Growing up I was instilled with strong values to protect the less capable and less fortunate. From a young age my parents had me and my brothers constantly donating food and clothes every year, and participating in fundraisers to help raise money for awareness. At the time I didn't really understand why it was important to help people that I didn't know personally, or may never know. I felt as ifI had my own problems in life to worry about and I was always expected to go above and beyond. It wasn't until I started to get around more people from different backgrounds to understand how fortunate we are to live in this country. Us as Americans have an opportunity every single day to not only create an ideal life for ourselves, but also for other people. People like my grandpa who fought in the Korean war, to my dad who fought in Iraq twice, and even my brother who is a deployed airman have contributed and still contribute a great deal to make this reality possible everyday. My brother always tells me if you the opportunity or ability to positively impact people's lives and you don't actively use that ability, you are doing a disservice to the world. I feel as if I have a special ability, to be able to inspire people with my words and actions. When it comes to achieving my dreams, there is no limit to where I will stop once I have decided I want to do something. This is the reason I have decided to pursue being a fighter pilot in the air force. I believe fighter pilots to be one of the most selfless and fearless people on earth. They are able to go out in dangerous conditions fighting in enemy airspace, where one miscalculation can lead to their demise. But even with all of this a fighter pilot still manages to stay calm, and keep one goal in his mind. Protect the people. The people who prepare your food before it arrives in grocery stores. The people who supply the gasoline that fuel our cars. The people who save our lives when we are in imminent danger. The people who clean the roads and sidewalks so we are surrounded by cleanliness. The people who run this country. I know with my dreams of service, if I can pay back even 1/50th of what this country and the people in this country have done to help my life I would be content. And this is why I wish to be a pilot and protect the innocent of this country. And my first step is to become an officer in the military.

The youth are the future of this country and should be the primary concern for all people if we wish to make the earth a better place. From a young age I had always heard from stories and history about how warriors would fight for their cities and villages and their main concern would be to protect the women and children. I had never understood why it was so important until I had matured and realized how special children are. Children have a sort of optimism that an adult can only envy, that can only be broken through discouragement and bullying. This is why it is very important for us to spread awareness and help the youth deal with bullying. When I was a little kid I developed a lisp that I had to get speech therapy to correct. This lisp was made fun of by kids my age and it had gave me a negative sense of self. Although I corrected the lisp my challenges didn't stop there. When I was in middle school I was one of the only African American kids who went to an all white school. Everyday I would get many comments, some disguised as jokes and some as pure disrespect. Jokes about my hair, my skin color, my lips and the culture of my race. I faced negative comments about how I was weird because I 'acted white' but I was black. The constant remarks and isolation I felt, began to make me resent myself, and gave me an inferiority complex. It wasn't until I moved from the school and entered a school with more people like me to understand that I wasn't weird but special. My experiences through elementary school and middle school often gave me a pessimistic mindset and even gave me suicidal thoughts. I am not the only kid who goes through this as millions of kids across the world have to believe that they are lesser than their peers just because of how they look, sound, or what they believe. A child's upbringing and youth experiences are very delicate, because it shapes them to who they will become. It is not a coincidence that many cruel dictators were abused, and neglected as children. Us as people, and as adults must help lead, and give children the proper tools, and strength to help them deal with bullies. Truth be told, there will always be people who wish to take from others. There will always be people who wish to take advantage, and wish to cause pain to others. So if we want to make a better world for ourselves, we must teach them. This is why I volunteer for the boys and girls club in my community, to talk to young kids and show them love, that they may not receive. I volunteer every month and I also participate in reading across America. This is also why I wish to become a pilot in the Airforce, so that I may protect, and inspire the youth. This will not be an easy journey, but it will be worthwhile. And to start this journey I must go to college and receive my bachelors' degree. I ask that you may help me so I can therefore help not only children but any people in need. Change is what step at a time. And by taking this step I will help change the world. Thank you.