I am Zakar Cuffie. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist and to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies as a way to achieve a sense of purpose. I am a product of divorced parents, and that has been a challenge. I wondered why dad left and why mom had to do so much while he was hardly involved in parenting me. It was my mom who taught me to read, count, write, do math and even life skills. When many dads were there at graduations, mine was never there. At my swim meets, track meets, debate competitions, and spelling Bees, my father witnessed none of them! What this taught though, was to value those who showed up to support me every time. It affected me emotionally at times, questioning my self-worth and value. Through going to therapy and my involvement in the church, I was able to work through my abandonment issues and co-create life with positivity and grace. Self-affirmations daily, scripture reading and meditation were key to me overcoming self-defeating. With these new coping skills, I was able to process my feelings and cope. As a student, I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. This is also a goal for me in higher education. Dedication and self-motivation fueled me as an individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to the school. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. I channeled my energies into running As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. I am 17, and I do odd jobs to help. I sacrificed a lot so we could survive, such as no cable TV, handwashing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. As a result of utilizing these skills, I can manage finances well. This has certainly impacted me positively as a result of struggles and hardships. This scholarship will propel my goal of higher education as the need is great and I aim to succeed.

I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law as well. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by way of advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I contributed significantly to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to the school. I am still a high school senior and have not started the program yet. However, based on research only five to eight percent of the students who study animal science are black. I plan to inspire the next generation through educational programs nationwide about SDG 15 and show what if the animals are not protected and what can happen to our planet, Additionally, I will foster a reading through environmental awareness in the public libraries through children's summer workshops.

Animals are my passion and that is the part of ecology which is an important aspect of environmental studies. Animals are treated badly and we need to understand that for biodiversity they are very important to our ecosystem. I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law as well. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by way of advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. Many of our Scoutng activities were based on environmental care. We have done many beach and ocean clean up to prevent the death of animals throug pollution. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to the school. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for science, and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world through understanding and protecting animals. I have demonstrated through my high school achievements that I am confident that I can and will continue on a path of excellence.

My name is Zakar Cuffie, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in the Caribbean and attending school there presented some major challenges but I overcame them through admitting and embracing them. My goal is to be a successful Animal Biologist. Despite the above challenges, I have been dedicated and self-motivated throughout my school journey. Going to college is a goal I must achieve. This is one of my main academic goals and it is a family value that we hold dear. Education is a key area we see as an avenue for llife long success. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities became unwavering. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports thus shaping who I am today. There is a generational cycle for Black boys’ future that travels through our community and the education system, and it begins with how adults introduce to boys how they should spend their free time. I can remember vividly being told that I was a boy and boys should be into sports. However, there weren’t too many alternative options for when a boy wasn’t interested in playing sports during gym class or an after-school program. We begin to change this narrative by introducing new hobbies or ideas for Black boys to explore to see a reality outside of sports and expand their interests. As a Black young man, pressure to play sports professionally seems the way out of poverty. I have observed many using and have used that route as a career even without care for excelling in numeracy or literacy. While, I do not snub another person's dreams, I do believe in having a solid acadimic foundation first and then all else can follow. For me sports is important but it is not all that I intend to do as a career. I have other interests. I am seen as an intelligent young man with a good head on his shoulders. Also, I have great male mentors who continue to give me guidance. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help, and I did without a lot so we could survive such as no cable TV, handwashing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. As a result of honing in on these skills, I am able to manage finances well. This scholarship will propel my goal of higher education as the need is great and I aim to succeed. Succes looks like different things to different people and for me becoming a successful professional requires me attending and participating in higher education. I also seek internship opportunities as well so that I can gain experience in my chosen field of study. All of my achievements thus far have prepared me for this college journey. I think this is a journey because I endeavor to be a life long learner with a view to be more and more efficient and knowledgeable about changing trends in my career area.

Zakar Cuffie Olympus Academy, NY March 16th, 2025 I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law as well. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by way of advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for science, and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world. I have demonstrated through my high school achievements that I am confident that I can and will continue on a path of excellence. I aim also to live a life of service impacting the lives of others positively for the betterment of humanity and the planet.

