As a graduate of Grand Valley State University’s Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I gained valuable skills and perspectives that continue to shape my life. After completing my undergraduate degree, I took a year off to consider my next steps. Initially, I wanted to pursue GVSU’s School Psychology program, but after two years of unsuccessful attempts at acceptance, I decided to explore other options. During this time, I worked as an instructional assistant at Fruitport Middle School. While I enjoyed working with students, I realized that a long-term career in education wasn’t the right fit for me. Although I considered pursuing education as an alternative to school psychology, I felt the curriculum didn’t align with my interests, and the additional time commitment was discouraging. I decided to look for a master’s program that would allow me to work in the medical field and pursue my passion for helping others. That’s when I discovered the Master of Social Work program at GVSU, which I am now excited to participate in. My journey has been deeply influenced by my personal experiences as a cancer survivor. At 18 months old, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). After remission, I relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor, requiring brain surgery, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. These experiences shaped who I am today and have instilled in me a deep understanding of the long-term effects of medical treatment, including learning disabilities and organ complications. Despite these challenges, I am determined to continue pursuing my goals. My parents’ resilience and support during my illness were critical to my survival. Despite the financial strain of medical bills and lost wages, they never gave up hope. Their strength inspires me to help others facing similar struggles.

As a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, I am committed to adhering to the ethical principles that guide our practice, especially in complex situations where balancing professional duties with client-centered care is crucial. One specific instance where I exemplified the core pillar of ethical practice occurred during my clinical internship at a community mental health center, where I was working with individuals experiencing severe trauma and chronic mental health issues. I was assigned a case involving a client who had disclosed suicidal ideation and had access to means of self-harm. At the same time, the client expressed deep concerns about confidentiality and the potential impact on their personal and professional relationships if their mental health struggles were revealed. The client specifically feared that disclosing their suicidal thoughts would damage their reputation, leading to feelings of shame and isolation. This created a complex ethical dilemma for me, as I had to balance my responsibility to maintain confidentiality with my ethical obligation to ensure the client’s safety. Recognizing that my primary ethical duty was to protect the client’s well-being, I took immediate action. I knew that confidentiality is a cornerstone of social work practice, but it has limitations when a client’s life is at risk. I sought supervision from my clinical supervisor to discuss the dilemma and ensure that I was adhering to ethical guidelines. Together, we reviewed the risks and benefits of breaking confidentiality, and my supervisor reinforced that protecting the client’s life took precedence over maintaining confidentiality in this situation. Armed with this guidance, I met with the client to discuss a safety plan. I emphasized the importance of their safety and explained that, while I valued their trust, I could not ignore the potential risk of harm. I worked with the client to develop a crisis intervention plan, which included immediate access to mental health professionals and resources. I also encouraged the client to involve their family in the process, explaining that support from loved ones would be critical in their recovery. This process allowed the client to be an active participant in their own care, which helped mitigate some of their fears around losing control over their situation. After the plan was in place, I informed my supervisor and other healthcare team members to ensure coordinated care and ongoing support for the client. I also connected the client with additional mental health resources for continued care after our sessions. Throughout this process, I remained empathetic to the client’s concerns, ensuring they felt supported and not judged by my decision to intervene. In this situation, I demonstrated ethical practice by prioritizing the client’s safety while being transparent about the need for intervention. I exceeded expectations by not only following ethical guidelines but also by involving the client in the decision-making process, respecting their autonomy, and providing ongoing support. This approach helped preserve trust in the therapeutic relationship while ensuring the client’s immediate safety. The impact of my actions was significant. The client expressed relief that they were not alone in managing their crisis, and they felt more empowered to seek help in the future. The healthcare team appreciated my commitment to ethical decision-making, as well as my collaborative approach to addressing the crisis. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of ethical practice in social work, emphasizing the need to make decisions that prioritize clients' well-being while maintaining dignity and trust.

As a Master of Social Work (MSW) student, I am deeply interested in the intersection of healthcare and social services. Social workers play a crucial role in addressing not only the physical health needs of individuals but also the emotional, social, and psychological factors that impact overall well-being. This essay explores several key areas within healthcare and social work, highlighting how they align with my passion for advocacy, social justice, and holistic care. One area where social work is integral to healthcare is medical social work. Medical social workers support patients and families in hospitals and clinics, helping them navigate complex health challenges. They provide counseling, assist with crisis intervention, and connect patients with resources to address emotional, financial, and social issues. This field appeals to me because it offers direct patient interaction and the opportunity to alleviate the stress that often accompanies medical treatment, enabling patients to make informed decisions about their care. Another area of interest is mental health and psychiatric social work. Social workers in this field provide therapy and support to individuals facing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. As mental health becomes increasingly recognized as a vital part of overall health, social workers play a key role in reducing stigma and expanding access to care. This aligns with my desire to empower individuals through counseling and advocacy, helping them manage their mental health and improve their quality of life. Public health social work also holds significant appeal, particularly for those like me who are committed to addressing health disparities. Public health social workers focus on community health, disease prevention, and health education. They often work on initiatives that address the social determinants of health, such as access to care and environmental factors that impact well-being. This field offers the opportunity to advocate for policies and programs that promote health equity and reduce systemic inequalities. In addition, palliative and hospice care is an area where social workers provide critical end-of-life support. They assist patients and families in navigating the emotional and practical challenges of terminal illness, emphasizing dignity and comfort. This holistic approach to care is deeply meaningful to me, as it focuses on supporting individuals during one of life’s most challenging times. In conclusion, social work offers diverse opportunities within healthcare to make a meaningful impact. Whether in medical settings, mental health, public health, or end-of-life care, social workers are essential in improving health outcomes and supporting individuals through life’s most difficult challenges. As I continue my studies, I am excited to contribute to this vital field.

