Currently, I have just graduated from EMT school through WCJC, and I used past scholarship money to do it. I was previously in the UH nursing program and was awarded the Gessner foundation scholarship which paid most of my nursing tuition and covered my EMT course when I decided that nursing was not for me. I left a position that would in turn give me job security and steady income for a career that will be full of action and struggle. This is truly what I find happiness doing, but it all changed when I moved out this June 2024. I am independent now and must work to pay for my apartment, bills, dog, etc. Every month while getting an EMS job at a station and working currently as a cashier for HEB. My parents have always been my biggest supporters, and they supported me when I chose to leave the nursing program, which made me feel I was ageing 10 years with just the stress of it all. They can see that EMS is truly what I want to do with my life and my quick-thinking skills are more useful in the ambulance than in a hospital behind a desk. My parents want to continue to support me, but this is a particularly hard year for them as well because my dad left the company, he was working for to keep his happiness and start his own business. He now has his own business as a Certified public accountant but does not have any employees other than me when I help and my mother who already has a full-time job as a receptionist for Fort Bend ISD school district. I know they would help if I asked, but they have their own struggles and are still paying off a loan they got from the bank after putting the house in as collateral. Emergency medicine is my dream, for I just need the means to achieve it. I have obtained 40 clinical hours at the Harris County Psychiatric Center, 60 hours of EMS clinical hours at the Wharton EMS station, 24 hours of ER clinicals, 8 hours of Labor and Delivery clinicals, and I have participated in Household centered care seminars and case studies with UH college of Medicine students and social work students for a total of 11 hours. It brings me joy helping others and this scholarship would mean I can do that for many years to come.

My selected field of study is nursing and this is a field that turns science fiction into fact with our studying and our findings due to our devotion to our patients. To get to that level, there needs to be hard work and the determination to succeed. In the past, it was hard to be strict about keeping a consistent amount of work done each day to stay on track of finish within a time frame. I became the first student to auction off their art in middle school, and I even got featured in several local newspapers. My art went up to a fifty-nine-thousand-dollar bidding, which made me so proud because I spent nearly three months working on it. Staying focused on the art was difficult because it would take hours just to do a few squares, but when I saw it all coming together and the squares matching up perfectly without even looking at the picture as a whole was very fulfilling. Most of the money went into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for funds towards other scholarships but I got to keep six thousand. If I had not put all my efforts into that artwork, I would not have gotten the opportunity to sell it to pay for college, I would not be one step closer to the future I strive for daily, and I would not have learned the importance of hard work if I had never done it. That was when I realized that hard work does pay off in the end. Over the years I have learned to work hard for what I want. I have worked persistently to keep my grades up, participated in many organizations, and volunteered for over one hundred and twenty hours. I have found that I am stronger than the obstacles that I face because consistent hard work leads to the goals I want to accomplish. Last summer I had to be strong for my family because both my parents got sick with Covid-19. I felt overwhelmed taking care of my household when my parents got the virus because I had to be the cook, maid, babysitter, and safeguard to keep my little brother away from the sickness. Staying motivated was not a big challenge for me because there was no way I would let my brother get sick on my watch and I wanted my parents to start feeling better as soon as possible. Knowing that I could do this for my family and keep my brother safe is my greatest accomplishment because I took care of my family when they needed me. Nursing has been my goal for the last few years, but it solidified after I underwent surgery this past October 2022. The nurses who took care of me during pre-op and post-op further instilled my love for the career. Having a major surgery gave me stress but it was strangers that relieved that stress, which amazes me still. My surgery was to remove an 8-10cm dermoid cyst that attached itself and took over my left ovary, this resulted in me having only my right ovary now. This is not seen as a setback for me because I know I was properly taken care of and will take better care of myself moving forward so I can prevent any future desmoids from getting that big. Nursing is a newfound love for me that I am ready to explore and dive into, but I do not have the means to properly pursue it due to my medical bills. This scholarship would help me in this way.

