Kerry Damiano/Oasis Scholarship

As I pursue my next step of my life journey, I plan to balance my spiritual walk with my new responsibilities by doing all of the stuff I have learned while at college. I have a very busy life right now already and my relationship with the Lord is the best it has ever been. I am much more spiritually aware of my surroundings and I plan of being even more sensitive to the Lords voice. College is teaching me things that are very beneficial for life and my relationship with the Lord. I have gotten much better at things like time management, how to work through stress, communication, and so many other things. I have grown in my wisdom and knowledge of the Lord all while juggling classes and sports. I have a very busy schedule but it’s only preparing me for what’s to come after college. When it comes to my past experiences, they definitely have shaped my decision to pursue my current goal. I went to Paradise Valley Community College after taking a gap year after high school and it built my foundation for me eventually having a relationship with the Lord. I went through a couple years of isolation where I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was and that I was tired of doing things my own way. I have my life to the Lord and have been in the process of sanctification since then. The only reason I am at Arizona Christian now is because of a prayer that the Lord answered. Where I am right now in life is a place that I never thought I could be in. I grew up in a rough household where my parents were drug addicts and alcoholics which eventually led up to my siblings and I being put into foster care. I never even heard about college until I was in the foster care system. The Lord looked out for me while I went through what I went through and He is the reason I am in college. Through my education I plan on going into some type of ministry. I have already been using my schooling to go out and evangelize to people and share the Good News of Jesus. I have gotten much more confident in sharing my faith because of the groups I’ve been in at my school. One thing I am hoping for as I pursue my career is to be using my gifts to the best of my ability. I heard a saying that goes like “a person doesn’t glorify the Lord by making a popular shoe brand, he glorifies the Lord by making really good shoes”. I just want my work to be the best that I can do and if the Lord isn’t in it then I don’t want it. That’s why this scholarship would help so much because I want to stay at the school I’m at. I have seen so much growth in myself while being at Arizona Christian University and I know that it is equipping me very well to do the Lords work.

As I take the next step in my life journey, I plan to balance my spiritual walk with my new responsibilities by making my faith a daily foundation rather than something separate from my goals. As a Christian, I believe that my relationship with God should guide my decisions, my work ethic, and the way I treat others. In college and in my future career in software engineering, I will stay grounded by setting aside time for prayer, reflection, and staying connected to a faith community. Even in busy seasons, I want to ensure that my priorities remain aligned with my values, remembering that success is not only measured by achievements but also by character. My past experiences have played a major role in shaping my goals and who I am today. Through over 230 hours of volunteering with Hope for the Homeless, I learned the importance of compassion, leadership, and service. Whether I was organizing supplies or leading activities, I realized that even small actions can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. These experiences strengthened my desire to pursue a career where I can solve problems and create tools that positively impact others. My involvement in clubs such as esports, peer tutoring, and student leadership has also taught me responsibility, teamwork, and perseverance—skills I will carry with me into my future. As I pursue a degree in software engineering, I plan to use what I have learned to make a positive impact in my new environment. I want to be someone who not only excels academically but also uplifts others. This could mean mentoring peers, collaborating on meaningful projects, or even developing technology that addresses real-world issues. My faith encourages me to serve others selflessly, and I hope to reflect that by using my skills to help people, especially those who may not always have access to opportunities or resources. One thing I hope for as I pursue my career in collaboration with my faith is the ability to remain grounded in purpose. It can be easy to get caught up in competition, pressure, or personal success, but I want to consistently remind myself why I started. I hope to be a light to others through my actions, showing kindness, integrity, and humility in everything I do. By trusting in God’s plan for my life, I believe I can navigate challenges with resilience and continue growing both professionally and spiritually. Ultimately, my goal is not only to succeed in my career but to live a life that reflects my faith. By balancing my responsibilities with my spiritual walk, I hope to create a future where I can make a meaningful difference, guided by both my passion for technology and my commitment to serving others.

My faith over these past few months has grown tremendously. I started a bible club at my high school and currently serve as president of the club. This club has allowed me to help others grow in their faith and has given me the ability to guide people on the right path. This club has not only helped others but has definitely helped me grow in my faith and shape myself into who God wants me to be. It has allowed me to see the plan that God has for my life rather than the path I wanted to take. I have also recently been chosen as the youth leader at my church, which has allowed me to grow even stronger in my faith and teaching skills. I am beyond grateful that God has put me in this position, and I have grown very fond of becoming a youth pastor. As I pursue this new journey in my life, I plan to put God first in everything I do and in every problem I go through. Instead of trying to balance my spiritual walk, I am going to use it to get through struggles on this new journey. Trusting and relying on God will get me through anything, and it has helped me so much throughout school, athletics, and whatever life throws at me. As I go on into the next level of baseball at Ottawa University, I will especially prioritize God and put Him first in everything. This new journey of athletics can be tough, but I know that everything is possible with God, and relying on Him will get me through the challenges that come my way. I feel that this school was perfectly placed in my path from God, as I will also be able to go into Biblical/Ministry studies to pursue my career as a youth leader and pastor. Wherever God takes me on this new journey, I hope to keep spreading the gospel and give people the best guidance they could ever receive in their lives. Even though I plan to play baseball in college, I know I have to fulfill God's purpose, which is finding the lost sheep and bringing them to God so that he can get them through their new journey as well. I hope to keep inspiring those around me and reflect the light of Christ to others at my new school and home.

