Chappell Roan’s music has had a profound impact on me, not just as a listener, but as a young woman still discovering who I am and what I stand for. Through her artistry, she has constantly had the courage to embrace her individuality and speak up for whatever she believes in, while consistently making her listeners feel seen in ways I didn’t know I needed. Chappell Roan’s music helped me discover my voice. Not only in terms of expressing myself, but in learning how to advocate for myself and others unapologetically. Her music speaks volumes, not just through her vocals or lyrics, but through the powerful messages she weaves into every performance and public appearance. Chappell Roan doesn’t shy away from being bold, and that confidence is contagious. There is something incredibly inspiring about watching someone be exactly who they are in an industry that so often tries to box people in. Her presence reminds me that it’s okay to take up space, to wear what you want, love who you love, and live as loudly or as softly as you choose. Her vulnerability also makes her impact so personal. Songs like “Red Wine Supernova” walk you through the emotional highs and lows of modern relationships in such an honest, raw way that they make me feel less alone in my own experiences. She puts her heart into her work, and you can feel that. Her honesty has helped me become more comfortable with my own feelings, especially the ones I used to hide from others and myself out of fear of being misunderstood or alone. Supporting Chappell Roan isn’t just about enjoying her music, it’s about backing someone who is helping reshape the industry and culture in powerful, necessary ways. She stands for truth, for expression, and for love in all its forms. And because of that, she’s helped me learn to stand for those things, too.

I'm so tired of bein' the girl that I am Every good thing has turned into somethin' I dread And I'm playin' the victim so well in my head But it's me who's been makin' the bed These lyrics from "Making the Bed" are lyrics that particularly resonated with me as soon as the album was released. I feel like the teenage experience can be completely universal and distantly different for every person experiencing it. Growing up and realizing who you are is a very difficult thing that comes during this experience and can be overwhelming. There is a constant looming nature of needing to have everything figured out while also making the most out of the "best years of your life," and it feels exhausting sometimes. There is a certain isolation that comes from these feelings, as it can feel like you're the only one going through it. What makes these lyrics so powerful is their honesty. There’s an aching vulnerability in admitting that you feel disconnected from your own identity, tired of being who you are, and exhausted by the pressure to find joy in moments that instead feel hollow or forced. As teenagers, we’re constantly told to appreciate these years, but for many of us, that pressure can turn even “good” things into burdens. The expectation to be happy, successful, and socially fulfilled can actually feel suffocating when you’re still trying to understand yourself. For me, these lines perfectly capture the emotional burnout that comes from trying to live up to the person everyone expects you to be. Whether it’s being the “good kid,” the high achiever, or just the version of yourself that feels most palatable to others, it’s easy to get lost in the performance. Rodrigo’s lyric — “I’m so tired of bein’ the girl that I am” — put words to a feeling I didn’t know how to articulate: the quiet grief that comes with not fully liking the person you’ve become, even when you’re the one who built her. The line “I’m playin’ the victim so well in my head / But it’s me who’s been makin’ the bed” is particularly poignant. It shows a moment of self-awareness and emotional maturity that many teenagers go through — the realization that sometimes we create the very discomfort we complain about. It’s hard to accept responsibility for your unhappiness when you’re already overwhelmed, but this lyric doesn’t do it in a shaming way. Instead, it feels like a sigh — tired, but truthful. It's the internal reckoning between blaming the world for your struggles and understanding that some of the pain comes from choices you've made while trying to cope. Being a teenager is a strange, in-between time. You’re growing into adulthood, forming beliefs, exploring identity, and all the while pretending you’ve got it together when you really don’t. Olivia Rodrigo’s lyric captures that paradox. The messiness of being both self-aware and self-destructive, hopeful and jaded, exhausted yet expected to be full of life. For me and so many others, these words are more than just lyrics. They’re what told me I wasn't alone in the trials of being a teenager.

By normalizing and providing education on the signs to look for in domestic violence situations, I fully believe a difference can be made in the reduction of intimate partner violence. Responsible education on what a healthy relationship does and does not look like is a necessity for children. Teaching children to be able to recognize at a young age if their family dynamic exhibits signs of intimate partner violence, while also emphasizing that it is safe to ask for help no matter what they are experiencing, is critical. I emphasize this principle so much because I am also a child who experienced intimate partner violence throughout my own childhood, where my father would beat my mom until he was exhausted. I didn’t understand at the time how abnormal this constant experience was because I thought that was how all families were. This misunderstanding of love led me to normalize violent patterns in boyfriends throughout my teenage years, until I came to the realization that abuse is not normal. It is not something anyone should have to go through. This prompt is a wake-up call for all of those who could have been saved and for the people who could have helped save them. Mandating education for intimate partner violence could very well help another little girl like me. She could learn that violence is not normal. It is okay to hold those people responsible for their actions and tell a trusted adult what is happening. She wouldn't grow up experiencing her own intimate partner violence with boyfriends. She could be helped if the right education were provided. I could have been helped if the right education had been provided. Another important point I would like to highlight is that violence is a learned behavior. As I grew up believing that it was okay to be abused, another little boy grew up thinking it was okay to hit women. Providing education can not only help survivors escape, but also help offenders unlearn traits before they have a chance to set in. The best outcome is not saving victims, but preventing offenders from acting in the first place. I am majoring in psychology with the dream of providing modern research for children who experience different forms of PTSD in order to find adequate coping mechanisms and identification techniques. I was diagnosed with PTSD when I was 16 as a result of my father’s intimate partner violence against my mom. These medical advances are severely lacking, and a change must be made. I believe it is my responsibility to dedicate myself to finding ways to help children who suffer from this disorder in ways I never was.

