I AM A PROUD WOMAN OF COLOR, born and raised by an awesome single mother who has instilled in me to never let anyone or anything hold me back. Experiencing several acts of discrimination as a child opened my eyes to the stories my mother used to tell me, but I took these horrific acts and used them as opportunities and steppingstones instead of stumbling blocks. I faced discrimination from teachers, peers, and naysayers; including organizations, but none have held me back. Despite being overlooked and sometimes denied, I kept working hard to be the best Me that I could be! Graduating high school, a year early, at the top of my class, with an associate degree in psychology, before receiving my diploma was no small thing. Some universities didn't want me, but that's ok, it wasn't going to stop me from pursuing a brighter future for myself and others. In August of 2022, I enrolled in college as an honor student, and I have maintained a 4.0 GPA with plans to graduate with my Bachelor of Psychology degree and a minor in child advocacy studies in December of 2023 at the age of 18. In January 2024, I plan to enroll in the graduate certificate program of social entrepreneurship which is designed for individuals interested in learning about and practicing social entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and innovation for addressing complex cultural, societal, health, informational or environmental challenges. I will complete that certificate program during the Spring and Summer semesters of 2023. I know I will need money, a willing and determined spirit, and education to get it all done. Therefore, in fall 2024, I will be enrolling in the MSW program and afterward taking the licensure exam. Last, but definitely, not the least, I plan to obtain my PsyD. This scholarship will enable me to continue my journey until completion. I know all of this will be expensive, but I don't want the lack of finances to be a hindrance for me. There are so many things that I want to do to help make this world a better place, which includes starting a non-profit to help the underserved. I already have the name and the mission in place. Some of the classes/education will assist me in developing everything to full fruition. I have volunteered myself, my time, and my gifts for many years. Though my passion is more driven toward children because they are our future, my heart is truly just to help the underserved. Making a difference in someone's life and/or this world is what I want to be remembered for. During my many hours of volunteerism, I have tutored children, collected, sorted, and sent books to children in Africa, participated in many drives to collect toys, food, clothes, coats, socks, gloves, and blankets, fed the hungry, and even campaigned in mayoral and senatorial races. These things are deeply embedded in me, and my spirit and I want to continue to do these types of acts of kindness for as long as I can. Also, one day, I plan to start a scholarship fund that will assist the underserved in getting a higher education. I pray that I am chosen as a winner for this scholarship and that we will keep in contact because this will encourage me to continue this journey knowing that someone cares, and someone gave me a hand UP which will enable me to do the same. Thank you for what you are doing to help make this world a better place.

"Can you hear me know" is a phrase that rings out in my head all the time because so many of my peers are suffering and most times, nobody is listening. I have been a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a phone call away, a sounding board, a helping hand, and peer support for a long time. We all have a need, but they may all be different needs. Mine are no more important than yours; even though they may be different. Going through years of this encouraged me to pursue a career in the mental health/psychology/social work field. Community to me is togetherness, caring, helping, oneness, and love. People in my community may not look, live, drive, eat, dress, or thrive as I do, but I desire for them to at least have some assistance in trying to obtain a better life. I was born and raised in rural southwest Georgia where there are so many young people suffering from mental health issues. I love, love, love helping others and I have been doing so practically all my life. I participated in Mental Health 4 Minority Youth(MH4MY) and TASCO which are Teen Support Organizations. During the Covid pandemic; so many of us experienced mental health issues. Some bounced back after a while and others are still suffering. Having to stay home every day and not being able to see and talk to my peers and teachers on a day-to-day basis took a big toll on me. I originally wanted to be an attorney, but after suffering, losing friends and loved ones, and seeing so many of my peers going thru, I absolutely, unequivocally decided to pursue a career that will help change the trajectory of how others are dealing with their mental health. Years ago, I heard this song pinned by the late Michael Jackson and it is literally the way I live my life. It says, “Heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race; There are people dying and if you care enough for the living make it a better place for you and for me.” This too is my heart’s desire. During my very first semester at Kennesaw, some of my professors took note of my love and desire to help others and one asked if I would be his Undergraduate Teacher’s Assistant and one asked if I would be her Student Learning Assistant. In these roles, I tutored students that needed additional assistance. I have also participated in an Undergraduate Research Assistance program where we studied the psychosocial factors that promote youth behavioral health in the context of adversity, including poverty, disconnection, and exposure to violence. I am currently participating in a Sex/Human Trafficking research project. All these things coupled together will assist me as I obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in child advocacy studies, my master’s degree, and licensure in social work, and my PsyD in psychology. I hold myself to such high standards because I can’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do. I pray for continued strength as I go forth in my future. One day I will open a homeless shelter, a nonprofit that provides supplies for the less fortunate, a private practice to counsel those dealing with so many disparities, and tutorial services for students that need educational assistance.

