As an applicant for the Vision Hope Scholarship, I believe I should be highly considered for multiple reasons. Within those reasons the most important, I am a young full-time first mom, who's a hardworking long-term employee and a second-year student in college who is trying to better her life to secure a more structured future for her son and herself and this would be a great opportunity for the both of us.

After working more than a decade in customer service at my current employment I've realized that I need a profession that would be more prosperous, personal, beneficial and professional. As much as I realized how much or the satisfaction that I get from helping customers in customer service, I've realized how much I could help future patients and customers in the optical field with the experience I have already accomplished. 

 The sacrifices I make trying to get by in the economy we live in with a child while in school can be challenging sometimes. Currently having to adjust my work schedule just to accommodate my school schedule unfortunately causes loss of hours at my employment which negatively impacts my financial stability. Mentally being unstable on a daily basis constantly worrying about finishing school and my maintaining my finances this scholarship would be a godsend. This scholarship would financially support me by filling in the gaps needed. 

After graduating and receiving my Associates Degree in Opticianry and achieving my licensure I plan to then further my education in the Opticianry field and pursue my career as an Optometrist, while receiving experience in the optical field as a licensed optician. Completing my education which is my number one priority would give me the ability to help anyone or patient in need optical wise. 

While in school I've made numerous of reading eyeglasses to be donated to patients in need at assistant living facilities and I plan to continue to help the community in many ways that I am capable of. My biggest goal is to become an owner in the optical business and to have the ability and honor to discount or give patients in need glasses at my own cost, also with the help of other organizations willing to support and provide eyewear to those in need.

 After during research I've gained knowledge that there's not many African American licensed opticians. Within my research studies show that with nearly 60,000 eye care providers nationwide, less than 2% of practicing Optometrists and Ophthalmologist in the United States identify as Black African American. 77.8 % of all opticians are women while 22.2 are men with the average optician age being 43. This low percentage has a strong impact on myself because honestly that's just not many at all compared to others. African Americans are the smallest percentage in the optical field and it would be an honor to be able increase that percentage. 

By receiving this scholarship, it would bring a big relief financially and mentally because I would be able to focus more on completing this program and applying what I've learned to my career to help others. My short-term goal is to graduate in 2025, become a licensed optician by the age of 28 and to continue my education to meet my long-term goal as an Optometrist by the age of 35.