As a woman in STEM, in multiple fields, I face a lot of backlashes for having an interest in scientific fields. With two parents in the Chemistry field, I have very high expectations to fill. I have struggled in the field so far due to my lack of passion in mathematics. Math is not my favorite subject, so going into my upcoming academics that will be full of Organic Chemistry as well as Biochemistry, I have my work cut out for me. Despite the mathematic challenges, I am incredibly determined to succeed in this field and maintain a high GPA throughout it. After graduating with my bachelor's in psychology, I plan on attending either Indiana University or Ohio State University for graduate school in the Genetic Counseling program. I plan to attend this program because of my family history with genetic counseling. My family has a very interesting lineup of genetic diseases in our DNA, and it has inspired me to want to help other families to learn the treatment programs and expectations that come with certain genetic conditions. My brother, for example, is on the Autism spectrum and lives with Aspergers syndrome. His diagnosis was present at birth and my family has had to learn if it was a genetic component or a by chance diagnosis. Other diagnosis' that my family has had to deal with is Spinocerebellar Ataxia. My maternal grandfather has been suffering from this disease for years. His lack of mobility and balance is the greatest of his symptoms. This disease is completely genetic and two of his siblings died from it in their early 50's. With my career path of choice, I will be able to help diagnose patients with conditions like these in order for them to help prevent the quick acceleration of symptoms, how to manage the disease, as well as what to expect when symptoms do arise. With extra funds from scholarships like these, I will be able to maintain my education and stay on track with my graduation in order to be able to quickly make an impact in my community through my contributions of being a genetic counselor. Continuing my education is of the upmost importance to both me and my family. Although my family supports me as much as they can, it does not cover every necessity and scholarships like these will help both myself and my family. Less financial stress in my own day-to-day life also allows me to focus more on my education and grades rather than a check and my bank account.

My faith is the most important thing in my life. My relationship with God is the most important relationship I will ever witness or be a part of. I have been a Christian for the last 11 years, on April 4, 2013, I accepted Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior and I can confidently say it was the best decision I have ever made. I believe humans have a Creator who designed heaven and earth within the span of 7 days as listed in Genesis. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). I believe in God for many reasons, firstly being it was how I was raised. I have been brought up in a Christian household where we turn to the Bible for any question we have and prayer for any concern. I grew up in church, learning about all of the Bible stories, hearing how God works and how He has provided opportunity of salvation for us through Christ's ultimate sacrifice. I am eternally grateful for the mercy and love the Lord has shown us all by giving us the chance to be saved by grace alone and dwell with him in heaven. I also believe in Christianity because it is the most scientifically backed religion. There is evidence of Biblical events such as the flood. There is documentation of events that occurred in the Bible in ancient Greek and Roman texts. there is documented writings that talk of a man named Jesus and miracles he performed. Christianity and my faith in Jesus is not because of a made-up idea that some random middle eastern man decided he was going to befriend 12 men and travel with them. No, my faith is based off of the accounted for evidence of Jesus Christ, who walked the earth as a man, died, and rose again three days later and defeated death. He took on all sin, pain, disease, hopelessness, anxiety, and fear, and took it upon himself so that we would be made clean in the eyes of the Father and have a relationship with Him in heaven. My faith is the very center of my life; everything revolves around it: who I spend time with, how I dress, how I act, how I talk, everything. I will admit, being a college student, let alone, a STEM major, has made it difficult to maintain a constant faith without having classmates and peers' question, doubt, or make fun of me for what I believe. Despite the troubles, I know I am created in the image and likeness of God and that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and that He is always with me.

As a woman in STEM, in multiple fields, I face a lot of backlashes for having an interest in scientific fields. With two parents in the Chemistry field, I have very high expectations to fill. I have struggled in the field so far due to my lack of passion in mathematics. Math is not my favorite subject, so going into my upcoming academics that will be full of Organic Chemistry as well as Biochemistry, I have my work cut out for me. Despite the mathematic challenges, I am incredibly determined to succeed in this field and maintain a high GPA throughout it. After graduating with my bachelor's in psychology, I plan on attending either Indiana University or Ohio State University for graduate school in the Genetic Counseling program. I plan to attend this program because of my family history with genetic counseling. My family has a very interesting lineup of genetic diseases in our DNA, and it has inspired me to want to help other families to learn the treatment programs and expectations that come with certain genetic conditions. My brother, for example, is on the Autism spectrum and lives with Aspergers syndrome. His diagnosis was present at birth and my family has had to learn if it was a genetic component or a by chance diagnosis. Other diagnosis' that my family has had to deal with is Spinocerebellar Ataxia. My maternal grandfather has been suffering from this disease for years. His lack of mobility and balance is the greatest of his symptoms. This disease is completely genetic and two of his siblings died from it in their early 50's. With my career path of choice, I will be able to help diagnose patients with conditions like these in order for them to help prevent the quick acceleration of symptoms, how to manage the disease, as well as what to expect when symptoms do arise. With extra funds from scholarships like these, I will be able to maintain my education and stay on track with my graduation in order to be able to quickly make an impact in my community through my contributions of being a genetic counselor. Continuing my education is of the upmost importance to both me and my family. Although my family supports me as much as they can, it does not cover every necessity and scholarships like these will help both myself and my family. Less financial stress in my own day-to-day life also allows me to focus more on my education and grades rather than a check and my bank account.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. that it was something that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

