Despite the challenges, I have always been a loving and joyful person. Many people would know me as a girl who always smiled and cheered on her friends and family, making them laugh and showing them love and support consistently. However, many people didn’t know what I’ve dealt with mentally. I am the child of a difficult divorce. I constantly heard the bickering and arguing, the name-calling, and continually keeping secrets. I also dealt with the rocky relationships with me and my parents and with their significant others as well at such a young age. I’ve always felt unheard, like I have to keep most things to myself. I was in elementary school when my parents separated. My parents may have known that I was sad about them separating, but they certainly didn’t know how much of an impact it had on me. In elementary school, I had to bring heavy bags stuffed as tightly as possible to school because my parents could not stand to see each other face to face. As I got older, the random breakdowns became more burdensome to handle, so I finally decided to stand up for myself and tell my dad about how I had been feeling. It felt like talking to a brick wall. My father told me I had to “toughen up” because this was my reality, and through it all, I’ve maintained to keep my joyous spirit alive. With those words ringing in my mind, I knew I needed to find another outlet. Once I entered high school, I realized that keeping my feelings to myself took a massive toll on my mental health, and I couldn’t continue to let that happen. I knew I needed to find new ways to cope with my feelings. I began to journal, writing my feelings down to process what those feelings were and how they impacted me. As I continued to journal, I saw a drastic improvement in my mental health. Journaling made me realize how important it was to be able to express my feelings and thoughts. I became more self-assured with my feelings, contributing to running for and being elected as Site Ambassador for College Bound, a college readiness organization. As the site ambassador for College Bound, I allow people to express themselves and feel heard. Every week at Site, I greet everyone and do a mental health check-in, asking about their days and feelings. At the end of Site, I ask people to share positive news and create space to highlight events in their lives that they would like to share. I have sought opportunities that give me the freedom to express myself and give others a chance to speak in a way I was never given growing up and being an advocate for theirs. It made me more accepting of myself and made me realize what impact I had on the other students. It showed me my potential greatness and what I bring to different communities and society. My inspiration to work in STEM came from Katherine Johnson, an intelligent and gifted woman who experienced racial discrimination at her workplace. As a child, I have always been fascinated with computers. My dad had so many different gadgets around the house, and I wanted to play around and mess with them, but my favorite was the computer. I loved to hear the clicking noises. I knew how to work the computer for personal reasons, but I was eager to learn about the computer’s software and its algorithms. I first learned about Katherine Johnson from watching the movie “Hidden Figures.” As a young black girl, I gravitated towards the film. Even though I have not experienced overt racism, I still knew that it is accurate and there will come a time, somewhere, that I will experience it. Watching and researching Katherine’s story taught me how my skin color should never deter my intelligence. Yearning to work at an organizational level similar to NASA and as a data scientist, I understand that setbacks in my life may discourage me, but knowing who I am, I will still thrive despite the odds. During my long-term career, I plan to work alongside future-educated professionals to create a better society. I have always had a passion for being a leader and helping others, so in the future career path that I envision, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop more safe and efficient technology. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement, showing them that black excellence is fundamental—showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. My aspiration is not just personal success, but to use my skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact on society, breaking down barriers and paving the way for others. My unwavering passion for technology and leadership has always been the driving force in my life. I’ve used the challenges I’ve faced as a reason to stay spirited and involved in my community. Despite the complex challenges, I’ve prayed and motivated myself to wake up positively and do my best daily. I’ve reflected on my circumstances, learned from them, and found my voice so that I not only convey my feelings and thoughts but also encourage others to do the same. As I prepare to further my education at Louisiana State University and become a first-generation college student, I am committed to keeping my advocate and ambitious spirit alive. I want others around me to feel the positivity as a comrade or friend while I take the initiative to put the “word of mouth” philosophy into my academic and personal aspirations to better our society and build community. I am determined to pave the way for other colored women who aspire to have STEM careers like me. My long-term mission is to achieve my aspirations and be proud of the path I’ve carved.

