Faith did not knock softly on my life. It broke through like thunder in a silent sky, unmistakable and impossible to ignore. When everything around me felt unstable, when uncertainty pressed on my chest like a weight I could barely breathe under, the Lord became my firm foundation. While the world shifted beneath my feet, my faith stood unmovable. This scholarship is meaningful to me because it reflects the very truth that has carried me through hardship, shaped my character, and fueled my ambition to rise beyond my circumstances. Loss reshaped my life in ways I never expected. My mother passed away from breast cancer after a long and painful battle. Watching someone I loved fight so bravely and still be taken from me left a wound that words cannot fully describe. Before I had time to heal, my father underwent open heart surgery. During the procedure, his heart stopped beating. I prayed with desperation, pleading with God to spare the only parent I had left. By God’s mercy, my father survived the surgery, but weeks later, blood clots took his life. In a short span of time, I lost both parents, and my world changed forever. Grief did not pause for me to catch my breath. I was left to help care for my three younger siblings while still learning how to survive my own pain. I became strong because I had no other choice. In moments when sorrow felt suffocating and responsibility felt overwhelming, faith carried me. Scripture says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18. I clung to that promise when nights were long and the silence felt unbearable. Losing both of my parents did not harden my heart. Instead, it softened it. I began to notice pain in others more clearly because I recognized it in myself. Faith taught me that suffering does not disqualify us from purpose. It prepares us for it. I found myself helping others who were grieving, offering comfort, listening without judgment, and showing compassion where I once desperately needed it myself. God transformed my pain into empathy and my loss into leadership. I am not ashamed of my faith. It is the reason I still believe in hope, still pursue education, and still dream boldly. Like a lighthouse standing firm in relentless waves, it guides me when life feels dark and uncertain. This scholarship represents more than financial support. It represents restoration and opportunity. I plan to pursue a career as a grief counselor, supporting children and families navigating loss, trauma, and healing. I want to be the steady presence I once needed, using both my education and my faith to help others find light after loss. The Lord carried me through pain that could have destroyed me. I trust Him completely to use my life to heal, serve, and restore others.