My name is Maria Raquel Thomas. I am an entrepreneur, a humanitarian, and the daughter of Veterans. My parents were captains in the army, and my dad is a West Point Graduate. I come from a bloodline that carries characteristics such as honor, discipline, integrity, leadership, and determination. That determination led to me when I built my first robot. When I was seven, I built a 2000-piece robot in less than two days. I was determined to have the robot built, and I did not leave my room for two days until I finished it. It was a pivotal moment in my life because I unknowingly discovered my love for STEM. I loved it even more when I found that STEM could also be used to improve the human condition. In 2018, the love for slime, a kid’s toy, spread all around the world. While it was fun to play with, it was messy. Parents were complaining about how it would get stuck in the carpet and was a hassle to get out. So, I researched and experimented and discovered a solution that would immediately get slime out of carpets and anything else. At just 12 years old, I posted a YouTube video about my game-changing solution, and it received 40k views on YouTube. I received great feedback from parents about how my solution helped them fix their challenge. To this day, I still receive thank you comments. When Covid-19 hit, I became more aware of my inner strengths because I could turn something negative into two positive solutions. Because of Covid, I could not go to Six Flags, so I came up with a solution. At 14, I constructed a fully functional roller coaster in my backyard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Building my rollercoaster helped me stay motivated and positive. Not only did I find ways to keep myself motivated and positive, but I also found a way for others to be. Also, at 14, I started Maria Raquel Thomas Cosmetics. A brand focused on enhancing girls' natural beauty and self-confidence. I wanted to help girls' mental health by helping them stay positive and look and feel good. The empowering nature of its collections, such as the Girl Power Collection, set my brand apart, featuring lip glosses named after motivational qualities, such as Determined Lipgloss, Confident Lipgloss, and Unique Lipgloss. My collection was a success and sold out in one week. Inspired by my Veteran parents' strong emphasis on selfless service and giving back to the community, not only did my cosmetic brand help spread positivity but help homeless youth. A portion of my proceeds is dedicated to the non-profit Stand Up for Kids. My relationship with the non-profit grew, and I was the first African-American female National Youth Ambassador for Stand Up for Kids. Through virtual fundraisers, clothing drives, and the "Birthday in a Bag" project, I helped raise over $150,000 and rallied friends and family to support at-risk youth. My service to the community received recognition from the Presidential Silver Volunteer Service Award 2021. I also received a nomination for the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the Social Impact category, highlighting my profound influence and dedication to effecting positive change in the world. The strength of my background teaches me that I can accomplish what I set my mind to. I have a deep passion for STEM. I am determined to pursue my goals and dreams. Through unwavering dedication, relentless pursuit of excellence, and a genuine desire to uplift others, I want to leave an indelible mark on the Z Generation and beyond.

I’m a huge Zendaya fan, and among her various talents, her role as KC in “KC Undercover” truly captivates me. This show means the world to me because it helped me feel proud and comfortable in my own skin. Let’s talk about Zendaya as KC herself. KC is tall, skinny, brainy, and kicks butt – qualities I admire and relate to because they’re a lot like me. Seeing KC exude confidence and handle tough situations inspires me to do the same. Her courage to save the world motivates me to strive for similar feats. One thing I love about the show is the Black family representation, which I connect with on a personal level. KC’s mom, Kiara, reminds me so much of my own mom—funny, intelligent, beautiful, and always there for me, just like Kiara is for KC. In a nutshell, Zendaya portraying KC on “KC Undercover” is everything to me. It’s not just about her acting skills; it’s how she brought a character like KC to life, reflecting aspects of my own life and identity. Her portrayal has empowered me, making me more comfortable with who I am, urging me to face challenges with confidence, and reminding me of the importance of family and community ties.

