was a side effect of the medication. I told my mother immediately who hid and locked my meds in her nightstand so that I could not access them if I were to act on that impulse. Shortly after that I stopped taking the medication and now rely on self-soothing techniques like taking walks and listening to music to decrease my anxiety. Ironically, my mother is a mental health professional with an MSW from Temple University. I feel comfortable discussing my feelings with her, but this isn’t the case for everyone. Many people feel alone and keep their emotions bottled up, which can lead to self-harm or harm to others. Despite progress in alleviating the stigma around mental health, it remains a taboo subject for many, especially in the black community. Mental health disorders are often viewed negatively, leading individuals to stay silent about their struggles. When someone does speak up, their issues are often dismissed, and the severity is minimized. It was reported in 2020 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that suicide was the third leading cause of death, respectively, for blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24. The tragic loss of these individuals could have potentially been avoided if they have access to adequate mental health resources. BIPOC individuals often see mental health care as a luxury. They might not be able to afford treatment or believe they don't need it because their symptoms aren’t severe. This neglect perpetuates the issue, leading to deteriorating mental states and increased risk of substance abuse. Open discussions about mental health can help those who struggle find healing. I envision a world where mental health within the black community is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this, I advocate for mental health rights at my academic institution. I’ve worked with organizations like COPE (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) and ENOUGH, a mentorship program for multicultural women, to support peers in need. As the co-event chair for the United Black Students’ Black Awareness Month initiative, we hosted events celebrating black culture and addressing mental health struggles faced by students of color. It is imperative to understand intersectionality and how the numerous identities that we have as people of color impacts our state of mental health. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. Mental health advocacy should also intersect with other social justice movements, for example, movements focused on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality, to create a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. Promoting initiatives that dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality will uplift BIPOC individuals. Dedicating our efforts to this cause will help people of color advocate for their mental health needs, receive proper care, and heal their trauma. I hope sharing my mental health journey encourages others to do the same and seek treatment, as finding the right treatment is essential for healing and growth.

I thoroughly enjoy my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality, all traits I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and learn from those I collaborate with. The communications industry is male-dominated and this is why I intend to shift this dynamic by including more women of color in the conversation. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my PR classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but this is why adequate reputation is crucial. Racial discrimination and prejudices still exist in the industry, unfortunately. But by creating safe spaces for BIPOC to occupy these professional spaces, others in our community will gain the confidence to let their talent shine and revolutionize the communications industry. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically suppressed in the media because we all deserve the opportunity to be heard and listened to. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy will also be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other black women to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. If we work together to support this vision, our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change.

As the daughter of a mental health professional who's received her MSW, I've inherited the joy of being a mental health advocate. In elementary school I handmade business cards and handed them out at recess offering therapy services to any of my peers who needed help. Once I learned the meaning of empathy I realized that I have the capacity to help others with their mental health, even if I'm struggling with my own. Unfortunately, mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. I envision a world where mental health is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this goal, I am committed to advocating for the mental health rights of the black community at my academic institution. I’ve worked alongside organizations on my campus such as COPE's (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) initiative and ENOUGH, the mentorship program for multicultural women, who serve my peers who need guidance and understanding. I recently served as the co-event chair for the United Black Student’s Black Awareness Month initiative. For February, we hosted collaborative events that highlighted black culture and celebrated black students on campus. One of the events we hosted was in collaboration with COPE where we facilitated a conversation about the complex mental health struggles that students of color are faced with. It is also imperative to understand intersectionality and how the numerous identities that we have as African Americans impact our mental health state. There are so many different aspects of one’s identity that contribute to their life experiences such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. When advocating for the mental health rights of those in our community we must acknowledge these characteristics. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. We all can participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC individuals. Hopefully dedicating my efforts to this cause will help people of color live without fear of condemnation for advocating for their mental health needs, receive the mental health care that they need, and heal their trauma.

Unfortunately, mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. We are acknowledging mental health more, but a lot of people in our community still view receiving mental health care as taboo. Many individuals have adopted the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset, especially in the black community. Having a mental health disorder is seen as a negative thing and instead of acknowledging it, individuals who need help are urged to remain silent. If someone does have the courage to speak up about their struggles, the issue is dismissed and the severity of the situation is minimized. It was reported in 2020 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that suicide was the third leading cause of death, respectively, for blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24. The tragic loss of these individuals could have potentially been avoided if they have access to adequate mental health resources. BIPOC individuals tend to view mental health care as a luxury, not a necessity. They may be unable to afford treatment or simply don’t believe that they are in need of treatment because their symptoms aren’t severe. This results in mental health neglect, perpetuating the issue, and can lead to a deteriorating mental state, increased risk of substance abuse, and many other harmful outcomes. If we facilitate open and honest discussions about mental health, we can help those who struggle with their mental health heal. I envision a world where mental health within the black community is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this goal, I am committed to advocating for the mental health rights of the black community at my academic institution. I’ve worked alongside organizations on my campus such as COPE's (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) initiative and ENOUGH, the mentorship program for multicultural women, who serve my peers who need guidance and understanding. I recently served as the co-event chair for the United Black Student’s Black Awareness Month initiative. For February, we hosted collaborative events that highlighted black culture and celebrated black students on campus. One of the events we hosted was in collaboration with COPE where we facilitated a conversation about the complex mental health struggles that students of color are faced with. It is also imperative to understand intersectionality and how the numerous identities that we have as African Americans impact our mental health state. There are so many different aspects of one’s identity that contribute to their life experiences such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. When advocating for the mental health rights of those in our community we must acknowledge these characteristics. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. Mental health advocacy should also intersect with other social justice movements, for example, movements focused on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality, to create a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. We all can participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC individuals. Hopefully dedicating my efforts to this cause will help people of color live without fear of condemnation for advocating for their mental health needs, receive the mental health care that they need, and heal their trauma.

Unfortunately, mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. We are acknowledging mental health more, but a lot of people in our community still view receiving mental health care as taboo. Many individuals have adopted the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset, especially in the black community. Having a mental health disorder is seen as a negative thing and instead of acknowledging it, individuals who need help are urged to remain silent. If someone does have the courage to speak up about their struggles, the issue is dismissed and the severity of the situation is minimized. It was reported in 2020 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that suicide was the third leading cause of death, respectively, for blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24. The tragic loss of these individuals could have potentially been avoided if they have access to adequate mental health resources. BIPOC individuals tend to view mental health care as a luxury, not a necessity. They may be unable to afford treatment or simply don’t believe that they are in need of treatment because their symptoms aren’t severe. This results in mental health neglect, perpetuating the issue, and can lead to a deteriorating mental state, increased risk of substance abuse, and many other harmful outcomes. If we facilitate open and honest discussions about mental health, we can help those who struggle with their mental health heal. I envision a world where mental health within the black community is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this goal, I am committed to advocating for the mental health rights of the black community at my academic institution. I’ve worked alongside organizations on my campus such as COPE's (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) initiative and ENOUGH, the mentorship program for multicultural women, who serve my peers who need guidance and understanding. I recently served as the co-event chair for the United Black Student’s Black Awareness Month initiative. For February, we hosted collaborative events that highlighted black culture and celebrated black students on campus. One of the events we hosted was in collaboration with COPE where we facilitated a conversation about the complex mental health struggles that students of color are faced with. It is also imperative to understand intersectionality and how the numerous identities that we have as African Americans impact our mental health state. There are so many different aspects of one’s identity that contribute to their life experiences such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. When advocating for the mental health rights of those in our community we must acknowledge these characteristics. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. Mental health advocacy should also intersect with other social justice movements, for example, movements focused on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality, to create a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. We all can participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC individuals. Hopefully dedicating my efforts to this cause will help people of color live without fear of condemnation for advocating for their mental health needs, receive the mental health care that they need, and heal their trauma.

Unfortunately, mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. We are acknowledging mental health more, but a lot of people in our community still view receiving mental health care as taboo. Many individuals have adopted the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset, especially in the black community. Having a mental health disorder is seen as a negative thing and instead of acknowledging it, individuals who need help are urged to remain silent. If someone does have the courage to speak up about their struggles, the issue is dismissed and the severity of the situation is minimized. It was reported in 2020 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that suicide was the third leading cause of death, respectively, for blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24. The tragic loss of these individuals could have potentially been avoided if they have access to adequate mental health resources. BIPOC individuals tend to view mental health care as a luxury, not a necessity. They may be unable to afford treatment or simply don’t believe that they are in need of treatment because their symptoms aren’t severe. This results in mental health neglect, perpetuating the issue, and can lead to a deteriorating mental state, increased risk of substance abuse, and many other harmful outcomes. If we facilitate open and honest discussions about mental health, we can help those who struggle with their mental health heal. I envision a world where mental health within the black community is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this goal, I am committed to advocating for the mental health rights of the black community at my academic institution. I’ve worked alongside organizations on my campus such as COPE's (Counseling Outreach Peer Education) initiative and ENOUGH, the mentorship program for multicultural women, who serve my peers who need guidance and understanding. I recently served as the co-event chair for the United Black Student’s Black Awareness Month initiative. For February, we hosted collaborative events that highlighted black culture and celebrated black students on campus. One of the events we hosted was in collaboration with COPE where we facilitated a conversation about the complex mental health struggles that students of color are faced with. It is also imperative to understand intersectionality and how the numerous identities that we have as African Americans impact our mental health state. There are so many different aspects of one’s identity that contribute to their life experiences such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. When advocating for the mental health rights of those in our community we must acknowledge these characteristics. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. Mental health advocacy should also intersect with other social justice movements, for example, movements focused on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality, to create a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. We all can participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC individuals. Hopefully dedicating my efforts to this cause will help people of color live without fear of condemnation for advocating for their mental health needs, receive the mental health care that they need, and heal their trauma.

I thoroughly enjoy my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality, all traits I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and learn from those I collaborate with. The communications industry is male-dominated and this is why I intend to shift this dynamic by including more women of color in the conversation. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my PR classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but this is why adequate reputation is crucial. Racial discrimination and prejudices still exist in the industry, unfortunately. But by creating safe spaces for BIPOC to occupy these professional spaces, others in our community will gain the confidence to let their talent shine and revolutionize the communications industry. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically suppressed in the media because we all deserve the opportunity to be heard and listened to. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy will also be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other black women to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. If we work together to support this vision, our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change.

Throughout my academic journey at the University of Miami, I've strived to improve my leadership skills through my involvement in various campus initiatives. For instance, being a part of the LGBTQ+ Center’s Living Learning Community and taking a two-semester long course on leadership development, planning and hosting UM’s first ever LGBTQ+ inclusive prom, being a choreographer for KAOS Hip Hop dance group’s spring showcase for 2 semesters, being the MC for student organization events hosted on campus, and serving on the 1,000 Dreams Fund’s 2023-2024 Student Advisory Board. One significant opportunity that allowed me to demonstrate my leadership abilities was serving as a co-event chair for the United Black Student's Black Awareness Month initiative from September 2023 to February 2024. As co-event chair, I had the privilege of collaborating with a phenomenal group of black women who shared a common goal: to celebrate and raise awareness about Black culture, history, and achievements. We wanted our Black peers to feel seen, heard, and validated since we attend a predominately white institution and are presented with unique challenges as a result. From the initial planning stages to the execution of events, our planning committee worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our initiative. As a developing leader, I understand the importance of setting clear goals and objectives to guide an organization’s efforts. Together with my co-chair Karrington, we developed a strategic plan that outlined our vision for Black Awareness Month events and the steps needed to achieve our goals. We effectively communicated and delegated tasks which enabled us to mobilize our team and execute a series of successful events, including our opening ceremony, church service, panel discussions, and commencement community service project. In addition to organizing events, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to practice building and maintaining professional and personal relationships. A key aspect of effective leadership is the ability to facilitate a collaborative work environment. Throughout the planning process, I made it a priority to foster a sense of teamwork among our committee members. I was able to accomplish this goal by actively listening to their ideas, providing constructive feedback, and recognizing their contributions no matter how big or small. It was important to me that everyone felt empowered to take ownership of their respective roles and communicate their visions with the team. For the 2024-2025 school year I will be adding 2 new leadership positions to my workload- Vice President of the Public Relations Student Society of America and Public Relations Chair for the National Council of Negro Women organization on campus. Senior year is going to be a busy year but a fun conclusion to my time at the University of Miami. I hope that my involvement on and off campus leaves a legacy that sparks innovation within the mind of a fellow Cane who also intends to be the change they want to see on campus and in the world. I believe that we are all leaders capable of creating necessary societal change. Leadership cannot be defined only by titles or positions, but by one's ability to see potential in others and foster an environment for collective growth. I look forward to the next chapter of my journey and the opportunities that lie ahead to make a difference in the lives of others through my leadership.

