Frederick and Bernice Beretta Memorial Scholarship

I was born at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton with three toes on each foot and limited bone structure. I was considered permanently disabled with a formal diagnosis of fibular hemimelia, to which doctors stated I would never walk or live a normal kid life. One of the leading life lessons I learned early in life was a positive mindset. Using that mindset, I took steps to adapt and overcome. Dedicating myself to a positive mindset was critical to reaching the vantage point that nothing is wrong with me, and quite simply, it is a challenge to navigate. My positive mindset allowed me to defy the odds, as I could walk and play sports with molded inserts. This step helped me focus on the good and see what is possible, not just regarding my feet but also how to be the best version of myself. As I grew older, I had to keep adapting due to recurring fractures in my feet, which made walking, daily life, and sports more difficult. I continued to seek pathways to help me succeed and discovered a noodle brace service members used to recover from lower extremity injuries. This brace converts energy and lessens the impact from my feet to my calf. These orthopedic braces ended up being a game changer for me to continue to walk and participate in physical activities. I realized that someone else's opinion doesn't have to be your reality, which has propelled my academic achievement. My disability isn't something to grieve over or be ashamed of; it is simply my story. Fully embracing my challenge, I clearly understand my goals while immersing myself in everyday actions and learning to cope to succeed. These steps allowed me to build resiliency that I directly translated to my academic journey. I learned to clearly articulate and communicate well with my teachers while taking on complex concepts with the confidence to navigate and apply them. I realized that someone else's opinion doesn't have to be your reality, which has propelled my academic achievement. My disability isn't something to grieve over or be ashamed of; it is simply my story. Fully embracing my challenge, I clearly understand my goals while immersing myself in everyday actions and learning to cope to succeed. These steps allowed me to build resiliency that I directly translated to my academic journey. I learned to clearly articulate and communicate well with my teachers while taking on complex concepts with the confidence to navigate and apply them. With my work ethic and determination, I will continue on this education journey. My goal is to further my education by attending University of California Merced in the fall of 2024. I plan to major in Engineering. I appreciate being considered for this scholarship, I promise to honor the memory of Frederick and Bernice Beretta and make them proud. One day I WILL give back in the same way they have given opportunity to others that want to better themselves through education.