I have grown so much over the past year. When my mom got sick and couldn’t work anymore, I had to step up and get a job. I also had do more as a child than any other child. Helping my mom, making sure she was good, working, playing football and running track, plus my school work was a challenge. But it really made me appreciate my mom more, because it made me realize how much she was doing for us. I thank God, that he allowed me to become the young man, I am today. This was so sudden for my family, so our lives changed quickly. Even though my mom has been sick, she still made it to every game my sisters and I had. This event made me want to go harder, to do better and go to college. I want to make her proud of me and I want to be able to, take care of her. What has changed about me is, I’ve had to grow up and be more responsible, but it made me a better person. I’ve had to learn how finance money, work harder, etc. At first I was just, sliding by and going day by day, but all that changed. I have younger sisters, so I had to show them how to step up, when needed. All I ever wanted was to make my mom proud and that she is. She tells me everyday, how proud she is of me. What is the same about me, is the love for my family or my love for sports. Me going to college, has not changed and I’ve made it. Regardless of what life throws at us, something’s just don’t change. It’s so many young people that don’t get an opportunity to attend college, I was blessed with fulfilling my dreams. I know my sisters look up to me, so I have to make sure, they see a person that doesn’t give up. Things I’ve learned in my journey is, that I can do anything I put my mind to. I’ve learned that, giving up is not an option. No matter what life throws at you, if you’re determined, it will happen. I didn’t realize how strong I was, until my mom got sick and I had to be the man of the house, instead of a boy. I thank God for preparing me for real life.

My dad has always been the biggest influence in my life. When I was growing up and realized, how creative I was I wondered, where it had come from. My mom was good at a lot of things, but being creative was not one of them. Then, I realized my dad was great at anything, dealing with art, organizing or just being creative. I watched him draw or make things and was so amazed. When he realized, my brother and I was just like him, he started working with us and I’ve been great every since. When I graduate, I want to open up a art museum. I want people all over, to be able to show their work. I know some people that have some great art work and it’s just sitting creating dust. My dad and brother are two of the most creative people I know and their work is not being displayed. Sometimes my dad make posters, for different businesses, but I feel like it could be in some type of art show. Me opening a art gallery, will help a lot of people that feel like, they’re not good enough. My art skill is different from everyone else, because I’m great at collaborating different objects and making it better. Whether it’s art or objects. My hands are the best features of my body, besides my eyes and brain. I can look at something and my brain automatically starts to create and collaborate. This inheritance was a gift from God and I love it. Even as a child, I could take, a shoe box, rubber bands and pencils and make a wrestling ring. And I was about 3 or 4 then. As I got older, I got more creative. My dad and I would cut would and build book shelves and dog houses and this was from our imagination. Still to this day my dad and I, take old items and collaborate them together, to make something special. Going to college, will be easy but hard, because I will miss the creative art, dad and I do together. Now my younger sister, is finding herself in art, she’ll be able to experience what I have with our dad. The memories I have with him, will forever be remembered and cherished. I will continue to carry my love for art with me. So once I graduate from college, be looking forward to my art gallery near you. The pictures I included are some drawings, a award shelf and some trays I designed for high schools.

Every dayvis a struggle where I live. Having to choose whether to be a good kid and continue school, or to turn to the streets. There's always someone trying to recruit us, to be in their gang, but I have something better in store for my life. Just my senior year alone, so many of my school mates, have lost their lives, been hospitalized or went to juvenile or jail and that hurts my heart. We are so much better than, what people makes young black men out to be, but it's up to us to make a change. I'm so glad i have parents that, pray for me and push me to be the best me. Many young of my friends and school mates, think I'm crazy for going over 600 miles to college, but I look at it as a better life and a great education experience. Hopefully, they can see me succeed and realize, the choice I made, was the best choice. That's hiw i practice bravery and live boldly.

August 1, 2021 was a day I won't ever forget. My mom was hospitalized and was very sick. She found out, she has heart problems, blood clots, maytherna and aneurysms in her stomach and chest. That was something, any child wouldn't want to hear. Through all my mom's sickness, she has managed to still take care of, my two sisters and I. She hasn't been able to work, since she found out she was sick, but she has made my senior year, amazing. Not only did she make it happen for me graduating, but she made sure I had everything I needed for, football and track. She still always manage to have the strength to take my sisters and I, to every practice and game. All three of us play sports and my mom, hasn't missed a game. Through her good and bad days, she pull through. My sister and I got jobs, so we can help my mom out. So then we were, balancing school work, sports and jobs and I wouldn't change any of that. I'm already enrolled in college, but I need help attending and my mom have been trying her best to help, but she doesn't work. This scholarship, will help my mom and I out so much. Once I get done with my degree, I am going to make sure I take care of my family. I'm also working on going all the way in football, so I can show young black kids, that we can make it. This scholarship will be a great opportunity, for my family. My mom has been trying to take up donations to help pay for my tuition. I did get some loans, grants and partial scholarships, but since I'm going to college in a different state, I have a balance. When I get my degree in graphic design, I will open a business and give other young adults the opportunity also. When I make it playing football, will still make sure I open my business, in my home town. I won't ever forget, where I come from. I just want to be the best me, I can be and going to college will help me do that. Getting these scholarships will definitely help us out, so my mom won't have to come out of pocket, paying the remaining balance. Regardless, I'm going to make sure I continue, to keep the faith and not give up.