I’m amused by the faces people make when they learn that I was raised by a single parent because I don’t fit the stereotypical image portrayed of a child who was raised by a single parent. Single-parent families are perceived as broken homes but I disagree with this perception. My mother’s continuous support has encouraged me to be bold enough to try new things but to also be courageous enough to fail and try again. I’m following in my mother’s footsteps since she received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in communications. But despite my inherited love for communications, I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but all women of color deserve to achieve their dreams even if they’re the only woman of color present. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. Like Kalia, I am a very active student on campus who enjoys being involved in various activities. I served as the co-event chair for the United Black Student’s Black Awareness Month initiative. I was also recently inducted into the NAACP and am excited to work with them to promote leadership and collaboration. Next semester I will be the Vice President of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Public Relations chair for the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women). I am also serving on the 2023- 2024 student advisory board for the 1,000 Dreams Fund and am also an intern for their MentorHER initiative. I am an active member of 8 student organizations and have hosted events such as dance showcases and the United Black Student’s all-white gala. I've gained extensive knowledge by closely observing the work ethic of leaders and how they manage the events they host. The positive impact these initiatives have had on members of the UM family and the surrounding community motivates me to do even more with my advocacy work and continue dedicating all that I can to initiatives I align with. My financial need arises from the high tuition cost of attending a private university like the University of Miami. For instance, my spring semester bill is currently overdue because my mother experienced 4 months of unemployment. I am unable to enroll in courses for the next semester because the bill is past due and there’s a hold placed on my student account. Attending UM is a major expense but despite the financial hardships on my family, we try our best to make it work. Being blessed with your financial investment in my growth inspires me to keep working toward my goals of improving the lives of others. It would be an honor to carry on Kalia’s memory as I progress through my studies. Thank you for your consideration!

I want you to imagine a couple going to an OBGYN appointment to confirm the wife’s pregnancy. They’re so excited to have the sonogram pictures to show friends and family the little bundle of joy that will be a beautiful addition to the family. But after the doctor gets a clear sonogram image, the news is broken to the soon-to-be parents. There is not only one, not two, but three babies on the way! Once the initial shock wears away and reality hits that they are going to have to multiply everything they’ve bought in preparation for the baby by 3, the couple was ecstatic to share the news with their loved ones. A few weeks after this announcement was shared, unfortunately, two of the three babies were miscarried during a family vacation. But the third baby was still hanging in there. The process of miscarrying the other 2 babies and them exiting the womb created a tear and the surviving baby had almost completely separated from its mother’s womb. But with prayers coming in from all over the world for this baby’s wellbeing, the follow-up appointment confirmed that the rip in the womb had miraculously healed and the baby reattached to the mother’s womb. At 7 months pregnant, the mother had discovered a lump in her breast and was urged by medical providers to have it operated on. During the surgery, the NICU couldn't monitor the baby due to another emergency, yet the baby and mother were okay after the surgery and the tumor was benign. After all of these traumatic events took place during the pregnancy and this child survived all of them, the mother prayed and asked God what her baby’s name should be. The next morning she shoots up in bed and the first word out of her mouth is Trinity. She’s perplexed because she has no idea why Trinity is the first thing she says after waking up. After repeating Trinity a few times in confusion, it clicks. Her prayer from the night before. She prayed to God asking what the baby’s name should be since he spared her life and that was his answer, Trinity. Ladies and gentlemen, that is my origin story! By sharing my story, I hope to inspire you to recognize the inherent value in every moment of existence and remind you that your life has a greater purpose. Reflecting on this miraculous story, I aim to inspire others to cherish every moment of life and recognize its profound purpose. As a surviving triplet, I've come to understand life's fragility firsthand. My origin story could be deemed a miracle with hints of divine intervention but I don't seek to claim to be the chosen one or anything of a sort. Rather, I want to emphasize the inherent value of every individual's life. Recognizing our uniqueness and embracing our narratives can guide us on the journey of self-discovery. Having grappled with understanding my own purpose, I believe in the transformative power of embracing it once discovered. My mother was told by her specialist that the probability of my survival was one in 100 million. Ever since I was able to comprehend the fact that I was a surviving triplet, I wondered why my life was spared and what I was supposed to do during my time here. I’m still in the process of figuring that out but I believe God gifted me my life to model my life in his image and help others to do the same.

I’m amused by the faces people make when they learn that I was raised by a single parent. Pitying or perplexed faces stare back at me in astonishment because I don’t fit the image that’s been portrayed of children who have been raised by a single parent. Single-parent families are perceived as broken homes but I disagree with this perception. My mother refused to let her children lack in any way because of this unforeseen circumstance. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever passion we pursued and for that, I am eternally grateful. Her continuous support has encouraged me to be bold enough to try new things but to also be courageous enough to fail and try again. As a person who struggles with social anxiety, I don’t particularly enjoy being perceived by others. I remember in 5th grade I was taking a theater jazz dance class at my dance studio and I noticed that my peers were not dancing on the same level that I was. My dance instructor took note and mentioned it to my mother. That night on the car ride home from dance practice she said “Don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. Her advice gives me a boost of confidence when I try to shrink myself in an attempt to not stand out. She’s taught me to be confident and self-assured in a humble manner. I am no longer afraid to love myself unapologetically or my talents. She’s instilled the importance of education within me and my siblings from a young age. She’d always say “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” I am honored to be attending the University of Miami majoring in public relations. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. Learning as much as I possibly can during my studies will prepare me for the career that I aspire to have in public relations. I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies because there is so much to learn about effective communication. My mother also has her degree in communications and is one of the most brilliant creative minds I know so I’m proud to be following in her footsteps. Besides my height, 5 foot 10 inches, I’ve also inherited my mother’s benevolence. My mother has worked as a school social worker, community outreach coordinator, program director, and mental health therapist. This woman is not only my hero, she is also a hero in this community and I am beyond proud of her for all of the work that she has done and continues to do for her community. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She raised 3 children on her own while attending Penn State University for her undergraduate degree and receiving her master’s degree from Temple University, working two or more jobs simultaneously, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant. She’s everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, and human being. She’s faced many adversities in life and she’s done so with such grace. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams that she has for her children.

With the continuous evolution of education, online platforms have become essential tools for enhancing learning experiences. As a public relations major who is most familiar with creative expression and loves writing, I enrolled in a psychobiology course to explore my interest in psychology. The need for additional help with learning materials while taking this STEM course became increasingly apparent. Among the myriad of online resources, Crash Course, both on YouTube and its dedicated app, deepened my understanding and practical application of psychobiological concepts. Crash Course on YouTube serves as an incredibly enriching and engaging supplement to class lectures. Hosted by an enthusiastic educator, Hank Green, the videos break down complex topics into digestible pieces, increasing my comprehension and retention of topics I struggled with. The visual aids, animations, and real-world examples used in Crash Course videos resonate with my learning style as a visual learner. Crash Course seamlessly bridges the gap between learning material and comprehension whether explaining neurotransmission or dissecting the nuances of neural pathways. Moreover, the Crash Course app transcends the confines of traditional study spaces and serves as a portable learning resource. Its user-friendly interface and diverse content library allow me to customize my learning experience according to my specific academic needs. The convenience of accessing Crash Course content anytime, anywhere allows me to optimize moments of idle time for productive learning. Whether commuting to class or eating at the dining hall, the app allowed me to study wherever and whenever it was convenient for me. This helped me during exam review time because I could easily pick the sections that I needed more clarification on and quiz myself on the material. Beyond the app’s convenience, Crash Course uses real-world scenarios as examples for the application of psychobiological concepts. Through case studies, analogies, and interactive quizzes, I’m able to use my critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities to make relevant connections that help with the retention of information. I use mnemonics to help me remember concepts that I’m taught and since Hank Green uses this technique to simplify subjects, I can recall the information much better as opposed to reading a textbook. One time during an exam I remembered an example that Hank gave during a video using a slice of pizza to explain the process of olfactory and taste senses and it helped me answer an exam question. Crash Course on YouTube and its accompanying app have been indispensable tools in my academic arsenal, increasing my understanding of psychobiological concepts and study techniques. As a Public Relations major who hadn’t taken a science course since junior year of high school, the integration of Crash Course into my learning journey empowered me to approach exams in this course with confidence in my ability to recall information and succeed. Through its dynamic and accessible approach to education, Crash Course revolutionized online learning platforms and has redefined how I perceive complex concepts.

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage but with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns, I made it through the performance. My mother is a pro at finding creative ways to motivate her kids to do what needs to get done, whether we like it or not. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever we participated in and for that, I am eternally grateful. Dance has always been a part of my life. Dance was the catalyst for my evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my haven. I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. I aspire to have a career that allows me to share my passion for dance and the arts with others. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. Dance has done so much for me and taught me many life lessons. There are so many concepts that you can apply from the dance world to the real world such as: You can’t run before you walk, patience is key, the importance of technique, etc. It can all be implemented in everyday life. The studio and other creative spaces always made me feel at home and I hope my company can be considered home for other creators. My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and exhibitions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome anxiety regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals who may need help financially. The TSW Performing Arts company is one of my biggest dreams and would be my passion project. I’m currently attending the University of Miami and plan to obtain a bachelor’s degree in public relations with minors in gender & sexuality studies, and criminology. Artists of any medium: poets, painters, musicians, illustrators, songwriters, filmmakers, dancers, and every other artist in this world are somehow connected to improving the human experience. I want to help other artists to share their message with the world through their art. Everyone’s voice matters and deserves to be heard and I plan to give artists space and a platform to do so.

In March 2020, the world began grappling with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the crisis hit closer to home for my family when my mother was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for the virus. What followed were weeks of uncertainty, fear, and unbearable anxiety as she fought for her life and survived being on the ventilator to assist her breathing not once, but twice. This traumatic experience was a pivotal moment in my life, altering my perception of life and my life’s purpose. As my mother battled COVID-19, I was thrust into the role of both caregiver and emotional anchor for my family. The weight of responsibility felt overwhelming at times, but I knew I had to remain steadfast for my mother and younger sister. Despite the chaos unfolding around me, I embraced the challenges head-on, determined to weather the storm and persevere. I continued going to work, taking my sister to band practice, and staying strong for my family. Before her admission into the ICU, we were living in a hotel because black mold was found in our home and we could not live in our home for safety concerns. Since my mother was in the hospital during the moving process from the hotel to our new home, my 17-year-old sister and I being 19 at the time, were tasked with packing our entire house and hotel up to move into our new home. A few family members from Pennsylvania came to assist with the move but the responsibility day to day before their arrival was on me to coordinate time to pack up and transport our belongings from our old house and hotel to the new house. This experience taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. I realized that growth can not occur in a garden without rain, and this is how I now perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during the grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. Even in the darkest moments, I refused to succumb to the anxiety I was burdened with. Instead, I clung to hope, fueling my determination to overcome the obstacles in our path. It was this unwavering optimism that carried me through the long and difficult days spent waiting for news of my mother's condition. Witnessing firsthand the struggles of patients battling COVID-19, the effects of long COVID-19, as well as the impact this has on their families, I valued the fragility of life even more. The unforeseen circumstances I have experienced motivate me to strive for excellence in all areas of my life so that I can lead by example and show others that they can do the same. I intend to invest in students like myself who are passionate about creating a positive impact. Whether through mentorship or funding academic scholarships, I want to assist the next generation of BIPOC professionals succeed in their careers. Through my advocacy work, I can connect with members of my community who are feeling lost on their journey and reassure them that they are not alone. If my story can motivate others to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission.

