In a way, I believe that every experience we endure in life somehow shape who we become. The experience that was bound to destroy me, one that will forever be considered either a blessing or a curse, depending on ones perception. It still takes the breath out of me when I think about it. Admitting to myself, had it not gone the way it did, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. About 4 years ago I was in a very dark place, I had just gotten out of an abusive marriage, lost custody of our children, and everything went downhill from there. I got involved with drugs and my addiction got the best of me. I lost everything I had once held so close. When I lost custody of my children, the pain and shame consumed me. Not having anybody for support, "tough love" is what my family would tell you. The only thing comforting was my addiction and numbing of the drugs. It took me 3 years fighting with this demon, when I finally decided one day, despite not having my children, I still deserve to be happy and have a good, sober life. I left everything behind, moved to Ruidoso where I have been clean from the drugs and had an opportunity to start fresh. My experiences inspired me to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor. I feel my personal experience with addiction may positively impact someone else struggling. I find it intriguing how we go through hard times that almost break us, but instead of breaking, we sometimes mold ourselves into someone better. I feel that's the whole reason for negative experiences in life. Not only do they shape who we become, but they make us stronger. Not only for ourselves but others as well.

I would have to say my efforts in having a positive impact on the world is to be the positive, accepting the negative. In such a sinful world, ruled by evil, automatically we assume having a constant perspective on positivity will destroy negative. There cannot be positive without the negative. Laws of the universe. Taking us back to my opening statement, be the influence that helps eyes open to truth, listen with their hearts, not the ego, and love for themself, not just in the temporary, materialistic aspects of life. I have an awareness, that we will not overcome negativity by always remaining positive. There will be moments in life where the whole world feels like it's about to fold over, we feel helpless and worthless. We mustn't forget though, to know what negativity is, we must go through the trials and tribulations and come out with that same positivity. How are we supposed to identify positive, if everything is already perceived as such? I used to view everything from a positive perspective, it eventually blinded me from reality. Causing me to be naive and unrealistic. I gained awareness by accepting the negativity as it comes, kind of like ying-yang. I want to be that kind of positive impact on the world. Teach ways that bring people to the light, not because everyone said it was the positive thing to do. But, because I had gone through lifes hurdles, gained my own understanding and wisdom. Became a positive life, not just living positive. It brings meaning in my opinion. Knowing positivity, and implementing positivity into your life, are totally different. Be the positive impact, don't just encourage it. Don't live with that blindness like I did, causing an inability to be impacted by this majestic burst of greatness called life.

"You don't really know what you have until it's gone." Harsh reality to accept, the sooner one becomes aware of this, the more fulfilling life is. We all have a purpose, nobody was created to experience the same things, in the same ways. Though, we all do have one thing in common, the ability to love and be loved. This is written on the hearts of man, something that was instilled in us before we were ever born. I believe we were given the ability to love, to make loving life not so terrible. It gives us the ability to see things with passion, empowerment, and ability to connect with others. It's easy to forget what is really important in life, we get comfortable, and don't take time to be thankful. Being thankful is so important in gaining a life of abundance and living the life of success. My perspective change on this matter was extremely forceful, life demanded this of me. I have to be honest and admit, if I hadn't gone through the trials and tribulations I did. I would still be stuck on destination happiness. Rather then living life in the moment, I was constantly seeking happiness from elsewhere. Causing me to miss out on the little things, not appreciating my life in the here and now. Losing the three most meaningful people in my life, due to my ignorance and selfish perspective. Taught me that, when they were no longer apart of my life, everything I had been taking advantage of, wasn't either. I never knew I could love so much until I had kids, when I lost custody of them, that love grew much stronger and became more meaningful. I will forever appreciate life, because, you don't really know what you have until its gone.

