As a mother, what motivated my decision to pursue higher education was the ability to make more money. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree will help me develop the skills needed to advance in my future career to get higher paid salary jobs to secure a better life for my family. I am motivated because I will be doing something for my family that has never been done. I will be the first one in my family to receive a bachelor’s degree. Of course, I want to be a role model for my daughter in hopes that she will also pursue higher education. I know that college is not for everyone, but I want to show her the importance of education with the hopes that she can discover her passion. I want to broaden her perspective and show her that there is more to life than what meets the eye. In December 2022, my sister was murdered in her home. She was also a single mother and she also worked hard. She lived in a neighborhood where the rent was low, but violence and crime were high. She also did not have a degree or the skills that were needed to make higher wages. Although she was in the process of pursuing higher education, she was killed before she was able to obtain her degree. I am motivated because I want to be able to provide her children with a sense of security. I want my daughter to see what hard work looks like. My experience as a mother working to obtain a college degree has been a little difficult but it has not been impossible. It has been extra busy, expensive, and sometimes restless but overall rewarding. I am a single mother so although I am pursuing higher education, I still have to work a full-time job, and depending on the season I work two jobs. I haven’t really had a lot of time to spend with my daughter, and I have missed hanging out with friends, but if I continue to work all the time by needing to work two jobs, I will not be able to spend time with her or my friends. I am okay to sacrifice these two years, get the education and skills needed to advance in my career, and make a better life for my family. I love to learn. I love learning new things. So, although I might be a little busy, have to work full time and not always get seven hours of sleep. I know that this is only temporary. I will use this experience to continue to motivate me and I will develop the skills needed to advance in my career and secure a better life for me and my family.

1. How did you get interested in pursuing a computer science degree? I am not interested in pursuing a computer science degree. I am in the process of pursuing my bachelor’s degree in legal studies. I have always been interested in the legal system and how it works. I know for most people money is the motivation and yes it is important but I became interested in law to bring justice to a world where it seems that injustice has taken over. I have witnessed people do terrible things and I have also seen people doing great things. I desire to do great things. My ultimate goal is to become an attorney I will do great things in the world and not just live it. 2. What is your goal or dream job after receiving your degree? As stated above my ultimate goal is to become an attorney. After receiving my degree my dream job is to work as an attorney within the criminal justice system, maybe as a public defender. I would like to work with the Innocent Program getting innocent people out of jail. I believe that the one thing that I can do with my degree is free someone of a crime that they did not do. I desire to use my degree to do something right and fix wrongs. I could see myself working as a civil rights attorney helping protect the rights of the people and stand up for people being bullied by powerful adversaries. 3. Why do you feel you are the best candidate for receiving this scholarship? I feel that I am the best candidate for this scholarship because it will help me achieve my long-term goals. By furthering my education in legal studies, I can work towards my career goals in the law field. I aim to make a difference not only in my community but in the world, and this scholarship will be the difference-maker when it comes to affording the education I need.

My name is Sharonda Nix, but my friends and family call me Ronni. I am an inspired African American female, first-generation college student, single mother, and I am currently working as a paralegal, looking to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney to learn more about the legal system, and how it works. My ultimate goal is to become Supreme Court Justice and to help as many people as possible understand the law so that we can become better as one nation under God. In my opinion, laws were not made for people who look like me. There is no secret that there is injustice here in America. I want to pursue a career in law because I believe that law is fundamental. But I also believe that the law does not fit the times in which we live. America is always changing but the laws remain the same. Laws have to reflect the time frame in which we live some things might be legal but it is not right or fit every situation so American citizens are not receiving justice. Please remember that slavery was once legal. Please note that the law is not justice, law is just a tool, and that the same tool will not give justice to every problem. In my opinion, there is value in advocacy. I plan to use my education to advocate for the ones who can’t afford to do so themselves. Advocating for those who are forced to live in communities that are not privileged financially or educationally and children who attend schools in these communities.

In my opinion, college is not for everyone and everyone does not need to attend college to be successful and follow their passion. If I had to convince my peer to attend college I would talk to my peer to understand their passion. I would want to know where they see themselves in the future. I will research on my own or with them, what is needed to master or become better in this area and have and conversation with them to look at the pros and cons of attending college and following their passion. I will show them different people that had the same passion and the education that was needed to help them become successful. I will make sure that my conversation with my peer is personal to their goals their needs and what they are hoping to accomplish. I will let them know that with great sacrifice comes great reward and I will continue to reassure them that I am here to help them.