I thoroughly enjoy my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. I love PR because I can cultivate an authentic narrative that’s shared with consumers whether it’s regarding a public figure, product, or brand. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality, all traits I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and learn from those I collaborate with. The communications industry is male-dominated and this is why I intend to shift this dynamic by including more women of color in the conversation. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my PR classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but this is why adequate reputation is crucial. Racial discrimination and prejudices still exist in the industry, unfortunately. But by creating safe spaces for BIPOC to occupy these professional spaces, others in our community will gain the confidence to let their talent shine and revolutionize the communications industry. Working within a company that values my input as a woman of color and encourages out-of-the-box thinking is ideal. Diversity in the communications industry allows for the amplification of minority groups’ voices, mutually beneficial business relationships, and the increased success of campaigns. Having a diverse work environment creates open dialogue and increases the number of perspectives that may have been missed had there not been any diversity present. It is not enough to just have a DEI department that teaches employees to be mindful of microaggressions or subtle racism. There must be adequate representation in professional environments so that people of color do not feel ostracized in their profession. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. Philanthropy will be a major aspect of my work because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other black women to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. If we support this vision, our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change.

I thoroughly enjoy my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality, all traits I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and learn from those I collaborate with. Many industries, including the communications industry, are male-dominated and this is why I intend to shift this dynamic by including more women of color in the conversation. As a minority student attending a predominantly white institution, I am typically the only black woman in my PR classes. It can be discouraging to realize that you’re the only black woman occupying a space but this is why adequate reputation is crucial. Racial discrimination and prejudices still exist in the industry, unfortunately. But by creating safe spaces for BIPOC to occupy these professional spaces, others in our community will gain the confidence to let their talent shine and revolutionize the communications industry. Diversity in the communications industry allows for the amplification of minority groups’ voices, mutually beneficial business relationships, and the increased success of campaigns. Having a diverse work environment creates open dialogue and increases the number of perspectives that may have been missed had there not been any diversity present. It is not enough to just have a DEI department that teaches employees to be mindful of microaggressions or subtle racism. There must be adequate representation in professional environments so that people of color do not feel ostracized in their profession. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically suppressed in the media because we all deserve the opportunity to be heard and listened to. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy will also be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career. A dream of mine is to create a black-owned PR agency that is female-led with a focus on elevating BIPOC voices. I am dedicated to creating a space for women of color in the communications industry to thrive. I would love to work with non-profit organizations that advocate for the rights of BIPOC, collaborate with other black-owned companies, represent black influencers and celebrities, and do so intending to cultivate a powerful impact within the black community. If my advocacy work can motivate other black women to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission. If we work together to support this vision, our community will have endless opportunities to advance collectively and many lives will positively change.

Mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. Even though we are acknowledging mental health more, a lot of people still view receiving mental health care as taboo. There are many people who are unable to afford the cost that comes with mental health and wellness treatments such as prescription medicine or therapy. This is why mental health care is viewed as a luxury, not a necessity. This can result in the neglect of one’s mental health which perpetuates the issue and can lead to a deteriorating mental state, increased risk of substance abuse, and many other harmful outcomes. The stigma of receiving mental health treatment paired with the inability to afford such services is a major issue. If we open up the paths of communication between generations to bridge that gap, in the future we will be able to help heal those who struggle with their mental health. We have to start small and work our way up because change does not occur overnight. In terms of my mental health, I prioritize myself by listening to music, going on nature walks, dancing, spending time with loved ones, and watching true crime shows and documentaries. I do daily check-ins with myself to see where my mind is and acknowledge the emotions I’m feeling both good and bad. I need to take this time for myself to decompress and recharge my social battery so that I can maintain a happy and energetic emotional state. I rest my body by taking naps, I rest my mind by doing activities that I genuinely enjoy, and I uplift my spirit by speaking with friends and family. By partaking in self-care, I am arming myself against feelings of anxiety and depression and strengthening my connection with myself. Techniques such as taking deep breaths, meditating, and practicing mindfulness are great methods of stress management. It’s tricky sometimes for my mind not to wander off and hyperfocus on what tasks I am stressed out about getting done, but I try my best to implement these practices as frequently as I can. The most important thing is to take time for myself by taking a break from the things that are causing my stress or anxiety and revisit when I am recharged. The techniques that work for me might not work for everyone else because we are all unique and what soothes us during times of turmoil are unique too. Building a strong network of people who care about me and my mental well-being is also essential. My inner circle of people is always there to support me no matter the time of day or the situation. This unwavering support is heartwarming in times of need. I know that I can depend on them to listen to my struggles and successes and they will cheer me on regardless, which is reassuring and truly a blessing. I believe that maintaining one’s mental health is critical because it impacts every facet of our lives. It influences your emotional well-being, physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Many different methods can be implemented to maintain mental wellness, such as focusing on self-care, stress management, maintaining social connections, and seeking professional help when necessary. Implementing these strategies will ensure that my mental health as well as others remains a top priority, allowing us all to lead a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Sophomore year of college I was part of a living-learning community for LGBTQ+ students and allies. One of the requirements for the LLC is taking a leadership course that covers topics involving gender and sexuality issues. My peers and I learned how to become better leaders, practice and develop leadership skills, and actively get involved with different organizations that serve marginalized groups. During this leadership course, we spoke about the implementation of the 7 Cs of the Social Change Model. The 7 Cs are imperative to ensuring the effectiveness of a leader who promotes change in any capacity. The 7 Cs are Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, and Citizenship. Another requirement of this class was completing 20 or more volunteer hours with an LGBTQ+ serving organization. I chose to volunteer with the OutShine Film Festival and had an amazing time working with them. OutShine is an organization that shares films that portray LGBTQ+ stories for audiences to engage with critically. Volunteering has allowed me to gain insight into the hard work that goes into the planning and execution of events that serve large communities. I've learned so much by observing these leaders’ work ethic up close and how they manage the events they host. I’ve also learned that networking is crucial to having an impact on your community. If I had to share the benefits and challenges of volunteering with others I would share that you have to know the purpose of your volunteering. Finding a good organization that you identify with and with whom you share a common purpose is critical for your experience to be positive. You have to first establish what your purpose is in volunteering with that organization so that if challenges arise, you can refer to your ‘why’ and persevere. This class also taught me about my leadership style, which is blue. Individuals with a blue leadership style exhibit traits such as being emotionally driven. enthusiastic, creative, sympathetic, and seeking harmony in groups. This has assisted me in understanding the characteristics I possess and how to use them to my advantage when in positions of leadership. Leadership is about facilitating innovative thinking and to do so, a leader must be creative. For example, if the strategy you’ve implemented is not providing the desired result, you have to get creative to solve the issue by shifting the tactics used. As a leader, your team’s success is your responsibility so you have to be creative and adapt to any situation, which I can do naturally. When I was younger, I thought a leader was someone assertive and outspoken with their opinions. After realizing all of the group projects I’ve worked on, clubs and organizations I’ve been involved in, and the guidance that I give as my little sister’s role model, I understood that leadership is not one size fits all. We are all leaders in one way or another. We may not be leading an entire team or be the President of the United States but we still create impact. No leadership position matters more than another and we all have traits within ourselves to help others on their journey to becoming the best version of themselves. We all possess unique talents that can be used in collaboration to promote a common goal and that is what leadership is all about.

My dream for a better world is one where equality, inclusion, and empowerment are the pillars of society. I envision a world where people of color are recognized for their valuable contributions to society and receive the same rights and opportunities as others. To achieve this dream, I am committed to advocating for the rights of BIPOC individuals through various means. First and foremost, I will educate myself and others on the unique challenges and systemic barriers that people of color face globally. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. Additionally, I will participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic racism and prejudice, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC communities. By dedicating my efforts to this cause, I want to contribute to a world where people of color can live without fear of discrimination, realize their full potential, and make the world a more equitable and just place for all. I am thoroughly enjoying my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in the field of communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. I love PR because I can cultivate an authentic narrative that’s shared with consumers whether it’s regarding a public figure, product, or brand. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality which are all traits that I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and have a lasting impact on those that I collaborate with. One of my minors is criminology because I enjoy studying human behavior through psychology, human development, evolution, sociology, etc. Criminal behavior has always been a topic that has fascinated me since I was in middle school consuming true crime television shows. I want to combine my writing abilities with my interest in criminal behavior and work within the criminal justice system. Advocating for the rights of BIPOC inmates, and supporting initiatives that raise awareness of injustices would fulfill my life’s mission of helping tell the authentic stories of those in my community. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically suppressed in the media because we all deserve the opportunity to be heard and listened to. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy will also be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community throughout my career.

There is value in contributing to advancing someone’s life. Acts of service are one of my love languages because it fills my heart with such joy knowing that I was able to better someone’s day. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community as a school social worker and the impact she’s had on her students’ lives. I’ve inherited her heart for community service and plan to carry on her legacy of public service through my volunteer work. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I know how life-changing an act of kindness can be. This is why I got involved in the clothing and food drives at my mother’s school. During food pantry pick-up days I would speak to the families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these initiatives into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Through these conversations and interactions, I’ve learned that tragedies do not have to prohibit us from growing. These families have shown me that whether the situation is a bump in the road or a mountain that you have to climb, there is always a way to overcome it. Sometimes we need extra help overcoming those challenges, and I am more than willing to assist. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. I am thoroughly enjoying my studies at the University of Miami because there is so much to learn about Public Relations. Learning as much as I can during my studies will prepare me for the brilliant career that I aspire to have in the field of communications. I decided to make PR my focus of study because it combines a few of my favorite things: writing, community outreach, connection-making, and relationship maintenance. This role requires a lot of skill, preparation, and intentionality which are all traits that I have developed during my studies. As a PR practitioner, I intend to use my skills to help others in my community and have a lasting impact on those that I collaborate with. I am currently on the 2023- 2024 student advisory board for the 1,000 Dreams Fund and love the work that I am doing. I am able to mentor a young woman who is interested in communications, be a part of the scholarship application review process, and be actively involved in the development of initiatives that serve young women. Post graduation I intend to apply my studies to the advocacy work that I part take in. Helping nonprofit organizations like the 1,000 Dreams Fund reach their intended audiences and positively change the lives of women across the world would greatly fulfill my purpose. Post graduation I also intend to work with a public relations agency that values diversity and inclusion and whose client base reflects those values. I want my work to add value to my client’s lives and help them flourish because I want to serve my community in any way that I can. I want to assist the next generation of public relations professionals in succeeding in their careers. Through mentorship, education, and philanthropy, I will be able to positively impact the lives of other creatives.