The dream version of my future self is successful, happy, and pursuing my goals with a positive mindset.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. That it was something that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Social work has appeared to be an easy choice of study for me. I have always had a heart for children and I have spent countless hours with them. From volunteering in the childcare ministry at my church, babysitting, and teaching kids gymnastics at a training facility, I have surrounded myself with children for years. Through all of this work and experience, I have first-hand seen how poor family life and a bad environment can affect a child's well-being and mental state. This is one of the reasons why I want to pursue a career in social work. I want to enter into the world of the foster care system and adoption because I want to be able to do my part in making sure children grow up in a healthy environment. One of the girls I had the opportunity to coach at the gymnastics facility was growing up in an unstable and unsafe environment. She, unfortunately, had an alcoholic dad that smoked very frequently. There was also suspicion that he was abusing her as well as her sibling. She would often show up to class smelling like smoke and would never smile, participate in any games, or engage with the other kids. At 9 years old, she had already experienced what an awful home life was like. By receiving this scholarship and furthering my education, I will be better prepared for a job in the Social Work field. I will use this background to help children stay in safer homes and have healthier surroundings. By working with children as often as I do, I do not have the extra time to go out and be a "normal" teenager. I dedicate and prioritize my time to my education and my current occupation, nannying. I work for a family with two-and-a-half-year-old triplets. The kids are full of energy and creativity and I love to see them growing up happy and healthy. Working for this family for the last 7 months, with these children, has further persuaded me into the field of social work, I want to do everything I can to insure that any child I get the opportunity to work with is just as happy as my triplets are. The foster care system is incredibly broken and I'd like to do my part in helping fix it in whatever way I can to make the lives of children safer, healthier, and happier.

What makes me unique is the financial stability and responsibility I hold as a seventeen-year-old. In today's society, being smart with your money is a foreign subject. Not in my house, my mom and dad made it apparent that I understand everything there is to know about financial responsibility when it comes to being independent. Financial stability and organization have been one of the most important things my dad has taught me. Taking several economics and personal finance courses have broadened my understanding of these topics. The most important aspect of managing finances in my opinion is having a budget and sticking to it. Having a set budget weekly, monthly, or by semester, allows a student control over their activities with a barrier placed for them to not blow all of their hard-earned money within the first few weeks of being independent. Being in control of every decision you make is exciting, yes, but I strive to not forget that even though I can make my own choices without my parent's help, I should never forget the responsibility they have taught me over the last 17 years. Another reason financial management is so important is because of building habits. Once you’re out of college with a job and house of your own, knowing what to do with the money you have earned is just as important as earning the money in the first place. Most students my age are not as involved in the financial aspect of life as I am. Making sure that these students are aware of all of the necessities life holds gives a person the readiness to pursue a life of their own when the time comes. Being aware of how expensive living independently is provides a foundation for knowing how much one can spend, and where one can spend it. Having money is one thing, but knowing what to do with it is far more important. Controlling spending before gaining independence is another amazing thing my dad has taught me. Growing up, and to this day, my father has encouraged me to not waste my money on unimportant items or useless articles of clothing. Needless to say, I have been raised differently than the majority of this generation. Becoming prepared to take care of myself in the future has been an enormous goal of my parents and me since a young age. Paying for college has been a big topic of discussion, my parents instilled in me the knowledge that working for what I want is the only way to attain the things I desire. Going to college and furthering my education has been my goal for years, and earning scholarships like this one is a way for me to accomplish that goal. Providing financial support for myself is of the utmost importance when wanting to graduate completely debt free. Not having student debt when I graduate from university is extremely important to me. Having fully taken care of all financial issues involved with college, while still in college, would allow me to focus on the career ahead of me and not look back on what I still need to do to fully complete my secondary education. My chosen path of social work allows me to help the younger generations in so many ways. I cannot wait to be able to help kids who need it the most and give back to those who helped me when I needed it.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. One of the coaches there became an important older brother figure in my life. One day in November of 2019 I was given the news that he was arrested for sexual assault crimes. This tragic event is what threw me headfirst into the deep end of a pool of depression. Only being 14 and hearing that someone you look up to did something as awful as child molestation truly shakes a person's view of the world. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. That it was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. What had happened with the coach at my gym was not my fault, and I could not let his mistakes control me. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was a huge part of what continued depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

