Perhaps the song that resonates with me the most is by Bananarama titled “Cruel Summer,” in particular, summer of 2019. My brother and I spent the first two weeks with my grandma, who lived in Canada. On June 9th, 2019, I called my mom telling her how much I missed her and loved her. Two days later, on the fateful night of June 11, 2019, my dad showed up at the door unexpectedly and delivered the crushing news that my mom had taken her life. The impact of this suicide on my family was detrimental in both physical and mental ways - seeing my brother hide away and my dad silently panic and mourn while trying to stay strong for us is something I will never forget. Not only that but now our household no longer had two sources of income. Would I have to give up my dreams of attending the college I had hoped to attend? My father assured me that we would be “ok” as he took a second and third job to save for our education. We are long from being able to pay for 4 years of college, but I know and trust my dad. His word is his bond and that reassures me to move forward to achieve my goal of getting an education. It’s the trust and mindset that makes lemonade out of lemons. I received counseling for 12 months and soon learned perhaps the most important takeaway from this tragedy. I learned to make decisions based on my values and beliefs. Prior, my action had been dictated by my parent’s ultra-conservative values. In addition, the counselor provided me with a clear understanding of the difference between acceptance and approval. She emphasized that we could accept ideas and thoughts that are different than mine, but still respect them. We should love and respect the people, regardless of differences of opinion and values. Hearing an outside perspective opened my eyes and changed my perspective. As in life, golf teaches us valuable lessons. Although it can be very frustrating, the game of golf teaches us to trust ourselves and our instincts. By trusting in our abilities, we take calculated risks and make decisions that need to be made. Whatever the results, golfers learn to overcome setbacks and disappointments and strive toward the goal of finishing the round of golf. It doesn’t matter whether the golfer shoots a personal best of 82 or shoots a high of 105, the results of having a drink with friends and family after the round make the struggles in golf worthwhile. I would be ecstatic and honored to be selected for the Scholarship for Women Golfers Scholarship. My goal is to obtain my degrees in the field of Human Resources and Psychology. I hope to honor my mom's passing by following in her footsteps in the field of Human Resources Recruitment. She taught me that finding the right person to fill a company role requires legwork. Everyone has their own set of unique qualities, talents, and viewpoints, but matching those unique characteristics to a specific role is paramount. I hope to someday participate in the hiring of team members who are not only valuable additions to the team but also positive members of the community. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. These are the cornerstones of a thriving and harmonious community. In a world marked by varying cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, these principles serve as the foundation for unity and progress. These ideas have been heavily impacted by important figures like Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman. They fought to ensure that everyone had fair and equal access to opportunities and resources. They made sure their voice was heard and dedicated their life to changing the world into a better, more inclusive place. The idea of equality and inclusivity can be found in the Bible. Paul says it best in Galatians 3:28. He says, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” This verse highlights equality and a sense of belonging to a supportive community. Together these elements are vital for the well-being of any community. I grew up in a Christian household and I would describe my upbringing as conservative. I have been attending a private Christian school since third grade, I did not get a phone until the age of 14, and all my movies and reading materials were closely monitored by my parents. In addition, I was only able to read books and watch movies that reflected the values of my parents. It got to a point where my parents would not allow me to be alone with my uncle who was gay and married to his partner. When my mom committed suicide on June 11, 2019, everything changed. I received counseling and learned to make decisions based on my own values. In addition, the counselor provided me with a clear understanding of the difference between acceptance and approval. She emphasized that we could accept people for who they are without always necessarily approving of their every action. We can still love and respect people, regardless of differences of opinion and values. Hearing an outside perspective opened my eyes and changed my perspective on life. Every day, we encounter people of different ethnicities and diverse backgrounds. However, it is through personal experience that we learn understanding and the ability to interact with kindness and grace. In my junior year, I worked at Target in the food service department. My position was working at the Starbucks and the café as a barista, shift supervisor, and trainer. In this position, I had the opportunity to work with and train people of different backgrounds and cultures. As well, I also worked directly with the community providing customer assistance and serving handcrafted beverages and food items. Having humility, grace, patience, forgiveness, and a serving attitude helped me to provide excellent customer service and a welcoming environment free of judgment. To honor the memory of my mom, I hope to follow in her footsteps in the field of Human Resources. She taught me that finding the right person to fill a company role requires legwork. Everyone has their own set of unique qualities and talents, but matching those key talents to a specific role is paramount. I hope to someday participate in the hiring of team members who are not only valuable additions to the team but also positive members of the community. I would be ecstatic and honored to be considered for the Elijah’s Helping Hand Scholarship. My goal is to work in the field of Human Resources and Psychology. With these educational backgrounds, I hope to make a significant impact in the Human Resources workforce and give a voice to the often-marginalized community.