Community to me is togetherness, caring, helping, oneness, and love. People in my community may not look, live, drive, eat, dress, or thrive as I do, but I desire for them to at least have some assistance in trying to obtain a better life. I was born and raised in rural southwest Georgia where there are so many dilapidated homes, high poverty and crime rate, homelessness, and undereducated individuals. I love, love, love helping others and I have been doing so practically all my life. I’m only 18 years old but I started joining clubs in middle school and volunteering at all the activities. Collecting blankets, coats, socks, canned goods, gloves, toys, etc. for the homeless or less fortunate meant so much to me. I participated in events such as Stash the Trash—cleaning up the trash in the community, Feeding the Homeless during Thanksgiving, volunteered and worked with for the mayoral and senatorial campaigns, and many others. I continued as I entered high school and my first semester entering college, I set out to join clubs and create opportunities to assist. At Kennesaw State University, I am a part of the student volunteerism club and we have even extended a helping hand to children in another country. We collected, sorted, filtered, and shipped books to assistance children in Africa. That made me feel like I was on top of the world. Years ago, I heard this song pinned by the late Michael Jackson and it is literally the way I live my life. It says, “Heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race; There are people dying and if you care enough for the living make it a better place for you and for me.” This too is my heart’s desire. During my very first semester at Kennesaw, some of my professors took note of my love and desire to help others and one asked if I would be his Undergraduate Teacher’s Assistant and one asked if I would be her Student Learning Assistant. In these roles, I tutored students that needed additional assistance. I have also participated in an Undergraduate Research Assistance program where we studied the psychosocial factors that promote youth behavioral health in the context of adversity, including poverty, disconnection, and exposure to violence. I am currently participating in a Sex/Human Trafficking research project. All these things coupled together will assist me as I obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in child advocacy studies, my master’s degree, and licensure in social work, and my PsyD in psychology. I’ve never missed a day of school from Pre-K through to this very day in college, I graduated high school a year early, and I also obtained my associate degree while in high school. I hold myself to such high standards because I can’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do. I pray for continued strength as I go forth in my future. As a kid, I remember telling my mother that I wanted the homeless to come eat dinner at our house for Christmas and spend the night so they would have a nice place to sleep. I still have that desire in my heart, so one day I will open a homeless shelter, a nonprofit that provides supplies for the less fortunate, a private practice to counsel those dealing with so many disparities, and tutorial services for students that need educational assistance.

Community to me is togetherness, caring, helping, oneness, and love. People in my community may not look, live, drive, eat, dress, or thrive as I do, but I desire for them to at least have some assistance in trying to obtain a better life. I was born and raised in rural southwest Georgia where there are so many dilapidated homes, high poverty and crime rate, homelessness, and undereducated individuals. I love, love, love helping others and I have been doing so practically all my life. I’m only 18 years old but I started joining clubs in middle school and volunteering at all the activities. Collecting blankets, coats, socks, canned goods, gloves, toys, etc. for the homeless or less fortunate meant so much to me. I participated in events such as Stash the Trash—cleaning up the trash in the community, Feeding the Homeless during Thanksgiving, volunteered and worked with for the mayoral and senatorial campaigns, and many others. I continued as I entered high school and my first semester entering college, I set out to join clubs and create opportunities to assist. At Kennesaw State University, I am a part of the student volunteerism club and we have even extended a helping hand to children in another country. We collected, sorted, filtered, and shipped books to assistance children in Africa. That made me feel like I was on top of the world. Years ago, I heard this song pinned by the late Michael Jackson and it is literally the way I live my life. It says, “Heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race; There are people dying and if you care enough for the living make it a better place for you and for me.” This too is my heart’s desire. During my very first semester at Kennesaw, some of my professors took note of my love and desire to help others and one asked if I would be his Undergraduate Teacher’s Assistant and one asked if I would be her Student Learning Assistant. In these roles, I tutored students that needed additional assistance. I have also participated in an Undergraduate Research Assistance program where we studied the psychosocial factors that promote youth behavioral health in the context of adversity, including poverty, disconnection, and exposure to violence. I am currently participating in a Sex/Human Trafficking research project. All these things coupled together will assist me as I obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in child advocacy studies, my master’s degree, and licensure in social work, and my PsyD in psychology. I’ve never missed a day of school from Pre-K through to this very day in college, I graduated high school a year early, and I also obtained my associate degree while in high school. I hold myself to such high standards because I can’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do. I pray for continued strength as I go forth in my future. As a kid, I remember telling my mother that I wanted the homeless to come eat dinner at our house for Christmas and spend the night so they would have a nice place to sleep. I still have that desire in my heart, so one day I will open a homeless shelter, a nonprofit that provides supplies for the less fortunate, a private practice to counsel those dealing with so many disparities, and tutorial services for students that need educational assistance.

Community to me is togetherness, caring, helping, oneness, and love. People in my community may not look, live, drive, eat, dress, or thrive as I do, but I desire for them to at least have some assistance in trying to obtain a better life. I was born and raised in rural southwest Georgia where there are so many dilapidated homes, high poverty and crime rate, homelessness, and undereducated individuals. I love, love, love helping others and I have been doing so practically all my life. I’m only 18 years old but I started joining clubs in middle school and volunteering at all the activities. Collecting blankets, coats, socks, canned goods, gloves, toys, etc. for the homeless or less fortunate meant so much to me. I participated in events such as Stash the Trash—cleaning up the trash in the community, Feeding the Homeless during Thanksgiving, volunteering and working with for the mayoral and senatorial campaigns, and many others. I continued as I entered high school and my first semester entering college, I set out to join clubs and create opportunities to assist. At Kennesaw State University, I am a part of the student volunteerism club and we have even extended a helping hand to children in another country. We collected, sorted, filtered, and shipped books to assist children in Africa. That made me feel like I was on top of the world. Years ago, I heard this song pinned by the late Michael Jackson and it is literally the way I live my life. It says, “Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race: There are people dying and if you care enough for the living make it a better place for you and for me.” This too is my heart’s desire. During my very first semester at Kennesaw, some of my professors took note of my love and desire to help others and one asked if I would be his Undergraduate Teacher’s Assistant and one asked if I would be her Student Learning Assistant. In these roles, I tutored students that needed additional assistance. I have also participated in an Undergraduate Research Assistance program where we studied the psychosocial factors that promote youth behavioral health in the context of adversity, including poverty, disconnection, and exposure to violence. I am currently participating in a Sex/Human Trafficking research project. All these things coupled together will assist me as I obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in child advocacy studies, my master’s degree, and licensure in social work, and my PsyD in psychology. I’ve never missed a day of school from Pre-K through to this very day in college, I graduated high school a year early, and I also obtained my associate degree while in high school. I hold myself to such high standards because I can’t ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do. I pray for continued strength as I go forth in my future. As a kid, I remember telling my mother that I wanted the homeless to come eat dinner at our house for Christmas and spend the night so they would have a nice place to sleep. I still have that desire in my heart, so one day I will open a homeless shelter, a nonprofit that provides supplies for the less fortunate, a private practice to counsel those dealing with so many disparities, and tutorial services for students that need educational assistance.