When they say, "A dog is a man's best friend", they should say they're a kid's best friend. We got our first dog, when I was four years old and he changed my life completely. He was a little black dog and we named him, Barack Obama. It was in 2008, when Barack first became president. Before we got him, I use to run, but I didn't realize how fast I was, until we got Barack. That dog use to chase me all the time and I would run so fast, jump over bushes, jump on high porches and everything. That dog became my best friend and I became faster and faster, when running. As I got older, I started playing football, basketball and running track. I was always the running back, when playing street football and no one could catch me. When we played basketball, i was always jumping and packing everyone's ball and when we would race, i dusted everybody. That talent brought me all the way to college, where I will play football, basketball and run track. I owe all my talent to my first bestfriend Barack Obama (may he rest in peace). That's how my dog, changed my life.

I've always love to create things, whether it's drawings or sculptures, since i was a little boy. I've grown to love it even more, since I've gotten older. I can be riding down the street and see something and get home and draw it. I can be at school and I see something and draw it. There's nothing like, having a vision for art. When I was in the eighth grade, I was honored by a greek fraternity. In high school my art work has been displayed twice, in a art show. I will continue to use my vision to create, memorable moments.

Having two sisters can be fun. Every day, i do something stupid to aggravate them or scare them. Of, course they be pissed, but my mom and I, get a kick out of it. They still love me though and I know, they gone miss me when I'm gone. Man, I have so many funny memories, with those two. I have a habit of buying scary mask. Michael Myers, Jason, etc. I don't know how they didn't ever know it was me, pranking them. They would fall for it every time, no matter what I did. I use to put on different mask at night and stand outside their window and peck on it. We have cameras in the house, so we would have footage every time. I would make noises outside and they would look out and I'll pop up and scream. They would run and holler so loud and the funny thing is, they would fight trying to see who can get out first. Not fighting for real, but trying to get out the room. I had bought a fake mouse once and told my mom about it, because I didn't want to scare her. My baby sister was walking through the livingroom and I made the mouse run across the livingroom floor. My sister jumped in my mom's lap and they both hit the floor. I was scared to laugh at first, because I thought my mom was mad, but when she bust out laughing, I laughed so hard, I started slobbering. My little sister is so scared of mice, so I knew my plan would work. My sister that's under me, hates snakes. I went and bought a fake snake and scared her so hard, she pissed herself. She came in my room crawling on the floor, trying to scare me and I saw her. I snake was under my bed, so while she's trying to scare me, I made the snake crawl from under the bed. She jumped on my bed and was pissing at the same time. The joke was on me, becauss I had to wash all my covers. But, we laughed so hard afterwards. My sisters laughed about every prank, afterwards. That's one thing I'll miss about those two. The fun we have together, but I'm becoming a better big brother for them and my mom. I wish we still have the videos, but unfortunately it's been awhile ago, for those pranks. Now, I can be serious when it's time, but I love to make people laugh also.

August 1, 2021 was a day I won't ever forget. My mom was hospitalized and was very sick. She found out, she has heart problems, blood clots, maytherna and aneurysms in her stomach and chest. That was something, any child wouldn't want to hear. Through all my mom's sickness, she has managed to still take care of, my two sisters and I. She hasn't been able to work, since she found out she was sick, but she has made my senior year, amazing. Not only did she make it happen for me graduating, but she made sure I had everything I needed for, football and track. She still always manage to have the strength to take my sisters and I, to every practice and game. All three of us play sports and my mom, hasn't missed a game. Through her good and bad days, she pull through. My sister and I got jobs, so we can help my mom out. So then we were, balancing school work, sports and jobs and I wouldn't change any of that. I'm already enrolled in college, but I need help attending and my mom have been trying her best to help, but she doesn't work. This scholarship, will help my mom and I out so much. Once I get done with my degree, I am going to make sure I take care of my family. I'm also working on going all the way in football, so I can show young black kids, that we can make it. This scholarship will be a great opportunity, for my family. My mom has been trying to take yp donations to help pay for my tuition. I did get some loans, grants and partial scholarships, but since I'm going to college in a different state, I have a balance. When I get my degree in graphic design, I will open a business and give other young adults the opportunity also. When I make it playing football, will still make sure I open my business, in my home town. I won't ever forget, where I come from. I just want to be the best me, I can be and going to college will help me do that. Getting these scholarships will definitely help us out, so my mom won't have to come out of pocket, paying the remaining balance. Regardless, I'm going to make sure I continue, to keep the faith and not give up.

August 1, 2021 was a day I won't ever forget. My mom was hospitalized and was very sick. She found out, she has heart problems, blood clots, maytherna and aneurysms in her stomach and chest. That was something, any child wouldn't want to hear. Through all my mom's sickness, she has managed to still take care of, my two sisters and I. She hasn't been able to work, since she found out she was sick, but she has made my senior year, amazing. Not only did she make it happen for me graduating, but she made sure I had everything I needed for, football and track. She still always manage to have the strength to take my sisters and I, to every practice and game. All three of us play sports and my mom, hasn't missed a game. Through her good and bad days, she pull through. My sister and I got jobs, so we can help my mom out. So then we were, balancing school work, sports and jobs and I wouldn't change any of that. I'm already enrolled in college, but I need help attending and my mom have been trying her best to help, but she doesn't work. This scholarship, will help my mom and I out so much. Once I get done with my degree, I am going to make sure I take care of my family. I'm also working on going all the way in football, so I can show young black kids, that we can make it. This scholarship will be a great opportunity, for my family. My mom has been trying to take yp donations to help pay for my tuition. I did get some loans, grants and partial scholarships, but since I'm going to college in a different state, I have a balance. When I get my degree in graphic design, I will open a business and give other young adults the opportunity also. When I make it playing football, will still make sure I open my business, in my home town. I won't ever forget, where I come from. I just want to be the best me, I can be and going to college will help me do that. Getting these scholarships will definitely help us out, so my mom won't have to come out of pocket, paying the remaining balance. Regardless, I'm going to make sure I continue, to keep the faith and not give up.