Hello my name is Rubby Akua Wuabu . I was born and lived most of my life in Ghana West Africa but I have been living in the United States specifically Worcester Massachusetts for five years now. I am 18 years old and the youngest of three sisters. I attended and recently graduated from South High Community School. I graduated top 10 percent of my class, high honors, honor society, top community service hours and winner of the excellent vocal skills award. I was also the 2008 recipient of the Young Woman of Consequence Award from the city of Worcester.

Growing up, I have always been surrounded by extraordinary women who daily inspire me to do my best and work hard. They prove to me daily that a woman can not only do but do better what men can. Thus I plan to attend Simmons College in Boston in the fall as a full time student. I plan to major in either political science or History and minor in pre-law. I have always been told growing up that I had a loud personality and voice and since the sensible thing to do in life is play according to ones strengths I plan to use this loud personality and voice to pursue a career in law or to become a lobbyist. Either way I get to do what I love the most which is to talk incessantly and have people listen to what I have to say.

On behalf of my family and myself I would like to thank the AKA Boston Pearl Foundation for granting me this scholarship and I solemnly promise to use this scholarship wisely and make something of myself that will go to make the foundation proud of the difference they are making in the lives of students such as myself. Thank you.

My name is Anthonina Fenelon, born in Boston,MA. I attended my four years of high school at Health Careers Academy. While a student at Health Careers Academy I was extremely active in the student organizations and sports. I have received honors and awards for perfect attendance, honor roll, community service, and president of the National Honor Society.

As the first one in my family to attend college, I understand the value of obtaining my education and am excited to experience college at Wheaton College.

My goals are to receive my Masters in education, to become a math teacher at Health Careers Academy and one day become the executive director of Health Careers Academy. I am eager and excited to give back to my community and make a positive difference in a young person's life as I have received from my teachers.

I am dedicated to contribute a positive mark in society and looking forward to future opportunities.

My name is Alysha Danielle Thomas. I am the youngest child and the only daughter of James Thomas and Elaine Thomas. I have three brothers, two older and one younger, whom I adore. I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and attended the public schools there all my life. I recently graduated from Newton North High School, Class of 2008 “Home of the TIGERS”! My school is well known for its great athletic teams and its wonderful theatre program. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to perform in such an open environment.

A member of Myrtle Baptist Church all of my life, I have been involved in the Girls Science Club, Dance Troupe and Sunday School. I am also a Junior Usher, and an assistant Sunday School teacher. I also babysat children from the church. From 2004 to present, I was a part of an Upward Bound Summer Program. At this program I received the Most Promising Freshman Award and the Junior on the Move Award.

In the Fall I will attend Morgan State University. I have heard so many great things about this school. For all of my life I have been attending predominately white schools. When I heard of this school I got very excited. I have always wanted to go to a Historically Black College and this is going to be a great opportunity and experience for me. I plan to major in Psychology so that one day I can help young children.

In my junior year, I did something that not even I would have expected myself to do. I joined my church choir. This was such an unexpected action for me to take because I used to be one of the quietest and shiest people you could meet. When I first joined, I would sing softly and keep my voice lower than everyone else’s so that it wouldn’t be heard when I made mistakes. However, as I continued to participate in the choir, my shyness seemed to slowly but surely disappear. Making mistakes, and enduring embarrassing moments during my performances only encouraged my desire to fulfill my goal of enlarging my territory and exploring my capabilities. Even though I did stumble on words and heard my voice crack in a few performances, I got better each time I performed, preparing myself to be great. As I attended more rehearsals, included myself in more performances, and corrected prior mistakes, my progression as a performer soared. Participating in the choir caused me to become more eager to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself in church, school and many other places. I even began challenging myself academically by enrolling myself in AP classes for the following year, knowing that I would have to struggle to succeed in them. I also decided to challenge myself by seeing how well I could handle a job during the school year for the first time by working at the James P. Timilty School as a Teacher’s Assistant in the Technology Goes Home after school program. Presently I am still in the choir, continually improving myself and preparing a lot more in depth. I feel more equipped than ever to embrace and succeed in new upcoming challenges like a college education. I know that with the resources of my future college, not only can I exceed my expectations, but I can also explore new capabilities.

I will do what it takes to become an expert in my profession by making the most of my college experience. By doing so, I will be the one who sets the playing field for gaining my success.

I aim to have a career because I know that my parents worked hard for me so that instead of just having a job, I could have a career in which I am doing something that fulfills me and helps others at the same time. I aim to have a career as an accountant because I know what it’s like to have financial problems that can hinder progress, and there are too many people in the world today that have that same problem. I want to make a way for others, so that they can live life freely. Becoming an accountant would allow me to assist people with their financial issues and educate them about managing money and other assets. I am choosing this career because I want to become the key that opens one of the many doors to the success and freedom in the lives of others. With the help of this scholarship, I have become one door closer to achieving my ultimate goal.