Going to college means having lifelong experiences. College is where you experience independence, responsibilities, and earning future opportunities. You start to learn your true identity in college. You understand the first adult stage of learning how to do things independently and hold yourself accountable. You know how to have discipline, and learn that time waits for no one. You learn about different careers, find which suits you best, and earn different internships or jobs. And in the end, you also create bonds with students and professors that you will cherish and significantly appreciate. As the first person in my family to go to college, I bring a unique perspective and a strong determination to succeed. I've already accomplished the goal of breaking the cycle of only completing high school. I also want to hold the achievement of graduating college with remarkable academic and extra-curricular performance, networking with others, creating community at school, and being a leader and companion to all. Still, ultimately, I want to become a data scientist and a global leader for other women. As a child, I have always been fascinated with computers. My dad had so many different gadgets around the house. I have always wanted to play around and mess with them, but my favorite gadget was the computer. I tried to type on the computer and mess with the software. I always loved to hear clicking noises. My father is great at fixing devices simply by watching YouTube videos, but I was eager to learn about computer software and what makes it work. A lot of advanced technology now surrounds our world today, and this was the beginning of my calling to work in the computer science field. My passion for technology and leadership has always been a driving force in my life. During my long-term career, I plan to work alongside future-educated professionals to create a better society. I have always had a passion for being a leader and helping others, so in the future career path that I envision, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and efficient. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement, showing them that black excellence is fundamental—showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. Eventually, I want to be proud of myself and say I have accomplished my mission. Becoming a first-generation college student has become one of my significant accomplishments in my family. It will reassure me that I am one step closer to accomplishing my long-term goal and can contribute to my family and society in a more meaningful way.

I would say my greatest achievement to date would be learning how to express myself coming from a point in my life where I felt I was unable to. It is common knowledge that communication is key to any relationship. As a kid, you learn how to communicate from those around you, mainly your parents. Growing up, I lacked a good example of communication. I was taught the stereotypical rules of a child: to watch what you say to adults, and that adults should be put on pedestals regardless of whether they are right or wrong. I was expected to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself. While I didn’t know it at the time, these lessons affected my mental health and ability to express myself. I have always been a loving and joyful person. I always cheered friends on, making them laugh and showing them love, but was never good at expressing my own emotions. I am the child of a difficult divorce and have always felt unheard, like I have to keep most things to myself. I was in elementary school when my parents separated and wanted the “perfect family” that my friends had. I struggled to come to terms with the fact that would never happen. My parents may have known that I was sad about them separating, but they certainly didn’t know how much of an impact it had on me. I was expected to keep secrets from my mom about my dad’s new girlfriend because, as my father emphasized, “whatever happens in this house, stays in this house.” This put a major strain on my relationship with my mom as I felt like I had to choose between the two. In elementary school, I had to bring heavy bags, stuffed as tight as possible, to school because my parents could not stand to see each other face to face. As I got older, the random breakdowns became harder to handle, so I finally decided to stand up for myself and tell my dad about how I had been feeling. It felt like talking to a brick wall. My father told me I had to “toughen up,” because this was my reality. Once again being told that my feelings weren’t valid, I shut down and kept my feelings inside from that day forward. Once I entered high school, I realized that keeping my feelings to myself took a massive toll on my mental health. After struggling with long days, little sleep, and overwhelming amounts of work, I knew I needed to find new ways to cope with my feelings. I began to journal, writing my feelings down to process what those feelings were, and how they impacted me. As I continued to journal, I saw a drastic improvement in my mental health. Journaling made me realize how important it was to be able to express my feelings and thoughts. I became more self-assured with my feelings, which contributed to running for and being elected as Site Ambassador for College Bound, a college readiness organization. As the site ambassador for College Bound, I give people the opportunity to express themselves and feel heard. Every week at Site, I greet everyone and do a mental health check in, asking about their days and how they feel. At the end of Site, I ask people to share positive news and create space for them to highlight events in their lives that they would like to share. I have sought opportunities that give me the freedom to express myself and give other people a chance to speak in a way that I was never given growing up. Going into the next stage of my life, I’ve realized that as I continue to grow, it is important to be candid about and validate my feelings, in order to build healthy connections with myself, those around me, and future relationships. I hope to become an advocate and be a companion for other people to help them understand the importance of expressing themselves and being able to feel a sense of mental relief. I have reflected on my circumstances, learned from them, and found my voice so that I not only convey my feelings and thoughts, but encourage others to do the same.