As I embark on my twelve-month accelerated social work master’s program, I plan to continue to keep the Lord as the top priority in my life. I plan to continue to attend Sunday church services, Wednesday night women’s group, and support my husband in his young adult ministry at Oasis Community Church as well. I plan to continue to stay in prayer constantly, asking the Lord for His provision and guidance during this next year. I have been a full-time social worker for the past fifteen years. I got baptized in 2011, during my first year of social work, along with my husband. At the time, I was working at the Department of Child Safety and faced being ostracized for openly being a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. I applied at a non-profit faith-based organization, Christian Family Care, and was offered a part-time job. Although the hours did not align with our budgetary needs, I accepted the job in faith. My husband was given a significant raise the following day, praise God! I spent eight years supporting Christian foster families in getting licensed and caring for vulnerable children in the foster care system. I then transferred internally to the pregnancy department and began an on-call crisis pregnancy counselor job. I spent the past four years counseling women in deciding between parenting their baby or placing their baby for adoption. These counseling services allowed many women to choose life for their babies. I was privileged to attend the births of some of these babies and deeply cherish these memories. During the last year as a pregnancy counselor, the Lord began nudging me to consider that this chapter was coming to an end. Although my husband had recently entered ministry and taken a pay cut, we felt that the Lord was telling us that I should be home with our children over the next year and pursue my master’s degree online. Through my experience of being a crisis pregnancy counselor, being a mother of four, and becoming an adoptive mother, I feel strongly called to seek a career in labor, delivery, and post-partum social work. Now that I have a solid faith, deep relationship with the Lord, and feel comfortable in boldly discussing my faith, I am ready to re-enter the secular work environment and support women in their most vulnerable stage of life, childbirth. I look forward to offering hope in faith and planting seeds of faith in women who may be experiencing loss through miscarriage or stillbirth, have their child being removed by DCS, or are struggling with prenatal or postpartum depression or anxiety. I plan to seek employment at inner-city hospitals to have the maximum impact working with women and families who are walking through a difficult season of life. Thank you for your consideration in supporting me in pursuing further education to achieve the calling that the Lord has placed on my heart.

As I pursue the next step in my life, I carry both ambition and humility. I am a first generation Latina college student studying marketing and advertising with the long term goal of becoming a lawyer. My journey has not been easy, and there were seasons when I almost lost my faith. Balancing school, work, financial pressure, and personal loss stretched me in ways I never expected. There was a time when I questioned why certain doors felt so heavy to push open and why grief seemed to arrive when I was already overwhelmed. But even in the moments when I felt distant from God, I can now see that He was never distant from me. When I experienced a miscarriage while juggling school and family tension, I felt broken in a way that words struggle to describe. I showed up to class and work outwardly composed, but inwardly I was exhausted and questioning everything. I wondered if God saw me in that pain. I wondered if my prayers were heard. That season tested my faith deeply. I did not walk away from God, but I did wrestle with Him. I struggled with doubt, sadness, and the temptation to isolate myself. Looking back, I realize that my faith was not disappearing. It was being refined. God met me in quiet ways. He met me through small reminders, through conversations with trusted mentors, through Scripture that felt written exactly for my situation. He reminded me that endurance is not the absence of struggle, but the decision to keep trusting even when clarity is missing. My path has been hard, but every hardship has drawn me into deeper dependence on Him. I learned that my spiritual walk cannot be built only on seasons of blessing. It must also be rooted in trust during seasons of confusion. As I step into greater responsibilities, whether in higher education, nonprofit leadership, or eventually law school, I plan to protect my spiritual foundation intentionally. That means prioritizing prayer even when I am busy. It means surrounding myself with a faith community that holds me accountable. It means remembering that success is not defined by titles, but by integrity. My education and career goals matter, but they will never matter more than my character. I want my ambition to be guided by purpose, not ego. My past experiences have shaped my decision to pursue law because I have seen how vulnerable people can feel within complex systems. I want to advocate for those who feel unheard, especially minority entrepreneurs and families navigating unfamiliar processes. My nonprofit work empowering women through entrepreneurship is an extension of that calling. I believe God has given me both compassion and strategic ability for a reason. One thing I hope for as I pursue this career goal alongside my faith walk is alignment. I do not want to succeed at the expense of my relationship with God. I want my professional growth and spiritual maturity to grow together. I hope that wherever I go, people experience not only competence from me, but kindness, steadiness, and integrity. My path has not been perfect, and my faith has been tested, but God has remained faithful. That is the foundation I will carry into every new responsibility.

