In the 2000s, smartphones and social media were planted in the hands of teenagers all around the world. And instead of advancing their lives through increased social connection with friends near and far, this technology consumed their lives, and changed childhood forever. This shift was detrimental for Generation Z and can be for those that follow if changes are not made. To address the Gen Z experience, Haidt coined the term “phone-based childhood”, as these individuals grew up with “the entire internet in their pockets… alter[ing] their daily experiences and developmental pathways across the board” (Haidt 2). Compared to their parents, kids born shortly before and during the early 2000s spent significantly less time outdoors playing with friends and more time glued to digital devices, gaming and scrolling on Twitter. According to Haidt, this phone-based childhood has had substantially more negative effects than positive, wrecking youth mental health and obliterating their chances at flourishing as adults, but can be fixed with a few simple changes. I believe that it is not the phones themselves that have created these effects, but the rise of social media and constant digital immersion that has led to severe mental health issues, particularly depression, self-harm, and suicide; and out of Haidt’s proposed solutions, increasing real-world independence is the most realistic path forward. In a survey from NYU students, most reported that the first thing they do when they wake up is check their social media direct messages and For You page; this same procedure occurs before they go to bed at night; and also at several other points during the day (Haidt 8). This fact alone would make you think that phones are the primary issue, but what would happen if we simply removed social media from the equation? Instead of scrolling before getting out of bed, we would only check our texts and emails, then get on with our day. This proposes the idea that maybe it’s not the cellphone that is the issue, but social media instead; phones are roped into the equation because they are the vessels from which we consume our daily doses of TikTok and Instagram. I know what this feels like first hand because I am a part of this wake up and get on your phone generation! I have had my own personal battles with mental health. I think I have been able find value in tending to my own mental welling being because I have watched my mother walk through her own personal battles with mental health. She never ignored that struggled but, instead she used the tools in her toolbelt to stay well. Therefore, therapy sessions were never taboo in our home. I was able to see a therapist virtual and I still do for checks ins. It's important. I also have learned to focus on the things that we humans do not control. There are so many lessons we can take from nature and the natural flow of being.

Jack Terry’s life is a powerful testament to resilience. With such unimaginable loss during the Holocaust he endured still becoming a geological engineer, a physician, a psychoanalyst, and later dedicating himself to sharing his story so others could learn and find hope. While my story is quite different, I see a meaningful connection in the way both of our lives are shaped by adversity but still having a desire to serve others. Like Jack, I have been deeply influenced by personal experiences that opened my eyes to the needs of others and inspired me to act. For me, that influence begins at home with my younger brother, Antoine Nelson Jr., also known as AJ. AJ is seven years old and has autism. He loves the alphabet, the movie Annie, and Oreos, and he has a brilliant mind that continues to amaze me. As a toddler, he counted in multiple languages, even though only English is spoken in our home. Yet, because he is a boy of few words and lives with autism, many people do not take the time to truly understand him. Watching how the world sometimes misunderstands him has shaped my purpose in a profound way. Just as Jack turned his pain into purpose by helping others heal and understand themselves, I want to dedicate my life to helping children like AJ thrive. I plan to become a pediatric occupational therapist so I can support children in developing the skills they need to navigate the world with confidence. I want to be part of creating environments where children are not defined by their diagnoses, but supported in ways that allow them to succeed as their full selves. Like Jack, who used his life experiences to educate and uplift others, I am committed to changing the stigma surrounding autism and special needs so that every child is seen for who they truly are. My commitment to service extends beyond my career goals. Inspired by my family’s experiences, I have worked to serve my community through outreach initiatives. With the support of my online platform, my family and I have delivered gift kits to individuals in nursing homes and homeless shelters. Each gift is meant to restore dignity, bring comfort, and remind people that they are seen and valued. Last year, we were able to bless 30 women and 8 men. Those moments seeing the smiles and light in their eyes reinforced my belief in the power of compassion and connection. This work is especially meaningful to me because my mom once lived in a shelter as a child. She often shares how much it meant when people gave her and her siblings new items. That legacy of giving has been passed down to me, just as Jack passed down his legacy of resilience and hope through storytelling and service. In both of our stories, there is a common thread: the understanding that even in the face of hardship, we can choose to uplift others. This scholarship will play a critical role in helping me continue that journey. By supporting my education, it will allow me to pursue my studies in pediatric occupational therapy without the constant burden of financial stress. More importantly, it will bring me one step closer to making a lasting impact in the lives of children like AJ. With this support, I will be able to gain the knowledge, training, and experience needed to advocate for children with special needs, help them build independence, and create spaces where they are accepted and empowered.

