OPTION C: This is the tale of Dr. Arthur Pendelton, a man whose journey blurred the lines between empathy and madness in a way that few could comprehend. Arthur didn’t emerge from a bubbling cauldron of toxic waste; rather, his beginnings were rooted in the stifling quiet of a suburban living room. As a child, Arthur witnessed his mother gradually descend into the deep, unreachable abyss of severe clinical depression. To young Arthur, the human mind was a stunningly intricate clockwork mechanism, but his mother’s clock had lost its spring. He dedicated his childhood to finding the perfect words, gestures, and expressions to bring her back to the surface. But he failed. He came to understand that words were often clumsy, blunt tools that merely bounced off the walls of human isolation. This failure didn’t shatter Arthur; it transformed him. He immersed himself in the intertwined realms of neurobiology and behavioral psychology. While his classmates focused on marketing products or addressing individual mental health issues, Arthur delved into the unseen framework of human connection. He became captivated by emotional contagion, the fascinating biological phenomenon where people subconsciously mimic and absorb the feelings of those around them. He observed how fear could spread through a crowd like wildfire, and how collective panic could turn a peaceful community into a feral pack. "Humanity’s fatal flaw," Arthur penned in his private journals, "is that we are biologically wired for connection, yet neurologically trapped in isolation. We fight because we cannot feel each other’s pain. If we could share a nervous system, conflict would become biologically impossible." In his thirties, Arthur established the Nexus Institute, which appeared to be a think tank focused on organizational health and conflict resolution. He quickly became a favorite among the corporate and nonprofit worlds. When a large organization was crumbling from within, he was the go-to consultant. He would step into a hostile, toxic boardroom, sit in silence for twenty minutes, and then speak. With remarkable precision, he would pinpoint the exact psychological sources of tension, softly uttering the right words to diffuse hostility and rebuild trust. They hailed him as a miracle worker. They called him a genius. But they didn’t see what Arthur experienced when he returned to his empty, silent apartment. He perceived a world teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. As he watched the news, the geopolitical rifts, the systemic cruelty, the relentless, deafening clamor of online echo chambers, he felt a deep, agonizing ache in his chest. The global emotional contagion was toxic and gaining speed. The intricate machinery of humanity was faltering, and his gentle consultations were merely band-aids on a gushing wound. He was in desperate need of a bigger lever. And so, the brilliant mind began to wade into the murky, silent depths of madness. The moment of clarity arrived on a rainy Tuesday in his secluded basement lab. Arthur dubbed it the Sympathetic Resonance Array, but for simplicity's sake, he called it the Tuning Fork. This wasn’t a weapon. It was an atmospheric transmitter that harnessed ultra-low frequency acoustic waves combined with targeted electromagnetic pulses. Rather than brainwashing, the device gently aligned the neural oscillations and heart rhythms of anyone within a three-hundred-yard radius. It compelled the minds of a crowd to sync up on the same electromagnetic frequency—specifically, the high-alpha and theta waves linked to deep empathy, trust, and collective meditation. Arthur decided it was time to put it to the test. He picked a public forum in a city rife with systemic tension. A town hall meeting was underway, and the atmosphere in the municipal auditorium was thick with animosity. Two opposing groups stood at either end of the aisle, shouting at each other, faces flushed, their heart rates soaring, bodies on edge, ready to erupt. Arthur settled into the back row, a sleek, matte-black briefcase resting on his lap. He opened it, adjusted three dials, and flipped a silent switch. The change didn’t happen overnight, but it was nothing short of remarkable. In just ninety seconds, the shouting began to lose its intensity. A man who had been yelling at a school board member took a moment to pause, rubbing his temples as his breathing steadied. The crowd’s defensive, crossed-arm stances started to relax. Arthur’s tablet showed the collective heart rate of the room beginning to drop in a beautiful, synchronized wave. For the next hour, the town hall transformed into a stunning example of human collaboration. People listened intently. Tears were shed. Hands reached across divides. They tackled issues that had haunted the district for a decade. Arthur observed from the shadows, his heart swelling with pride. He had brought them together. Even if just for an hour, he had eased the friction of the human experience. But as he powered down the device and the crowd began to disperse, he trailed a young couple into the cool night air. The moment they stepped outside the transmitter's range, the artificial harmony shattered. Within two blocks, they were bickering again over a trivial matter, their voices sharp and defensive. Arthur paused beneath a streetlamp; his face illuminated in the soft yellow glow. A temporary fix was no fix at all. To truly save them, the synchronization had to be everlasting. They couldn’t be allowed to slip back into the chaotic, self-centered isolation of their own egos. That was the night when the villain arc truly took shape. It didn’t begin with a thirst for malice, but rather with a deeply pure act of love. Arthur stepped back into his lab, ready to give the Tuning Fork a complete makeover. The briefcase idea was out; he was aiming for something much bigger—a network. He tapped into his extensive connections in corporate and political consulting to roll out his "atmospheric air-filtration and acoustic dampening systems" in key government buildings, corporate offices, and public transit hubs all over the country. He was acutely aware of the ethical dilemmas at play. He understood that he was taking away the essential human right to feel anger, to express dissent, to embrace selfishness. He was, in essence, robbing people of their free will to be unkind. "Let them label me a tyrant," Arthur murmured to the space around him, his eyes shimmering in the blue light of his schematics. "A parent doesn’t seek a toddler’s approval to pull them away from a hot stove. If I must become the monster who takes their anger to grant them peace, then I will wear this crown of thorns with pride." A mad genius isn’t a danger because they despise humanity. They pose a threat because their love for humanity is so intense that it defies reason. They appear as saviors, behave like saints, and by the time you realize they’ve taken your soul in the name of safety, you’ll already be smiling, breathing in harmony, completely stripped of your freedom.

The word "home" takes on a whole new meaning when it's shaped by an unseen storm. Growing up, my idea of family wasn’t about a typical setup; it was all about a quiet, fierce kind of resilience. I’m Zakar, and my life story is deeply intertwined with the realities of mental illness—especially the heavy, lingering fog of clinical depression that settled over our home after my father left us. Before he walked out, my mother’s life had a different rhythm altogether. But when my father abandoned his marriage and his responsibilities, it shattered everything, leaving behind deep emotional scars. As a single mother trying to pick up the pieces of her broken partnership, the weight of the world landed squarely on her shoulders. The stress quickly spiraled into a severe clinical depression. For a child, watching a parent struggle with such a profound mental health issue is a disorienting experience like no other. There were days when the vibrant, loving woman who raised me was overshadowed by an exhaustion so profound that she could hardly get out of bed. I learned early on that depression isn’t just sadness; it’s a thief that steals energy, distorts hope, and completely changes the dynamics of a household. Living under the weight of this illness changed my childhood in ways I never expected. It pushed me to mature faster than most, taking on responsibilities that felt way too heavy for my young shoulders. More than just that, it offered me a close-up view of the delicate and complex world of human emotions. I became acutely aware of the subtle shifts in our home’s atmosphere, learning to pick up on the quiet signs of my mother’s mental state. In my efforts to support her, I cultivated a deep, foundational empathy. I came to understand that the people we love can endure immense pain yet still have an incredible strength to keep fighting for their children. Even on her toughest days, my mother’s unwavering dedication to our well-being showed me what true grit really looks like. This journey through family trauma and mental illness has profoundly influenced who I am today. It has instilled in me a deep respect for mental health and ignited a passion for advocating for those who suffer in silence. I’ve seen firsthand how isolation and stigma can amplify the struggles of a family grappling with depression. Because of my background, I navigate the world with a strong commitment to creating spaces—whether in personal relationships, academic settings, or professional environments—where vulnerability is met with understanding and support, not judgment. My father’s departure left a void, but my mother’s battle taught me how to find strength in the fractures. I am proud of the resilience that defines my family, and I carry the lessons of our shared struggle as a reminder that empathy, deep human connection, and emotional awareness are the most powerful tools we have to heal and rebuild.

At first glance, a playful children’s tale about Vikings training dragons and a sharp political commentary on farm animals rising up against their human overlords might seem worlds apart. However, when I reflect on my favorite books—from the gentle warmth of the "Frog and Toad" series to the delightful chaos of "Amelia Bedelia," it’s Cressida Cowell’s "How to Train Your Dragon" and George Orwell’s "Animal Farm" that have truly shaped my worldview. Together, these two narratives have offered me invaluable insights into the social and psychological aspects of leadership. They’ve shown me that genuine power stems from human connection, empathy, and creating a sense of psychological safety, while also highlighting the dire consequences that arise when communication turns hostile and trust is shattered. Ultimately, these literary lessons have significantly influenced my aspirations in business psychology and communication, igniting my passion for fostering healthier, more transparent organizational cultures. "How to Train Your Dragon" introduced me to the idea of the catalyst leader, which is a person who transforms their surroundings not through sheer force, but through profound emotional intelligence. In the story, the Viking community of Berk adheres to a strict, traditional model of dominance, where dragons are seen as dangerous beasts to be yelled at and subdued. The main character, Hiccup, may not possess the physical prowess that his tribe values, but he has a natural gift for social empathy. Rather than resorting to shouting, he opts to listen, observe, and communicate with his dragon, Toothless. By fostering mutual trust and understanding instead of fear, Hiccup revolutionizes the cultural mindset of his community. This narrative taught that when people feel understood and secure, success is assured. In sharp contrast, George Orwell’s "Animal Farm" serves as a powerful warning about the darker aspects of organizational behavior and communication. The tragedy of the farm goes beyond just the pigs' tyranny; it highlights the gradual decline of psychological safety and transparency. Leaders like Napoleon and his smooth-talking spokesperson, Squealer, cling to power by twisting language, secretly changing the community's rules, and taking advantage of the other animals' lack of education. The collective's ultimate downfall stems from a completely top-down communication structure, leaving the general membership feeling disconnected, bewildered, and unable to challenge authority. Animal Farm has shown me that the strength of any group relies heavily on radical honesty and open, two-way communication. When transparency fades, even the most well-intentioned, mission-driven organizations can crumble from within. These lessons have been crucial in shaping my academic and career goals. My interest in Hiccup’s empathetic negotiation style and my concern over Squealer’s manipulative tactics naturally led me to explore business communication and business psychology. I’ve come to see that today’s workplaces, especially in the mission-driven nonprofit sector, often reflect the dynamics found in these stories. Despite their noble intentions, they struggle with internal communication barriers and a lack of trust that echoes Orwell's farm. I aim to dive into these organizational ecosystems and create frameworks that shift workplaces away from fear-driven and towards relational networks grounded in emotional intelligence. By establishing communication channels that safeguard safety and transparency. I hope to empower teams while still having their voices heard. In the end, 'How to Train Your Dragon' and 'Animal Farm' revealed to me two contrasting aspects of leadership: the amazing potential that comes from connection and the harmful reality that arises from manipulation. With these insights in hand, I’m motivated to step into the business world to ensure that organizations not only meet their goals but do so in a way that honors, protects, and empowers the human spirit.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This was barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. I did odd jobs to help out, and I've had to make sacrifices so we could survive, such as giving up cable TV, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me the importance of budgeting, setting goals, and prioritizing my needs. Even in the midst of financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family, as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops, especially the sugar cane, which required many helpers. When I realized that many students were not eating healthy vegetables, I started a school garden as part of the Agriculture Science class and donated the produce to needy students. The foundation of leadership and service is the hallmark of my background. Zakar, “man of heights," and this journey is defined by a blend of academic focus, athletic discipline, and a deep-seated commitment to community advocacy. Currently pursuing studies at CUNY Medgar Evers College with a focus on business communications. I have consistently looked for ways to merge strategic management with meaningful social impact. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and after many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen after my mom referred me to counselling. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. My background is anchored by several standout milestones, such as recognized Leadership. I was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 New York State Attorney Ambassadorial Leadership Award. I have also been named a New Vision Scholar 2025, reflecting my capacity to inspire and lead my peers. Communication and advocacy through proving my skills early on, I won 1st place in the 2022 Ministry of Education Speech Contest and placed 2nd in the 2023 UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Essay Competition. These achievements highlight my ability to articulate complex global and societal issues effectively. Community and team building were exercised while serving as a choir president, a scout patrol leader, or competing at a high level in swimming (earning the Canon Athlete Award). I have spent years learning the values of discipline, collaboration, and shared responsibility. My community service is deeply aligned with the principles of creating supportive environments in the spaces I influence. whether family discussions, student groups, or local youth activities are rooted in trust, mutual respect, and emotional safety. Looking ahead beyond my expected graduation in 2029, my blueprint for the future centers on social entrepreneurship and systemic change. I plan to transition my academic training into tangible outcomes to better lives.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. Our household was under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. With no cable TV, handwashing clothes taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even in the midst of financial hardship, Papa Edwin insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Mama Sheron's home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great decisions. My world was shaped by the steady hands and enduring wisdom of my grandparents. My grandparents lived through periods of profound socioeconomic transformation in the Caribbean. In our household, education was not merely a path to personal advancement; it was treated as a sacred responsibility to the community. Being raised by an older generation granted me a unique vantage point. While my peers were immersed in the immediate trends of youth culture, I was schooled in the timeless virtues of patience, deep human connection, and absolute accountability. This upbringing fundamentally structured my worldview and infused me with an innate emotional intelligence. My grandparents taught me to read people, to listen to what was left unsaid, and to navigate conflict with dignity and grace. My foundation of leadership and service is the hallmark of my background. Zakar, “man of heights," and this journey is defined by a powerful blend of academic focus, athletic discipline, and a deep-seated commitment to community advocacy. I am currently pursuing studies at CUNY Medgar Evers College with a focus on business communications. My background is anchored by several standout milestones, such as recognized Leadership. I was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 New York State Attorney Ambassadorial Leadership Award. I have also been named a New Vision Scholar 2025, reflecting my capacity to inspire and lead my peers. Communication and advocacy through proving my skills early on, I won 1st place in the 2022 Ministry of Education Speech Contest and placed 2nd in the 2023 UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Essay Competition. These achievements highlight my ability to articulate complex global and societal issues effectively. Community and team building were exercised whether serving as a choir president, a scout patrol leader, or competing at a high level in swimming (earning the Canon Athlete Award). I have spent years learning the values of discipline, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Promoting psychological safety is deeply aligned with the principles of creating supportive environments and I work to ensure that the spaces I influence reflect these core principles. Looking ahead beyond my expected graduation in 2029, my blueprint for the future centers on social entrepreneurship. These life lessons directly ignited my passion for business. I realized that the most successful, transformative corporate enterprises operate exactly like the resilient community I grew up in. My ultimate future goal is to bridge the gap between emerging markets in the Caribbean and international commerce, establishing sustainable business models that prioritize ethical leadership, community development, and robust economic growth. I want to prove that corporate strategy and deep social empathy can indeed co-exist. Receiving this scholarship would be an impactful thrust for my journey. It will provide me with the holistic academic toolkit and global connections necessary to translate the grassroots principles of trust, solidarity, and resilience I learned in Grenada into scalable, high-impact business strategies. With your support, I am eager to honor my grandparents' legacy by becoming a leader who drives corporate success while uplifting the global community.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Surviving on a limited income has taught me how to budget, set goals, make decisions and prioritize needs. My mom's influence in these areas therefore cemented my sense of purpose. I was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 New York State Attorney Ambassadorial Leadership Award. I have been also named a New Vision Scholar 2025, reflecting my capacity to inspire and lead my peers. Communication and advocacy through proving my skills early on, I won 1st place in the 2022 Ministry of Education Speech Contest and placed 2nd in the 2023 UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Essay Competition. These achievements highlight my ability to transform pain into purpose. Being abandoned by my father was tumultuous and crippling. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on and this how my personal experiences have informed my sense of purpose. Living in lack and emotional distress was a dark existence for me as a child. Thus, 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 deserve this scholarship because I embody the strong character for my future in Business Communications and eventually Business Psychology. As an incoming Sophomore Brooklyn College, New York I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change.