Zakar Cuffie Olympus High School, NY March 16, 2025 I always struggled with Math and as a result, my experience in class was a nightmare for the most part. One major challenge was not having enough resources to learn therefore I was given an IEP and was given exceptional help in the eighth Grade to assist me. There were major shortages in all areas of need, especially teachers. I remember the principal in Grade 9 having to teach all the subjects during the COVID-19. It was difficult for me to learn with these infrequent rushed lessons. I became stressed out and frustrated and did not test well. I then did some research and found three great sites with learning videos to assist. I also asked for the syllabus and started a study group with other students. This resulted in higher grades, increased confidence, and a greater understanding of my subjects. Another major challenge I had to overcome was parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom refused to see me in this state. My mom took me to counselling and I had to speak about deep-seeded issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and this therefore dented my self-worth. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. Plus, learning differently felt like a curse and IEP was my blessing. This truly improved my academics in the long run, but I had to face stigma in the fact that I needed special help. Oh, the woes of learning! My name is Zakar Cuffie, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in the Caribbean and attending school there presented some major challenges but I overcame them through admitting and embracing them. My goal is to be a successful Animal Biologist. Despite the above challenges, I have been dedicated and self-motivated throughout my school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities became unwavering. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports thus, also shaping who I am today. Having this experience early in life at school also taught me to persevere and be persistent in all that I do. It also prepared me to cope and deal with bullying schoolwide. I had to garner my strength on most days just to finish school. Many teachers were bullies and did not care about our academic challenges and emotional well-being for the most part and this really hurt me. So, I had to help myself in this process and make sure I was improving steadily. This was a frustrating period in my educational journey, but I persevered despite the difficulties. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help, and I did without a lot so we could survive such as no cable TV, handwashing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. So, dealing with my learning challenges forced me to develop other strengths so that my self-worth could be fostered. As a result of honing in on these skills, I can manage finances well. This scholarship will propel my goal of higher education as the need is great and I aim to succeed and be an inspiration to others like me.

Zakar Cuffie Olympus High School, NY March 16, 2025 Echoes, No Reverb As I stand staring at the sea, the waves wash the sand beneath my feet. These powerful, energy-driven, fluid, constant movements fight with the rocks and echo in the distance. The birds fly away! They sing too! They speak to each other! Then I jump from rock to rock as fishes dance before my eyes. I have no lines, no hooks! I am looking, observing, and admiring as they play! They come and go, rushing away, then gliding towards me. I am on the rocks, standing and looking. The birds talk! Dogs bark! And in the distance, a plane takes off! I leap into the water. Then a voice screams out. “SON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I was already deep beneath the blue sea with fishes all around me. But there was one big black one quickly moving away from me. I was excited to catch up with it. As a young professional swimmer, I turned on turbo speed and was quickly approaching. The closer I got to it; I realized that there were two alongside each other—two big ones! They were male and female. The female stayed by my side, but the male quickly faded away. No trace! No bubbles! No sound! He was gone! The male is gone! I reached out to the female and saw loving gestures, fins, and tail wagging in admiration of my efforts. “Where did the male go?” I asked. “Gone without a trace!” replied the female. I quickly rushed back to the shore. There was a large crowd cheering and chanting: “You are the champion, the real champion!” That was my fifth competition and victory. I have captured it again for the fifth time. Mommy was screaming, shouting, and lifting me in the air! She was filled with joy! “Mommy, did you come alone?” I asked. “Yes, my son,” she replied. “He didn’t show up again?” I questioned. She smiled and replied, “You know that I will always be there, my son.” “You just go forward and collect your coveted awards again, my child!” “You have done Mama proud! You run, you swim, you mentor others!” “You are a leader in your own right.” Suddenly, there is a big bang! “Look over there, Mommy! They are fighting! They are struggling. They are making loud waves!” Mommy smiles at me and says, “You go, son. Go and do what you do best. Go and do what you love. You are used to it! Calm them like you have always done.” I rushed over to the couple, and they stopped suddenly as they saw me approaching! We laughed and talked for over an hour. They were in awe that a young man like me could humble them into peace and harmony! “My son,” they called out to me, as I turned away, waving them goodbye. “What are your dreams?” they shouted. “I have many,” I quickly replied. “Well, we can see them unfolding right before our eyes,” they continued. “THE YOUNG ADVOCATE!” “THE COUNSELLOR!” “THE SWIMMER?” They shouted as I slowly continued walking, looking back at them with big smiles. I had to reply to them. I paused, and with a big grin, I answered, “You know me better than I thought,” I humbly responded. “God be with you, my son,” they uttered. “We pray that doors are opened to you!” There was a sudden kissing sound in my ear. “Wake up, son. I have good news.” It was Mommy sitting on the side of the bed. She was smiling. The joy and light on her face were extra. Her eyes grew! Her white teeth glittered! Kisses and hugs rained down on me! “Our prayers are answered! Our dreams are now reality!”

I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law as well. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by way of advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I feel one of my greatest achievements to date was serving as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming and track demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to the school. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for science, and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world. I have demonstrated through my high school achievements that I am confident that I can and will continue on a path of excellence. To select one achivement out of the three afore mentioned is difficult. So if I had to select one, it would be winning the most outstanding Patrol as Patrol Leader ofcthe year 2024. Being a Scout Leader was a pivotal role in my student life. The motto " Be Prepared" was indeed the main responsibility of all scouting activities and thus I was always motivating my patrol to excel, be persistent, persevere and to be lead with distinction. These experiences taught me to to present myself an authentic person. They taught me not to shrink in the face of adversity and to stand with confidence, humility and integrity to lead and serve.