My birthday came, and it just was not the same. Thirteen wasn’t feeling so lucky anymore. My birthday was spent mourning the loss of my grandfather. Summer came around, and my brother and I spent the first two weeks with my grandma, who lived in Canada. On June 9th, 2019 I called my mom telling her how much I missed her and loved her. Two days later, my dad showed up at the door unexpectedly and delivered the crushing news that my mom had taken her life. When this tragedy stuck, not only did my world change, but the family’s. No longer was the household making $300,000 a year. No longer could my parents fund our 529 plan or save for college. My brother and I do have a 529 plan that could pay for maybe 1 or 2 years of college at today’s cost, but not all 4 years. Would I have to give up my dreams of attending the college I had hoped to attend? As reality set in, hearing that my mom did not have life insurance, I realized I may have to give up that dream. As she was an independent contractor, she did not have any benefits. But life gives us curve balls all the time, and I learned that I had to be resilient and be able to fight and make the required adjustments in my life to make those dreams come true. To help make ends meet, my dad would perform paid studies from local tech companies and legal firms seeking his opinion and perspectives as a subject matter expert. In addition, he would donate blood and/or plasma 2x a week for extra spending cash to provide the essentials for the family. Through these extra outside “gigs,” he was able to generate about an extra $3000/year since 2019. Seeing how hard my dad worked to provide for the family, I took a job at a Starbucks inside Target at age 16. I worked diligently for about a year before they gave me a raise and I was promoted to a shift supervisor. It was a rewarding experience as it taught me humility, grace, patience, forgiveness, and a serving attitude allowing me to provide excellent customer service and a welcoming environment to all walks of life in the café. By attending college with the assistance of Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship, my goal is to work in the field of Human Resources and to take classes in business law, sociology, risk management, mental health, and psychology. With this knowledge, I hope to make a significant impact in the Human Resources workforce and give a voice to everyone. Thank you for your kind consideration.

It was the start of 2019, I was feeling hopeful that this year would be better than the last, but alas, I was wrong. In March, my grandpa was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. It got worse by the day and after just two weeks he had to be moved to hospice. On May 2nd, he passed. A week before my thirteenth birthday, one of my biggest role models was no longer on this earth. I was devastated. I could not stop crying for days. My last moment with him was singing Count on Me by Bruno Mars. My grandpa taught me what it was like to truly feel loved. He treated me like a princess, and I will never forget the love I felt around him. My birthday came, and it just was not the same. Thirteen wasn’t feeling so lucky anymore. My birthday was spent mourning the loss of my grandfather. Summer came around, and my brother and I spent the first two weeks with my grandma, who lived in Canada. On June 9th, I called my mom telling her how much I missed her and loved her. Two days later, my dad showed up at the door unexpectedly, and delivered the news that my mom had taken her life. I was in shock. I did not say a word. I just cried. She had just called me two nights ago. This could not be happening. The rest of summer was a blur. Just when things could not get worse, we went into lockdown because of COVID. Now, I channel the contagious laughter that came from my grandpa and I when we would watch TV on yoga balls together. We would laugh and laugh until we were on the floor struggling to breathe. I try to demonstrate the kindness my grandpa had on others. At the store, he would offer to pay for people’s items, even if he did not know them. It is character traits like these I desire to take with me into the next steps of my life. My mom had the respect and work ethic that I strive to have. When I was only seven years old, I remember helping my mom with her job as a human resource manager. We would go on LinkedIn and scroll for hours. We would check off credentials and grab celebratory ice cream when we found the perfect person for the position. I felt so accomplished. I immediately knew I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps. This one special moment with one of my biggest supporters determined what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In experiencing the loss of two important people in my life in isolation, I gained a sense of independence that I never thought I could benefit from. I also learned that support systems are essential. So, even if they are not here with me physically, my mom will always be my tower of strength, and my grandpa, my compass. I would be ecstatic and honored to be selected for the Overcoming Adversity - Jack Terry Memorial Scholarship. My goal is to work in the field of Human Resources and to take classes in business law, sociology, risk management, mental health, and psychology. With this knowledge, I hope to make a significant impact in the Human Resources workforce by providing the often marginalized community a voice and being a beacon of hope for them. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Success. What is success? Is it the amount of money in the bank account at the end of each month? Is it keeping up with the Jones? Or is it having the "American Dream" of owning a house, a car, a spouse, and two kids? For me, it is not material, but the positive feeling of having accomplished a goal and dream. In high school, I was always on the lookout for new hobbies and interests to explore. I loved wildlife, nature, and trying new things. One day, while browsing my local pet store, I stumbled upon neocaridina shrimp. I was instantly drawn to their vibrant and diverse colors and playful behavior. Little did I know, this encounter would lead me down a path of discovery and personal growth. I began researching the care for these shrimp and how to maybe breed them. I spent hours watching videos on YouTube, reading blogs and forums, and talking to other aquarium enthusiasts. I was determined to learn everything I could about these fascinating creatures. Soon enough, I purchased my own small aquarium and eagerly awaited the arrival of my first batch of shrimp. At first, I found shrimp breeding to be quite challenging. I struggled to maintain the right water pH and temperature, and I had difficulty getting my shrimp to breed successfully. But I didn't let these difficulties stop me. I persisted and continued to research and experiment. I continuously worked on my setup and perfected my technique. Over time, I finally began to see the fruits of my labor as my shrimp population slowly grew, and I successfully bred a healthy and plentiful colony. Eventually, breeding shrimp became more than just a hobby for me. It provided a break from the stress and pressures of academic life and extracurricular activities. This allowed me to connect with nature and develop a sense of responsibility for these expensive critters. Through my experiences with shrimp breeding, I learned a great deal about patience and perseverance. It taught me to be patient and not give up when things are difficult. Looking back on my experiences with shrimp breeding, I realize that it was much more than just a hobby or a way to escape reality. It was a journey of discovery and learning, a chance to explore new interests and push myself out of my comfort zone. Most importantly, it taught me important life lessons about patience, perseverance, and responsibility, and it helped me to connect with the world around me in a deep and meaningful way. By attending college with the assistance of Redefining Victory Scholarship, my goal is to work in the field of Human Resources and Human Development. I plan to take classes in business law, sociology, risk management, mental health, and psychology. With this knowledge, I hope to make a significant impact in the Human Resources workforce by being a cheerleader and a coach offering guidance and providing a voice in allowing people to not only set goals but achieve them. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. These are the cornerstones of a thriving and harmonious community. In a world marked by varying cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, these principles serve as the foundation for unity and progress. These ideas have been heavily impacted by important figures like Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman. They fought to ensure that everyone had fair and equal access to opportunities and resources. They made sure their voice was heard and dedicated their life to changing the world into a better, more inclusive place. The idea of equality and inclusivity can be found in the Bible. Paul says it best in Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” This verse highlights equality and a sense of belonging to a supportive community. Philippians 2: 3-4 states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” This is one of my favorite verses because it is a gentle reminder that everyone is made in the image of God and no one person is better than another. Meaning, no matter how hard it is we should love one another and treat others the way we want to be treated. When my mom committed suicide on June 11, 2019, everything changed. I received counseling and learned to make decisions based on my own values. In addition, the counselor provided me with a clear understanding of the difference between acceptance and approval. She emphasized that we could accept people for who they are without always necessarily approving of their every action. We can still love and respect people, regardless of differences of opinion and values. Hearing an outside perspective opened my eyes and changed my perspective on life. Every day, we encounter people of different ethnicities and diverse backgrounds. However, it is through personal experience that we learn understanding and the ability to interact with kindness and grace. In my junior year, I worked at Target in the food service department. My position was working at the Starbucks and the café as a barista, shift supervisor, and trainer. In this position, I had the opportunity to work with and train people of different backgrounds and cultures. As well, I also worked directly with the community providing customer assistance and serving handcrafted beverages and food items. Having humility, grace, patience, forgiveness, and a serving attitude helped me to provide excellent customer service and a welcoming environment free of judgment. To honor the memory of my mom, I hope to follow in her footsteps in the field of Human Resources. She taught me that finding the right person to fill a company role requires legwork. Everyone has their own set of unique qualities and talents, but matching those key talents to a specific role is paramount. I hope to someday participate in the hiring of team members who are not only valuable additions to the team but also positive members of the community. I would be ecstatic and honored to win the Janean D. Watkins Overcoming Adversity Scholarship. My goal is to work in the field of Human Resources and to take classes in business law, sociology, risk management, mental health, and psychology. With this knowledge, I hope to make a significant impact in the Human Resources workforce and give a voice to the often marginalized community.