The business workplace is one of the most sexist fields. Where women are underpaid and verbally slandered. I want to change this in the business world. I want to empower women who aspire to be in this field, just like me. Make it where the social standard is to say 'businesswomen' instead of 'businessmen'. I graduated in 2022 from a small town in Louisiana, where thinking of becoming something more than a waitress is somewhat unthinkable. But I aspired to be more. I enrolled in my dream college, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and started my journey to get my degree in business. I am 19 and have worked hard to get where I am now. As a senior in high school, I took part in the STEPs program at Sowela Technical College and finished a full year of college. This got me a year ahead in my degree plan and set me off to greatness. As I did this, I worked 2 jobs to save and get an apartment when I moved to Lafayette, and I was successful in doing this. This shows how hardworking and resilient I am. It shows that I can back up my word when I say I try my hardest to succeed. I have worked hard to be ending my Spring 2022 semester as a sophomore. I also want to speak on something that many women can relate to. Something I have experienced that has affected me emotionally and physically. Bringing awareness to sexual assault is another one of my goals. Coming from the South, I have encountered many people to have told me when this happens the woman 'asked for it' or 'provoked' it so they deserved it. I was sexually assaulted when I was in the second grade. When my top concern is what nightgown I wanted to wear, or what Barbie I wanted to play with. This has emotionally scarred me to this day. Many women experience this same thing on so many levels and, sadly, it is downplayed in todays media. I have been to therapy and sought healthy relationships in my life to get me through that, but I would like to be there for others who have been through similar situations. Although I work hard, in today's society where inflation walks the US it is still hard to do things like go to college. I aspire to a debt-free education and every passing day it gets harder and harder to do that. I apply for this scholarship to help me get through these tough times, so I can take the business world by storm and flourish.

What people don't talk about being a first-generation college student is the pressure you feel, not only from others but that's also self-inflicted. But what makes you different from the others is recognizing that pressure and gaining the power to overcome it. I would like to say I've done that. I want my degree, not for my family, but for myself. I'm willing to put in the work to make sure I get the successful future I wish for myself. As a senior in high school, I joined the STEPs Program at Sowela Community College and finished a full year of college. Now, I attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette and I am currently transitioning into my Sophomore year. As soon as I came to Lafayette, I made it my mission to get internships where I could and start my journey to be successful. Luckily, I was given the chance to be a Statement Accountant at the age of 18. Getting a higher education means so much to someone coming from a middle-class family. Having to solely rely on financial-aid to cover tuition, along with outside scholarships can be hard. But I am determined to meet my goals and get my Business Degree!

1) I will get up every morning to make my bed and eat breakfast before going to morning classes. This will keep me motivated and help me from going into a stressful depression 2) I will always ask my peers around me if they are comfortable and if they need any assistance, this will make them feel validated and more included.

Believe it or not but my passion is just working hard. I like to excel and work hard at any task I do. I've had 2 jobs at once while attending college, while being a senior in high school. I have big goals and dreams and I know that if I put in the work, that I will be awarded. I am now a freshman at my dream college, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and I have an apartment off of campus. I am pursuing Business and hope to get my degree in 4 years or less. My passion has brought me so far, and I dont want anything holding me back. My family doesn't come from money, so I try to do most of my finances on my own. The opportunities I have been given have changed my life, and I am proud of myself and everyone that has helped me.

I am an 18-year-old entrepreneur trying to meet my goals. I am a freshman in college studying Business. I want to start my own business to help young woman, like myself, feel safe in our environment today. I know what it is like to be sexual assaulted by a man. I know what it is like to tell someone of my experience and be asked what I was wearing, maybe I was "asking for it". Well, I was 6 years old in a nightgown. I believe and console any woman who shares their SA experience with me. To this day, I get terrified walking down the street alone. With my degree, I want to create a business that allows women to feel safe with a single touch on their phone. A 24 hour, all women business that will stay on the phone with you while you do anything, whether it be walking to your car, getting a drink, or going to the gym. We will be on the phone talking to you, looking at your location, and putting 911 and any emergency contacts on speed dial. My goal is to keep women feeling safe.

As a young woman in 2022, I have experienced mental illness just as my close friends and family has. But not only have we been through it, but we have overcome it. And from experiencing what a real healthy mind is, I have been able to grow on my personal relationships and my aspirations in life. I have been able to accomplish the unthinkable as a freshman in college. I am not only enrolled at the university of my dreams, but I have my own apartment. I was able to stay motivated and balanced. And although I am very proud of my accomplishments, I am most proud of the relationships I am able to obtain. Communicating and understanding my peers and significant other has been the best accomplishment. Mental health is important for you and the people surrounding you.