My name is Zakar Cuffie. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist and to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. Therefore, my main professional goal is to obtain higher credentials in my selected field of study. Higher credentials also can help establish industry credibility. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies as a way to achieve a sense of purpose. Becoming an expert in my field is another professional goal that can provide various opportunities for employment and additional opportunities as a consultant or a freelancer. I am also open to mentorship from industry professionals to learn more about what they do daily. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community and this is also a goal for me in higher education. Thus, I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. The field of animal science through my practice would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I contributed significantly to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. At my current high school in New York, I am the student leader representative on the SLT team which allows me to advocate for the needs of students. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, and commitment to personal development have been used and will continue to be used to make a difference in the world. This scholarship will propel me toward this feat and also assist me in living my purpose.

The most important according to Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. "Mark 12:29-31 ‘The key to JOY,’ my Sunday school teacher, Aunty Margaret said, ‘is to love Jesus first, then Others, and last Yourself.’ This was a lesson well taught, and I remember it still. It was in the Children's Church service, and I was six years old at the time when a visitor came downstairs. She seemed quite nice and after greeting us, while walking away she started to wobble and fall. I got up quickly and ran to help her. I didn't think about her weight. I just grabbed her around the waist and said what I heard my mom prayed in situations like that. I called on the blood of Jesus seven times. My mom was one of the teachers with us, she and Aunty Margaret ran to assist. We then managed to steady the lady on a chair and started to fan her as it was a scorcher that Sunday morning. I prayed with her to the surprise of the adults around me and called on Jesus to heal her. This is a case where I put God first, then the lady and myself last. I was impacted positively to know that my selfless act saved a life. The guest later testified that her blood sugar was low and the doctor said it could have been worse. Godly principles were inculcated into my upbringing, and I am guided by those all the time. I find that these principles keep me safe, sane and saved. I thank God for His hand upon my life as a teen I encounter so many challenges, and it is those said principles I lean on to guide me.

I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law as well. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value of animals to our ecosystem. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my future career by way of advocating and educating on UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is about protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation. I will articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. The widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting to achieve these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my secondary school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to our extracurricular programs. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of his academic excellence and contributions to the school. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for science, and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world. I have demonstrated through my high school achievements that I am confident that I can and will continue on a path of excellence.

One major challenge was not having enough resources to learn. There were major shortages in all areas of need, especially teachers. I remember the principal in Grade 9 having to teach all the subjects during the COVID-19. It was difficult for me to learn with these infrequent rushed lessons. I became stressed out and frustrated and did not test well. I then did some research and found three great sites with learning videos to assist. I also asked for the syllabus and started a study group with other students. This resulted in higher grades, increased confidence, and a greater understanding of my subjects. Another major challenge I had to overcome was parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom refused to see me in this state. My mom took me to counselling and I had to speak about deep-seeded issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore dented my self-worth. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. My name is Zakar Cuffie, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in the Caribbean and attending school there presented some major challenges but I overcame them through admitting and embracing them. My goal is to be a successful Animal Biologist. Despite the above challenges, I have been dedicated and self-motivated throughout my school journey. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities became unwavering. I joined the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop, ultimately earning the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports thus shaping who I am today. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help, and I did without a lot so we could survive such as no cable TV, handwashing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. As a result of honing in on these skills, I am able to manage finances well. This scholarship will propel my goal of higher education as the need is great and I aim to succeed.

Mr. Terry's story is inspirational as it encourages me to push past pain, hurt and adversity to attain success. It also empowers the reader to tap into intrinsic motivation, faith in self and determination to achieve lifelong success. His story also proves that even in the midst of hardships, with a willing mind and heart, one can surmount atrocities and can still be a success. I am Zakar Cuffie, and I am a survivor of paternal abandonment. All my life, it was always my mom who parented and gave more that she had to see me this far. I was emotionally traumatized as to why we were left, and still minimal efforts were made to truly be a dad. I felt like I was being punish due to this rejection. My mom placed me in counselling and that helped a great deal. Also, my faith in God played a major role in my healing journey. So, I decided to pursue my education and aim high. I became a leader, motivator and kindness advocate throughout my school life. My ambition extends beyond my career; I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. Throughout my academic journey, I have exhibited an unwavering work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct. These qualities have distinguished me as a valuable member of my school community. I intend to bring this same dedication to my experience in higher education and beyond. My devotion to both academic and extracurricular activities is steadfast. In addition to excelling in my studies, I actively contributed to various extracurricular programs. As a 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop member, I rose to the position of Patrol Leader. Under my guidance, my patrol earned the esteemed “Patrol of the Year” title, highlighting my strengths in teamwork, commitment, and leadership. Being in the Boys Scout Movement helped me to overcome a great deal as well as to serve our communities. Furthermore, I had the honor of serving as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, where I proudly represented our school with responsibility and integrity. My enthusiasm for athletics and swimming underscores my discipline and love for sports, as I continuously strive to excel in all my pursuits. Also, I was proud to receive the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health, which recognized not only my academic achievements but also my significant contributions to the school community. These accomplishments reflect my well-rounded nature and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to my community and that is what I am already giving back and plan to continue post college. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.