Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship

$500
1 winner$500
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 30, 2024
Winners Announced
May 30, 2024
Education Level
Any
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners

Despite living in the most prosperous and interconnected time in history, rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide are on the rise. In the United States, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. It kills someone every 12 minutes.

What’s our solution to the vast and growing mental health problem? A society that tunes out those who struggle and a broken system that offers addictive pharmaceutical drugs, outdated and inconsistent therapy practices, and understaffed hospitals with mediocre care.

My mom, Sheri Rosser, was a victim of this broken approach.

After struggling with depression for decades, going in and out of hospitals, and taking dozens of medications, she lost all hope and took her own life in 2017. It was the most painful and devastating experience of my life.

The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship is dedicated to my mom, a wonderful woman who taught me the power of authenticity, belief, and compassion.

My hope is that the scholarship inspires greater awareness about mental health and fuels innovative solutions that help the millions of people who are suffering.

When we bring the darkness to light, it will slowly fade.

The scholarship is open to students at any educational level and field of study. The only application requirement is that students have personally experienced challenges with mental health or have had people close to them who have experienced mental health challenges.

Students applying to the scholarship will be required to write an essay about how their experience with mental health has influenced their beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. While not required, working or volunteering at organizations that increase mental health awareness, provide mental health support, or research mental health solutions will be a plus on student applications.

Selection Criteria:
Life aspirations, Experience with mental health support and awareness, Impact
Published December 1, 2023
$500
1 winner$500
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 30, 2024
Winners Announced
May 30, 2024
Education Level
Any
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

How has your experience with mental health influenced your beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations?