My selected field of study is nursing and this is a field that turns science fiction into fact with our studying and our findings due to our devotion to our patients. To get to that level, there needs to be hard work and the determination to succeed. In the past, it was hard to be strict about keeping a consistent amount of work done each day to stay on track of finish within a time frame. I became the first student to auction off their art in middle school, and I even got featured in several local newspapers. My art went up to a fifty-nine-thousand-dollar bidding, which made me so proud because I spent nearly three months working on it. Staying focused on the art was difficult because it would take hours just to do a few squares, but when I saw it all coming together and the squares matching up perfectly without even looking at the picture as a whole was very fulfilling. Most of the money went into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for funds towards other scholarships but I got to keep six thousand. If I had not put all my efforts into that artwork, I would not have gotten the opportunity to sell it to pay for college, I would not be one step closer to the future I strive for daily, and I would not have learned the importance of hard work if I had never done it. That was when I realized that hard work does pay off in the end. Over the years I have learned to work hard for what I want. I have worked persistently to keep my grades up, participated in many organizations, and volunteered for over one hundred and twenty hours. I have found that I am stronger than the obstacles that I face because consistent hard work leads to the goals I want to accomplish. Last summer I had to be strong for my family because both my parents got sick with Covid-19. I felt overwhelmed taking care of my household when my parents got the virus because I had to be the cook, maid, babysitter, and safeguard to keep my little brother away from the sickness. Staying motivated was not a big challenge for me because there was no way I would let my brother get sick on my watch and I wanted my parents to start feeling better as soon as possible. Knowing that I could do this for my family and keep my brother safe is my greatest accomplishment because I took care of my family when they needed me. Nursing has been my goal for the last few years, but it solidified after I underwent surgery this past October 2022. The nurses who took care of me during pre-op and post-op further instilled my love for the career. Having a major surgery gave me stress but it was strangers that relieved that stress, which amazes me still. My surgery was to remove an 8-10cm dermoid cyst that attached itself and took over my left ovary, this resulted in me having only my right ovary now. This is not seen as a setback for me because I know I was properly taken care of and will take better care of myself moving forward so I can prevent any future desmoids from getting that big. Nursing is a newfound love for me that I am ready to explore and dive into, but I do not have the means to properly pursue it due to my medical bills. This scholarship would help me in this way.

It is important to me to pursue a nursing career because this career has influenced my life as a bystander looking from the outside in. Last October I was admitted into the Sugarland memorial hospital for my first surgery as a nineteen-year-old young woman. The young woman part needed emphasis because this surgery in particular was to remove a eight to ten-centimeter dermoid cyst that attached itself to my left ovary taking it over. This resulted in the removal of my left ovary as well since there was nothing left to salvage. I received the best care not only from the staff in the waiting room but also from the many nurses that helped prepare me before surgery and aided me to the restroom post-op. These nurses kept me comfortable and provided constant reassurance to keep me calm before having to undergo the first-ever surgery of my life. It is not only hard to go through surgery but to also wrap your head around what this means. this means I will only have one ovary. this means I may have to freeze my eggs so I can one day have children. this means that I forever had scars over my stomach. This means that it is just as easy to get pregnant but I also need to pay more attention so that a dermoid does not damage my right ovary--the only one I have left. Becoming a nurse is my goal because I was to be able to provide that same reassurance that my nurses gave me in my time of need. These nurses were the happiest where they were, I could tell they did not want to be anywhere else than right there in the pre-OR setting. This is the trait that I admired most about them. Any nurse I meet, whether that is in a school setting hearing from a guest host or in a hospital setting getting yet another check-up because I felt some pain and wanted to check on my remaining ovary...they all have been happy. They all seemed genuinely happy to be there. I want to achieve this happiness. the happiness that comes from helping people in their time of need. the same way that I was helped. This scholarship would allow me to pay for my degree in Nursing and will help me reach my goal of becoming an RN. A month ago I found out I was accepted to the University of Houston College of Nursing and I start this August 2023. I am so close to fulfilling my dream, for I just need the funds to do so. I appreciate your time and energy, Thank you.

