Humanize LLC Gives In Honor of Shirley Kelley Scholarship

Grandparent and parent roles combined: Challenge Accepted! Aloha and hello, Humanize LLC! I am Sereene from the Philippines. I am currently studying Psychology, Social Work, and Cultural Anthropology at Brigham Young University - Hawaii. I was drawn to your scholarship because you honor the influence of grandparents, so I want to tell you how my life has changed because of them. Hilario and Remedios Baysa were both generous and selfless grandparents who raised me and my brother. They were given the responsibility of becoming our grandparents and guardians when I was still a newborn baby, and they accepted me with open hearts. My grandmother, who I call "Mamang", is a retired elementary education teacher. When I was brought to their home, she became my source of great examples. Although Mamang only relied on my father's financial assistance, she budgeted carefully and managed to feed us three times daily. She never wanted anything for herself except that we become successful in life by pursuing our dreams. For her, our happiness is her happiness. She would always put us first. I look up to her great examples. She sleeps early so she can wake up early. I see her read her scriptures at 4 in the morning, leaving her enough time to prepare breakfast for us. She is my example of hospitality and one that honors inclusivity. She invites volunteer missionaries in our home and feeds them with great Filipino food. She was also involved in social work in our community and engaged herself in outreach programs. She knows our community members and leaders by name and opens our home to anyone in need. On the other hand, my grandfather, or "Papang", worked in a Coca-Cola engineering company and is a freelance artist. Papang led our home with principles of honesty and discipline, inviting us to prioritize the things that matter most. It is crucial for him that I finish college, as he could not finish his because of a lack of financial resources. Papang ensured he was there in every school meeting my brother and I had. He led parents-teachers meetings and significantly alleviated air issues in our classrooms. Now, this is not to point out that I have perfect grandparents. But I want to emphasize that I will be forever in awe to have grandparents who spent most of their lives serving and nourishing us. Mamang and Papang, I have so much love to give to others because of your love. Because of their great examples, I valued higher education. I was motivated to include Social Work as one of my majors. I am also planning to apply to graduate school because I want to give back to them and my country, who need mental health help. We lack staff and resources there, and my grandparents have exemplified that we do not need to be millionaires to change the world. WHO WE ARE is already changing the world. So now, as a Filipino student, I am involved in a school that welcomes diversity and practices inclusivity. I am leading Mental Health Awareness Walks at our university. I am studying with discipline, dedicating my time to researching Filipino Student Depression Inventory to understand more deeply the depression experienced by students in my country. Because of their teachings, I involve myself in every opportunity that emphasizes service and advocacy for social justice. Their loving guidance and dedication mark every step I take now in my career. They gave me the best life possible, and now I am set to give others their best life because my grandparents showed it is possible.