I am someone who was built by hard times and held together by love. That's honestly the most accurate way I know how to introduce myself. I grew up being raised by my grandmother, just the two of us, taking the bus everywhere we needed to go. She was my foundation. She showed me what it looked like to show up for somebody without complaint, without hesitation, without needing any recognition for it. A lot of who I am today starts with her. My life has not been without pain. I lost my mother at a young age to senseless violence, and that kind of loss doesn't just leave you; it changes the entire shape of who you become. For me, it became fuel. It became the reason I stayed in school when it would have been easier not to, the reason I developed such a deep need to protect people, to fight for people, to be someone who understands justice not just as a concept but as something personal. I've wanted to pursue law since I was a little girl because of what happened to her, and that desire has never left me. Faith has been the thing that kept me standing through all of it. Even when I couldn't see the path clearly, I trusted that there was one. That belief that I was still here for a reason, that my story wasn't finished, that the pain had a purpose, carried me through more than I can put into words. Community has always mattered to me, too. Back in elementary and middle school, I was actively doing community service, showing up for the people around me because it felt right. Life got complicated for a while, and that chapter got put on pause, but once I get to Norfolk for college, I plan on picking that back up immediately. I miss that version of myself, and I'm ready to come back to it with even more to give. Right now I'm in electrical school, working toward something I'm genuinely proud of. My goal is to use that trade to fix up homes and either sell them to families who deserve a real place to put down roots or rent them out to Section 8 so that people with limited options have access to housing that actually feels like a home. I know what it means to not have excess. I know what it means to rely on consistency and resourcefulness just to get by. That's exactly why I want to pour back into spaces and people that look like where I came from. Through college, I plan to keep threading love, faith, and service through everything I do. Plugging into organizations that align with what I care about, showing up for my community in Norfolk, and using my education to build real knowledge behind the passion I already carry. Post graduation, I see all of it coming together, real estate that serves people, advocacy that protects people, and a daily commitment to making everyone I encounter feel seen, valued, and a little lighter than they did before they met me. That's who I am. Someone who has been through enough to understand people and loves deeply enough to keep trying to help them. I don't have everything figured out but I know what I'm made of and I know what I'm working toward. That's enough to keep going.

My future goals have always been about more than just myself. That's just how I was raised and, honestly, how life shaped me. Growing up, I was never a stranger to giving back. In elementary and middle school, I was out there doing community service, showing up for the neighborhood, being a part of something bigger than my own little world. It wasn't forced or required. It just felt right. Somewhere along the way, as life got heavier and more complicated, that part of me got put on pause, but it never went away. Losing my mother the way I did at such a young age could have turned me inward forever. But instead, it made me want to fight for people. It made me want to understand justice, protect the vulnerable, and be a resource for anyone going through something they didn't deserve. That's been the quiet engine behind everything I've worked toward since then. Right now, I'm in electrical school, and I'm building something real with those skills. My plan is to learn the trade fully, use it to fix up properties, and either flip them to families looking for a place to call home or rent them out to Section 8, so people who don't have a lot of options have access to decent, safe housing. I've seen firsthand what unstable living does to a family, to a child, to a person's sense of self. I want to be someone who changes that for people in a concrete way. Once I get to Norfolk for college, I plan on getting right back into community service. That's not something I'm putting off or treating like an afterthought. I genuinely miss that version of myself, the one who was out in the community, hands-on, present, contributing. College is going to be the place where I reconnect with that and build on it in a much bigger way. While I'm in school, I want to plug into organizations and initiatives that align with what I care about: housing, justice, youth development, and uplifting people who are often overlooked. I want to use my studies to sharpen the skills I need to actually move the needle in those spaces and not just be a warm body volunteering, but someone who shows up with intention and real knowledge behind her. Post graduation, I see myself operating on multiple levels. Building a real estate portfolio that genuinely serves the community. Potentially pursuing law to advocate for people who need a voice in rooms that weren't designed for them. And just continuing to be someone who pours into the people around her every single day, the same way I've tried to do in every job, every interaction, and every chapter of my life so far. The through line in all of it is people. It's always been, people. Everything I'm building is ultimately about being in a position to show up for someone else the way I needed people to show up for me.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" is one of those quotes that sounds simple until you actually sit with it. For me, it stopped being just a saying in the summer of 2024. Through the Summer Youth Employment Program, I was gifted the opportunity to work at the YMCA doing front desk and janitorial services, and honestly, I didn't walk in thinking it was going to change me. I just needed the experience. But something happened over those months that I didn't fully expect. I started meeting people. Like, really meeting them. Every single day, I was interacting with all kinds of people, helping them figure out where to go, pointing them toward the right departments, helping them schedule sessions with fitness instructors, answering questions, just being there as a resource for whoever walked through the door. On the surface, it sounds straightforward, but what I started to notice was how much those little interactions actually meant to people. A warm greeting, a genuine smile, somebody who actually listened when they asked for help. It sounds small, but you could see it on their faces. The janitorial side of it taught me something, too. There's a humility that comes with doing work that most people don't think twice about. You learn real fast that no task is beneath you and that taking care of a space is its own form of taking care of people. I never looked at that part of the job as lesser. It was all part of showing up and contributing. By the end of that summer, I was a different person than when I started. I was more open, more patient, more aware of the fact that everybody you encounter is carrying something you know nothing about. That shift in perspective gave me a kind of compassion I don't think I could have developed any other way. You can't spend a whole summer with that many different people, from that many different walks of life, and not come out seeing the world a little differently. Now I carry that with me everywhere I go. My thing is making people feel good in whatever small way I can. If I can make somebody smile or laugh in passing, that's enough for me. I genuinely believe that energy is contagious and that you can shift somebody's whole day just by choosing to show up with warmth and good intentions. So that's what I try to do with every interaction, every single day. Going forward, I want to keep building on that. I want to be someone who uplifts the people around me in bigger and more intentional ways as I grow. The YMCA showed me that impact doesn't always come from grand gestures. Sometimes it's just being the person in the room who makes everyone feel seen. I want to keep being that person and then some.

Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind is something that happened when I was seven. I was chosen to be the face of Wynnfield Settlement Music School, like their go-to student for advertising and representing the school. At seven years old, that felt like the biggest thing in the world to me. But what really gets me when I look back isn't just the recognition itself. It's everything that went into it. My grandmother was raising me on her own, and every single day, without fail, we got on the bus together and made our way to practice. That was just our thing. She never complained, never made me feel like it was too much or too far. We just went. Every time. And honestly, I was never dragging my feet about it either because music school was genuinely one of my favorite places to be. There was something about walking through those doors that just felt good. Drum class especially had this energy to it that I still can't fully describe. It was fun, it was loud, it was lighthearted in the best way. My instructor had a way of making every session feel less like a lesson and more like we were just a bunch of kids enjoying something we loved. We laughed, we played, we fed off each other's energy. I looked forward to it every single time, and I think that joy is a big part of why I improved so quickly. Because underneath all the fun, I was really into it. Like genuinely in love with percussion. Something about it clicked for me in a way nothing else had at that age. I just knew I wanted to be great at it, so I kept showing up, kept practicing, kept pushing myself. And somewhere along the way, I became the top student at the school. So when they chose me to be the face of Wynnfield, to represent the school in their advertising and outreach, I didn't even fully have the words for what that meant at the time. I just knew it was special. Looking back now, I understand it as a blessing, a real one. Out of everyone there, they saw something in me worth putting forward, and that kind of thing doesn't leave you. We didn't have a lot. It was just me and my grandmom, the bus, and a whole lot of consistency. No shortcuts, no special advantages, just two people who showed up because we believed it was worth it. And somehow that was enough. I think about that chapter of my life more than people probably realize. It taught me early that your circumstances don't have to hold you back. You just need one person who believes in you and is willing to keep going no matter what. My grandmother was that person for me without hesitation, and I'll never stop being grateful for that.

I think the most significant way to make a positive difference in the world is to help people live better, healthier, and safer lives. Everything I am going to do with my future education links back to that idea. I do not only want to be successful for myself. I want my success to open doors, provide access, and give hope to other people, especially those who are most ignored or least served. Education will be the basis of my career. By attending college, I will be equipped with the knowledge, discipline, and credibility that will allow me to be in the right place when decisions are being made about money, property, and healthcare. My intention is to be a real estate lawyer since housing is a critical element for every human being. Your place of living will determine your well-being, your mental state, your children, and your personal and professional growth possibilities. Many people lose their houses, enter into unfair contracts, or miss opportunities just because they are not aware of the system or cannot afford good legal help. With the degree, I will gradually be becoming a lawyer, who is able to clarify things, defend the people’s rights, and assist them in building their stability rather than allowing them to lose it. Along with that, I want to be an entrepreneur who knows ownership and wealth from the inside. Having real estate of my own will enable me to practice what I preach. It will provide me with the opportunity to work in all areas of property management, investment, and development, which will make me a more competent lawyer and informed mentor. I want to demonstrate to people that owning a property is attainable, even if they did not see it while growing up. People will be taught how property can be a trap and at the same time a tool for achieving generational stability rather than short-lived solutions. One of my top priorities is to set up a medical clinic for the poor people in the neighborhoods. This clinic will be the one to take all kinds of medical insurance and also patients who have a hard time getting quality care will be the first to be served. There are many communities that are forced to choose between price and proper treatment. I want to get rid of that option. No matter if the patient is rich or poor, everybody is going to get high-quality medical care. My clinic will be equipped with the best medical devices, state-of-the-art technology, and highly skilled professionals. Good healthcare should not be seen as a luxury. Not only will this clinic help with the diseases, but it will also have a positive impact on the living. It will be a place where patients would be able to feel that they are respected, heard, and taken care of. I will be not only bringing health to the community but also jobs and professional opportunities. I want those neighborhood people to be the ones who will work, get trained, and be proud of what they will be doing. Success is multiplied when people are given real chances. I am also going to bring people to the opportunities. Be it teaching someone their housing rights, guiding them to buy a home, or making a connection between them and the healthcare persons who really care, I would like to be a gate. I am convinced that power is in directing people to accessible resources, education, and support systems that will help them to become successful and self-sustaining for the long run.