A foundation of leadership and service is the hallmark of my background as I pressed my way into purpose, pushing past the pain of bullying, rejection, depression and abandonment. Sounds bleak, right? Well, it was that and then some. My name Zakar means "man of heights" and this journey is defined by a powerful blend of academic focus, athletic discipline, and a deep-seated commitment to community advocacy. Currently pursuing studies at CUNY Medgar Evers College with a focus on business communications. I have consistently looked for ways to merge academic achievement with meaningful social impact. My background is anchored by several outstanding milestones such as recognized Leadership. I was the recipient of the prestigious 2025 New York State Attorney Ambassadorial Leadership Award. I have been also named a New Vision Scholar 2025, reflecting my capacity to inspire and lead my peers. Communication and advocacy through proving my skills early on, I won 1st place in the 2022 Ministry of Education Speech Contest and placed 2nd in the 2023 UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Essay Competition. These achievements highlight my ability to articulate complex global and societal issues effectively which I will use to influence other first-generation students to pursue higher education. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom sought out counselling and spiritual help for me. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and carried low 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. This was mentally grueling as I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. Community and team building I embody whether serving as a choir president, a scout patrol leader, or competing at a high level in swimming (earning the Canon Athlete Award). I have spent years learning the values of discipline, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Promoting psychological safety is deeply aligned with the principles of creating supportive environments and I work to ensure that the spaces I influenced; whether family discussions, student groups, or local youth activities are rooted in trust, mutual respect, and emotional safety. I plan to transition my academic training into tangible, long-term regional and global impact through several distinct avenues. By establishing social enterprises is a way I aim to also inspire and motivate design and operate community-focused business models, such as wellness retreats and residential centers, specifically tailored to bridge resource gaps, support vulnerable populations, and champion equity. Driving global youth forums is also a way I will leverage my experience with international frameworks like the UN SDGs. I plan to establish and facilitate platforms that empower first-generation of global changemakers. Thus, providing them with the strategic tools and communication skills necessary to advocate for their own communities. Couch-surfing with no steady residence does chip away at my dignity and these feelings of uncertainty can be crippling but I press on faith believing better days will come through higher education and scholarship opportunities like this one. I lean on hope, perseverance and destiny goals. By anchoring a rigorous understanding of generational success and the poverty cycle in an unwavering commitment to human dignity, I am building a lifelong path dedicated to uplifting the collective well-being of my community.

As the son of a single mom, financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day, but she ensured I competed in swimming, my favorite sport. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. One instance of my mom's sacrifices was paying for my swim fees and taking me to meets. I broke personal records, shaving off as much as five seconds. One parent even joked, “Miss Cuffie, what are you feeding Zakar?” My mom smiled, handed me the ice pack, and prayed over me like she always did. This fostered many unique skills and talents within me such as resilience, self-sufficiency, humility, leadership and persistent! In an increasingly digital world, true empathy requires spaces that encourage genuine human connection rather than division. With my analytical and technical strengths, I have the potential to design and develop digital platforms, communication tools, or community forums that prioritize psychological safety. By building environments where diverse voices can share their stories without fear of judgment, he can use technology as a tool to dismantle cultural barriers and foster deep, mutual understanding. A 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. 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. Through strategic storytelling and advocacy as true empathy is sparked when people can see the world through someone else's eyes as I know many young men can relate to my experience. By combining sharp business management principles with impactful communication strategies to give voice to underrepresented communities, empathy would be fostered. Whether I am championing grassroots initiatives, highlighting regional challenges, or advocating for sustainable development, my ability to craft clear, compelling narratives ensures that vital messages don't just reach a global audience but that they truly resonate emotionally and drive collective action. Fostering inclusive global dialogues is an impactful way I can build a global community which requires leadership that values collaboration over conformity. Drawing inspiration from cross-cultural exchanges and youth leadership forums, I can act as a natural bridge builder. My membership in the 1st Presentation College Sea Scout Troop for five years attested to this as I ultimately earned the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year,” 2023 title. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I saw my other gifts emerged in excellence. My innate capacity to listen deeply, respect diverse perspectives, and find common ground allows me to unite young changemakers from different backgrounds. By facilitating these inclusive dialogues, I would help others transition from superficial awareness to active, collaborative empathy. Grounding global vision in grassroots impact is what makes my potential so powerful. I understand that global empathy begins with local action. By applying strategic management to community-driven initiatives, such as educational support, youth development creates a blueprint for tangible change. When global communities see local initiatives succeeding through compassion and smart organization, a ripple effect proving that empathy is a catalyst for transforming lives.

As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This was barely enough to get us by from day to day. I had 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions and these skills I aim to impart through non-profit ventures and initiatives. Pursuing a degree in Business Communications with a focus on strategic leadership, my ultimate career objective is to bridge the gap between corporate efficiency and social impact. My name Zakar means "man of heights" in the Akan language and "God who remembers" in Yiddish. The hardship and sacrifice my mother faced and continues to face alone with me pushes me harder and further to achieve my dreams and propel me to help others like us. By entering the nonprofit sector, I intend to employ structured business frameworks to build sustainable, resilient ecosystems that foster psychological safety, empower vulnerable populations, and drive long-term community growth. My driving motivation to pursue nonprofit leadership is rooted in the belief that organizational empathy and strategic management are not mutually exclusive, but rather deeply codependent. I aim to use essential business disciplines and optimizing operational structures. I want to ensure that every dollar invested and every resource distributed yields the highest possible return for the communities we serve. Key to my vision for nonprofit work is the implementation of the four stages of psychological safety within community programs and organizational cultures. Whether developing comprehensive career education policies for youth or designing holistic rehabilitation models for individuals in transition, sustainable empowerment begins with security. When a community program establishes a foundation of psychological safety, it creates an environment where marginalized individuals feel included, safe to learn, and empowered to contribute. Like many teens boys my age 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-seated 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 goal is therefore to lead organizations that move away from temporary, band-aid fixes and instead establish these structured, secure pathways toward self-reliance. Looking forward, I hope to focus my business acumen on a few critical areas of social impact such as strengthening educational pathways. Navigating higher education and professional landscapes can be daunting, particularly for youth without established networks. So, by restructuring institutional counseling and mentorship systems, we can cultivate the next generation of strategic leaders. A career in the nonprofit sector is, for me, a commitment to marrying passion and purpose. This scholarship will not only alleviate the financial pressures of my academic journey but will also serve as a vital investment in my preparation as connected nonprofit leader. With the advanced business training made possible by this support, I am confident in my ability to build empowering ecosystems where individuals feel safe to grow, communities achieve lasting stability, and real, measurable change is sustained for generations to come.

I am Zakar Cuffie. My goals are to be a successful Business Communications Specialist and to help others understand the intrinsic value of communications to our system. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies as a way to achieve a sense of purpose. 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. I have been a dedicated and self-motivated individual throughout my college journey at CUNY Medgar Evers. My commitment to both my academic and community mentoring. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. As a business communication major, my plan to make a positive impact on the world centers on a fundamental belief: the health of an organization’s internal culture dictates its capacity to do good in the world. Whether an organization is trying to solve global food insecurity, innovate in technology, or uplift a local neighborhood, it cannot achieve its external mission if its internal teams are fractured, silent, or burnt out. I plan to drive meaningful change through cultivating Psychological Safety in the workplace. The most direct way I want to impact the world is by changing how people experience their working lives. True innovation and problem-solving require environments where employees feel safe to take risks, voice dissenting opinions, and admit mistakes without fear of humiliation. The strategy I would employ is to design internal communication frameworks that promote transparency, active listening, and empathy. By fostering psychological safety, I can help build workplaces where people feel valued and empowered, directly reducing professional burnout and unlocking creative solutions to complex business challenges. Transforming complex strategies into human stories is also a way to make my impact. Whether an enterprise is focusing on sustainable agriculture or corporate social responsibility, data and metrics alone rarely inspire action. The real magic happens at the junction of strategic management and creative storytelling. I will use business communication to translate complex organizational goals, sustainability metrics, and corporate visions into clear, human-centric narratives. This bridges the gap between stakeholders, employees, and the public building genuine trust and aligning diverse groups of people behind a shared, impactful purpose. Navigating crisis with integrity and clarity is another way I will impact the world positively. In times of transition, uncertainty, or public crisis, poor communication breeds anxiety and erodes trust. I intend to develop crisis communication models rooted in transparency, emotional intelligence, and swift clarity. Therefore, protecting organizational integrity during high-stress moments ensures that communities, consumers, and internal teams remain stable and informed, proving that businesses can work through difficulties without compromising their ethical foundations. 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. For me, business communication is not about "spin" or traditional marketing, it is therefore, about narrative, and trust. By mastering this field, I plan to prove that when we communicate intentionally and protect the human element within business, we can build resilient organizations capable of changing the world for the better. Receiving Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship is one would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

Like me, many boys face a major challenge that I had to overcome. That 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 and infused my life with the power of prayer and studying the word. My mom also introduced me to counselling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged my self-worth. This experience caused me to desire to be successful and to help others to do the same. I embody a life of service through the people I serve. At CUNY Medgar Evers College through SEEK, I mentor younger boys through academics and swimming. At church, I teach at the Children's Church service. My goal is to be a successful Business Communications Specialist. 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 through Scouts, swimming, athletics and mentorship. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I heal and strive to empower others to pursue their educational path successfully. I view my education as a mechanism for transformation. I aim to use the knowledge gained through my studies to bridge gaps in resources and opportunity, specifically focusing on building practical frameworks that improve the quality of life for others. I was not raised a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. Therefore, my moral stance, which guides my academic and personal life, is often reflected in my commitment to integrity and an "abundance mindset" which is the belief that by working together and serving others, there is enough for everyone to thrive. I embrace service as a calling, which is my dedication to helping others echo the sentiment in Galatians 5:13, which encourages, "through love serve one another." This drives my desire to see my academic efforts translate into meaningful community impact. Being raised in an extended family taught me this powerfully just through our farming and battering practices. Food security is a worldwide challenge and through my business I would engage projects in this sector to assist in the alleviation of child hunger. I view my intellectual and professional abilities as talents to be managed responsibly for the benefit of society. My mother is my inspiration as she sacrificed and still continue to do so, so I could stay the course of my college journey. The son of single mom is a life of sacrifice and the lessons learnt are forever life changing. Financial hardships are a present reality as my mom's salary per annum is under $30K. We survived without 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Integrity and purpose drove me as "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." This ensures that all I do are pursued with a spirit of excellence and altruism. By integrating these spiritual foundations into my practical goals, I aim to ensure that my career remains a testament to my values, consistently prioritizing the needs of my community and the promotion of collective well-being.

From an early age, I was taught how to budget. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Financial hardships are a present reality. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Mommy included me in the monthly budget sessions. She sacrificed a lot so I could have a holistic education. This taught me decision-making and financial management skills. Her influence in these areas is responsible for how I spend and save money. This also sparked my passion in business and communication. Business Communications is the perfect sweet spot if you want to focus on how an organization speaks. For me, the draw toward business and marketing stems from a fascination with the cross between strategic management and creative storytelling. I have always believed the real magic happens when you can translate an organization's vision into a narrative that genuinely resonates with people. My inspiration comes from seeing how impactful communication can completely transform an environment. I am deeply passionate about the concept of psychological safety, which is creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and understood. Marketing and strategic communication are the ultimate tools for this. They allow you to build authentic connections, establish trust, and drive meaningful growth by solving real problems for people. I overcame parental abandonment by my father which affected me psychologically. Feeling emotionally distraught with a damaged my self-worth through counselling, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose and this drives me to excellence. This experience fuels my passion and drive in this career field. Not having a dad to provide my needs propelled me to delve in business with my mom to make ends meet. Internal communications and organizational culture are all about driving alignment from the inside out. It involves crafting the narratives that keep teams motivated, managing change effectively during transitions, and intentionally building a culture of psychological safety. What motivates me every day is the challenge of learning about navigating the fast paced, evolving markets and finding innovative ways to communicate a brand's purpose. I am driven t to help shape organizational cultures and consumer experiences that are empowering and impactful. Pursuing this career is my way of combining analytical strategy with human-centric storytelling, like my experience to make a tangible difference. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson my mother, my inspiration poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me. She gave me strength, faith, discipline, compassion, and a vision. So, through her love, she made sure I would never forget where I came from or who I was raised to be. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day. I am not just seeking a degree but striving to become a catalyst for change. I am confident that with the support of this Neal Hartl Memorial Sales/Marketing Scholarship, I can realize my potential and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. This scholarship is not just an investment in my education but an investment in a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with purpose

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. So, my acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College represents a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. To me, being a first-generation college student means carrying my ancestors and all theirs dreams forward as I move past the boundaries poles which were erected in the Colonial Caribbean to block their progress. This journey of resilience captures past while actively building a completely new blueprint for the future. It means standing at the crossroad of immense pride and deep responsibility. As the first in my family to pursue a higher education degree, I am not just navigating a campus, but I am charting unfamiliar territory without a family GPS. The greatest challenge of this journey hasn't just been the academic rigor, but the steep learning curve of navigating higher education itself, by myself. Entering college at seventeen and balancing adult responsibilities demands a massive shift in mindset. Not having the lineage of academic mentors to seek advice from on course loads the imposter syndrome can be deafening. There were moments when I wondered if I truly belonged in these spaces. I overcame this by transforming my vulnerability into a strategy with my mom's prayers, support encouragement. I sought out mentors, embraced digital collaboration tools to maximize my productivity, and leaned heavily into my core purpose which was a challenge for me. I learned that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness but an ultimate tool for my survival and growth. My driving force is a deep-seated belief in the power of psychological safety, strategic development, and intentional communication. My dream is to master the intersection of business strategy and creative storytelling, using these tools to build organizational cultures where people feel secure, valued, and empowered to innovate. Whether I am analyzing market trends or designing frameworks to help others communicate their vision, my goal is to drive meaningful growth in professional and community organizations. I want to prove that it is never too late to redefine your goals and that even unintended paths can lead to the most impactful destinations. This scholarship would be a gamechanger for my journey. By alleviating the financial pressures that come with funding my education, it will allow me to fully immerse myself in my academic pursuits, community-driven engagements, and leadership opportunities. It represents more than just financial support but a validation of my hard work and a vote of confidence in my vision. With honesty, heart, and a clear sense of determination, I am ready to continue on this journey in excellence. This scholarship will provide the fuel I need to keep moving forward, ensuring that while I may be the first in my family to walk this path, I will leave it wide open for others to follow.

My name Zakar means " man of heights" and God "who remembers." Trauma and hardship have taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Business Communications professional. My commitment to both my academic and community engagement are 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 2023” title. My avid participation and excellence in athletics, debate, church and the community service have shaped who I am today. One main impact swimming had on my life was the ability to persevere despite discrimination, oppression, poverty and bullying. I learned to push through many barriers especially being teased about my defected ears for years. My tenacious attitude increased my self-confidence and gave me a greater understanding of myself. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught and broken. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. After many counselling and prayer sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. The pool is my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. My mother is my motivator to keep going. It is her tears and prayers which taught me the gift of perseverance. She taught me that the best revenge is massive success. I lived through it, even though some of the challenges I faced in my old secondary school/high school were tumultuous. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on. Mommy never allowed our circumstances to limit my vision. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary is under $30K. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. My into CUNY Medgar Evers College and eighteen others represent a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. After completing my freshmen year with awards in academic excellence (Dean's and President's List), I must continue on this journey for me and my mother. I couch surf and have no stable place of abode which keeps me fearful and uncertain. Even in the face of poverty and lack, I excelled. This scholarship would alleviate this mammoth pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future. I completed my high school in Brooklyn, New York and saw disparities in access to quality education fueling my desire to succeed. I would not simply survive the world but would help change it. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. This scholarship would be an investment fueling my future purpose.

