Embodying Excellence by Nyah

Embodying Excellence by Nyah - June 2023 Scholarship Essay

My continued education as a Howard University student will empower me to achieve black excellence because Howard prepares me to grow in abundance and reach back and offer learned experiences to those coming behind me. In a time when activism and the fight for the rights of the underrepresented and marginalized is at an all-time high, I hope to be a lawyer on the front line in the fight for justice. I seek to further develop effective communications skills that will allow me to become a strategic, highly-knowledgeable, and successful lawyer with a firm but compassionate approach. I read a book titled, Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944, by author John Clay who quotes lawyer, activist, and former Howard University School of Law dean, Charles Hamilton Houston when he says “[The] Negro lawyer must be trained as a social engineer and group interpreter. Due to the Negro's social and political condition... the Negro lawyer must be prepared to anticipate, guide and interpret his group advancement…”

I hope to not only be a lawyer, but a highly articulate and powerful social advocate like the one Mr. Houston described. I want to do profound and innovative work that encourages forward movement to find solutions to the pressing issues that plague our communities, especially the Black community. I strongly believe that Howard University's School of Communications is the right environment to fulfill my career goal because of its legacy and commitment to mold young bright minds into amazing graduates that dominate various sectors in the workforce and are servants in their respective communities. As the saying goes, ‘Iron sharpens iron’, and the students and professors of Howard University and the Cathy Hughes School of Communications are some of the sharpest minds in the country. Being afforded the opportunity to sit and learn among individuals who strive to continue adding to the legacy of Howard University is indicative of a strong and innovative education program that will not only allow me to grow personally, but culturally and professionally.

Howard University has been a great environment to fulfill my academic goals because it has given me the opportunity to be surrounded by people who look like me, and understand my culture. Howard is pouring black excellence into me and I have now adopted its nature. So, with each person I impact they will be able to recognize the excellence exuding from me, all thanks to the education offered at Howard University.