Black Excellence by Daschall

Black Excellence by Daschall - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

My name is Daschall Hayes, an 18-year-old senior that attends Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut. I plan on being a journalism major at Central Connecticut State University. I want to become a music critic and/or social commentator in my professional career. I have a passion for hip-hop and African American culture as a whole, I would be ecstatic to talk about that in grave detail during my career. I want to use my love for writing to talk about the things I’m interested in, while also spreading positive messages and important issues that affect people all over. I want to be able to get on my own away from my stressful home situation so I can do what my calling is. It has been difficult for us, especially after my mother had to leave her job to care for my autistic twin brother as she fought a legal battle with the Board of Education to get him back into school, as they did not want to pay for his proper education.

It is especially harder for an African American member of the LGBTQ+ community. People from all sorts of marginalized groups are looked at in a different light, and I want to prove to those who will look at me in the wrong light that I am worthy. Music is an important part of my life. Listening to it and talking about it has been something that has kept me going through my darkest moments. I love to share my opinions on what’s going on in music, but also of the ways of the world. Society has shifted a lot recently and people from all backgrounds share how they feel and provide ways to fight for change, especially in the United States. We need to come together so we can become a better society.

I want to show that I can be a successful person during all of the struggles I have gone through. Growing up without my dad and dealing with mental issues within my family, it is difficult to find people to relate to in life. A lot of average individuals go to media to find characters and influential people that have gone through troubles just like them. My idol growing up was Kanye West, he taught me to be myself no matter what people tell me. Kanye was very persistent on his goals, he never gave up on being the biggest rapper in the game. Kanye has inspired me to focus on prioritizing myself and the things I care about in life. My goal is to be a voice for those who have struggled and to share how unique and worthy I am. I find my passions to be the most important thing to me, and I am highly focused on being my best self in this world. I want to leave a stamp on society and make a name for myself. I do not see failure at all in my future, I know that I am going to shine. And anyone who is reading this will only be witnessing the beginning of greatness.