My career goal is to become a Clinical/Counseling Psychologist with a private practice and many nonprofits, such as clinics and shelters. Mental health, giving, and counseling are all parts of my niche; therefore, I feel purpose-driven in this area and that this is where I can grow the most. I want this world to be a better place, so why not start with me? As I'm moving through my undergraduate career, I am researching ways to promote future orientation and positive behavioral health among youth among adversity and violence exposure, T/CSE youth, and sexual violence prevention to increase my knowledge and skills before starting my profession. After going to school for my baccalaureate degree in psychology, I would like to pursue a master’s degree in social work from Kennesaw State University. I have a passion for helping others, especially children. I want to use my psychology and social work education to promote the health of children, middle-aged adults, the elderly, and underserved communities. I plan to obtain my social work licensure, as well as my license for Marriage & Family Therapy. Following licensure, I will pursue a Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) from an accredited university. Living in an underserved community (socioeconomically and mental health-wise) has made me want to do everything in my power to make sure I give to the Albany community and improve the conditions of other places all over the world. I no longer want to walk down streets or drive to work and see children walking by themselves, elderly struggling to get to the bus stop, young adults just trying to get by, or young men with their pants to the floor and guns on their sides. I would like to start my own psychology practice to encourage the bettering and care for people today. I want to use my education to improve healthcare and living conditions so that everyone may be in a loving home, taking care of themselves, and working on plans for their futures. Receiving this scholarship would mean the absolute world to me. Not only would the scholarship go towards aiding me financially, but the scholarship award would also show that someone believes in me to do the great works that I set out to accomplish. The biggest obstacle I ever faced was having to accept the grade of a "D." I have made an "A" in every class that I have taken from Pre-K through currently in college. I was dually enrolled in college and high school. I was graduating high school a year early and also with my associate's degree in psychology. I procrastinated on my assignments and did not allow myself enough time to complete everything, but because I had an "A" in the class at midterm, I just knew the professor would allow me the opportunity to turn the work in late, but he would not accept it. I received a zero for the 3 late assignments. I was going to be the valedictorian, but that "D" dropped me from the #1 spot to #4 and it hurt me to the core. I begged! I cried! I tried and nothing worked. I had to accept my mistake and learned not to ever procrastinate again and that if I have an issue to discuss it with the professor before the due date. I won't stop and can't stop until I finish and finish strong.

I pride myself on giving back to my community and making this world a better place. I have been volunteering for many years and I noticed how happy and excited I felt when helping someone. It gives me a rush when I see the smile or excitement on a person's face when they receive assistance. There are so many ways a person could give and my prayer is that others would try it and help shape the world to always give or at least give back. God truly gifted me in my studies, therefore, I started volunteering at my church's afterschool program tutoring the children that needed help and I was only in elementary school. Later, I joined as many clubs as possible so I could do community service projects. I assisted in the canned food drive, coat drive, blanket drive, etc. every year. It really felt great knowing that I was helping to fulfill others' needs. I also volunteered in the mayoral race for two consecutive terms and the senatorial race for two consecutive terms. One of the senatorial terms was a paid position. Also, my mother works for a non-profit so I spent many, many, many hours and days volunteering with her as she sponsored or participated in different events in the community. My life is lived out through the song Micheal Jackson pinned entitled, "Heal The World." It is a beautiful song and the one portion that plays over and over in my world is, "Heal the world, Make it a better place, For you and for me and the entire human race. There are people dying, If you care enough for the living, Make it a better place for you and for me. That is so powerful. Sometimes all a person need is a smile or a kind gesture and I constantly look for opportunities to do just that. Since enrolling in college, I have joined the student volunteerism organization. We have completed a couple of projects. One of the projects involved us gathering books and sending them to Africa for the children over there. I was so ecstatic and even feel that one day I will visit Africa and volunteer my services while there. I plan to be a part of this great organization until I graduate. Volunteering, assisting others, and showing love, care, and concern to others led me to the career field that I am currently pursuing. I received my associate's degree in psychology before graduating high school by participating in the dual enrollment program. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in child advocacy studies. Next, I will be enrolling in grad school to obtain my master's degree and licensure in social work and later my PsyD. Once I finish school I plan to work and also open my private practice and looking to start one or two non-profits soon to assist those in need of counseling/healing or other things to make life better or easier. Helping to heal one day at a time!

“A good education is a foundation for a better future.” —Elizabeth Warren This quote is so meaningful to me and this is how I have been molded. I was born prematurely so my mother did not want me in daycare because it was too risky for my health and immune system. She asked an elderly lady from our church to keep me and she obliged. Well, she kept me from 4 weeks old until I was 3 1/2 yrs old. I was so far behind in my learning so my parents had to pay the price of keeping me sheltered for so long. I started pre-k at a private school shortly thereafter. By age 4 I was reading and speaking Spanish. It sparked the fire to my love for reading and learning. I would read from sun up to sun down. I never wanted to miss school because I loved learning. By the end of my kindergarten year, my teacher asked my mother if I could be tested for the gifted program, but my mother said, "No." Another great quote that I love is, "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today"--Malcolm X. From Kindergarten through twelfth grade I had perfect attendance and all A's. I enrolled in the dual enrollment program in high school and it enabled me to graduate with an associate of science degree in psychology and the opportunity to graduate a year early from high school. I graduated top of my class and entered college as a junior. Again, I love learning. I had the opportunity to graduate college this year, in December 2023, but I chose to stay on through the spring and begin my master's level classes while still in undergraduate studies. I plan to obtain my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in child advocacy studies, my master's and licensure in social work and in marriage and family therapy, and my PsyD. I have found a special niche in learning how the brain works and with helping others, so I have dived deep into the psychology arena. I was accepted into the honors program here at the university which enabled me to be a part of a research project. Since starting last year in August, I am beginning my third research project. I have had the privilege of doing research alongside peers and professors and it is very rewarding. Our team presented our findings at the NYAR Conference in Savannah and the university. This deep love for reading, learning, and helping others has just increased my enthusiasm about life. I will continue to strive to do my best, increase my knowledge, and help others along the way. I want to leave you with this final quote. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest"--Benjamin Franklin.