I've always been fascinated by the way stories can bring people together and create meaningful connections. This interest led me to study Communications, a field that combines media, relationships, and social change in a way that I find really compelling. As I work towards my degree, I'm learning about how messages are created, shared, and received by different communities. I'm finding it really interesting to understand the impact that these messages can have on people's lives. My goal is to have a career in media, public relations, or advocacy, where I can use communication to make a positive difference. I believe that communication has the power to shape our communities and bring about change, and I'm excited to be a part of that process. By studying Communications, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how to craft messages that inspire, educate, and empower people. Ultimately, I want to use my skills to help create a more just and equitable world, one story at a time. What excites me most about this path is the role that authentic storytelling plays in creating belonging. I have seen firsthand how the right words, told honestly, can make someone feel seen. That belief is part of what connects me to the LGBTQ+ community. I have a personal relationship with this community, and I carry a deep respect for the courage it takes to live openly and truthfully. Though I prefer to keep the details of that experience private, I can say that it has shaped the way I listen, the way I speak, and the kind of communicator I want to become. So, when it comes to giving back, I don't really see it as something that's separate from my career - it's more like it's woven into the fabric of what I'm trying to build. For me, that means using my platform to amplify voices that aren't always heard in the media, or mentoring students who might be feeling like they don't quite fit in. Even just being a presence in a professional space where people feel welcome and included is something I want to prioritize. I think visibility is really important, and I want to be a part of creating more of it, you know? It's not just about checking a box or doing something charitable on the side - it's about showing up in a way that makes a difference, every day. Honestly, I'm pretty much on my own when it comes to money. I don't have a lot of family support to fall back on, so I have to balance schoolwork with real-life responsibilities like paying for tuition, housing, and everyday expenses. I've got a job to help cover some of the costs, but the truth is, it's still a struggle to afford to keep studying. Getting a scholarship like this would be a huge deal - it wouldn't just make things a bit easier, it would actually let me focus on my studies and make the most of the opportunities that come with them. I could spend less time stressing about how to pay the bills and more time becoming the kind of person I want to be: someone who can really make a difference in their community and communicate effectively with others. It would be a weight off my shoulders, and it would give me the chance to invest in myself and my future. I really appreciate being considered, and I'm excited about the chance to join the Star Farm community.

The intersection of business and communications work beyond those great ideas as innovative or impactful they will only be as powerful as your ability to articulate, scale, and sustain them. My professional path is rooted at the intersection of Business, Public Health, and Community Development. I view these fields as interconnected tools that allow me to firstly, design sustainable systems. I am indeed passionate about creating social enterprise models that provide tangible support to vulnerable populations. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I sacrificed a great deal so we could survive such as no cable TV, handwashing clothes, and walking to and from school. I am Zakar Cuffie, and my journey is defined by a deep commitment to service, leadership, and the power of education to drive systemic change. At my core, I am an advocate for community wellness and a believer in the strength of collaborative progress. My personal philosophy centers on the idea that true success is measured by the impact one has on others. Whether I am engaging in community initiatives, health advocacy, or academic pursuits, I strive to lead with integrity, empathy, and a steadfast dedication to the "abundance mindset" that is the conviction that by working together and leveraging our unique strengths, we can create opportunities for everyone to thrive. I plan to bridge gaps in resources with my major in communications and business. This would allow me to advocate effectively for policy changes and resource allocation that prioritize human well-being. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. So, my acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College and completing my freshman year represents a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. This degree in business communications would impact my life through the ultimate realization of my future goals. Looking ahead, my objectives are focused on scaling my impact to reach broader communities. My goal is to move beyond temporary assistance to create permanent, empowering structures for those in need through community business ventures. Through advocacy and leadership, I intend to continue my work as a community leader, using my voice to influence public policy regarding health equity and educational support systems. Mentorship is a major part of my future involves pouring into the next generation. I believe that by equipping others with the same tools of critical thinking and compassionate leadership through business communications that I will redefining, I can help create a lasting ripple effect of positive change. Ultimately, my goal is to build a legacy of service where my academic and professional endeavors serve as a vessel for fostering equity and hope for those, I am privileged to serve. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world. I am confident that I can and will continue on a path of excellence.

My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has impacted my life in a significant way through the values she taught me, and I live them just the same. Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. My walk, my speech and my manners were high on her agenda of my upbringing. She believed that no matter how great my grades were, courtesy was a primary value I had to exhibit. Growing up in the Caribbean was sometimes a financial challenge. From an early age, I was taught how to budget. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Financial hardships are a present reality. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Mommy included me in the monthly budget sessions. She sacrificed a lot so I could have a holistic education, including sports, particularly swimming. This taught me decision-making and financial management skills. Her influence in these areas is responsible for how I spend and save money. My mother also taught me the gift of perseverance. She taught me that the best revenge is your success. I lived through it, even though some of the challenges I faced in my old secondary school/high school back in the Caribbean were tumultuous. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on. Despite all the challenges she faced as a mother, Mommy never allowed our circumstances to limit my vision. She made it her mission to raise not just a man, but a gentleman. Respect for others, especially women is non-negotiable. She taught me that strength isn’t shown in dominance, but in discipline. In her quiet moments of struggle and long nights working, she showed me what true resilience looks like-not loud, not boastful, but steady and intentional. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation of my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me. My strength, faith, discipline and compassion through her love shines brightly. I would never forget where I came from or who I was raised to be. Shawnna Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future in Business Communications and eventually Business Psychology. As a freshman in CUNY Medgar Evers College, New York I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change.

Creating a legacy is really about impact and that is really what remains after your efforts have touched people, communities, or industries. For me, my "legacy" is tied to knowledge helping people expand their understanding, sparking curiosity, and leaving behind ideas that continue to inspire even after the conversation ends. That’s my version of shining light—illuminating paths that might otherwise stay hidden. The type of business I would create is one centered on education and accessibility. Imagine a platform that blends cutting-edge technology with storytelling, making complex topics—science, history, finance, art—engaging and understandable for everyone. It wouldn’t just be about information, but about empowerment. It would give people tools to think critically, solve problems, and create opportunities for themselves. The aim of the business would translate complexity into clarity, so people feel confident instead of overwhelmed. Zakar means "man of heights" and I view my education as a mechanism for transformation so in this way I would create my legacy in my future. I shine my light through leveraging the knowledge gained through my studies to bridge gaps in resources and opportunity, specifically focusing on building practical frameworks that improve the quality of life for others. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. I was seventeen and I did 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. Even amid financial hardship, my mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. This again is a way I shine my light. My moral stance, which guides my professional and personal life, is often reflected in my commitment to integrity and an "abundance mindset," which is the belief that by working together and serving others, there is enough for everyone to thrive. This level of community work assisted me in solidifying my academic foundation. This involves a comprehensive review of key concepts from my high school courses, ensuring I have a solid grasp of all subjects and how applicable this knowledge is to my life. So, in engaging with the teens in the community swimming program, I found out that many of them had no help with homework. I thought this was a major area to support, so I got my mom involved in this aspect. This was very successful as all their grades improved and the parents were spreading the word about the excellence of this initiative. Legacy doesn’t have to be monumental; it can be the ripple effect of consistently sharing knowledge, kindness, and vision. Like me, many of the boys faced a major challenge that I had to overcome. That 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 counseling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen.

Like me, many boys face a major challenge that I had to overcome. That 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 and infused my life with the power of prayer and studying the word. My mom also introduced me to counselling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged my self-worth. This experience caused me to desire to be successful and to help others to do the same. I embody a life of service through the people I serve. At CUNY Medgar Evers College through SEEK, I mentor younger boys through academics and swimming. At church, I teach at the Children's Church service. My goal is to be a successful Business Communications Specialist. 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. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I healed. I view my education as a mechanism for transformation. I aim to leverage the knowledge gained through my studies to bridge gaps in resources and opportunity, specifically focusing on building practical frameworks that improve the quality of life for others. My moral stance, which guides my academic and personal life, is often reflected in my commitment to integrity and an "abundance mindset" which is the belief that by working together and serving others, there is enough for everyone to thrive. This perspective aligns with several key scriptural principles that I embody. Firstly, service as a calling, which is my dedication to helping others echo the sentiment in Galatians 5:13, which encourages, "through love serve one another." This drives my desire to see my academic efforts translate into meaningful community impact. Being raised in an extended family taught me this powerfully just through our farming and battering practices. The stewardship of gifts, secondly is my focus on using my education for the greater good reflected in the teaching in 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." I view my intellectual and professional abilities as talents to be managed responsibly for the benefit of society. The son of single mom is a life of sacrifice and the lessons learnt are forever life changing. Financial hardships are a present reality as my mom's salary per annum is under $30K. We survived without 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Integrity and purpose drove me as in Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." This ensures that all I do are pursued with a spirit of excellence and altruism. By integrating these spiritual foundations into my practical goals, I aim to ensure that my career remains a testament to my values, consistently prioritizing the needs of my community and the promotion of collective well-being.

Turning my pain into a community project was the way I started a community initiative for teen boys. Not being picked for the OECS Swim Competition 2023 was a hurtful and depressive time in my life. This affected my mental health greatly., I placed second in the 15-17 category, finishing just one point behind first place! This denial crushed me. After covering over 2,600 yards over two days with an injured wrist. It was difficult for me to understand this level of discrimination. I became stressed out, depressed and frustrated. I felt like I was not good enough and slumped into an angry mood, which was dark and brooding. After two weeks out of the pool and going to counseling, I started to internalize how I could turn this pain into something powerful and meaningful. I noticed many boys hanging out aimlessly with nothing to do, so I began to engage them and found that most could not swim. So, I approached a coach and shared my thoughts on designing a Learn-to-Swim Program for the teen boys in my community. This is how I am different and leveraged my pain into purpose. Sessions started the following week as I got my family to sponsor food and drink. Plus, we got the use of the pool for free and had three sessions per week. The boys were elated as we taught water safety first and then simple strokes. I then built into the sessions some motivational talks once a week. This was done by male mentors in the community who were enthused by this initiative and sponsored most of the refreshments. This level of community work assisted me in solidifying my academic foundation. This involves a comprehensive review of key concepts from my high school courses, ensuring I have a solid grasp of all subjects and how applicable this knowledge is to my life. So, in engaging with the teens in the community swimming program, I learned that like me, many of the boys faced a major challenge that I had to overcome. That was parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically, and I was emotionally distraught. My mom took me to counseling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged my self-worth. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. My goal is to be a successful business communications specialist. 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. To date at CUNY Medgar Evers, I earned academic awards for excellence. I was also awarded the New York State Attorney's Ambassadorial Leadership Award 2025 at Olympus Academy. As I launched into community work, I balance academics and school matters with this initiative. I refused to be daunted and continued to show up and persevere. I wrote letters to persuade the Department of Youth to adopt this initiative for other communities. I even became a trained lifeguard and swimming instructor under this program. In essence, my pain produced hope and opportunities for others to grow and gain new skills in life to better themselves. In New York, I do mentorship and tutoring through the SEEK Program and this is an absolute joy.

Attending college is something I have always planned on doing; it’s my foundation for growing and building my life. I was born and raised in a low‑income household where growing up we were surrounded by instability, financial stress, and limited resources. My parents’ marriage didn’t work out so I lived with my mom who struggled as a single parent. However, my home life didn’t break me or make me want to accept that as my life. It actually ignited a fire in me to push harder and dream bigger. I want to be able to provide stability not only for myself but for those around me and college is my stepping stone to get there. College is the best way for me to open doors that may not be otherwise available where I am from. College will provide me with knowledge, mentorship, and opportunities. It will allow me to gain the professional skills I need to build a career that I can thrive in. Most of all, college allows me the opportunity to create a life for myself that breaks the cycle of growing up in a low income household. Because my parents were not able to obtain a degree, I will. I will create my own path and my own wealth so I can provide more for my family in the future. One of my biggest goals is to one day give back to my community by advocating and helping to create better opportunities for those that come from where I come from. I want to reach the youth. I want to help create programs that promote financial literacy, academic empowerment, and help students build their resume for careers they may be interested in. A lot of students who grow up in low‑income neighborhoods don’t have that support at home. I have seen what it looks like growing up in a home with parents that weren’t prepared for adulthood, I want to help be the change. I know that once I earn my degree not only will doors open for my career but for my personal life as well. I will learn how to better advocate for myself and those around me. I will learn how to be disciplined and learn what it takes to be resilient. I will learn about people who look nothing like me and about things in this world that I am not exposed to every day. By attending college I get to learn how to become the leader I have always aspired to be. I hope my story will inspire and encourage others to chase their dreams as well. I want the kids who grow up in my community to watch me graduate and know that their upbringing does not define their future. I want them to look at me and see someone who worked as hard as they could and reached their goals by staying true to who they are. Your donation will help me continue my education and help ease some of the financial burden I may face that may discourage me from continuing.

Drug addiction was not a choice I made when I was younger, but it was part of my everyday life growing up. Living with a guardian who struggled to make ends meet both mentally and financially, addiction was always present whether loudly or quietly. Living with addiction in the household created chaos in my home life, instability in my daily life, and heavy responsibility on my young shoulders. Responsibilities I should not have had to face at such a young age caused me to focus less on being a child and more on how to manage crisis, stretch paychecks, and always be on high alert. I had to grow up fast because of my circumstances, but I learned many things along the way that I could have never learned if I lived a life without these challenges. I learned how to remain grounded even when those around me couldn’t. I learned how to take control of what I could — my future. But most of all, I learned that addiction affects more than just the addict. It affects every person in the household, especially kids who are trying to find their way in the middle of it. I want to break that cycle. I am currently a college student working my way to creating a stable life for myself through education. I hope to one day have a career that allows me to better families like mine. Whether that be through community outreach, helping others with financial literacy, or mental‑health advocacy. I have seen the damaging effects that lack of support, lack of resources, and lack of mentorship can have on people, pushing them toward substance use or not allowing them to escape it. I want to help be the change that provides people with an outlet. I have grown so much by choosing not to be consumed by my environment. Rather than continuing the cyclical pattern I was born into, I am learning how to properly manage stress, ask for help when I need it, and create a life for myself based on healthy foundations of stability, drive, and empathy. I am so proud of how far I have come these past few years and excited to see how much further I can go. The impact I want to make on others is one that can change a person’s whole way of thinking. I want kids who grow up in the same environment I did to know that where they live does not dictate who they can become. I want to be able to inspire the younger kids who say “if he made it out of Dodge, I can too.” I want to use my education, my story, and my voice to advocate for those who feel ignored or forgotten because I’ve been there too. Not only would this scholarship allow me to continue my education, but it would help me continue on my life path with the fight I have gained from every obstacle I’ve encountered.

Growing up, my mom and I had a relationship that has molded me more than any other. She didn’t scream at me or force her opinions down my throat. She showed me love through late‑night heart to hearts when everything else felt like it was falling apart. Through her, I learned that listening matters, that people need someone who notices the things they can’t say out loud. She carried so much pain without becoming hardened by it, and it would take me years to realize she built my foundation with grace. My mother was the first person to give me undivided attention. When she looked into your eyes, she listened. She didn’t wait for you to finish speaking so that she could talk about herself. She absorbed your words, your tone, and even your silences. I didn’t realize how precious that was when I was younger. I think I assumed everyone had a mom that listened like mine. It wasn’t until I started building my own relationships that I realized most people just hear you speak. Mom taught me you could open up someone by allowing them to feel heard, rather than simply heard. Mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table one night when I felt like I was falling apart. School had been difficult. My friendships were strained, and my parents had high expectations of me. I didn’t know how to explain it all without crumbling, so I sat there panicked, squeezing my fingers until my skin turned white. “You look like you’re trying to implode,” she said calmly. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” I shook my head frantically. “It’s going to be okay,” she said while pulling my hand towards her. “You don’t have to do this alone.” My eyes met hers, and I cracked. If she could see me falling apart, maybe it would be okay. It was the first time I realized vulnerability didn’t make you weak. She showed me it was okay to let someone else be your rock. I will forever be changed by how she responded to me that night. I try to approach everyone with patience. I try to understand where they’re coming from emotionally before judging them for their words. Honesty is important to me, even when it’s hard, because my mom showed me the power of telling someone you love them or that you’re sorry. You don’t have to be perfect with your words, but they should be true. I try to check on my friends without being asked because she checked on me. I try to be present when someone I love is falling apart instead of picking them back up myself. And I try to never let the people in my life feel as alone as I once did feeling. Mom also taught me you can care about someone without letting them take advantage of your empathy. I didn’t understand how much she sacrificed for me until I watched her learn to set boundaries. She taught me how to love fiercely without diminishing myself in the process. You can (and should) stand up for the people you love, but love shouldn’t make you feel small. Learning to set boundaries has helped me form healthy relationships with people who enrich my life rather than drain it. But what I think I value most about my relationship with my mother are the small things. She’s the person who reinforced my love for leaving people sticky notes. She is why, to this day, if I think of someone I’ll send them a text. You don’t need grand gestures to show people you care. Sometimes showing up is enough. I think about my childhood often when I’m trying to show Kyndal I love her. Those small moments are what shaped how I express love and accept it from others. I know there are parts of me that she molded without realizing. I hope when I look back at my relationships, I can think of the things I did that made others feel heard. I hope to listen the way she listens to me when I need her. Patience. Intention. A heart that allows others to feel safe when they’re falling apart. My mother didn’t just help shape who I am, she shaped how I want to interact with others for the rest of my life.

