I remember learning at the age of 7 that my dad was diagnosed with something called Bipolar disorder. I wasn't sure what this meant at the time, all I knew was that for what felt like weeks he was spend the day in bed, and that sometimes he got really angry. I also remember when my dad decided to get treatment, to take the medicines that the doctors prescribed, and to go to the VA to get the support he needed. My dad passed away in 2018, but I was always amazed by the way he was able to change his life to be healthier, happier, and more present by taking care of his mental health. While working on my Bachelor's degree I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in Social Work with a focus on mental health. Currently, I have 5 years of experiencing working in mental health - occupying positions as a Residential Counselor at a social rehabilitation facility an a Case Management intern while pursing my Master's Degree in Social Work. One of my long-term goals is to start a women's health center that provides women's health services and prenatal and postpartum care for women of color as well as counseling and therapeutic services. Although I am not yet a mother, I see that many mother in my family and in my community are not treated with the care, attention, and support that they deserve, especially Black women. My goal is to have a maternal health center that is run by women of color and serves women of color. I am a firm believer that if we heal women we can heal the world. I look forward to making this goal into a reality and positively impacting women and mothers in my community.

First and foremost, thank you for considering my scholarship application. My name is Angela Ward and I am currently a first year MSW student at Columbia University. Coming from humble beginnings, I never thought I would have the opportunity to earn an Ivy League degree, yet with immeasurable amounts of support, encouragement, and hard work here I am. The mentors I had in my youth played a pivotal role in my success. It is for this reason that I want to develop an non-profit arts education program in my hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. When my father passed away in 2018 I struggled with his loss and wanted to find a way to honor him and his legacy. My father was a lover of the arts, he sang, played multiple instruments, wrote beautiful songs and poetry, and is still the most caring man I have ever met. It was then that the thought of creating a community based arts program for youth. This program would not be focused on innate talent, but will welcome any youth who has an interest and wants to develop a skill and explore new opportunities. As a child, I struggled with creativity- I always thought that art was something you had to be good at. Now I understand that art, whether musical, visual, verbal, or physical, is about self-expression and release. My goal is to provide that understanding and instill a love of the arts for youth across my community. I currently serve my community by working as a Success Coach at a local afterschool program. I empower the youth participants to chase their dreams and give them permission to explore and try new things. There is no way to know the impact that I will have on these youth, but I hope that in 5, 10, or even 15 years they remember the coaches who believed in them and work to do the same with other youth. As my career grows and changes, I will continue to be an advocate for youth development and empowerment. Every social worker has a desire to impact social change. As I continue to learn and experience the world, I am made more aware of the social ills that plague society. To me, impacting social change means operating outside of the status quo, and encouraging those around you, those who you share community with, to do the same. Changing the world is an unrealistic feat for most people, but being a catalyst for change in your environment can be as simple as standing firm in your beliefs and inviting others to do the same. For example, one of my favorite Instagram pages to follow is Brown Girl Self Care. The creator of the page and the brand works hard to encourage Black and Brown women to rest, take time to care for themselves, and set healthy boundaries. This page sends positive messaging to over 100,000 womxn on Instagram and sets an example of who we can be when we remove the desire to do everything and be everything to everyone. All of the women and girls who follow the page and feel moved to make positive changes in their own lives will walk, speak, and act a bit differently. Freeing women from the guilt and shame that society places on us by encouraging women to be honest, authentic, and healthy is a big deal. And even if this movement only had 20 followers, those who are impacted can take the message into their communities and be examples of positive change there. That is impacting social change.