As a graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I have learned new ideas and concepts that I could apply to my life after college. After graduation, I took a year off from school. I am pursuing a Master’s of Social Work degree at Grand Valley. So far, I have loved the Social Work program here at Grand Valley. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me, especially during my undergrad and now graduate school. I am still learning and determined to achieve my goals in life. Through the beliefs and values that I have grown from my environment and through my experiences, I am determined to achieve my goals in life, even through the most difficult hardships. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles, but that does not mean that those obstacles are stopping me from what I want to achieve in life. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a low chance of surviving. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event that is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Furthermore, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like Grand Valley State University pursuing her Master’s degree. My journey has taught me the importance of outpatient counseling. Outpatient counseling provides critical support to individuals and families dealing with health crises without the need for hospitalization. It offers a lifeline, much like the one my parents received. With a Master’s in Social Work, I aim to provide that same support to others. Thank you for considering my application for the Autumn Davis Memorial Scholarship. This opportunity will help me continue my education and support my mission to assist others through outpatient counseling, just as my family was supported during our most challenging times.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and the DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, and more (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). My name is Arianna Kraljic, and I am a rising second-year graduate student at Grand Valley State University, majoring in Social Work. I have not yet worked or volunteered in a mental health setting, but my personal experiences with mental health have deeply influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor, was important for my mental health. These experiences have shaped my beliefs about the importance of mental health support. I have seen firsthand how crucial it is to have someone to talk to, someone who can help you navigate through life's challenges. This has made me more empathetic and understanding in my relationships. I have learned to listen more and offer support to friends and family who are struggling. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it. My goal is to become a mental health social worker who can make a positive impact on the world by helping young people navigate their mental health challenges. I want to provide the same kind of support that I received, to help others reduce their anxiety and stress, and to help them see their lives from a different perspective. I believe that by working with adolescents and younger children, I can help them develop the tools they need to manage their mental health and lead healthier, happier lives. In conclusion, my personal experiences with mental health have deeply influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. I am committed to making a positive impact on the world through my career in mental health, and I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for the Autumn Davis Memorial Scholarship. Thank you for considering my application.

At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. After graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I love the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. My current position is as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one-on-one with my sixth-grade student with learning and physical disabilities rewarding because I have disabilities and can connect with him. The student excels in his general education classes and electives, despite those disabilities. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting with writing and reading assignments. Being able to help a student with disabilities reminds me of how grateful I am for the support I received in elementary and high school. After being admitted into the MSW program, I plan to work part-time through Grand Valley’s K-12 Connect tutoring program. This program is entirely online and would allow me to create my work schedule around my classes—a huge benefit. Even though I will be working during this time, tuition, bills, groceries, and personal expenses add up. I want to continue my classes without the worry and stress of knowing how I will be able to pay for them and my everyday needs. I am eager and excited to begin this program this fall of 2023 and return to Grand Valley State University. I am persistent and a hard worker, and I hope to receive the Social Work Scholarship.

As a graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I learned new ideas and concepts that I could apply to my life after college. After graduation, I took a year off from school. I wanted to pursue Grand Valley State University's School Psychology program; yet after two years of attempting to be accepted, I decided that it was time to find a new master’s program. During that year of deciding, I worked as an instructional assistant at Fruitport Middle School. While I enjoyed working in a school, I did not see it as a long-term career. I considered education as an alternative to School Psychology, but I was not impressed by the curriculum and the additional time to complete the program. I wanted to work more in the medical field, and I wanted to find a master’s program that fits my needs. Now I am pursuing a Master’s of Social Work degree at Grand Valley. So far, I have loved the Social Work program here at Grand Valley. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me, especially during my undergrad and now graduate school. I am still learning and determined to achieve my goals in life. Through the beliefs and values that I have grown from my environment and through my experiences, I am determined to achieve my goals in life, even through the most difficult hardships. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles, but that does not mean that those obstacles are stopping me from what I want to achieve in life. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a low chance of surviving. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event that is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Furthermore, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like Grand Valley State University pursuing her Master’s degree.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and also connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, financial services, housing, etc. (pgs. 299- 309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have worked as a behavioral technician for the Shoreline Center LLC in Grand Haven, MI. I enjoyed some aspects of working with this company, but the other parts were too stressful for my liking. The management was not well organized and I felt that some days I was overworked. Overall, I valued the experience of knowing what career I may not want to pursue. In spite of this experience, I pursued a position at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant. I loved working at the job, working one-on-one with my student. Although this was a more positive experience, I felt that I was not receiving enough out of it. I wanted to be challenged more, yet not to the level that I had as a behavioral technician. I pushed through the end of the year at Fruitport and ended my position there due to my pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work. I acquired a position with GVSU K-12 Connect, which I had previously worked with. I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and also connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, financial services, housing, etc. (pgs. 299- 309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I have worked as a behavioral technician for the Shoreline Center LLC in Grand Haven, MI. I enjoyed some aspects of working with this company, but the other parts were too stressful for my liking. The management was not well organized and I felt that some days I was overworked. Overall, I valued the experience of knowing what career I may not want to pursue. In spite of this experience, I pursued a position at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant. I loved working at the job, working one-on-one with my student. Although this was a more positive experience, I felt that I was not receiving enough out of it. I wanted to be challenged more, yet not to the level that I had as a behavioral technician. I pushed through the end of the year at Fruitport and ended my position there due to my pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work. I acquired a position with GVSU K-12 Connect, which I had previously worked with. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and also connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, financial services, housing, etc. (pgs. 299- 309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I have worked as a behavioral technician for the Shoreline Center LLC in Grand Haven, MI. I enjoyed some aspects of working with this company, but the other parts were too stressful for my liking. The management was not well organized and I felt that some days I was overworked. Overall, I valued the experience of knowing what career I may not want to pursue. In spite of this experience, I pursued a position at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant. I loved working at the job, working one-on-one with my student. Although this was a more positive experience, I felt that I was not receiving enough out of it. I wanted to be challenged more, yet not to the level that I had as a behavioral technician. I pushed through the end of the year at Fruitport and ended my position there due to my pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work. I acquired a position with GVSU K-12 Connect, which I had previously worked with. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

