In society, education has always been perceived as the equalizer, the factor that sets societal capability even, but my experiences contrast this notion. As I walk the streets of Metro Atlanta, I notice that this notion doesn't exactly live up to the standards some conversations may give it. Walking through predominantly black elementary schools in Atlanta, I noticed some trends that are atypical. In first-grade classrooms they fixated on addition, second grade, struggling through basic grammar, and kindergarten still on the alphabet. This was a foreign trend to me, as in my own predominantly white elementary school, it was the norm that by first grade we'd mastered even the highest of these subjects. A similar trend arose as I attended the Young Kings Program each Saturday focused on “getting black youth out of the hole”. The difference was simply our socio-economic spheres. This concept alone governs the ability of Black young people and causes adverse effects for Black people in Atlanta. Foundational education in Atlanta has remained a prominent issue, perpetuated by disproportionately low government funding and resource allocation. This issue resonates with me since, as a black person, knowing people who look like me cannot receive a fair chance is gut-wrenching. Why don’t children who enter different situations deserve the same chance to succeed? I began the Atlanta Outreach Team, a group of scholars fixated on the purpose of providing specifically foundational education for children aged 4-8, with the intention of evening the playing field for those not placed in positions to succeed societally. Through tutoring, book donations, and some engagement with policymakers, I've tried to make my mark on an issue that is deeply personal to me. But this is the baseline, seeing as I'm just a child, college is my magnifier to help me better the equalizer. As I pursue my college degree, I hope to refine my ability to advocate for sustainable solutions to educational inequality and put myself in a position to make judgments on educational decisions of higher magnitude. This I feel can be done only by studies in political science and law, which I feel are necessary tools to understand legal and systemic structures that are the root cause of disparities that harm people of color. I want to explore policy reform, to gain nuance about how educational funding can be more equitable in its distribution and how legislation can be utilized to dismantle barriers for marginalized students. But even beyond that, I want to remain active in outreach efforts, whether that's being in university programs that work with social justice, or expanding my program. Additionally, I hope to use my access to The Hill to be able to build connections with policymakers, educators, and legal professionals who share my ideals of education. I want to be a force of change in my hometown, and through my college degree, I hope to garner the skills, knowledge, And network to become a force in politics that doesn't perpetuate capitalism, an American norm but ensures that the future generation students, regardless that their zip codes have access to the quality education they deserve. My impact will be measured not only by the policies I help shape but also by the students who, like me, refuse to let circumstances dictate their potential.