Dear Scholarship committee, My name is Andi Wilson, and I am currently a senior at Boyd High School. I will graduate in May and will be attending McNeese State University in the fall, where I plan to pursue a degree in Agricultural Education (Grades 6–12). My ultimate goal is to become a high school agriculture teacher and make a lasting impact in the lives of my students. I will also be continuing my rodeo career as a member of the McNeese State University Rodeo Team. Over the past four years, I have dedicated myself to serving my community through church, school, and rodeo. I actively volunteer at my church, working with the junior youth group, children’s ministry, and the nursery. during my time as a volunteer, I’ve developed a passion for sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the younger generation. I’ve also contributed to my rodeo community by coaching several younger girls in various rodeo events, I aspire to inspire and motivate them as my coach once did for me. When I'm not volunteering, I work at Wesley Early Learning Center as an assistant teacher, where I strive to create a fun, safe, and encouraging environment for my students. Throughout high school, I’ve been a very active member of both my FFA chapter and rodeo team. In FFA, I’ve competed on both the Ag Advocacy and Horse Judging team, earning qualifications to the State Horse Judging competition for two years in a row. My highschool rodeo team has been my passion for the past four years—I’ve served as Princess, Queen, Vice President, and President of our team. I’ve qualified for the NTHSRA Finals four times, THSRA Region 3 Finals three times, the NTHSRA Scholarship Rodeo four times, the Hooey Jr. Patriot three times, and the THSRA State Finals. I’m proud to have received the All-Around award for our team three times and was named Rookie of the Year for our team as a freshman. Looking to the future, I dream of starting a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship to high school students facing challenges. This program would connect teens with positive role models who can help guide, support, and motivate them to become their best selves. Whether through that nonprofit or in my future classroom, my life’s mission will remain the same: to uplift and support the youth in my community. This scholarship would be a tremendous help in supporting my educational journey, and I am deeply grateful for your consideration. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education and my rodeo journey, without having to worry about the financial burden of tuition and fees. Thank you for investing in students like me who are passionate about making a difference in their communities.

My drive to become a teacher stems from the many challenges I faced throughout my childhood and high school years. Growing up, I often felt isolated and overwhelmed by the difficulties in my life. By the time I entered high school, those feelings intensified. I was struggling deeply with my mental health, and it felt as though I had no one to turn to. School became a place I dreaded, and at times, I hated everything about my life. I felt invisible, misunderstood, and alone in my pain. Everything began to change during my sophomore year, when I met a woman named Nicole Wilson and her husband, Michael Wilson. Nicole and Michael have profoundly impacted my life in ways I never imagined possible. During a period of personal instability, they opened their home without hesitation and let me sleep on their couch. More than that, they opened their hearts and became the steady, loving presence I so desperately needed in my life. Michael, the worship pastor at my church, and Nicole, one of our youth leaders, have walked beside me for the past three years. Along with the support of my church family, they have helped me grow tremendously in my faith and in my walk with God. Their unwavering belief in me, the love they have shown, and their guidance. helped me begin to recognize my worth and strive to be better. They didn’t just speak words of encouragement into my life—they lived them. They pushed me to become better in every aspect of my life, taught me what it means to truly care for someone, and made me into the God- fearing woman I proudly am today. Because of them, I now understand the power and importance of having even one person in your corner who believes in you, stands by you, and offers consistent love and support. That is the impact I aspire to have on my future students. I have seen firsthand how many young people are carrying burdens in silence, facing incredibly difficult situations without anyone to walk through it with them. I want every student who walks into my classroom to know that they are not alone. I want them to feel seen, heard, and valued. More than anything, I want to be the person who reminds them that no matter what they are going through, they have someone who loves them, believes in them, and will fight for them.