Cancer was something I grew up hearing about but never thought I would personally be affected by. Once a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, you never get the chance to process everything before it happens. It consumes your life with fear, unknowns, and unimaginable heartache. The life you were accustomed to, your "normal," undergoes a profound and abrupt alteration. I watched cancer take hold of my family. Not just the person with cancer, but every single person who loved that person. Cancer affected more than just their body. It consumed our emotions, routines, finances, and mental toughness. Hospital visits were normal. Waiting rooms were our second home. Doctor’s phone calls could shift the entire mood of your day within seconds. There were times where we put on this brave face for each other when we were truly falling apart on the inside. I watched my family members struggle and it’s a memory I will never forget. Sleepless nights full of prayers and “what ifs.” Endless hours staring at phone waiting for the phone to finally read. I remember feeling helpless while my loved ones did everything they could to be strong for each other. We showed up even when we were hurt, tired, and scared. We had no other choice. What I thought was strength was watching everyone pretend like everything was okay. Real strength is showing up even when you’re terrified. Showing up even when you don’t have the emotional capacity to do so. Continuing to love even though your world felt like it stopped turning. Cancer taught me just how fragile life really is. It also taught me gratitude. I started to realize how thankful I should have been during the little moments I used to take for granted. Eating a meal together. Random conversations. Hearing laughter in the house. Just having a day where we were not worried about rushing to the hospital. They were all tiny moments that I learned to cherish because life is not guaranteed and you never know what you have until it’s gone. What I’ll never forget is where I found my strength. My strength came from watching my family come together and fight alongside my loved one. My strength came from watching love prevail even during the most painful season of our lives. My strength came from knowing that we would not give up, even if things got hard. Cancer wanted us to live in fear but it also showed me we were stronger together. Cancer will forever change how I look at life. It allows me to be extremely empathetic to those who are suffering in silence. It gave me a new perspective on all types of pain and the emotional strength it takes to endure difficult situations. I now have a burning passion to use my story and life to help others going through similar battles because I know how heavy they can be. Cancer affected my family, but it will always shape who I am.

I was born with Sickle Cell Disease, so living with it has become my entire normal. It affects me every day whether I’m feeling it or not. To me Sickle Cell is more than just letters added to my medical diagnosis. It’s a lifestyle. It’s waking up in pain without notice. It’s having your body force you to quit. It’s multiple trips to the hospital while your peers can walk. I know what it’s like to have something you have to take medication for and doctor’s appointments for the rest of your life. There is no time where you get to relax and not worry about it. I’ve learned how to live with Sickle Cell Disease in tow and still function. I’ve spent days in hospitals hooked to IV’s flairing up and waiting on the medicine to slowly kick in. Those times weren’t fun and I don’t wish them on my worst enemy. What those times did help me learn was patience and how to mentally be strong even when my body was trying its best to tell me otherwise. I’ve learned to be extremely cautious with my health. I never knew someone my age could be so in tune with their body. Avoiding triggers. Staying diligent with medication and treatments even when I feel like I’m being caught in a routine that never ends. I know how to manage school, my goals, and my health all at once. Yes, having sickle cell makes it more challenging for me but some days are better than others and I fight through it because I will not let this define my future. What helps me continue to fight is by knowing that others like me are out there fighting as well. There are so many people doing amazing things despite having Sickle Cell Disease and it inspires me to keep going. My family and my goals help me stay strong too. But what really helps me is knowing that my struggle can become my purpose. Every time I have to visit the hospital I’m reminded why I strive for more and why I can’t give up on myself. I feel like I was taught empathy when I learned about living with Sickle Cell. I also believe that the discipline and drive it takes to live with this condition every day is what taught me determination. Through all of this I’ve learned that being strong isn’t never feeling weak, it’s pushing forward even when you do. I want to use my story and my experiences to help give others fighting the same battle hope that they too can become great despite having Sickle Cell Disease.

I learned very early in life that the world is not fair. Some people are blessed with stability, support, and opportunity, while others have to fight for things that should already be guaranteed. I was one of those people who had to fight. I grew up seeing poverty, broken homes, violence, mental struggles, and people who felt like nobody believed in them. Those experiences stayed with me because I know what it feels like to need help and not know who to turn to. That is why earning my degree means so much more to me than simply graduating. My degree represents survival, sacrifice, and perseverance. It represents every moment I doubted myself but kept pushing forward anyway. Most importantly, it represents the opportunity to become the person I once needed when I was younger. I want to use my degree to uplift my community and inspire young people who feel trapped by their circumstances. Too many kids grow up believing that where they come from determines who they can become. I know that feeling because I lived it. I want young people to look at me and see that it is possible to rise above hardship and create a better future for themselves. One of the main ways I plan to help others is through mentorship. I believe mentorship can change lives. Sometimes people do not need money first; they need someone to believe in them. I want to mentor students who feel lost academically or personally because I understand what it feels like to feel invisible. I want to help young people build confidence, discipline, and belief in themselves. I also want to create after-school programs and safe spaces in low-income communities where young people can feel supported and motivated. Many kids are surrounded by negativity because that is all they know. I want to help provide environments that encourage education, self-growth, mental health awareness, and hope. Mental health is another issue I deeply care about. In many underprivileged communities, people are taught to hide their emotions and suffer silently. I know what it feels like to carry emotional pain while pretending everything is okay. With my degree, I want to advocate for better mental health support and help end the stigma around asking for help. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: I want to leave my community better than I found it. I want my story to inspire others who feel hopeless and remind them that their struggles do not define their future. My pain could have broken me, but instead it built me into the person I am becoming. Now I want to use everything I have learned to help build others too.

Like me, many of the boys faced a major challenge that I had to overcome. That 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 counseling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. I did and I do odd jobs to help, and I sacrificed to survive. We had no cable TV, handwashed clothes, and walking to and from school were ways I survived. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. I overcame them through admitting and embracing them. My goal is to be a successful business analyst, and my self-worth is my guiding light. 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. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I saw my other gifts emerge in excellence. As I launched into community work, I had to balance academics with core and extramural activities. I refused to be daunted and continued to show up and persevere. My revenge was being awarded at my former high school in Grenada, with the 2024 Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. At Olympus High School in New York in ten months, I was elected as a student representative on the SLT, plus I attempted and passed all my Regents Exams and entered college at 17 years and nine months! This is how I honor my mom through hard work, dedication and excellence. I was also awarded the New York State Attorney Leadership Award (Ambassadorial Award) is 2025. In essence, my pain produced hope and purpose. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation for my moral compass. She raised a boy who would not simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. To this day, her words guide me. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me and now I embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision. Shawnna Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

I am the type of athlete Speed League Swimming needs because I know what it feels like to be seen. I’ve seen how beautiful swimming can be. I’ve seen how broken it can make you. Growing up, swimming became my identity. It taught me everything I know about patience, perseverance, and faith. But it also introduced me to things in this world I didn’t want to believe were real: disappointment and heartbreak. I used to believe that if you worked hard enough you would eventually see the results of your labor. But what happens when that labor is invisible to the people in charge? I know because it happened to me. I was at swim national trials injured my freshman year. It was supposed to be my race. The race I knew I’d been training for since I started swimming at 6 years old. I was healthy. Taper had gone perfectly. I woke up that morning excited to take on the day. I had the race of my life. But when the results were posted, I knew something was wrong. They took my spot. Not because I didn’t perform, but because of internal politics I guess you could say. At that moment, I broke. Inside I was screaming, wondering how could something that black and white could be stolen from me? I felt unseen. Disrespected. Like all my hard work didn’t mean anything if it wasn’t enough to secure a fair opportunity. That was supposed to be my season. That was supposed to be my future. Instead, I went home depressed, questioning if I wanted to be a part of something that would screw me over before I even got started. After that day, swimming almost tore me apart. I went into a dark place and didn’t want to do anything that remotely reminded me of the sport. But one thing kept me swimming and that was my passion for the sport outweighed my desire to quit. If I gave up, who would be there for the athletes who came after me? So I stayed. It took a few years, but I learned from that experience and came back stronger. I qualified for my first National Team anyway and got to represent my country, but not without a comeback story. I have always been competitive, but now I have a fire inside of me that needs to be ignited. I want to be the best. I know I am capable of great things in this sport. Of reaching the top. Of being one of the best to ever do it. But if I want my career to be more than just national team swims, I need more opportunities to compete at a high level. MORE THAN JUST SWIMMING FAST I have always loved competing and having something to work toward. It’s what kept me swimming after what happened my freshman year. Speed League Swimming would allow me to compete again and satisfy that competitive itch we all have as athletes. It would allow me to train my best without getting burnt out from swimming random small meets. I also believe SLUSH will allow me to grow as an athlete in more ways than one. Not only will I be able to compete against the best (like I want and need to), but I will also get the chance to be recognized as an athlete. Swimmers rarely get the opportunity to be seen as “ athletes” . We are often defined by our splashes in a pool but what happens when the spotlight isn’t on us? Outside of our sporting careers, we are left vulnerable and ill equipped to enter the real world. I want to be more than just a fast swimmer. I know I can provide more to the sport than just swim times. When I step on that block, I bring my own unique flair that no one else can shake. I have a passion and fire for the sport that is contagious. I will show up and give my heart and soul to every race. But I will also use my platform as a professional athlete to speak up about the changes I wish to see in this sport. Right now, I see myself as a voice. A voice for all the “invisible” athletes. The hard working athletes who compete in tiny meets with no fans and no people to cheer them on. I know what it feels like to feel unseen and unheard. I want to use my platform to speak up and be the change I wish to see in swimming. Speed League swimming is the missing piece we all needed. Like most student athletes, I am not rich. I am just like any other D1 athlete who is hoping to one day use their sport to provide for themselves and their families. Scholarships are never guaranteed and it takes a toll on you. Not only physically and mentally but also financially. Competing in SLUSH would allow me to save up some money for when school is over. I could focus on my sport with less stress off of my shoulders. Any and all opportunities like this are more than appreciated because they allow me to continue to pursue my dreams and my passion. EDUCATIONALLY I am currently attending college in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science. My education is just as important to me as my sport. Speed League Swimming would allow me to better focus on my school work when I am not training, knowing I have something to work towards when I come back from school. Sport is my life. It has the power to change people for the better and I know I am one of them. But change can only happen if people want it to.I want change. I want better. That is why I believe I deserve to be part of Speed League Swimming.

My field would not exist without sustainability. Every job in my field can either help make the world a better place or harm it. Everything that we do has consequences. The messages that we create. The systems that we help design. The decisions that we help others make. If we do not take sustainability into account, we are throwing away our futures for temporary successes. I refuse to be a part of that. I want to have success, yes, but I want to do better than that. I want to leave this world better than I found it. Communication. If you can influence the way that someone perceives something, you can influence their behavior around it. What we say can change people’s minds. It can make them think twice about their actions. It can open their eyes to things they haven’t noticed before. If we do not value sustainability, than we are teaching others that it is okay to overconsume. To throw away when there is a choice to fix. To harm our planet in pursuit of happiness. But what if we taught people otherwise? What if everywhere they looked, they saw messages championing sustainability? One viral campaign can make thousands of people think twice about their habits. One person speaking up can influence others to do the same. This is why sustainability is important in my field. We have the power to help or hurt. To me, sustainability means securing our future. It means doing our part to ensure that the privileges that we have today will be around tomorrow. I know that growing up with knowledge of climate change, pollution, animal extinction, and other environmental issues has affected the way that I view my future. I cannot simply ignore these problems and hope that they go away. Instead, I feel called to do something about it. I want the work that I put out into the world to reflect who I am as a person, and caring about our planet is part of that. In the future I hope to use my career to help lessen the impact we have on our planet by influencing the messages around sustainability and responsibility. I want to work with companies and brands that care about ethical and sustainable business practices and help them speak about that to their audiences. I want to encourage others to be better by calling out companies that are putting profit over the planet. I want to use my voice and my knowledge to help make sustainable choices the easy choice for others. I also plan to push my own workplace to be more sustainable. It can be easy to sit back and expect someone else to solve the problem. But if everyone thinks that way, no one will do anything about it. I want to grow a business that takes sustainability into consideration when making decisions. I will push for my ideas to lessen waste, implement digital efficiency, and run on sustainable practices. If every employee at my company does one small thing to be more environmentally conscious, think of how many difference we could all make together. I want to be the person who speaks up. I hope that I can look back on my life and know that I did everything I could to help this planet. I want my career to mean something. To help people. To help our world. Sustainability is about protecting others. Our planet. Our home. The generations that come after us. I want to do my part.

Finding My Voice The first time I truly faced my fear of speaking, I felt as though the world had shrunk to the size of a classroom, every eye fixed on me, every heartbeat echoing in my chest. The day seemed ordinary, but for me, it was a battlefield. The classroom was alive with chatter and laughter, and I sat at my desk, clutching my notebook like a lifeline. We were assigned our first speech, a simple topic on a personal experience, but the stakes felt insurmountable. My hands shook as I rehearsed under my breath, trying to convince myself that I could do it. When my name was called, my heart slammed against my ribcage. I stood, every step to the podium heavy, each one echoing my anxiety. I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. My carefully chosen words, the ones I had written and rewritten late into the night, scattered like leaves in the wind. I stumbled, tripped over sentences, and muttered through lines I barely recognized. The faces in the classroom blurred together, and I imagined they were judging me, seeing through me, watching my confidence evaporate. I returned to my seat, humiliated, feeling small and voiceless, convinced I had failed irreparably. But then something unexpected happened. A few classmates approached me after class. One said, “Hey, you really seemed to mean what you were saying.” Another added, “I could tell you cared, and that mattered.” Their words were small, but they ignited something inside me, a realization that speaking isn’t just about flawless delivery. It’s about courage, presence, and the willingness to share even when fear is screaming in your ears. That day, I began to understand that voice isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you grow, struggle for, and shape through experience. I started seeking every opportunity to speak, even in small ways. I volunteered in school clubs, led discussions in front of friends, and practiced until my voice felt steadier, more natural. Slowly, I began to feel a transformation, not just in my speaking, but in how I viewed myself. Each word I forced out despite fear became a small victory. Each time I raised my hand or shared my perspective, I was asserting my presence, claiming a space I had once been afraid to occupy. I learned that confidence isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up and refusing to let fear define you. Months later, I faced another test, a community event where I was asked to give a speech on empathy. Unlike the classroom, this audience included adults, peers, and people I didn’t know. My stomach churned, my throat tightened, but this time I remembered the lessons I had learned. I focused not on my fear, but on the message I wanted to share. As I spoke about moments that had shaped me, I watched the faces in the crowd. People nodded, some smiled, some looked thoughtful. In that moment, I realized the true power of voice, it’s not just being heard, it’s connecting, inspiring, and sparking reflection in others. That experience taught me that voice is not simply a tool for speaking, it is a force for influence, empathy, and action. Vulnerability, once terrifying, became a strength. Fear became a reminder that growth was happening. And every time I speak from my heart, I create a ripple, one that extends far beyond me. Looking forward, I hope to use my voice to create meaningful impact. I want to speak for those who feel silenced, advocate for justice, and inspire change in communities where dialogue seems impossible. I want to tell stories that matter, challenge perspectives, and empower others to find their own voices. Because I’ve learned this, finding your voice is only the beginning. True power comes from using it, from refusing to stay quiet when your words can make a difference, from daring to be heard, from leaving a mark that lasts long after the sound fades

My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most, my hero. Shawnna Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has had a significant impact on my life through the values she taught me, and I live by them just the same. Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. As the son of a single mom, financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day, but she ensured I competed in swimming, my favorite sport. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. One instance of my mom's sacrifices was paying for my swim fees and taking me to meets. I broke personal records, shaving off as much as five seconds. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I am eighteen and sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." We grew what we could so we could reduce the food bill and battered a lot. My name Zakar means " man of heights" and I was named by my mom who said that I must always take the eagle's height! Her indomitable presence and prayers over me have taught me to soar to great heights. As a Scout I ascended the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. My avid participation and excellence in sports and Scouts demonstrated discipline, enthusiasm and persistence. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for business, and commitment to personal development put me in a powerful position to impact the world. I have demonstrated through these achievements that I am a resilient individual. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation for my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. To this day, her words still guide me. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me and now I embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision. Shawnna Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

My mental health was challenged during the COVID-19 period as we were learning from home. 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 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Therefore, my mental health was severely impacted. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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. This was a dark period in my life, and I did the mental health work to get on this healing journey. 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 business entrepreneur aiming to assist those with mental health challenges. 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. I plan to impact the world through mental health by founding camps for boys who need to be mentored by impactful men in the community. This initiative would take the form of a swim camp. Also, my businesses would support Trauma-Informed Innovation. Through projects such as Nutmeg Haven in Grenada and the US, I plan to promote a "Social Enterprise" mindset in mental health. By showing that healing centers can be financially sustainable and professionally empowering, we move away from "charity" models and toward "empowerment" models. I want to help build systems where a woman's recovery includes a path to economic independence.

