Throughout my high school years, extracurricular activities have been a major part of my personal growth. They've allowed me to develop invaluable skills while also contributing to my community and developing my hobbies to shape who I am as a person. My involvement in music, environmental activism, student support groups, and community service hasn't just shaped my self identity and supported my personal growth, but has also given me the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on those around me. One extracurricular activity I am most passionate about is music. I have been a music lover since the day I was born with listening to old school R&B in the mornings when cleaning to now, having developed my own personal music taste. Since 4th grade, I have been playing the clarinet in my school's band. Recently, I have begun to learn how to play the guitar to connect with my dad and play the piano as a personal creative outlet. Through music, I have learned discipline, perseverance, and the value of self-expression. Performing and practicing have both strengthened my ability to focus and collaborate. These are two skills that are essential in both academic and professional settings. Beyond music, I am actively involved in the Green Club at my high school as the president, where we work to mitigate incineration in Baltimore City, along with other organizations, due to the negative effects on the community. Running this club for 4 years has heightened my awareness of environmental issues and has empowered me to use many resources to advocate for sustainable solutions. Along with being the presidents of Green Club, I am also the president of a self-help club that provides a safe space for students dealing with bullying, ensuring that everyone has a supportive environment to turn to. Additionally, as a member of the Black Student Union (BSU), I help foster a sense of unity and cultural appreciation within our school. Apart from working with my school's Green Club to serve the community, other forms of community service is another crucial part of my life. On weekends, I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, contributing to working in the stores, helping people in need and giving my time to ensure that others receive the help they deserve. Seeing the smiles on people's faces when helping them reinforced my commitment to service and social responsibility. These activities have prepared me for college success by teaching me time management, collaboration, and resilience. They also teach me about balancing work and personal life through growing into who I am now. Balancing academics with extracurricular commitments had been hard, but worth it as it has enforced a strong balance in my life. I am grateful for the opportunities my extracurricular involvement has provided for myself and others, and I hope to continue making a difference through my passions. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to further my education while continuing to engage in activities that enrich both my life and the lives of those around me.

As someone who was bullied for years until the beginning of middle school, I understand how it feels to be bullied and to have a sense of gloom hanging over you when leaving and returning to school. I remember going to the administration and feeling unsupported when they seemed to "brush off" my pleas. I can think back to when I cried almost every night because I couldn't understand why I was being bullied. I felt like there was something wrong with me and I wasn't good enough. When I began middle school, I was invited to sit with a group of people at lunch. I was finally happy to have made some friends, especially at a brand new school. Since then, the people that I sat with on that day are now my closest friends and I am so grateful that they were there for me. I have grown into the person I was meant to be, an outgoing, funny, and brave kid. I have been dedicated to my scholastic community as well as the community that surrounds it. In my community, I strive to be an advocate for my peers for inclusion, education, and overall well-being. Whether it is mentoring younger students, volunteering at organizations that support underprivileged people, or even having fundraisers to donate to victims of a hurricane or victims of local incineration, I am committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for others. Additionally, as a victim of bullying, I am very familiar with the challenges other teenagers face today in regards to bullying, whether it is online or in-person. To help with and address these issues, I promote safe and open spaces for students to speak their minds about any and every problem. I do this by leading a club at my school that has strict rules about listening to others and being open and caring to others within and outside of the club. By facilitating a safe place to have important discussions and for students to feel safe in general. This is very important to me because as a kid, I needed an open space to be myself free of judgement. My goal has been to contribute to a community where everyone feels valued and protected by creating safe spaces, on and offline. As I enter higher education, financial assistance is imperative for me to purse my education and profession. Any support eases the financial burden, allowing me to focus on my academics and community involvement. I aim to make a as meaningful of impact at the college that I attend as my high school.