The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. In turn I was also treated differently by parents and teachers who knew of my brother's addiction. It was as if people were waiting and expecting me to follow his path. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that kids face challenges they don’t often know how to address or fix. I personally have never experimented with drugs; but I grew up being exposed to the effects of having a loved one who did. Sometimes being on the outside watching, unable to help, is as challenging as the addiction itself. There were countless moments that I wished I could wave a magic wand, and my brother would be cured. His addiction and the sadness it brought to him and to my family will forever change my life. Watching my brother struggle with addiction and depression made me realize that sometimes, all a person needs is someone to support them and acknowledge their efforts. Drug use and drug addiction and mental health is a rising concern with adolescents. Our schools are flooded with issues arising from increased drug use and mental health issues. There is a growing need in our country for substance abuse and mental health recovery programs and counselors. I want to be that person who assists adolescents in their recovery journey. I would like to be a part of implementing early programming on drug and alcohol awareness and mental health issues in schools. There is little offered in the grade school and high school I attended on these subjects. Our school guidance counselor was a resource; however, I feel that mandatory programming on these topics would be beneficial to a student struggling with questions about drugs and/or mental health issues. Students are often embarrassed to ask for help or just don't know where to go to ask. This is why another key component is educating our teachers and school staff on the topics. Early recognition is essential. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer. I understand this can be an extremely challenging profession, with its ups and downs: but ultimately, changing someone’s life will be worth it.

If you want it, you have to work for it. These are the words that have been instilled into me by my grandfather since I was able to stand behind a lawn mower and push it. I was taught at a young age that if you wanted something you needed to work for it. With the help of my grandfather, I started mowing lawns during the summer when I was 12. I worked several jobs through middle school and high school to be able to save, invest and also spend the money I earned. I learned how to budget my money. My grandfathers saying however did not just apply to earning money. It is a basic necessity of getting ahead in anything you do. School is one of those areas that hard work and dedication have to be applied. I graduated from high school in the top 20% of my class and graduated with honors. I was on the honor roll all four years and maintained a grade point average of 3.5. My senior year I could have graduated early; however, I stayed in school and participated in the "Early College Credit Program". I took 12 college credits offered to me by the high school. I completed the semester with a 4.0 and earned 12 college credits to apply to my freshman year of college. To accomplish these milestones required me to discipline myself in my studies. I was able to manage my grades, participate in sports and work 1-2 jobs at a time. Tennis was an important part of my high school career. I played varsity tennis all four years. My partner and I were the 1st seed doubles team sophomore, junior and senior year. Senior year I was also given the honor of being the team captain. Countless hours of practice and conditioning were involved in my success on the tennis team. Being selected as the team captain senior year was a great honor and came with many responsibilities. My teammates looked to me for support, guidance and knowledge. I believe that anything you do in life, you should give it your all and do your best. In the end, the effort you put into something is what you will get back from it. The money I would receive from this scholarship will help me achieve my goals of obtaining my bachelor's and then graduate degree in Psychology and criminal justice with an emphasis on juvenile probation. I would like to make a positive impact on youth, especially troubled youth by helping them with their struggles and hopefully instilling some of the same work ethics into them that were instilled in me.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. In turn I was also treated differently by parents and teachers who knew of my brother's addiction. It was as if people were waiting and expecting me to follow his path. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that kids face challenges they don’t often know how to address or fix. I personally have never experimented with drugs; but I grew up being exposed to the effects of having a loved one who did. Sometimes being on the outside watching, unable to help, is as challenging as the addiction itself. There were countless moments that I wished I could wave a magic wand, and my brother would be cured. His addiction and the sadness it brought to him and to my family will forever change my life. Had he been able to ask for help with his mental health issues would his drug addiction never existed? Would he out of prison enjoying his life and family? We will never know the answers to these questions. Watching my brother struggle with addiction made me realize that sometimes, all a person needs is someone to support them and acknowledge their efforts. Drug use and drug addiction is a rising concern with adolescents. Our schools are flooded with issues arising from increased drug use. There is a growing need in our country for substance abuse and mental health recovery programs and counselors. I want to be that person who assists adolescents in their recovery journey. I would like to be a part of implementing early programming on drug and alcohol awareness and mental health issues in schools. There is little offered in the grade school and high school I attended on these subjects. Our school guidance counselor was a resource; however, I feel that mandatory programming on these topics would be beneficial to a student struggling with questions about drugs and/or mental health issues. Students are often embarrassed to ask for help or just don't know where to go to ask. This is why another key component is educating our teachers and school staff on the topics. Early recognition is essential. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer. I understand this can be an extremely challenging profession, with its ups and downs: but ultimately, changing someone’s life will be worth it.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. In turn I was also treated differently by parents and teachers who knew of my brother's addiction. It was as if people were waiting and expecting me to follow his path. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that kids face challenges they don’t often know how to address or fix. I personally have never experimented with drugs; but I grew up being exposed to the effects of having a loved one who did. Sometimes being on the outside watching, unable to help, is as challenging as the addiction itself. There were countless moments that I wished I could wave a magic wand, and my brother would be cured. His addiction and the sadness it brought to him and to my family will forever change my life. Watching my brother struggle with addiction made me realize that sometimes, all a person needs is someone to support them and acknowledge their efforts. Drug use and drug addiction is a rising concern with adolescents. Our schools are flooded with issues arising from increased drug use. There is a growing need in our country for substance abuse and mental health recovery programs and counselors. I want to be that person who assists adolescents in their recovery journey. I would like to be a part of implementing early programming on drug and alcohol awareness and mental health issues in schools. There is little offered in the grade school and high school I attended on these subjects. Our school guidance counselor was a resource; however, I feel that mandatory programming on these topics would be beneficial to a student struggling with questions about drugs and/or mental health issues. Students are often embarrassed to ask for help or just don't know where to go to ask. This is why another key component is educating our teachers and school staff on the topics. Early recognition is essential. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer. I understand this can be an extremely challenging profession, with its ups and downs: but ultimately, changing someone’s life will be worth it.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. In turn I was also treated differently by parents and teachers who knew of my brother's addiction. It was as if people were waiting and expecting me to follow his path. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that kids face challenges they don’t often know how to address or fix. I personally have never experimented with drugs; but I grew up being exposed to the effects of having a loved one who did. Sometimes being on the outside watching, unable to help, is as challenging as the addiction itself. There were countless moments that I wished I could wave a magic wand, and my brother would be cured. His addiction and the sadness it brought to him and to my family will forever change my life. Watching my brother struggle with addiction made me realize that sometimes, all a person needs is someone to support them and acknowledge their efforts. Drug use and drug addiction is a rising concern with adolescents. Our schools are flooded with issues arising from increased drug use. There is a growing need in our country for substance abuse and mental health recovery programs and counselors. I want to be that person who assists adolescents in their recovery journey. I would like to be a part of implementing early programming on drug and alcohol awareness and mental health issues in schools. There is little offered in the grade school and high school I attended on these subjects. Our school guidance counselor was a resource; however, I feel that mandatory programming on these topics would be beneficial to a student struggling with questions about drugs and/or mental health issues. Students are often embarrassed to ask for help or just don't know where to go to ask. This is why another key component is educating our teachers and school staff on the topics. Early recognition is essential. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer. I understand this can be an extremely challenging profession, with its ups and downs: but ultimately, changing someone’s life will be worth it.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. In turn I was also treated different by parents and teachers who knew of my brother's addiction. It was as if people were waiting and expecting me to follow his path. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that kids face challenges they don’t often know how to address or fix. I personally have never experimented with drugs; but I grew up being exposed to the effects of having a loved one who did. Sometimes being on the outside watching, unable to help, is as challenging as the addiction itself. There were countless moments that I wished I could wave a magic wand, and my brother would be cured. His addiction and the sadness it brought to him and to my family will forever change my life. Watching my brother struggle with addiction made me realize that sometimes, all a person needs is someone to support them and acknowledge their efforts. Drug use and drug addiction is a rising concern with adolescents. Our schools are flooded with issues arising from increased drug use. There is a growing need in our country for substance abuse and mental health recovery programs and counselors. I want to be that person who assists adolescents in their recovery journey. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer. I understand this can be an extremely challenging profession, with its ups and downs: but ultimately, changing someone’s life will be worth it.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and our mom had caught him. Growing up watching my brother, I realized that some people face challenges they don’t often know how to address, but I also realized sometimes they just don’t know how to help themselves. My brother started experimenting with different kinds of drugs when he was in grade school, this progressed as he got older. In doing so, he had got himself into a lot of trouble over the years. I know that many other students and children still struggle with this now, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. I have two older brothers, with Conner being the oldest. He is about six years older than me, but unfortunately, he has not made very good decisions. He managed to make choices that put him in prison, and I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone always looked at me like I would turn out like him or end up like him, which made me feel bad for him. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he did bad things. When my time came for high school, I originally wanted to take a variation of science classes and work towards going into something like marine biology. However, that changed when I started taking psychology and medical terminology. I realized that there was something wrong with him, but he didn’t know how to ask for help, and this is how he did. He was reaching out in the only way he knew how and needed support. I soon realized that I wanted to pursue a career that would be the help for these children and be the person they need. More specifically helping the kids whom no one has been there for, which is why I am choosing to pursue a career as a juvenile probation officer. Watching Conner and how he struggles with addiction, I realized that sometimes all a person needs is someone there to tell them they are doing well and trying their best. I want to be the person that tells that and help them with recovery. I understand this can be an extreme job, and it will have its ups and downs: but in the end, changing someone’s life will be worth it. As mentioned before, this problem is a global issue, causing many students and children to turn to drugs, crime or even suicide to cope with their problems. I want to be there to keep them away from drugs or crime and lead them down a better path. These children deserve the opportunity at having a better life and being able to choose to be better.

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble. They were fighting again. It wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. It was one of those countless nights I spent curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My brother was trying to sneak out of the house again and my mom had caught him. I am the youngest of three children. My oldest brother started experimenting with drugs when he was in middle school. This progressed as he got older which led to him making choices that put him in prison. I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he “did bad things”. I was often judged by peers and their parents for the choices my brother was making. This made it difficult for me to make or keep friends. Most of all, I felt bad for my brother. He wasn’t the awful, horrible person everyone thought he was. I saw another side to him when he wasn’t using drugs. He was kind and caring, he would do anything for you and he was a good listener. Seeing the two sides my brother had made me feel bad for him. If only everyone else could see what I saw. Would his life had turned out different, would positivity from people helped him to make better choices? Watching my brother and how he struggled with addiction, I realized that sometimes all a person needs is someone there to tell them they are doing well and trying their best. I want to be the person that tells that and help them with recovery. I understand this can be an extreme job, and it will have its ups and downs: but in the end, changing someone’s life will be worth it. Many adolescents struggle with addiction and mental health issues and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. Having a positive impact on the life of a young adult will be challenging yet extremely rewarding. Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s life and give them hope for a better future will be an honor. I will be attending the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in the fall of 2025. I will major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. My future plan is to become a juvenile probation officer.

Growing up watching my brother, I realized that some people face challenges they don’t often know how to address, but I also realized sometimes they just don’t know how to help themselves. My brother, Conner, decided to start experimenting with different kinds of drugs when he was in school, this progressed as he got older. In doing so, he had got himself into a lot of trouble over the years. I know that many other students and children still struggle with this now, and it will always be an ongoing problem; that is why I want to help them. I have two older brothers, with Conner being the oldest. He is about six years older than me, but unfortunately, he has not made very good decisions. He managed to make choices that put him in prison, and I always thought that there was something wrong with him and he couldn’t be ‘fixed’. Everyone always looked at me like I would turn out like him or end up like him, which made me feel bad for him. Everyone viewed him as a horrible, awful person because he did bad things. When my time came for high school, I originally wanted to take a variation of science classes and work towards going into something like marine biology. However, that changed when I started taking psychology and medical terminology. I realized that there was something wrong with him, but he didn’t know how to ask for help, and this is how he did. He was reaching out in the only way he knew how and needed support. I soon realized that I wanted to pursue a career that would be the help for these children and be the person they need. More specifically helping the kids whom no one has been there for, which is why I am choosing to pursue a career as a juvenile probation officer. Watching Conner and how he struggles with addiction, I realized that sometimes all a person needs is someone there to tell them they are doing well and trying their best. I want to be the person that tells that and help them with recovery. I understand this can be an extreme job, and it will have its ups and downs: but in the end, changing someone’s life will be worth it. As mentioned before, this problem is a global issue, causing many students and children to turn to drugs or crime to cope with their problems. I want to be there to keep them away from drugs or crime and lead them down a better path. I found through the years that when things bothered me or I needed to escape from life’s many challenges, music would soothe me. Music helped me through many days of dealing with my brothers issues, difficulties with friend or school and just everyday woes.