Mental health is still stigmatized even though our society has made major progress toward alleviating that stigma. Even though we are acknowledging mental health more, a lot of people in our community still view receiving mental health care as taboo. Having a mental health disorder is seen as a negative thing and instead of acknowledging it, individuals who need help are urged to remain silent. If someone does have the courage to speak up about their struggles, the issue is dismissed or the severity of the situation is minimized. In our community especially, many individuals have adopted the “out of sight, out of mind” kind of mindset. Many people of color are unable to afford the cost that comes with mental health and wellness treatments such as prescription medicine or therapy because they do not have insurance, their insurance does not cover necessary treatment, or they can not afford the out-of-pocket costs. This is why BIPOC individuals tend to view mental health care as a luxury, not a necessity. This results in the neglect of their mental health which perpetuates the issue and can lead to a deteriorating mental state, increased risk of substance abuse, and many other harmful outcomes. The stigma of receiving mental health treatment paired with the inability to afford such services is a major issue. If we open up the paths of communication between generations to bridge that gap, in the future we will be able to help heal those who struggle with their mental health. We have to start small and work our way up because change does not occur overnight. My dream for a better world is one where equality, inclusion, and empowerment are the pillars of society. I envision a world where mental health within the black community is acknowledged and validated. To achieve this dream, I am committed to advocating for the mental health rights of the black community. First and foremost, I will educate myself and others on the unique challenges and systemic barriers that black individuals face globally and how this impacts the current mental health crises. By raising awareness and fostering empathy, we can build bridges of understanding and support. Additionally, I will participate in and promote initiatives that aim to dismantle systemic discrimination and socioeconomic inequality, striving for inclusive policies and practices that uplift BIPOC individuals. By dedicating my efforts to this cause, I hope to contribute to a world where all people of color can live without fear of condemnation for advocating for their mental health needs, receive the mental health care that they need, and heal their trauma. It is imperative to understand the intersectionalities of the numerous identities that we have as African Americans and the impact this has on our mental health. There are so many different aspects of one’s identity that contribute to their life experiences such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc. and when advocating for the mental health rights of those in our community we must acknowledge these characteristics. We must also address the generational trauma that is experienced as a result of slavery, systemic racism, and discrimination. Receiving mental health treatment can break these curses and heal the traumas that our ancestors were unable to. Mental health advocacy should also intersect with other social justice movements, for example, movements focused on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic equality, to create a comprehensive approach to addressing systemic inequities.

Fear no longer dictates her every move, confidence is a virtue and she’s mastered it.

During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. I don’t believe in taking losses because I believe there is no loss, only gain. This shift in mindset has greatly benefited me on my journey of self-discovery. My mother is a school social worker and helps her school’s families access the help that they need. The families at this school have unique needs and this is why I wanted to be involved in the clothing and food drives. Speaking to the families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. I’ve learned that tragedies do not have to prohibit us from growing. Whether the situation is a bump in the road or a mountain that you have to climb, there is always a way to overcome it. Everything that we go through in our lives contributes to our story. I am honored to be attending the University of Miami majoring in public relations. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, and other voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to foster diversity in both my professional and personal life. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry on that legacy through my volunteer work. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community. The unforeseen circumstances that I have experienced motivate me to strive for excellence in all areas of my life so that I can lead by example and show others that they are capable of doing the same. I hope to one day be able to invest in students like myself that are interested in pursuing careers in public relations. Whether that be through mentorship, or providing academic scholarships, I want to assist the next generation of public relations professionals succeed in their careers. I hope that through my advocacy work, I can connect with members of my community that are feeling lost on their journey and can reassure them that they are not alone. I also hope that both my personal and professional achievements will inspire others to pursue the career that best suits them and their aspirations. If my story can motivate others to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission.

I am a firm believer in paying it forward. I have been fortunate enough to receive 2 scholarships so far during my academic career at the University of Miami and for this, I am eternally grateful. It has been an honor having scholarship donors acknowledge my passion and invest in my education. The generosity that others have exhibited toward me has been a personal motivation for me to dedicate my life's work to helping others actualize their greatest potential. I can attest to the power of having supporters rooting for you to succeed and I plan to be that support for those who need one. My mother is a school social worker and she has dedicated her life’s work to helping her school’s families access the help that they need to ensure their student’s success. I’ve inherited her steadfast spirit and giving heart. I’ve adopted the characteristics required of a successful individual and try my absolute best to model after her example. She’s taught me the importance of compassion, shown me how critical it is to have faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. This is why I was excited to be involved in the clothing and food drives for the school. The families at this school have unique needs and their community did its best to serve them. Speaking to families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Volunteering at the food and clothing banks has mutually benefited me and those I served. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, interacting with members of my community, and helping to improve an aspect of someone else’s life. Being awarded this scholarship will assist me in alleviating the financial burden of college tuition on my family. I come from a single-parent family so my mother is the sole financial provider for me and my sister. With two children in college, the responsibility of paying for college-related expenses falls on her shoulders. Tuition for the institution that I attend is $80,000 annually and with financial aid, my mother is still expected to pay $30,000 a year. To assist in lowering the amount that she has to pay for me to attend my dream school, I dedicate as much time as I can to applying for scholarships. My goal is to graduate without student debt and with your investment in my education, I will be closer to achieving that goal. I am passionate about my future career in public relations and this scholarship is granting me the opportunity to utilize my writing skills to assist my mother as she has always done for me. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry on that legacy through my volunteer work. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community.

Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career so I am honored to be attending the University of Miami majoring in public relations. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, the voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to cultivate diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. My mother is a school social worker and I’ve inherited her dedicated spirit and servant’s heart. She’s taught me the importance of compassion, and having faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry that legacy on through my volunteer work. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community. I hope to one day be able to invest in students like myself that are interested in pursuing careers in public relations. Whether that be through mentorship, or providing academic scholarships, I want to assist the next generation of public relations professionals succeed in their careers. There’s value in being able to contribute to the advancement of someone’s life. This is one of the many reasons why I intend to dedicate the resources that I acquire to future public relations practitioners. There have been so many people that have invested in my education and have guided me during my career journey. Their shared wisdom has steered me on the path that I deem fit for me when before, I had no clue which path to take because I had not been exposed to many options. I hope that through my advocacy work, I can connect with members of my community that are feeling lost on their journey and can reassure them that they are not alone. I also hope that both my professional achievements will inspire others to pursue the career that best suits them and their aspirations. If my story can motivate others to strive for excellence and give back to others, then I have succeeded in my life’s mission.

Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career so I am honored to be attending the University of Miami majoring in public relations. I come from a single-parent family so my mother is the sole financial provider for me and my sister. Tuition for the institution that I attend is $80,000 annually and with financial aid, my mother is still expected to pay $30,000 a year. To assist in lowering the amount that she has to pay for me to attend my dream school, I dedicate as much time as I can to applying for scholarships. My goal is to graduate without student debt and with your investment in my education, I will be closer to achieving that goal. I have been fortunate enough to receive 2 scholarships so far during my academic career at the University of Miami and for this, I am eternally grateful. It has been an honor having scholarship donors acknowledge my passion and invest in my education. The generosity that others have exhibited toward me has motivated me to dedicate my life's work to helping others actualize their greatest potential. I can attest to the power of having supporters rooting for you to succeed and I plan to be that support for those who need it. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, the voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to cultivate diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. My mother is one of the main motivators for me to strive for excellence in life. She raised 3 children on her own and refused to let her children lack in any way because of this unforeseen circumstance. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever passion we pursued. Her continuous support has encouraged me to be bold enough to try new things but to also be courageous enough to fail and try again. Even though she cannot afford the cost of tuition for my university, she knew that this was my dream school and she promised that I would graduate from the University of Miami, even if she had to work 3 jobs to pay for my education. Figuring out the funds for college has been extremely exhausting so being awarded this scholarship will lessen the stress of tuition costs on our family and allow me to focus on my education instead of our financial struggles.

I am a firm believer in paying it forward. I have been fortunate enough to receive 2 scholarships so far during my academic career at the University of Miami and for this, I am eternally grateful. It has been an honor having scholarship donors acknowledge my passion and invest in my education. The generosity that others have exhibited toward me has been a personal motivation for me to dedicate my life's work to helping others actualize their greatest potential. I can attest to the power of having supporters rooting for you to succeed and I plan to be that support for those who are in need of one. My mother is a school social worker and she has dedicated her life’s work to helping her school’s families access the help that they need to ensure their student’s success. I’ve inherited her dedicated spirit and giving heart. I’ve adopted the characteristics required of a successful individual and try my absolute best to model after her example. She’s taught me the importance of compassion, shown me how critical it is to have faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. This is why I was excited to be involved in the clothing and food drives for the school. The families at this school have unique needs and their community did its best to serve them. Speaking to families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Volunteering at the food and clothing banks has been mutually beneficial to me and those that I served. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, interacting with members of my community, and helping to improve an aspect of someone else’s life. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies because there is so much to learn about effective communication. Learning as much as I possibly can during my studies will prepare me for the career that I aspire to have in public relations. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, the voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to cultivate diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry on that legacy through my volunteer work. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community.

I am a firm believer in paying it forward. I have been fortunate enough to receive 2 scholarships so far during my academic career at the University of Miami and for this, I am eternally grateful. It has been an honor having scholarship donors acknowledge my passion and invest in my education. The generosity that others have exhibited toward me has been a personal motivation for me to dedicate my life's work to helping others actualize their greatest potential. I can attest to the power of having supporters rooting for you to succeed and I plan to be that support for those who are in need of one. My mother is a school social worker and she has dedicated her life’s work to helping her school’s families access the help that they need to ensure their student’s success. I’ve inherited her dedicated spirit and giving heart. I’ve adopted the characteristics required of a successful individual and try my absolute best to model after her example. She’s taught me the importance of compassion, shown me how critical it is to have faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. This is why I was excited to be involved in the clothing and food drives for the school. The families at this school have unique needs and their community did its best to serve them. Speaking to families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Volunteering at the food and clothing banks has been mutually beneficial to me and those that I served. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, interacting with members of my community, and helping to improve an aspect of someone else’s life. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies because there is so much to learn about effective communication. Learning as much as I possibly can during my studies will prepare me for the career that I aspire to have in public relations. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, the voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to cultivate diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry on that legacy through my volunteer work. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community.

I am a firm believer in paying it forward. I have been fortunate enough to receive 2 scholarships so far during my academic career at the University of Miami and for this, I am eternally grateful. It has been an honor having scholarship donors acknowledge my passion and invest in my education. The generosity that others have exhibited toward me has been a personal motivation for me to dedicate my life's work to helping others actualize their greatest potential. I can attest to the power of having supporters rooting for you to succeed and I plan to be that support for those who are in need of one. My mother is a school social worker and she has dedicated her life’s work to helping her school’s families access the help that they need to ensure their student’s success. I’ve inherited her dedicated spirit and giving heart. I’ve adopted the characteristics required of a successful individual and try my absolute best to model after her example. She’s taught me the importance of compassion, shown me how critical it is to have faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. This is why I was excited to be involved in the clothing and food drives for the school. The families at this school have unique needs and their community did its best to serve them. Speaking to families and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Volunteering at the food and clothing banks has been mutually beneficial to me and those that I served. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, interacting with members of my community, and helping to improve an aspect of someone else’s life. Receiving a quality secondary education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. I’m thoroughly enjoying my studies because there is so much to learn about effective communication. Learning as much as I possibly can during my studies will prepare me for the career that I aspire to have in public relations. I plan to focus my career on elevating BIPOC voices, the voices that are typically silenced because there is power in language and spoken word. As a black woman, my goal is to cultivate diversity in both my professional and personal life. Representation is critical and this is why I want to lead the creation of the narrative being shared with consumers. In addition to elevating the voices of BIPOC individuals, philanthropy is also going to be a major aspect of my work. I believe in giving back to underserved communities because I have been on the receiving end of help so I know how life-changing just one act of kindness can be. I’ve watched my mother give all that she can to those in her community and I plan to carry on that legacy through my volunteer work. I want to be that aide to those that need it the most, whether they need a person to talk to, a hug, or a scholarship. Community service has been an integral part of my life since I was a child and I am thrilled to continue collaborating with community partners to fulfill the needs of those in my community.