As a graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I learned new ideas and concepts that I could apply to my life after college. After graduation, I took a year off from school. I wanted to pursue GVSU’s School Psychology program; yet after two years of attempting to be accepted, I decided that it was time to find a new master’s program. During that year of deciding, I worked as an instructional assistant at Fruitport Middle School. While I enjoyed working in a school, I did not see it as a long-term career. I considered education as an alternative to School Psychology, but I was not impressed by the curriculum and the additional time to complete the program. I wanted to work more in the medical field, and I wanted to find a master’s program that fits my needs. Now I am pursuing a Master’s of Social Work degree at Grand Valley. So far, I have loved the Social Work program here at Grand Valley. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me, especially during my undergrad and now graduate school. I am still learning and determined to achieve my goals in life. Through the beliefs and values that I have grown from my environment and through my experiences, I am determined to achieve my goals in life, even through the most difficult hardships. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles, but that does not mean that those obstacles are stopping me from what I want to achieve in life. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a low chance of surviving. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event that is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Furthermore, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like Grand Valley State University pursuing her Master’s degree.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, etc. (pgs. 299-309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

As a graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I learned new ideas and concepts that I could apply to my life after college. After graduation, I took a year off from school. I wanted to pursue GVSU’s School Psychology program; yet after two years of attempting to be accepted, I decided that it was time to find a new master’s program. During that year of deciding, I worked as an instructional assistant at Fruitport Middle School. While I enjoyed working in a school, I did not see it as a long-term career. I considered education as an alternative to School Psychology, but I was not impressed by the curriculum and the additional time to complete the program. I wanted to work more in the medical field, and I wanted to find a master’s program that fits my needs. Now I am pursuing a Master’s of Social Work degree at Grand Valley. So far, I have loved the Social Work program here at Grand Valley. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me, especially during my undergrad and now graduate school. I am still learning and determined to achieve my goals in life. Through the beliefs and values that I have grown from my environment and through my experiences, I am determined to achieve my goals in life, even through the most difficult hardships. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles, but that does not mean that those obstacles are stopping me from what I want to achieve in life. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a low chance of surviving. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event that is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Furthermore, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like Grand Valley State University pursuing her Master’s degree.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more, such as mental health issues such as anxiety. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and also connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, financial services, housing, etc. (pgs. 299- 309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have worked as a behavioral technician for the Shoreline Center LLC in Grand Haven, MI. I enjoyed some aspects of working with this company, but the other parts were too stressful for my liking. The management was not well organized and I felt that some days I was overworked. Overall, I valued the experience of knowing what career I may not want to pursue. In spite of this experience, I pursued a position at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant. I loved working at the job, working one-on-one with my student. Although this was a more positive experience, I felt that I was not receiving enough out of it. I wanted to be challenged more, yet not to the level that I had as a behavioral technician. I pushed through the end of the year at Fruitport and ended my position there due to my pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work. I acquired a position with GVSU K-12 Connect, which I had previously worked with. I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

Mental health social workers are an important part of the mental health community. These experienced social workers work with various populations and areas. Social workers use evidence-based practice and DSM-5, and depending on the specific area of practice, sometimes work with the law. Social workers in this field may work in an interdisciplinary setting, working with nurses, doctors, schools, etc (pgs. 321-327, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have not worked or volunteered in a mental health setting. I have had sessions with a licensed mental health social worker. My counselor helped me reduce my anxiety and stress in my overall life. Even if one of my sessions involved me talking about the positive aspects of my life, I was able to talk with someone besides family or friends and was able to get a different perspective. At times, it is nice to have someone who has little detail of your life give you a perspective on what you should be doing. You may be able to take a step back and analyze what you might want to do differently with your life or change who you are spending your life with. Counseling, even at the level I had with my counselor was important for my mental health. I would like to work with adolescents or younger children with mental health issues. From my experience, it was not easy, and still is not, growing up with mental health issues. For adolescents, having mental illnesses on top of trying to understand how their body is changing, can be overwhelming. Not to mention the social environment that kids face during adolescence. Counselors can look at how their client’s biopsychosocial environment may affect their mental health and how they may be able to help improve it.