The highest calling we can answer is public service. There is none higher. Service to others is the most prominent and deeply embedded value in my life. Commitment to service and understanding of the need grew through participation in activities throughout my community. Service at my church, school, and local organizations. During my freshman year of high school, I began volunteering with Feed My Starving Children. This nonprofit organization coordinates volunteers to hand-pack meals for children suffering from hunger worldwide. I saw firsthand the global impact of our efforts, observing where the meals were sent and hearing stories of recovery from children who benefited from the Manna Packs we prepared, which include soy, rice, and nutritious vitamin meals. This experience inspired me to make Feed My Starving Children the focus of my senior project, where I served as team manager. The project aimed to raise awareness about the organization and recruit as many volunteers as possible to help pack and ship thousands of Manna Packs worldwide, to feed as many hungry children as possible. From our last visit, we got to feed 42 kids for an entire year! It is gratifying to know that through this organization and through the help of others, the world is one step closer to ending child hunger. Service continues for me at Camelback Community Church, serving twice monthly in Camelback Kids, grades kindergarten through sixth. Serving as a Sunday School Teacher, striving to get young children involved in their faith lessons by asking them open-ended questions, facilitating learning games, interacting with them, questioning them about their week coming up, praying with and for them, while sharing my personal learning experiences with them as a group and on a one-to-one basis. I do my best to model listening skills, a great spirit of service, and a positive attitude. While serving my community is a privilege and honor, I am called to protect it. The realization of this calling budded when I was in high school. Enrolling as a sophomore in a national security class, I was exposed to pressing issues, emerging threats, and the role of intelligence in protecting our country. My passion was fueled and ignited with a strong sense of purpose: to serve others, serve my country, and protect America and its diverse people. Driven by this passion and continuing personal research in a career in national security, I recognized that accepting my admission to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, was the perfect landing spot to begin my journey of service. Pursuing Embry-Riddle’s Bachelor of Global Security and Intelligence Studies will enable me to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in national security. Reflecting upon my interests, talents, and values, when asked, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” The answer was always there, wanting a career that embraced and promoted service to our country. The ambition is to become an intelligence analyst or counter-intelligence analyst for a federal agency. Aspiring to contribute by analyzing threats, monitoring global events, and helping to prevent attacks against America and its people. For me, this is not just a job description; it is a lifelong commitment to the safety and security of the United States of America.

As I prepare to attend GCU in the fall and major in Applied Marketing and Advertising to achieve my bachelors degree. For me, it is a calling that connects my faith, my work ethic, and my desire to serve others. As a Christian at a nondenominational church, my spiritual walk is not something I set aside when life gets busy- it is the foundation that guides how I study, work, lead, and treat people. Balancing my faith with new responsibilities at GCU will require intention. College will bring challenging coursework, networking opportunities, internships, and leadership roles. I know my schedule will be full, but I plan to stay grounded by making time for prayer, worship, and christian community on campus. choosing a Christian University is very important to me because I want to grow spiritually while growing professionally. At the same time, I am the only person in my family who openly practices my faith. Without that support system at home, my walk with God has required independence and courage. I have had to learn how to stand firm in my beliefs even when I am alone with them. That challenge has strengthened me and deepened my relationship with christ. I am also the first in my family to attend college. That reality fills me with pride, but it also comes with pressure and uncertainty. There is no roadmap for navigation in my household for applications, financial aid, or campus life. I have had to figure it out much of this process on my own. One of the biggest challenges has been the financial burden of college. My family does not have the resources to easily fund my education, and figuring out how to pay tuition while preparing for the future has been overwhelming at times. This scholarship would make a life changing difference, not only financially but emotionally, affirming that my hard work and perseverance matter. My past experiences in high school have shaped both my faith and my career goals. I have always been a hard worker, pushing myself academically and through extracurriculars like DECA and woman's club at my high school. Through DECA, I discovered my love for marketing and advertising- the creativity, strategy, and connections you make. It showed ,e how powerful messaging can be and how businesses can influence communities. Woman's club and other activities helped me grow as a leader and encourage me to support and uplift other young woman. At the same time, high school was not always easy. I experienced bullying, which challenged my confidence and tested my character. there were moments when I felt discouraged and questioned my worth. However, through prayer, and reflection, I realized that responding with bitterness would only weigh me down. Instead, I chose to respond with joy and mercy. My faith taught me that everyone is fighting battles we can't always see. That shift in perspective strenthended me. it taught me resilience, and empathy, - qualities that now shape how I treat others. As I pursue my degree and future career, I hope for alignment between my faith and my profession. I don't just want a job- I want a purpose. I hope to be known as someone who leads with integrity, compassion, and courage. Being the first in my family to attend college and the only one walking in faith has not made my path easy, but it has made me determined with god's guidance and continued hard work, I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and using my education to serve others and glorify Him in all that I do.