If I were to give a truthful talk about myself, not the resume-like, I would describe myself as humorous, intelligent, and a person who really cares about others. I’m always joking, sometimes inappropriately, but that’s just my personality. Humor acts as a life support for me when it gets too heavy, and it’s also my means of connecting with people. I like to be the person who can ease the tension, put a big smile on someone’s face, or change a sticky situation into a pleasant one. Nothing scares us when we laugh, and I think that’s a very good thing. I’m intelligent, but not in a way that is all about getting perfect scores and being the teacher’s pet who never has any problems. I’m smart because I reason, I am skeptical, and I actually focus. My curiosity is especially about the way things work regarding money, laws, and systems that are imposed on people. I’m not the one to just ask questions at the surface level. If a certain aspect is not clear, I’ll keep on searching till it is. That’s probably one of the reasons why I feel that law, particularly real estate law, is a good fit for me. It’s all about reality. It is about where people live, how they acquire wealth, and whether they are at ease or stressed out. I am also a very kind person. At times, I am too kind-hearted. My heart goes out very much to others, especially when I see injustice done and people unable to grasp what is really important. Real estate and property are no longer merely commercial dealings; they have gained human aspects, the emotional part. It is not just a person's home, their security, their future, their privacy. Heaps of people think about legal papers and agreements very negatively, especially when no one is there to help them understand. I want to be the person who does help, not by being condescending or making the other person feel lesser, but by being helpful and getting people housing with pricing within their budget. My objective is to be a real estate lawyer who makes a real difference, not just someone who, like a parasite, sits behind the desk and waits for the collection of checks, but an attorney people can trust. I want the customers to have the feeling that they are being listened to, not pressed. I want to be the last line of defense for people.

This scholarship would help me achieve my educational goals by supporting me and following my dream of becoming a legal figure. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always wanted to do what's right for others and do my best to help them accomplish a big win. I plan to attend George Mason and go to their law school in order to become a real estate attorney. This financial support would help boost me in covering tuition so I can have one less worry when it comes to achieving my dream. An adversity I've always faced is being picked last, which has done nothing but motivate me to work harder and get what I want from life. I always say the best is saved for last, and when it's time to put in the work, I put my best foot forward every time. When I was younger, I experienced the unfortunate event of my mother being taken from me by a man who had a bitter soul and mindset, and legally, he got off with just a few years. And ever since then, I've always wanted to be the voice for the little guy, in a sense. Whether it's by defending them, supporting them, or just helping them mentally. In turn, that event helped shape me into a better person, making me always go for A-B Honor roll, doing extra credit, whatever is necessary to excel myself in whatever task is at hand. I also think that experience contributes to my drive to do more because while I pursue my dreams in college, I plan to open a barber shop or work in one, as I have picked up the skill and plan to earn my certification for it very soon. In five years, I know I will be coming into my senior year of undergrad at George Mason University, preparing for applications to Antonin Scalia Law School so I can continue my education in legal studies, whilst conducting an internship at a well-grounded law firm and or real estate agency. And if everything checks out, I also will be working in a barbershop or while opening my own, as I plan to cut hair on the side while I keep working at my long-term dream of becoming a real estate attorney. After succeeding in these dreams, I plan to own and rent out different apartments and buildings as a way of building future generational wealth for future generations in my family, specifically my branch of the family tree.

My name is Ty'Kema Seigler-Bibbs. I'm currently 17, coming up on 18, which is quicker than I'd like to accept, funny enough. I am and always have been a hilarious and passionate person, which tends to draw people into me and my character. If a friend or family member is hurting or upset, they always come to me, as I will always give them a laugh or even a hug if needed. I've always lived by this motto my mom gave me, "You get more with sugar than vinegar," and something about that quote just motivates me to be kinder, maybe even warmer to anyone, rather than chastise them. I've wanted to go to college ever since I was 6. It's just something that has always seemed like the right choice. I believe I can unlock doors and make connections that will allow me to secure an ample amount of experience and knowledge to lead a strong, impactful career and life overall. That dream and wish gained even more drive when I was informed the man who murdered my mother got off with little to no time, something about that turned my stomach inside out. That very day, I promised myself I would go to college and be proud of my education. For me to be able to enter rooms and unlock doors, my mother would have if she was physically here. Most of my family, including my mom, went to college for half the first semester, then dropped out. I want to be the first in my family to finish all 4 years and get my bachelor's as well. I know it's going to take a lot of work and effort, but what's a reward without the work to achieve it? I plan to become a real estate attorney with my degree, but I plan to do so much more than that. I want to launch a T-shirt designing business as well as own a full-on barbershop, and own and sell homes. While the journey will be long and challenge my motivation and drive. I know God gave me this mindset and dream for a reason and I plan to excel in my education so I when I get the absolute honor to take that final breath I will have secured a honest and beautiful wealth that God-willing can lead the next generation I eventually help raise into a wonderful life as they take over or recreate whatever I leave behind into there own desires. While my dream is a risk, I truly know in my heart that I will be something great. It has already been written; I'm just following the path set before me.