A medical or health social worker aids their clients through many different areas. Social workers in this field help their clients understand their doctor’s diagnoses and preventive care. Additionally, social workers will help their clients understand their medications: how, when, and what the medication is treating, and how they may be affected by the prescription. Medical social workers explain procedures, medications, etc., and also connect their clients to resources, such as mental health services, transportation, financial services, housing, etc. (pgs. 299- 309, Dubois and Miley, 2019). Growing up, I knew I was not like other kids. I knew I had less energy, and I had to face more challenges than others. At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, AML for short. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant; I survived. I have learned to overcome these obstacles, such as various health issues that arose after my treatment, such as kidney disease, heart problems, a learning disability, and much more. I do not let my health issues stop me from my goals in life, I view them as a strength of mine. If I can overcome these challenges, what is there to stop me? I have worked as a behavioral technician for the Shoreline Center LLC in Grand Haven, MI. I enjoyed some aspects of working with this company, but the other parts were too stressful for my liking. The management was not well organized and I felt that some days I was overworked. Overall, I valued the experience of knowing what career I may not want to pursue. In spite of this experience, I pursued a position at Fruitport Middle School as an Instructional Assistant. I loved working at the job, working one-on-one with my student. Although this was a more positive experience, I felt that I was not receiving enough out of it. I wanted to be challenged more, yet not to the level that I had as a behavioral technician. I pushed through the end of the year at Fruitport and ended my position there due to my pursuit of a Master’s of Social Work. I acquired a position with GVSU K-12 Connect, which I had previously worked with. I may not have experience working or volunteering in this area, but I do have experience with social workers working in this field. Those social workers helped my parents make crucial decisions about my medical well-being. I wish to be one of those social workers who help parents make critical decisions in the medical field. I am interested in working with pediatrics or adults. I have worked with kids of all ages working as a behavioral technician and an instructional assistant at a middle school. I would prefer to work with kids one-on-one. I would not mind working with adults, as I am open to expanding my experience with other populations. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life.

I graduated from Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College, with a bachelor’s in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. As a student at Grand Valley, I volunteered as a tutor with GVSU K-12 Connect. I fell in love working with the program, and before long, I was working as a part-time tutor. Before graduation, I secured a position with the Shoreline Center, LLC, an applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, and speech center. As an ABA technician from May 2022 to August 2022, I found the work challenging and rewarding. One of the cases involved a younger child, and even after a few weeks of using positive behavioral therapy to work with that child, I began to see behavioral progress. It was also an opportunity to see children grow and improve their behaviors using positive reinforcement tools. Post graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I love the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I would get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. My current position is as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one-on-one with my sixth-grade student with learning and physical disabilities rewarding because I have disabilities and can connect with him. The student excels in general education classes and electives, despite his disabilities. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting with writing and reading assignments. Being able to help a student with disabilities reminds me of how grateful I am for the support I received in elementary and high school. As satisfying as this work has been, I support more than one student. That is one reason I wish to study public administration—a field promoting positive community changes. I want to be able to help advance policies that help minorities struggling with medical issues, mental health issues, and disabilities. I wish to aid others with disabilities similar to mine in communities that lack the resources to assist them. Public administrators instruct government agencies on how to design programs and create public policy. With this role, I could assist minority groups that need general mental health, medical, and disability resources. I would be able to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. As a public administrator, I could create a dialogue with the public and effect change to make a difference. Learning and other physical disabilities are challenging obstacles, but the student can thrive with the proper support and environment. My present work interacting with one student with a disability supports an additional aspiration to work not only with students with disabilities but also with those who struggle academically for other reasons. The stress of attempting to do well in school, along with not being able to participate in activities with peers because of a disability, feels restricting and isolating and can be disheartening. Thus, practicing inclusivity inside and outside the classroom is crucial. My graduation from Grand Valley State University, in the Frederik Meijer Honors College, was accomplished in 3 ½ years through perseverance, hard work, and dedication. I will apply these qualities to the Master of Public Administration Graduate Program. Please consider me a candidate for this scholarship.

A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. Social, political, and economic justice is equal opportunities, rights, and the right to work and live. I can advance social justice by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. As a result, I can help to improve people’s quality of life. This will allow them to become more equitable with the rest of society. In October 2002, at eighteen months old, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. I survived after brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures—effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. In middle school, I struggled with math and was given help from the resources at my school. However, I was sent to a building separate from my classmates, where I was instructed in isolation and received a different type of support than my peers in the general education classroom. Being in the resource room limited my social interactions with peers and my ability to participate in educational activities in the school. That experience did not give me an equal opportunity in my learning environment. Looking back now, in my work with a middle schooler, I see the benefit of being included in a general education classroom, no matter what the student faces. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to learn about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

Generational wealth is not available to everyone. Instead, this type of wealth is passed down throughout a family timeline. As a result, those who struggle financially do not have the luxury of generational wealth. Generational wealth is about money and the assets the family has acquired over generations. When I think of generational wealth, I think of English families with mansions and maids. I do not always think of financial assets such as investing in education as creating generational wealth. Building generational wealth starts with investing in education, stocks, properties, etc. Investing in education is one investment that I want to continue pursuing. I have been accepted into Grand Valley State University's School of Social Work Program for Fall 2023. I was a student at Grand Valley as an undergrad starting in 2019 and graduated in the Spring of 2022. My parents helped me financially throughout my undergraduate years. However, as an incoming graduate student, I am financially independent. I have been lucky enough to have had my parents help pay for my undergraduate tuition; others do not have that privilege. Looking back and looking at where I am today, I would consider my family having generational wealth. My undergraduate education was paid for, I inherited my father's car, and living at home rent-free is a luxury. I would not have considered my family having generational wealth in high school or as an undergraduate student. Nevertheless, as an incoming graduate student, I know now that without my parent's support, not only financially, I would not be where I am today. I plan to achieve my generational wealth by continuing to make investments, for example, buying a house. Generational wealth will not come quickly, but I am determined and persistent. If I want to buy a home or a new car, I must continue saving and budgeting my money. I believe that generational wealth starts with being smart with your finances. Unfortunately, being smart with money requires some financial education, and some may not have access to that type of education. As said before, I know that I am privileged to have family care for me so much, being able to go to grad school and being financially educated by my parents. However, I am on my own now, an independent young adult starting in the world. I am ready to take on this challenge. Please consider me for the @normandiealise #GenWealth Scholarship.

