The Forge by Andrew

The Forge by Andrew - June 2026 Scholarship Essay

If I could design a project to improve my community, it would focus on creating a STEM mentorship and game development program for middle school, high school students, and college students from underrepresented backgrounds, a program I wish had existed when I was their age.

My passion for technology grew out of video games. What started as childhood curiosity eventually became the foundation for my pursuit of a Software Engineering degree at Morehouse College. But that path was never clearly laid out for me, and I know many students like me never find it at all, not because they lack talent, but because they lack exposure and support.

The program I envision, which I would call The Forge, would partner with local schools and community organizations to offer weekly workshops where students learn the fundamentals of programming through game development projects. Rather than abstract coding exercises, students would build real, playable experiences, because when young people see their ideas come to life on screen, something shifts. They stop seeing technology as something that happens to them and start seeing themselves as people who can shape it.
Mentorship would be the core of the program. I know firsthand what it means to have someone believe in you during a difficult moment. When I was academically separated from Morehouse, it was the encouragement of mentors, family, and faculty that helped me rebuild. The Forge would pair each student with a college or industry mentor who reflects their background and can speak honestly about both the opportunities and the obstacles ahead.

My mother taught me that we are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. This program would be my way of honoring that lesson, investing in the next generation the same way so many people invested in me.