Over the years I have learned to work hard for what I want. I have worked every summer and even started working shifts through co-op my senior year. I graduated high school with my service cord and my National Honors Society collar that I worked so hard to get the past four years. I have worked persistently to keep my grades up, participate in many organizations, and volunteered for over one hundred and twenty hours. I used this determination in my eighth-grade rodeo art, which led to me getting the best of the show, I became the first student to auction off their art in middle school, and I even got featured in several local newspapers. Staying focused on the art was difficult because it would take hours just to do a few squares, but when I saw it, all coming together as a whole was very fulfilling. If I had not put all my efforts into that artwork for those three months, I would be one step closer to the future I strive for daily. I have found that I am stronger than the obstacles that I face because consistent hard work leads to the goals I want to accomplish. Last summer I had to be strong for my family because both my parents got sick with Covid-19. I felt overwhelmed taking care of my household when my parents got the virus, but staying motivated was not a big challenge for me because there was no way I would let my brother get sick on my watch and I wanted my parents to start feeling better as soon as possible. Knowing that I could do this for my family and keep my brother safe is my greatest accomplishment because I took care of my family when they needed me. My trials and experiences, both good and bad, have forged me into who I am today. I am open-minded and determined. Solving my problems and reaching my little ambitions empowers me to keep going and to continue my life one victory at a time. People are versatile when we have that determination to drive us, for this empowerment just needs a vision and taking it one step at a time can create a masterpiece. I have changed into someone who works for my dreams and reaches my goals no matter the circumstances. Hard work can take us far in life, but we must have the determination for it. We are the sum of our experiences and the makers of our future. Nursing has been my goal for the last few years, but it solidified after I underwent surgery this past October 2022. The nurses that took care of me during pre-op and post-op further instilled my love for the career. Having a major surgery gave me stress but it was strangers that relieved that stress, which amazes me still. My surgery was to remove an 8-10cm dermoid cyst that attached itself and took over my left ovary, this resulted in me having only my right ovary now. This is not seen as a setback for me because I know I was properly taken care of and will take better care of myself moving forward so I can prevent any future desmoids from getting that big. Nursing is a newfound love for me that I am ready to explore and dive into, but I do not have the means to properly pursue it due to my medical bills. This scholarship would help me in this way.

Life is about the little moments that create the bigger picture. High school was all about lesson after lesson, which taught me to take things one step at a time to reach that goal of passing that test or getting that award. High school was an experience that molded me into the person I am today, learn to work for what I want, and be bigger than the obstacles I may face. Yes, there are several steps to be taken with everything in life that may be a little discouraging, but those steps get you closer and closer to where you want to be. Over the years I have learned to work hard for what I want. In the summer after freshman year, I wanted to get a job to start saving for college, so I did. I have worked every summer and even started working shifts after school my senior year. I graduated high school with my service cord and my National Honors Society collar that I worked so hard to get the past four years. I have worked persistently to keep my grades up, participate in many organizations, and volunteered for over one hundred and twenty hours. I used this determination on my eighth-grade rodeo art, which led to me getting best of show, I became the first student to auction off their art in middle school, and I even got featured in several local newspapers. Staying focused on the art was difficult because it would take hours just to do a few squares, but when I saw it, all coming together as a whole was very fulfilling. If I had not put all my efforts into that artwork for those three months, I would be one step closer to the future I strive for daily. I have found that I am stronger than the obstacles that I face because consistent hard work leads to the goals I want to accomplish. Last summer I had to be strong for my family because both my parents got sick with Covid-19. I felt overwhelmed taking care of my household when my parents got the virus, but staying motivated was not a big challenge for me because there was no way I would let my brother get sick on my watch and I wanted my parents to start feeling better as soon as possible. Knowing that I could do this for my family and keep my brother safe is my greatest accomplishment because I took care of my family when they needed me. My trials and experiences, both good and bad, have forged me into who I am today. I am open minded and determined. Solving my own problems and reaching my own little ambitions empowers me to keep going and to continue my life one victory at a time. People are versatile when we have that determination to drive us, for this empowerment just needs a vision and taking it one step at a time can create a masterpiece. I have changed into someone who works for my dreams and reaches my goals no matter the circumstances. Hard work can take us far in life, but we must have the determination for it. We are the sum of our experiences and the makers of our future.