I've put a lot of thought into this, and I believe that I have a very effective way to balance both my biblical life and my social life. While yes, I have a very different answer to this question when compared to most because I am planning on becoming a pastor when I get out of College. I also plan on going to a Christian School - Grand Canyon University. The thing is though, I don't think my spiritual walk needs to be separated from my career. Like I said, this is different for me because my spiritual walk needs to be directly tied into preaching, as a good pastor needs to have an extremely strong faith life. Now, my past experiences have had a massive impact upon what I plan on doing with my life post-High School. When I was in 7th grade, I had a sort of pseudo-revelation, and it made me really begin to take my walk with Christ seriously, and I've kept it ever since. Then, my junior year, I went to a youth camp at NAU. At that camp, my chaperone said "If there's something Holy that persists in your mind, it's more than likely that God is putting it there". He then followed it up with a joke about how that doesn't mean to do drugs (because doing drugs isn't holy), but the main part of the message has always stuck with me, because I had previously had the thought that "huh, maybe I could be a pastor", but I've always shot it down because frankly, I was afraid of it. I've always been an introvert, and having to talk to people after service terrifies me, but every time I worry my chaperone's words stay with me. This is something that God wants me to do, and because of that I should do it. That's how my past experiences impact my future goals. The one thing that I want is to be better at sharing God's word. Where I am now, every time I try to teach someone something about Christ, it goes haywire. I don't yet know what I'm doing, but that's why I'm going to college. Through the Christian program at a Christian college surrounded by Christian people, I have nothing but faith that I'll be able to share the word of God to by best ability, and that's all that I really need to be able to do isn't it? It also helps because this is how I'll impact my environment. In what way other than telling people about God can I impact my environment?

I was created “almost” complete and born “perfectly imperfect”. My cleft lip and palate scars were a constant visible reminder that something about me was purposefully unfinished. Yet, I never saw my differences as a flaw in my creation. My scar was evidence of something bigger than myself: a story in progress. By the grace of God, through the steady hands of my doctor, and the overwhelming faith of my family, my physical face was completed, yet my testimony was just beginning. Throughout my life, I have turned towards the words of Psalms 139:13-16. Those verses, focusing on God’s hands on my life before my birth, remind me that my cleft was never a mistake. God knew the entirety of my story, well before I had even taken my first breath, and He wrote my life with delicate intention. As I grew older, I began to see my differences as a doorway. I traveled across America to share my testimony, from Capitol Hill to classrooms, from NYC galas to hospital rooms. Being born “perfectly incomplete” became a way to share God’s faithfulness with others walking the same path. Faith has never been an abstract concept to me. I’ve seen it firsthand in surgical rooms, waiting rooms, doctors’ offices and beyond. My faith has been with me as I stared at myself in a mirror, learning how to see beauty in the fingerprints of the Creator. It has been in my parents’ prayers before every surgery and in praise after every operation. Faith has shown that the “almost” complete doesn’t mean broken. It means God is stitching together my story. I plan to attend a university where I can grow spiritually and academically in a community that sees every step as a part of a bigger journey. A place where scripture and a relationship with God is the foundation of all things, not a footnote. Where conversations of purpose calling and God’s hand in our journeys are welcomed and woven into daily life. I hope to bring my testimony as a lived experience. I envision sitting on the floor of an overflowing dorm room during a Tuesday night bible study and attending Sunday morning services with those who will become my life-long friends. I want to become a part of a Christian Legal Society and find a home for myself amongst strong individuals carving the way forward while blending faith and career. With hopes to someday work in Law, I want to speak about surgeries, scars, advocacy and hope when His plan doesn't match ours. I have learned to share my story with young patients before their surgeries. I tell them they are fearfully and wonderfully made, not after surgery, but before it. On campus, I hope to bring that same heart into conversations in classrooms, chapel gatherings, and service projects. My journey has taught me how to hold both beauty and hardship with faith, and it is my calling to share it with others.

As I pursue my nursing career, my faith is the foundation that guides my purpose, my character, and the way I serve others. I believe my spiritual walk and my professional responsibilities are deeply connected. Nursing is more than a career for me—it is a calling to care for people with compassion, dignity, and respect during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. For over two years, I served and lived in a church community that focused on helping individuals struggling with substance addiction find recovery, stability, and a renewed relationship with God. During that time, I volunteered in daily operations, provided support and encouragement, and witnessed the power of faith, structure, and compassionate accountability in transforming lives. This experience taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of meeting people where they are without judgment. It also strengthened my desire to work in a field where I could support both the physical and emotional healing of others. My personal experiences have also shaped my path. As a mother of a child with special needs, I have spent years navigating the healthcare system and advocating for my child’s care. These experiences deepened my understanding of how much families rely on compassionate, attentive healthcare professionals. They confirmed my desire to become a nurse who not only provides clinical care, but also offers reassurance, education, and emotional support. Balancing my spiritual life with the demands of a rigorous nursing program requires intentional focus. I prioritize prayer, reflection, and maintaining a mindset centered on service. My faith helps me stay grounded during stressful periods and reminds me that every patient interaction is an opportunity to serve with humility and kindness. During clinical rotations, I strive to reflect my faith through my actions. I treat each patient with respect, listen without judgment, and offer encouragement and compassion. When appropriate and within school and hospital policies, I have had respectful conversations with patients and staff about faith and hope. I am always mindful of boundaries, but I believe in living my values openly through integrity, empathy, and genuine care. As I enter new clinical and professional environments, I hope to make an impact by being a source of stability, encouragement, and positivity for both patients and colleagues. One thing I hope for as I pursue this career alongside my faith is the opportunity to bring comfort and hope to individuals who are struggling physically, emotionally, or spiritually. My goal is to practice nursing with excellence while allowing my faith to guide how I serve others—with compassion, humility, and a heart dedicated to healing and restoration.