Unfortunately I have witnessed domestic violence and can attest to the detrimental effects of substance abuse on families. My father is a recovering drug addict, and has struggled almost his entire life with drugs. Consequently, my father’s drug abuse created various issues within our household and my mother was faced with a multitude of challenges. While married to my father my mother was mentally, emotionally, financially, and verbally abused. He was not a faithful husband and she was aware of his multiple affairs. He was a neglectful parent so she knew that she would end up raising her children alone but if it meant that her children would live in a safe and loving environment, she was more than willing to take on both parental roles. I am most familiar and comfortable with living in a single-parent family. For my well being, I have decided to discontinue communication with my father. I remember going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings with my father when I was younger and he considered that spending quality time with his children. He is inconsistent with communication, does not provide for his family, and lies. My father is a very fun and charming man but he is not meant to be a father. A lot of people perceive single-parent families as broken homes but I disagree with this misconception. My mother refused to let her children lack or suffer due to this unforeseen circumstance. She made sure that my siblings and I were always involved in different activities and extracurriculars. A single black mother raised me, and I’m proud of her and the life that she fought to provide for me and my siblings. Paternal abandonment is prevalent in the black community but I believe that this issue is rooted in a lack of education and resources. I am currently majoring in communication studies at the University of Miami and it is truly fascinating how many issues can be resolved just by communicating. Communication will not magically fix neglectful parents, domestic violence and substance abuse, but it’s a vital tool in the healing process. There are women and children globally that are suffering from the aftermath of domestic abuse and or substance abuse but can not easily access the resources they need to survive. With the knowledge I obtain from my studies I’m going to be able to connect these families with resources that can help them heal and restore their lives. I do agree with the statement that how we respond to events in our lives shape the outcome of our lives. We’ve all been victims of an unpleasant occurrence. The traumatic events themselves are unique to each individual but every person has the same two options. They can either victimize themselves and let it consume their lives or they can work through it and try their best to persevere. I refused to let unfortunate circumstances define who I am as an individual and it’s truly liberating. My goal is to show others that can relate to my story that being raised by a single parent does not make you or your aspirations any less valid or achievable than someone who was raised in a two parent household. I hope that the children that have endured indescribable pain due to the effects of substance abuse do not let that pain fester and manifest even more negativity into their lives. Having a parent that struggles with substance abuse is a part of our story but we should not let it define who we are or determine the trajectory of our lives.

My mother is a school social worker and a mental health therapist. She helps her school’s families access the help that they need to ensure their student’s success. She previously worked for a non-profit organization as a community outreach coordinator that helped mothers and their families in our community. She helped them learn how to properly take care of their children, access job opportunities, develop work/ life skills, and connect with useful resources. As a single mother, there were times when she wasn’t able to afford a babysitter so she would bring my sister and I along with her to her events. I’ve witnessed first hand the positive impact that social work has on communities and I’m proud of the fact that my mother is a contributor to that change. I truly admire her for her dedication and giving heart. She’s taught me the importance of kindness, shown me how critical it is to have faith, as well as what it means to be a blessing to others. Witnessing her give all that she has to others inspired me to want to do the same. This is why I wanted to be involved in the clothing and food drives for the school. The families at this school have unique needs and their community did its best to serve them. Speaking to them and listening to their stories put the effort that we were putting into these projects into perspective. It takes courage to be willing to reach out and ask for help so I wanted to show these families that they were supported, seen, and heard. Volunteering at the food and clothing banks has been mutually beneficial to me and those that I served. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, interacting with members of my community, and helping to improve an aspect of someone else’s life. My goal with being a mental health advocate is to not only spread awareness but to also lessen the stigma surrounding mental health. In doing so we can identify those that are struggling quicker, provide those individuals with medical or therapeutic treatment, and see positive societal change. As advocates it is our duty to vocalize the importance of mental health and share available resources. In high school I was in a peer counseling group that discussed controversial topics like teen dating violence, mental health issues, suicide, etc. This group equipped us with adequate tools to address these issues if we were to experience these things or knew someone that was. H.O.P.E. (Helping Overcome Problems Effectively) Sunshine Club was another group that I was a part of. Their mission was to provide a safe and welcoming place for all students. My mother did not only instill the importance of serving those in need within me, she also emphasized the importance of education. I am honored to be an undergraduate student at the University of Miami! (Go Canes!) I plan to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in gender & sexuality studies, and potentially criminology. I plan to work with nonprofit organizations that are heavily involved in the community because community outreach is crucial. Engaging, educating, and effectively communicating with members of the community would be my top priority as a social worker. I’d like philanthropy to be a major aspect of my work. My mother received her Master’s of Social Work degree from Temple University in 2016. I also plan to continue my education and receive my MSW, following in my mother’s footsteps.

My mother emphasized the importance of education to all of her children. Since she is a major believer in the power of education, she’s always told me to “get your education because no one can take that away from you.” I am honored to be a freshman at the University of Miami! (Go Canes!) I plan to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a minor in gender & sexuality studies, and potentially criminology. I’m not sure what career path I will take post graduation but I do know that philanthropy is going to be a major aspect of my work. Seeing my mom graduate with degrees from Penn State University and Temple University while raising three children as a single mother has motivated me to strive for excellence. Anything is possible if you are willing to dream big and fight for it. My biggest dream at the moment is to help lessen the burden of my college tuition on my mother. She has sacrificed a lot to make sure that my siblings and I have the best of everything in life, including our education. As a single parent, my mother is accustomed to financial hardships. She promised that if we were diligent students and worked hard to be accepted into our dream school, she would do whatever it took to make sure that we attended that university. Since UM is an expensive private school, she’s even considered working multiple jobs to afford the tuition. The University of Miami was my dream school and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. My other dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. The TSW Performing Arts company is my biggest dream and would be my passion project. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. A career that allows me to share my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. Receiving a quality education is crucial to the progression of my professional career. Learning as much as I possibly can during my studies will prepare me for the career that I aspire to have. With your investment in my education, I will be one step closer to achieving my goal of lessening this financial burden on my mother. Obtaining a degree can be costly, but as long as there are people that support you and your dreams, there’s no such thing as “impossible”.

My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Artists of any medium: poets, painters, musicians, illustrators, songwriters, filmmakers, dancers, and every other artist in this world is somehow connected to improving the human experience. I want to give artists the opportunity to share their message with the world through their art. Everyone’s voice matters and deserves to be heard and I plan to give artists space and a platform to do so. Dance has done so much for me and taught me many life lessons. There are so many concepts that you can apply from the dance world to the real world such as: You can’t run before you walk, patience is key, the importance of technique, etc. It can all be implemented in everyday life. The studio and other creative spaces always made me feel at home and I hope that my company can be considered home for other creators. The TSW Performing Arts company is my biggest dream and would be my passion project. I’m currently attending the University of Miami and plan to obtain a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and potentially criminology. I’m not completely sure what specific career path I want to take after I graduate but I do know that philanthropy is going to be a major aspect of my work! Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my safe haven. I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career that allows me to share my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

My dream in the future is to open up my own performing arts company! The name of my company would be the TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to be able to give artists like fashion designers, dancers, actors, painters, filmmakers, etc. a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide them with physical space, supplies, and support from faculty to continue to grow as an artist. Frequent shows, performances, expositions, and other events would take place so that their creations can be shared with the community. The purpose of these community events is to help students get comfortable talking to others about their art and overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. Tuition would be affordable so that any individual that wants to be a part of this community can have the opportunity to do so. I don’t want any low-income family worrying about their child not being able to participate so scholarships and discounts will be given out for those individuals that need help financially. Coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance and that it can be challenging for both the parent and that child that wants to be involved in activities like this. Having a professional career as a businesswoman while simultaneously sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my goal post-college. The goal of my company is to show young visionaries from all walks of life and backgrounds that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. They don’t have to contain their passion, my company encourages and welcomes it!

Creating art is a part of who I am, and it’s what helped me get through many challenging times in my 18 years of existence. I enjoy dancing, singing, writing, coloring, etc. and all of these art forms allow me to express myself without the presence of judgment or expectations. I am free to create whatever I want, whenever I want and that ability is a powerful kind of freedom. You can release any and all good or bad feelings through art and expression. For many artists like myself, creating is therapeutic. But I’m not just a creator of art; I’m a consumer of art, more specifically music. When my mind becomes restless or anxious, music is the one thing that, without fail, can calm my mind down and bring me back to a place of tranquility. I think my relationship with music is so deep because of not only how it makes me feel, but because it’s consistent. When things get crazy, when life gets hard, when I’m stressed, when I’m happy or excited, music is always there. I can reach out to music during arduous times and it will always be there ready to put my mind at ease. I think we all seek stability in our lives, whether it’s through money, being with friends or family, social media, significant others, or other things that we choose to focus on and surround ourselves with. Music is my safe haven and its ability to transcend barriers is remarkable. Music doesn’t see race, mental health issues, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. the only agenda music has is to uplift us and make our experience in life more enjoyable.

Personally when I study I listen to classical music to help my mind focus on the task at hand. But sometimes Mozart and Beethoven’s mesmeric melodies can be a distraction to me. So sometimes I’ll just let the dullness of silence force my brain to stay on track and finish my work. One of the key components for me to be able to successfully study is my environment. If my mom is talking on the phone, I can’t focus. If my sister is watching TV, I can’t focus. If the environment I’m in is too noisy or busy it’ll take me way longer to finish my studying. I love studying in libraries, coffee shops, etc. because they’re usually quiet enough and will provide a distraction free environment. I try to eliminate as many distractions as possible like my phone, television, and studying with friends. I do this because I am well aware of how easily those things can divert my attention from studying and waste valuable study time. The biggest distraction for me tends to be my phone so the prevent this from distracting me while studying, I put my phone on ‘do not disturb’. I’ve found ways to eliminate distractions as much as I can so that studying can be my main focus. Studying can be tedious but finding tools to keep you engaged and taking as many breaks as needed is key to having a great study session!

My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two or more jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and unfortunately being forced to figure out finances alone. My mom always says “get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” She’s instilled the importance of education within my siblings and I from a young age and I am honored to be attending the University of Miami in the Spring of 2022 semester! Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt. The University of Miami is my dream school and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for the performing arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to further my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection and discover my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. As a single parent, my mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my safe haven. Dance is my security blanket and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

Hello, This is Peter Pan! I just wanted to write back to you and give you advice on some of the issues that you expressed you were having in your letter. The major problem you said you were having is figuring out who you want to be once you become an adult and my solution to that is to never grow up! Now I know it’s nearly impossible for anyone to prevent aging (wrinkle cream helps though, I’ll send you the name of the one old Captain Hook uses!), it’s a natural part of life and it’s bound to happen eventually but I think you should stay as youthful and carefree as you can. There’s nothing wrong with having a childish mindset and wanting to hold onto your youth for as long as you possibly can because once you become an adult, they don’t really like it when you don’t “act your age”. You know the saying “YOLO”, well I think you should start thinking of a new saying that I’ve adopted which is “YOYO” which means “you’re only young once”. Once you trade in your youth for adulthood, you can never get it back but you can choose to keep your mind and imagination juvenile. Besides, growing up and being an adult is overrated. I’ve never understood why anyone would voluntarily give up being a kid to get a boring job and pay bills? That doesn’t sound thrilling to me at all. The second issue you brought up was wanting to feel freer than you do now. It’s not an unknown fact that I can fly so I would suggest that you learn how to fly. I know it’s impossible for humans to fly without fairy dust and unfortunately I ran out yesterday since Tinker Bell decided to give away so much to the Lost Boys here in Neverland. Fear not my good friend, I’ve thought of another way that you can fly. You can fly by spreading your metaphorical wings and taking flight with your dreams and by using your imagination. Being able to open your mind and express your thoughts and feelings is a different kind of freedom. If you can let go of all of the fears that put limitations on you and start living your life the way you want to, you’ll feel freer than you ever have before. Do you think I ever let Captain Hook prohibit me from being free just because I cut off his hand? No, I don’t let him control me or what I do because I am the only captain of my ship, that ship being me! Doing this is the closest anyone can get to flying besides flying in an airplane. I know all of these things are stressing you out right now but I honestly believe that if you take just one piece of advice I have given you into consideration and apply it to your life, you’ll be able to resolve at least one of your problems. It’s going to be difficult at first but once you get the hang of it, you’ll alleviate some of the pressure you’re under. Always remember to be yourself, love yourself, and stay young forever! Your juvenile friend, Peter Pan