Nursing has been my goal for the last few years, but it solidified after I underwent surgery this past October 2022. The nurses that took care of me during pre-op and post-op further instilled my love for the career. Having a major surgery gave me stress but it was strangers that relieved that stress, which amazes me still. My surgery was to remove an 8-10cm dermoid cyst that attached itself and took over my left ovary, this resulted in me having only my right ovary now. This is not seen as a setback for me because I know I was properly taken care of and will take better care of myself moving forward so I can prevent any future desmoids from getting that big. Nursing is a newfound love for me that I am ready to explore and dive into, but I do not have the means to properly pursue it due to my medical bills. I am open-minded and determined. Solving my problems and reaching my little ambitions empowers me to keep going and to continue my life one victory at a time. I have changed into someone who works for my dreams and reaches my goals no matter the circumstances. Hard work can take us far in life, but we must have the determination for it. Last October I was admitted into the Sugarland memorial hospital for my first surgery as a nineteen-year-old young woman. The young woman part needed emphasis because this surgery in particular was to remove a eight to ten-centimeter dermoid cyst that attached itself to my left ovary taking it over. This resulted in the removal of my left ovary as well since there was nothing left to salvage. I received the best care not only from the staff in the waiting room but also from the many nurses that helped prepare me before surgery and aided me to the restroom post-op. The nurses kept me comfortable and provided constant reassurance to keep me calm before having to undergo the first-ever surgery of my life. This means I will only have one ovary, I may have to freeze my eggs so I can one day have children, and that I forever have scars on my stomach. This means that it is just as easy to get pregnant but I also need to pay more attention so that a dermoid does not damage my right ovary, which is the only one I have left. Becoming a nurse is my goal because I want to be able to provide that same reassurance that my nurses gave me in my time of need, and I could tell they did not want to be anywhere else than right there. Any nurse I’ve ever met, whether that is in a school setting hearing from a guest host or in a hospital setting getting yet another check-up because I felt some pain and wanted to check on my remaining ovary...they all have been happy. They all seemed genuinely happy to be there. I want to achieve this happiness. the happiness that comes from helping people in their time of need. the same way that I was helped. This scholarship would allow me to pay for my degree in Nursing and will help me reach my goal of becoming an RN. A month ago I found out I was accepted to the University of Houston College of Nursing and I start this August 2023. I am so close to fulfilling my dream, for I just need the funds to do so. I appreciate your time and energy, Thank you.

Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write. In addition, I have had many jobs where I have contributed my leadership. I have worked as a lifeguard to lead groups of children in lessons on water safety and teaching them how to swim. I have also worked in clubs to lead in designing the t-shirts for the summer program such as Mini Med School. I loved being able to help with the program that HOSA hosted for teaching the health sciences to elementary-middle school kids. I especially loved teaching the elementary kids how to be safe in the water and how to swim. In my junior year of high school, I was co-captain of the JV team and took pride in supporting my teammates, for I made every effort to help them achieve their goals. Over the summer my parents grew ill with the covid-19 virus. It was up to me to keep my family afloat with meals, and tidiness, and keep my younger brother and myself COVID-19-free. I cooked clean foods and sanitized everything almost hourly for three weeks. I learned many things, but above all else, I learned how to take care of the people I love in their time of need. In the end, my parents got better and retested with negative results while my brother and I stayed virus-free. I would say I have come a long way in my leadership skills since the beginning of high school. Before, I was afraid of speaking up, especially leading. Today, I am proud to lead my family and friends with support and determination. Four main characteristics come into the picture when thinking of school and when one is trying to succeed, Scholarship, Character, Service, and leadership play a major role in my life in and out of school. The scholarship is shown in my life through the classes that I take in school, for I like challenging myself with difficult classes. Since 9th grade I took mostly Pre- ap, Ap classes, and this year I have started taking dual courses. The classes that I have taken to gain well-earned college credit and college-level skills have prepared me in the habits of organization and character. The character of a person changes as circumstances change, and I can say that my character has changed for the better over the years. Character change can be a good thing, for in my case, I have learned to be more patient and I have learned to ask for help when needed. It is not a bad thing to ask for help because it allows people to work together in times of need. Helping other people is very important, for I learned a lot about this and the concept of service when I volunteered with others in the organization called Mini Med School hosted by HOSA. In the event showing kids a fun way to learn about sciences, I compiled over 20 hours. Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write.

Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write. In addition, I have had many jobs where I have contributed my leadership. I have worked as a lifeguard to lead groups of children in lessons on water safety and teaching them how to swim. I have also worked in clubs to lead in designing the t-shirts for the summer program such as Mini Med School. I loved being able to help with the program that HOSA hosted for teaching the health sciences to elementary-middle school kids. I especially loved teaching the elementary kids how to be safe in the water and how to swim. In my junior year of high school, I was co-captain of the JV team and took pride in supporting my teammates, for I made every effort to help them achieve their goals. Over the summer my parents grew ill with the covid-19 virus. It was up to me to keep my family afloat with meals, and tidiness, and keep my younger brother and myself COVID-19-free. I cooked clean foods and sanitized everything almost hourly for three weeks. I learned many things, but above all else, I learned how to take care of the people I love in their time of need. In the end, my parents got better and retested with negative results while my brother and I stayed virus-free. I would say I have come a long way in my leadership skills since the beginning of high school. Before, I was afraid of speaking up, especially leading. Today, I am proud to lead my family and friends with support and determination. Four main characteristics come into the picture when thinking of school and when one is trying to succeed, Scholarship, Character, Service, and leadership play a major role in my life in and out of school. The scholarship is shown in my life through the classes that I take in school, for I like challenging myself with difficult classes. Since 9th grade I took mostly Pre- ap, Ap classes, and this year I have started taking dual courses. The classes that I have taken to gain well-earned college credit and college-level skills have prepared me in the habits of organization and character. The character of a person changes as circumstances change, and I can say that my character has changed for the better over the years. Character change can be a good thing, for in my case, I have learned to be more patient and I have learned to ask for help when needed. It is not a bad thing to ask for help because it allows people to work together in times of need. Helping other people is very important, for I learned a lot about this and the concept of service when I volunteered with others in the organization called Mini Med School hosted by HOSA. In the event showing kids a fun way to learn about sciences, I compiled over 20 hours. Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write.

It is important to me to pursue a nursing career because this career has influenced my life as a bystander looking from the outside in. Last October I was admitted into the Sugarland memorial hospital for my first surgery as a nineteen-year-old young woman. The young woman part needed emphasis because this surgery in particular was to remove a eight to ten-centimeter dermoid cyst that attached itself to my left ovary taking it over. This resulted in the removal of my left ovary as well since there was nothing left to salvage. I received the best care not only from the staff in the waiting room but also from the many nurses that helped prepare me before surgery and aided me to the restroom post-op. These nurses kept me comfortable and provided constant reassurance to keep me calm before having to undergo the first-ever surgery of my life. It is not only hard to go through surgery but to also wrap your head around what this means. this means I will only have one ovary. this means I may have to freeze my eggs so I can one day have children. this means that I forever had scars over my stomach. This means that it is just as easy to get pregnant but I also need to pay more attention so that a dermoid does not damage my right ovary--the only one I have left. Becoming a nurse is my goal because I was to be able to provide that same reassurance that my nurses gave me in my time of need. These nurses were the happiest where they were, I could tell they did not want to be anywhere else than right there in the pre-OR setting. This is the trait that I admired most about them. Any nurse I meet, whether that is in a school setting hearing from a guest host or in a hospital setting getting yet another check-up because I felt some pain and wanted to check on my remaining ovary...they all have been happy. They all seemed genuinely happy to be there. I want to achieve this happiness. the happiness that comes from helping people in their time of need. the same way that I was helped. This scholarship would allow me to pay for my degree in Nursing and will help me reach my goal of becoming an RN. A month ago I found out I was accepted to the University of Houston College of Nursing and I start this August 2023. I am so close to fulfilling my dream, for I just need the funds to do so. I appreciate your time and energy, Thank you.