Collaboration and getting involved in churches has personally fueled my spiritual growth. I plan to keep walking with Jesus to impact my peers in college and ultimately in my career within a rapidly changing industry. I grew up in a christian household, but there came a time in my life, in my early teen years, where I didn't have a "home church" I was going to consistently. I struggled with low self-confidence, depression, and anxiety. Around age sixteen I started attending Journey church in Bend, Oregon, where I started serving on their live camera team, coming from my passion for cameras and filmmaking. Throughout serving, I saw myself growing closer to God for the first time in years. Fast forward to fall of 2025, I was presented with the opportunity to take on a several month long paid internship with Journey Church, focusing on live production and videography. Throughout this internship I experienced the work of the Holy Spirit on a level I had never seen before. These experiences led me to turn my eyes to Jesus for guidance on every decision I stepped into, pressing full-on into my faith. Entering this next year, I am looking to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, to major in Film Production with a potential minor in business management. These interests of study stem from my childhood passion for filmmaking and creating movies. Growing up, I always wanted to know the "why," behind anything, especially the "behind-the-scenes," and the creative processes that went into making movies or theatrical productions. Paired with my natural organizational skills and attention to detail, I produced several short films with friends helping as the cast and crew. One of these short films was an official selection for the All American High School Film Festival in New York City. With Grand Canyon University being a christian-based college, I plan to pursue student leadership opportunities, such as helping host christian events or serving on their worship nights. Additionally, I plan to attend their weekly chapels hosted in their basketball arena on Mondays, where pastors of local churches come to preach a message and help students find churches to attend while living on campus. After earning my bachelors degree in digital film, I plan to pursue a career in film production or entertainment management. As of right now, the film and entertainment industries are changing rapidly. Hollywood is on a declining path, with the film industry blooming in many other cities across the world. Entering a career in the film industry as its changing provides an opportunity to bring impact to its new beginnings, and I plan to reflect my own faith on coworkers and collaborators alike, pointing them towards a light the word longs for right now, Jesus. As I pursue college and hopefully a career within the rapidly changing film industry, I hope to usher in the presence of Jesus into an industry that creates what millions watch and consume.

Saved, Strengthened, and Stepping Into My Purpose My spiritual walk is the center of my life, and it guides every step I take as I move forward in my education and career. I am a proud Baptist woman, and attending Bethel Baptist Church is a massive part of who I am. Church is where I get my strength, my peace, my spirt and my direction. When I walk through those doors, I feel like I’m stepping into a place where God meets me right where I am. The singing, the preaching, the prayers, and the fellowship all fill me up and remind me that I’m not walking this journey alone. One of the most critical moments in my life was when I got saved. I remember that day like it just happened. I was sitting in church, listening to Dr. Johnson preach a message that felt meant just for me. His words hit my heart in a way I had never felt before. It was like God was calling my name. I felt this pull, this warmth, this peace that I couldn’t explain. When I walked up to the altar, tears were running down my face, but they weren’t sad tears — they were tears of release. I prayed, I surrendered, and I felt God lift the weight I had been carrying for so long. That moment changed me. It gave me hope, direction, and a relationship with God that has taken me through every challenge since. As a single parent of four children, life can get overwhelming. There are days when I’m juggling schoolwork, parenting, and responsibilities from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. But no matter how busy things get, I make sure I’m in church. Being there keeps me grounded and reminds me of the bigger picture. My kids see me getting up, getting dressed, and going to worship, and I want them to understand that faith is something you live out loud. I want them to know that God is the reason I can keep pushing forward. I am currently studying Criminal Justice at Southern Regional Technical College and the University of Phoenix. My decision to pursue this field comes from my own life experiences and my desire to make a real difference in my community. I’ve seen how vital fairness, compassion, and understanding are in the justice system. I want to be someone who brings those qualities into the field. I want to help people who feel unseen or misunderstood, and I want to be a voice for those who need support. Balancing school and motherhood has taught me discipline, patience, and resilience. There have been moments when I felt tired or discouraged, but every time I stepped into church, I felt renewed. Dr. Johnson’s messages, my church family’s support, and my faith in God remind me that I am capable and not alone. As I move into new environments, I plan to use everything I’ve learned — from my faith, my struggles, and my education — to make a positive impact. One thing I hope for as I pursue my career is that my work stays connected to my faith. I want my job to be more than a paycheck. I want it to be a calling — something God can use to help others, provide for my children, and continue shaping me into the woman He wants me to be. My faith, my family, and my education all work together to shape my purpose. I’m committed, I’m growing, and I’m trusting God every step of the way.