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage, but I made it through the performance with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns. That’s my earliest memory of dance. Since then I’ve become well versed in 10+ unique styles of dance, I’ve had the opportunity to help young dancers cultivate their love for dance as a faculty dance assistant, and I’ve been inspired both personally and creatively by remarkable individuals. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection and discover my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! Since my passion lies within the performing arts, my dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. I am honored to be attending the University of Miami in the Spring of 2022 semester as a communications major! My mother has always emphasized the importance of obtaining a quality education and I am beyond excited to be furthering my education as a Hurricane. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my safe haven. Dance is my security blanket and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage, but I made it through the performance with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns. My mother is a pro at being able to find creative ways to motivate her kids to do what needs to get done, whether we like it or not. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever we participated in, and for that, I am eternally grateful. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. Her words of wisdom on this car ride home have stuck with me ever since. There have been many times in my 18 years of life where I’ve had to think back and remember her words of encouragement. Her advice gives me a boost of confidence when I try to shrink myself in an attempt to not stand out. Being unapologetically me and owning my abilities has been a challenging journey but I’m steadily getting there. She’s taught me to be self-assured and humble and it is because of her wise words that I am no longer afraid to express myself or my talents. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has two children attending college soon. She promised us that she would make sure we attended the college of our dreams, no matter the cost. She still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work, and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

Personally, this pandemic could not have come at a better time in my life. Last March I was in the middle of my junior year, at the end of my rope, and struggling to maintain balance in my academic and personal life. My mental health was rapidly deteriorating. When quarantine initiated, I was thrilled that I was able to have a break from school but that “break” has gone on for way longer than expected. Virtual learning has been fabulous because I’m able to complete work at my own pace and sleep a lot more than before. I feel free and mentally aligned now. Ironically, this pandemic opened doors for me and presented opportunities that I never could have imagined possible. Due to certain colleges and universities waiving the SAT score requirement, I was able to apply to some schools without having to send my scores. I was accepted into the University of Miami, an expensive private institution, because they went test-optional. My studies will be focused on media and film production because I aspire to be a director. This journey that I am embarking on is exhilarating and I am ready to advance to the next level. I anticipate using both the knowledge that I acquire during my studies and my creativity to turn my dream of opening a performing arts company into a reality! I have spent a considerable amount of time on social media during this pandemic and it’s helped me survive the bleakness of quarantine as well as improving my perspective on life. The social media app Tik Tok has helped increased my confidence and inspired me to love myself. Seeing other content creators pursuing their passions and doing what they love has encouraged me to do the same. My paradigm has shifted and now I’m less afraid of the unknown. I am willing to take risks with my art and think outside of the box. I have started my self-care journey and I am more aware of my mental wellbeing. I respect myself and am learning my personal boundaries. I have obtained so much knowledge just within this past year and it’s been a real eye-opener. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the pandemic, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in quarantine, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. I’ve learned that no amount of planning can prepare you for the challenges that life may bring. You can plan and save to your heart’s content but life is so unpredictable that your attempts at controlling it are essentially futile. The existential dread that this pandemic has brought upon us has created fear, anxiety, and more uncertainty than ever before but we’re healing. Life’s impermanence can be daunting to think about but when you’ve survived a global pandemic, you’re more than able to persevere and conquer life. I try not to stress over minuscule things, anxiously await the future, or micromanage my life and I am grateful for the paradigm shift that this pandemic has brought upon me. The adversity that I faced in 2020 allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection and I discovered my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced during this arduous time. This pandemic has forced me to evaluate my future from a completely different perspective. I’m more clear on the direction I want to take in life and without this pandemic forcing me and the world to come to a complete halt, I would not be where or who I am today. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future!

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage, but I made it through the performance with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns. That’s my earliest memory of dance. Since then I’ve become well versed in 10+ unique styles of dance, I’ve had the opportunity to help young dancers cultivate their love for dance as a faculty dance assistant, and I’ve been inspired both personally and creatively by remarkable individuals. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams my mother had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work, and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

I believe that technology is increasing our level of ignorance and societal complacency. Technology has made it easier for us to obtain information but with this extraordinary resource, I believe that it’s become increasingly difficult for us to solve problems on our own. We dread having to use our minds to problem solve and because of search engines like Google, the will to problem solve and think for ourselves has unfortunately plummeted for society. Instead of taking the time to do research and find the answer to a question, many people resort to going online and searching for the answer since it’s easier to just “Google it”. We are constantly having to adapt to new concepts as technology continues to evolve over time. There are definitely good and bad aspects of technology, nevertheless, we as media users have to be wise and stay educated on the dangers and effects of technology. I find myself using my phone throughout my day and I love the convenience it provides but I am aware of how frequently I use it. I’m trying to lessen the time I spend on my phone so that I can focus on other activities like making music, dancing, directing films, exercising, etc. With this pandemic, all of our lives have been forced to come to a complete halt. Quarantine limited our face-to-face interactions so smartphones and other devices became a necessity in order for our lives to move on in a somewhat normal fashion. I don’t think I have ever used my phone and laptop as frequently as I have this past year. I attend school virtually so I use my computer for school work and my phone primarily for entertainment but for communicating with my friends and family as well. At one point my entire day revolved around using some kind of technology whether it be my phone or computer. I received my weekly screentime report and one week I had an average screentime of 9 and ½ hours. Smartphones are a technological advancement that is meant to innovate and improve our quality of life but there are detrimental effects of over usage and we as a society have to be more cognizant of this. I’ve recently obtained my driver’s license and as a new driver, I have to focus all of my attention on the road. My mother was in a car accident in 2015 due to a distracted driver and the accident occurred because the driver was looking down at their cellphone. I make sure that when I drive my phone is either in my bag or in the arm compartment so that I’m not tempted to have my phone on my person while I am driving. There is also a feature on Iphone’s that allows you to enable a setting where no notifications or phone calls will be received while you’re driving and this also contributes to the lessening of distractions while driving. I have this feature enabled on my phone because I know how tempting it can be when my phone buzzes alerting me of a notification so I’ve taken this precaution. I take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of myself and other drivers while on the road.

My passion lies within the performing arts so my dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. As a social worker she works diligently to serve her community and I admire her dedication to assist underprivileged families and children. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I will be majoring in communications, following in my mother’s footsteps, and pursuing a career within this field. My studies will be focused on media and film production because I aspire to be a director. This journey that I am embarking on is exhilarating and I am ready to advance to the next level. I anticipate using both the knowledge that I acquire during my studies and my creativity to turn my dream of opening a performing arts company into a reality! I plan to be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams my mother had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is one of my main motivators. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off. With the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother and achieving my goals.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. My passion lies within the performing arts so my dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams my mother had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

Personally, this pandemic could not have come at a better time in my life. Last March I was in the middle of my junior year, at the end of my rope, and struggling to maintain balance in my academic and personal life. My mental health was rapidly deteriorating. When quarantine initiated, I was thrilled that I was able to have a break from school but that “break” has gone on for way longer than expected. Virtual learning has been fabulous because I’m able to complete work at my own pace and sleep a lot more than before. I feel free and mentally aligned now. Due to certain colleges and universities waiving the SAT score requirement, I was able to apply to some schools without having to send my scores. I was accepted into the University of Miami, a notoriously expensive private institution, because they went test-optional. This pandemic has forced me to evaluate my future from a completely different perspective. I’m more clear on the direction I want to take in life and without this pandemic forcing me and the world to come to a complete halt, I would not be where or who I am today.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit. We lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. When I moved to Florida the summer of sophomore year I promised myself that I would apply myself and become more involved in my new school. I already let one year slip by and I refused to let another year result in the same way my freshman year did. My GPA is the highest it's ever been in my high school career, a 4.0, which I am extremely proud of! I’m an active member of 4 clubs at my school, have been given the opportunity to lead people, and work with others which have really helped me improve on my communication skills, social anxiety, and other areas that I struggle in. I gave up Freshman year but I'm honestly grateful for that lesson. I can't change the past but I can reflect on that part of my life, learn from it, and keep myself focused on my future. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection. I discovered that I am powerful, tenacious, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional being that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. Coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career that allows me to share my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams my mother had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. One night my remarkable street jazz teacher told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. When I dance I’m transcended out of whatever state of mind I’m in at that moment and into another world. If I’m feeling anxious and my brain is going a mile a minute, it gives my brain the opportunity to recenter. Whether it feels like the world is crumbling around me, I’m surrounded by negative energy, stress overwhelms me, or I’m consumed with absolute joy, dance is always there. Creating art is a way to cope with life’s struggles. My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Artists of any medium: poets, painters, musicians, illustrators, songwriters, filmmakers, dancers, and every other artist in this world is somehow connected to improving the human experience. I want to give artists the opportunity to share their message with the world through their art. Everyone’s voice matters and deserves to be heard and I plan to give artists space and a platform to do so. Dance has done so much for me and taught me many life lessons. There are so many concepts that you can apply from the dance world to the real world such as you can’t run before you walk, patience is key, the importance of technique, etc. It can all be implemented in everyday life. The studio and other creative spaces always made me feel at home and I hope that my company can be considered home for other creators. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my safe haven. I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career that allows me to share my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

I’ve always been an anxious person but as a young girl, I didn’t know that I had a mental disorder. I would bite my nails, shake my leg, fidget, sweat profusely, and feel my heartbeat rapidly within my chest during seemingly mundane times of my day. I had become accustomed to my anxiety and thought that I just got nervous frequently. My anxiety has become a part of my existence but I refuse to let it deter me from pursuing my passions in life. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Ironically my mother is a mental health professional. My mother received her MSW from Temple University and is the sweetest, most understanding, and loving person so I felt comfortable discussing my feelings with her. But this is not the case for everyone. Some people feel alone and think that they have to keep their emotions bottled up inside. The issue with keeping things bottled up for so long is that eventually, you’re going to metaphorically explode. I want to be a mental health advocate but also a support system for my friends and loved ones that struggle with their mental health and need to be shown the light at the end of the incessant tunnel. I know firsthand how difficult life can be and how balancing mental health can become a daunting task but when you have a support system, equilibrium is maintained. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human experience. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned some of the most valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection. I discovered that I am powerful, tenacious, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. Creating art is how I’ve gotten through many challenging times in my 18 years of existence. My passion lies within the performing arts like dance, choreographing, and film production. I’ve sought out stability in a plethora of areas in my life; through friends, family, social media, etc. but I ultimately discovered stability through art. Art doesn’t see race, socioeconomic status, mental health issues, gender, etc. the only agenda it has is to uplift and make our experience on this Earth more enjoyable. I plan to be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams that my mother had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

I’ve always been an anxious person but as a young girl, I didn’t know that I had a mental disorder. I would bite my nails, shake my leg, fidget, sweat profusely, and feel my heartbeat rapidly within my chest during seemingly mundane times of my day. I had become accustomed to my anxiety and thought that I just got nervous frequently. My anxiety has become a part of my existence but I refuse to let it deter me from pursuing my passions in life. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Ironically my mother is a mental health professional. My mother received her MSW from Temple University and is the sweetest, most understanding, and loving person so I felt comfortable discussing my feelings with her. But this is not the case for everyone. Some people feel alone and think that they have to keep their emotions bottled up inside. The issue with keeping things bottled up for so long is that eventually, you’re going to metaphorically explode. I want to be a mental health advocate but also a support system for my friends and loved ones that struggle with their mental health and need to be shown the light at the end of the incessant tunnel. I know firsthand how difficult life can be and how balancing mental health can become a daunting task but when you have a support system, equilibrium is maintained. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human experience. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned some of the most valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection. I discovered that I am powerful, tenacious, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. Creating art is how I’ve gotten through many challenging times in my 18 years of existence. My passion lies within the performing arts like dance, choreographing, and film production as an artist. I’ve sought out stability in a plethora of areas in my life; through friends, family, social media, etc. but I ultimately discovered stability through art. Art doesn’t see race, socioeconomic status, mental health issues, gender, etc. the only agenda it has is to uplift and make our experience on this Earth more enjoyable. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection. I discovered that I am powerful, tenacious, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. Coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage but with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns, I made it through the performance. That’s my earliest memory of dance. Since then I’ve become well versed in 10+ unique styles of dance, I’ve had the opportunity to help young dancers cultivate their love for dance as a faculty dance assistant, and I’ve been inspired both personally and creatively by remarkable individuals. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. My dream is to open my own performing arts company, TSW Performing Arts Company. I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. Dance is my safe haven and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists.