Alex Velasquez 3 June 2023 WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship Nursing has been my goal for the last few years, but it solidified after I underwent surgery this past October 2022. The nurses that took care of me during pre-op and post-op further instilled my love for the career. Having a major surgery gave me stress but it was strangers that relieved that stress, which amazes me still. My surgery was to remove an 8-10cm dermoid cyst that attached itself and took over my left ovary, this resulted in me having only my right ovary now. This is not seen as a setback for me because I know I was properly taken care of and will take better care of myself moving forward so I can prevent any future desmoids from getting that big. Nursing is a newfound love for me that I am ready to explore and dive into, but I do not have the means to properly pursue it due to my medical bills. This scholarship would help me in this way. My trials and experiences, both good and bad, have forged me into who I am today. I am open-minded and determined. Solving my problems and reaching my little ambitions empowers me to keep going and to continue my life one victory at a time. People are versatile when we have that determination to drive us, for this empowerment just needs a vision and taking it one step at a time can create a masterpiece. I have changed into someone who works for my dreams and reaches my goals no matter the circumstances. Hard work can take us far in life, but we must have the determination for it. We are the sum of our experiences and the makers of our future.

My biggest artistic ambition is to help people live their lives to the fullest. I strive to study nutrition and nursing in college I will go on to get my nursing license. I want to help people inhabit healthy lives and instill the importance of food in their minds. This scholarship will help me to use my past experiences and skills to pursue my goals in college, help me aid others with their struggles in life about food, and help me pursue my dream career as a Registered Dietician. Growing up I did not care what I ate and when I ate it but now, I realize that certain foods make you feel a particular way and the body reacts differently to the various foods. This January I found out that I have a mutated gene, which is referred to as a BRCA2 mutation. Essentially, this mutated gene was supposed to fight off any breast or ovarian cancer but because it is mutated, it cannot. This makes me more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and basically, the only way I can prevent any future cancer is to live a healthier lifestyle and get more checkups. Statistically speaking, an average woman has about a twelve percent chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer, but for me, it is about a forty-five to eighty-five percent chance I get it. I know this is a very personal thing to share, but this is my reality now. This year I have tried to live a healthier lifestyle, but it is hard to live healthier when I do not know what healthier means to me. The curiosity to know more about my body and how it works is what I desire to uncover. I want to pay attention to those little details, and I intend on uncovering more about the subject. In eighth grade, I sold my Rodeo art in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Auction after three months of consistent work on that piece. The technique I used for the artwork was griding, which is laying out a grid on the photo you are referencing and the art when you begin, and working on it square by square. It was hard keeping up this technique because the process would take hours just doing a few squares, but in the end, it was worth it because my hard work paid off. My dream is to help people by paying attention to those details in their diets and helping them feel their best according to the foods they eat. Eating cleaner and healthier foods will help fuel the body in the best way possible. Last summer, my parents fell ill with covid-19, so I became the cook of the house and I made sure they were eating the foods that would make them feel better and stronger. I even made some healthier versions of muffins that included bananas, natural peanut butter, and some natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. I soon wanted to share these healthier treats with everyone, so I started selling them and people loved them. Helping people has always been my goal in life, for it is everyone. I intend on living the best healthy lifestyle for myself and helping others do that for themselves too. This scholarship would help fund my education toward getting my bachelor's degree in Human Health and Nutrition. Knowledge is power, for the more people know about how the foods they eat affect them mentally and physically, they will have power in their lives. People should take advantage of the foods they eat.