I have come to understand that true leadership is not about position, but about discipleship. Some of the most meaningful moments in my life have come from leading Bible studies and walking alongside others in their faith journeys. In those moments, I have seen that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about being willing to guide, encourage, and grow together in Christ. As I pursue the next step in my life journey, I plan to balance my spiritual walk with my new responsibilities by keeping discipleship at the center of my life. My role as a Life Leader at Grand Canyon University has taught me the importance of being intentional, setting aside time for prayer, Scripture, and community even when life becomes busy. I want my faith to be something that overflows into everything I do, not something I separate from my work or responsibilities. Whether I am leading a Bible study, working on a project, or building relationships, I want to reflect Christ through consistency, humility, and service. My past experiences have deeply shaped my decision to pursue my current goals. Through studying software development, I have been placed in environments that require collaboration, patience, and problem-solving. However, beyond the technical skills, I have gained something even more valuable, a community. What started as group work turned into genuine friendships with people I now hold close to my heart. These relationships have shown me that growth is not meant to happen alone, and they have strengthened my desire to continue building environments where people feel supported, both academically and spiritually. A little about me, I am someone who values both growth and connection. I am passionate about learning and creating, but even more passionate about people. As I enter a new environment, I plan to use what I have learned to make an impact by fostering community and investing in others through discipleship. I want to continue leading Bible studies, encouraging others in their walk with Christ, and being someone who leads by example. Whether through my work in software development or my relationships with others, I want my life to reflect purpose and faith. One thing I hope for as I pursue this career alongside my faith walk is to remain grounded in Christ while continuing to disciple others. It can be easy to become consumed by success or distracted by responsibilities, but my goal is to grow spiritually as I grow professionally. I hope to continue building meaningful relationships, leading others closer to Christ, and living out my faith in a way that has a lasting impact beyond my career.

I believe I have learned how to balance life fairly well when it comes to school and my walk with Christ. Much of my life is centered around church, ministry, and serving others, which makes staying grounded feel natural most of the time. However, I am still human, and there have been moments when I become overwhelmed by responsibilities, deadlines, and the constant noise of the world. When that happens, I sometimes forget to slow down and nurture my spiritual life. I have learned that maintaining a strong relationship with God requires intentional time, not just good intentions or routines. For a long time, I believed my future career would be in dietetics. I enjoyed the idea of helping people build healthier lives, but over time I realized the profession did not feel fulfilling enough for me personally. My heart longed for something deeper—something that would allow me to fully use the compassion and love that God placed inside me. God has blessed me with a big heart and a genuine desire to care for others, so after praying and reflecting, I felt called to pursue nursing instead. Nursing allows me to combine my love for babies, my passion for serving others, and my desire to make a meaningful impact. I hope to work in a setting where I can witness the miracle of life every day, support families during vulnerable moments, and help save lives. My goal is to bring the love of Christ into every interaction I have. Whether I am praying silently over a newborn or offering reassurance to a worried parent, I want God’s presence to be felt through my actions. Even the smallest acts of kindness can reflect Christ’s love—whether it is a warm smile, a gentle tone, or a simple moment of patience. My hope is that I can brighten someone’s day and make them feel valued. Ultimately, I want my nursing career to be an extension of my faith, my service, and my purpose. I know this path will challenge me, but I am ready to grow spiritually as I work toward becoming the nurse God has called me to be. I want my life to reflect dedication, compassion, and faith in every step. No matter how demanding the journey becomes, I believe God will guide me, strengthen me, and use me to bless the people I have the honor to care for.

Many past experiences have shaped me to have the goals that I do today. For example, the church that I attend really pushed me to be on the worship team. I started learning guitar at a young age, and it has propelled me into being the worship leader at my church. My old youth group leader is the one who challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and grow into the spiritual person that I am today. He pushed me to play acoustic guitar in the worship band to grow my faith and my talents. This spiraled into many different instruments however, because of the changing need in worship. The band needing a bass player is the thing that made me learn to play bass. The need for a rhythm electric guitarist is the thing that made me learn to adapt to the electric, and finally the worship leader leaving the church is what made me grow to be a worship leader. Many of the churches I have seen have had things that have changed my perspective on people and the things we can do. Seeing a small group of people come together and make a great worship set is something that has constantly inspired and changed me. Seeing what God can do in people has inspired me in countless ways. Being a part of a team that grows each other and builds each other up is something that has changed me for the better. The love I have felt from Gods people as I go on stage and sing to them what God has put in my heart is something I can’t fathom. I have learned that one person can have a major impact on numerous people. Our one pastor inspires, teaches, and grows people just by being a good example to the congregation. I can use this to make a positive impact on my family and friends. Using my tongue to build others up instead of tearing them down like most people do in this world is something that can show the love and the light of Christ to others. My career being faith and spiritually oriented is something that is extremely important to me and something I hope I have. In jobs that I have in the future, I can make sure that everything im doing, I do with Christ in my heart, mind, and tongue.

