My Daily Belief is:

My daily belief is simple: you only live once. I developed this belief because when I was younger, I was often afraid to put myself out there and pursue things I truly wanted, because of trivial reasons like fear and anxiety. While I still do struggle with those things from time to time, I have learned that the only way to overcome fear is to jump right into it. Now I constantly push myself out of my comfort zone and deliberately face my anxiety, because you only live once.  So let’s take advantage of the opportunities God places before us.

The movie/book that most influenced my life is: 

The movie that most influenced my life is “The Princess and the Frog.” As a dark-skinned black girl, I did not have much representation in films and shows growing up, compared to today, where diversity is more widely celebrated. So I remember feeling so ecstatic and represented when I saw Princess Tiana on the screen. She did not start as a princess; She was just a small-town girl with a dream who refused to give up on it. She was determined, and even though obstacles came her way, she overcame them and never gave up! I see so much of myself in her, and I strive to live my life with the same drive, resilience, and passion she embodies.

Who would I like to meet and why? 

The person I would like to meet is my grandmother on my father’s side. Bernadette is her name, and my middle name comes from her first name. Everyone says that I remind them of her. She died a year before I was born, in 2007, and as the old Bahamian saying goes, “as one gone, a next one born.” I wholeheartedly believe that some of her cheerful spirit rubbed off on me while she ascended to be with our Creator. I would love to meet her to see how similar we truly are and to thank her for raising my father to be the incredible man he is today.

I AM MOTIVATED BY:

My biggest motivation in life is to succeed and make my parents proud. It will be my greatest accomplishment to repay my parents for all the hard work and dedication they put into raising my brother and me. They always push us to be our best and to be ourselves, no matter what. They never put unnecessary pressure on us, and although I know they are always proud of me, my biggest dream is to one-day give back to them the same love, sacrifice, and unwavering support they have always given me.

 

WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE JUDGES TO KNOW ABOUT ME IS: 

I want the judges to know that I am a very positive and goofy person. Despite what my resting face might convey, I love to laugh and have fun with my friends. I try to keep my energy positive because I know how easy it is to feed off someone’s negative energy, and I want everyone to feel happy and positive when I’m around. I’m consistently joking with my family and friends and enjoying their presence. 

MY COMMUNITY SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE: 

• Participating in a beach clean-up with my after-school program.

• Helping clean the Adventure Learning Center with my after-school program.

• Creating flyers for my school’s Sound and Media Club.

• Participating in a business skills class with my after-school program.

• Mentoring students in graphic design during my school’s Sound and Media Club workshop.

• Mentoring 10th graders in their adjustment to high school.

• Walking dogs at the Humane Society.

• Helping set up for assemblies with my school’s Sound and Media Club. 

• Through these experiences, I have learned that even small acts of service can create meaningful change in someone’s life.

 

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS:

AMBITIOUS – I constantly work toward self-betterment and always push myself out of my comfort zone. I love setting goals for myself and seeing myself accomplish them. I strive for greatness, never the bare minimum. 

INSIGHTFUL – I think deeply about everything and am always ready to learn and grow. Expanding my view on certain topics is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time.  

COMPASSIONATE – I enjoy helping others better themselves, like through my platform Educate to Elevate. I enjoy being a shoulder for people to cry on. Many of my friends love to open up to me about their stresses because I try my best to navigate situations with grace, empathy, and compassion.