While most children woke up early to indulge in an extra five minutes of theme songs and animations, my living room echoed the opening music of breaking news. By tuning into these broadcasts, I became intrigued by the developments in court trials and policy changes. Over the years, the news encouraged me to consider the backstories of the “headlines”; behind every verdict stands a person directly affected by the outcome. I began to notice a pattern: countless individuals, especially juveniles, in the justice system struggle with their mental health and inadequate access to treatment. In 2020, the National Institute of Health reported that 70% of incarcerated youth were living with mental health disorders. As an AP Psychology student passionate about mental health and criminal justice, this statistic inspired me to advocate for juveniles by bridging the gap between psychology and law. During my internship at Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, I had the opportunity to visit a juvenile detention center. While touring the facility, I noticed motivational drawings lining the walls, created by juveniles to creatively express their emotions. Towards the end of the tour, what had begun as an interest transformed into my career goal: supporting juveniles' mental health while guiding them through the court system and providing them the tools they need to live a successful life. This fall, I plan on attending The University of Houston’s Honors College. This will allow me to build strong foundational skills in developmental and forensic psychology. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Jessica Church-Lang, whose Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab impressively emphasizes brain network development and behavioral control in youth. Through courses such as Forensic Psychology and Adolescent Development, I am confident that I will be able to deliver justice to those who need it most by understanding human thought processes and cognitive behavior. As I begin my college career, I now have the opportunity to explore the complexities of the human brain and prepare for a future in law where I can make a meaningful impact on my community. The Richard Neumann Scholarship will give me the freedom to take on challenges, try new ideas, and push myself further. It lets me focus on building the skills, curiosity, and perspective I need to make a difference in my field. With this support, I can fully dedicate myself to learning, growing, and shaping the future I hope to create.

While most children woke up early to indulge in an extra five minutes of theme songs and animations, my living room echoed the opening music of breaking news. By tuning into these broadcasts, I became intrigued by the developments in court trials and policy changes. Over the years, the news encouraged me to consider the backstories of the “headlines”; behind every verdict stands a person directly affected by the outcome. I began to notice a pattern: countless individuals, especially juveniles, in the justice system struggle with their mental health and inadequate access to treatment. In 2020, the National Institute of Health reported that 70% of incarcerated youth were living with mental health disorders. As an AP Psychology student passionate about mental health and criminal justice, this statistic inspired me to advocate for juveniles by bridging the gap between psychology and law. During my internship at Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, I had the opportunity to visit a juvenile detention center. While touring the facility, I noticed motivational drawings lining the walls, created by juveniles to creatively express their emotions. Towards the end of the tour, what had begun as an interest transformed into my career goal: supporting juveniles' mental health while guiding them through the court system and providing them the tools they need to live a successful life. This fall, I plan on attending The University of Houston’s Honors College. This will allow me to build strong foundational skills in developmental and forensic psychology. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Jessica Church-Lang, whose Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab impressively emphasizes brain network development and behavioral control in youth. Through courses such as Forensic Psychology and Adolescent Development, I am confident that I will be able to deliver justice to those who need it most by understanding human thought processes and cognitive behavior. As I begin my college career, I now have the opportunity to explore the complexities of the human brain and prepare for a future in law where I can make a meaningful impact on my community. The Jeannine Schroeder Women in Public Service Memorial Scholarship will provide me with the freedom to take on challenges, try new ideas, and push myself further. It lets me focus on building the skills, curiosity, and perspective I need to make a difference in my field. With this support, I can fully dedicate myself to learning, growing, and shaping the future I hope to create.

While most children woke up early to indulge in an extra five minutes of theme songs and animations, my living room echoed the opening music of breaking news. By tuning into these broadcasts, I became intrigued by the developments in court trials and policy changes. Over the years, the news encouraged me to consider the backstories of the “headlines”; behind every verdict stands a person directly affected by the outcome. I began to notice a pattern: countless individuals, especially juveniles, in the justice system struggle with their mental health and inadequate access to treatment. In 2020, the National Institute of Health reported that 70% of incarcerated youth were living with mental health disorders. As an AP Psychology student passionate about mental health and criminal justice, this statistic inspired me to advocate for juveniles by bridging the gap between psychology and law. During my internship at Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, I had the opportunity to visit a juvenile detention center. While touring the facility, I noticed motivational drawings lining the walls, created by juveniles to creatively express their emotions. Towards the end of the tour, what had begun as an interest transformed into my career goal: supporting juveniles' mental health while guiding them through the court system and providing them the tools they need to live a successful life. This fall, I plan on attending The University of Houston’s Honors College. This will allow me to build strong foundational skills in developmental and forensic psychology. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Jessica Church-Lang, whose Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab impressively emphasizes brain network development and behavioral control in youth. Through courses such as Forensic Psychology and Adolescent Development, I am confident that I will be able to deliver justice to those who need it most by understanding human thought processes and cognitive behavior. As I begin my college career, I now have the opportunity to explore the complexities of the human brain and prepare for a future in law where I can make a meaningful impact on my community. The Brian J Boley Memorial Scholarship will provide me with the freedom to take on challenges, try new ideas, and push myself further. It lets me focus on building the skills, curiosity, and perspective I need to make a difference in my field. With this support, I can fully dedicate myself to learning, growing, and shaping the future I hope to create.

While most children woke up early to indulge in an extra five minutes of theme songs and animations, my living room echoed the opening music of breaking news. By tuning into these broadcasts, I became intrigued by the developments in court trials and policy changes. Over the years, the news encouraged me to consider the backstories of the “headlines”; behind every verdict stands a person directly affected by the outcome. I began to notice a pattern: countless individuals, especially juveniles, in the justice system struggle with their mental health and inadequate access to treatment. In 2020, the National Institute of Health reported that 70% of incarcerated youth were living with mental health disorders. As an AP Psychology student passionate about mental health and criminal justice, this statistic inspired me to advocate for juveniles by bridging the gap between psychology and law. During my internship at Fort Bend County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, I had the opportunity to visit a juvenile detention center. While touring the facility, I noticed motivational drawings lining the walls, created by juveniles to creatively express their emotions. Towards the end of the tour, what had begun as an interest transformed into my career goal: supporting juveniles' mental health while guiding them through the court system and providing them the tools they need to live a successful life. This fall, I plan on attending The University of Houston’s Honors College. This will allow me to build strong foundational skills in developmental and forensic psychology. I look forward to working alongside Dr. Jessica Church-Lang, whose Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab impressively emphasizes brain network development and behavioral control in youth. Through courses such as Forensic Psychology and Adolescent Development, I am confident that I will be able to deliver justice to those who need it most by understanding human thought processes and cognitive behavior. As I begin my college career, I now have the opportunity to gain the education needed to serve my community by applying my knowledge of human behavior to advocate for those who rely on the justice system. By earning the Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship, I will have the financial freedom to explore psychology and law through real experiences, such as internships and volunteer work. This investment in my education will allow me to focus on developing the skills and perspective that I need to make a meaningful impact as a future defense attorney.