When senior year came, I became captain of the girls tennis team. Tennis has always been a passion of mine even since I was a little girl playing Wii sports, but being able to lead the team has taught me valuable lessons about responsibility, leadership, and accountability. At the end of the season, my eyes were opened to the work that goes into managing a team and balancing everyone's needs. As the season progressed, I realized that the girls on the team looked up to me and I would have to be a good example and a positive environment for my teammates. Not only did they look up to me on the court, but they also sought help from me academically and emotionally. It was my goal then to make everyone feel included, everyone was important and played a valuable role. We were able to help each other out by offering advice during practice and even off the court by being a shoulder to cry on. Everyone was able to contribute their thoughts and felt heard when doing so. Balancing sports and academics can be challenging, there are times you may need to ask for help. Being the captain meant I had it all together so they could come to me for help. This means I have to excel in my academics along with setting an example for them on and off the court. Being able to maintain my academics is not only important for me and my future, but it also means being there for the girls as well because they need me. While this has been challenging, this role has also helped me to become a better player and a better person. I learned how to better communicate with my teammates, making for an efficient doubles team that stays focused. I also learned how to meet the needs of the girls and how to communicate that with them. It was my personal goal to have a good bond as a team, and it was achieved. Being the captain of the team has made me open my eyes to more challenging opportunities that may come my way. I used to just play it safe and if something seemed hard I walked away, but this year I tried something new and I'll never go back. It was an amazing experience that has taught me to try the challenges that come my way and I am committed to helping others and being a positive environment. Outside of sports my interests include reading, music, playing with Cocker spaniel, and hanging out with family and friends. I have a special interest in psychology and criminal justice which has led me to my career path of being a juvenile probation officer.

When senior year came, I became captain of the girls tennis team. Tennis has always been a passion of mine even since I was a little girl playing Wii sports, but being able to lead the team has taught me valuable lessons about responsibility, leadership, and accountability. At the end of the season, my eyes were opened to the work that goes into managing a team and balancing everyone's needs. As the season progressed, I realized that the girls on the team looked up to me and I would have to be a good example and a positive environment for my teammates. Not only did they look up to me on the court, but they also sought help from me academically and emotionally. It was my goal then to make everyone feel included, everyone was important and played a valuable role. We were able to help each other out by offering advice during practice and even off the court by being a shoulder to cry on. Everyone was able to contribute their thoughts and felt heard when doing so. Balancing sports and academics can be challenging, there are times you may need to ask for help. Being the captain meant I had it all together so they could come to me for help. This means I have to excel in my academics along with setting an example for them on and off the court. Being able to maintain my academics is not only important for me and my future, but it also means being there for the girls as well because they need me. While this has been challenging, this role has also helped me to become a better player and a better person. I learned how to better communicate with my teammates, making for an efficient doubles team that stays focused. I also learned how to meet the needs of the girls and how to communicate that with them. It was my personal goal to have a good bond as a team, and it was achieved. Being the captain of the team has made me open my eyes to more challenging opportunities that may come my way. I used to just play it safe and if something seemed hard I walked away, but this year I tried something new and I'll never go back. It was an amazing experience that has taught me to try the challenges that come my way and I am committed to helping others and being a positive environment.