Glenn Ehlers Memorial Scholarship

I was eight years old when my dad died from liver failure due to alcoholism. At that age, I didn't understand addiction or grief, I only understood his absence. I remember Reel realizing that life would never feel the same again. Well other kids, my age were focused on playgrounds or school projects, I was learning how to process loss. His death forced me to grow up earlier than I should have, and it became the first moment that shaped who I am today. As I got older, I began to understand the complexity of addiction in the way impact not only the person suffering, but everyone around them. I experienced sadness, confusion, and anger, but I also developed something unexpected: empathy. I became more aware that people often carry invisible pain. This realization changed the way I saw others including myself. Instead of allowing my loss to become something that helped me back, I chose to let it motivate me. I became determined about a future to find no by what I lost, but by what I could become. Growing up without my dad also meant learning independence at a young age. As a balanced school, work, preparing for college, I often faced stress and uncertainty about my future. There were moments where everything felt overwhelming, but I learned how to keep moving forward. Working while pursuing my education taught me discipline, responsibility, and resilience. These challenges showed me that strength is not something you were born with, it is something you developed through adversity. My experiences are the reason I plan to pursue degree in psychology at Texas A&M. Losing my dad made me want to understand why people struggle on how they can be helped before it is too late. I want to become someone who helps others, navigate grief, addiction, an emotional hardship. I understand what it feels like to carry pain. The others cannot see, and I want to use that understanding to support people in the most difficult moments. Higher education will give me the knowledge and skills necessary to turn my experiences into something meaningful. It will allow me to build a career where I can help others heal, grow, and find stability. Receiving the scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of college, but also bring me one step closer to achieving my goal of making a difference in people's lives day by day. Losing my dad was the hardest thing I'll ever have to experience, but it also gave me the purpose that I have today. Through his absence, it taught me resilience and determination. It shaped my strength, and that is that strength that drives me toward my future. I'm committed to using my education to help others, overcome the struggles, just as I learn to overcome my own.

For me, I feel like adversity has been multiple challenges I have faced over time. My parents divorced when I was four. My dad was around sometimes, but he wasn’t really there in the ways I needed. After he remarried and started a new family, I felt like I had to earn a place in his life. I thought that if I succeeded, especially in sports, he might finally notice me. Practices, games, school programs, and teacher conferences often went without him being there until I became a varsity starter. Because of that, I also found myself always looking for approval from coaches and mentors I looked up to, trying to prove I was worth their time and respect. No matter what sport I played, I felt like the harder I trained or the better I did, the more I might be enough. Over time, that mindset became exhausting, even with my faith guiding me. Things started to change when my stepdad came into my life. He never tried to replace my dad or force anything. He just showed up. He encouraged me, pushed me to be better, and cared about me no matter how good I was at sports. Whether I played well or not, he treated me the same. That was something I wasn’t used to, and slowly it helped me realize that my value wasn’t tied to my performance. My Senior year, I tore my ACL and had to have surgery, which ended my football season. Sports had always been my outlet, and suddenly I was stuck on the sidelines. Sitting out made me start to doubt my self worth because the one thing I had always used to prove myself was gone. My dad didn’t show up the day of my surgery and visited me once for 30 minutes the following day. People who promised to be there after my surgery, weren’t. I felt like my world stood still while everyone else’s was moving forward. Even though I couldn’t play, Mike and my mom came to every game. They showed up even when there was nothing for me to prove. That meant more to me than any win ever could and showed me what real support looks like. Because of these experiences, my goals for the future are simple. I want to get an education that helps me have a stable career, so I can provide for my family and be present in their lives. I do not want success to come at the cost of missing important moments. Being present matters to me because I know how much it can shape someone’s life. Continuing my education will help me reach these goals by giving me direction, discipline, and opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise. It is a way to commit to something bigger than myself and prepare for a future that offers balance and purpose. More than anything, I want to make sure those around me know that the only person who defines your worth is God and that He chose each of us when he sent his Son to pay the ultimate price. The challenges I have faced have taught me resilience, humility, and the importance of showing up for others. I still have a lot to learn, but I am motivated to keep growing and becoming a better version of myself through education and hard work.