As a graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. I survived after brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles, but that does not mean that those obstacles are stopping me from what I want to achieve in life. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic and psychologically breaking event. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter that graduated from such an outstanding university like Grand Valley State University, and I am proud of that. Social, political, and economic justice is equal opportunities, rights, and the right to work and live. I can advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I can help to improve people’s quality of life. This will allow their lives to become more equitable. In middle school, I struggled with math and was given help from the resources at my school. However, I was sent out to a different building, separate from my classmates. While in the other building, I was instructed in isolation and received a different type of support than my peers in a general education classroom. Being in the resource room limited my social interactions with peers and my ability to participate in educational activities in the classroom. From my experience in middle school, I was not given an equal opportunity in my learning environment. Looking back to my education from middle school to now, where I am working with a middle schooler, I see the benefit of being included in a general education classroom, no matter what the student faces.

A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

I graduated from Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College, with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. Before graduation, I secured a position with Shoreline Center, LLC, an applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, and speech center. As an ABA technician from May 2022 to August 2022, I found the work challenging and rewarding. My clients ranged in age from 1st graders to sophomores in high school, and I loved the experience of working with different ages. One case involved a younger child, and even after a few weeks of using positive behavioral therapy to work with that child, I began to see behavioral progress. Working with older children helped me to feel more connected because of how their disabilities affected their ability to be independent. It was also an opportunity to see children grow and improve their behaviors using positive reinforcement tools. After graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I love the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. My current position is as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one-on-one with my sixth-grade student with learning and physical disabilities rewarding because I have disabilities, and I can connect with him. The student excels in his general education classes and electives, despite those disabilities. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting with writing and reading assignments. Being able to help a student with disabilities reminds me of how grateful I am for the support I received in elementary and high school. Learning and other physical disabilities are challenging obstacles, but students can thrive with the proper support and environment. My present work interacting with one student with a disability supports an additional aspiration to work not only with students with disabilities but also with those who, for other reasons, struggle academically. The stress of attempting to do well in school and being unable to participate in activities with peers because of a disability feels restricting and isolating and can be disheartening. Thus, practicing inclusivity inside and outside the classroom is crucial. In October 2002, at eighteen months old, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. I survived after brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures—effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. Social, political, and economic justice is equal opportunities, rights, and the right to work and live. I can advance social justice by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I can help to improve people’s quality of life. This will allow them to become more equitable with the rest of society. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

I dream that the version of my future self will be happy.

I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. After being admitted into the MSW program, I plan to work part-time through Grand Valley’s K-12 Connect tutoring program. This program is entirely online and would allow me to create my work schedule around my classes—a huge benefit. As for my personal life, I plan not to overwork myself and to let myself take weekends off from work and study. In my free time, I create and sell jewelry, and in the spring and summer, I attend craft shows to showcase and sell my work. I spend time with my friends and family when I am not busy crafting. When the occasion comes up, I enjoy attending concerts and swing dancing with my significant other and friends. My work, education, and personal life balance would be similar to my last semester of undergraduate studies. At that time, I worked part-time through GVSU K-12 Connect and took classes full-time. I still had time in my day for myself and to spend time with friends and family. I value not overworking myself to burnout. Consequently, I have created a plan to live a balanced lifestyle between my education, work life, and personal life. I plan to take 12 credits per semester to have time for myself and to have time outside my schoolwork.

I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. Social, political, and economic justice is equal opportunities, rights, and the right to work and live. I can advance social justice by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. As a result, I can help to improve people’s quality of life. This will allow them to become more equitable with the rest of society. In middle school, I struggled with math and was given help from the resources at my school. However, I was sent to a building separate from my classmates, where I was instructed in isolation and received a different type of support than my peers in the general education classroom. Being in the resource room limited my social interactions with peers and my ability to participate in educational activities in the school. That experience did not give me an equal opportunity in my learning environment. Looking back now, in my work with a middle schooler, I see the benefit of being included in a general education classroom, no matter what the student faces. My work, education, and personal life balance would be similar to my last semester of undergraduate studies. At that time, I worked part-time through GVSU K-12 Connect and took classes full-time. I still had time in my day for myself and to spend time with friends and family. I value not overworking myself to burnout. Consequently, I have created a plan to live a balanced lifestyle between my education, work life, and personal life. I plan to take 12 credits per semester to have time for myself and to have time outside my schoolwork. I am eager and excited to begin this program this fall of 2023 and return to Grand Valley State University. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to learn about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. It took a lot of work to go home with only a month or two left of classes. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to learn about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve my goals. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals. My work, education, and personal life balance would be similar to my last semester of undergraduate studies. At that time, I worked part-time through GVSU K-12 Connect and took classes full-time. I still had time in my day for myself and to spend time with friends and family. I value not overworking myself to burnout. Consequently, I have created a plan to live a balanced lifestyle between my education, work life, and personal life. I plan to take 12 credits per semester to have time for myself and to have time outside my schoolwork.

