Veerakasturi and Venkateswarlu Ganapaneni Memorial Scholarship

My father was the main financial provider for our family, so when he left last year, he left me and my family to fend for ourselves. Currently, I am working a full-time job with 40 hours a week as a full-time student. I am responsible for paying my medical bills, housing, and food. I also try to assist my mother with her financial responsibilities as much as possible. My mother is a single mom raising four younger brothers, with me and my older sister out of the house. Before my father abandoned his family, he paid for my school, most of my food, and my housing. Currently with his mental instability, my mother has feared for our well-being and has filed for a restraining order so that he is not able to harm my mother or my family. My future career will focus on individuals who are affected by communication, speech, and language disorders. When I was younger, I wasn't able to speak well which influenced my confidence and my ability to explain what I wanted and how I felt. By going to speech therapy I can empathize with others who are struggling with communication disorders. I want to work in a hospital to reach people who have been involved in accidents that involve traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or other communicative disorders. I will change lives by being able to help people regain their life by helping them regain their ability to communicate effectively. My dream will have a positive effect on society by introducing new and advanced treatments and therapies for those affected by communication disorders. My career will require me to continue my education and research for the rest of my professional achievements. My dream is to pursue internships that involve Speech Therapy in a medical setting. My goal is to help others in need and to build back the lives that they had or need. Losing the ability to speak can result in a person feeling not in control and too dependent on others to get their needs met. My dream is to help people with their neurological disorders, communication disorders, and any other disorder that limits a person's ability to speak. By aiding me with my academic endeavors I will be able to focus more of my time and energy on my academics. I will also be able to help my family financially and ease some of the burdens that have been placed on my family.