Michael Valdivia Scholarship

Funded by
$4,000
2 winners, $2,000 each
Awarded
Application Deadline
Feb 10, 2025
Winners Announced
Mar 11, 2025
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Eligibility Requirements
Gender:
Male
Education Level:
High school senior or undergraduate student
Background :
Experience dealing with anxiety and/or depression

My brother, Michael, had compassion for everyone no matter what their circumstance. He didn’t need to know if you were struggling; he just needed to help. He was a tremendous ball of pure love, and he had a laugh that sent endorphins throughout your body making you feel better without realizing you needed it. I miss all of this and more, every single day.

My brother has been by my side for every important and unimportant moment in my life. He is the guy you called when you needed help fixing something, building something, needed someone to be the head chef, or just needed the company. He gladly took on any and every role, not because he had no choice, but because he loved being needed and because he needed to help, always. My husband and I walk into our home each day and think of him because of all of the ways he helped make our house our home.  

I struggle each day to step forward because I know I have to do it without him. I’m angry because we were cheated of our time, but I am also grateful that we have spent the last 30 years making beautiful memories that I will always cherish. I am grateful that my children speak of him with so much love because that’s what my brother gave: LOVE, lots of it. 

They say the “firsts” are hard (and they are), but when you see someone almost every day, “firsts” are daily, and the pain feels debilitating. My family and I will always be so grateful for the village of family, friends, and community who have been so supportive and present during this traumatic time.

I want to share with you that with every ounce of perfection my brother was, he still struggled, like we all do. For years my brother put on a brave face for those around him because he never wanted to feel like a burden. He suffered from depression which he battled against every single day. 

Depression is such a taboo topic, and unfortunately, often men are made to feel and think that they are just supposed to “get over it.” While our family ensured that this was not our feelings, sadly many others cannot say the same and lack the support they need.

In honor of my brother, a man who never gave up and fought every day to find happiness and joy in life despite what he may have been feeling inside, we hope that anyone who is struggling can find the strength to do the same. Be a fighter like Michael. Know that you are not alone and that there is always a way to carry on. If you know someone who struggles or you find it hard to understand, educate yourself on the illness so that you can choose empathy and compassion for those that need it.

We have started The Michael Valdivia Scholarship Fund in memory of my brother. This will provide scholarships to male students who have struggled with depression and anxiety and have a passion to pursue an education, whether it be trade school or college. It is time to change the stigma attached to depression in males. It is not something they should ever feel shameful about, and no one should have to suffer in silence. Please help us shine a light on this by helping young men climb their mountain just as my brother did. Michael was someone who always gave back when he could, and we want to continue the legacy he leaves behind by helping others.

This scholarship seeks to support male students who have dealt with anxiety and/or depression and are passionate about taking the next steps to achieve their goals through the use of higher education. 

Any male high school senior or undergraduate student who has experience living with the impacts of anxiety and/or depression in their daily life may apply for this scholarship. 

To apply, tell us about yourself, your mental health journey, and the obstacles that you’ve overcome in order to pursue your future goals of receiving an education.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published September 10, 2024
Essay Topic

Please tell us about yourself. How has depression affected you throughout your life? Were drugs something you turned to? What hurdles have you had to overcome in order to get to this place in your life where you are now ready to pursue your passions through education or trade school?


