I am a chronically ill adult. I am also a previous foster child, one out of ten students to graduate high school in my counties DFACS* graduating class. I alone am the first person (generation) in my biological family to graduate high school and to go on to college. My life has been hard, but as of late it has been harder. I grew up in hospitals. Recently, I suffered several new traumas, and had to be hospitalized from 2023-2025. As a result, I had to take a step back from my education. I lost everything, I am currently homeless, and rebuilding. Before life hit me with a “gutter ball”, I was on my way to completing a degree in Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College. I had completed all of the prerequisite coursework required for admittance into the Veterinary Technology program, 87% of my degree total (I only had observation hours left). I had volunteered countless hours for clinics such as the Humane Society, A.W.A.R.E., Noah’s Ark, and others. In addition, I volunteered for multiple other organizations that did not contribute to work experience in my field or accreditation toward my degree. After my trauma(s) and hospitalization, I struggle mentally and physically daily. I have gone non-verbal again, for the first time since childhood. Yet, through all this, I have not given up on my goals and dreams of some day owning my own rescue, as well as working as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. If anything, my tenacity to do so has only strengthened. I am currently taking ASL to assist in communicating with others, as well as individuals who struggle as I do with communication, whether the individual is deaf, mute, or a Non-Verbal Autistic individual like me. It will assist in my future educational goals and career (making any organization that hires me accessible an entire demographic of individuals). My life has had me face multiple struggles and challenges, adversity, and discrimination. It has really opened my eyes to the inequality of opportunity, and highlighted the importance of equality in resources, inclusion everywhere, and acceptance for all individuals, not to mention accommodations where needed. Navigating the world as a chronically ill (disabled) person has helped matured vales of independence, self-reliance, and the importance of overcoming any “gutter ball” life throws my way while I’m back in school or any point in my future. My personal experiences navigating the world with my disadvantages most recently has significantly shaped and strengthened my commitment to my degree as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. Life has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others (human and animal alike). As a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit my education will be a powerful tool for making a positive impact in my community. I can use my education to enhance my work and create meaningful change in this world for the better I believe. Receiving the Johnna's Legacy Memorial Scholarship would be a significant opportunity that could assist me in achieving my goal of completing a degree while homeless and suffering a chronic illness. This scholarship will provide financial support that will alleviate the strain of expenses associated with pursuing a higher education, and will leave me free to focus on my academic pursuits. With this financial assistance I can strive harder to achieve my academic and career goals. Please believe in my potential. Please invest in my education so I can succeed and make a positive impact/change in this life/world. Thank you.

I am a female non-verbal autistic adult, with PTSD. I am also a previous foster child, one out of ten students to graduate high school in my counties DFACS* graduating class. I alone am the first person (generation) in my biological family to graduate high school and to go on to college. My life has been hard, but as of late it has been harder. I suffered several new traumas, and had to be hospitalized from 2023-2025. As a result, I had to take a step back from my education. I lost everything, I am currently homeless, and rebuilding. Before life hit me with a “gutter ball”, I was on my way to completing a degree in Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College. I had completed all of the prerequisite coursework required for admittance into the Veterinary Technology program, 87% of my degree total (I only had observation hours left). I had volunteered countless hours for clinics such as the Humane Society, A.W.A.R.E., Noah’s Ark, and others. In addition, I volunteered for multiple other organizations that did not contribute to work experience in my field or accreditation toward my degree. After my trauma(s) and hospitalization, I struggle mentally and physically daily. I have gone non-verbal again, for the first time since childhood. Yet, through all this, I have not given up on my goals and dreams of some day owning my own rescue, as well as working as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. If anything, my tenacity to do so has only strengthened. I am currently taking ASL to assist in communicating with others, as well as individuals who struggle as I do with communication, whether the individual is deaf, mute, or a Non-Verbal Autistic individual like me. It will assist in my future educational goals and career (making any organization that hires me accessible an entire demographic of individuals). My life has had me face multiple struggles and challenges, adversity, and discrimination. It has really opened my eyes to the inequality of opportunity, and highlighted the importance of equality in resources, inclusion everywhere, and acceptance for all individuals, not to mention accommodations where needed. Navigating the world as a Non-Verbal Autistic person with trauma has matured values of independence, self-reliance, and the importance of overcoming any “gutter ball” life throws my way while I’m back in school or any point in my future. My personal experiences navigating the world with my disadvantages most recently has significantly shaped and strengthened my commitment to my degree as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. Life has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others (human and animal alike). As a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit my education will be a powerful tool for making a positive impact in my community. I can use my education to enhance my work and create meaningful change in this world for the better I believe. Receiving the Future Women in STEM Scholarship would be a significant opportunity that could assist me in achieving my goal of completing a STEM degree in a male dominated field while homeless and disabled. This scholarship will provide financial support that will alleviate the strain of expenses associated with pursuing a higher education, and will leave me free to focus on my academic pursuits. With this financial assistance I can strive harder to achieve my academic and career goals. Please believe in my potential. Please invest in my education so I can succeed and make a positive impact/change in this life/world. Thank you.

I am non-verbal autistic adult, with PTSD. I am also a previous foster child, one out of ten students to graduate high school in my counties DFACS* graduating class. I alone am the first person (generation) in my biological family to graduate high school and to go on to college. My life has been hard, but as of late it has been harder. I suffered several new traumas, and had to be hospitalized from 2023-2025. As a result, I had to take a step back from my education. I lost everything, I am currently homeless, and rebuilding. Before life hit me with a “gutter ball”, I was on my way to completing a degree in Veterinary Technology at St. Petersburg College. I had completed all of the prerequisite coursework required for admittance into the Veterinary Technology program, 87% of my degree total (I only had observation hours left). I had volunteered countless hours for clinics such as the Humane Society, A.W.A.R.E., Noah’s Ark, and others. In addition, I volunteered for multiple other organizations that did not contribute to work experience in my field or accreditation toward my degree. After my trauma(s) and hospitalization, I struggle mentally and physically daily. I have gone non-verbal again, for the first time since childhood. Yet, through all this, I have not given up on my goals and dreams of some day owning my own rescue, as well as working as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. If anything, my tenacity to do so has only strengthened. I am currently taking ASL to assist in communicating with others, as well as individuals who struggle as I do with communication, whether the individual is deaf, mute, or a Non-Verbal Autistic individual like me. It will assist in my future educational goals and career (making any organization that hires me accessible an entire demographic of individuals). My life has had me face multiple struggles and challenges, adversity, and discrimination. It has really opened my eyes to the inequality of opportunity, and highlighted the importance of equality in resources, inclusion everywhere, and acceptance for all individuals, not to mention accommodations where needed. Navigating the world as a Non-Verbal Autistic person with trauma has matured values of independence, self-reliance, and the importance of overcoming any gutter ball life throws my way while I’m back in school or any point in my future. My personal experiences navigating the world with my disadvantages most recently has significantly shaped and strengthened my commitment to my degree as a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit. Life has instilled in me a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others (human and animal alike). As a Veterinary Technician in the non-profit circuit my education will be a powerful tool for making a positive impact in my community. I can use my education to enhance my work and create meaningful change in this world for the better I believe. Receiving the Debra S. Jackson New Horizon Scholarship would be a significant opportunity that could help me in achieving my goal of going back to school in my early 40s while homeless and disabled. This scholarship will provide financial support that will alleviate the financial strain of expenses associated with pursuing a higher education and leave me free to focus on my studies and academic pursuits. With this financial assistance I can strive harder to achieve my academic and career goals. Please believe in my potential. Please invest in my education so I can succeed and make a positive impact/change in this life/world. Thank you.