During high school, I became a leader as the site ambassador at College Bound, a college preparation program and served at my school to give back to my community. As site ambassador, I have developed public speaking skills and built relationships with my fellow students. At the beginning of site, I take the time to ask everyone how their week was, and if they are doing well that day. I get to know all the new students at the site and make them feel welcomed.I ask people to share any activities they have coming up that people might want to know about. I create a space for discussion and collaboration at this site that is inclusive not just for me, but for everyone. Having overcome the feeling of not being understood in my personal life, I prioritize making positive space for others to be heard and feel like they belong to this community. I seek to foster this same sense of community and compassion on my college campus by engaging in different clubs and volunteer work around my campus. I have a passion for giving to my school and peers. I volunteered in my school’s usher program to show my support for the community. They have served me in so many ways, and I desire to give back. As an usher, I assist guests who come to see student performances and events. Giving back to communities that have impacted my life in meaningful ways is important to me, and I plan to engage with the community at my future college in a similar way. I want to involve myself in the college community and in the opportunities that my college will have available for me in extracurriculars and volunteer work. During college I want to major in Computer science. I believe that technology is the future of the world and everything will soon be controlled with AI and other technological advancements. Computer science is of interest to me because I want to understand how things work. I have been very inquisitive about knowing the way technology works and what drives it. In order to continue the growth of technology, we will need educated professionals to develop it. I plan to be a part of that group of professionals. I plan to work alongside the future educated professionals to create a better society. My goal in life has always been to help others, so in the future career path that I envision for myself, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and more efficient. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who have a desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement and showing them that black excellence is real. Showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. And in the end, I want to be proud of myself and say that I accomplished my mission.

During high school, I became a leader as the site ambassador at College Bound, a college preparation program, served at my school to give back to my community, and took initiative to create and build my own brand. As site ambassador, I have developed public speaking skills and built relationships with my fellow students. At the beginning of site, I take the time to ask everyone how their week was, and if they are doing well that day. I get to know all the new students at the site and make them feel welcomed.I ask people to share any activities they have coming up that people might want to know about. I create a space for discussion and collaboration at this site that is inclusive not just for me, but for everyone. Having overcome the feeling of not being understood in my personal life, I prioritize making positive space for others to be heard and feel like they belong to this community. I seek to foster this same sense of community and compassion on my college campus by engaging in different clubs and volunteer work around my campus. I have a passion for giving to my school and peers. I volunteered in my school’s usher program to show my support for the community. They have served me in so many ways, and I desire to give back. As an usher, I assist guests who come to see student performances and events. Giving back to communities that have impacted my life in meaningful ways is important to me, and I plan to engage with the community at my future college in a similar way. I want to involve myself in the college community and in the opportunities that my college will have available for me in extracurriculars and volunteer work. In addition to these experiences, I became a sales associate at Five Below to learn useful business skills and grow as an independent woman. As a sales associate, I manage the register and also tidy up the store and register area throughout the day. While having a busy 8 to 5 school schedule and additional familial responsibilities, whenever the store needs help - even on my off days - I prioritize being able to come in and assist. I’ve always had a strong sense of independence and drive. I’ve been determined to do things independently and follow my vision of entrepreneurship. In order to achieve my personal goals, I took the initiative to put the “word of mouth” philosophy into place and started my nails, lashes, and hair service business, building a successful base of clients. I wanted to gain experience starting and running a business to further the skills I developed as a sales associate, and to develop those soft skills that will help me in my future career. With these experiences, I see myself being involved in campus activities and even becoming a leader in my future extracurriculars. I plan to also join the student body organization of my college since I wasn't able to join during high school. Using my leadership skills, I plan to create a club for women studying computer science to create a supportive and empowering community of women whose dreams are to work in the science field. I will bring this drive and determination to my desired college and into life. Being a first generation student, I plan to be an example of change in our society and for other first generation childrens. I plan to continue making new relationships and advocating for everyone to go further than what society may expect of them.