400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

Winning Applications

Anthony Fick
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalSpringfield, OH
Hello my name is Anthony Fick I am 42 years old. I live in Springfield, Ohio and I am working toward my bachelors degree in social work. I am a recovering addicted and I have clean since March 13, 2013. I battled with depression, anxiety and my purpose in life at times. I started self medicating with marijuana and drinking alcohol sometimes. I did not like the way I felt so I had to alter that . This started at 16 years old and progressed as I got older. I began to use pain medication and added with marijuana, alcohol and opiates. I experimented with all drugs at some point and then I met heroin. I knew this was a mistake because I loved the way it made me feel. This continued this years, I went to school and received financial aid and only used the money for bills, drugs, or whatever I needed. I have always felt like I did fit in, heroin isolated me more. The last time I got high this was the 2nd time that I overdosed and I woke up 8 days later. I had been on life support and almost died multiply times. Once I was stable from waking up and became calm. I had to go a nursing home to regain mobility and strength. March 13, 2013 I have lived a different life and know that I spared to be here to help others suffering from the same disease that I have. I worked at a drug treatment facility and have been in this field for 5 years. I am a chemical dependency counselor and I enjoy this work. Even though it is hard somedays and can be hard mentally. I give my clients a safe place to feel heard, seen and cared about. My clients know I understand what they are going through and I try to help everyone I come in contact with. I need my degree to go further with my career. I am running out of financial aid by the end of my degree. My past mistakes with attending school and wasting financial aid. Today I am happy that I am in school, living a life I never thought it would be possible. I attend NA meetings, I have sponsor, sober support, family support, I help people, I know my purpose is to help people, I enjoy school. I know this hurdle with school financial aid will pass. I will receive the help I need and I will get through all obstacles. I am sorry to hear about your brothers struggle and I hope that I can one day make it easier for men to talk about mental health. The stigma that men carry with mental health and talking about it is real and it deserves to be talked about. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay. God Bless
Robert Long
Everett Community CollegeEverett, WA
My name is Robert Long, and my journey has been one of resilience, self-discovery, and transformation. I have faced many challenges in my life, but I have also learned to push through them, finding strength I didn’t know I had. Today, I stand at a turning point, ready to pursue my passion for machining and fabrication through trade school. However, getting here has not been easy. Depression has been a constant presence throughout my life. It wasn’t something I fully understood when I was younger, but I always felt a weight that I couldn't shake. There were times when I struggled to find purpose, and that deep sense of emptiness often made me feel disconnected from the world. I would isolate myself, feeling as though I didn’t quite fit in, even among people who cared about me. My depression made even the simplest things seem overwhelming, and instead of reaching out for help, I buried those feelings. Drugs became an escape. At first, they seemed like a way to numb the pain, to silence the thoughts that kept me up at night. But addiction doesn’t just take away pain—it takes everything. It took my time, my energy, my relationships, and nearly my future. What started as a way to cope soon became a cycle I couldn't break. I made choices I’m not proud of, and those choices led me down a path that included legal troubles, strained relationships, and a deep sense of regret. The road to recovery has been long and difficult. Overcoming addiction required me to completely change my mindset, to face my past without running from it. It meant taking accountability, admitting that I needed help, and being willing to do the work necessary to rebuild my life. I entered Adult Recovery Court, committed to changing not just my habits but my entire approach to life. I’ve engaged in therapy, worked the 12 steps with a sponsor, and built a support system that includes my mother, recovery court staff, treatment counselors, my recovery coach, and close friends. I’ve also deepened my spiritual connection, using prayer and meditation to stay grounded. One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced is learning to believe in myself again. Addiction strips away self-worth, and rebuilding that has taken time. Returning to school after more than a decade has been intimidating, but it has also been empowering. I’ve discovered a passion for machining, welding, and fabrication, and I want to use those skills to build a future for myself. My ultimate goal is to start my own machine shop under the umbrella of Recovery Phoenix, where I can provide not just quality work but also opportunities for others in recovery. Today, I am sober, focused, and determined. I know that my past does not define me, but it has shaped me into someone who understands struggle, perseverance, and the power of second chances. Education and trade school represent more than just career opportunities—they are my way forward, proof that I am capable of turning my life into something meaningful.
Alexander Sampson
University of North DakotaDraper, UT
This is a very difficult essay for me to prepare. Not because I struggle to relate to the topic but because I relate too much. Putting this in writing is a first for me and is going to bring a mixed bag of emotions to the surface that I often try to avoid. Anyone looking at me and my life would likely think I don’t have a valid reason to be depressed or anxious. The problem is that they would be correct. The bigger problem is this does not matter or change the fact that I have struggled since a very young age. Being depressed and anxious comes as a packaged deal for me. I can often feel one stronger than the other at times if I can feel at all, but I know both exist simultaneously. Depression has affected me for as long as I can remember. From my adolescence depression has lowered my self-esteem, and my confidence, and greatly damaged my ability to make healthy choices. The lack of clarity made long-term planning impossible. I Lived day to day without any regard for my future. Then my future came without warning. With this, came anxiety. The helpless feeling that I had not prepared in any way for life as an adult. Looking back at my past I had regret, which brought depression. Looking into the future I have anxiety about what will happen. My attempt to go to college and complete a degree was a constant battle. I failed classes out of a complete lack of motivation and