We all have experiences, both positive and negative, that mold us into the people we become. Life lessons can be learned through all those situations. Often, what we take away from an experience has such a profound effect on us it impacts so much of what we do in the future. For me, this experience was with my father. He had struggles with addiction that affected not only our relationship but shortened his time here. As I was growing up he tried to get help by going to recovery centers, going to church, and finding a support system to help him become a better man for our family. He tried but many times went back to the addictive behaviors. This became a repetitive journey until the end. The end came unexpectedly. As with many, I was Daddy's little girl. An entire piece of me was gone. After spending time trying to process why this had to happen to me and being so lost without him here, I knew I needed to continue with my life. I knew I needed to make him proud in all that I do. From that moment on I knew how important and precious life is. I knew I wanted to be my best self for my mom and brother. One thing I learned from the experience was to make the most of every day because tomorrow is not guaranteed. The experience made me want to work harder and find ways to succeed. With that, I decided to take AP classes and get involved in various clubs and activities in school. I wanted to be someone who made a difference in the lives of others. I have been able to give back to veterans, provide gifts for children, plan activities for my peers, assist the elderly, and be a positive influence throughout the school. l recently won the title of Miss Holly City. One comment I continued to hear was, "No one deserves it more." While I don't stop and think of all that I do and the differences I make it was impactful to hear that from others. It made me realize I am fulfilling the goal I have set for myself and want to continue on that path. It became even more important to me to spend time with those that mean so much and always look for the positive in a situation. I focused on making relationships with a supportive group of people that are always there for me. Even with this experience, I continue to live my life as my dad watches above. I will be attending Widener University to major in psychology. Within the psychology field, I would like to pursue industrial/organizational psychology. I will gain knowledge on the social, emotional, and mental components that impact businesses. I will also be taking business classes which would connect to my career goals together. I am looking forward to internships for first-hand experiences and knowledge in my field of study. While in college I am prepared to join various clubs and organizations to be involved, assist others, and learn and grow personally. Upon graduation, I plan to enter the business workforce to assist in the efficiency and productivity components of the company as well as morale and employee support. I want the workplace to be a comforting environment for all. I look forward to my future and fulfilling these goals. This one's for you Dad. I love and miss you and hope I continue to make you proud.

I want to help people who have struggles in their life and do not know where to go next. I've been through traumas and sadness in my life and always dealt with it alone; I do not want others to feel alone. I want people to know that help is out there. This scholarship would give me extra money for my studies and would allow for me to focus more and worry less about costs. My father passed away my freshman year of high school. Never in a million years would I have thought something so tragic would happen. I lost my great-grandmother before but this was a different type of loss. This is a loss I will never get over. I was always told that it will get easier. That is not true, you just get used to it. This hurt because I had to learn what it was like to live without my father, he would not be here to watch me graduate high school, walk me down the aisle, or even just watch me become the young woman he would want me to be. My brother, mom and, I had to deal with this unexpected event. It took a toll on all of us, especially my brother. I saw his pain and tried to help, but it always seemed like he pushed me away or did not want to talk about it. I wanted to help, but I did not know-how. This feeling is the reason I want to go into psychology. We all go through tough times and sometimes just knowing there is someone who will listen is the best way to overcome sad times. I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want to make people feel better and be a happier version of themselves. Sometimes people's lives are just really stressful or others are having a rough life. I want to be there to tell them everything is going to be okay and that they can get through these tough times. This scholarship will assist me to propel the field of psychology because I will be able to learn the information and techniques I need to know to help and improve the lives of the people around me. I will be able to use this scholarship towards my college tuition; allowing me to be less stressed about earning money to pay for my tuition. This will help my college experience be more positive me for so I can be a better counselor for others. Thank you!