JESSIE x KC UNDERCOVER: SPOTLIGHT SHOWDOWN My favorite Disney shows are Jessie and KC Undercover! I watch them every night, switching between the two shows throughout the week. Picture this: the grand finale of Jessie’s last episode. Jessie’s lifelong dream of being a successful actor finally comes true! She’s doing so well that she gets nominated for the “ACTRA” Awards (let’s just say it’s like the Oscars for actors). Meanwhile, in Washington DC, the Cooper spy family is entrusted with a crucial mission of utmost importance. Agent Johnson, carefully assigns them the critical task of ensuring Jessie’s safety during the forthcoming ACTRA Ceremony in Los Angeles. Their primary objective: to prevent any elimination attempts aimed at Jessie, especially if she wins the highly coveted award. Ernie, with a fervent crush on Jessie, anxiously joins the mission, firm in his belief that nothing must befall his favorite actor. Disguised as casual attendees, the Coopers blend into the ceremony’s ambiance while awaiting the commencement of the awards show. Amidst the anticipation, Marissa, exuding confidence, makes a grand entrance, catching sight of her longtime best friend, KC. Surprising KC at her table, Marissa’s presence puzzles KC, who questions her unexpected appearance. “I told you I’d make it big in fashion one day! Here I am, nominated for Best Costume Design in Jessie Prescott’s film!” exclaims Marissa. “Jessie Prescott, the famous actor?” KC feigns recognition, concealing her undercover identity. “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats; the ceremony will commence shortly,” announces the stage. “Alright, KC, catch you later,” Marissa says, walking off toward Jessie’s table. The ceremony begins and Ernie goes undercover as an award announcer. The tension’s building up, and guess what? Jessie wins! She’s heading to the stage, and that’s when Ernie spots KC and his parents in the back, dealing with the bad guys. Oh no! There’s a laser near Jessie, and Ernie's on it, telling Jessie to duck. Another one hits a gold pillar, and Ernie pushes Jessie out of harm’s way. Jessie says, “Thank you! You saved my life!” and Ernie responds, “Ah, no problem! I’m a big fan! My name is Ernie, by the way—Ernie Cooper.” Jessie replies, “Oh wow, I really appreciate your help!” and then she kisses Ernie on the cheek. Ernie is smiling and feeling ecstatic because his celebrity crush just kissed him. In the midst of all this chaos, Jessie’s so grateful and curious about Ernie's real deal. But Ernie just laughs it off, adding to the mystery, “No biggie! In my family, it feels like a party everyday!” As the night winds down, Jessie and Ernie share this crazy moment, a unique bond forming between them. Amidst the glitz and glam of Hollywood, a friendship blossoms, intertwining their lives in this extraordinary crossover event.

In 2021, my rising sophomore year, I moved to Georgia. It marked the start of a chapter filled with new beginnings. Among these new beginnings was Marley, an English Cream Golden Retriever who unexpectedly became a significant addition to my journey in Georgia. Moving to Georgia wasn't entirely foreign, as I had visited my family there many times. However, the experience felt different when I moved to a place where not much of my family lived and attended a school where I didn't know anyone. It proved challenging, given my intense social anxiety, making it difficult for me to make friendships in an environment where everyone had their cliques because they had known each other since elementary school. What was really hard for me was overcoming my fear of walking into the lunchroom alone with unfamiliar faces and debating whether or not to find a friend to sit with or hide in the bathroom. This situation mirrored the unfamiliarity I initially felt with Marley, having considered myself a cat lover rather than a dog lover due to my fear of dogs. Despite my initial fears, over time, I unexpectedly developed a close relationship with Marley, and we became so inseparable that we would often sleep together. Overcoming both my fear of dogs and social anxiety marked a pivotal moment in my life, proving that my fears were the only barriers hindering me from achieving my desires. On school nights, struggling with challenging math calculations in my engineering class, Marley's presence by licking my arm served as a reassuring reminder that I could persevere. When I was too tired to wake up for school, Marley would run to my room and jump on the bed and move around until I woke up. She helped me through common challenges we students especially STEM students encounter. One thing I specifically love about Marley is that she is always happy. No matter if I'm sad or happy when I come back home from school she is always happy to see me and it instantly puts me in a good mood. It's nice to be missed and know that my presence is appreciated. This encouragement extended to my ambition to major in aerospace engineering and become an aerospace engineer. Adapting to a new environment was great but thriving in it became a significant achievement for me. I aspire a future where I contribute meaningfully to NASA, crafting innovative designs that push the boundaries of aeronautics. When the day comes to present a groundbreaking aircraft design, my intention is to honor my companion, Marley, by naming it after her—a tribute to the bond that transcended both my personal and academic endeavors. Marley remains my companion, transforming the landscape of my life in ways I could never have foreseen.