I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. After being admitted into the MSW program, I plan to work part-time through Grand Valley’s K-12 Connect tutoring program. This program is entirely online and would allow me to create my work schedule around my classes—a huge benefit. As for my personal life, I plan not to overwork myself and to let myself take weekends off from work and study. In my free time, I create and sell jewelry, and in the spring and summer, I attend craft shows to showcase and sell my work. I spend time with my friends and family when I am not busy crafting. When the occasion comes up, I enjoy attending concerts and going swing dancing with my significant other and friends. My work, education, and personal life balance would be similar to my last semester of undergraduate studies. At that time, I worked part-time through GVSU K-12 Connect and took classes full-time. I still had time in my day for myself and to spend time with friends and family. I value not overworking myself to burnout. Consequently, I have created a plan to live a balanced lifestyle between my education, work life, and personal life. I plan to take 12 credits per semester to have time for myself and to have time outside my schoolwork. Additionally, I have sought graduate assistantships to fund my course load and professional development. By planning out my courses, pursuing graduate assistantships, and being frugal with my finances, I know that I will still be able to manage my wellness. Personal wellness is essential to me because it can affect my overall health and quality of life. I know that as a young adult, I can manage my life so that I can live comfortably while taking graduate courses at Grand Valley State University.

I am motivated to pursue a master’s degree in social work beginning in the fall of 2023 because I aspire to work with minority individuals. Specifically, I wish to work with those with mental and physical disabilities. I have spent the year since I graduated from GVSU working and investigating the best path for my career advancement. My research has led me to the MSW program, which will prepare me to advocate for social justice, remove barriers, break down discrimination, and help to provide inclusive environments for everyone. In addition, I will be trained to recognize disabilities and disadvantages, address them compassionately, and provide for change. A social problem I am particularly concerned with is the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources. This has brought me to pursue a career that addresses this issue because so many people have suffered from poor mental health, either from isolation, from seeing friends, family, or colleagues become incredibly sick or pass, or from having to go through sickness themselves. Since COVID-19, medical, mental health, and other disability resources have become depleted, and those who need those resources have struggled more than ever. I aim to become one of those resources to which individuals in need can go. Medical issues, mental health issues, or a disability should not restrict anyone from the resources needed for their well-being. I can help alleviate the shortage of medical, mental health, and other disability resources by becoming a social worker. Social workers identify problems and learn ways to resolve those problems. I am a problem solver because when a problem is presented to me, I look at all my options, and if I cannot find a solution, I investigate other options. Social, political, and economic justice is equal opportunities, rights, and the right to work and live. I can advance social justice by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. As a result, I can help to improve people’s quality of life. This will allow them to become more equitable with the rest of society. In middle school, I struggled with math and was given help from the resources at my school. However, I was sent to a building separate from my classmates, where I was instructed in isolation and received a different type of support than my peers in the general education classroom. Being in the resource room limited my social interactions with peers and my ability to participate in educational activities in the school. That experience did not give me an equal opportunity in my learning environment. Looking back now, in my work with a middle schooler, I see the benefit of being included in a general education classroom, no matter what the student faces.

I graduated from Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College, with a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. Before graduation, I secured a position with Shoreline Center, LLC, an applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, and speech center. As an ABA technician from May 2022 to August 2022, I found the work challenging and rewarding. My clients ranged in age from 1st graders to sophomores in high school, and I loved the experience of working with different ages. One case involved a younger child, and even after a few weeks of using positive behavioral therapy to work with that child, I began to see behavioral progress. Working with older children helped me to feel more connected because of how their disabilities affected their ability to be independent. After graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I love the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. My current position is as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one-on-one with my sixth-grade student with learning and physical disabilities rewarding because I have disabilities, and I can connect with him. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting with writing and reading assignments. Learning and other physical disabilities are challenging, but students can thrive with the proper support and environment. My present work interacting with one student with a disability supports an additional aspiration to work not only with students with disabilities but also with those who, for other reasons, struggle academically. The stress of attempting to do well in school and being unable to participate in activities with peers because of a disability feels restricting and isolating and can be disheartening. In October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer at eighteen months old. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. I survived after brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures—effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. In March 2020, COVID-19 was on its way to Michigan. I was a freshman at Grand Valley, and my last semester as a freshman was ending. As someone in the high-risk group, I had to go home. The following year I spent in isolation at home with my parents. I did not work, I did not see friends, and I did not leave the house. I felt alone and isolated from the world, even with my parents and animals to comfort me. During this time, I continued to take online classes. When winter registration began, to keep myself busy, I opted to take seventeen credits, which was a heavy load, but I managed to pass every class. I have learned to work through the problems in life by adapting when I encounter a barrier. I’ve learned that life doesn’t stop throwing things at me; that’s just life, and I’ve learned I have to face those problems to resolve them. As a young adult, I have had to become educated about my health and how to deal with health obstacles to achieve what I want. I have created a plan for my mental well-being, and keeping myself busy is part of my plan. I enjoy keeping myself active with my personal life, work, and educational goals.

