My New Journey by Niyah

My New Journey by Niyah - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a Black and Caribbean teenager, I do not just carry a backpack into classrooms. I carry my culture, my community, and the aspirations of those who came before me. The rich rhythm of the Virgin Islands shapes my voice, and my family's sacrifices give me resilience. Not every school year is just another year of grade; it is the continuation of a tale that started a long time ago before me and will keep on going a long time after me. For this upcoming year, I intend to learn more and do better as a leader, maker, and change-maker.

A principal goal of mine is to excel academically. I've added AP courses because I believe success comes with hard work and courage. I plan to keep pushing myself in business and marketing, something that I have grown to enjoy through projects like 3DE, College Bound, and Next Gen. Through these projects, I didn't just learn facts; I learned how to approach life with purpose, think critically, and solve problems in the real world. They challenged me to look at the future I would want to create—not for me but for the community that I am a part of.

But scholarships by itself will not achieve my goals. I want to build on my leadership this year. I have been blessed to have been in student government and in Global Leadership, where I learned to speak up, to lobby, and to lead by example. I want to be someone that others know they can rely on, not just for ideas, but for action too. I've come to understand that leadership isn't about being loud; it's about understanding when to listen, when to uplift others, and when to stand up. This year, I would like to have more leadership positions and employ my voice in making real change within my school community.

At the same time, I wish to stay close to my creativity. I've found strong avenues of expression through film and food studies—locales where I come together with culture and narrative, remembrance and taste. In film, I studied how to express emotion on the screen. Through food, I became connected with my Caribbean roots through food and tradition. These classes showed me that learning does not happen solely by exams and lectures; learning happens when we touch who we really are and allow it to surface in real and authentic ways.

What drives me the most is that I know I'm not doing this for myself alone. I'm doing this for my younger self, who wondered if her dreams were too high, and for students who feel they don't belong due to their background or appearance. The communities that I come from in the Virgin Islands are capable but overlooked. I want to show them—and the world—wrong and inform them that we belong in every place, at every table, and in every seat of power. I wish to establish that our voices count.

It's easy to get caught up in grades, deadlines, and expectations. But I always circle back to my "why." My "why" is in my culture, what my family wants for me, and my willingness to break barriers. I want this school year to be meaningful, where every action that I take brings me closer to the future I'm building—one where I can give back, elevate others, and be proud of who I've become.

As I step into this new year, I bring with me more than drive; I bring purpose. I want this to be the year that I push myself harder than I thought possible. The year that I am present, even when it's uncomfortable. The year that I create space for others as I make my way up. Success is not just about personal achievement for me; it's about how many people I get to bring with me on the way up.

This school year is a book I am writing with all that I am. And I'm not only prepared to learn, but to lead, to create, and to leave a legacy that says: I was from an island, but my dreams were never confined by shorelines.