My biggest role model in my life is my grandmother. My grandmother grew up in a low class family, moving homes every other year so her father could work to provide for his family. She eventually settled on a farm in the middle of nowhere Indiana. She was raised with the mindset of “you work so you can survive”. Growing up with hardly anything and then becoming a teen parent was very difficult for her. She did not have the support of her family when her daughter (my aunt) was born and she faced a lot of adversity during her pregnancy. She was 18 years old, unmarried, a mother, and was not in college, not exactly the epitome of the “American Dream” and the folks of her small town made their disapproval known to her and her family. My grandmother married her daughters father, the man whom she’s been married for the last 52 years, and began her journey to success. She was a stay at home mom while her husband, my grandpa, was working overtime in the coal mines of Evansville, Indiana. With now having 3 children and barely enough money to keep food on the table, my grandparents were often worried of what would happen to their family. She raised my mother and aunts as hard working women on the farm, working for everything they needed and wanted, showing them how to provide for their future families. My grandmother decided to further her education when her eldest daughter graduated high school and began her secondary education at Purdue University. My grandmother took up an obsession in business and finance, and took action upon her interests by enrolling in the University of Southern Indiana. After obtaining her Bachelors, she began work at a hospital, working with the administrative aspect of patient care. The hospital job was most definitely not what my grandmother wanted to do with her life, but it was an occupation that brought money home and put food on the table. After nearly a decade as the director of Human Resources at the hospital, she got hired in the banking world. Her talents with money and finance were quickly displayed as she rose to the top of her field. After just a few short years, my grandmother became the SR Human Resources director and face of the HR department for Fifth Third Bank. She was at the top of her field for over ten years before retiring at 60. With her hardworking perseverant character, my grandmother built herself a fortune that will last her the rest of her life. She grew up with nothing and can now, after working her tail off for years, travel the world, which is her passion. My grandmother inspires me to not let my background or anyone’s doubts determine my success in the professional world, especially as a woman. The example that has been set for me by my family, in particular my grandma, makes me excited for the future and for the professional world ahead.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. that it was something that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. that it was somethig that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. that it was something that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. That it was something that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. Over the months that I was in therapy, I had several realizations along the way. One of which is that none of it was my fault. Being bullied for two years was not on me, and I did not do anything wrong to deserve the harsh words from my teammates. I also discovered that being bullied did not define me. that it was somethig that was a part of my past and I did not have to live in fear because of it. In my therapy sessions, I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Mental health was a foreign subject until I began competitive gymnastics. Once there, I truly saw the effects of public school and the poor mental health status of the majority of the kids in the building. As I began to personally experience these troubles with depression and anxiety, the importance of self-care was brought to light and I began to find ways to manage my anxiety immediately. After beginning high school, I noticed an immense increase in anxiety and stress; causing a lack of motivation to complete the simplest of tasks, especially ones I had frequently enjoyed. My social battery declined and my willingness to help others was close to non-existent. Being the empathetic, outgoing, social butterfly that I am, these new behaviors became very concerning to my friends and family, not to mention myself. In February 2021, I began therapy, which helped the status of my mental state tremendously. I was taught what I was in charge of and that I was not responsible for everyone around me, I was conditioned to listen to what my body needed, physically and mentally, and built a support system for myself that I frequently go to for advice and help. My best friend has stepped into the main role of my support system and I am forever grateful to him for being my rock in the midst of the toughest of times. He has been there for me when no one else has and I do not know what I would have done, or if I would be here today if he was not around and there to help guide me through the chaos that is high school. Reaching out for help, being transparent with myself about my feelings, and going to therapy was scary of course, but I do not regret a single part of it. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people and quarantine was the main cause of my depression. Now that the main threat of Covid is over and not as restricting, my friends and family can see the difference in my daily moods and attitude toward life as a whole. Life is difficult sometimes, and that is not news to anyone, but learning and knowing how to cope with the challenges life throws at you will make growing up, attending college, and entering the workforce a lot easier. I strive to be a part of the support system for the people around me and to forever make mental health a priority.