During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. Her words of wisdom on this car ride home have stuck with me. There have been many times in my 18 years of life where I’ve had to think back and remember her words of encouragement. Her advice gives me a boost of confidence when I try to shrink myself in an attempt to not stand out. She’s taught me to be confident and self-assured but doing so in a humble manner. I am no longer afraid to love myself or my talents. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. My mom always says “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” She’s instilled the importance of education within me and I am honored to be attending the University of Miami in the Spring of 2022 semester! Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. The University of Miami is my dream school and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage but with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns, I made it through the performance. My mother is a pro at being able to find creative ways to motivate her kids to do what needs to get done, whether we like it or not. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever we participated in and for that, I am eternally grateful. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. Her words of wisdom on this car ride home have stuck with me. There have been many times in my 18 years of life where I’ve had to think back and remember her words of encouragement. Her advice gives me a boost of confidence when I try to shrink myself in an attempt to not stand out. She’s taught me to be confident and self-assured but doing so in a humble manner. I am no longer afraid to love myself or my talents. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. My mom always says “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” She’s instilled the importance of education within me and I am honored to be attending the University of Miami in the Spring of 2022 semester! Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. The University of Miami is my dream school and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

My shoulders slumped as I stepped into the bright orange and yellow feathered ensemble. I looked at my mom with pleading eyes begging her to take me out of that chicken costume I despised. I don’t remember anything else about that dance show besides that horrid costume. My 3-year-old self refused to go on stage but with the help of animal crackers and Capri Suns, I made it through the performance. My mother is a pro at being able to find creative ways to motivate her kids to do what needs to get done, whether we like it or not. She has always been our biggest, and loudest, cheerleader for whatever we participated in and for that, I am eternally grateful. During 5th-grade theater jazz class, I noticed that the other girls weren’t dancing on the same level I was. I didn’t want them to feel discouraged so I held back. My dance instructor realized that I was dancing timidly and brought it up to my mom. On the car ride home, my mom asked me why. She said, “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She explained that I was given a light for a reason so I should continue to shine bright. I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world. Her words of wisdom on this car ride home have stuck with me. There have been many times in my 18 years of life where I’ve had to think back and remember her words of encouragement. Her advice gives me a boost of confidence when I try to shrink myself in an attempt to not stand out. She’s taught me to be confident and self-assured but doing so in a humble manner. I am no longer afraid to love myself or my talents. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. My mom always says “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you.” She’s instilled the importance of education within me and I am honored to be attending the University of Miami in the Spring of 2022 semester! Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. The University of Miami is my dream school and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. My mom is my biggest inspiration in life. She not only raised 3 children on her own but she did so while attending both Penn State University and Temple University, working two jobs, and providing for us financially and emotionally. She’s steadfast, fierce, and brilliant, everything that I aspire to be as a woman, mother, scholar, human being, etc. My mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone as a single parent. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’ve chosen to continue my education because making my mother proud is my main motivator. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection. I discovered that I am powerful, tenacious, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be given to individuals that may need help financially. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. As a single parent, my mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. During the brutal Pennsylvania winter, all of the pipes in our house froze and we had no access to heat or water as a result. We couldn’t live in those conditions so we moved all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and lived in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. Being homeless made it exceedingly difficult for me to feel motivated to do well in school. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with an enthusiastic attitude. During this time my anxiety increased drastically, prompting me to seek professional help. I can definitively say that being homeless was a major contributor to my anxiety and lack of enthusiasm toward my education. Growth can not occur in a garden if there is no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human condition. During the darkest times in my life, my resilience was tested, and hope was created simultaneously. I’ve learned valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The adversity that I faced in life allowed me to go through extensive amounts of introspection and discover my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I credit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and what challenges I will overcome in the future! As a single parent, my mother is accustomed to financial hardships and being forced to figure out finances alone. Paying for college is another finance that she has to factor into her budget now that she has one daughter going to college this year and another one that’ll be following soon after. She promised her children that if we were diligent students and worked hard enough to be accepted into our dream school, she would take our student loan debt as hers so that we wouldn’t be negatively impacted by this debt as she has. I was accepted into the University of Miami, which is my dream school, and my mother still upholds her promise which is a bittersweet gesture. I plan to carry on my mother’s legacy and be the vessel used to embody the hopes and dreams she had for all of her children. I’m going to be physical proof that all of her sleepless nights, tears, hard work and sacrifices paid off and with the help of this scholarship, I will be one step closer to lessening this financial burden on my mother.

The tears of frustration streamed down my face as I wiped away the eraser shavings and gripped the pencil so that I could try to draw the continent correctly. I cried over Africa. I wish it was a metaphor but the truth is, I couldn’t draw the continent of Africa and I was brought to tears because of it. In 5th grade, we were assigned a project in history class that required us to draw a continent that interested us. I chose to research and illustrate the continent of Africa as part of my project and it did not go well. I adored my teacher at the time, Mrs. Edwards but at that moment I was so frustrated with her. I think about this moment in 5th grade sometimes and as I’ve grown I’ve realized the lesson that I was being taught, the cost of excellence. When you know you’re capable of achieving excellence and performing at a certain level of excellence, you can not accept less and your mentors, teachers, parents, coaches, etc. won’t accept less either. Mrs. Edwards knew of my capabilities and refused to accept subpar work. As a 5th grader, I was unable to comprehend why she made me redo my drawing until it was correct but I now understand the deeper meaning behind her actions. I thank Mrs. Edwards for pushing me to be the best version of myself both personally and academically. She was an awe-inspiring 5-foot-3 woman that rocked a fabulous afro and to this day she is the most impactful and unforgettable teacher I’ve had. She embodied the characteristics of an ideal role model: compassionate, nurturing, vibrant, and enthusiastic. I have yet to meet anyone as soft-spoken and tenacious as she was. I referred to her as my “school mom” because of her nurturing aura and kindheartedness. I will never forget her heartwarming smile, soft eyes, and words of wisdom. When I think back to that little girl sitting in her seat frustrated beyond words attempting to draw Africa, I am reminded of all the difficult lessons, adversity, and arduous times that inevitably resulted in the clarity I’ve been given as a young woman. I accredit my unfaltering dedication and high level of expectation for excellence to the lessons that I was taught early on in my life. I now have a deep understanding of the hard work required of individuals that seek self-improvement and growth. I’m a multidimensional individual that is continuously learning new things about herself daily and I can not wait to see the woman that I become in the future! I’m embarking on new endeavors now- womanhood, adulthood, college, etc. and I’m sure there will be many more “crying over Africa” moments on my journey but it is because of mentors like Mrs. Edwards that I can persevere and proceed with confidence and fervency.

My mom always says “don’t dim your light out of fear of being too bright for others.” She told me that I was given a light for a reason and that I should continue to shine bright no matter what. I don’t have to sacrifice reaching my full potential to make others feel better about themselves. She said that I can’t control if my light intimidates or inspires others, that’s out of my control. All I can do is be who I am and share my passion with the world and that advice still resonates with me to this day. This is the message that I want to share with the world and other creators. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she told me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow so, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible, success. When I dance I’m transcended out of whatever state of mind I’m in at that moment and into another world. If I’m feeling anxious and my brain is going a mile a minute, it gives my brain the opportunity to recenter. Whether it feels like the world is crumbling around me, I’m surrounded by negative energy, stress overwhelms me, or I’m consumed with absolute joy, dance is always there. Creating art is a way to cope with life’s struggles. My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! I want to give artists a safe and welcoming place to practice and perfect their craft. My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. This would also help students overcome any anxiety they may have regarding public engagements. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, scholarships and discounts will automatically be provided for individuals that may need help financially. Artists of any medium: poets, painters, sculptors, musicians, illustrators, animators, songwriters, filmmakers, dancers, and every other artist in this world is somehow connected to improving the human experience. I want to give artists the opportunity to share their message with the world through their art. Everyone’s voice matters and deserves to be heard and I plan to give artists space and a platform to do so. Dance has done so much for me and taught me many life lessons. There are so many concepts that you can apply from the dance world to the real world such as: You can’t run before you walk, patience is key, the importance of technique, etc. It can all be implemented in everyday life. The studio and other creative spaces always made me feel at home and I hope that my company can be considered home for any creator that wants to practice and perfect their craft! Dance was the catalyst for my personal evolution and has gotten me through arduous times. It’s been my saving grace, my anchor, and my safe haven. Dance is my security blanket and I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. Having a professional career as an entrepreneur while sharing my passion for dance and the arts is my aspiration. I want to show young visionaries from all walks of life that their art and dreams are valid. I want to help others reach their full potential, grow, and flourish as individuals and artists. Being given this scholarship will bring me even closer to achieving my dream and showing others that as long as you believe in yourself and have others who are willing to invest in you along your journey, there’s no limit to what you can achieve!

Creating art is how I’ve gotten through many challenging times in my 18 years of existence. As an artist, my passion lies within the performing arts like dance, choreographing, and film production. But I’m not just a creator of art; I’m a consumer of art, more specifically music. My relationship with music resonates so deeply within me because of not only how it makes me feel, but because it’s consistent. Whether it feels like the world is crumbling around me, I’m surrounded by negative energy, stress overwhelms me, or I’m consumed with joy, music is always there. I’ve sought out stability in a plethora of areas in my life; through friends, family, social media, etc. but I ultimately discovered stability through music. Music doesn’t see race, socioeconomic status, mental health issues, gender, etc. the only agenda music has is to uplift and make our experience in life more enjoyable. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, music is what helped me persevere. Chris Brown’s ‘Heartbreak On A Full Moon’ album was one album that I constantly replayed during my Freshman year. R&B is my go-to genre of music because it sets my soul on fire and can uplift me no matter how low I feel. Prince, Michael Jackson, and Janet Jackson are some of my all-time favorite artists because of their unique sound, iconic works of art, and their contribution to black music, art, and culture. Listening to music is a tool I utilize to help me remain calm, focused, and sane when my environment is the complete opposite. The student body at my current high school consists of 5,000 people so when transitioning classes and walking around campus, music is a must. There were distinct songs that I would listen to on my way to certain destinations. I’d listen to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ on my way to algebra, any song by Beyonce on my way to lunch, and my ‘Feel Good’ playlist was always playing while I walked to the bus loop or when I’d make my way to club meetings after dismissal. When I get ready for my day I always listen to ‘Pennies from Heaven’ by Louis Armstrong to put myself in a serene state of mind. Music has helped me cope with my social anxiety and has comforted me in moments of bliss and despair. Listening to music is my safe haven and security blanket. I’ve been able to reach out for it in my darkest hour and experience an overwhelming feeling of tranquility and assurance. I thank music for all that it’s given me and all that it has gotten me through.

You can’t expect growth in a garden if there’s no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human experience. It was during some of the darkest times in my life that hope was created. I’ve struggled with my mental health, witnessed domestic abuse, faced discrimination, seen my mother in the hospital many times due to her chronic medical conditions, and have been faced with a plethora of other challenges. It was during those moments when I felt inadequate that my resilience was tested. I’ve learned such valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The sun will always come out after the storm and i can attest to this belief. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she asked me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow but, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible... success! My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company’s name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, need based scholarships will automatically be distributed to those who are in need of help. The challenges that I was presented with gave me the opportunity to introspect and discover my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I accredit my unfaltering dedication and high expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I’m a multidimensional individual that continuously learns new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and how I utilize my strength and resilience to overcome adversity in the future.