As a Graduate of Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. Post graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I loved the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I would get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. My current position is as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one on one with my sixth-grade student with learning and physical disabilities rewarding because I have disabilities and I can connect with them. The student excels in their general education classes and electives, despite their disabilities. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting with writing and reading assignments. Being able to help a student with disabilities reminds me of how grateful I was for the support I received in elementary and high school. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. I have learned as the years have gone by that my parents are not perfect, as my young self grew into a young woman, that they too have gone through many hardships, some that most people do not have to suffer through. My parents had to watch me grow ill as my cancer overtook me. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through.

I am a Grand Valley State University, Frederik Meijer Honors College Graduate with a bachelor’s degree in both Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. As part of the degrees, I have taken courses in research methods, statistics, psychology, behavior modification, and child development. These courses form the foundation for the Master of Science and Specialist in School Psychology Graduate Program for which I plan to apply. I applied to this program a year ago, and during the interview process, it was recommended that I acquire more in-person experience working with children. As a result, I have been pursuing the suggested experience. Before graduation, I secured a position with the Shoreline Center, LLC, an applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy, and speech center. The job I had from May 2022 to August 2022, as an ABA technician was challenging and rewarding. I loved the experience of working with children of all ages on the autism spectrum. In one of the cases I involved a younger child, and even after a few weeks of positive behavioral therapy with that child, I began to see the progress in their behaviors that they had made from my working with them. My clients ranged in age, and I truly loved the experience of working with different ages. It helped me decide which age group I feel comfortable working with. I felt more connected with my older clients because of how their disabilities affected their ability to be independent. I felt that my intense background in psychology helped me tremendously to succeed with my clients. My supervisors supported me with any problems or questions I had, and I learned much about myself and my future career goals. It was a fantastic opportunity to see children grow and improve their behaviors using positive reinforcement tools. I saw my clients grow by implementing positive behavior therapy and increasing wanted behaviors. Post graduation, to broaden myself, I pursued an academic position. I loved the idea of working in an interdisciplinary setting in a school where I get to work with teachers, parents, children, and other professionals. I am working as an Instructional Aide at Fruitport Community Middle School. I have found working one on one with my students with special needs rewarding because I have disabilities and I can connect with them. I am working with a sixth grader who has some learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Despite these obstacles, the student is excelling in their general education classes and electives. I support this student throughout the day by following him to his classes and assisting in writing and reading assignments aloud for him. Being able to help a student with disabilities throughout their day reminds me of how grateful I was for the support I received in elementary and high school. Learning disabilities and other physical disabilities are challenging obstacles, yet with the proper support and environment, students can thrive. This interaction with one student with a disability supports my aspiration to work not just with students with disabilities, but those who struggle academically for other reasons. Challenges may seem impossible, but success is possible with the appropriate assistance. My ability to draw from my experiences with my disabilities, my accommodations, and my accomplishments in overcoming many obstacles gives me a unique insight into these students' challenges and remarkable potential. For instance, the other week, the student that I am working with did not know where an assignment that they had completed was. I understood and have felt the same about their frustration and anxiety about the situation, as I have experienced similar situations. The assignment turned out to be passed back at the end of the day, and the stress of doing well and getting good grades on top of having a disability can be a lot. This student’s disability does not allow them to participate in certain activities, such as sports. This student, however, really enjoys basketball but unfortunately cannot play traditional basketball. Not being able to participate in activities that other peers are doing feels restricting and can be isolating. In middle school, I was sent to a resource room to be helped with my math. I felt isolated from the rest of the class, and I was not getting the interaction with my peers that I would be getting if I were in the classroom. It is crucial to be inclusive in classrooms despite disabilities. I know that I can make a difference in a student’s life, and that is why I want to continue my education to become a School Psychologist. My graduation from Grand Valley State University in the Frederik Meijer Honors College was accomplished in 3 ½ years through perseverance, hard work, determination, and dedication. These attributes led me to succeed at every level of my education. I will bring my persistence to achieve when I am accepted into the School Psychology program. I am an exceptional applicant for the Master of Science and Specialist in School Psychology Graduate Program. Please consider me as a candidate for this scholarship, as someone with an extensive psychological background, experience working as an ABA technician and as a school instructional aide, and a vocation to improve children’s academic and behavioral achievement.

As a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. As a freshman, I had joined Grand Valley’s ChemoCare club. I am still involved in the Comic Book Club. In my career, I want to have the ability to help patients fight and manage certain diseases, chronic pain, and even cancers. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to be a model of what a cancer survivor can achieve. I want to be able to show others who are going through hardships that there is still hope for a future and that is not something to give up on. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like GVSU and I am proud of that. Please consider me, Arianna Kraljic, as a candidate for the Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarships.

What keeps me thinking that I can make such pieces? The beads mesmerize me--from a small seed to cherry-sized beads, from diamond to teardrop-shaped, from rippled to multifaceted textures, and from pearlescent to sky blue. Although the beauty of the beads entrances me, it also stimulates me into thinking of what I could make that could be touched and worn. I glide through the forest of beads to their stringing to the weight and balance of each necklace, each bracelet, each earring, to the dream of how each piece of jewelry might be worn. Once I fall sway to the lure of the beads, I follow them through to their intended destination. When I make jewelry, I am not aware that time exists. From when I sit down to work on my creations to when I am forced to end, many hours might have passed without my awareness. I put myself into every decision, every action. These stunning pieces indirectly express who I am and that is shared with people when they wear what I have made. Beading takes time and effort, but hard work pays off and eventually leads to success. Hard work does not have to be miserable work; it can be captivating work. As my jewelry business has grown, I have grown also. Check out my shop on Etsy: ariksjewelry https://www.etsy.com/shop/AriKsJewelry

1) American Eagle 2) Target 3) Amazon

As a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. As a freshman, I had joined Grand Valley’s ChemoCare club. I am still involved in the Comic Book Club. In my career, I want to have the ability to help patients fight and manage certain diseases, chronic pain, and even cancers. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to be a model of what a cancer survivor can achieve. I want to be able to show others who are going through hardships that there is still hope for a future and that is not something to give up on. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like GVSU and I am proud of that. Please consider me, Arianna Kraljic, as a candidate for the Berkowitz Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.