Social work has appeared to be an easy choice of study for me. I have always had a heart for children and I have spent countless hours with them. From volunteering in the childcare ministry at my church, babysitting, and teaching kids gymnastics at a training facility, I have surrounded myself with children for years. Through all of this work and experience, I have first-hand seen how poor family life and a bad environment can affect a child's well-being and mental state. This is one of the reasons why I want to pursue a career in social work. I want to enter into the world of the foster care system and adoption because I want to be able to do my part in making sure children grow up in a healthy environment. One of the girls I had the opportunity to coach at the gymnastics facility was growing up in an unstable and unsafe environment. She, unfortunately, had an alcoholic dad that smoked very frequently. There was also suspicion that he was abusing her as well as her sibling. She would often show up to class smelling like smoke and would never smile, participate in any games, or engage with the other kids. At 9 years old, she had already experienced what an awful home life was like. By receiving this scholarship and furthering my education, I will be better prepared for a job in the Social Work field. I will use this background to help children stay in safer homes and have healthier surroundings. By working with children as often as I do, I do not have the extra time to go out and be a "normal" teenager. I dedicate and prioritize my time to my education and my current occupation, nannying. I work for a family with two-and-a-half-year-old triplets. The kids are full of energy and creativity and I love to see them growing up happy and healthy. Working for this family for the last 7 months, with these children, has further persuaded me into the field of social work, I want to do everything I can to insure that any child I get the opportunity to work with is just as happy as my triplets are. The foster care system is incredibly broken and I'd like to do my part in helping fix it in whatever way I can to make the lives of children safer, healthier, and happier.

Financial stability and organization have been one of the most important things my dad has taught me. Taking several economics and personal finance courses have broadened my understanding of these topics. The most important aspect of managing finances in my opinion is having a budget and sticking to it. Having a set budget weekly, monthly, or by semester, allows a student control over their activities with a barrier placed for them to not blow all of their hard-earned money within the first few weeks of being independent. Being in control of every decision you make is exciting, yes, but I strive to not forget that even though I can make my own choices without my parent's help, I should never forget the responsibility they have taught me over the last 17 years. Another reason financial management is so important is that it helps you build good habits. Once you’re out of college with a job and house of your own, knowing what to do with the money you have earned is just as important as earning the money in the first place. Most students my age are not as involved in the financial aspect of life as I am. Making sure that these students are aware of all of the necessities life holds gives a person the readiness to pursue a life of their own when the time comes. Being aware of how expensive living independently is provides a foundation for knowing how much one can spend, and where one can spend it. Having money is one thing, but knowing what to do with it is far more important. Controlling spending before gaining independence is another amazing lesson my dad has taught me. Growing up, and to this day, my father has encouraged me to not waste my money on unimportant items or useless articles of clothing. Needless to say, I have been raised differently than the majority of this generation. Becoming prepared to take care of myself in the future has been an enormous goal of my parents and me since a young age. Paying for college has been a big topic of discussion, my parents instilled in me the knowledge that working for what I want is the only way to attain the things I desire. Going to college and furthering my education has been my goal for years, and earning scholarships like this one is a way for me to accomplish that goal. Providing financial support for myself is of the utmost importance when wanting to graduate completely debt free. Not having student debt when I graduate from university is extremely important to me. Having fully taken care of all financial issues involved with college, while still in college, would allow me to focus on the career ahead of me and not look back on what I still need to do to fully complete my secondary education. An easy and beneficial way that my dad has taught me to gain financial growth is by investing money in the stock market. Owning little pieces of companies I am fond of helps create more independence before I leave the house and live on my own. Being in control of my finances from the beginning was important to my parents because of the level of responsibility it taught me when I was younger. Being smart with your cash has always been a lesson my parents sought to teach my siblings and me. Learning from your spending habits is one of the easiest ways to learn what you can save and what you can spend. My father has also taught me that saving as much as you can is vital to becoming financially supported in the present and future. Blowing all your money on fast food or clothing leaves you with little to no extra money that could come in handy in an emergency. My family has all taught me to save the majority of my earnings and then I can spend the “extras” that are left over. Having the "extras" are very convenient and fun, don't get me wrong, but having enough money saved up so that you can retire early is far more important than having the newest phone or the fanciest shoes. With the financial knowledge and independence my family has instilled in me, I plan to work as hard as I can, save as much as I can, and spend as little as I can so that I can retire before 65 and enjoy world traveling with the people I care about most of all.