Something I have always wanted was to become an owner of a business, or someone that could bring a big impact to a business that I work for. In sight of this goal, I have done my research to bring me the closest to this goal. I applied and got accepted to my dream school, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. At 18 years old, a senior in high school, I have got a full year head-start in college, I have 2 jobs and I just signed a lease for an apartment in Lafayette. One of my most valuable qualities is my determination and drive for the things I want. When I want something, I get it. So far, I have accomplished my goals set for success with only one set back, which is finances. But I will continue to work as hard as I know I can to afford my dreams.

Through your life, you go through the experience of finding and falling in love with yourself over and over again. I have only scraped the surface of uncovering my true self, but I already have discovered so much in 18 years. I know that I am determined, and when I want something, I can do it. I am diligent and hard-working in stressful situations. Although seemed as basic qualities, I see it as valuable in my journey to start my own life. I have gone through the trials of having 3 jobs at once, going to college, and signing a lease on an apartment, all while being a senior in high school. Without believing in myself, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish so much already. Having these qualities have helped me, but they have also helped me keep my loved ones motivated, and to me that's an even bigger accomplishment. I have big goals for myself, and I'm ready to embrace all of my qualities that I have yet to discover.

The business field is the most competitive line of work. To be a business owner, in the advertising or marketing department you need motive, drive, and the will to accomplish your goals. I have this. I can work hard and achieve anything I set my mind to. Many people can attest for saying I have a good work ethic and the personality made for this. I will graduate college. By the end of my senior year, I would have already finished a full year of college, and got all of my high school credits. My goal in life is to manage or own a business and watch something grow. To see others and myself succeed. I struggle to make this dream a reality due to a lack of money. Fearing if I don’t have enough money for a meal isn’t a rare feeling for me. But I would like to get to a point in life where I don’t have to feel that way. Investing in me wouldn’t be regretful.

Goals are specific to your world view. But my goal for my future, for my world, is to be steady in life and not have to worry about money. I don’t want my kids to have to worry about the things I worried about when I was kid. Worried about if asking for a certain thing for dinner will make us bankrupt. I have already started towards this goal, even being 18. I’m doing STEPs for school and I am a whole year into my college career already! I’m going for Business Finance and will have my Bachelors Degree after only 2 and half to 3 years of college. The only downside is that I have to pay $15,000 out of pocket that I don’t have. But I try my best and I am determined to gather as much money and work as many hours as I can to achieve this money and still go to college!

Something that I have learned about myself is that I am a people person. By this I mean that I am very attentive to peoples needs. I am very good at caring for and of people. My mom has always told me that I am like a mini mother to everyone I know. I try to manage myself to help others feel comfortable and trusted. Making people feel loved and comfortable is a top priority for me. I’m very good at listening to people and helping them when they need. I find this valuable because this means I can be a great friend to people and it makes me great in the work place. I’m very good at talking with customers and helping them when I am at work, so this has been proven. I’ve gotten compliments and a raise from my employer for my social abilities. I love making people happy and being trusted by other people as well.

The beautiful aspects of life come from culture, nature, people, and sound. I find beautiful things every day. Music to me, is very beautiful. No matter if you are hearing or not you can enjoy the rhythm and beat of music. If I am feeling sad or angry, listening to music is my first go to. Music always makes me calm down and feel focused. I can do my best thinking while listening to music. I am very passionate about lyrics and good feeling music. Majority of the time I find myself listening to R&B, but my playlist is filled with every type of music genre there is. The sounds and feeling music gives me is ethereal, beautiful. I’m in love with music and could not go a day without it. This, makes me very happy.

A song that most inspires me is “Strawberry Shortcake” by Melanie Martinez. This song is inspiring because Melanie put to light something that every girl experiences. This song is about self image and the faulty of the school system. She talks about why girls think they have all of these expectations of how to look. And the reason we think this way is because teachers and the school system tell girls to change and stop dressing inappropriately when they should’ve told boys not to act a certain way. Girls have this tough life in school and stress about not being perfect when the school system shouldn’t have been worrying about your shoulder showing in class and more about teaching you mathematics.

Something that has shaped who I am today is men. For example, my father is not in my life. My father has not been in my life since I was in the 6th grade. Another example would be, when I was sexually assaulted for over a year when I was only 6 years old. I know many students have the story of their father figure walking out on them or sexual assault experiences, but what makes me different is I have not given up. Although my father walked out on me and hasn’t tried to contact me, or that I was raped at such a little age, I do not hate men. I have a healthy relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years. I’ve never held a grudge against my father or the man that touched me. It has opened my eyes of who I am as a person. I do not trust easy, but I’m not forever closed off. I am not cold hearted and pondered why my father isn’t here or where my rapist is. I accepted and let go. It has had its effects and struggles along the way of my life, but me and my family have gotten through it. I am a stronger person because of these experiences and can’t wait to prove that I can succeed no matter what happens in my life.