For the past 20 years, I have worn two hats: teacher and pastor. Both roles have planted me firmly in the middle of people’s lives—sometimes in moments of excitement, sometimes heartbreak, often simply in the ordinary rhythm of their days. Whether I’m leading a classroom discussion or counseling someone after a service, one theme keeps emerging: people deeply need someone who will listen and help them find a way through whatever they’re facing. Across two decades in education, I have watched students struggle not only with academics, but with pain that textbooks can’t address—anxiety, family turmoil, losses they’re still learning to name. As a pastor, I see similar burdens carried silently in the pews. Over the years, both my students and my church members have sought me out for guidance and support. Again and again, I’ve been humbled by the limits of my training. I could pray, I could care, but I realized how much more equipped I needed to be for the complex situations they entrusted to me. That’s why I decided to pursue a master’s degree in counseling. I want to do more than offer encouraging words—I want to be equipped with knowledge and practical tools that can make a tangible difference. My faith is what anchors me, shaping how I see others and why I want to serve. Yet I have come to understand that spiritual support and professional skill are both necessary, and that combining them is not just possible, but powerful. As I enter this new season, I know the balance between my spiritual walk and my responsibilities will need attention. I plan to draw daily from Scripture and prayer, not just out of habit but from deep necessity, especially as I take on the burdens and stories of others in a more intentional way. Surrounding myself with a supportive Christian community will help keep me grounded and accountable, while my training will expand my ability to offer care that is rooted both in faith and in best practices. I hope to use what I am learning to create safer and more understanding environments—whether in the church or the classroom. My years as a teacher have taught me the value of patience, adaptability, and seeing the potential in every person. As I grow in knowledge and skill, I aim to foster spaces where healing, honesty, and real growth can begin. My greatest hope as I pursue this degree—in partnership with my faith—is to become someone who helps others find hope and healing not only through words, but through tangible change as we work through what they are walking through. I pray I’ll keep learning, growing, and being open to however God wants to use me, in every setting I am called to serve.

Hello! What interests me most is going to always be my faith in Jesus Christ. It is something that will exclude me from being considered from a lot of my scholarship applications, and that is okay. I am in dire need of financial assistance to go back and finish my degree, but not at the expense of proclaiming to be someone I am not. I have lived a rough life, I was raised in a broken home, cops over, cps cases, parents in rehab and jail. When they divorced, I decided to live with my dad and the woman he was to marry. I didn't know that would be full of financial hardships of using a cup to take a shower, eat the cheapest foods, be molested, take care of suicidal adults, and grow up at a young age. I wanted out. I went to Fresno State on full academic coverage from my grades. I worked hard for a year and saved up about $20,000 to get out of the living situation I was in. I pursued money, partying, women, and hookup culture. I pursued everything the world told me would heal me, yet it only ever caused more grief. Someone shared the Gospel of who Jesus Christ is, what He did for mankind. Not as a fantasy, but as a reality, as one of the most historically backed events to ever take place. I was turned upside down. My life had purpose to it, given new hope. My original plan to become an orthodontist was shattered with an unwavering burning desire to be a part of this Great Commission. I did an internship at my church, where I learned what it means to disciple, lead, love, and so much more. I started preaching to a young adult ministry of about 150 people. My love for the ministry has only ever grown. Pastoral ministry isn't a job you just do, it's a calling, and mine is irrefutable. I am now beyond excited to sharpen my mind and my skills to be as effective as possible in my realm work. I can't do it alone though. I need help. Something I told myself when I was younger was no one was going to help me through life, not my parents, step parents, it was only going to be me. It was a lie, we were put on this planet to walk together in unity. I have learned a lot of grit, adaptation skills most people will never learn, Jesus is bringing use and healing to these skills. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If I am not selected for this scholarship, so much more importantly than any monetary reward or any satisfaction of being able to bless others. I pray you would be encountered by the Spirit in the same way I was. I hope with my life in the Pulpit, to have had an impact on those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ

Born into a communist household where none of my family members are religious, I came to America alone at the age of fourteen to attend high school. During that time, a friend invited me to church, where I first heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. I began attending Sunday services and Bible studies regularly. Yet, although I acknowledged God intellectually, I had not truly received His salvation. I believed in Him in my mind, but not in my heart, and I often forgot about Him when life felt stable and comfortable. Everything changed while I was pursuing my BFA degree at Arizona State University. The pressures of school, combined with the loneliness of having my entire family in China, led me into a season of deep mental and emotional struggle. For the first time, I experienced a profound sense of brokenness that I could not overcome on my own. In that moment of desperation, I turned to Jesus with a sincere and humbled heart. Trusting in Him was no longer optional; it became a matter of life and death. As I cried out for His love and forgiveness, I experienced His presence in a transformative way and came to understand that the gospel is the true answer to the deepest needs of the human soul. As I began to experience the joy of salvation, I felt a strong conviction to pursue Christian community and ministry. In September 2022, I started serving with Bridges International as a student leader, and I have continued in that ministry even after graduating from ASU. Bridges is a missionary organization under Cru that focuses on ministering to international students on college campuses.Through this involvement, I have helped plan and host events, shared my testimony publicly, led Bible studies, and brought students to Christ. More importantly, my time in this ministry has shaped my heart and allowed me to understand my calling from God. Having once been an international student navigating cultural and personal challenges on my own, I have developed a deep compassion for others in similar situations. I have witnessed firsthand how the gospel brings hope, identity, and belonging, and I feel called to share that same hope with international students who have not yet encountered Christ. Following my undergraduate studies, I enrolled as a full-time student at Phoenix Seminary, pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry to further prepare for vocational ministry. My academic training is equipping me with a deeper understanding of Scripture and strengthening my ability to faithfully communicate the gospel to people who have not heard it. I am committed to growing not only in knowledge but also in spiritual maturity and practical ministry skills. After completing my seminary training, I plan to serve as a full-time missionary with Bridges, continuing to minister among international students in the United States, especially in regions with high international populations. In the long term, I hope to return to China to share the gospel despite its extreme political hostility toward Christianity. My desire is to use every gift, experience, and opportunity that God has given me for His glory, trusting that He will use my life to reach others and advance His kingdom.