Life is about the little moments that create the bigger picture. High school was all about lesson after lesson, which taught me to take things one step at a time to reach that goal of passing that test or getting that award. High school was an experience that molded me into the person I am today, learn to work for what I want, and be bigger than the obstacles I may face. Yes, there are several steps to be taken with everything in life that may be a little discouraging, but those steps get you closer and closer to where you want to be. Over the years I have learned to work hard for what I want. In the summer after freshman year, I wanted to get a job to start saving for college, so I did. I have worked every summer and even started working shifts after school my senior year. This past May, I graduated with my service cord and my National Honors Society collar that I worked so hard to get over the past four years. I have worked persistently to keep my grades up, participate in many organizations, and volunteered for over one hundred and twenty hours. I have found that I am stronger than the obstacles that I face because consistent hard work leads to the goals I want to accomplish. Last summer I had to be strong for my family because both my parents got sick with Covid-19. I felt overwhelmed taking care of my household when my parents got the virus because I had to be the cook, maid, babysitter, and safeguard to keep my little brother away from the sickness. I did this for weeks and, while it does not sound like much, I had to do three meals and at least two snacks daily and keep an eight-year-old entertained. In addition, we could not leave the house, so I planned meals to accommodate what we had in the fridge and pantry. Things with the virus were still very new at this time, so we all quarantined for about a few weeks just to be on the safe side. Staying motivated was not a big challenge for me because there was no way I would let my brother get sick on my watch and I wanted my parents to start feeling better as soon as possible. Knowing that I could do this for my family and keep my brother safe is my greatest accomplishment because I took care of my family when they needed me. My trials and experiences, both good and bad, have forged me into who I am today. I am open-minded and determined. Solving my problems and reaching my little ambitions empowers me to keep going and to continue my life one victory at a time. People are versatile when we have that determination to drive us, for this empowerment just needs a vision and taking it one step at a time can create a masterpiece. I have changed into someone who works for my dreams and reaches my goals no matter the circumstances. Hard work can take us far in life, but we must have the determination for it. We are the sum of our experiences and the makers of our future.

Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write. In addition, I have had many jobs where I have contributed my leadership. I have worked as a lifeguard to lead groups of children in lessons on water safety and teaching them how to swim. I have also worked in clubs to lead in designing the t-shirts for the summer program such as Mini Med School. I loved being able to help with the program that HOSA hosted for teaching the health sciences to elementary-middle school kids. I especially loved teaching the elementary kids how to be safe in the water and how to swim. In my junior year of high school, I was co-captain of the JV team and took pride in supporting my teammates, for I made every effort to help them achieve their goals. Over the summer my parents grew ill with the covid-19 virus. It was up to me to keep my family afloat with meals, and tidiness, and keep my younger brother and myself COVID-19-free. I cooked clean foods and sanitized everything almost hourly for three weeks. I learned many things, but above all else, I learned how to take care of the people I love in their time of need. In the end, my parents got better and retested with negative results while my brother and I stayed virus-free. I would say I have come a long way in my leadership skills since the beginning of high school. Before, I was afraid of speaking up, especially leading. Today, I am proud to lead my family and friends with support and determination. Four main characteristics come into the picture when thinking of school and when one is trying to succeed, Scholarship, Character, Service, and leadership play a major role in my life in and out of school. The scholarship is shown in my life through the classes that I take in school, for I like challenging myself with difficult classes. Since 9th grade I took mostly Pre- ap, Ap classes, and this year I have started taking dual courses. The classes that I have taken to gain well-earned college credit and college-level skills have prepared me in the habits of organization and character. The character of a person changes as circumstances change, and I can say that my character has changed for the better over the years. Character change can be a good thing, for in my case, I have learned to be more patient and I have learned to ask for help when needed. It is not a bad thing to ask for help because it allows people to work together in times of need. Helping other people is very important, for I learned a lot about this and the concept of service when I volunteered with others in the organization called Mini Med School hosted by HOSA. In the event showing kids a fun way to learn about sciences, I compiled over 20 hours. Leadership in my life can be shown through my home-life experience of being a big sister. I have learned to teach and lead my little brother towards fun adventures and through academic struggles of learning how to read and write.

