A well-thought-out plan has various paths, some smooth, some bumpy, and others that simply flow along. I plan to become a dental hygienist. My first, and ideal, path is smooth—the original plan I have in mind. However, I need to stay focused to avoid getting sidetracked. This plan involves passing my remaining classes by the end of the winter quarter before starting my program at Pierce College in the summer and passing the ATDH exam during winter break. During the spring quarter, I will land a full-time job and work until my program starts so that I can get around 2,000 at 40 hours after taxes in Washington state, which will provide a little bit of a cushion after I start my program. Currently, I've saved $700 from babysitting, and I’ll continue this until I find a full-time position. The remaining amount would be paid mainly by my mom and 37% by my bio dad per agreement. And paying back my mom so that I will not be stuck with any student debt. My second route is a bit bumpy. While it's not what I initially envisioned, it's a necessary backup plan. This plan still involves passing my remaining classes by the end of the winter quarter. However, if I fail the exam, it will set me back a year until the program opens up again. So, instead of only working during the spring quarter, I would continue working for a year and continue studying for the exam until I pass and start my program the summer after. This plan would provide me with a higher cushion but a whole year later to the program than I originally had planned for, which is not entirely bad because it still benefits my educational plan and would have a financial cushion of a bit over 24,000 which my program costs not including books. The final, last-resort path involves going with the flow. This would kick in if I were to fail my remaining classes. Even in this case, I would attempt the ATDH exam, but whether I pass or fail, I would still find myself a year behind when the program opens again. Rather than the original plan of working full-time during the spring quarter, I'd need to retake my classes while working part-time, all the while focusing on studying for the exam if I didn't pass. Although this plan would also set me back a year and wouldn’t provide as much financial cushioning, however, it would still be manageable thanks to my mom. All these plans still lead to me becoming a dental hygienist, that's because I won't let myself fail, I work towards my plan, and I'll make sure it works.

Hello, my name is Rebecca Blasko. I am a running start student who just graduated in the spring of 2024. Since a young age, I've witnessed the profound impact the healthcare field has had on everyone around me. Healthcare has helped many people receive the help they need and my mom, who works as a nurse, has helped them. This is what inspired me to pursue a healthcare career, although I was initially uncertain about which path to take, a conversation with my dental hygienist changed that, and because of her I was motivated to choose Dental Hygiene as my career—a profession that I hope to help transform how people perceive themselves through the health of their teeth. What continues to drive me along this path even now is the unwavering support of my family, the friendships I have created in college and my passion for the hard work that has brought me to this point. The steps I have taken are being a running start student, which allowed me two free years of college in which I took the pre-recs that I needed which is an important step because it helps financially. A second step I have taken is working extra hard on my classes which allowed me a 3.6 GPA at my college this will allow me to be higher on the list of students they allow into the Dental Hygiene program, increasing my chances of getting in. The last step I have taken is, talking to the hygienists about their schooling. Many also went to Pierce like I am, which was pretty cool to learn about. A step I will take in the future is volunteering at the dental clinic I go to build connections. In the past, I was an active member of the honor society during middle school, and after the events of COVID-19, I continued to help others by volunteering at neighborhood events and babysitting. Over these years, I have volunteered in my local community at Rainier Ridge my favorite being the Christmas and Halloween events. The importance of financial preparedness is to achieve my educational and professional aspirations is learning how to save, budget, manage loans, and avoid scams, will help me establish good habits during my education. Receiving this scholarship will help me in two ways; allowing me to focus my time on my studies rather than worrying about how I will pay for them, and it will allow me to graduate with little debt enabling me to serve my community sooner. Thank you for considering my application.

Since a young age, I've witnessed the profound impact the healthcare field has had on my mom, my mom's friends, and everyone around me. Healthcare has helped many receive the help they need and my mom who is a nurse has helped them. This is what inspired me to pursue a healthcare career, although I was initially uncertain about which path to take, a conversation with my dental hygienist changed that, and because of her I was motivated to choose dental hygiene as my career—a profession that can truly transform how people perceive themselves and help them maintain it, this is how I desire to make an impact on those around me. I have since completed Running Start, a dual credit program that has propelled me further along this career trajectory. What continues to drive me along this path even now is the unwavering support of my family, the friendships I have created in college, and my passion for the hard work that has brought me to this point, I am very proud of myself, and very happy to pursue this career.