When discussing the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations and underserved communities, mental healthcare must be a part of the conversation. As a child I witnessed my father struggle with bipolar disorder. I saw him experience the lowest of lows where he would not move from the bed for days. I also saw him go into fits of rage, which were usually directed at my mother, and seemingly become a different person. I am thankful that my father didn't allow the stigma around mental illness to discourage him from getting the treatment and support that he needed. I now recognize how difficult this had to have been for him, as a poor Black man living in the south. Not only to his pride, but navigating a mental health system with little to no resources. I am thankful however, that he had the support of the Veteran's Affairs Hospital. Without the VA system, my father's life and my life would have been much different. As I enter my first year of graduate school as an MSW student, I am aware of the struggles specifically faced by people of color. I understand the layers of oppression that contribute to the decreased mental health of BIPOC, and the ways that these racist and xenophobic systems make it difficult for BIPOC to receive the mental healthcare that they deserve. Although I have first hand experience, I plan to gain formal education on social work through a minority framework that decenters whiteness. Once I am licensed, I plan to open a private practice with my sister, who will soon be a midwife. Together, we will address two major issues impacting the Black community, maternal health and mental healthcare. We will offer services and resources to whoever we can, regardless of income status. We plan to make the process easy for clients to understand and most beneficial for them by focusing on their goals and desires. I believe I am equipped to serve underprivileged communities because everything in my life to this point has prepared me to do just that. I feel honored that I have been called to work in the mental health field, and hopeful that I will one day effect positive change.

When we discuss populations that are underserved and disenfranchised, the elderly population is often forgotten. My maternal grandmother was born in 1925. At 96 years old she has survived the great depression, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement, the movement for Women's Rights, and lived through 17 presidential administrations, as well as a number of pandemics and wars. She is the only grandparent I have ever known. My maternal grandmother holds a wealth of stories, knowledge, insight, and enough down south sayings to make your head spin! Unfortunately, her aging body also experiences a number of mental and physical health concerns. I decided to move back home to Virginia in the Spring of 2021 in order to lift the burden off of my family members and provide support for my grandmother. This decision was not easy-I'm not sure if choosing to be an ally ever is. In my case, I released a sense of freedom, and a lot of free time. A part of me was upset, I thought that I would have more time in my adulthood before I had to take on the responsibility of caring for a family member. However, I recognized the importance of showing up and being present during this time. It has been difficult to see her in such a fragile and vulnerable state, but it has been a pleasure to create new memories with her and to see the impact that my care has on her. Although I have only been in this role for a few months, I have learned so much. I have learned the value of slowing down and being patient. As a young person, it is instinctual to rush through things, but there is no rushing a 96 year old Black woman. Allowing my grandmother to do things in her time has taught me that relationship happens and memories are made in the slow moments. I have had some of the most beautiful and endearing moments with my grandmother at 4am, when she woke up and just wanted to talk to someone. I have also learned the importance of personal autonomy. My grandmother experiences dementia. She is often confused about timelines and events, and her mental state causes her to be irritable. I make a point to discuss everything with her. Allowing her to make small choices, such as what she's eating for dinner or what she wants to wear for the day, allows her to have some control over a life where many things are already decided for her. I know that my grandmother cherishes our time together. She often tells me that she appreciates me and thanks me for helping. This is a difficult time for us both, but I am so grateful to have the opportunity to spend life so closely with her. This experience will undoubtedly change the trajectory of my life, and is one that I hope to never forget.

