Women’s empowerment is important to me because I believe women should support and encourage each other instead of constantly competing with or tearing each other down. In real life, I have seen women judge each other based on appearance, relationships, personality, accomplishments, or the choices they make. Social media has made this even more common because women are constantly compared to one another. We sometimes forget that we do not know what another woman is going through behind closed doors. Instead of judging her, I believe we should make her feel supported, heard, and valued. I try to contribute to women’s empowerment by encouraging the women around me and reminding them of their worth. I believe empowerment does not always have to be something big. It can be as simple as complimenting another woman, checking on a friend, celebrating someone’s accomplishments, or encouraging her when she feels like giving up. I also believe we should learn to celebrate other women without feeling threatened by their success. Another woman getting an opportunity does not take away from the opportunities available to me. If another woman receives an internship, scholarship, job, or recognition she worked hard for, I want to be the person cheering for her. There is room for all of us to succeed. My experiences in church and at Florida A&M University have also helped me understand the importance of using my voice. Through making announcements at my church, participating in community activities, helping with clothing drives, and interacting with different people, I have become more confident communicating with others. As a Broadcast Journalism student, I want to use that voice to make a difference. I want to tell stories about women, highlight their accomplishments, and bring attention to issues that affect them. I especially want young girls to see women who look like them succeeding and know that they can create their own path. I also believe empowering women means being there for them during difficult moments, not just celebrating them when they succeed. Women can feel pressure to have everything figured out, look a certain way, be successful, and still make everything appear perfect. I want women to know that it is okay to grow at their own pace, make mistakes, ask for help, and start over. We do not have to agree with every decision another woman makes to respect her. Ultimately, I want my impact on women’s empowerment to come through encouragement, representation, and using my voice. I want to be the type of woman who makes other women feel supported rather than judged. I want us to open doors for one another, celebrate each other, and make the path easier for the women coming after us. I believe we are stronger when we lift each other up instead of tearing each other down.

My involvement in my local church has played a major role in shaping the person I am today and the way I serve my community. I have been involved with my church every Saturday and Sunday, and growing up, helping others was always something that was simply a part of my life. I learned that serving your community does not always have to be something big. Sometimes, it can be as simple as using your time, your voice, or your talents to help someone else. One of the ways I have served through my church is by making announcements. I would share information about events happening within my community, as well as events taking place at other churches. I also had the opportunity to deliver our church’s mission statement, which helped me become more comfortable speaking in front of others. In addition, I participated in clothing drives where we collected items for people who needed them, and I participated in community plays. Each of these experiences gave me opportunities to work with different people and contribute to something bigger than myself. My church has also helped me understand that service is not something I should only do when it is required. It is something I want to continue doing throughout my life. I grew up seeing people in my church give their time and energy to help others, and that became an example for me. Even though I have not always thought deeply about how these experiences were shaping me, I now realize that they helped develop many of the qualities I will need in my future. Most importantly, my involvement in church helped me discover the career path I want to pursue: Broadcast Journalism. Making announcements taught me how to communicate information clearly, speak confidently, and understand the importance of having a voice. I realized that I enjoy informing people and being able to connect with an audience. Those experiences made me see how I could turn something I was already doing in church into a career. As I pursue Broadcast Journalism, I want to carry the lessons I learned from my church into my career. I want to use my voice and future platform to inform people, highlight important issues, tell meaningful stories, and give a voice to people who may not always be heard. My church taught me that serving others is a responsibility, and I hope to continue that service through my career and throughout my life.

I believe mental health care should be something everyone can access, regardless of how much money they have. Too many people struggle in silence because therapy is expensive, they feel like no one will listen, or they have been dismissed in the past. I believe everyone deserves to feel heard, supported, and taken seriously. My unique contribution would be using my future career in Broadcast Journalism to bring more attention to mental health and make people aware of the resources available to them. I want to use my voice and platform to have honest conversations about mental health, especially in communities where it may not always be openly discussed. I would also advocate for affordable, and eventually free, therapy so that money never becomes the reason someone cannot get the support they need. Most importantly, I want people to understand that asking for help does not make you weak. I believe it takes strength to admit when you need support. If I can use my voice to make even one person feel heard and remind them that they are not alone, I believe that is a meaningful contribution to the world.