My intended major is Computer Science. My interest in computer science began at a young age. I have always been fascinated with computers. As a child, my dad had so many different gadgets around the house. I always wanted to play around and mess with them but my favorite gadget was the computer. I wanted to type on the computer and mess with the software. I always loved to hear clicking noises. My father is great at fixing devices simply through watching YouTube videos, but I was eager to learn about the software of computers and what makes them work. Our world today is now surrounded by a lot of advanced technology and I felt like this was the beginning of my calling to work in the computer science field. As a future aspiring data scientist, my inspiration to move forward with my aspiring career came from Katherine Johnson, an intelligent and gifted woman who experienced racial discrimination at her workplace. I first learned about Katherine Johnson from watching the movie “Hidden Figures.” As a young black girl, I gravitated towards the film. Even though I have not experienced overt racism, I still knew that it is real and there will come a time, somewhere that I will experience it. Watching and researching Katherine’s story, taught me how the color of my skin should never deter my intelligence. Yearning to work at an organizational level similar to NASA as well as a data scientist, I understand that there will be setbacks in my life that may try to discourage me, but knowing who I am as a person I will still thrive despite the odds. Katherine’s journey has encouraged me to move forward with being another aspiring African American woman to be in the technology industry. I believe that technology is the future of the world and everything will soon be controlled with AI and other technological advancements. Computer science is of interest to me because I want to understand how things work. I have been very inquisitive about knowing the way technology works and what drives it. To continue the growth of technology, we will need educated professionals to develop it. I plan to be a part of that group of professionals. I plan to work alongside future educated professionals to create a better society. My goal in life has always been to help others, so in the future career path that I envision for myself, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and more efficient. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who have a desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement showing them that black excellence is real. Showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. And in the end, I want to be proud of myself and say that I accomplished my mission.

In my household, I am the oldest child of 3 siblings and the oldest grandchild. As an older sister, I take care of my baby sister after school and on weekends when my parents are working and or out. I also babysit my younger cousins when my aunts and uncles need help or someone to watch the children while they are out. Aside from babysitting, I also help my family with tasks around the house especially my older family members when I have free time. Outside my household, I continue to engage with others. During high school, I became a leader as the site ambassador at College Bound, a college preparation program in Washington, DC. As a site ambassador, I have developed public speaking skills and built relationships with my fellow students. At the beginning of site, I take the time to ask everyone how their week was, and if they are doing well that day. I get to know all the new students at the site and make them feel welcome. I ask people to share any activities they have coming up that people might want to know about. I create a space for discussion and collaboration at this site that is inclusive not just for me, but for everyone. Having overcome the feeling of not being understood in my personal life, I prioritize making positive space for others to be heard and feel like they belong to this community. With this experience, I see myself being more involved in campus activities and even becoming a leader in my future extracurriculars. Using my leadership skills, I plan to create a supportive and empowering community for black women working in different fields while teaching them the importance of believing in God. Being a first-generation student, I plan to be an example of change in our society and for other first-generation children. I plan to continue making new relationships in life and my career and advocating for everyone to go further than what they or society may expect of them.

In today's world, we are surrounded by a lot of advanced technology and I felt like this was the beginning of my calling to work in the computer science field. As a future aspiring data scientist, my inspiration to move forward with my aspiring career came from Katherine Johnson, an intelligent and gifted woman who experienced racial discrimination at her own workplace. I first learned about Katherine Johnson from watching the movie “Hidden Figures.” As a young black girl, I gravitated towards the film. Even though I have not experienced overt racism, I still knew that it is real and there will come a time, somewhere that I will experience it. Watching and researching Katherine’s story, taught me how the color of my skin should never deter my intelligence. Yearning to work at an organizational level similar to NASA as well as a data scientist, I understand that there will be setbacks in my life that may try to discourage me, but knowing who I am as a person I will still thrive despite the odds. Katherine’s journey has encouraged me to move forward with being another aspiring African American woman to be in the technology industry. I believe that technology is the future of the world and everything will soon be controlled with AI and other technological advancements. Computer science is of interest to me because I want to understand how things work. I have been very inquisitive about knowing the way technology works and what drives it. In order to continue the growth of technology, we will need educated professionals to develop it. I plan to be a part of that group of professionals. I plan to work alongside future educated professionals to create a better society. My goal in life has always been to help others, so in the future career path that I envision for myself, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and more efficient. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who have a desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement showing them that black excellence is real. Showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. And in the end, I want to be proud of myself and say that I accomplished my mission.