500–1000 words

Winners and Finalists

Winning Application

Alyssa Bungcayao
Grossmont CollegeChula Vista, CA
Growing up as a competitive figure skater at the early age of five, I experienced stress and pressure from the high expectations placed upon me by myself, my parents, and my coaches. Figure skating has instilled in me a strong sense of discipline, perseverance, and the value of hard work. However, competing in this beautiful sport has also resulted in a number of psychological issues that I was blissfully unaware of as a child. Throughout the majority of my early pre-teen and teenage years, I battled with eating disorders that left me feeling physically weak and unable to compete in the sport that once brought me so much joy. I became so consumed with trying to achieve a nearly unattainable body image, that I was unaware of the deteriorating effects my actions were having on my mind. I became so hard on myself at an early age that this mindset led to self-sabotage, isolation, anxiety, and depression. I was experiencing all of these feelings, but not a single soul knew what was happening. I carried myself in such a way that everyone around me thought I was happy and not a prisoner to my own mind. I felt ashamed and did not seek the help that I so desperately needed due to the unfortunate stigma that surrounded mental health at the time. I spent many years contemplating how life would be without me in it, and how easy it would be end my thoughts by ending my life. I wish I could go back and hug my younger self. Something in me changed the day my father had his first major hospitalization. He was rushed into the operating room for an emergency quadruple bypass surgery after suffering from a major heart attack. As I sat anxiously in the waiting room, I prayed that he would make it and that I would do anything to see another bright day with him. He survived, and I knew that I wanted to start living again. My father has always been the most positive person I have ever known, and my heart broke knowing his life was almost taken from him. Recovery was not an easy process, but I knew it was time to be open and honest with myself if I wanted to get better. I began therapy and incorporated several self-care practices such as yoga, journaling, meditating, and nature walks into my everyday routine. I began to fall back in love with life and with myself. I became employed as a counselor at an eating disorder facility, and was completely in awe of the individuals who were brave enough to ask for help. I spoke with many clients who felt comfortable sharing their mental health journeys with me, and let them know how courageous they were for opening up to me, their peers, and the rest of the healthcare team. Fast forward a few years to where I am in my life now. I am currently in nursing school and expected to graduate in May of 2023. I have realized that working in a career that allows me to help others has been healing for myself as well. Unfortunately, my father passed away from cardiac arrest last August, but I was very lucky to have spent a few years with him after his first major cardiac event. While I am completely saddened by his death, I have learned that reaching out for help when we are vulnerable can make life easier to navigate during these trying times. I lost one of the most important people in my life, but my family and friends stepped in and made my mother, sister, and I feel like we weren’t alone. I knew the depths of darkness my mind can take me, and I told my therapist that I wanted to work through my grief and not go down that path again. Mental health looks different on everyone. We hear about celebrities taking their lives and more recently, nurses taking their lives while working their shifts. Depression doesn’t always look like an obvious frown or the inability to make it out of bed. Underneath the smiles and the “I’m doing good” responses, may be a person who is currently facing silent battles alone. With this being said, we should make it a point to check in with our loved ones, including the happy friends, the advice givers, our healthcare workers, or anyone who may be experiencing a change in their lives. My experience with mental illness and the devastating loss of my father has shaped who I am as a person and how I view life. Through my future career as a nurse, I hope to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and will do my best to make each of my patients feel supported, seen, and heard.
Ashley Hatley
Winthrop UniversityPolkton, NC
Though I am only in my mid 20's, I have already had the experience of living with Major Depressive Disorder for the past 8 years. To make it to this point in my life, I have had to endure many trials, face stigma and judgment from family and friends, try medication after medication, and engage in countless therapy sessions. I would not wish this condition on anyone else, because it has proven to be very difficult to deal with. However, living with Major Depressive Disorder has brought good into my life, as it has led me to my current career path in social work, and has resulted in me believing I have a purpose in helping others who are facing similar challenges. Transitioning from an adolescent who struggled with suicidal thoughts and saw no future for her life to now being an adult in graduate school is a huge accomplishment for me. Years ago, I saw no purpose for myself and even had a difficult time passing my courses to make it to my high school graduation. I was hospitalized multiple times and was absent too many days of school to be able to make up my missed coursework before my graduation date. However, through the dedicated help of teachers and my guidance counselor, I courageously made it to June 10, 2016 when I walked across the stage in my cap and gown and was handed my diploma. To say I was proud of myself is an understatement. After graduation, starting my college career brought new, exciting experiences, but the depression still followed me, as my condition is recurrent and results in multiple depressive episodes over time. Despite the ups and downs of my mental illness during my time in college, however, I managed to graduate a semester early with the honors of summa cum laude. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and had plans to go into a helping profession in the mental health field. Though I took a year off to work full-time before applying to graduate school, I soon was accepted and admitted into the Master of Social Work program at Winthrop University. Throughout my graduate studies so far, I have gained additional confidence that I am on the correct carer path in social work. I feel I was put on Earth to make a difference by sharing my difficult experiences with others in hopes of bringing a bit of brightness to their lives. At times when my depression creeps back in, I often have doubts about my ability to complete my degree, but my sister and mother have always been by my side to pick me back up and provide encouragement for me to keep pushing through. Living with Major Depressive Disorder can be a revealing experience, as it highlights the people in your life who genuinely care about your well-being and are willing to try to understand your struggles. Throughout the past 8 years, I have been told by family and friends that I was faking my mental illness to get attention from people, that I had a good life and no reason to be depressed, and that my struggles with depression could simply be absolved with the right amount of prayer. This consistent experience of stigma and misunderstanding led to me feeling more alone in my fight with Major Depressive Disorder and caused me to realize that not everyone in my life will be supportive during difficult circumstances. Slowly over time, however, I have moved forward past these misunderstandings and have come out stronger as result. The stigma that surrounds mental illness is something I am passionate about changing, especially in my future career as a social worker. I want to be a support for others who are drowning in the dark and simply need a kind, helping hand or a listening ear to make it through. I want to be able to share my story with others and help them realize that it is possible to live a fulfilling life, even while having a mental illness. It won't be easy or quick, but with the right supports it is feasible. I believe God has placed me on Earth to use my experiences to shine a light on mental illness and to be an additional aide in reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health. Though I have been through years of emotional pain, feeling unheard by friends, experiencing shifting relationships with loved ones, and struggling to find my purpose, I can say I am content with where my mental illness has brought me in my life thus far. Today, I am finally hopeful for my future and wholeheartedly believe I have the ability to create positive change for those living with mental illness. It has been quite a journey, but I now have the strength to realize that my story is far from over.