At the age of 6, I recognized my father as a kind, sweet, and understanding parent, who worked tirelessly to support his family. He helped me and my siblings with our homework, read to us, cooked dinner, and even walked us to school in the morning. I also recognized that some days, it was hard for my dad to get out of bed. On those days he barely spoke to anyone, and could not be the loving father that I needed, or that he wanted to be. I am thankful that my father did not suppress these feelings and did not navigate his mental illness alone. With support the VA Hospital, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and provided resources and medication to manage his mental illness. My dad still struggled with symptom management. He would still experience overwhelming sadness or unprovoked anger and frustration. Although it was hard to understand as a child, I now know that he was fighting not only to be the best father that he could be, but the best man that he could be for himself. Seeing my father battle mental illness, addiction, and physical illness is what sparked my interest to pursue a career in mental health. I have a great appreciation for the counselors and social workers who supported my father and hope to be that support for other people in need. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in Social Work. Once I am a licensed social worker, I plan to open a private practice that provides mental health counseling and other wellness and therapeutic services to people of color and other marginalized populations. The world is becoming a more open place when it comes to expressing difficulties with mental and emotional wellness. However, people in marginalized communities carry the unfair burden of managing mental health stigma and navigating a space where resources are not readily available or accessible. I know that it is important for me, as a Black woman, to offer a safe healing space to people who would otherwise not seek or receive support. I recognize the importance of having a practitioner who looks like you and has similar lived experiences. American society places value on physical health and material success, but mental and emotional wellness are often regarded as unimportant. The truth is that mental and emotional health are essential to the success of society and the individual. My hope is that as society continues to evolve, that all people will feel free to pursue wellness in a way that speaks to them, and that all people have access to tools, spaces, and resources that allow them to arrive in their brokenness and get the support that they deserve.

At the age of 6, I recognized my father as a kind, sweet, and understanding parent, who worked tirelessly to support his family. He helped me and my siblings with our homework, read to us, cooked dinner, and even walked us to school in the morning. I also recognized that some days, it was hard for my dad to get out of bed. On those days he barely spoke to anyone, and could not be the loving father that I needed, or that he wanted to be. I am thankful that my father did not suppress these feelings and did not navigate his mental illness alone. With support the VA Hospital, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and provided resources and medication to manage his mental illness. My dad still struggled with symptom management. He would still experience overwhelming sadness or unprovoked anger and frustration. Although it was hard to understand as a child, I now know that he was fighting not only to be the best father that he could be, but the best man that he could be for himself. Seeing my father battle mental illness, addiction, and physical illness is what sparked my interest to pursue a career in mental health. I have a great appreciation for the counselors and social workers who supported my father and hope to be that support for other people in need. For four years I worked as a Residential Counselor, serving adults with mental illness. I learned that mental illness is not a singular issue, but is often coupled with homelessness, substance, abuse, loss of important relationships, and trauma. It is important to me that I work with this population, which is so vulnerable and often forgotten. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in Social Work. Once I am a licensed social worker, I plan to open a private practice that provides mental health counseling and other wellness and therapeutic services to people of color and other marginalized populations. The world is becoming a more open place when it comes to expressing difficulties with mental and emotional wellness. However, people in marginalized communities carry the unfair burden of managing mental health stigma and navigating a space where resources are not readily available or accessible. I know that it is important for me, as a Black woman, to offer a safe healing space to people who would otherwise not seek or receive support. I recognize the importance of having a practitioner who looks like you and has similar lived experiences. American society places value on physical health and material success, but mental and emotional wellness are often regarded as unimportant. The truth is that mental and emotional health are essential to the success of society and the individual. My hope is that as society continues to evolve, that all people will feel free to pursue wellness in a way that speaks to them, and that all people have access to tools, spaces, and resources that allow them to arrive in their brokenness and get the support that they deserve.

I moved to California in 2017 and found employment with a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support to adults diagnosed with co-occurring mental illness and addiction. I have had the privilege of working daily with a population that is important to me. Many of my clients have experienced homelessness at some point in their adult lives and had to live in unsafe conditions. I have heard horror stories of my clients being robbed, abused, sexually assaulted, and drugged while living on the streets. Their inability to meet the basic needs of safety and stability put them in a constant state of crisis. They become vulnerable to addiction, mental illness, and loss of sense of self-worth and identity. My long-term career goal is to start a non-profit community center. This community center will empower community members by providing employment and access to independent life skills education. The community center would serve members of the local neighborhoods by providing vocational training, financial planning and literacy skills, nutrition and cooking classes, and support in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing. Unfortunately, many people who live in low-income neighborhoods; like where I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, grow up in homes where they are taught to survive, but have little education or training in caring for themselves holistically. The programming that I plan to offer will be available to families, teenagers, and single adults who are interested in creating a better life for themselves. This scholarship will support me through my educational career. Higher education can be a huge financial burden, but I refuse to allow finances stand between me and my goal, to be the reason the people in the community go without support. This scholarship will not only help fund an education for me, but will directly impact my ability to create an organization that has the potential to enhance the lives of many.