In college, I plan to major in Computer science with a minor in dance. Computer science is of interest to me because I want to understand how things work and dance minor interests me because dance is my second way of expression without using my mouth. I use dance to escape the madness in my life, but also use dance to express my joy to my audience. I have been very inquisitive about knowing the way technology works and what drives it. I plan to work alongside future educated professionals to create a better society with my academic and arts education. My goal in life has always been to help others, so in the future career path that I envision for myself, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and more efficient and I plan to continue to continue the legacy of dance while maintaining the aesthetic and value of dance. I plan to become a leader for other colored women and girls who have a passion for dancing like me and show them that black excellence is real. Showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. And in the end, I want to be proud of myself and say that I accomplished my mission. With incomes that are nowhere near equal to the cost of tuition, my parents will not be able to contribute a significant amount to my college education which will lower my financial burden. This scholarship would significantly help me and my family finance my education. I want to break the cycle in my family and be the first to graduate college. I want to achieve my aspirations of getting a college education and a career in computer science and dance. I also hope to be a role model for my two younger siblings and help inspire them to continue their education and join the legacy of becoming a college graduate. Becoming a first-generation college student is a major accomplishment in my family and will give me the reassurance that I accomplished my main goal, and can contribute to my family and society in a more meaningful way. During high school, I became a leader as the site ambassador at College Bound, a college preparation program in Washington, DC. While being a part of this organization, I have had the opportunity and honor of serving as site ambassador for my site. As site ambassador, I create a space for discussion and advocacy at my site that is inclusive not just for me, but for everyone. This includes giving people the opportunity to express themselves and feel heard. Every week at Site, I greet everyone and do a mental health check-in, asking about their days and how they feel. At the end of Site, I ask people to share positive news and allow them to highlight events in their lives that they would like to share. Holding the position as a site ambassador has helped me gain leadership and public speaking skills. College Bound has made a remarkable change in my life by building a space for me to have people in my corner to advocate for my aspirations. Having overcome the feeling of not being understood in my personal life, I prioritize making positive space for others to be heard and feel like they belong to this community.

As a future aspiring data scientist, my inspiration to move forward with my aspiring career came from Katherine Johnson, an intelligent and gifted woman who experienced racial discrimination at her workplace. I first learned about Katherine Johnson from watching the movie “Hidden Figures.” As a young black girl, I gravitated towards the film. Even though I have not experienced overt racism, I still knew that it is real and there will come a time, somewhere that I will experience it. Watching and researching Katherine’s story, taught me how the color of my skin should never deter my intelligence. Yearning to work at an organizational level similar to NASA as well as a data scientist, I understand that there will be setbacks in my life that may try to discourage me, but knowing who I am as a person I will still thrive despite the odds. Katherine’s journey has encouraged me to move forward with being another aspiring African American woman to be in the technology industry and because of her bravery, I want to continue the legacy of black women in the STEM field. I believe that technology is the future of the world and everything will soon be controlled with AI and other technological advancements. Computer science is of interest to me because I want to understand how things work. I have been very inquisitive about knowing the way technology works and what drives it. To continue the growth of technology, we will need educated professionals to develop it. I plan to be a part of that group of professionals. I plan to work alongside future educated professionals to create a better society. My goal in life has always been to help others, so in the future career path that I envision for myself, I want to contribute to and create positive technological change and develop a better future for the world. I want to create a positive civilization that breaks the cybernated barriers between everyone, making technology more accessible and more efficient. While achieving my goal, I want to become a leader for other colored women and girls who have a desire to study technology and contribute to technological advancement showing them that black excellence is real. Showing everyone that a black woman can and will do it. And in the end, I want to be proud of myself and say that I accomplished my mission. Growing up, I lacked a good example of communication. I was taught the stereotypical rules of a child: to watch what you