Growing up in a single-parent household was okay for the most part. However, the biggest struggle was that my parent had seven other kids besides me before they divorced, so my mom did not have much spare time to teach me how to read and speak correctly. I only speak and read so well now because my elementary school put me into an extra reading class; if not for this extra boost in my reading, I would have never succeeded in my recent education. I may still struggle a bit now with reading, but I used to be a level one reader, compared to now being a level three reader. After this program, I was smart in light of the fact that I struggled even to read and used to have terrible grades before this point in time. The cause was that my mom was attending her nursing classes at the same time as when I was attending Elementary School. Due to my mom attending her nursing classes, for the majority of my childhood, my older siblings took care of the cooking, cleaning, taking care of me and my other siblings, and helping with homework. When it comes to my educational journey, having one hardworking parent shaped me into a harder-working person who finished running start program by working hard to get good grades so that I could get free pre-recs at Pierce College. The reason I even did this is if I had not taken this opportunity, I would not have been able to even go to college at all after high school due to how much it cost; three classes cost almost four-thousand dollars when you include books and online tools that are necessary for the classes being took. Growing up with my mom as a nurse I knew I wanted to help others with their health while also being able to see the results because my mom worked hard to be a nurse. Because of my parent's hard work, my new goal is to graduate college with my bachelor's degree and earn a job as a dental hygienist so that I can help her on her next goal of becoming a Travel Nurse. I plan on giving back to my community by contributing to scholarship funds when I finish my educational journey. I also give hope to continue helping with volunteering at neighborhood events as a way to give back to my community.

During my childhood, my love for reading was nurtured by the thoughtful guidance of the now-retired librarian at Hunt Elementary School who during library time would read many different types of books to our class at reading time one of which was the Cliford books. It was a wonderfully nice way to help students understand and figure out what their reading interests were. The most memorable book series from that school I remember reading as a kid was the Warrior Cats series and the Geronimo Stilton books because It would take me around a day to read the Stilton books since they were picture books and a week to finish reading a Warrior Cats book which were not picture books, I was encouraged to read these amazing books because after reading one you could take a test on them and earn points and rewards which made me feel better about reading. The Warrior Cats is a series of books based on the adventures, mysteries, dramas, and prophesies within multiple Clans of feral cats. The series is primarily set in fictional forests, and one mountain, starting off with how Firestar used to be a pet cat before becoming the leader of their clan later in the series. My favorite is the book Rising Storm which had a bit more romance than mystery. On the other hand, the Geronimo Stilton books follow the escapades of a mouse reporter solving several absurd and humorous mysteries throughout his fictional world. The Hunt for the Golden Book is the one that first comes to mind. I had an interest in both because as a kid I enjoyed books that had a sense of adventure in them. My fascination with these many adventurous tales taught me the value of independent problem-solving since whenever a problem arose for a character they would eventually solve it on their own, which is why unconsciously I do the same in my own life which was always quite nice to have as a skill growing up and especially now; a skill that I aim to utilize in my pursuit of becoming a dental hygienist. I plan to use this skill in my education to become a dental hygienist by helping others to solve their goals for teeth health. Although I have not read these books in years their lessons and enjoyment still resonate with me today. I hope that you will consider my application favorably.