As I prepare to graduate from Gilbert Christian High School in Gilbert, Arizona this May, I reflect on how deeply my faith has shaped both who I am and where I am going. I have been blessed with the opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career to play football at Eastern Washington University. While this next chapter brings new responsibilities, higher expectations, and greater independence, my commitment to my spiritual walk remains my foundation. Throughout high school, football has taught me discipline, perseverance, and humility. Balancing academics, athletics, and personal responsibilities required intentional time management and sacrifice. However, what sustained me most during demanding seasons was my relationship with Christ. Early morning workouts, late-night studying, and Friday night games all became opportunities to honor God through effort and character. I learned that faith is not separate from performance—it shapes how I compete, how I treat teammates, and how I respond to adversity. Attending a Christian high school strengthened my understanding of Christian values such as integrity, servant leadership, and accountability. These principles influenced my decision to pursue college football. Being offered a preferred walk-on opportunity means nothing is guaranteed. I will have to earn everything through hard work and consistency. Rather than discouraging me, this motivates me. It reminds me that my identity is not found in a depth chart but in Christ. My goal is to approach this opportunity with humility and relentless effort, trusting that God will open the doors meant for me. As I transition to college, I plan to balance my faith with new responsibilities by prioritizing community and structure. I intend to connect with a local church, join a player/coach Bible study, and seek mentorship from team chaplain, coaches and spiritual leaders. Setting aside daily time for prayer and Scripture will remain non-negotiable. Just as I schedule workouts and classes, I will schedule time with God. My faith will not simply be something I claim—it will be something I practice intentionally. My hope is to make an impact in my new environment by leading through action. Whether I am a starter or a scout team player, I want teammates to see consistency in my work ethic, encouragement in my words, and integrity in my choices. Football teams are built on trust, and I believe Christ-centered character builds that trust. I also hope to mentor younger athletes in the future, just as older teammates and coaches have invested in me. One thing I hope for as I pursue this career goal in combination with my faith is growth—growth as an athlete, student, and man of God. I hope that through challenges, competition, and new experiences, my faith will deepen rather than weaken. Ultimately, my desire is that wherever I am placed—on the field, in the classroom, or in the community—I would reflect Christ in a way that creates a lasting, positive impact. This next chapter is not just about earning playing time or a degree; it is about becoming the person God is shaping me to be. With ambition, drive, and faith as my foundation, I am ready to step forward.

Life is made up of so many different things whether that be school, jobs, family, or religion. I was raised in a Christian family and it has always been a top priority that we put God first and everything falls into place after that. In every chapter of life, building your schedule around your own relationship with God is essential to keeping your faith because when you try to fit God in after making your daily routine, He will most likely be forgotten and He will be pushed to the back burner. The outside world can be a very cruel place and if you do not have a strong foundation in Christ, it is very easy to lose your faith due to bad influences and peer pressure. When I go to college, I will put God and my relationship with Him first and then build everything else in my schedule around that time that I dedicate to Him. I will take time to read my Bible, pray, and worship Him during my day. I will put Him first before anything else and He will help me with everything else in my life whether that be homesickness, loneliness, stressing about classes or grades, etc. My current goal is to become an Ob/Gyn nurse and have the opportunity to influence mothers in the way that they raise their baby or even persuade them to keep their baby instead of having an abortion. This is a passion of mine because I have struggled with my own personal identity and worth in the past. I discovered by reading the bible and doing a challenge about personal identity that I have worth and God loves me very much. I want to be able to show mothers that their baby is worth saving and that the precious life growing inside them is a gift and blessing from God. I also have grown up in a church where there were many babies and I would go around and babysit for the moms so that they would be able to enjoy the church service. I would hold babies from the age of a week old to two years old and the whole time be thinking about how precious they are and how they could change the world. I have a special place in my heart for little kids and I want to use my career to help new mothers learn how to raise their child in a godly way. In America, there is a growing rate of abortions. This breaks my heart because most of the women who do it are girls who wanted to feel loved and they made a huge mistake. They do not want to keep their child because they do not feel ready to raise a child, they do not want the child at that point in their life, or they do not want a constant reminder of what they did. I want to be an Ob/Gyn doctor to be able to tell them how special they are, how God loves them despite their mistakes, and how He will forgive if they ask. I know that God gave me a heart for babies because He loves them very much and He can use someone like me to change the world in the area of abortion. I can change the perspective of children in my own community from "kids are a curse" to "children are a gift from God to be treasured." This is my goal for life and this is something I hope that I can accomplish through my career.