"You don't need a friend until you need a friend," is a quote that my pastor says all the time and it really, hit home as I began to get older. There were so many of my peers that would come to me when stressed, depressed, unsure, or even thinking suicidal thoughts and I would always be the listening ear, the shoulder to cry on, the hand to hold, or just show love, care, and concern. When I started high school, I thought I was going to be a lawyer, however, I ended up joining a group called TASCO. This club helped with peer involvement, counseling, and peer mediation. It also provided educational opportunities for its members. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it, because it involved things that I already did. Midway through my first year of high, the unimaginable happened. Covid-19 hit the state of GA and the first case was in the city where I resided. My whole world changed right before my eyes. We went to eating in versus eating out. Also, going to school and church virtually became the new norm. Being pulled from in-person school to virtual school was horrible. Well at first it was cool because we didn't have to go to school and we were in the comfort of our own homes, but that level of joy and peace ended shortly thereafter. I was not able to see my friends. We were not able to interact with each other daily. Even though I continued to get up every morning, get dressed for school, go downstairs and sit at the table with my laptop to attend class virtually; as though I was in school, it was a huge adjustment to make. I begin to feel the pressure and stressors of not being able to leave home and have time with peers, and not sitting in the class to learn what my teachers were teaching. I had also chosen to begin my dual enrollment classes during this time, through college and I felt overwhelmed with all of the changes because I had held perfect attendance and had maintained all A's from Pre-K through to that point. I had to work extra hard and talk to my teachers more, and through it all, I was able to still keep perfect attendance and maintain all A's. I could not say the same for many of my peers so I was compelled to help in some way, somehow. By the next school term, we were still virtual so I and some other students led a club entitled, Mental Health For Minority Youth(MH4MY). The purpose of the club was to provide an outlet for students and promote mental health wellness across our school and the world. This club changed my life and outlook forever. It was so powerful and helped me to decide on working in the mental health field. While in high school, I was able to obtain my Associate of Science degree in psychology. We are the future and I want to truly be a part of the future I believe in. I graduated high school and entered college a year early pursuing my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in child advocacy studies. I will continue my education as a LCSW, and LMFT, and finally obtain my PsyD so that I can help the entire family unit and help to make this world a better place. Since being at Kennesaw, I have joined the psychology club and participated in three research projects that have helped me gain more knowledge and a deeper love for this career path. I also participated so that I may learn creative innovative solutions to assist in healing this hurting world. This is one of the most powerful statements I have ever read and it has compelled me to work hard to dispel the stigma. “It’s a stigma, because, unfortunately, we live in a world where if you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast, but if you tell people you’re depressed, everyone runs the other way. That’s the stigma. We are so, so, so accepting of any body part breaking down, other than our brains. And that’s ignorance. That’s pure ignorance. And that ignorance has created a world that doesn’t understand depression, that doesn’t understand mental health.” —Kevin Breel

I face so many challenges every day due to so many things. Living in Albany, Georgia, you know that there is so much violence, so many gangs, and the crime rate is through the roof! It is not expected for you to make something of yourself and get out. People look at me and say “Oh, she’s different”. I don’t dress like everybody else; I dress like I’m a professional because of the respect of myself and my old soul personality. I have had perfect attendance since I started school, and I have always had all A’s, even now at KSU. Some people can be cruel or unkind, but others are supportive! Doing everything I can to make it, I had to learn that it is not always going to be easy. The year 2021 was probably one of the hardest years of my life. I was sixteen, graduating early from high school, and I had already been accepted into a few universities. I was so excited about graduating early, but I realized that the decision didn’t allot enough time for me to receive my degree. I promised myself to get my degree even with my graduation being a year ahead. I took two and three classes for my first two semesters at Albany State, and I started my sophomore year in high school. I took five classes during the summer of 2021, and I aced six college classes with 6 As in Fall 2021. In my last semester at ASU, I took 5 classes to graduate with my diploma and Associate’s of Science degree in Psychology in May 2022. I was so proud of myself because it had not been easy at all! It was and sometimes still is a struggle to know that people are constantly watching you and expecting things of you. There is always pressure on me, and the coronavirus did not help either. COVID-19 cut my freshman year short, and when I went back to school, I was a senior. I basically fast-forwarded through my high school career because corona cut the end of my freshman year and cut my whole sophomore year out. So many people had died, including people that I’d grown fond of throughout church and the community. I still wear a mask daily, but at that time, I wore two masks to stay safe and social distanced at least 6 feet. Seeing everything around you change from financial circumstances, family, death, and school causes a bit of a dark cloud to form. There’s a bit of desolation or gloominess around you because everybody’s going through something, whether it be a failing economy, sickness, or bad grades. COVID changed the way we learned in school. It went from doing your best and showing what you know to the survival of the fittest. Most students were either failing, working, or both. The constant pressure and hardships along with COVID are the hardest things I’ve dealt with, but I stood strong and pushed forward. No pandemic or pressure can stop my ambition or success. Since starting at Kennesaw State, I made it my mission to be the best me and take my learning back. I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, and I eat 3 times a day, making sure to rest the most I can on the weekends. Not only have I been a part of numerous research projects, but I have joined prestigious organizations and maintained my 4.0 GPA! I learned that it is okay to fall, but it is only failure if you stay down.