As a child, my parents instilled in me the importance of education and creating a good life for yourself. Neither of my parents were college graduates, and so there was always an expectation for my siblings and I to graduate from a four year university. As I grew older and learned more about the college experience, I desired deeply to attend an Ivy League university. I wanted to attend university among the brightest thinkers and learn from thought leaders. However, as a low income first generation college student, attending an Ivy League institution was not a realistic option for me. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2016 and took time to gain experience in social work and mental health, and save up for my masters degree program. Now, at 27 years old, I have realized my dream of attending an Ivy League university. I will be starting classes as an MSW student at Columbia University in the fall. The Ivy League education comes with a hefty price tag. Even with scholarships, loans, and money saved, I still need support with educational expenses. Winning this scholarships would help me pay for books and other school fees to ensure that I get the education I desire. Thank you for your time and consideration.

During this pandemic I learned to accept and appreciate myself. I am an introvert. For my whole life I have been encouraged to talk more, speak louder, assert myself, be more social, and to make more friends. Thankfully, I have maintained amazing friendships, but socializing frequently or for long periods of time has always been difficult for me. Trying to be loud and outgoing would drain me, and I would often feel bad for not being as outspoken as my peers. However, the pandemic forced me to spend more time alone. I learned to appreciate my quiet nature, and was able to pick up hobbies such as reading, painting, and gardening to fill time that was previously spend on social activities. It was also helpful for me to see other people taking time to pour into themselves. I didn't feel so bad about staying in to watch a move on Friday nights, because the entire world was encouraged to stay home. Many cities and states in the US have started to lift restrictions, as we return to a sense of normalcy, I plan to keep the quiet of the last year in mind. I plan to continue to engage in activities and social situations that feed me mentally and emotionally. I'm grateful for the time that I've had to reconnect with myself and see the beauty in my personality.

My father is the reason I ever considered a career in social work. As a child, my family and I struggled financially. Although I grew up in a 2-parent household, neither of my parents were college educated. My parents both worked minimum wage jobs and relied on government assistance to make ends meet. My dad would often allow my sister and I to accompany him to his appointments for social services, as well as to food pantries and soup kitchens. In his mind, he was taking time to spend quality time with his daughters. I'm not sure if he had any idea of the lessons I learned during those outings. I saw the beauty of people coming together to help others. I was inspired by the volunteers and program coordinators, who treated everyone with care and respect, and how the contributions of the community members made a difference to so many families. Although it made me sad that my family needed donations and assistance, I was grateful for the support. I decided early on that I wanted to help my community as well. My father also valued education. He placed great emphasis on empowering my siblings and I to make good grades. My father was always supportive and put time and energy into my learning. It was his support that helped me to graduate from high school with a 4.2 gpa, and to go on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in political science. In 2017, my father fully supported me following my dream and moving to the west coast to pursue a career in mental health. Less than 1 year after I made my big cross-country move, my father passed away. During this time he not only provided emotional support to my sister and I, who had both moved away, but served as a full-time caregiver to my mother, who had suffered a stroke. The stress coupled with other physical and mental health conditions was too much for his body to handle. Now as I enter my first year of graduate school, I dedicate all of my success to him. Without his love, support, and guidance, I would be a completely different person than I am today. As I gain opportunities to positively impact the community, I will think of him. My father's untimely passing has also taught me the importance of caring for self first. I recognize the value of caring for others, but I also know that in order to be my best self for others, I must take care of myself. I have made it my personal mission to never lose sight of me, and to incorporate self-care into my routine whenever possible. I am excited to move on to my next chapter of life. I wish my Dad was here to see it, but I will continue to work to make him proud.