Hi there! My name is Rebecca, from the green state of Washington Washington is known for its stunning national parks, and they never fail to fill me with joy and excitement. Volunteering at various community events has been a fulfilling way for me to actively get involved in my community. Some of the events I've been involved in include Easter egg hunts, Summertime Movies in the Park, Halloween parties, and Christmas events. One particular event that stands out is the “Cookies with Santa” gathering. My responsibility at this event was to arrange Chips Ahoy cookies on a table and prepare and serve hot chocolate to both kids and adults who were there to take photos with Santa. I also made sure that the children were seated while enjoying their hot chocolate and that it was at a safe temperature for them to drink. Ensuring the safety and enjoyment of the kids was my top priority. Volunteering has allowed me to form strong bonds with fellow community members and their children, and it has given me a deeper appreciation for the spirit of giving to others. I'm looking forward to continuing my volunteer work and making a positive impact on the lives of others. The joy and fulfillment I receive from volunteering are truly priceless, and I encourage everyone to explore opportunities to give back to their communities. Reflecting on my experiences, I've come to realize that volunteering not only benefits others but also enriches one's own life. Through these events, I've developed valuable skills such as time management, organization, and communication. These skills have proven to be beneficial in my personal and professional life. Moreover, the sense of accomplishment and the positive feedback I received from the event organizer have boosted my confidence and reinforced my belief in the power of community engagement. As I continue to volunteer, I am eager to explore new opportunities and take on more responsibilities. I hope to inspire others to join in and contribute their time and energy to the causes they are passionate about. Together, we can create a more vibrant and supportive community where everyone feels valued and supported. I am grateful for the experiences and friendships that volunteering has brought into my life. The memories of laughter, joy, and shared experiences with fellow volunteers and community members will always hold a special place in my heart. I am committed to continuing my journey as an active and engaged member of my community, and I am excited to see the positive changes we can bring about when we work together. I hope you consider my application favorably.

Hi there! I'm Rebecca Blasko, and I'm from the beautiful, plant-filled state of Washington a wonderful state with many national parks to fulfill my enjoyment and excitement with. I'm super proud of myself for having completed the challenging two-year Running Start program at my high school and Pierce College, which led to my successful high school graduation in the spring of 2024. Getting this scholarship would be a huge step toward my educational goal of entering the health field. The field I have chosen for this is Dental Hygiene. I've always been dedicated to helping others and striving for academic excellence. Whether it was winning the Citizenship award in elementary school or being part of the honor society at my middle school, that is before COVID-19 struck putting a dent in my academics and the opportunity to help others, however making a positive impact has always been important to me, so once covid was over I volunteered at community events and offered babysitting services in my neighborhood at Rainer Ridge the two kids I currently watch are Stella and Ari and I hope for more opportunities. This scholarship would not only provide crucial support for my education but also set the stage for a stable and fulfilling career that I can survive on. This is important to me because I believe that true happiness comes from feeling secure and at peace financially, spiritually, and educationally to a point of satisfaction from life. As the youngest of eight siblings, with only two having pursued higher education, this scholarship would ease significant financial strain on me, my siblings, and my parents' shoulders, while also providing a valuable resource for me to continue my educational pursuits. Getting this scholarship would be a beacon of stability amid the diverse aspirations and needs of my large family. Stability, in my opinion, is the key to personal and societal progress, opening doors to a more positive approach to life. In my free time, I love diving into the kind world of literature, especially mystery, fantasy, romance, and horror books. I also adore spending time with my beloved cat, Cheeto, and immersing myself in the world of Animal Crossing and Brain Games on the Switch. Exploring creative outlets like punch needle and ceramics, learning about self-care, and enjoying the company of my siblings bring me a lot of joy and fulfillment. I hope that you will consider my application favorably.

Growing up in a single-parent household was okay for the most part my siblings and I never had to worry about food, and I walked to the bus stop to get to school instead of being driven. However, the biggest struggle was that my parent had seven other kids besides me before they divorced, so my mom did not have much spare time to teach me how to read and speak correctly. I only speak and read so well now because my elementary school put me into an extra reading class; if not for this extra boost in my reading, I would have never succeeded in my recent education. I may still struggle a bit now with reading, but I used to be a level one reader, compared to now being a level three reader. After this program, I was smart in light of the fact that I struggled even to read and used to have terrible grades before this point in time. The cause was that my mom was attending her nursing classes at the same time as when I was attending Hunt Elementary School. Due to my mom attending her nursing classes, for the majority of my childhood, my older siblings took care of the cooking, cleaning, taking care of me and my siblings, and helping with homework. When it comes to my educational journey, having one hardworking parent shaped me into a harder-working person who finished her running start program by working her butt off so I could get free pre-recs at Pierce College (If you don't know this program allows for dual credit classes so I finished high school and some college at the same time free of charge.) The reason I even did this is due to the fact if I had not taken this opportunity I would not have been able to even go to college at all after high school due to how much it cost; three classes cost almost four-thousand dollars when you include books and online tools that are necessary for the classes being took. Growing up with my mom as a nurse I knew I wanted to help others with their health while also being able to see the results because my mom worked hard to be a nurse. Because of my parent's hard work, my new goal is to graduate college with my bachelor's degree and earn a job as a dental hygienist with a stable and livable income because one should work hard when one can so one can relax later. This scholarship will also help me to not owe so much to loan debt or interest throughout my life, which would have prevented me from giving out these scholarships in the future.