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 these achievements that I am a resilient individual. I will continue on a path of excellence. My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most. She is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has had a significant impact on my life through the values she taught me, and I live by them just the same. "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. As the son of a single mom, financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day, but she ensured I competed in swimming, my favorite sport. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. One instance of my mom's sacrifices was paying for my swim fees and taking me to meets. This is why I feel I should be the recipient of the scholarship because I have endured and conquered much in the face of adversity. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I am eighteen and sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." We grew what we could so we could reduce the food bill and battered a lot. My name Zakar means " man of heights" and I was named by my mom who said that I must always take the eagle's height! Her indomitable presence and prayers over me have taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Business and Communications. As a Scout I ascended the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. My avid participation and excellence in sports and Scouts demonstrated discipline, enthusiasm and persistence. I was taught how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember my family telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And they lived by that. Their actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation for my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. This is what distinguishes me from the other applicants. To this day, her words still guide me. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My family more than raised me she equipped me and now I embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision to excel beyond limitations.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. I am eighteen now and I do odd jobs to help, and I gave up a great deal so we could survive, such as no cable TV, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Service, sacrifice, and bravery are a three-thread cord of progress and possibility. The trajectory of a life is rarely a straight line; it is a tapestry woven from the values we inherit and the convictions we choose. Personally, the values of Service, Sacrifice, and Bravery have been the compass points of my personal journey. They have transformed my ambition from a pursuit of personal accolades into a mission for collective advancement. This "triple cord" of values does not merely define my history; it fuels my vision for the African diaspora in the United States, a community defined by its resilience but still navigating systemic barriers that require urgent, strategic reform. I am Zakar Cuffie. I am a freshman at the Medgar Evers College in New York. My goals are to be a successful business and communications professional. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies as a way to achieve a sense of purpose. 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. 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 through outstanding service. 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. Service taught me empathy; it forced me to look beyond my own needs to the gaps in my community. However, service without sacrifice is often just a hobby. True impact requires the willingness to give up comfort, time, and sometimes personal security to advocate for a greater good. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation of my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. Yet, neither service nor sacrifice can survive without bravery. Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the internal command to move forward despite it. In my path, whether in the boardroom, on the pageant stage, or in community organizing, bravery has meant speaking truth to power and being the first to propose a solution when others were content with the status quo. These values have forged in me a "leadership of the heart," one that is technically proficient but morally anchored. The African diaspora in the US faces a unique set of "dual challenges," firstly, the struggle for systemic equity and the internal need for economic and psychological empowerment. My vision is to move from a narrative of survival to one of thriving. To do this, we must address the "wealth gap" and the "wellness gap" simultaneously. I hope that my strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for excellence, 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. The African diaspora is not a monolith; it includes descendants of enslaved people and recent immigrants from across the continent and the Caribbean. My vision is to create a unified economic engine where professional mentorship and capital flow freely across these sub-groups, turning our cultural diversity into a competitive global advantage. Critical reforms must turn this vision into reality there two areas of reform as non-negotiable and there are firstly economic equity and micro-capital reform. This means the system must move beyond "financial literacy" to "financial access." Critical reform also involves incentivizing Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to lower the barriers for Black entrepreneurs. Once this is done it leads to a more equitable system and experience for most. Secondly, educational integration is a crucial factor as reforming the curriculum to include the comprehensive contributions of the African diaspora in business, science, and the arts is essential for the psychological "bravery" of the next generation. As we charge forth with cultural awareness the participants would foster self-worth and identity. In conclusion, a life of service, sacrifice, and bravery is not a quiet one, but it is a meaningful one. By applying these values to the challenges of the African diaspora, we can move toward a future where our identity is a source of power rather than a point of contention. We are the designers of our own liberation; we only need the bravery to start building intentionally with heightened resilience.

I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving these goals. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I plan to help the communities I serve through these viable practices. 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. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I currently attend the Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. My goals are to be a successful 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated as a community for that area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. The path toward my career is intricately linked to my community involvement. As the world grapples with climate change and climate vulnerability, adopting innovative environmentally safe practices would enhance the health of the environment and our physical and mental health as well. Through my involvement in the Sea Scout Troop, I have been doing beach clean ups and was also involved in three environmental training camps which culminated in procurement of more bins for our school. I also do gardening in community plots since Spring began. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

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 Business professional in the public service. Despite the following 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. My mother taught me the gift of perseverance. She taught me that the best revenge is your success with this. I lived through it, even though some of the challenges I faced in my old secondary school/high school back in the Caribbean were tumultuous. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on. Despite all the challenges she faced as a mother, Mommy never allowed our circumstances to limit my vision. She held herself and me to high standards, always reminding me that dignity was not reserved for the wealthy but for those who chose to live with honor. She made it her mission to raise not just a man, but a gentleman. My mental health was challenged during the COVID-19 period as we were learning from home. 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 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Therefore, my mental health was severely impacted. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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. This was a dark period in my life, and I did the mental health work to get on this healing journey. These challenges coupled with mt ability to overcome them is why I feel called to the public service. I was taught that strength isn’t shown in dominance, but in discipline. In my mom's quiet moments of struggle and long nights working, she showed me what true resilience looks like—not loud, not boastful, but steady and intentional. This taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.” I live by this principle. My actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation of my moral compass. I was not raised only as a boy who would simply survive the world, but as a man who would help change it. That is my passion for serving in the public service.

The architecture of my ambition is my path to purposeful leadership. Education is made to change the way one thinks. It is a foundation for me and thus the dual study of Business and Communications is more of a toolkit. I have chosen this path because I recognize that in the modern world, a brilliant idea is only as powerful as its ability to be articulated, scaled, and sustained. While Business provides the structural blueprint, the logic of economics, the strategy of management, and the discipline of finance, communications provide the heartbeat. It is the art of human connection, the mastery of storytelling, and the bridge between a product and a person. By marrying these two disciplines, I am equipping myself to not only navigate the marketplace but to reshape it. My drive toward an entrepreneurial career stem from a fundamental refusal to wait for permission to lead. Entrepreneurship, to me, is the ultimate expression of agency. I am drawn to the challenge of identifying a gap in the community or a friction point in the market and building a custom solution from the ground up. I don't just want to occupy a seat at an existing table; I want to build the table that allows for more voices, more innovation, and more direct impact. For an entrepreneur, every obstacle is a data point, and every "no" is simply a prompt to refine the strategy. The question of why I will succeed where so many others failed is summed up in: Resilience. In the world of business, many fail because they fall in love with their initial plan rather than their ultimate purpose. When the plan fails, they fall apart. I have developed the "grit" to treat failure as market research. My success will be rooted in my ability to pivot without losing my passion. I possess the analytical mind of a strategist and the emotional intelligence of a communicator which is a combination that allows me to lead teams through high-pressure environments with grace rather than force. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." We grew what we could so we could reduce the food bill and battered a lot. Ultimately, my definition of a successful life is not found in a in a six-figure salary. Personally, success is congruence. It is the profound peace that comes from knowing my daily actions align perfectly with my core values. A successful life looks like having the financial freedom to be a philanthropist, the professional influence to advocate for the marginalized, and the character to be respected long after the lights of the stage go dark. It is a life lived with intention, where my legacy is measured not by what I acquired, but by the doors I opened for those coming after me.

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 these achievements that I am an overcomer! I will continue on a path of excellence. My mother is a woman like no other and she has taught me to honor the Lord through my faith in Him. The scripture Proverbs 3:5 which asks us to " trust the Lord with all your heart and lean unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your path." Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it I was taught that I must embody the Philippians 4:13. Philippians 4:13 is a powerful statement of faith and confidence in Christ. When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, he was in prison, facing hardships and uncertainty. Despite his circumstances, Paul expresses his unwavering belief that he can overcome challenges through Christ. This verse encapsulates a central theme of Christian faith—that with Christ, I am empowered to face any circumstance that life throws at me. As the son of a single mom, financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. When Paul says, “I can do all things,” he is not claiming that one can achieve anything without effort or commitment. Rather, he means that with the strength found in his relationship with Christ, he is equipped to endure hardships, face difficulties, and even thrive in tough situations. This strength is not about personal achievement or self-reliance. It is a reminder that I rely on Christ as our source of strength and support. My name Zakar means " man of heights" and I was named by my mom who said that I must always take the eagle's height! Her indomitable presence and prayers over me have taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Communications and Business. As a Scout I ascended the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. My avid participation and excellence in sports and Scouts demonstrated discipline, enthusiasm and persistence. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation for my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. I now embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision.

My name Zakar means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. So, my acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College represents a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. However, the financial burden of higher education threatens to impede my progress. This scholarship would alleviate some of that pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. After two weeks out of the pool and going to counseling, I started to internalize how I could turn this pain into something powerful and meaningful. I noticed many boys hanging out aimlessly with nothing to do, so I began to engage them and found that most could not swim. So, I approached a coach and shared my thoughts on designing a Learn-to-Swim Program for the teen boys in my community. Like me, many of the boys faced a major challenge that I had to overcome. That 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 counseling, and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged my self-worth. My goal is to be a successful business entrepreneur. 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. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I saw my other gifts emerge in excellence. My overcoming such awful experiences to now being resilient also came through my community engagement and enthusiasm for track and swimming. As I launched into community work, I had to balance academics and school matters with this initiative. I refused to be daunted and continued to show up and persevered. My revenge was being awarded the 2024 Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. I even became a trained lifeguard and swimming instructor. In essence, my pain would produce hope and opportunities for others to grow and gain new skills in life to better themselves. School life demanded a delicate balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and personal well-being. Furthermore, all these skills would be taught to my peers as well during the week after the swim sessions. Equally important would be developing effective time management strategies, which was a major skill taught to the teens in the program. This community program would go beyond swim classes and included maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and practicing mindfulness to manage stress and promote mental clarity. It would provide mentorship opportunities and potential career paths, thus empowering all of us.

My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has impacted my life in a significant way through the values she taught me and I live them just the same. Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. My walk, my speech and my manners were high on her agenda of my upbringing. She believed that no matter how great my grades were, courtesy was a primary value I had to exhibit. Growing up in the Caribbean was sometimes a financial challenge. From an early age, I was taught how to budget. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Financial hardships are a present reality. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Mommy included me in the monthly budget sessions. She sacrificed a lot so I could have a holistic education, including sports, particularly swimming. This taught me decision-making and financial management skills. Her influence in these areas is responsible for how I spend and save money. My mother also taught me the gift of perseverance. She taught me that the best revenge is your success with this. I lived through it, even though some of the challenges I faced in my old secondary school/high school back in the Caribbean were tumultuous. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on. Despite all the challenges she faced as a mother, Mommy never allowed our circumstances to limit my vision. She held herself and me to high standards, always reminding me that dignity was not reserved for the wealthy but for those who chose to live with honor. She made it her mission to raise not just a man, but a gentleman. I learned how to listen before I speak, and how to apologize when I’m wrong. She taught me that strength isn’t shown in dominance, but in discipline. In her quiet moments of struggle and long nights working, she showed me what true resilience looks like, not loud, not boastful, but steady and intentional. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation of my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. To this day, her words still guide me. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me. She gave me strength, faith, discipline, compassion, and a vision. So, through her love, she made sure I would never forget where I came from or who I was raised to be. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

Topic: Tell us about a challenge you faced during school and how did you overcome it? "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. My walk, my speech and my manners were high on her agenda of my upbringing. She believed that no matter how great my grades were, courtesy was a primary value I had to exhibit. I as a first-generation college graduate Growing up in the Caribbean was sometimes a financial challenge. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Financial hardships are a present reality. She sacrificed a lot so I could have a holistic education, including sports, particularly swimming. This taught me decision-making and financial management skills. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. This tenacity in attitude and disposition increased my self-confidence and gave me a greater understanding of myself. My mom referred me to counselling. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary is under $30K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. Good Hope Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. At the OECS Swim Meet in 2024, despite a painful wrist injury just days before the meet, I persevered. My mother also taught me the gift of perseverance. She taught me that the best revenge is your success with this. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on. 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. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. I am confident that with the support of this Scholarship, I can realize my potential and make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. This scholarship is not just an investment in my education; it's an investment in a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with purpose.

I am Zakar Cuffie. I attend the Medgar Evers College 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. Living in the rainforest Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated as a community for that area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist. 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 positively impact 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 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 in this field. This scholarship would propel me into becoming the best science professional.

My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has impacted my life in a significant way through the values she taught me and I live them just the same. Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. My walk, my speech and my manners were high on her agenda of my upbringing. She believed that no matter how great my grades were, courtesy was a primary value I had to exhibit. Growing up in the Caribbean was sometimes a financial challenge. From an early age, I was taught how to budget. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bills. Financial hardships are a present reality. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs teaching me resilience. She sacrificed a lot so I could have a holistic education, including sports, particularly swimming. This taught me decision-making and financial management skills. My mother also taught me the gift of perseverance. This has taught me to face and deal with challenges head-on as a leader. Despite all the challenges she faced as a mother, Mommy never allowed our circumstances to limit my vision. She held herself and me to high standards, always reminding me that dignity was not reserved for the wealthy but for those who chose to live with honor. She made it her mission to raise not just a man, but a gentleman. 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. This was a dark period in my life, and I did the mental health work to get on this leadership journey. I also used my mentorship training to conduct peer mentoring sessions with younger boys in the community. My name is Zakar Cuffie, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. My goal is to be a successful business philanthropist. 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 served my patrol and motivated them to win several tournaments. I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming and demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports, thus shaping who I am today.

The first time I felt like I truly understood what service was, I did not feel like I was on display or that anyone was around to notice what I was doing. I had helped a younger student with her homework all afternoon and as we were cleaning up to go home, she looked at me. “Thank you for not giving up on me.” She said. Those words reaffirmed.to me that serving doesn’t always have to be big and extravagant. Sometimes, giving back is showing up, being kind, and deciding to care when you don’t have to. As I mentioned before, I give back by mentoring others, volunteering, and serving my community. I tutor students who have a difficult time keeping up academically or emotionally by helping them with their homework, studying for tests, and building confidence. A lot of kids don’t fail because they aren’t smart enough, they fail because no one has taken the time to help them. I’ve made it my goal to be that constant for as many students as I can. I also volunteer my time to uplift community-led organizations that focus on youth development. From holding small tutoring circles, to giving advice, or simply listening. I feel that service starts with accessibility and empathy. Service means a lot to me because I know what it’s like to have someone believe in you. That is why my main goal when helping others is to provide them with a safe space to feel seen, heard, and good enough. As well as tutoring, I aid my peers in bettering their personal and professional lives by sharing resources and helpful advice. When someone takes the time to help you grow, it can transform your whole perspective on life. That is why I give back. In the future, I want to give back using my education. I plan to major in communications and public relations because I know communication is one of the most powerful tools we have to create change. A lot of communities don’t just suffer from a lack of resources, but they also suffer from not knowing what resources are available. Once I am equipped with the proper tools and skills to advocate, I will speak on behalf of underserved communities. I will know how to effectively communicate nonprofit missions and create campaigns that allow people to connect with these services. I want to use my voice to shine light on the people that have been ignored and act as a bridge connecting communities to nonprofit organizations. As I grow, I want to begin implementing actionable mentorship and outreach programs that focus on empowering youth and providing opportunities for economic growth. I hope to partner with nonprofit organizations to create fun and constructive programs that can help students with everything from grades to entering the workforce. I also want to communicate with companies to better fundraising efforts and create awareness for educational causes. Once I can merge my passion with service and my education, I will be able to serve communities instead of just individuals. “Hope is something you give.” Priscilla Shireen Luke said this and it really resonates with me and the type of servant leader I hope to be. Serving others will always be a part of my life. As I grow older, my platform will grow with me and my service will evolve. I will always serve with ambition, motivation, and a whole lot of heart. I hope to build a legacy that allows me to celebrate other’s successes, grow opportunities for those around me, and spread hope.