From 6th to 8th grade, I faced bullying from a fellow teammate in the locker room because of my weight. It was a tough and isolating experience, and it caused me to struggled with self-esteem. However, when I entered high school, I made a decision to change my lifestyle. I began working hard to lose weight and build muscle, pushing myself both physically and mentally. By my sophomore year, I earned a spot on the varsity football team, and my junior and senior years I have had the honor of being a team captain. Looking back, overcoming the bullying I faced was a huge part of my growth, not only physically but emotionally. It helped me develop resilience and determination, and I now feel like I can help others going through similar struggles. In an unexpected twist, over the past two years, I’ve actually become friends with the boy who first started bullying me in 6th grade. Come to find out, his family life was really messed up. His father was in and out of jail, and my friend was having to be the man of the house and help with his younger siblings. The past two years I have been giving him rides to football practice, taking him to FCA meetings, and even buying him breakfast and food after school. We’ve formed a bond, and I’m glad I have been able to be there for him, knowing how much I needed support during my own tough times. Overcoming this adversity has shown me how much we can grow and change, and how important it is to help others along the way. My goal is to pursue a career in the HVAC/R industry, which offers so much opportunity for growth. I have been accepted to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in the fall. Their program has an excellent reputation for providing hands-on, technical education and almost immediate job placement. At TSTC, I plan to earn both a certification and an associate degree in HVAC/R. Earning both will equip me with the experience required in the field and knowledge to be a business owner. By owning my own HVAC/R company, it will allow me to provide for my family, contribute to my community by bringing in jobs, and helping others. I know building a successful business won’t be easy and will take hard work, but I’m ready for the challenge.

I spent much of my childhood talking to my father through a telephone, separated by a sheet of glass. After his release, a cycle of abuse began at home, and I quickly realized that life wouldn’t be without its struggles. Sophomore year, my father attempted to murder my mother. I woke up to his terrifying threats and the sounds of crashing. I cowardly stayed in bed, unsure if my mother was alive. She eventually appeared, and I held her while she sobbed herself to sleep. This moment solidified the instability and fear that had long dominated our home. My father’s abuse left lasting emotional scars. Fear and insecurity clouded my life, making me hesitant to speak up or express my opinions, both at home and in school. I became a "yes" friend, always accommodating others to avoid conflict and seek approval. To maintain a sense of control amidst the chaos, I carefully crafted an image of myself, hiding the reality of my broken home from the world. I couldn’t control my father's actions, but I could control how others saw me. When my parents divorced, I made the difficult decision to cut my father out of my life. I blocked him physically and digitally, distancing myself from his toxicity. Although family members called me selfish and reminded me “he’s your dad,” I knew I needed to prioritize my own well-being. In time, I realized that cutting him off wasn’t selfish—it was a necessary act of self-preservation. With my father no longer in my life, I began to discover my true self. I let go of the facade I had created and learned that my value wasn’t dependent on others’ approval. I understood the importance of setting boundaries and started saying “no” when overwhelmed, prioritizing my own balance and mental health. Embracing this new strength, I joined student council and was elected to multiple leadership positions, ultimately becoming senior class Vice President. I flourished, finding confidence in expressing my opinions, even when they might not be approved by everyone. This growth wasn’t just personal—it gave me a deeper understanding of others as well. Cutting ties with my abusive father was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but it was also the catalyst for my personal growth. It taught me resilience, the importance of boundaries, and the commitment to living a life free from abuse. Through it all, I learned that I have the power to shape my own life, free from my past and my father’s shadow. My future goal is to become a physician assistant (PA), working closely with patients to provide high-quality healthcare. To achieve this, gaining further education is essential. Completing a rigorous PA program will equip me with the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and hands-on experience needed to diagnose, treat, and care for patients. Additionally, it will prepare me for the certification exams required to practice as a PA. Despite my dads negative lasting impact on me I want to become qualified to make a positive impact in healthcare and on patients. My journey has instilled in me the empathy and resilience to succeed in this role and help others navigate their own challenges.