My favorite goal and activity I like to do in Minecraft is searching for diamonds and mining in general in the caves or mountains sometimes even under lava and water. The task of mining is my favorite because it has the challenge of losing your way in all the caves as you go deeper and lower underground, I also like the challenges spiders and other mobs coming after you in the cave, as soon as I hear one I just kill it with whenever I have on hand, I also love the thrill of being able to make all diamond armor and sword because then when you get to enchant it and it gets all glowy and pretty. This activity resonates with me most deeply due to the fact that my sister and I play Minecraft quite often; and when we were younger my job was to mine materials while she built and decorated the house we shared, now when ever I play it's nice to look back on those memories of us. My favorite goal in the game overall however is having fun with my family while playing it the memories of this game will last forever with me.

Hello, my name is Rebecca Blasko. I am a running start student who just graduated this spring of 2024. The career I would like to pursue is Dental Hygiene. This is a career that specifically helps with cleaning, flossing, polishing clients' teeth and preventing oral diseases that may develop. Dental hygienists are there to help create and update dental plans as needed in order to improve their patient’s oral health. A dental hygienist's many other tasks are assisting in the following: filling cavities, preventing, and treating oral diseases, placing crowns on teeth, taking, and drawing radiographs, pulling out teeth as needed, and administering local anesthesia on both children and adults. Some aspects that are not always clearly mentioned is that this profession is very physically demanding. This job can also be very repetitive, which is perfect for me since this allows a planned schedule to run my day. Hygienists also clean and disinfect dental instruments every time between each patient in order to prevent disease. These are all something a can easily handle on my own after being taught. Steps I have taken to be able to pursue this goal is being a running start student, which allowed me two free years of college in which I took me pre-recs that I needed. A second step I have taken is working extra hard on these classes which allowed me a 3.7 gpa at my college this will allow me to be higher on the list of students they allow into the Dental hygiene program, increasing my chances of getting in. My last step I have taken is talking to the hygienists about their schooling many of them went to Pierce like I am which was pretty cool to find out. I believe that my skill to work with both kids, the elderly, and all in between will help my job from lowering their standards of who they hire because for some reasons quite a few people do not like working with kids or the elderly with me there however they wont have that problem. An interest of mine that also aligns with my job is that I believe that hygiene is important for someone's confidence and attractiveness that they see in themselves so my job will be to help them achieve that confidence with their teeth. Giving my patients confidence back is one of the best feelings of positivity I could hope for in my profession.

Hello, my name is Rebecca Blasko, and I am from WA. I completed the two years running start program at my high school and Pierce College and graduated High school this spring of 2024. I am now currently only a Student at pierce college – Puyallup. Receiving a scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream goal of living comfortably within my means. The career I would like to pursue is Dental Hygiene. Receiving a scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream goal of living comfortably within my means with a steady income and reliable job because happiness comes from having peace of mind and keeping it that way. The second reason this scholarship would support me is that I have seven other full siblings that will also need financial help in college, and given I am the youngest of us eight and only two other of my siblings have gone to college this would help lift the weight from me, my siblings, and my parents shoulders. A third reason receiving this scholarship support is meaningful to me is that it will help me go to college which ends up helping me with my life time goal of living within my means not in struggle and not super luxurious, just normal reasonable ways. This reason is what allows me to pay this scholarship forward because any of the money I will not need will be used for giving others scholarships in hopes that they too will pay it forward once they finish their degree. A different way that I can pay this scholarship forward is by contributing to society with my degree while maintaining a positive outlook on life to encourage others with. The last reason I believe earning this scholarship will help me is that it will help keep me on track of my goals in life, by providing stability which is very difficult to come by for me due to having a large family who also has their own goals. Stability is important to me because it allows me more opportunities in life to further improve myself and society while being positive about it. Something else about me is that in my free time I like reading fantasy and horror books, playing with my cat Cheeto, playing animal crossing and brain games on the switch, punch needle, ceramics, learning about self care, and hanging out with my siblings.