Throughout my life, I have known that I want to work with kids. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a teacher. In middle school, I wanted to be a pediatrician. Now, in high school, I am certain I want to pursue a career as a pediatric occupational therapist. My main inspiration for doing so is my little brother AJ. Antoine Nelson Jr. is my precious seven-year-old brother whom I love so much. AJ loves the alphabet, the movie Annie, and Oreos. He doesn't like loud noises, long car rides, or when my dad watches TV in the living room. My cute little brother has autism and is the smartest seven-year-old I know. But because AJ has autism, which comes with its own ups and downs, many people do not get to know my little brother like I do. I want to become a pediatric occupational therapist to help children like AJ as they grow so that they can join in on everyday activities without being judged or excluded. I want to encourage children to learn to regulate their emotions. The stigma about children with Autism is a like a dark cloud. I want to change that stigma surrounding mental disabilities and make people realize that there is more to a person than the diagnosis. I have been working hard these past few years to ensure that I can move toward this goal of helping others within this field. I am on track to graduate within the top 10 of my class, and I hope to secure the financial resources to study without being buried in student loan debt. I have been reading since I was two years old, and I absolutely love everything about discovering knowledge that I have yet to obtain. Securing funding will allow me to fully dedicate myself to the content my professors place before me. I will undoubtedly use the knowledge I gain to impact the lives of many families. Throughout the years, I have learned the importance of revising and adapting in order to keep moving forward. I know that a successful future where I am walking out my dreams will require me to master those life skills. In ten years, I imagine telling my 17-year-old self to slow down and take time to enjoy the journey. There is no need to rush because life moves steadily. Make time for yourself amidst the busyness because self-care is essential to be able to continue to serve others!` Stay true to who you are, walk the straight and narrow path, and avoid distractions like drugs and alcohol. Love yourself, always so that you have room to love on others. With this mindset, I am ready to take the next step toward becoming the kind of occupational therapist who not only helps children thrive but also inspires them, just as my brother AJ has inspired me simply by being himself!

At age 6, parents started me in gymnastics, one of the most mentally and physically challenging sports. You are constantly being judged on your performance; at competitions, you are ranked based on how perfectly you competed your routines, and at practices, you tweak every single skill so that at the next competition, you can be closer to scoring that 10.0. To be a high level gymnast, it takes more than just talent; you need patience and perseverance. During my journey, those things have not always been easy to have. Like most, my career has had its ups and downs but the time and money my parents have invested are well worth it. We don't have a lot but participating in a team sport has taught me so many things. It's hard to take money from other necessities for our daily living to be sure I can continue training, but my parents have seen the lessons I have learned as a result of their continued sacrifice for me. Up until a year ago, I had only known one set of coaches, one set of equipment, and one team. At my first gym, I advanced fast, hitting all the major milestones I needed to hit. I eventually reached level 9, which is just one below the highest level in optional gymnastics. It had always been a goal of mine to be a level 10, but after being told that I would have to repeat level 9 for the third year in a row, I began to lose hope that I would ever reach my goal before it was time for me to go away to college. Discouragement set in, and I had made up my mind that it was best if I was just a really good level 9 instead of a low ranking level 10. After a few months, I began to settle into a new gym, but my mindset had not changed, as it was decided that I would compete level 9 for the fourth time. I began to give up; I'd lost joy in coming to the gym and I didn't see a future in the sport, that was until my coach and I had a talk. He reminded me that I wasn't at the same place, I had new coaches, new equipment, and a new team. Of course it would take some change and it wasn't going to be easy, but he promised me that he would do his best to help me get onto a college gymnastics team. Although my parents have told me that I don't have to do sports in order to get a good education, I want to try to compete at the college level. I am hoping for a scholarship. But, I have not only trained hard athletically, but I have studied consistently to ensure that my averages are high in school and standardized testing. Opportunities like this allow me to showcase my hard work despite how much money my families brings in.