Hello! My name is Sandra Smith-Johnson and I am a sixteen year old girl from Detroit, Michigan. I have numerous passions and hobbies including singing, drawing, dancing, knitting, reading, and playing with my yorkshire terrier, Brittany. I live with my mother and grandmother who have played an extremely influential role in the person that I am today. I am active in both my extracurriculars and community. In school, I have been a member of my schools student government for five years and recently have been elected secretary, I have been student council president of my class for three consecutive years, I am a member of Black Student Union, and I have co-founded the "Banana Splits" affinity group for students with divorced, deceased, and single parents. In my schools elementary, I teach a community service through activism dance course where we discuss prominent sociopolitical topics, complete community service projects, and create dances about them. Outside of school I am a member of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. I have earned my Bronze and Silver Award, and I am currently working on my Gold Award. I have earned the "Spirit of Detroit Award" which is granted to people who have completed 50+ hours of community service. I am a member of the AKATeens of Detroit Leadership Program which is dedicated to community service and growing leadership skills in young black women. I am a member of The Co-Ette Club, Inc. which is a club dedicated to philanthropy, volunteerism, and learning business skills. I am also a member and ambassador of the National Society of High School Scholars and I am a BigFuture Ambassador for the college board. Some of my academic achievements include being granted the African American Award from the collegeboard and was invited to attend a law workshop at Stanford University this past summer. Throughout my high school career I have maintained a near 4.0 GPA. I dedicate my time, energy, and enthusiasm in every project, club, or leadership role that I am involved in. Science has always interested me from a young age. My mother and I would complete science kits when I was little which truly peaked my interest. I also have a passion for law. From the ripe age of five my mother and I would watch the T.V. Shows "Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Blue Bloods." My passions for both science and law are both reasons for my interest in becoming a lawyer and/or forensic scientist. The point where science and law intersect is a target I am aiming for. I have interned with Judge Qianna Denise Lillard in 3rd Circuit court since the sixth grade. This has given me a first hand experience on what court proceedings look like. Additionally, I took AP Chemistry my sophomore year of high school which further fueled my passion for science. Winning this scholarship will help with providing books, room and board, and paying for college tuition. I am excited for what the future has in store and I cannot wait to further grow and learn.

Math was once my least favorite subject. It has always been my most challenging class which often discouraged me. While I effortlessly did well in my science, English, and history classes - math class... was a different story. While my peers could easily find an imaginary root or the limit of a function, I struggled. When I did not know what equation to use or which rule to apply I was overwhelmed. I felt inadequate. I simply did not understand why math was such a tasking subject for me. However, I did not let this discouragement define me. I knew I had to take initiative if I wanted to better understand this subject. I began reaching out to my teachers, asking questions, and studying in my free time. By dedicating a little more energy to bettering my understanding, I began to excel! Over time I grew to love math. I love that math is like a puzzle. Though there is one right answer there is not one linear "correct" path to achieve it. The labyrinth of math is endlessly intriguing - though you may get a little lost, make a wrong turn, or accidentally go back to where you started, the answer, is extremely fulfilling. I am glad that math challenged me. It taught me that not everything is going to come easily to me, and that is okay. What matters is that I learned and grew from it, and for that I am very grateful.

If you only listen with your ears, you are not doing it right. Listening involves your mind, your mouth, and your actions. A common phrase that my mother uses is "You heard me, but you didn't listen." I firmly believe this rings true. Listening is a difficult skill to develop. You can hear someone speak, you can hear a wolf howl, and you can hear a fire alarm. But that is not listening. Listening would be paying attention and ingesting the words coming out of someone's mouth. Listening would mean not going near the howl because a wolf could be in the vicinity. Listening would mean evacuating the flaming building you currently reside in because you heard the alarm. Listening requires initiative. Academically, I listen to my teachers by taking extensive notes to make sure I am paying attention. Socially, I listen by affirming those when they speak. I ask questions, reassure them, and apply whatever information I have gathered to future experiences. I also have to listen to myself. When my body tells me I am overworking myself or I am drowsy, I listen by resting. When my mind begins to ache from looking at electronics for far too long, I listen by closing my laptop or shutting my phone off. There is purpose behind listening. It shows that you not only acknowledge the voices, noises, and feelings around, but that you value them.

On paper my life would look depressing. My father has never been in my life, my godfather passed away when I was young, and I have a plethora of responsibilities and leadership roles that consume my everyday life. I am a black female who attends a predominately white school and endures racism daily. I want peace, like anyone else. I find mine in the shower, in my dog, and in my hand. The shower is a time of reflection and solace. While the suds work their magic to sterilize me physically, the feeling itself calms me mentally. The serene noise of water trickling from the shower head provides a white noise to my overactive mind. The shower allows me to center myself, plan my next move, and above all else, cleanse. My Yorkshire terrier Brittany has been by my side since I was eight. Through her barks, licks, poops, and sleeps, she has shown me love in the only way she knows how. That is all I can ask for. It continues to awe me that this living being recognizes me out of all people in the world, as her mother. It is beautiful and never fails to bring me joy. Finally, my hand makes me happy. My hand can hold books for me to read, can write poems and songs, can draw, and can dance. My hand with its naturally lengthy fingers, long nails, and intentional movements. The hand that is typing this very essay. I am happy when I look at this hand. It has wiped away tears from my weeping eyes to help me see. It has accepted first place awards in front of large crowds. My hand is delicate. My hand is powerful. My hand is me.