Megan Ying
Carnegie Mellon UniversityRockville, MD
I flipped through the pages of my altered book, which I had transformed into a creative outlet for my emotions. A page blacked out except for a huddled child, pasted cut-out letters spelling the word “fat,” a wilted flower with torn petals. Suddenly, I was transported back to a time of insecurity and shame. A time of blindly stumbling after the voice inside my head in hopes of shedding a few pounds... When I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anorexia nervosa, I immediately felt angry at the world, at everyone, at myself. Every time I sat down with yet another psychiatrist or therapist or nutritionist, hot fury gushed through my veins. The urge to push them away bubbled beneath my skin. I screamed, I yelled, I cried. It wasn’t fair. Why me? But before long, I had decided I was done. Never again would that voice inside my head control me. I took my frustration and channeled it into something new: motivation. With the help of my loved ones, I fought every whisper inside my head to diet, to hurt myself, to give up on life. Even when the voice screamed not to, I persisted and persevered. It was not a smooth path to recovery. I fell and stumbled and tripped along the way, but picked myself up every time. I was bruised and rattled, yet determined to overcome the next obstacle. Throughout my battle with mental health, I built strong relationships with those around me as I realized I was not alone in my struggle. My parents drove an hour each day to visit me at the hospital and remind me that they were there for me. My friends called me on a regular basis to cheer me up and update me on our middle school gossip. My teachers sacrificed time out of their busy schedules to ensure I was caught up on my work. As my relationships grew stronger, so did my appreciation and gratefulness for my support system. It has been six years since my diagnosis, and I am no longer the scared, insecure little girl I once was. I have fought hard to become who I am now. Someone who eats cake at parties. Who wears bikinis to the pool. Who takes photos with her friends. I have grown to be somebody who loves herself and puts herself out there. I realize that I can never get back the years I lost to my struggle against mental illness, but I can support those facing the same challenges as I once did. As my feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness began to subside, my determination to help those struggling with mental health issues only grew stronger. I shared my story on social media in hopes of ending stigma and raising awareness. I counseled anyone who reached out to show others that it can and will get better. If I could recover, then so could they. My battle has fueled my determination to further show support in my undergraduate experience. At Carnegie Mellon University, I want to continue to spread awareness and push for additional support. My passion for mental health has led me to become the Director of Risk Management and Wellness in my sorority. In my position, I plan to share different mental health resources and services on campus with my sisters, as well as offer assistance to those in need. This desire to help others has grown to influence my goals outside of my extracurriculars. After repeatedly being exposed to adversities and hardships, I started to despise the idea that throughout the world, people were dying from horrible, excruciating conditions. I dreamed of improving the lives of those grappling with diseases and disabilities, whether they be mental or physical. This has ultimately developed my aspiration to enter the biomedical engineering field, where I would be given the opportunity to advance medicine through life-changing innovations, such as a material that reduces the likelihood of aneurysm recurrence or prosthetic arms controlled by the mind. I want to be part of the reason that someone gets to live or is able to pursue their dreams. As time went on, I began to understand that the barriers I faced, although terrifying and unbearable at times, have forced me to grow and mature. Life cannot always be fair. It cannot always be easy. But the challenges that we overcome allow us to gain life skills, attain wisdom and insight, and develop our goals. Without them, life may go smoothly, but it would not be as meaningful as it is now. Today, I can proudly say that I am a survivor of anorexia and depression, and while my struggle with mental health does not define me, it has shaped me into who I am.
Susana Santiesteban
Santa Fe CollegeGainesville, FL
I have always dreamed of being an educator-fantasizing about caring for other people and being the bridge to their learning. I have always been drawn to teaching, especially because of the impact my teachers have had on me. Quite recently I had one of the most meaningful encounters with the health system. After years of struggling with crippling depression and anxiety in silence, I had reached a breaking point that almost cost me my life. I was stuck in a cycle of thinking that I had to lead a singular experience through life, but this could not be any further from the truth. Thankfully, a three-day trip to the hospital and a village of people beside me has made me realize that we can enter this world alone, but we do not have to live through it unassisted. Being given the support to enjoy a new opportunity to attempt a better life, I have discovered many things about my character. I have discovered that I am strong, I have discovered that I am brave but, most importantly, I have discovered that I am more than the sum of my parts. Working together as a group doesn’t mean the individual is weak, it just means that together we are stronger. This trial has pushed me past what I thought I could handle; I now know the true meaning of perseverance. I have learned that there are dark days raging with cataclysmic storms that make even the strongest houses dissipate into rubble. However, there are also days filled with marvelous gold paved roads that end with rainbows and sunshine. Somewhere in between those two days is where the living occurs. This is where we climb the steep hills of life and slide down on the other side. It is within those moments that I have been given a second opportunity to do more than simply seize the day, but wholeheartedly continue to pave my path. It has been difficult to stand back up after being buried under six feet of dirt, but it has been worth every single struggle. Now more than ever I am empowered to follow my ambitions of becoming an educator and joining the support network of all of my students. I actively advocate for mental health days, teach them about mental health hygiene, and lead them by example. It is more than okay to have bad days as long as they know that they have someone that can help them out when they are ready to make a change. In my daily life, I am transparent about my struggles and also the slow joy that comes from learning to cope. I have been broken and remolded to be the person I am today. Helen Keller once said “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” This thought has been manifested in my life, and now I can use it as an example of triumph that I can do more than move mountains.
Tranee Peevy
Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental MedicineLOS ANGELES, CA
Zoey Suarez
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA
Matt Aukamp
Southern New Hampshire UniversityExton, PA

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 30, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 30, 2024.