It wasn't but maybe four years ago, I was at the lowest point I had ever been in my life. Let's just say, my rock bottom had a basement. Caught between losing myself with my struggle in addiction and finding myself, seeking recovery. I lost everything; my kids, my family, my home, and my sanity. Ended up in the darkest parts of life. I was an empty, black hole; ready for self destruction. It took me over 3 years battling with my addiction with substance use before I came to the awareness of; this isn't the life I want to live. I want to be the best version of me I possibly can. My kids deserve it, I deserve it, and my loved ones deserve it. I left behind my hometown, the familiar faces, and every place the drugs took me. Starting fresh in a new town, with the right mindset, creating goals for myself. Recieved an associates in Psychology, now going for a bachelor's in social work. I have a future goal to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor. My own personal experiences and struggles with substance use and addiction has given me an opportunity to help others with the same struggles. Addiction is a serious subject, and most feel so alone when stuck in the middle of it. I feel, I can be a guidance for others and I have to thank my own experiences for this enlightenment. I wouldn't be who I am today, nor would I have the ability to be there for others, without my own comeback. My calling is to not only fight for my own sobriety daily, but to use my personal insight, experiences, and recovery, and be that light in someone else's struggle with the great darkness of substance use and addiction.

Spiritual conflict that is amongst our society, here in present day. In my opinion, that is a major problem the world faces. Consider all the politics, world leaders, and entertainers. It's becoming so apparent. They are constantly taking advantage of their evil ways. That control and power is what it wants, and the society just gives it what it want as if the human race isn't worth fighting for. The spiritual warfare gains more power as if it so easy to control. The younger generations are where we need to be focusing on. Spiritual warfare, the wars that go on in this realm that nobody actually sees, but boy, do some of us feel it's energy. It's that awareness of knowing the truth and seeking it out. In a world full of sin, cheating, stealing, and lying. It gets easier to call out the truth when you seek it. Those who speak it, and act accordingly, will prosper. Rather than conforming, that reason we hear often, because everyone's doing it. Let's reform, because no one else is doing it. We are going through a spiritual battle, at all times. Stay woke, express your thoughts, as this is going on. This may take away from my scholarship, there is nothing more important to me than the souls of my brothers and sisters. So, as long as the sun is shining and the shadows are at my back. May the woke stick together, be strong in their faith, and have enteral life with our Lord and Savior, don't let the evil win. This scholarship will help me so much in my future endeavors, and as long as my heart is beating, I will forever speak the truth. Not fearing this spiritual battle, but standing up against the evil knowing I am saved.

I can think of several practical solutions for helping people who struggle with mental health. First and foremost, in my opinion, being non-judgmental and treat each person as an individual, with their own individual issues and struggles. Everybody is different, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mental health and how to cope. Being there for someone, encouraging them, and helping them through there mental health problems. Letting them know how important it is to keep a healthy mental state, and let them know that there's nothing wrong with them. They are not alone! Encouragement is always number one to me. I can recall when I was younger, I struggled a lot with my mental health. To this day I still sometimes find myself having to pull myself back from either a breakdown or an anxiety attack. Family is also an important factor that can help a lot , I had no one, most of my family either told me there was something wrong with me or they would never encourage me to become a better me. So, I did have to learn it on my own, and I feel if there was more time and energy put into this aspect, it wouldn't necessarily be a practical solution. I do believe in my heart, when one isn't so judgmental and can bring comfort, and support to those who struggle with mental health issues. Won't feel loneliness, nor will they feel insecure because they'll have positivity and good people around. Supporting and loving them through it all. This is what makes me excited for my future career, I want to be a chemical dependency counselor and I feel this is one of the main tasks when it comes to counseling individuals as such. Everyone deserves happiness and love in life.

