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Mackenzie Smith

5,935

Bold Points

35x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

Hello there! My name is Mackenzie Smith. I'm an older sister, an animal lover, and a world traveler! As a child, I loved watching Japanese Cartoons such as Ouran High School Host Club, French cartoons like Miraculous Les Aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir, and even Italian shows like Winx Club. This later grew into a love for language learning and a passion for cultural immersion. Today, I know Japanese, Korean, Scottish Gaelic, am currently teaching myself French, and plan to major in International and Intercultural Communications and Global Management. However, because this field of study isn't very popular, especially among African Americans, it's been a bit of a struggle to get all the information and funding I need in order to pursue it. None the less, I intend to keep pushing and go after what I love by doing countless amounts of research on the field, signing up for studying abroad programs, and getting help from college students and alumni who studied in this field. Furthermore, I plan to be an inspiration for other black women to pursue this major, learn different languages, and expand their views of the world around them. In doing so we can help a society, who focuses solely on differences, realize just how interconnected we truly are.

Education

University of California-Los Angeles

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Psychology, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

    • Dream career goals:

      My long term goal is to become the International Communications Specialist for corporations all around the world!

    • Babysitter

      Independant
      2015 – Present9 years
    • Dog Groomer

      Independant
      2015 – Present9 years
    • Counselor and Teachers Assistant

      Read Lead Children's Defense Fund Freedom School
      2016 – 20182 years
    • Assistant

      Toni's Home Value
      2015 – Present9 years
    • Assistant

      Jazzed Realty
      2015 – Present9 years

    Sports

    Volleyball

    Varsity
    2020 – Present4 years

    Soccer

    Club
    2016 – 20193 years

    Awards

    • 1st Place Manhattan Beach Tounament 2018
    • 3rd Place Manhattan Beach Tournament 2017
    • 2nd Place Manhattan Beach Tournament 2019
    • 2nd Place California Strawberry Cup 2018
    • 3rd Place California Strawberry Cup 2019
    • 1st Place Ontario Cruisin Classic 2019
    • 2nd Place Ontario Cruisin Classic 2018

    Volleyball

    Junior Varsity
    2017 – 20203 years

    Awards

    • Coaches Award 2018-2020
    • Mariner Award 2017
    • Most Improved 2019

    Research

    • Personality Psychology

      Saint Monica Catholic High School — Reseracher
      2019 – 2020

    Arts

    • Wilders Preparatory Academy Charter School Choir

      Music
      Inglewood Tree Lighting Ceremony, Singing at the Inglewood Senior Living Center
      2013 – 2017
    • Saint Monica Catholic High School Performing Arts

      Performance Art
      Because of COVID-19, our production of High School Musical got canceled just a few days before it was supposed to go on, so instead, we held it virtually
      2019 – 2020
    • Saint Monica Catholic High School Dance Ensemble

      Dance
      Danced at School Masses
      2019 – 2020
    • Art Class at St. Monica Catholic High School

      Drawing
      Saint Monica Catholic High School Arts Showcase
      2017 – 2019

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Saint Monica Catholic High School — Tutor
      2019 – 2020
    • Volunteering

      Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles — Grader and Leader
      2016 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Girls Scouts of Greater los Angeles — Singer
      2012 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Read Lead CDF Freedom School — Counselor
      2016 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Mothers in Action Inc — Make and pass out food to the elderly and less fortunate
      2015 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      Saint Agatha Catholic Church — I helped create and pass out clothing, groceries, and toiletries
      2017 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    TopMathematicsTutors Scholarship
    1. Pre-Calculus 2. I have had and been a math tutor before 3. When we think about math, we usually tend to imagine complex equations on a sheet of paper. However, as we step forth into the real world, our perceptions of what math is can change. Length x width becomes something far beyond the formula for the area of a square and is now the formula for the dimensions of a room. Multiplying percentages later turns into a skill you must develop to pay taxes on your meal. Ultimately, math is the basis behind practically everything that's done in our day to day lives, and with math tutoring, I can be more prepared for and equipped to take these tasks on. Additionally, I feel that, with online school especially, many students, including myself, are a bit more hesitant about asking teachers for help during class which can lead to them not retaining much of the information discussed. With tutoring, not only will the main concern be understanding, but also finding new ways of understanding (for example games and real-world examples).
    Gabriella Carter Failure Doesn't Define Me Scholarship
    Braids, twists, dreadlocks, and afros. These are just some of the many hairstyles deriving from ancient African culture. Braids were a tool used for messaging and a map for escaping slavery. Twists were a symbol of status and a signifier of one's tribe. Afros, a sign of empowerment and self-discovery. All of these hairstyles were encouraged in my household as it helped my sister and I build a sense of pride in our culture and connected us to our ancestors at a young age. Unfortunately, these values were put to the test when I attended my first predominantly African American school. Contrary to what I believed, I was questioned and sometimes ridiculed for keeping my hair in these styles. “Why do you always wear braids”, “you should straighten your hair”, and “your hair looks nappy” were phrases I heard on a regular basis. This experience made me realize that not everyone has endured the same hair journey that I have and that many black women were caught up in the idea that natural hair meant “bad hair”. Although slavery ended many years ago, our black culture is still affected by the influence of European culture and beauty standards, and I for one plan to change that! I intend to bring my love for my hair and culture everywhere I go and build a sense of pride in the melting pot that is the world around me. When I'm sitting in my classes, I aim to feel content in knowing that every braid in my hair connects me to who I am and what makes my culture so rich. Furthermore, I want to show my peers who are black or people of color that you don't need to assimilate in order to be a leader, successful, or beautiful.
    Impact Scholarship for Black Students
    “Don't kill it!” I yelled, running over in desperation. My mother hesitantly backed away from the daddy long leg running across the floor trying to find a means of escape. “Hurry it up Mackenzie I don't want it getting away”, she exclaimed as her eyes rolled in annoyance. I quickly grabbed a cup and a piece of mail, yet to be collected by my father, and ran to the living room to scoop it up. I slowly placed it outside, being sure it ran into a bush so it wouldn’t accidentally be stepped on or blown away. If it isn’t obvious, I don't kill bugs. I prefer letting them live free outside. Call it ridiculous and time-consuming if you must, but if Mrs. Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends taught me anything, it's that you should “be good to bugs”. The show displays the daily life of a family of anthropomorphic spiders going through events similar to ones we humans are bound to experience, such as rejection, love, and loss. Although I was aware that the show was fake, that feeling of similarity and empathy for the living things around me stuck. Are we really all that different from that spider as we think? I found myself embodying this way of thinking as I became involved in programs and activities in my school and community; one of the most influential being my school’s Annual Oki Gakuen Language Exchange program. As an avid participant, my heart nearly skipped a beat when my teacher asked if I could be a group leader. In other words, I would be one of the main people speaking to the exchange students in Japanese. Unhesitantly, I accepted. I was ready to put all my skills to the test and make a new friend in the process! As my assigned student, Matsuhiro, walked towards me, my hands became clammy and my heart hammered against my chest. We introduced ourselves...and the crickets sounded their alarm. “What should I say next? I don't want to say the wrong thing and offend him or his culture”, I muttered to myself. After a five minute intermission, I decided to come out and say it, I was nervous. His face lit up as he replied with “me too”! This connection led to even more, including shared artists, animes, and even watch brands. Although Matsuhiro and I are different people from different backgrounds, we share common interests and emotions. Now, why can't this be the case with the spider? Although its appearance is vastly different from ours, we have more in common than we think. The satisfaction of getting your next meal, the fear of getting hurt, and the goal of survival. These aren’t just things we humans experience, but spiders as well. Because of this, I have made it my mission to find and build connections with the people and things around me and remain open-minded and adaptive when introduced to others who look or have different views than myself. This mission will also help me in my pursuit to study International Business and Communications where I will be faced with opposing viewpoints and cultural differences. In situations such as these, I will remain flexible, understanding, and practice effective communication to find common ground. In doing so, I will expand my views of the world around me and help a society, who focuses solely on differences, realize just how interconnected we truly are.
    Cyber Monday Prep Scholarship
    Three of my favorite places to shop online are Depop, Target, and Zen. I love supporting small creators and I've found that Depop is the best way to do so. Whenever I'm browsing, I always find something I never knew I needed, like a mushroom shirt or a rainbow purse! Plus, it's a great way to help the environment, because you're getting used or handmade clothing, and find quirky apparel that places like H&M or Urban Outfitters don't always offer. Another place I love to shop online is, shocker, Target. It has practically everything you would ever need including clothes, groceries, and even video games; and with such an easy to navigate online database, it's definitely one of my go-to's. Lastly, we have Zen. During quarantine, I've grown passionate about building my spirituality, and Zen has helped me tremendously in the process. They offer items varying from crystals to magic bath washes! My favorite item has definitely been my chakra balancing bracelet because whenever I wear it, I instantly feel at peace and relaxed. Im definitely looking forward to purchasing a pack of Tarot cards from them soon. I cant wait to shop at these places on Cyber Monday!
    Pettable Pet Lovers Annual Scholarship
    This is my dog, Jax! He's 5 years old, likes humans way more than he likes other pets, and his favorite human foods are tangerines and apples. In this picture, he's celebrating his first Christmas with us at our grandparent's house. At first, we were kind of nervous about how he would act since this was the first party he would be attending, but to our surprise, he did a great job! He performed tricks, let kids play with him, and made everyone fall head over heels for him. All in all, he made our Christmas, perfect! ~IG: lame.mack
    Act Locally Scholarship
    What did you have for breakfast today? Was it pancakes or cereal? Or maybe it was oatmeal and a smoothie. Either way, you probably didn't have to worry about what you were going to eat then and there. Well, what if I told you there were millions upon millions of people who have to worry about if they're going to eat at all, and one of them could be as close as your next-door neighbor? Now, I grew up in a fairly middle-class neighborhood where everyone knew each other, so when my neighbor asked me and my sister if we could help carry some of her furniture downstairs, we, of course, agreed. When we finished, she began thanking us and offering that we grab a snack before we go, which without hesitation we agreed to. As she opened her fridge, we got a glimpse of what was inside: water, 2 apples, and a batch of lettuce. Overcome with guilt we kindly declined her offer, to which she replied with "I guess I'll have this for dinner" as she pointed to the apple. My sister and I looked at each other and it was as if we both knew we had to do something. My sister quickly excused herself and ran to our house. When she returned, she was holding a bowl of leftover tomato basil soup from our dinner last night. She gave it to our neighbor and suddenly she lit up! She began thanking us over and over again and even began to tear up a bit. To see the impact a simple meal can have on people astounded me and made my sister and I want to do more. From then on, we began giving leftovers, the food that we weren't eating, and sometimes even extra plates to our neighbor and homeless families we saw on the street. This leads me to say that the change I want to see in my community, the country, and the world is the accessibility to food. This can mean something as small as more community gardens and soup kitchens, to bigger things such as the equal distribution of income and more supermarkets in low-income areas. Every person, despite their race, gender, religion, and income should have the same access to food as everyone else!