On August 7th, 2019, I was gifted the sun. On March 5th, 2022, it fell from the sky. Jaden Christopher Sebastian Taylor had been one of my best friends since freshman year. All it took was one night. One night, one power line, and one wrong decision took my best friend, a son, and a peer away in a mere moment. I woke up on March 6 to my phone ringing. I answered, and their first words I heard were, “Alyssa, Jaden died last night.”. Those five words will forever ring in my ears. Grief is different when it is unnecessary. It is difficult in a way I can hardly explain. It’s even more difficult when someone dies prematurely and abruptly. Jaden was loved by the community; he was a man whom no one had a bad thing to say about, even before he was immortalized as an angel among our school. Before and after death, he had the reputation of having an infectious smile and free spirit, and he was a staple of our school community because of it. Going back to school, the air felt thicker with one less student breathing it in. I watched as tear-stained faces piled into the bathroom stall around me that day. Mascara had long gone from the tears of first period. “It’s all going to be okay, Alyssa, everything is going to be alright.” I heard that on repeat that morning. My friends tried their hardest to comfort me in the nightmare that seemed to never end. But in that moment, I knew it was never going to be okay again. It would never be the same. Time would go on, I would grieve, I would grow and make new friends, but the calls he could never pick up would still be the same. My text messages to him would still glow green with the harsh reality that he would never read them. The service was the hardest part. An open casket. It was my last chance to see his face. I kept going back, attempting to etch his face in my mind forever. Everyone who wasn’t close to Jaden said that it didn’t look like him, but it did, and that was the worst part. It looked exactly like the Jaden who snuck out of class to eat lunch with me every day during sophomore year. His face was cold and pale, but still his. His father approached, embracing me in a hug as I tried to hold in my tears for the strongest man in the room. He looked down and placed a hand on Jaden's chest, saying, “That's my boy.” Those words broke me. As much as I missed and loved Jaden, I would never experience the true heartbreak of losing my last living child. Jaden's death cracked my heart, but that crack sprouted the yearning to help my friends, peers, and many others who were also struggling from this tragedy. I wasn’t the only one suffering. Jaden's last gift to me was the passion for helping others. His legacy will forever inspire me in a way no one else could; I always ask myself, “What would Jaden do?”. So in honor of Jaden’s memory, I am majoring in psychology. I am dedicating my life to be able to aid and support those who are in similar situations and don't know how to express their feelings or who to turn to. I plan to pursue my bachelors, masters, and doctorate with the intention to one day open my own grief treatment center. Jaden, this is all for you.

I admire LeBron James because he represents the ultimate combination of natural talent, relentless work ethic, strong leadership, and incredible longevity. Ever since he entered the NBA straight out of high school in 2003, the pressure on him was enormous, yet he managed to surpass even the highest expectations. He isn’t just an outstanding scorer—he’s also an exceptional passer, rebounder, and defender who has left a mark on every aspect of the game. I fully believe LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. His all-around abilities and record-breaking career speak volumes. He holds the title of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with over 40,000 points and stands alone as the only player in history to record over 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. His versatility and productivity are simply unmatched. LeBron has reached the NBA Finals ten times and secured four championships with three different teams, earning Finals MVP honors in each of those victories. His durability is almost superhuman—he’s been in the league for over 20 seasons and continues to play at an elite level well into his late thirties. He has earned 20 All-Star selections, 13 All-NBA First Team honors, and numerous All-Defensive Team recognitions. While Michael Jordan had one of the most dominant primes in basketball history, LeBron’s ability to perform at the highest level for such a long time, along with his adaptability and impact both on and off the court, gives him the edge. He has remained a dominant force across three different decades and continues to elevate everyone around him. Based on statistics, championships, influence, and consistency, LeBron James has firmly established himself as the greatest basketball player of all time.