I have been doing community service events since I was a little child. From begging my mom to let the less fortunate stay with us for Christmas to working on senatorial campaigns, I love to serve my community. I always gave my kindness to the staff and students at my high school, but I also worked to better the community in many club organizations, such as Mental Health 4 Minority Youth, SkillsUSA, and the National Honor Society. Before graduation, we were working on building a school garden in SkillsUSA! In the National Honor Society, we worked many cross-country invitationals with one of our local middle schools! There were about three events during the school year for about four hours each! We have also participated in a warm drive to bring coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets to people who need them! The canned goods drive was highly successful as we had people donate all over the school; this is to help people who need food or may not have the stability or money to get groceries at the time! Our student-led mental health organization works to better the school environment. We worked against bullying, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, as well as listened to our classmates and conduct advice panels. Beta Club provided me the great opportunity to view the Liberty House, which works against domestic violence, and partner with the Victory Tabernacle of Albany to feed the less fortunate. Beta Club and National Honors Society both require a minimum of 20 hours each, and I overachieved on my hours for this school year! The city in which I lived, Albany, GA, is a great place, but it could be so much better if everyone would chip in or had the resources to do so! This is one of the reasons that I partner with businesses, such as CareSource and the Albany Police Department, to conduct back-to-school events for upcoming and past school years! I never plan to stop leading others by example or participating, especially being in college! I've learned that there is always someone or something somewhere that may need a bit of help or a "kickstart"! I've learned that you must be the change you want to see in the world! I volunteered with One Albany Inc. with a fellow SISTUHS member, Mrs. Domoni Jordan, to give out plates to the less fortunate for Thanksgiving. As a member of KSU’s Student Volunteerism & Service, I have also participated in many events, such as working on starting Service Fellowship Cohorts and Books for Africa! I have to admit that I love doing Books for Africa because I love to read, and I aspire for many kids who look like me all over the world to be able to read and write! I wish for them to be able to do anything they put their minds to! Another organization I participate with, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), helped to organize an event where we volunteered out on the Campus Green while Senator Warnock came to speak! I even volunteered at KSU’s Analytics Day as a registration volunteer for statistics research day! While here at Kennesaw State, I also want to start my own community service projects and/or clubs! I definitely plan on making my mark in any of the communities I step foot in, and it only takes one person to start changing the world! Here is a link to some of the things I’d like to share about my community service: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTYYqArWZBMmFMaEDclAwj8OevXGh5zI/view?usp=sharing

I graduated high school a year early, and I am enrolled at Kennesaw State University as a first-year junior because I was able to obtain an associate degree from Albany State University while in high school. I am majoring in psychology with a minor in Child Advocacy Studies. Not only did the community I grew up in aid in my decision, but my many experiences in high school and undergraduate studies have also played a huge part. I had the opportunity to volunteer in my high school’s counseling office, work in childcare, and volunteer in Albany & Kennesaw communities. As part of the African American minority and the Albany community, I see too often that mental health is not held up with high regard. Everything is more important than mental health, but the mind is what carries our willpower and motivation to keep moving through life. My career goal is to become a Clinical/Counseling Psychologist with a private practice and many nonprofits, such as clinics and shelters. Mental health, giving, and counseling are all parts of my niche; therefore, I feel purpose-driven in this area and that this is where I can grow the most. I want this world to be a better place, so why not start with me? As I'm moving through my undergraduate career, I am researching ways to promote future orientation and positive behavioral health among youth among adversity and violence exposure, T/CSE youth, and sexual violence prevention to increase my knowledge and skills before starting my profession. After going to school for my baccalaureate degree in psychology, I would like to pursue a master’s degree in social work from Kennesaw State University. I have a passion for helping others, especially children. I want to use my psychology and social work education to promote the health of children, middle-aged adults, the elderly, and underserved communities. I plan to obtain my social work licensure, as well as my license for Marriage & Family Therapy. Following licensure, I will pursue a Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) from an accredited university. Living in an underserved community (socioeconomically and mental health-wise) has made me want to do everything in my power to make sure I give to the Albany community and improve the conditions of other places all over the world. I no longer want to walk down streets or drive to work and see children walking by themselves, elderly struggling to get to the bus stop, young adults just trying to get by, or young men with their pants to the floor and guns on their sides. I would like to start my own psychology practice to encourage the bettering and care for people today. I want to use my education to improve healthcare and living conditions so that everyone may be in a loving home, taking care of themselves, and working on plans for their futures. Receiving this scholarship would mean the absolute world to me. Not only would the scholarship go towards aiding me financially, but the scholarship award would also show that someone believes in me to do the great works that I set out to accomplish.

I have heard the statement, "It's better to give than to receive," for a long time. As I began to get older, I truly understood what it meant. I pride myself on being selfless and one way I embody selflessness is through community service, volunteering, and giving. My selflessness and ability to empathize with others are two of the reasons I am pursuing a career in psychology and social work. I feel as though helping others is what everyone should take part in. From a personal standpoint, helping others is what helps me. Monetary is not the only way to help others, but here is one example that I love to share. I used to see the school crossing guard each and every morning and I would wave at her through my car window which put a smile on her face! However, I was saddened at the fact that I would not be able to speak to her anymore after Christmas break because I was going to graduate a year and a semester early! I decided to buy her a Christmas card and gift card for her dedication and kindness that she showed each day! She was there each morning to greet us, whether rain, shine, sleet, or snow. I never got her name, but I loved her because we shared a special bond! I love leaving my mark with people because it can make the smallest but biggest difference in their hearts and lives. Even smiles, hugs, and "hellos" can change people's lives! This is one other act of selflessness that will always stay with me. For Christmas last year, I asked my mom if we could use the money that she was going to buy me Christmas gifts with, to help others and she obliged. We went to Walmart and bought $250 worth of gift cards and just went through the store passing them out to different customers. It felt so good that we got back in line and bought $250 more dollars' worth and passed those out. Blessing others brings a smile to my face, and many people fail to realize that blessing others can bless you. Seeing the look on the mothers' faces and the way the children's eyes lit up when they received the cards is what keeps me going! One of the mothers was fussing at the children and telling them that she could not afford to purchase them a toy, so I gave her two gift cards and she began to weep. That touched me so much just to be able to bless her and the kids. As I stated earlier, monetary is not the only way to help others. I volunteered as a tutor at an afterschool program. I am an all-A student and learning comes a little easier for me, so I would go in to assist kids who are having a hard time learning. This paid off as well. I had a young boy who was home schooled, but he could not read, recognize letters, or write sentences. I took time with him for a week or so and he began to make so much progress. His parents were so happy that I took the time to help him, and they realized that he needed to go to public school so that he could get the help he needed on a daily basis. I will continue volunteering and doing community service as I embark upon my college experience because helping others is what will make this world a better place.