The first time someone looked me in my eyes and said “Thank you for not giving up on me,” I knew what service was. It wasn’t a grand gesture or anything publicly acknowledged. It was silent moment after I had spent weeks tutoring and building up a younger student who was failing and losing hope. Something about that moment clicked for me. I knew that sometimes the most humanitarian thing you can do is choose to care, day after day, when it would be easier not to. To this day I still try and give back to my community through humanitarian service by mentoring and encouraging others. Whether it’s helping local students with homework, studying for a test, or building up confidence, I take time out of my day to ensure they have someone in their corner. A lot of students want to succeed but don’t have someone to help guide them. I’ve made it my duty to be that person for as many students as I can. I also try and lift up my friends and fellow peers who may be going through a difficult time. Service can look like listening to someone and letting them know that they are important. Service can look like reminding someone how great they are when they can’t see it for themselves. This drive to serve is what pushes me toward my education goals. I hope to obtain a degree in communications and public relations because I know that communication is powerful. Oftentimes communities don’t have strong connections with each other or lack awareness of the resources available to them. By furthering my education in communications, I will be able to advocate for minority and underserved communities. I can publicize local community programs and help give a voice to the voiceless. I want to help create media that informs, uplifts, and inspires others. I hope to one day intertwine my education and service by creating various outreach programs revolving around youth empowerment and economic opportunity. There is so much mentorship, community collaboration, and educational/career opportunity out there. I want to help create easy access to these programs for local youth. Attaining my degree will allow me to have the professional background, knowledge on strategy, and leadership skills to broaden my scope of service. Service chooses you. When you start to care about bettering others and your community you can’t simply stop at thoughts and good intentions. I can’t. I will continue to help as many students as I can. I will lend an ear to anyone who needs someone to listen. I will spend as much time as I can volunteering with children and adults. When I graduate from college, I will not look at my degree as just another accomplishment. I will view my degree as a tool that will allow me to serve more and better those around me. I believe you can measure a persons success by how many people they’ve lifted during their journey. I will continue to help lift others as I climb.

My name Zakar, means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. I entered my first swim meet at five years old. It was exhilarating! I placed first in all my heats and had an amazing experience. I then decided that this was going to be my sport of choice. I swam competitively for the past eleven years. There were some great times and some traumatic times as well. One main impact swimming had on my life was the ability to persevere despite discrimination, oppression and poor facilities. I learned to push through many barriers. My tenacious attitude and disposition increased my self-confidence and gave me a greater understanding of myself. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom refused to see me in this state. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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 mom referred me to counselling. This was mentally grueling as I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary is under $30K. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. Good Hope Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. At the OECS Swim Meet in 2024, despite a painful wrist injury just days before the meet, I persevered. I completed fourteen heats over three days, each followed by ice baths and Diclofenac rubs to manage the pain. In the end, I placed first in my category, teaching me the true meaning of Philippians 4:13. This verse teaches that through our faith in Jesus, we are empowered to conquer, overcome, and challenge. I noticed many boys hanging out aimlessly with nothing to do, so I began to engage them and found that most could not swim. So, I approached a coach and shared my thoughts on designing a Learn-to-Swim Program for the teen boys in my community. My family sponsored food and drink. The pool was used for free with three sessions per week. The boys were elated as we taught water safety first and then simple strokes. The sessions included motivational talks weekly led by male mentors in the community who also donated supplies to this initiative. This was Galatians 6:2 in action as I bore their burdens through mentoring and intervention. This level of community work assisted me in solidifying my academic foundation. This involved a comprehensive review of key concepts from my high school courses, ensuring I have a solid grasp of all subjects and how applicable this knowledge is to my life. So, in engaging with the teens in the community swimming program, I found out that many of them had no help with homework. I thought this was a major area to support with eight retired teachers who assisted. This was very successful as all their grades improved and the parents were spreading the word about the excellence of this initiative. The boys then taught their skills to the younger students in the community. My acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College and eighteen other colleges and universities represents a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. However, the financial burden of higher education threatens to impede my progress. This scholarship would alleviate some of that pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future. I completed my high school in Brooklyn, New York and saw disparities in access to quality education fueling my desire to succeed. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. This scholarship would be an investment fueling my future purpose.

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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Being financially stable is a goal I have and intend to realize it. Simple habits such as bringing lunch and snacks to school and actually cooking meals to last a number of days are excellent ways to save money. Conserving energy and water are other ways I was taught to also be not just financially responsible but environmentally too. So even while we had many financial constraints, we were always conscious of our duties to the environment. Even in this light to save on food, we planted peppers, tomatoes and herbs in pots. 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 preservation 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 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 my academic excellence and contributions to the school. The path toward strengthening food security worldwide is intricately linked to both sustainable environmental and agricultural principles. As the world grapples with climate change and economic vulnerability, adopting innovative practices not only promises to enhance food production but also safeguard the health of our environment. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing simplistic sustainable initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

My name Zakar means " man of heights." My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology as a way to enhance environmental awareness. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. I plan to stand out as a leader through these viable practices. 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. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I currently attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school serving on the SLT. 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated as a community for that area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. 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. The path toward my career is intricately linked to my community involvement. As the world grapples with climate change and climate vulnerability, adopting innovative environmentally safe practices would enhance the health of the environment and our physical and mental health as well. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

My name Zakar means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. My long-term life goals revolve around making a meaningful impact in the field of Animal Science through teaching this subject area. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a graduate degree, potentially a Master's or a Ph.D., to specialize in a specific area of research, such as Zoology, Biological Engineering or Animal Biology . I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 addition to academic pursuits, I recognize the importance of gaining hands-on research experience and teach these concepts. I intend to seek out research and teaching opportunities in university laboratories, working alongside experienced scientists and contributing to ongoing projects. This will not only enhance my technical skills but also provide valuable insights into the scientific process and the challenges of conducting research. I am particularly interested in research that addresses the health disparities of animals because of climate change and promotes biodiversity equity. Furthermore, I plan to actively participate in professional development activities, such as attending conferences, workshops, and seminars. This will allow me to network with professionals in the field, learn about the latest advancements in zoological research, and explore potential career paths. I also intend to seek out mentorship opportunities, connecting with experienced researchers and scientific professionals who can provide guidance and support as I navigate my career. My bachelor's degree in biology and animal sciences will serve as a crucial stepping stone towards achieving my goals. It will provide me with the necessary knowledge, skills, and credentials to pursue advanced studies and embark on a career in ethological research or animal biology. The rigorous curriculum will challenge me to think critically, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively, all of which are essential for success in these fields. Moreover, the degree will open doors to a wide range of career opportunities. In conclusion, my educational career and life goals are driven by a passion for science, a desire to improve the health of others, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact. By pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology and actively engaging in teaching, research and professional development activities, I am confident that I can achieve my goals and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and the well-being of our ecosystem. I am eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and dedicate myself to a career as an educator where I can make a positive difference in the world.

Turning my pain into purpose was how I started a community initiative for teen boys. Not being picked for the OECS Swim Competition 2023 was a hurtful and depressive time in my life. This affected my mental health greatly. This denial crushed me. I swam in over twelve heats, covering over 2,600 yards over two days with an injured wrist. It was difficult for me to understand this level of discrimination. I became depressed and frustrated. It was my faith in Christ which sustained me and Christian counseling as well. The scriptures Joshua 1:8,9 and Psalm 91 anchored me as I leaned heavily on Jesus to walk me through this fiery furnace. I noticed many boys hanging out aimlessly in my community, so I began to engage them and found that most could not swim. So, I approached a coach and shared my thoughts on designing a Learn-to-Swim Program for the teen boys in my community. Sessions started the following week. I then built into the sessions some motivational talks once a week. Philippians 4:13 became the mantra verse for the program. This was done by male mentors in the church who were enthused by this initiative and sponsored the refreshments. Like me, many of the boys faced had to cope with parental abandonment by their father. This affected me psychologically, and my involvement in Youth Ministry, Teens Camp and counseling empowered me to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. Despite the above challenges, I have been dedicated and self-motivated and 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. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I saw my other gifts emerge in excellence. My overcoming such awful experiences to now being resilient also came through my community engagement and enthusiasm for track and swimming. I even became a trained lifeguard and swimming instructor under this program. In essence, my pain produced hope and opportunities for others to grow and gain new skills in life to better themselves spiritually, mentally and academically as well. I personally invited the teens to our Youth Ministry on Fridays and many came. We also blessed them with food packages monthly as many of them came from indigent families. This level of community work assisted me in solidifying my Christin foundation. This involves a comprehensive review of key concepts from my high school courses, ensuring I have a solid grasp of my Christian principles and how applicable this knowledge is to my life. So, in engaging with the teens in the community swimming program, I found out that many of them did not know Jesus as their savior. So, I got my youth group involved in this aspect. We did an evangelism hour once a week after their swimming sessions. This was very successful as their grades improved, some got saved, and many stopped using substances. Youth Ministries and my Christian walk with Christ demanded a delicate balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and personal well-being. Through my community initiative, I learned to prioritize tasks, to allocate my time efficiently to avoid feeling overwhelmed. This involved creating a dedicated study space and implementing a teen bible study. Indeed, this community program went beyond swim classes and included establishing a spiritual relationship with Christ, exercising regularly, and practicing Christian habits to manage stress and promote mental clarity. This community act of service also provided mentorship opportunities, career guidance and enhanced our communication skills thus empowering all of us.

Growing up on an island surrounded by the pristine azure, blue waters of the Caribbean Sea was my first introduction to swimming. I always felt that the water was my happy place, and my mom saw it at just five months! My family called me " Aqua baby" as most babies would be screaming and hollering to the top of their lungs in fear of the water; I was the opposite. My name Zakar means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. I entered my first swim meet at five years old. It was exhilarating! I placed first in all my heats and had an amazing experience. I then decided that this was going to be my sport of choice. I swam competitively for the past eleven years. There were some great times and some traumatic times as well. One main impact swimming had on my life was the ability to persevere despite discrimination, oppression and poor facilities. I learned to push through many barriers. My tenacious attitude and disposition increased my self-confidence and gave me a greater understanding of myself. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom refused to see me in this state. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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 mom referred me to counselling. This was mentally grueling as I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary is under $30K. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. Good Hope Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. At the OECS Swim Meet in 2024, despite a painful wrist injury just days before the meet, I persevered. I completed fourteen heats over three days, each followed by ice baths and Diclofenac rubs to manage the pain. My acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College and eighteen others represent a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. However, the financial burden of higher education threatens to impede my progress. This scholarship would alleviate some of that pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future. I completed my high school in Brooklyn, New York and saw disparities in access to quality education fueling my desire to succeed. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. This scholarship would be an investment fueling my future purpose.

Watching my mom's mental health plummet because of divorce was both heart-wrenching and sad. Divorce is one of the most stressful life events anyone can face. From legal complications to financial challenges, my mom was saddled with navigating the divorce process and had no shortage of obstacles to clear. The plethora of issues quickly become overwhelming. She prioritized my mental health, studies and activities while she was crumbling internally. I was afraid as she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. That became the abyss mom fell into and eventually, so did I. Parental abandonment by my father after my parents' divorce was a deep emotional blow. This affected me in so many ways that I began to question my own existence. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged my self-worth. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. I felt the weight of self-loathing and disappointment crushing me for weeks. Turning my pain into a community project was the way I started a community initiative for teen boys. Swimming also became my therapy as I did competitive swimming. It lessened my stress, depression and frustration. I launched into helping other teens like me. I noticed many boys hanging out aimlessly with nothing to do, so I began to engage them and found that most could not swim. So, I approached a coach on my team and shared my thoughts on designing a Learn-to-Swim Program for the teen boys in my community. Sessions started the following week as I got my family to sponsor food and drink. Plus, we got the use of the pool for free and had three sessions per week. The boys were elated as we taught water safety first and then simple strokes. I then built into the sessions some motivational talks once a week. This was done by male mentors in the community who were enthused by this initiative and sponsored most of the refreshments. Like me, many of the boys faced a major challenge that I had to overcome. That was parental abandonment by my father. 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. This helped me out of the emotional darkness as I saw my other gifts emerge in excellence. My overcoming such awful experiences to now being resilient also came through my community engagement and enthusiasm for track and swimming. As I launched into community work, I had to balance academics and school matters with this initiative. I refused to be daunted and continued to show up and persevere. My revenge was being awarded at my former high school in Grenada, with the 2024 Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. This was vindication at its best. I wrote letters to persuade the Department of Youth to adopt this initiative for other communities. This was done through the “Get Grenada Swimming” national program. I even became a trained lifeguard and swimming instructor under this program. In essence, my pain produced hope and opportunities for others to grow and gain new skills in life to better themselves. This level of community work assisted me in solidifying my academic foundation. This involves a comprehensive review of key concepts from my high school courses, ensuring I have a solid grasp of all subjects and how applicable this knowledge is to my life. So, in engaging with the teens in the community swimming program, I found out that many of them had no help with homework. I thought this was a major area to support, so I got my mom involved in this aspect. She got eight retired teachers to assist with homework after their swimming sessions. This was very successful as all their grades improved and the parents were spreading the word about the excellence of this initiative. The boys then taught their skills to the younger students in the community. School life demanded a delicate balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and personal well-being. Through my community initiative, I experimented with different scheduling techniques, prioritized tasks, and learned to allocate my time efficiently to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Furthermore, I needed to cultivate strong study habits. As a result, good mental health fueled motivation and focus, allowing me to set and pursue goals effectively. When feeling mentally I experienced a sense of purpose and direction, making it easier to identify and achieve meaningful objectives. This renewed mental well-being equipped us all with the ability to bounce back from setbacks and learn from failures. This resilience is crucial for maintaining momentum towards goals, even when faced with obstacles. My mom assisted in the sessions and found that she had a more of a positive outlook on life. With higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, which are essential for goal setting we were all able believe in our ability to succeed. Therefore, to helping us to cope with the immediate stress of the situation while also laying a foundation for a healthier and more fulfilling future. This healing process facilitated the formation and maintenance of healthy relationships with my mom and the entire family. They saw the healing and that enhanced empathy, communication skills, and the ability to build trust and intimacy with each other. With good mental health I became a better communicator, able to express my needs and feelings effectively while also being receptive to the perspectives of others. This period of healing also reduced conflict and increased empathy among the teens in the Learn-to-Swim initiative as well. It also contributed to emotional regulation, which can minimize conflict and promote empathy in relationships. This caused me to respond to challenging situations with greater understanding and compassion.

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 these achievements that I am an overcomer! I will continue on a path of excellence. My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person who is most important to me. Shawnna Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has impacted my life in a significant way through the values she taught me, and I live them just the same. "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. As the son of a single mom, financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day, but she ensured I competed in swimming, my favorite sport. We travelled weekly by bus to get to the pool, as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. One instance of my mom's sacrifices was paying for my swim fees and taking me to meets. My mom's salary per annum is under $25K. I am seventeen and sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. These are the main reasons why she is so significant to me. My name Zakar means " man of heights" and I was named by my mom who said that I must always take the eagle's height! Her indomitable presence and prayers over me have taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. As a Scout I ascended the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. My avid participation and excellence in sports and Scouts demonstrated discipline, enthusiasm and persistence. My experiences as a first-generation student are bittersweet because my mom cannot be here with me. I have been on this leg of my academic journey on my own. Also, I draw on all I was taught with grace, success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” My actions are consistent but purposeful and that built the foundation for my moral compass. I passed my Regents and graduated in ten months! At Olympus Academy H.S in New York, I was awarded the 2025 Ambassadorial Leadership in recognition of my outstanding leadership and academic excellence. So, I continue to excel in the midst of adversity. I am enthused about the college opportunities and will persevere in this process as I am guided by her words. "Keep pushing forward, Son and then soar." Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me and now I embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision. She is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

My name Zakar means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. A major challenge I had to overcome was parental abandonment by my father. As a black teen, psychologically and emotionally I was distraught, so my mom intervened. She referred me to a counselor to deal with deep-seated depressive issues. Therefore, my mental health was severely impacted. I felt as though I was not worthy of love. I suffered from low 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. This was a dark period in my life. Proudly, I did the mental health work needed for this healing journey. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bill. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $ 30 K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. At my former high school in Grenada, I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award 2024 for Public Health in recognition of my academic excellence and contributions to the school. At Olympus Academy High School, I was awarded the Ambassadorial Leadership Award 2025 for outstanding leadership, academic drive, and commitment to personal development. My acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College represents a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. However, the financial burden of higher education threatens to impede my progress. This scholarship would alleviate some of that pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. I believe I deserve this because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future in Animal Science. As a high school senior in Brooklyn, New York, I've witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to quality education and healthcare, fueling my desire to contribute to a more equitable world. My long-term life goals revolve around making a meaningful impact in the field of Animal Science. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a graduate degree, potentially a master's or a Ph.D., to specialize in a specific area of research, such as Zoology, Biological Engineering or Animal Biology. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the biodiversity of forest, desert, and mountain ecosystems, of which land animals are a part. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. I am confident that with the support of the scholarship, I can realize my potential and make a meaningful impact globally. This scholarship is not just an investment in my education; it's an investment in a future where one has the opportunity to thrive with purpose.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs 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, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane and root crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops, especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. 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 attended the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I was 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 excel in studies while achieving a sense of purpose.

