Personal Statement:
The night was dark, dreadful, yet desirable. My entire day was filled with joy and laughter from playing with the kids down the street. My cousins and I knew it was time to go home when we couldn’t see the sun anymore, but we just had to stay out for one more round of tag.
Running down the block which was nearly pitch black, my cousins and I held hands. The “last one who gets there is a rotten egg” joke was only played during the day, nights were serious and we found security in groups. We got cursed out by my grandma when we arrived and I hated to get yelled at! Luckily, the sweet aroma of fried chicken and the stream of white rice drew my attention. While I prepared for bed that night I thought of the next day, Halloween, which was one of my favorite holidays. The best part was chanting “trick or treat!” while holding out my pumpkin-inspired basket with black handles ready to be filled when huge doors flung open.
Love, fear, passion, and pleasure. Today I’m a Goddess! My cousin is a bumblebee and my sister is a demon, per usual. Like any other year, we’d hop in the car and drive a great distance. I’d always wonder why but the irresistible craving of delicious treats filled that curiosity. It wasn’t satisfied for long though. I began to question why we had to go out so far to trick or treat? How come their streets were lit up when the sun wasn’t anywhere in sight? Although my night ended with a basket full of treats and a smile as big as the houses we visited, I couldn’t come to terms with the vast difference between their neighborhood and mine. As I grew older, I quickly realized I had outgrown “trick or treating” but this memory is one that always wandered through my mind. As humans, we have such a selective memory and the ones that have traumatized, resonated, or simply lingered within us all have some sentimental value to the person we grow into in the future.
Eventually I joined a youth organization, L!FE Leaders, Inc., which focuses on the overall development of young people in Detroit. During my time in this wonderful program, I have gotten the opportunity to co-plan and host fundraisers, receptions, and community-oriented events. My most beloved work is our annual “Youth Summit Conference” during the summertime. We create a welcoming space for our local peers and city officials to discuss opportunities and plans for the city. Leading and being a part of this event allowed me to appreciate and learn more about the neighborhoods in my community, which ultimately drives my passion to invest in my city through the development of its youth. Unevenly distributed resources, lack of opportunities, and inadequate buildings/materials are just a few of the challenges my peers face. Understanding the inequity students face in Detroit regarding equal opportunity and education has been the foundation of what I realized to be my true desire to carry out in life. I want to create pathways for teens to succeed.
My goal is to provide youth with the knowledge, exposure, financial literacy, and resources to be able to live their desired lives after high school. I want to create a mentorship and youth development-driven nonprofit organization called Success Reimagined. I will implement this program district-wide, in hopes of educating our students on how to create generational wealth, focus on post-high school lifestyles, and presenting themselves in a professional manner. For my long-term vision, I will develop a financially secure future, improve my self-awareness, and implement my program, Success Reimagined, into DPSCD’s curriculum. I will also provide one-on-one mentorship sessions to encourage youth and career development.
Following the memory of the Halloween night where I briefly discovered the meaning of inequity, I have realized it is no longer a mystery that it was ingrained in my mind. Throughout my entire life, my family has struggled with finances and obtaining the “finer things.” Nonetheless we are a loving family. My city has struggled with distribution of resources and exposure. Nonetheless it is a powerful and grit-filled city. The true lesson I learned is that the value of a person or even a city does not lie solely in its appearance, but in its ability to impact others.
I’m excited for the day I’ll be able to open doors to all the beautiful Goddesses, bumblebees, and cheerful demons to success in my wonderful community.
Quote that inspires you:
Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better, and your better is best!