Because I want the world to be a better place; I would share this quote with the world. "Never stop learning because life never stops teaching." I'll never forget the Forrest Gump movie when he said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." Life has a way of teaching us things day after day. It is up to us to learn from our own experiences or the experiences of others. I heard all my life that if I continued to do my work and make straight A's, I would be able to attend whatever university I wanted to. Little did I know that my world would come crashing down in my senior year. My mother was single mom all my life. She finally got married my sophomore year. I completed my junior and senior year in one year so that I could graduate high school a year early and also earn my associates degree through the dual enrollment program. Now after all of that hard work, I learned that my parents' income had blocked me from most scholarships which means I will have student debt and that is what I worked so hard to not have. I was so upset! On top of that, my stepdad was diagnosed with cancer, but they didn't ask about our hardships or bills, they just said my EFC was too high for any assistance. My test scores, GPA, and grades were very good, but they didn't mean anything. I didn't give up though. I began telling my story and people decided to give me a chance. I promise to make them proud and to always give back to help others because as Forrest Gump said, "you never know what you're going to get."

You are absolutely, unequivocally correct!! College is often described as the greatest years, but I don't think I can say that for myself. I have experienced the biggest let down of my life. My mother has been single since I was born. In 2020, she met a guy and got married. Well, they decided to do the right thing and be totally honest on the FAFSA and little did she know that adding there income together, despite all of the bills; would kick me out of the need base category for scholarships. I have not been able to get any money from college scholarships through merit or need. It is utterly ridiculous. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA from kindergarten through 12th grade and also through my dual enrollment college courses and they still are not offering me any funds. Yes, you heard correctly. I have a 4.0 GPA, #1 out of 327 students, perfect attendance my entire school career and I can't get any funds other than the Zell. The universities keep sending paperwork for my mom to apply for subsidized, unsubsidized, and parent plus loans. We are not rich, but FAFSA seems to think that they make enough money to pay for a good portion of my college and it is just not true. So, I would definitely use the money towards room and board in hopes that I can get into the college of my choice. This really depresses me, but I am not giving up.

I have been doing community service events since I was a little child. From begging my mom to let the less fortunate stay with us for Christmas to working on senatorial campaigns, I love to serve my community. I always give my kindness to the staff and students at my school, but I also work to better the community in many club organizations, such as Mental Health 4 Minority Youth, SkillsUSA, and the National Honor Society. We are working on building a school garden in SkillsUSA right now! In the National Honor Society, we have worked many cross-country invitationals with one of our local middle schools! There have been about three events this school year for about four hours each! We have also participated in a warm drive to bring coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets to people who need them! The canned goods drive was very successful as we had people donate all over the school; this is to help people who need food or may not have the stability or money to get groceries at the time! Our student-led mental health organization works to better the school environment. We work against bullying, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, as well as listen to our classmates and conduct advice panels. Beta Club provided me the great opportunity to view the Liberty House, which works against domestic violence, and partner with the Victory Tabernacle of Albany to feed the less fortunate. Beta Club and National Honors Society both require a minimum of 20 hours each, and I am working on overachieving in my hours for this school year! The city in which I live, Albany, GA, is a great place, but it could be so much better if everyone would chip in or had the resources to do so! This is one of the reasons that I partner with businesses, such as CareSource and the Albany Police Department, to conduct back-to-school events for upcoming and past school years! I never plan to stop leading others by example or participating, especially in college! I've learned that there is always someone or something somewhere that may need a bit of help or a "kickstart"! I've learned that you have to be the change you want to see in the world! When I go to college, I want to start my own community service projects and/or clubs! I definitely plan on making my mark in any of the communities I step foot in, and it only takes one person to start changing the world!

I pride myself on being selfless. My selflessness and ability to empathize with others are two of the reasons I am pursuing a career in psychology and social work. I feel as though helping others is what everyone should take part in. From a personal standpoint, helping others is what helps me. Because I started high school in middle school and completed many college courses, I am eligible to graduate early. I only had one high school requirement left to satisfy, so I would go to school for one hour every morning from August to December. I saw the crossing guard at my school every morning and waved at her through my car window! However, I was saddened at the fact that I would not be able to speak to her anymore after Christmas break! I decided to buy her a Christmas card and gift card for her gratitude and kindness! I never got her name, but I loved her because we shared a special bond! I love leaving my mark with people because it can make the smallest but biggest difference in their hearts and lives. Even smiles, hugs, and "hellos" can change people's lives! This is one act of selflessness that will always stay with me. For Christmas last year, my mom and I were shopping in Walmart when we decided to buy many Walmart gift cards for families we saw in and around the store. Blessing others brings a smile to my face, and many people fail to realize that blessing others can bless you. Seeing the look on the mothers' faces and the way the children's eyes lit up when they received the cards is what keeps me going! I will always give what I can because there's always someone who you can help!

My educational goal is to go the farthest I can go and be the brightest I can be. You can never stop learning as there is always someone teaching and always something new to learn. Right now, I am working on getting my diploma and associate's degree to graduate in May! After graduation, I would like to attend an amazing college or university dual or double majoring in Psychology and Social Work. I want to obtain my master's in counseling psychology and social work, as well as my doctorate degree! My career goal is to overall help people in their daily lives. Helping other people is what helps me and makes me happier. After my undergraduate study and part of graduate school, I plan to work as a social worker and/or intern at DCFS or at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. After receiving my PsyD., I plan to begin working as a counseling psychologist, and in the future, I will start and work in my own private practice. Because I love to help, I am also considering a career as a marriage and family therapist. Being accomplished so young is amazing for me because I just may be able to pursue every career I am dreaming of to help the world! Mental health, giving, and counseling are all parts of my niche. They are where I am comfortable and where I feel I can grow the most by helping the world to be a better place, starting with me. When you are determined and have the ability to take criticism and do things on time, there is nothing you can't do! A great work ethic, a great mind, and a big heart can all carry you a long way!