My mental health was challenged firstly during the COVID-19 period as we were learning from home. 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 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. Not being picked for the OECS Swim Competition of 2023 was a major mentally crushing experience. I placed second in the 15-17 category, finishing just one point behind first place! This denial crushed me. I swam in over twelve heats covering over 2,600 yards over two days with an injured wrist. It was difficult for me to understand this level of discrimination. I became stressed out, depressed and frustrated. I feel like I was not good enough and slumped into an angry mood, which was dark and brooding. I felt the weight of self-loathing and disappointment crushing me for weeks. This experience led to thoughts of suicidal thoughts. I engaged in therapy for months and eventually healed from this as well. Another major mentally taxing 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Therefore, my mental health was severely impacted. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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. This was a dark period in my life, and I did the mental health work necessary. 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. Mentally, my mom was also drained and so was I. I am seventeen and 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 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.

My mother is a woman like no other. Her indomitable spirit, class and excellence all make her the person I admire the most. Shawnna Thomas-Cuffie is a woman of poise, purpose and substance. She has impacted my life in a significant way through the values she taught me, and I live them just the same. Mom is a true Proverbs 31 woman who is “honored for all that her hands have done.” "Zakar! Hold your head up. You are not a slave!" These words echoed in my head throughout my childhood. Mom taught me that real confidence starts on the inside and that once I had a strong sense of self, I should portray it. As the son of a single mom, the financial hardships are a present reality. We barely had enough to live comfortably from day to day, but she ensured I competed in swimming, my favorite sport. We travelled by bus weekly to get to the pool as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. One instance of mommy's sacrifices was paying for my swim fees and taking me to meets. I broke personal records, shaving off as much as five seconds. One parent even joked, “Miss Cuffie, what are you feeding Zakar?” My mom smiled, handed me the ice pack, and prayed over me like she always did. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. I am 17 and sacrificed a great deal 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. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." We grew what we could so we could reduce the food bill and battered a lot. My name Zakar means " man of heights" and I was named by my mom who said that I must always take the eagle's height! Her indomitable presence and prayers over me have taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. As a Scout I ascended the position of Patrol Leader. Under my leadership, my patrol was awarded the prestigious “Patrol of the Year” title. My avid participation and excellence in sports and Scouts demonstrated discipline, enthusiasm and persistence. My mom taught me how to handle failure with grace and success with humility. I remember her telling me, “Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.” And she lived by that. Her actions, consistent but purposeful, built the foundation for my moral compass. She was not raising a boy who would simply survive the world, but a man who would help change it. To this day, her words still guide me. Her sacrifices were not in vain. From managing my time to managing my heart, every lesson she poured into me continues to shape who I am becoming. My mother did more than raise me; she equipped me and now I embody strength, faith, discipline, purpose, compassion and a vision. Shawnna Cuffie is not just a woman I admire the most; she is the reason I strive to be the best version of myself every single day.

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. We travelled by bus weekly to get to the pool as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. The Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. I persevered and completed grueling heats in many competitions, at times followed by ice baths and Diclofenac rubs to manage the pain. My name Zakar means " man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today. Growing up partly in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family to reduce our food bill. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. I believe I deserve the You Deserve It Scholarship because I embody the spirit of perseverance and possess a clear vision for my future. As a high school senior in Brooklyn, New York, I've witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to quality education thus fueling my drive for higher education. My acceptance into CUNY Medgar Evers College, CUNY La Guardia, SUNY College at Oswego and about sixteen more colleges represent a significant step towards achieving my academic goals. However, the financial burden of higher education threatens to impede my progress. This scholarship would alleviate some of that pressure, allowing me to focus on my studies. I am not just seeking a degree; I am striving to become a catalyst for change. I am confident that with the support of the You Deserve It Scholarship, I can realize my potential and make a meaningful impact. This scholarship is not just an investment in my education; it's an investment in a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with purpose.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $30K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. There was an extreme shock moving to Boston, then Brooklyn. I had to survive without cable TV, handwashed clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did in community gardens and at home. We also grew tomatoes, peppers, herbs and spices also loads of greens. The ills of the city were plenteous and heinous to see at times, but I felt safe in a community where parents pooled resources and looked out for each other. I was into competitive swimming and track, so I was engaged and busy excelling in these areas. I was entered into my first swim meet at five years old and it was exhilarating! I placed first in all my heats and had an amazing experience and decided that this was going to be my sport of choice. I swam competitively for the past eleven years and there were so great times and some traumatic times as well. One main impact swimming had on my life was to the ability to persevere despite discrimination, oppression and poor facilities. I learned to push through main barriers and stuck to my training. I had some coaches who were great and some who exhibited favoritism. I used this experience to memorize my workouts from the better coaches and had recorded them later and this kept me improving. This tenacity in attitude and disposition increased my self-confidence and gave me and a greater understanding of myself. So, in essence my experiences living in the inner city was quite a learning one. Swimming was a driving force I used 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. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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 mom took me to counselling and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. 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. Therefore, I reaped positive benefits living in the inner city. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I was a student leader in my high school serving on the SLT. My goal is 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 positively impact the world through my future career.

Growing up on an island surrounded by the pristine azure, blue waters of the Caribbean Sea was my first introduction to swimming. I always felt that the water was my happy place, and my mom saw it at just five months! My family called me " Aqua baby" while most babies would be screaming and hollering to the top of their lungs in fear of the water, I was the opposite. It was then mom said she knew I had to join a club to learn to swim early. So, at three years old I was enrolled in Seals Swim School! I entered into my first swim meet at five years old and it was exhilarating! I placed first in all my heats and had an amazing experience. Later on, I decided that this was going to be my sport of choice. I swam competitively for the past eleven years and there were some great times and some traumatic times as well. One main impact swimming had on my life was the ability to persevere despite discrimination, oppression and poor facilities. I learned to push through main barriers and stuck to my training. I had some coaches who were great and some who exhibited favoritism. I used this experience to memorize my workouts from the better coaches and recorded them later. This strategy kept me improving. My tenacity in attitude and disposition increased my self-confidence and gave me a greater understanding of myself. Swimming was a driving force I used to overcome parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically and I was emotionally distraught, but my mom refused to give up on us. I felt as though I was not worthy of love, and this therefore damaged 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 mom took me to counselling and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. Swimming was indeed my therapy as every stroke pushed me beyond my pain and into power and purpose. 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. We travelled by bus weekly to get to the pool as her dedication was my driving force to excel in this sport. Good Hope Pool was my happy place, a deck of conquering fears and building character. At the OECS Swim Meet in 2024 despite a painful wrist injury just days before the meet, I persevered. I completed fourteen heats over three days, each followed by ice baths and Diclofenac rubs to manage the pain. I broke personal records, shaving off as much as five seconds. “Way to go, Zakar! Awesome swim!” echoed around me. One parent even joked, “Miss Cuffie, what are you feeding Zakar?” My mom smiled, handed me the ice pack, and prayed over me like she always did. My name Zakar means "man of heights." Swimming has taught me to soar to great heights. My goal is to have a successful career in Animal Biology. 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. My avid participation and excellence in swimming through demonstrating discipline, enthusiasm and persistence have shaped who I am today.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family, as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. This is a personal achievement I am most proud of: my ability to survive and utilize life skills to navigate my way through life. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family, as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." We grew sugarcane, root crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens which we sold at the community market. Academically, I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level because of my involvement in my family's home business through exhibiting discipline, time management and decision-making skills. 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. Through my involvement in the Sea Scout Troop, I have participated in beach cleanups and was also involved in three environmental training camps, which culminated in the procurement of additional bins for our school. I also do gardening in community plots since Spring began. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population. As an avid participant in athletics and swimming, I demonstrate both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I currently attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school serving on the SLT. My goals are to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist. 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. My lifelong involvement in agriculture and my studies in the subject have taught me self-sufficiency, resilience in I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. The business I plan Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow. The path toward strengthening food security in the world is intricately linked to sustainable agriculture principles. As the world grapples with climate change and economic vulnerability, adopting innovative agricultural practices not only promises to enhance food production but also safeguard the health of the environment. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable agricultural initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population. 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 currently 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. Some monkeys live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated for an area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 concerning, and the threats must be mitigated before 2030. In the field of animal science, I would be impactful in assisting in achieving these goals.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality and we reared goats, sheep and chickens. This was part of our subsistence farming life. As pets, I had a red-footed tortoise, a hamster and two dogs. I conducted a great deal of research on their care and nutrition. I also built their habitats and ensured their feeding schedules were set at a certain time. 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 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such as poultry, sheep and goats. Some monkeys live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated for an area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 concerning, and the threats must be mitigated before 2030. In the field of animal science, I believe I can make a significant impact by assisting in achieving these goals. The path toward the care and welfare of animals in the world is intricately linked to sustainable environmental principles. As the world grapples with climate change and economic vulnerability, adopting innovative animal care practices not only promises to enhance conservation but also safeguard the health of the environment. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable environmental initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, I know that financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $ 30 K. This is barely enough to meet our needs from day to day. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help, and I did without a lot so we could survive. We have made many sacrifices to survive, such as no cable TV, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family, as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops. I learned how to be dedicated and the value of teamwork as a family. Another major challenge was not having enough resources to learn during the COVID-19 Lockdown. 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 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 teachers 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. An emotional setback 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-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt I was not worthy of love and therefore damaged 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. Facing these challenges equipped me for a path of success. As a result of honing 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. 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 by 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. As an avid participant in athletics and swimming, I demonstrate both discipline and enthusiasm for sports, thus shaping who I am today.

Kindness and empathy are what my friends and family would say I am known for and sometimes to a fault. Selflessness is putting the needs of others before your own at times delaying access to yours but ensuring others are helped. My personal tenet is "Helping not Hurting" and I practice this without apology. One such instance was during the COVID-19 period when we were learning digitally. We did not have enough resources to learn effectively in my opinion. It was difficult for me to learn with these infrequent rushed lessons. I became stressed out and frustrated and did not test well with this virtual learning mode. I then did some research and found three great sites with learning videos to assist me with my mom's help. I also asked for the syllabus and started a study group with other students on Moodle weekly as we were all struggling. This resulted in higher grades, increased confidence, and a greater understanding of my subjects. 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 damaged my self-worth. After many sessions, I was able to live an emotionally healthy life as a teen. I saw the need to reach other boys who faced the same struggle I had so through my youth group I asked the leaders if we could do a " Boys Healing Well" initiative once month and invite boys from the community to such sessions. These sessions were fun, interactive and engaging. We interfaced with male mentors, counsellors, teachers, coaches, spiritual leaders and nutritionist during these sessions. To date this initiative is still ongoing after four years with many boys and young men's lives impacted in an empowering, healing way. My name is Zakar Cuffie, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in the Caribbean our culture is one of giving, helping and sharing so I embrace this wholeheartedly! My goal is to be a successful Animal Biologist. Despite the above challenges, I have been dedicated and self-motivated throughout my school journey. 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. It was my embodiment of selflessness as a leader demonstrating discipline, diligence and a caring persona which earned this award. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality, so I had to embody selflessness in order for us to survive! 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 sacrifice a great deal so my needs could be met such as handwashing clothes, no cable TV to name a few. 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. I aim to succeed despite the hardships I have faced which I turned into opportunities to help others become their best.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship we met the meets of the marginalized and underserved populations. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well. Mom and I donated food baskets with fresh produce to the indigent families in our communities monthly. This was an initiative we started as we noticed many families were not serving fruits and vegetables as a nutritionally healthy additions to meals. I plan to continue to help the communities I serve through these viable practices. I currently attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school serving on the SLT. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated as a community for that area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. This was my first environmental conservation initiative. 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. As patrol leader, I led beach clean ups termly as a way to curb beach pollution. We also petitioned business to erect branded bins on key areas on the beach to prevent pollution. Five companies in the area came on board and we ran a successful initiative which continues to today. Also, 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. As the world grapples with climate change and climate vulnerability, adopting innovative environmentally safe practices would enhance the health of the environment and our physical and mental health as well. I also do gardening in community plots and donate the produce to the shut ins in our neighborhood. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards caring for the wellbeing of others especially the marginalized.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Therefore, I should be selected for this scholarship because even in the midst of financial hardship, I persevered and excelled while serving my school community and my home community as well. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving these goals. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and we also donated to the needy families, the elderly and the shut ins in our community. 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. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I currently attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. 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. The path toward my career is intricately linked to my community involvement. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing sustainable initiatives and ‌enhancing biodiversity practices. So, this scholarship can certainly assist me greatly on this journey.

I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving these goals. Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. I plan to help the communities I serve through these viable practices. 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. 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, community development and commitment to personal development have thus far propelled me towards my career goals. I currently attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school serving on the SLT. 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated as a community for that area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. The path toward my career is intricately linked to my community involvement. As the world grapples with climate change and climate vulnerability, adopting innovative environmentally safe practices would enhance the health of the environment and our physical and mental health as well. Through my involvement in the Sea Scout Troop, I have been doing beach clean ups and was also involved in three environmental training camps which culminated in procurement of more bins for our school. I also do gardening in community plots since Spring began. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. These activities attributed to the pride of my Caribbean heritage and taught me several life skills. My passion to attend college is stemmed in my desire to continue my academic pursuits which 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. Thus, cementing my leadership skills. 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. I plan to positively impact 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. That is why I am passionate about attending college. I will articulate the goal, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving these goals. The path toward strengthening food security in the world is intricately linked to sustainable agriculture principles. As the world grapples with climate change and economic vulnerability, adopting innovative agricultural practices not only promises to enhance food production but also safeguard the health of the environment. Therefore, I am passionate about studying and practicing prioritizing sustainable agricultural initiatives, ‌enhancing biodiversity, and promoting the use‌ of‌ renewable resources, which in turn would also benefit our animal population.

As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $ 30 K. 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, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Financial lack is a major challenge I face, and simple habits such as bringing lunch and snacks to school and cooking meals to last several days are excellent ways to save money. My call to public service stems from experiencing a lack and seeking ways to improve lives through science and community engagement. I was also taught to be not just financially responsible, but also environmentally responsible too. So even while we had many financial constraints, we were always conscious of our duties to the environment. So, to save on food, we planted peppers, tomatoes and herbs in pots. 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 preservation 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 in achieving 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 even in the face of being bullied by peers. I have peculiar ears, which is a trait I got from my paternal grandfather, "Elf Ears." Such challenges pushed me academically as I consistently pushed myself to perform at a high level. In addition to my academic success, I also made significant contributions to 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. All these leadership opportunities have propelled me to pursue the call to public service. 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 my academic excellence and contributions to the school. My mom, being a public servant for twenty years, serves with distinction and excellence, which I plan to emulate.