I’ve been a fan of Sabrina Carpenter for as long as I can remember, not just because of her music, but because of the way she carries herself through every phase of her career. From her early acting days to her rise as a powerful voice in pop music, Sabrina has remained unapologetically authentic. Girl Meets World was my favorite show growing up because I thought Sabrina Carpenter was so talented. What I admire most about Sabrina is her ability to evolve while staying true to herself. That honesty in her lyrics, her confidence in being bold, and her ability to turn heartbreak or hardship into art have deeply impacted and helped to show me that I can do that too. She truly inspired me to start music writing. I am now minoring in creative writing to pursue this passion and I have Sabrina to thank. She helped me expand my guitar and lyricism in extraordinary ways. What I admire most about Sabrina is her ability to evolve while staying true to herself. I love songs like “because i liked a boy” and “emails i can’t send,” which speaks volumes about vulnerability and reclaiming your narrative. As a young woman in college, those themes resonate with me deeply. I’ve learned from her that it’s okay to feel everything deeply, to speak up for yourself, and to embrace both the messy and magical parts of growing up. Sabrina’s confidence and creativity have inspired me to express myself more freely and fearlessly, especially in writing and music. I’m a psychology major, but I turn to songwriting as an emotional outlet and listening to Sabrina helped me find the courage to be honest in my lyrics. She’s not just a pop star to me, she’s a role model. Her career has reminded me that your voice matters, that you can rise from criticism with grace, and that being a woman with ambition and emotion is something to be proud of. Sabrina Carpenter makes me feel seen, heard, and inspired to keep chasing my dreams on my own terms. Thank you, Sabrina.

Growing up, I used to think I was a genius. I learned to read when I was three and picked up all the basics of elementary education at a glance. But when I got to middle school, my grades slipped dramatically. I wasn’t able to just understand the fundamentals with ease anymore and higher education required attention and focus. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t "smart" anymore. It didn't make sense that students I was usually doing better than were now passing me. Throughout middle school and early high school, I was constantly sent home with notes from teachers expressing concern about my attention span and recommending tests that might provide solutions. Unfortunately, my mother was very against any form of mental health evaluation or prescription, as she viewed them as only suitable for the mentally insane. So, I continued to struggle. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I began learning about ADHD. As I researched more, I realized I fell under a multitude of its symptoms. It was then that I decided to save up and get tested. That acknowledgment was life-changing in the entire sense of the phrase. It helped me understand that I wasn’t at fault for my own brain chemistry. Getting diagnosed gave me access to medications that began to make a real difference in how I functioned and aided me in fully committing to my pursuit of higher education. But even after diagnosis, I came to realize just how common ADHD is, and more importantly, how uncommon proper accommodations are. For example, even with medication, I still struggle with test-taking, and the extra time given to students with ADHD is sometimes still not enough. This is just one example of how the education system must step up for the wellness of its children. A change must be made in how these students are viewed and supported in the full capacity of their disability to help further adequate education for all students. I’m currently majoring in psychology in the pursuit of eventually obtaining my doctorate. My goal is to develop and normalize the kinds of accommodations and support systems that ADHD students desperately need to ensure all children are being taken care of, even if it takes some extra steps. All children deserve the best education available, no matter their circumstances or disability.No one should have to feel broken just because they learn differently.

Until my father’s passing when I was eight years old, he made it a priority to teach my brother and me about our cultural roots. His side of the family is from Japan, and I still remain closely connected with my relatives there. One of the most meaningful gifts he left me was an early introduction to Buddhism, a belief system that became my anchor through the darkest time of my childhood. In the wake of his death, Buddhist teachings helped me begin to process my grief. My father had often emphasized the importance of yin and yang, the idea that all things exist in balance. This concept became a powerful symbol of peace for me. It reminded me not only of him, but of the harmony he represented and the lessons he left behind. Even being so young, I understood that he was now a part of the ultimate balance. I’ve come to believe that no other worldview could have helped me cope the way Buddhism did. It taught me from an early age that joy and sorrow are not opposites, but necessary counterparts. By starting my life with the concept that there is balance in all things, it has helped me in understanding the trials and tribulations that daily life has, and how to cope with them. Being raised Buddhist helped in not making an enemy of the bad. I didn't grow up viewing things as sinful, but instead with the knowledge that human nature and the world must have both to thrive. Without sadness, happiness loses its meaning. Without struggle, comfort has no value. A good day is only good because we’ve experienced the bad ones. These truths shaped the way I processed grief and have deeply influenced how I view the world and how I seek to help others navigate it, too. My decision to pursue a degree in Psychology was reaffirmed after another profound loss: the passing of one of my best friends, Jaden Taylor, during my junior year of high school. His death brought a heartbreaking clarity to my purpose. I realized that my life’s calling is to help others make sense of their own pain, just as I learned to cope with mine. I believe my place in the balance of this world is to be a guide for others to help them find meaning, peace, and resilience in the face of hardship. Through studying Psychology and my Buddhist upbringing, I hope to equip myself with the knowledge and tools to do exactly that. With the support of this scholarship, I can continue walking the path toward becoming someone who helps others heal, grow, and find balance within themselves all with the tools provided by Buddhism.