Community means everything to me. It is a feeling of belonging or being a part of. To me the community can be strong or weak depending on what is allowed in it as far as resources for the people. For ex., If there are run down and dilapidated homes in the community, then the value of the homes in the community will probably be low. Community can also be a specific group of people, but to me all of us can belong to the biggest community which is HUMAN. I have always joined clubs or made myself available through my church or organizations in my community whenever they needed volunteers. I do this because there is always an opportunity for the community to grow, increase, or become stronger. My church's motto is "To build a model community, that will in turn build a model church." I think that is so powerful. We can develop or create what we desire in our community. We have an afterschool program that I attended for years. One day I decided to give back to some of the kids that were struggling in school, so, I became a tutor. It felt awesome to see the improvement in their work just by me taking a little time to offer my expertise. I have also joined many clubs over the years because they offer so many opportunities for me to volunteer in the community. I love my community, I love people, I love making a difference, therefore, I offer my service even when others think that I am crazy for doing so. I say that because one year on my birthday, it was very cold, and we were outside packing boxes with food and giving them out to those in need as they drove thru. Some of my friends said, "What are you doing for your birthday?" I then stated, "I am not sure of everything that I will be doing, but I do know that I will be volunteering that day." They thought I was crazy for doing that. I am a dual enrollment student who has worked extremely hard to graduate a year early from high school and simultaneously obtain my associate degree in psychology. I plan to double major and pursue bachelor's degrees in psychology and social work. Then I will obtain my masters and doctorate degrees in counseling psychology. My dream is to open my own practice and give back to the community, by assuring that a licensed social worker/counseling psychologist is available to meet their needs. Currently, the world is in dire need of this resource. Mental health, suicide, depression, etc. is on the rise because of all of the different things that we are facing as an entire community. Death, fear, lack of employment, lack of food, decrease in health, etc. are major issues that are playing a role in the need. Knowing that I will be able to help combat the shortage and assist people is a true blessing!

Oh Wow, When I hear the word nature, I instantly think about the Garden of Eden. I truly believe that was one of the most beautiful places. I have to be honest though; I didn't like outdoors/nature for years, but my mom always has. She used to tell me stories about how they used to eat the honeysuckers and sour grass when they went outside to play as kids. The stories were very intriguing, so as I got older, I decided I would start taking her up on the offers to go outside for a nature walk. Let me tell you, boy oh boy what had I been missing! We moved from the city to the country a few years ago and my whole world has changed for the better. I see things that I have never seen before. We go on nature walks, and we see squirrels, rabbits, cats, deer, butterflies, all different kinds of flowers, trees, bushes, birds, etc. That is so refreshing. We even see trials in our backyard, in the ground where moles have travelled. I think that is just the coolest thing. Last year, we decided to plant our very first ever garden. It was very successful. We planted okra, bell peppers, tomatoes, collards, and even cabbage. Being able to go out and water the garden and check the growth, and eat the vegetables truly blessed my soul. It gave me a new, found love of nature. I plan to continue to explore nature by implementing it into my daily life.

I have been taught to be very respectful of myself and others. This has taught me how to treat others with empathy. When you respect others; it includes respecting their space, feelings, opinions, and differences. We all are different and unique, but human, so when you know that; it is easy to show compassion and kindness towards others regardless. I have also always been a good listener and have a loving spirit. I have friends from the LGBTQ community, and I am very empathetic towards them when others are so mean spirited towards them. They have feelings just like everyone else. They also have rights and choices just like others do. I am so grateful to my mom for teaching me how to treat people. This world would be a much better place if everyone would learn to show compassion and kindness to others. That is a constant prayer of mine. I pray it all the time because it will make things so much better if we would all realize that sometimes things are not in our control, so certain circumstances happen, and a person may just need somebody to lean on. They may need just a little empathy to make it through. As I stated earlier, my respectful, loving, kind spirit will help me to continue in the path of treating others with empathy.

Ms. Carter, you are absolutely, unequivocally correct! I didn't realize how important hobbies were until I got a little older. I have always loved and enjoyed reading. I would rather read than watch tv, play with my friends, shop, or anything. I have also loved learning/education. By maintaining all A's in school and never missing a day of school I felt like I had arrived, but oh how I was sadly mistaking. I have always obtained all A's and currently still have a 4.0 gpa. Nevertheless, I have implemented other hobbies into my world which have helped me to feel more well-rounded, balanced, and in control. Let me tell you, I have become addicted to helping others or just helping someone to put a smile on their face through a small act of kindness. Many people don't even realize how far a gentle smile or simple hello could go. In my world, there are no big I's or little you's; we are all somebody. I find myself participating in many clubs because we do lots of community service projects that help others. For example, we planned a warm coat drive for people to donate coats, blankets, gloves, scarves, etc for the less fortunate to be warm during the cold winter. On my birthday, we had a Feed the Homeless/Hungry drive where we filled boxes with food and gave it to families as they came thru for food items. It was extremely cold and early, but it was the best birthday gift ever; just to be able to give back on my special day. I left with a smile on my face. I am preparing to go to college. This scholarship would afford me the opportunity to further my education and I am sure pick up other great hobbies. I plan to become a social worker, marriage/family therapist, and eventually a counseling psychologist. Thank you and I will continue to ENJOY MY JOURNEY!