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. So, I took imitative with some other student who were parents of single moms to see how we could barter games, clothes and food items so we could save money. My classmates loved it and so an initiative was born out of a need and now we have a registry of items and keep monthly records. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Thus, this initiative paid off for me in many ways. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Being financially stable is a goal I have and intend to realize it. Simple habits such as bringing lunch and snacks to school and actually cooking meals to last a number of days are excellent ways to save money. Conserving energy and water are other ways I was taught to also be not just financially responsible but environmentally too. So even while we had many financial constraints, we were always conscious of our duties to the environment. Also, 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. So, through my involvement in the Scouts I was able to articulate the goal also targeting the preserving of biodiversity of forest, desert and mountain ecosystems of which land animals are a part. We formed an environmental group teaching the widespread destruction of animals on land and in the oceans is quite concerning and the threats must be decreased before 2030. Hence the reason I aim to study an area in the field of animal science. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct, making me a standout member of our school community. Academically, I pushed myself to perform at a high level but made time to be a part such initiatives. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to 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. This was where my leadership skills shown through. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir, representing the school with pride and responsibility. Through this group we collected food and clothes for boys in the orphanages. This we did annually as a way supporting other boys. Furthermore, I was and am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports and I set up sports and games at the orphanages as well. This taught us kindness, team building and empathy. The boys in the orphanage felt open, fearless and confident through our initiatives. 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 my academic excellence and contributions to the school.

Growing up in the Caribbean was tough; the financial constraints, abusive parents and teachers made life difficult to watch and participate in. One of my friends, an 11th grader, took his life and this was painful for me. He was the top of his class and participated in the International Brain Bee, placing 3rd in the world. I admired him so much and never knew how many problems he faced at home until he was unlived. His mental anguish was so severe that he exited this world at the highest academic level. I still think about him to this day. After Gio's death, I decided to get into agriculture as a form of therapy. I also invited some of my peers to join me and it became a peer mentorship program. We held meetings and sold produce while also working on our mental health. We were aware of each other's problems and had our " Peer Healing Talks" weekly and included a counsellor as well. This inspired all of us as boys to open up about our feelings and to have healthy emotional connections. Agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $ 30 K. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. Even amid financial hardship, Mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. I think these lessons learned and practices can make a difference in suicide prevention. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and root crops. This practice, I have continued where I am now in NYC with a few classmates and my guardian. The process of sowing seeds and tending to the young plants has helped many of them to become more psychologically sound and optimistic about life. 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. This allowed me to work with younger scout to empower them, listen to them and help them with skills to navigate their way through life. Now, I attend the Olympus Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. I am a student leader in my high school. My career choice is to help others understand the intrinsic value in themselves. I also aim to elevate my mind through studies to achieve a sense of purpose. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals. Thus, caring for others can bring out great qualities in a person and this can help prevent suicide. I plan to positively impact the world through my future career by advocating and educating on the value of human life and embracing diversity and differences. I would be impactful in assisting in achieving these goals through using two main values I hold dear: empathy and kindness. The path toward mental strengthening in the world is intricately linked to a perception of our differences. As the world grapples with hate, bigotry, imperialism and globalization, more and more people experience mental vulnerability leading to suicidal ideation. So, through my career making a difference in suicide prevention would look like caring through peer mentorship activities.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. My involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. 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 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 understanding of myself, the world and community was shaped through the values of persistence, excellence and responsibility. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. We saw them daily and advocated for an area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. I plan to positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving these goals. As a student I consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, integrity, and exemplary conduct. My commitment to both my academic and extracurricular activities was unwavering because of the values I held dear and those hardships I faced. In addition to my academic success, I made significant contributions to extracurricular programs. I also served as the President of the executive committee of the school choir. Furthermore, I am an avid participant in athletics and swimming, demonstrating both discipline and enthusiasm for sports. I am proud to share that I was awarded the Dr. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth Award for Public Health in recognition of academic excellence and contributions to the school.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. So, some students in my grade and I got together to do a small poultry farm project. We were learning about this is our agriculture classes and decided to do an agri-business project for the community. We included the Scouts, elderly farmers, women who catered food and had a community sale event. It was quite successful, and the entire community was thrilled to purchase local, healthy produce. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane. The positive changes or effects I would like to see happen in your community as a result of this event are mainly for the community to "eat what we grow and grow what we eat." It is important for proper nutrition to be a mainstay in our community and also for the factor of food security. Another positive change I would like to see happen is frequent community market. Many people are elderly and would prefer to shop within the community due to mobility challenges. They expressed their thanks to our team for the event and also including them in the planning. 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 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. Community work is a passion for me because I grew up in a family who made it a vocation to help others, and I intend to continue.

Growing up in the Caribbean, agriculture was a way of life for my family as I lived in an extended family structure. 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 meet our needs 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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Our involvement in agriculture was important to our family as our motto was "Grow what you eat and eat what you grow." Subsistence and arable farming were mostly what we did. We grew sugarcane, root crops such sweet potatoes, yams and tannias. We also grew tomatoes, pumpkins, green bananas, pineapples, plantains and loads of greens. Many of the crops cultivated were sold as well and I assisted in the harvesting of most of the crops especially the sugar cane which required many helpers. 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 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. Caring for animals is a passion for me because I grew up in a rainforest community where we reared animals such poultry, sheep and goats. There were monkeys that live close to our home. We saw them daily and advocated for an area to be included on the conservation list so that their habitat would not be destroyed to build homes. I plan to positively impact 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 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. The path toward strengthening food security in the world is intricately linked to the principles of sustainable agriculture. As the world grapples with both climate change and economic vulnerability, the adoption of innovative agricultural practices not only promises‍ to enhance⁢ food production but also safeguards the health of the environment. Therefore, I am passionate through studies and practice to prioritize sustainable agricultural initiatives, ‌enhance biodiversity, and ​promote the use‌ of‌ renewable⁢ resources this in turn would also benefit our animal population.

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. Even in the midst of financial hardship, mom insisted on savings and taught me about investments. Her home economics lessons and practices propelled me to be able to make great money decisions. Being financially stable is a goal I have and intend to realize it. Simple habits such as bringing lunch and snacks to school and actually cooking meals to last a number of days are excellent ways to save money. Conserving energy and water are other ways I was taught to also be not just financially responsible but environmentally too. So even while we had many financial constraints, we were always conscious of our duties to the environment. Even in this light to save on food, we planted peppers, tomatoes and herbs in pots. 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 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 am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to any collegiate institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

I am Zakar Cuffie. My name Zakar, means "man of heights" in the Akan language, and Hebrew, it means "male from God' and also "to remember." I am a student leader in my high school. I am a US citizen who was educated mostly in the Caribbean. I aim to be a successful Zoologist/ Animal Biologist and engage in law. 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 positively impact 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, also targeting the preservation of the 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 in achieving 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. I made significant contributions to 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 my academic excellence and contributions to the school. A driving force that propelled me to strive for excellence, which was also a challenge for me, was overcoming parental abandonment by my father. This affected me psychologically, thus becoming emotionally distraught and hopeless, but my mom refused to let me wallow in this state. She took me to counselling and I had to speak about deep-seated issues that had been buried for a long time. I felt as though I was not worthy of love, and this diminished 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. As the son of a single parent, the financial hardships are a present reality. My mom's salary per annum is under $ 30 K. This is barely enough to get us by from day to day. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help. I did not have many luxuries, so we could survive, such as no cable TV, hand-washing clothes, and walking to and from school. Surviving on a limited income has taught me to budget, set goals, and prioritize my needs. 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.

An issue in my community I have taken the initiative to address 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. This motivated me to tackle this problem. 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. After overcoming parental abandonment by my father, which 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. As a result, I engaged in self-defeating behaviors. I felt as though I was not worthy of love and therefore dented my self-worth. I am now writing about black boys. 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. My goal is to be a successful Animal Biologist. 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. I am 17 and I do odd jobs to help. I plan to expand my efforts by doing small group sessions with other young men like me to teach budgeting, setting goals, effective communication and the pillars of character. As a result of honing in on these skills, I am able to manage and be resilient. This scholarship will propel my goal of higher education as I aim to succeed and will also give me the opportunity to help others along the way.

Growing up in a single-parent household was quite a rich experience ladled with some difficulties and challenges as well. 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 faith in God played a major role in my healing journey. My values and morals such as honesty, loyalty, persistence, hard work and faithfulness have all shaped me to date into the young man that I am to date. 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, so I know how to budget very well. 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 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 preservation 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. These awards have demonstrated my foundation of already making a positive impact in the world and the communities around me. My strong leadership skills, academic drive, passion for science, and commitment to personal growth position me to make a significant impact on the world. I remain humbled and elated by my high school achievements and I am confident in my ability to continue on a path of excellence. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to your institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

I am Zakar Cuffie, and I am passionately committed to becoming a successful zoologist while inspiring others. Caregiving, to me, is providing love, hope and devotion to a person or a cause as others lean on you to be responsible for them. When I realized my grandparents were becoming forgetful I started caring for them in many ways. This helped them in a great way especially when I felt they were taken advantaged of. I do all of their retirement administrative work, plus ensure their food never runs out as they are on a special diet. I have also set up timely reminders on their phones with music they like in order for them to take their medication daily. Caregiving is also a humbling experience as you care you become aware of human frailty, fears, limitations and finality. You must be able to be trusted as a caregiver and the people entrusted in your care must feel safe, respected and cherished and these are done to support them. 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. Caregiving has influenced these qualities as I had to become more responsible, manage time better and practice more self-regulating skills. I intend to bring this same dedication to my experience in higher education. Caregiving also contributed to my devotion to both academic and extracurricular activities. As a 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop member, I rose to the position of Patrol Leader. My experience in caregiving helped me achieve this great feat. I utilized patience, teambuilding, decision-making and practical communication skills to lead and direct my patrol. As a result, under my guidance, my patrol earned the esteemed “Patrol of the Year” title, highlighting my strengths in teamwork, commitment, and leadership. 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. I lead with care, passion and distinction due to my experiences as a caregiver to my grandparents, who require patience above all else. It is this humbling and rich experience that has crafted the best values and virtues in me to follow and live by. In the same vein, at my former high school, 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 in the world. The receipt of this scholarship would assist my in continued excellence and completion of my academic journey. I say a journey because like caregiving, it is not a destination but a process and for me learning is lifelong and on a continuum. Caregiving has taught me some major lessons and all of those states would be employed throughout this higher educational journey. I see life as dynamic, and I endeavor to be an outstanding professional in my chosen field. My ambition extends beyond my career; I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to your institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

Reading is a passion I hold dear as I read, I enter places in my mind that transport me mentally. The most inspirational book series I have ever read is "How to Train Your Dragon," an exciting and adventurous children's book written by Cressida Cowell. This captivating tale is set in the Viking world and follows the journey of a young Viking boy named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. The story is filled with humor, bravery, and valuable life lessons, making it an enjoyable read for both children and adults alike. My mom can attest to how exciting it was for her to read the series. The story is set in the fictional Viking world of Berk, a place where dragons were constantly terrorizing to the villagers. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the protagonist, is the son of Stoick the Vast, the chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe. For their culture, it is a rite of passage for young Vikings to capture and train a dragon of their own. This resonated with me as a swimmer, I had to tame and eventually eradicate several self-doubts. Consequently, I have had to foster a strong sense of self-worth throughout my life. Like me, Hiccup is small, skinny, and lacks the traditional Viking strength and courage. Despite this, Hiccup embarks on a remarkable journey to prove himself. This I could identify with as I, too, am a lanky youth who loves animals. The theme of courage is prevalent throughout the film as Hiccup bravely chooses to defy the expectations of his Viking culture. I did that too when I told in elementary school that I could not compete in the long jump. Like Hiccup, I became persistent and with training and dedication and medaled silver in 5th Grade. Instead of embracing violence, Hiccup shows courage by forging a bond with Toothless, demonstrating that true bravery lies in understanding rather than fighting. Hiccup's journey symbolizes the transition from fear to respect. Collaboration is a skill within team building, and the books have taught me that there is power in collaboration, particularly between Vikings and dragons. At first, they were enemies, but their relationship evolved into a partnership for mutual survival. This theme is highlighted when Hiccup's innovations and friendships foster the harmony between these two groups, showcasing the strength that comes from uniting for a common cause. I had to collaborate with others when 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. Also, at my former high school, 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. Friendship is a core theme as well especially illustrated through Hiccup's bond with Toothless and his relationship with Astrid. Healthy friendships formed a great part of my personal development as my peer groups were sources of strength for me. Their journeys toward understanding each other mirror the larger narrative of Vikings and dragons finding common ground. The friendships formed amidst adversity serve as a catalyst for change within their community. So too I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth would make receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, just like Hiccup.

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 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 preservation 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. Therefore, 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 see life as dynamic, and I endeavor to be an outstanding professional in my chosen field. My ambition extends beyond my career; I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to your institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

I am Zakar Cuffie, and I am passionately committed to becoming a successful zoologist while inspiring others to recognize the vital role animals play in our ecosystem. So, in essence, I plan to be a caregiver of animals throughout my career. I have been a caregiver to my grandparents. Caregiving, to me, is providing love, hope and devotion to a person or a cause as others lean on you to be responsible for them. That is indeed displaying a life of service to my family. I do all of their retirement administrative emails, plus ensure their food never runs out as they are on a special diet. I have also set up timely reminders in their phones with music they like in order for them to take their medication daily. Caregiving is also a humbling experience. You must be able to be trusted as a caregiver and the people entrusted in your care must feel safe, respected and cherished. 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. Sports has influenced these qualities as I had to become more responsible, manage time better and practice more self-regulating skills. I intend to bring this same dedication to my experience in higher education. Sports also contributed to my devotion to both academic and extracurricular activities is steadfast. In addition to excelling in my studies, I actively contributed to various extracurricular programs. 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 reflects my discipline and passion for sports, as I continually strive to excel in all my endeavors. I lead my house, Aquinian, with care, passion, and distinction, drawing on my experiences as a leader. We placed second in the PBC High School Swim Fest and amassed the most points. Swim Captain as a leader must demonstrate patience above all else. I displayed a life of service at my former high school, community and family and was proudly awarded 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 in the world. As a 1st Presentation College Sea Scout troop member, I rose to the position of Patrol Leader. I utilized patience, teambuilding, decision-making and effective communication skills to lead and direct my patrol. As a result, under my guidance, my patrol earned the esteemed “Patrol of the Year” title, highlighting my strengths in teamwork, commitment, and leadership. The receipt of this scholarship would assist me in continued excellence and the completion of my academic journey. I say a journey because, like swimming and running, it is not a destination but a process and for me, learning is lifelong and on a continuum. Swimming and track have taught me some major lessons and all of those states would be employed throughout this higher educational journey. My ambition extends beyond my career; I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to your institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

I am Zakar Cuffie, and I am passionately committed to becoming a successful zoologist while inspiring others to recognize the vital role animals play in our ecosystem. So, in essence I plan to be a caregiver of animals through my career. Caregiving to me is providing love, hope and devotion to a person or a cause as others lean on you to be responsible for them. I care for my grandparents, and I do all of their retirement administrative work, plus ensure their food never runs out as they are on a special diet. I have also set up timely reminders in their phones with music they like in order for them to take their medication daily. Caregiving is also a humbling experience as you care you become aware of human frailty, fears, limitations and finality. You must be able to be trusted as a caregiver and the people entrusted in your care must feel safe, respected and cherished and these are done to support them. 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. Caregiving has influenced these qualities as I had to become more responsible, managing time better and practiced more self-regulating skills. I intend to bring this same dedication to my experience in higher education. Caregiving also contributed to 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. My experience in caregiving assisted me in realizing this great feat. I utilized patience, teambuilding, decision-making and effective communication skills to lead and direct my patrol. As a result, under my guidance, my patrol earned the esteemed “Patrol of the Year” title, highlighting my strengths in teamwork, commitment, and leadership. 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. I lead with care, passion and distinction due to my experiences as a caregiver to my grandparents who require patience above all else. Is it this humbling and rich experience which has crafted the best values and virtues in me to follow and live by. In the same vein, at my former high school, 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 in the world. The receipt of this scholarship would assist my in continued excellence and completion of my academic journey. I say a journey because like caregiving, it is not a destination but a process and for me learning is lifelong and on a continuum. Caregiving has taught me some major lessons and all of those states would be employed throughout this higher educational journey. I see life as dynamic, and I endeavor to be an outstanding professional in my chosen field. My ambition extends beyond my career; I seek to broaden my horizons through education, as I believe lifelong learning is essential to finding purpose. I am confident that my strong leadership skills, relentless academic drive, and commitment to personal growth will make me an invaluable asset to your institution. Receiving this scholarship would be a transformative opportunity, allowing me to pursue my goals and further my contributions to society.

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.