I am applying for this scholarship not simply as a student pursuing higher education, but as a pastor who understands the deep responsibility of serving people holistically; spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Completing my psychology degree is not a personal ambition alone; it is a calling that directly shapes how I serve God, the church, and the next generation.
My desire to enter the field of psychology began at home. Growing up, my mother struggled with chronic depression accompanied by psychosis. Watching her battle an illness that was often misunderstood, minimized, or spiritualized without compassion deeply affected me. At that time, mental health was rarely discussed openly, especially within church contexts. I saw firsthand how silence, stigma, and lack of understanding can isolate individuals who are already suffering. Those experiences planted in me a burden to bridge the gap between faith and mental health, a gap that still exists in many churches today.
As a pastor, I regularly walk alongside people who are hurting beneath the surface. Many young people, in particular, wrestle with anxiety, depression, identity struggles, and trauma, yet feel unsafe or unsure about expressing those struggles within spiritual spaces. My education in psychology equips me with tools to listen better, respond wisely, and serve them with both biblical truth and psychological understanding. I believe the church should be a place of refuge, not shame, and knowledge allows me to steward that responsibility with integrity.
This journey is especially meaningful to me because I am the first person in my family to attend university. Higher education represents more than a degree; it represents perseverance, sacrifice, and the hope of opening doors not only for myself, but for those who will come after me. This scholarship would relieve financial pressure and allow me to focus more fully on my studies, ministry, and personal growth without the constant strain of balancing limited resources.
Beyond serving youth, I also feel called to support other pastors. Many leaders silently carry emotional exhaustion, stress, and unresolved trauma while caring for others. I have seen how unchecked mental strain can harm families, ministries, and personal faith. With formal training in psychology, I hope to be a voice of support and healing for pastors who often feel they must remain strong at all costs.
This scholarship would directly benefit my journey with God and higher education by allowing me to continue preparing for a life of service rooted in compassion, wisdom, and faith. I am committed to using what I learn not for personal gain, but to serve the church more effectively, advocate for mental health awareness, and help others encounter God’s healing in every dimension of their lives.
Ultimately, receiving this scholarship would affirm the vision God has placed in my lifeto serve people with compassion that is informed, responsible, and deeply rooted in faith. Education sharpens discernment and expands capacity, allowing ministry to move beyond good intentions into effective care. As I continue this journey, I desire to model a faith that embraces both spiritual devotion and intellectual growth, demonstrating that seeking help, learning deeply, and serving wisely are acts of obedience to God. This support would not only help me finish my degree, but would also empower me to continue building a ministry where healing, understanding, and hope are accessible to all.
Thank you, Mr. Vazquez, for this opportunity to earn a scholarship. When thinking about how I can make a difference in the community and with anyone I connect with, all I need to do is do what I have done as part of who I am. I’m a coach and a Christian. Coaching is teaching to inspire learning. It’s my passion to pass on valuable life lessons that will help others understand what our purpose in life is: to live for Jesus Christ. All of our life experiences, good and bad, are lessons that Christ wants us to learn. Because they all serve his purpose in guiding us through a path he has for each of us. I have been blessed with great success in both coaching athletics and in retail store operations. In both fields, I have had the opportunity to share my life lessons that Christ has taught me. Through storytelling, my players and employees understand why we are each put through challenging times, to teach us, to strengthen us, and to learn that with Christ, all things are possible and without him, nothing is.
After high school, I served my country in the military for 9 years. 1 year in Vietnam. After I was honorably discharged, I found menial and unfulfilling jobs. I got married, and my wife encouraged me to try college. I found it too challenging to handle both work and school. I didn’t do well in my first year. I think I just wasn't prepared mentally for college courses. I decided to wait before I would try again. One day, I was in an empty space thinking about what my future would be. Soon, Jesus Christ directed me to start a new career in retail store operations, and after that, coaching athletics. I experienced many tough emotional times. I was a lost soul. That’s because I didn’t have a relationship with Christ. I always acknowledge him and the Godhead, but I didn’t know him. I had no idea that these career fields would be my calling, but Christ did!
My older brother, who recently passed, inspired me to learn about our lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, Satan didn’t like that at all. He threw at me all the reasons to doubt Christ and how he has failed to help me. Time passed, and I became strong in my faith and my relationship with Jesus. The more I learned about Jesus and what my purpose was, the more peace I felt inside me.
Today, I don’t claim to be an every-Sunday attending Christian. I don’t claim to know scripture by chapter and verse. But I do preach to anyone willing to listen, all that I have learned about Jesus Christ, and that I’m living proof of how much Jesus loves us all, even when I wasn’t close to him, he never left me. He never leaves us; it’s we who pull away from him.
I know I have helped others to reconsider where they stand on their faith. To teach them that every day is a gift from Christ, allowing each of us to show him how we love him and are thankful for all of his blessings. To acknowledge that we all fall short of what he expects from us, which isn’t much, but as humans and sinners, we fail him. But because of him, we can be forgiving and expect that one day we will live with him.
My reason for applying for this scholarship is to earn my bachelor’s degree by May of 2026. But, Christian, I understand there may be young people in more need of this scholarship than I, so please consider them first. My goal after graduation is to start a Professional Girls Softball league in Texas. So many young ladies after college have no place to showcase their talent. Thank you and God bless!
Coach
Hector