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom" ~Charles Dickens This is the sentence that I would share with the world because it has shaped me into the person that I am today. I look at my mother and see how so many people call her for wise counsel, godly wisdom, prayer, or just a listening ear. I said, "Mom, how do you do it?" She stated that it comes with having a loving heart. I did not understand it then, but as I grow and mature, I understand it better and better. A loving heart helps you to not judge others. Knowing that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made is powerful. There are truly no big I's and little U's. The desire to treat others as I want to be treated helps me to show care, concern, love, and respect to everyone. One has to have a loving heart in order to understand and believe that. It also helps you to truly listen to what a person has to say. Helping others feel like they matter and are important will go a long way. That listening ear is open to possibly offer the true wisdom needed at any given time. I will take this on my journey so that I can master it in my study to become a psychologist.

GIVE ME SOME SNACKS AND ROMANCE MOVIES AND I WILL BE THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD! I truly love "love" and that's why romance movies are my favorite. Love makes the world go round. I also truly love my snacks which include some spicy chips, chocolate, and a drink. After a long week at school, I love spending my Saturdays watching movies and eating snacks which helps keep me at my happy median. I work really hard and do my very best to achieve high grades. I have been able to maintain all A's from pre-k through this year; my senior year, which has included many dual enrollment college courses. That makes me proud! I have also participated in many clubs, where I have been afforded the opportunity to engage in lots of community service events. These events give me a chance to show love and support toward others. These events include the Pink Walk which shows support for women experiencing breast and cervical cancer, Warm Coat & Blanket Drive to assure that the homeless or less fortunate will be warm during the cold winter and Feeding the Hungry Drive Thru which is where we pack food into boxes and give it to the people as they come thru for food. No matter where I go in life, I plan to spread love, watch movies, and eat snacks!

First and foremost, I would like to thank Mr. Robert F. Lawson for his service. I would also like to thank my mother for raising me with a spirit of serving and helping others. Matthew 25:40 says, "Whatever, you did for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me." This is a passage of scripture that I hold dear and near. The desire to help others has been instilled in me since I can remember because my entire family has a heart and spirit to serve and help others. My mother has over 40 years of social service experience: from being an usher at church for over 20 years, over 6 years of working with mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse families, to being a health care disability worker for over 15 years. My father is a marine veteran and an x-ray tech at the hospital where he has worked for over 30 years. My stepfather, brother, sister-in-law, and most of my uncles have served or is serving this country through the armed forces. I have been taught by word of mouth and by their action on how I should be towards others. I am a young lady poised to carry out the plans that God has set forth in my life. Some of my character traits are integrity, kindness, dependable, honest, determined, empathetic, and many others. Education is very important to me; therefore, I have never missed a day of school. I have maintained all A's in every subject, every year since pre-k; even in my dual enrollment college courses. I have been a member of and held offices in many clubs. These things have helped to prepare me for the road ahead. Mental health, therapy, and just needing help is always frowned upon, but no in my eyes. We all have or will need help at some point in life. I have been very supportive of my community, family, people in need, friends, etc. and I plan to stay that way. I volunteer to help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and even give school supplies for less fortunate kids. It is very rewarding to see people's face light up when they realize that there is someone willing to help. I remember a couple of years ago, it was freezing cold, and it was my birthday. I went to a local church in my community to help box up food and pass out to families in need as they drove through. That was a very rewarding experience and also one of the best birthdays ever! I just love and enjoy being there for others. In some instances, my peers are older than me, but I am normally the one always speaking positive or trying to uplift them despite their circumstances. We even have a peer mediation club at school that I joined called TASCO. My peers can come to talk through different situations, and we help them to stay optimistic and get it resolved. I love this because it is helping others, helps me show my leadership skills, and shows me how not to judge others. The motto is, "We're ears to our peers." I have chosen a school where community service is very important. I pray that I will get enough financial assistance so that I can pursue my dream to obtain my bachelor's degree in social work and Marriage & Family Therapist, and also my master's and doctorate in counseling psychology so that I can help others.

SAY IT LOUD; I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD! Yes, I am Amari Cody, an African American female who dares to be different. Being raised by a single parent, my mother has impacted my life in a very positive way. She instilled great morals and values into me, which helped to mold me into the young lady that I am today. My grandmother raised my mother and my two uncles on a very low income as a seamstress. The three of them went to college and graduated. One of my uncles and my mother both, graduated from the unsinkable Albany State University (HBCU). My mother's heart's desire is and was to be a servant to God and others. As you can see, education is key in this family bloodline. Mom molded me in the fear and admonition of God and to be an educated woman of integrity. I hold these values close to my heart. Setting goals and striving for success in all areas is something else that is expected of me. I have had perfect attendance since the first day I enrolled into school all the way to my current senior year (PreK--12th) and never tardy either. There were times that I felt a little ill or maybe even somewhat tired, but I couldn't let that stop me. One has to work hard in order to be the best that one can be. Honestly, being African American alone has the tendency to make me work harder because I don't even want that to be a hinderance for me. I have had all A's every year. I am at the top of my class, and I have a 4.0 in my high and college courses. I am currently a dually enrolled student at my mother's Alma Mater, yes, the unsinkable Albany State University and I am honored to be there. Let me pause for a moment and let you know why I keep saying the unsinkable ASU. Back quite a few years ago, before I was born, a flood hit Albany, Ga. It was told to me many times over that the levees were released so that the water could flow to that part of the city, which was predominantly African American. It was also where the university stood. Well, the flood waters covered all of the buildings on the entire campus. Nevertheless, Albany State rebuilt everything, and they came back stronger, bigger, and better. Now it is known as the unsinkable Albany State University. I can proudly say that this is now my Alma Mater as well. The experience of being raised by my mother has driven and impacted me for my future. I will continue to strive and complete my goals. I won't let nothing stop me. My heart's desire is just like hers. I want to help others. I will receive my AS degree in psychology, actually before receiving my high school diploma. I will then further my education to earn my bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in psychology. I pray the being black and proud and also graduating from an HBCU will afford me the opportunity to "not be judged by the color of my skin, but by the content of my character," Martin Luther King, Jr.