As I approach independence and responsibilities, I've established goals to create a successful future for myself. These goals include: graduating high school with a 3.7 GPA, attending Michigan University, Oakland University, Grand Valley State University, or University of Detroit Mercy for college, and graduate with a bachelor in psychology, a Master of Science degree, and a PhD. in clinical psychology. After completing school and working as a therapist for six to eight years, my goal is to open a therapy center of my own. My own experience in therapy is what led me to the hope of becoming a therapist in the future. I started attending therapy around the age of six. I spent some time in foster care and was finally settling down with my forever family. This point in my life was confusing, and speaking with someone about how I felt helped my feel more in control of those feelings. It was hard opening up to somebody about something so serious and delicate. Those sessions made my feelings feel validated and heard. I aspire to make others feel the same way. Opening my own therapy center means creating an atmosphere of growth, hope, and opportunity. Every session is an opportunity to understand ones self better. My goal is to have created a comfortable space for others to express themselves hands on. In ways that, for some, will be easier than using words. This includes art, music, poetry, and more. Every client will have the opportunity to explore a demonstration expression. Whatever works best for them is how they will conversate. Everyone has their way of expressing themselves and I hope that my therapy center will guide them to finding what that is. My goal is to get the education I need to become a therapist. To create a place where others feel heard, understood, and cared about. No matter how those feeling are expressed they will be identified and overcome.

I was placed in foster care at the age of five. Both of my parents were placed in jail, and my world changed in a short period of time. Before being placed in my first foster home, I lived with my aunt. While in my new foster home, I experienced and was exposed to inappropriate sexual behaviors. This was a difficult and confusing time, but it eventually resulted in my moving to another foster home that turned into my forever family. They taught me what it feels like to be cared about and for, while also providing a safe and healthy environment. I went to elementary school in this new environment. My parents kept me grounded in my schoolwork and pushed me to do the best I could. However, this part of my life still felt overwhelming at such a young age. I was constantly working on understanding why things had played out the way they did. I was unaware of the bigger picture, and those early struggles changed the way I view the world today. My parents could see the emotional weight I was holding and decided to put me into therapy. My sessions were a success. I began expressing how overwhelmed I felt because of the changes I was experiencing, and I even started talking to my parents openly about how I felt. This past school year I've struggled the most with keeping up with my AP Lang grade. Sometimes I find it hard to comprehend the overall idea as well as expressing myself in a way that others can understand. My parents have helped drastically with this. Processing my early experiences is what led me to my dream of becoming a psychologist. I want to work as a therapist because I know how much of a difference it makes to have someone help you understand your own story. My time in therapy showed me that you don't have to carry your past alone, and I want to provide that same support to others. This my way of taking the lessons I learned from my childhood and turning them into a professional career where I can help people navigate their own challenges. This scholarship would be a significant help as I work toward my degree. Beyond the financial support for tuition and supplies, receiving this award would provide a sense of stability. Having this support allows me to focus more on my psychology classes and less on the stress of how to pay for each semester. It is an investment in my goal of becoming a therapist, helping me stay on track as I prepare to enter a field I am truly passionate about. By furthering my education, I am working toward a future where I can use my background to relate to and help my future clients. This scholarship will assist me in reaching my goals and will help me keep making the family that chose me proud. It’s an opportunity to move forward into a career where I can make a real impact, showing that with the right support, anyone can find their path.