I want to help people inhabit healthy lives and instill the importance of food in their minds. This scholarship will help me to use my past experiences and skills to pursue my goals in college, help me aid others with their struggles in life about food, and help me pursue my dream career as a nurse with an emphasis on nutrition knowledge. Growing up I did not care what I ate and when I ate it but now, I realize that certain foods make you feel a particular way and the body reacts differently to the various foods. This January I found out that I have a mutated gene, which is referred to as a BRCA2 mutation. Essentially, this mutated gene was supposed to fight off any breast or ovarian cancer but because it is mutated, it cannot. This makes me more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and basically, the only way I can prevent any future cancer is to live a healthier lifestyle and get more checkups. Statistically speaking, an average woman has about a twelve percent chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer, but for me, it is about a forty-five to eighty-five percent chance I get it. I know this is a very personal thing to share, but this is my reality now. This year I have tried to live a healthier lifestyle, but it is hard to live healthier when I do not know what healthier means to me. The curiosity to know more about my body and how it works is what I desire to uncover. I want to pay attention to those little details, and I intend on uncovering more about the subject. My dream is to help people by paying attention to those details in their diets and helping them feel their best according to the foods they eat. Eating cleaner and healthier foods will help fuel the body in the best way possible. Last summer, my parents fell ill with covid-19, so I became the cook of the house and I made sure they were eating the foods that would make them feel better and stronger. I even made some healthier versions of muffins that included bananas, natural peanut butter, and some natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. I soon wanted to share these healthier treats with everyone, so I started selling them and people loved them. I became curious about how it is good for the body and what happens on a chemical level when we digest foods, for that is when I realized that I wanted to study Human Health and Nutrition. I am a detail-oriented person who loves to help people and I believe this is the perfect career path for me. I fell in love with food when I got to high school and started realizing how it affected my behavior and moods. This scholarship will fund my education and allow me to serve others as a nurse in the future. Helping people has always been my goal in life, for it is everyone. I intend on living the best healthy lifestyle for myself and helping others do that for themselves too. This scholarship would help fund my education toward getting my bachelor's degree in nursing. Knowledge is power, for the more people know about how the foods they eat affect them mentally and physically, they will have power in their lives. People should take advantage of the foods they eat.

I want to help people inhabit healthy lives and instill the importance of food in their minds. This scholarship will help me to use my past experiences and skills to pursue my goals in college, help me aid others with their struggles in life about food, and help me pursue my dream career as a nurse with an emphasis on nutrition knowledge. Growing up I did not care what I ate and when I ate it but now, I realize that certain foods make you feel a particular way and the body reacts differently to the various foods. This January I found out that I have a mutated gene, which is referred to as a BRCA2 mutation. Essentially, this mutated gene was supposed to fight off any breast or ovarian cancer but because it is mutated, it cannot. This makes me more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and basically, the only way I can prevent any future cancer is to live a healthier lifestyle and get more checkups. Statistically speaking, an average woman has about a twelve percent chance of getting breast or ovarian cancer, but for me, it is about a forty-five to eighty-five percent chance I get it. I know this is a very personal thing to share, but this is my reality now. This year I have tried to live a healthier lifestyle, but it is hard to live healthier when I do not know what healthier means to me. The curiosity to know more about my body and how it works is what I desire to uncover. I want to pay attention to those little details, and I intend on uncovering more about the subject. My dream is to help people by paying attention to those details in their diets and helping them feel their best according to the foods they eat. Eating cleaner and healthier foods will help fuel the body in the best way possible. Last summer, my parents fell ill with covid-19, so I became the cook of the house and I made sure they were eating the foods that would make them feel better and stronger. I even made some healthier versions of muffins that included bananas, natural peanut butter, and some natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. I soon wanted to share these healthier treats with everyone, so I started selling them and people loved them. I became curious about how it is good for the body and what happens on a chemical level when we digest foods, for that is when I realized that I wanted to study Human Health and Nutrition. I am a detail-oriented person who loves to help people and I believe this is the perfect career path for me. I fell in love with food when I got to high school and started realizing how it affected my behavior and moods. This scholarship will fund my education and allow me to serve others as a nurse in the future. Helping people has always been my goal in life, for it is everyone. I intend on living the best healthy lifestyle for myself and helping others do that for themselves too. This scholarship would help fund my education toward getting my bachelor's degree in nursing. Knowledge is power, for the more people know about how the foods they eat affect them mentally and physically, they will have power in their lives. People should take advantage of the foods they eat.