say to adults, and that adults should be put on pedestals regardless of whether they are right or wrong. I was expected to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself. While I didn’t know it at the time, these lessons affected my mental health and ability to express myself. I have always been a loving and joyful person. I always cheered friends on, making them laugh and showing them love, but was never good at expressing my own emotions. I am the child of a difficult divorce and have always felt unheard like I have to keep most things to myself. Once I entered high school, I realized that keeping my feelings to myself took a massive toll on my mental health. After struggling with long days, little sleep, and overwhelming amounts of work, I knew I needed to find new ways to cope with my feelings. I began to journal, writing my feelings down to process what those feelings were, and how they impacted me. As I continued to journal, I saw a drastic improvement in my mental health. Journaling made me realize how important it was to be able to express my feelings and thoughts. I became more self-assured with my feelings, which contributed to my running for and being elected as Site Ambassador for College Bound, a college readiness organization. As the site ambassador for College Bound, I give people the opportunity to express themselves and feel heard. Every week at site, I greet everyone and do a mental health check-in, asking about their days and how they feel. At the end of site, I ask people to share positive news and create space for them to highlight events in their lives that they would like to share. I have sought opportunities that give me the freedom to express myself and give other people a chance to speak in a way that I was never given growing up. Going into the next stage of my life, I’ve realized that as I continue to grow, it is important to be candid about and validate my feelings, to build healthy connections with myself, those around me, and future relationships. I have reflected on my circumstances, learned from them, and found my voice so that I not only convey my feelings and thoughts but encourage others to do the same.

During high school, I became a leader as the site ambassador at College Bound, a college preparation program, served at my school to give back to my community, and took the initiative to create my brand. As a site ambassador, I have developed public speaking skills and built relationships with my fellow students. At the beginning of site, I take the time to ask everyone how their week was, and if they are doing well that day. I get to know all the new students at the site and make them feel welcome. I ask people to share any activities they have coming up that people might want to know about. I create a space for discussion and collaboration at this site that is inclusive not just for me, but for everyone. Having overcome the feeling of not being understood in my personal life, I prioritize making positive space for others to be heard and feel like they belong to this community. I have a passion for giving to my school and peers. I volunteered in my school’s usher program to show my support for the community. They have served me in so many ways, and I desire to give back. As an usher, I assist guests who come to see student performances and events. Giving back to communities that have impacted my life in meaningful ways is important to me, and I plan to engage in my community. I want to involve myself in my community and in the opportunities that will be available for me in volunteer work. In addition to these experiences, I became a sales associate at Five Below to learn useful business skills and grow as an independent woman. As a sales associate, I manage the register and also tidy up the store and register area throughout the day. While having a busy 8 to 5 school schedule and additional familial responsibilities, whenever the store needs help - even on my off days - I prioritize being able to come in and assist. I’ve always had a strong sense of independence and drive. I’ve been determined to do things independently and follow my vision of entrepreneurship. To achieve my personal goals, I took the initiative to put the “word of mouth” philosophy into place and started my nails, lashes, and hair service business, building a successful base of clients. While having these experiences, I have continued to improve my relationship with God and ask for his guidance throughout it. Dealing with my home life and dealing with a busy schedule is not an easy task, but I continue to walk in faith, with my head high because I know that God has my best interest and is making ways for me. I wanted to gain experience starting and running a business to further the skills I developed as a sales associate, and to develop those soft skills that will help me in my future career, but none of this would be possible without God. With these experiences, I see myself being involved in campus activities and even becoming a leader in my future extracurriculars. Using my leadership skills, I plan to create a supportive and empowering community for black women working in different fields while teaching them the importance of believing in God. Being a first-generation student, I plan to be an example of change in our society and for other first-generation children. I plan to continue making new relationships in life and my career and advocating for everyone to go further than what they or society may expect of them.