inspiration. All I wanted to do throughout my late teens and early twenties was be at home on the couch with the windows closed while watching television. My lowest point came when I decided that my identity would be connected to making a lot of money. I started working over 100 hours per week. I thought that if I had money, it would help me not be stressed, anxious and depressed. I started abusing several different drugs. Some to help me work twelve to fourteen days and others to help me sleep. I became an emotionless hollow cavity. I slowly crashed over six months. With a daughter on the way and a wife who was concerned she had lost me completely my family started researching rehabilitation facilities. While at my lowest point, I had a brief moment of clarity. I saw how my actions had affected those I loved. I decided to search for real change. I found that consistency was the most important deterrent in life. I worked on consistently exercising, eating healthy, sleeping regularly, taking natural vitamins and supplements and forcing myself to be social no matter how painful and unwanted. Very slowly, over three years, my priorities have changed. I started seeing the importance of spending time with my wife and daughter. I started eliminating things that I knew would not benefit me. I started practicing positive self-talk to raise my self-esteem and confidence. Now, I genuinely can say I am living a life better than I had thought possible. I am ready to complete my degree for the right reasons. I want to show my children how to overcome not only difficult circumstances but difficult emotions. I want to do this by finishing my college education. Something, I gave up on before but am now confident I can accomplish.
Nicholas Rickert
Southern New Hampshire UniversityEnfield, CT
When you constantly feel like you are subpar. When you wake up every morning and need to fight to get out of bed. When you constantly tell yourself that you could never be as good at something as your friends. When your enemies say rude and horrible things about you… and you believe them. Depression has always been a hurdle for me. Like countless others I fight to want to go to work and do battle with my own mind just to believe I am worth something. My depression has always been a hindrance for me. I would never take the steps to better my own life because of that voice in the back of my mind telling me I will always fail. That has been my whole life. From my teenage years to this very day, I always had a negative outlook on life and as such it has prevented me from doing what I wanted to do or accomplishing what everyone tells me I could accomplish. It wasn’t until 2021 when my grandmother dies from Covid that I realized depression ran in my family. While cleaning out her house My brothers and I found journals we never new existed. My grandmother kept journals of everything and anything that happened in her life. Many of her entries referenced her battles with depression and what’s worse is she also mentioned my own depression in those journals. They mentioned how she could see herself in me and she knew I did battle every day just like her. It was at that moment I knew I needed to take control. It wasn’t some magical pill or some miraculous therapy session that prompted this. It was simple sentences written into about 50 journals written over the span of 20 years. I took it on myself to enroll in college and to do my very best to defeat what previously had been holding me back. It is not easy, to this day I still find it hard to tell myself I can do it. It’s hard to see a future me with a diploma. Even when I do believe I will have that diploma I still see the massive debt awaiting me and I must fight myself from asking if it’s worth it. I believe I can do this, and I want it so bad. With no one offering me encouragement, not a dollar in my savings account, and with my own mind telling me I can’t do it, I still carry on one day at a time, one course at a time, and one term at a time. Year 2 and a GPA of 3.8. Maybe I can do it.
Connor Buchanan
Eastern Virginia Career CollegeFredericksburg, VA
My name is Connor and I have been suicidal and depressed since I was 9 years old. I didn't realize that wasn't normal until I was 21, and I didn't become serious about overcoming it until I was 26. I spent my entire high school career thinking that everyone just held this intense despair and desire to end the struggle of life deep inside them and no one talked about it. It wasn't until my first attempt at college that I started noticing that I was alone. No one else felt the need to hide, or walk around in the dark at night, or using alcohol at odd hours of the day. And my God did alcohol help. It made me feel normal, I didn't feel anxious, I didn't think people hated me. It was amazing. Until it wasn't. I always looked at suicide as cheating, I couldn't leave everyone else to deal with this world if I wasn't willing to. I wanted to so badly, so many times, I just couldn't justify it. I think that the empathy I gained from my mother saved me because I knew what ending my life would do to my family, even if I didn't believe I deserved the level of compassion I afforded myself. But alcohol, that was a slow death. Throw in caffeine, nicotine, and all manners of self destructive behavior, and I got to kill myself over years. I let this behavior destroy my first attempt at college, my relationships, my marriage, my finances, and my body. Amidst all of this I found some blessings that changed my life: my son, my girlfriend and her daughters, my love for emergency medicine, and eventually my sobriety. My son unfortunately knew his father as a depressed, shut-in, alcoholic for the first 3 years of his life, which I'm working hard to make memories with him that outshine his previous experience. My girlfriend and her girls have never seen me drunk which is a gift I wish I could give to the rest of my family. My partner on 24hr shifts when I worked on an ambulance used to come in to find me racked out in the bunk room, shake me awake and ask "drink a bit last night?" That was our ritual for 2 years and I was only 25. My ex wife, had her flaws, as a matter of fact I left her, but our marriage never had a chance to grow or heal in the same landscape as my depraved self-hatred. Today I am proud to say that I am compliant with my anti-anxiety medication and SSRI. I have 2 years of sobriety under my belt. I have a beautiful life ahead of me with my beautiful girlfriend and our children. I have 7 years experience in emergency medicine and plan to continue advancing that path. I proved to myself in paramedic school that I was able to be successful in school, but I was still actively drinking every night and doing nothing to help my mental health. I cannot express how excited I am to start nursing school with an entire repertoire of coping mechanisms, a sober mind, and the knowledge that I am not alone.
Rhys Jones
University of ArizonaChadds Ford, PA

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Feb 10, 2025. Winners will be announced on Mar 11, 2025.