As a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. As a freshman, I had joined Grand Valley’s ChemoCare club. I am still involved in the Comic Book Club. In my career, I want to have the ability to help patients fight and manage certain diseases, chronic pain, and even cancers. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to be a model of what a cancer survivor can achieve. I want to be able to show others who are going through hardships that there is still hope for a future and that is not something to give up on. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like GVSU and I am proud of that. Please consider me, Arianna Kraljic, as a candidate for the Berkowitz Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.

As a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. As a freshman, I had joined Grand Valley’s ChemoCare club. I am still involved in the Comic Book Club. In my career, I want to have the ability to help patients fight and manage certain diseases, chronic pain, and even cancers. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to be a model of what a cancer survivor can achieve. I want to be able to show others who are going through hardships that there is still hope for a future and that is not something to give up on. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like GVSU and I am proud of that. Please consider me, Arianna Kraljic, as a candidate for the Berkowitz Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.

As a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College, I ask myself every day, “How did I achieve the goal of college, to say nothing of being accepted into the Honors College?” At eighteen months old, in October 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. I am a survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7). I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August 2003. Following brain surgery, radiation, and a subsequent bone marrow transplant, I have survived. I now have the responsibility to understand the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures, effects such as a learning disability and kidney, heart, and other numerous conditions. I am learning who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. As a freshman, I had joined Grand Valley’s ChemoCare club. I am still involved in the Comic Book Club. In my career, I want to have the ability to help patients fight and manage certain diseases, chronic pain, and even cancers. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to be a model of what a cancer survivor can achieve. I want to be able to show others who are going through hardships that there is still hope for a future and that is not something to give up on. My parents never gave up hope when I was in the hospital. There were many times when my parents were told that I had a small chance of surviving, but here I am today in the Frederick Meijer Honors College. Going through your only child having cancer at such a young age is a traumatic event and is psychologically breaking. However, my parents received counseling, and if not for their strength, they would not have been able to support me through such hard times. Not only were they terrified that they might lose me, but what if they could not pay for my medical bills? My parents went through much financial stress. Not only are medical bills not cheap, especially chemotherapy and radiation, but also my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her work, and my father had to miss many days of work. Further, subsequent medical bills ate into my parents’ finances. Receiving the scholarship would enable me to move one step closer to achieving my goal of helping other individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families. I cannot imagine not being able to have guidance and comfort during a time as painful as what my parents went through. They are so fortunate to have their daughter at such an outstanding university like GVSU and I am proud of that. Please consider me, Arianna Kraljic, as a candidate for the Berkowitz Scholarship for Students with Disabilities.

Misha Collins (The angel Castiel in Supernatural) has been my role model ever since I started watching the show Supernatural in 2018. He has helped me to believe in myself and to embrace who I am as a human being. He has helped me believe that I can make a difference in the world now and in my future career. He has taught me that you should not wait to try to help people. This is why I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. I want to become a counselor and help people with their mental health. I have a generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. It is genetic from both sides of my family and I have developed it from my cancer at 18 months old. I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (Type 7) at eighteen months in October of 2002. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August of 2003. Brain surgery, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant after, I came out cured. I have been told this, but I now have the responsibility to understand what the long-term effects of the medications and the procedures will have on me now and my future. I know that I have a learning disability, kidney, heart, and numerous ramifications from the medications and procedures. I am growing in the knowledge of who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health and how to deal with current health obstacles. These obstacles that I have faced will not stop me from what I want to do or be in life. Misha Collins has shown me that no matter who you are or what you have been through, you matter and you have a purpose in the world. Supernatural is ending on its 15th season this year and it breaks my heart to see it end. The show has helped me through my dog passing and other anxieties that I had to deal with. However, it was the cast of the show that had supported me and has supported me in this present day. Due to my cancer history, I have to prepare for my future in all directions. This is why I am motivated to finish my college career and go to graduate school and eventually get a secure job. I want to live a stable life. Furthermore, if I want to have a family, I have to make plans on how my health will play a large part; when I have children, they may have similar health problems that I have. I want to take my health into consideration when starting a family. My long-term health is an important factor that is a concern. As I pass the milestone into adulthood, I want to be prepared to execute a well-thought-out plan for whatever health issue may arise. Acknowledging that becoming an adult does not force me to become independent. A component of growing up is learning to take help when it is offered to you. Misha Collins is my role model because he has shown me what a true human being is.

Psychology counselor

My name is Arianna Kraljic. I am a Sophomore at Grand Valley in the Fredrick Meijer Honors College. At eighteen months, in October of 2002, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. I had treatment, went into remission, and relapsed with a leukemic brain tumor in August of 2003. Brain surgery, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant after, I came out cured. I know that I have a learning disability, heart, and other numerous conditions-ramifications from the medications and procedures. I am growing in the knowledge of who I am as a young adult as I learn about my health.