You can’t expect growth in a garden if there’s no rain, and this is how I perceive life and the human experience. It was during some of the darkest times in my life that hope was created. I’ve struggled with my mental health, witnessed domestic abuse, faced discrimination, seen my mother in the hospital many times due to her chronic medical conditions, and have been faced with a plethora of other challenges. It was during those moments when I felt inadequate that my resilience was tested. I’ve learned such valuable lessons during those grim moments in my life, the power of a positive mindset being one of the most enlightening. The sun will always come out after the storm and i can attest to this belief. For 6 months of my Freshman year in high school, my family and I lived in a hotel because we were homeless. Not having a home contributed to the lack of enthusiasm I had toward my education. I also began struggling with anxiety. During this challenging time, I was taking 8 different dance classes at One Broadway Dance Academy, in Hershey, PA. Street jazz was my favorite class and I had the most brilliant dance instructor. One night she asked me to show the dance routine that she had just taught to the entire class! To have someone I admired take notice of me and validate my talent was a tremendous compliment and confidence boost. Freshman year had been filled with failures and sorrow but, at that moment, I knew that I could accomplish what I had deemed impossible... success! My dream is to open my own performing arts company called TSW Performing Arts Company. My company’s name would be my initials because my name is a significant part of my identity and I’m proud of who I am! My company would provide physical space, supplies, and support from the faculty. Frequent shows, performances, and expositions would allow artists to share their creations with the community. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I understand the dread associated with public speaking but stepping out of my comfort zone is how I continue to improve as both an artist and a person. Also, coming from a single-parent family, I know that it can be uncomfortable asking for financial assistance. So, need based scholarships will automatically be distributed to those who are in need of help. The challenges that I was presented with gave me the opportunity to introspect and discover my true identity. I discovered that I am powerful, fervent, intuitive and so much more. I accredit my unfaltering dedication and high expectation for excellence to the failures I experienced early on in my life. I’m a multidimensional individual that continuously learns new things about herself daily. I am eager to see the woman that I will become and how I utilize my strength and resilience to overcome adversity in the future.

Being forced to live in a hotel for 6 months freshman year of high school changed me as an individual. I never thought that my family would go through something like this but we did. Being homeless was a life altering experience but I am truly grateful that me and my family experienced this together and were able to support each other because we were able to strengthen our family unit. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania until two years ago. We moved to Florida wanting to escape the snow, freezing winters and live in an area that had a lot more opportunities available to all of us. During the brutal winter of my freshman year, all of the pipes in our house froze and the heat and water went out as a direct result. We could not live in those conditions so we had to figure a way to get out of there. At first, we only packed our essentials and stayed in a hotel for a few days thinking the pipes just needed time to thaw out but unfortunately, that was not the case. We ended up moving all of our things out of the house and into a storage unit and living in a hotel for the remainder of the school year. We were homeless but we never let this prevent us from living happily and peacefully. Living in a hotel for 6 months was definitely a major shift for me because we had to wake up earlier than usual so our mom could transport us to school since there wasn’t a bus available to pick us up from the hotel. My sister and I had to take the school bus assigned to our old neighborhood home and wait for our mom to pick us up from that bus stop and drive us back to the hotel. Doing this every day made it extremely hard for me to feel motivated to do well in school. I’m not going to try to sugar coat my experience because this is my truth and I‘ve come to accept it. My grades began to suffer immensely because I did not approach school with the most positivity or enthusiasm and I didn’t care enough to try because I knew I would be moving to Florida in the summer. My mentality throughout the majority of freshman year was basically “nothing I do right now matters because in a couple of months I’ll be living in a completely different state and attending a new school so I‘ll start trying after we move.” During this time my anxiety increased to the point where I felt the need to discuss it with my mom because of how much it was interfering with my everyday tasks so I was seeing a therapist once a week and taking prescribed anxiety medication. There were many factors that contributed to my increased anxiety but I can say definitively that not having a home to go to like my peers was a major contributor. Since moving here to Florida and attending a school with over 5,000 kids it can be overwhelming at times but I manage to survive! I honestly wish that I would have tried more during Freshman year because I know my abilities and what I am capable of achieving academically so I am disappointed in myself for giving up. All I can do is reflect on that part of my past, learn from it, and keep myself focused on my future. Sophomore year was a complete turn around from freshman year. I can’t believe how much moving to a different state, meeting new friends, and attending one of the best public high schools in Florida has changed not only my life but my family member’s lives as well. I am taking a lot more AICE and honors classes and doing remarkably well in them, once I made the attempt to give my academics everything I could possibly give, I ended up boosting my GPA and getting straight A’s. Being able to persevere through hard times has completely shifted my paradigm and perspective on life. I love thinking about my future and the endless possibilities that are out there! Seeing my mom graduate with degrees from Penn State University and Temple University while raising three children as a single mother has motivated me to strive for excellence and prove that anything is possible if you are willing to dream big and fight for it. I’m a goal-oriented and passionate person especially in relation to the arts. I have a deep admiration for music and dance. Dance is a part of who I am, it’s what helped me get through those challenging times. I want to pursue my dream of opening my own performing arts company so I can share my love for dance with others who possess the same love for it. My mom always says “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you!” This is why I aspire to go to college and receive my degree in Business Management and Dance. Being given a scholarship will bring me even closer to achieving my dream and show others that as long as you believe in yourself and have others who are willing to help you along your journey, there’s no limit to what you can achieve!

Seeing my mom graduate with degrees from Penn State University and Temple University while raising three children as a single mother has taught me many things. Her perseverance has motivated me to strive for excellence and prove that anything is possible if you are willing to dream big and fight for it. A lot of people perceive single-parent families as broken homes but I’d have to disagree with this misconception. My mother refused to let her children lack or suffer due to this unforeseen circumstance. She made sure that me and my siblings were always involved in different activities like dance, vocal and piano lessons, gymnastics, school musicals, and many other extracurriculars. My desire to travel the world and experience other cultures stems from her taking us on family vacations to popular tourist destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, and Jamaica. A single black mother raised me, and I’m proud of her and the life that she fought to provide for my siblings and me. My father is a recovering drug addict, so I am most familiar and comfortable with living in a single-parent family. For my wellbeing, I have decided to discontinue communication with him. Paternal abandonment is a common occurrence in the black community. Still, my goal is to show others that can relate to my story that being raised by a single mother does not make you or your aspirations any less valid or achievable than someone who was raised by both parents. I believe that miracles occur when you least expect them, and they come in all shapes and sizes. My mom was pregnant with triplets, but she miscarried the other two babies in the early stages of gestation. I am a surviving triplet, which is extremely rare, but my life was spared. Everything in life is created to fulfill a purpose, and that includes me. The dreams, goals, and passions that I have were all given to me for a reason, and I plan on doing everything in my power to help others discover, nurture, and pursue their passion. Unfortunately, minorities are commonly discriminated against and given fewer opportunities to succeed and have their ideas shared and appreciated. Regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender identification, etc. we all deserve to be heard, respected, and valued as members of the human race. Many hurtful stereotypes exist in society regarding the black community, and I refuse to be another statistic. I am a goal-oriented and passionate person, especially relating to the arts. I have a deep admiration for music and dance. Creating art is a part of who I am, and it’s what helped me get through many challenging times like homelessness, grief, struggles with mental health, etc. I love thinking about my future and the endless possibilities that are out there! I want to pursue my dream of opening my own performing arts company so I can share my love for the arts with others who possess the same passion for it. I believe in not just thinking outside of the box but blowing up the box by being unique and innovative! As a black-owned business, I would make tuition affordable for all of those that want to be involved and have an uplifting place where they can perfect their craft. It is so common for people to overlook children in poverty-stricken neighborhoods and districts in more ways than one. Because the youth in these communities are disregarded, a lot of talent and potential go to waste. Crime rates and gang activity are so high in impoverished areas because the youth in these communities aren’t given a chance to express themselves positively, or they aren’t being encouraged to think of themselves as possible well-established members of society. I want to be able to show young black visionaries from all walks of life and backgrounds that they don’t have to stick to the status quo through my work and advocacy. My mom always says, “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you!” Her words of wisdom are why I aspire to go to college and receive my degree in Business Management and Dance. Being given a scholarship will bring me even closer to achieving my dream and show others that as long as you believe in yourself and have others who are willing to help you along your journey, there’s no limit to what you can achieve!

Seeing my mom graduate with degrees from Penn State University and Temple University while raising three children as a single mother has taught me many things. Her perseverance has motivated me to strive for excellence and prove that anything is possible if you are willing to dream big and fight for it. A lot of people perceive single-parent families as broken homes but I’d have to disagree with this misconception. My mother refused to let her children lack or suffer due to this unforeseen circumstance. She made sure that me and my siblings were always involved in different activities like dance, vocal and piano lessons, gymnastics, school musicals, and many other extracurriculars. My desire to travel the world and experience other cultures stems from her taking us on family vacations to popular tourist destinations like Hawaii, Mexico, and Jamaica. A single black mother raised me, and I’m proud of her and the life that she fought to provide for my siblings and me. My father is a recovering drug addict, so I am most familiar and comfortable with living in a single-parent family. For my wellbeing, I have decided to discontinue communication with him. Paternal abandonment is a common occurrence in the black community. Still, my goal is to show others that can relate to my story that being raised by a single mother does not make you or your aspirations any less valid or achievable than someone who was raised by both parents. My mom, unfortunately, suffers from many health conditions like diabetes, fibromyalgia, arthritis, high blood pressure, and aphasia due to a car accident. These health conditions prevent her from being able to do certain physical activities for long periods. When her condition gets worse, my sister and I assist her with things like walking, for example. I wouldn’t change anything about the conditions my mom has because it’s taught me how to be compassionate, patient, and be diligent during stress-provoking situations. I believe that miracles occur when you least expect them, and they come in all shapes and sizes. My mom was pregnant with triplets, but she miscarried the other two babies in the early stages of gestation. I am a surviving triplet, which is extremely rare, but my life was spared. Everything in life is created to fulfill a purpose, and that includes me. The dreams, goals, and passions that I have were all given to me for a reason, and I plan on doing everything in my power to help others discover, nurture, and pursue their passion. Unfortunately, minorities are commonly discriminated against and given fewer opportunities to succeed and have their ideas shared and appreciated. Regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender identification, etc. we all deserve to be heard, respected, and valued as members of the human race. Many hurtful stereotypes exist in society regarding the black community, and I refuse to be another statistic. I am a goal-oriented and passionate person, especially relating to the arts. I have a deep admiration for music and dance. Creating art is a part of who I am, and it’s what helped me get through many challenging times like homelessness, grief, struggles with mental health, etc. I love thinking about my future and the endless possibilities that are out there! I want to pursue my dream of opening my own performing arts company so I can share my love for the arts with others who possess the same passion for it. I believe in not just thinking outside of the box but blowing up the box by being unique and innovative! As a black-owned business, I would make tuition affordable for all of those that want to be involved and have an uplifting place where they can perfect their craft. It is so common for people to overlook children in poverty-stricken neighborhoods and districts in more ways than one. Because the youth in these communities are disregarded, a lot of talent and potential go to waste. Crime rates and gang activity are so high in impoverished areas because the youth in these communities aren’t given a chance to express themselves positively, or they aren’t being encouraged to think of themselves as possible well-established members of society. I want to be able to show young black visionaries from all walks of life and backgrounds that they don’t have to stick to the status quo through my work and advocacy. My mom always says, “Get your education first because no one can take that away from you!” Her words of wisdom are why I aspire to go to college and receive my degree in Business Management and Dance. Being given a scholarship will bring me even closer to achieving my dream and show others that as long as you believe in yourself and have others who are willing to help you along your journey, there’s no limit to what you can achieve!