At the age of 6, I recognized my father as a kind, sweet, and understanding parent, who worked tirelessly to support his family. He helped me and my siblings with our homework, read to us, cooked dinner, and even walked us to school in the morning. I also recognized that some days, it was hard for my dad to get out of bed. On those days he barely spoke to anyone, and could not be the loving father that I needed, or that he wanted to be. I am thankful that my father did not suppress these feelings and did not navigate his mental illness alone. With support the VA Hospital, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and provided resources and medication to manage his mental illness. My dad still struggled with symptom management. He would still experience overwhelming sadness or unprovoked anger and frustration. Although it was hard to understand as a child, I now know that he was fighting not only to be the best father that he could be, but the best man that he could be for himself. Seeing my father battle mental illness, addiction, and physical illness is what sparked my interest to pursue a career in mental health. I have a great appreciation for the counselors and social workers who supported my father and hope to be that support for other people in need. For four years I worked as a Residential Counselor, serving adults with mental illness. I learned that mental illness is not a singular issue, but is often coupled with homelessness, substance, abuse, loss of important relationships, and trauma. It is important to me that I work with this population, which is so vulnerable and often forgotten. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in Social Work. Once I am a licensed social worker, I plan to open a private practice that provides mental health counseling and other wellness and therapeutic services to people of color and other marginalized populations. The world is becoming a more open place when it comes to expressing difficulties with mental and emotional wellness. However, people in marginalized communities carry the unfair burden of managing mental health stigma and navigating a space where resources are not readily available or accessible. I know that it is important for me, as a Black woman, to offer a safe healing space to people who would otherwise not seek or receive support. I recognize the importance of having a practitioner who looks like you and has similar lived experiences. American society places value on physical health and material success, but mental and emotional wellness are often regarded as unimportant. The truth is that mental and emotional health are essential to the success of society and the individual. My hope is that as society continues to evolve, that all people will feel free to pursue wellness in a way that speaks to them, and that all people have access to tools, spaces, and resources that allow them to arrive in their brokenness and get the support that they deserve.

At the age of 6, I recognized my father as a kind, sweet, and understanding parent, who worked tirelessly to support his family. He helped me and my siblings with our homework, read to us, cooked dinner, and even walked us to school in the morning. I also recognized that some days, it was hard for my dad to get out of bed. On those days he barely spoke to anyone, and could not be the loving father that I needed, or that he wanted to be. I am thankful that my father did not suppress these feelings and did not navigate his mental illness alone. With support the VA Hospital, he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and provided resources and medication to manage his mental illness. My dad still struggled with symptom management. He would still experience overwhelming sadness or unprovoked anger and frustration. Although it was hard to understand as a child, I now know that he was fighting not only to be the best father that he could be, but the best man that he could be for himself. Seeing my father battle mental illness, addiction, and physical illness is what sparked my interest to pursue a career in mental health. I have a great appreciation for the counselors and social workers who supported my father and hope to be that support for other people in need. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in Social Work. Once I am a licensed social worker, I plan to open a private practice that provides mental health counseling and other wellness and therapeutic services to people of color and other marginalized populations. The world is becoming a more open place when it comes to expressing difficulties with mental and emotional wellness. However, people in marginalized communities carry the unfair burden of managing mental health stigma and navigating a space where resources are not readily available or accessible. I know that it is important for me, as a Black woman, to offer a safe healing space to people who would otherwise not seek or receive support. I recognize the importance of having a practitioner who looks like you and has similar lived experiences. American society places value on physical health and material success, but mental and emotional wellness are often regarded as unimportant. The truth is that mental and emotional health are essential to the success of society and the individual. My hope is that as society continues to evolve, that all people will feel free to pursue wellness in a way that speaks to them, and that all people have access to tools, spaces, and resources that allow them to arrive in their brokenness and get the support that they deserve.