Substance use has been an issue in my life since 2015. I am currently three and a half years clean and on my way to become a chemical dependency counselor. The reason I chose to be in this career field, is that addiction is frowned upon, there are alot of people in this world who struggle with it, so being one in my community who helps those struggling, is very important to me. My substance use and addiction took everything from me. I am currently building myself back, from my shattered pieces, life broke me and slowly but surely, putting these pieces back together and creating my beautiful life that's ahead of me. I had no family or friends by my side when I struggled with my addiction. My family showed me tough love, and it was hard coming out of something like that alone. It made me stronger and did make me the beautiful person I am today, but I always go back to how impactful it would have been if I had that support from family encouraging me along the way. Becoming a chemical dependency counselor is very important to me because I know the lives ruined and taken by addiction. We live in a world where addiction is very popular. I want to help save lives, I don't want people feeling alone and like they are worthless. Yes, I still get my urges, and yes I still have a long way to go but, I know how impactful it is when one finds support within addiction and recovery. I met my husband 5 years ago whom also has struggled with addiction for over 20 years. We both became sober and have been living a life of prosperity and love. To be able to show others my experience and how I overcame my addiction. I Believe In my heart can positively influence any client I might have. My husband was actually the one who encouraged me to start going to college and getting into the substance abuse field of study. Addiction ruins people, substance abuse ruins their mental state, their physical self, and I'm not sure about others but with me it really negatively impacted my spiritual self. My higher power was and still is the One who saved my life. God was truly the only One who could bring me out of the hell that I put myself into. Some people say addiction is a choice, I said addiction is the devil. Coming at you in the most beautiful ways, with the most lovely feeling, and us being humans, enjoy things that make us feel good and like things that present themselves in a way that one would not assume to be evil. I have a bunch of family on my father's side who struggles with addiction, so it does run in my family. That does not give me the right to do it in my life and it took me a long time to realize how important I am and how much loving myself would bring me out of the hell I was stuck in. Receiving this scholarship will be life-changing as I do depend on my own income to support my college experience. I'm looking forward to my journey in substance abuse counseling I want to help save lives and show others the miracles that come within one who has experienced substance abuse and has dealt with addiction. I want to be there for others when nobody else is, my community is very important to me. I never want someone struggling in their addiction alone.

Mental health has been a big deal in my life since I was 12 years old. I have been fighting depression and anxiety a little over 16 years. It hasn't seemed to kill me yet. I do recall when I was young, the different times I had to go stay in a rehabilitation for mental health due to my depression, bipolar, and anxiety. I always thought I was different but, in a bad way. Only up until I was about seventeen, when I finally accepting of my mental health issues, trying to identify them, and move forward. Having the opportunity to be in college has really opened my eyes and is encouraging me to see things that are within myself. Due to the mental health issues I have overcame throughout life as well as the addiction I struggled with. Made me want to have a career in chemical dependency counseling. I just find it so intriguing how these counselors positively impact people's lives and such an empowering manner. When a person feels alone and like they have something wrong with them, it's really hard to reach out and ask for help, let alone admit you have a problem. I want to be a counselor who guides and helps individuals experiencing substance abuse mental health, and addiction. I feel with my experience and the acceptance I've had to deal with myself, within myself. I can and will help others, possibly even save lives. Addiction is lifelong, there is alot of people in this world who struggle from it and I feel they are often judged and cast it out before even given an opportunity to get well. I want to make sure the people in my community have the best support and best help they can get. When I was young I had a terrible experience with a counselor and it ruined by faith in them for a long time. I want to make sure when I become a counselor that I never do that to someone I want to be there in the ways I can but, I also want them to know how important it is for them to be strong for themselves even if no one else has their back. I struggled with addiction by myself, my family didn't give me the time of day and judged me for the choices I had made. It was until I had gotten out of jail, lost custody of my children, and just about everything else in my life at that time, that made me come to a realization. Nothing hurts more than the damage brought from addiction/mental health. And, that's where it all started with me, I had went through a bad marriage with an abusive person. When my kids got taken away from me, I lost myself and who I was supposed to be. I started doing drugs alot, numbing the pain and guilt. I feel like I was being coerced, which makes everything even more unsatisfying. When I realized that I had a drug problem that stemmed from my mental health issues it gave me a starting point which was a lot of help. Some suffer from substance use which lead to mental health issues, while there are others who have mental health issues and use substances to deal with that. My fiance and I are the total opposite when it comes to our addiction and substance use. We both have been clean for three years now and noticed how important it is to support one another in such a terrible circumstance such as addiction. He has been my support and encouragement over five years now and has helped me accept myself and my flaws. I don't have a terrible life nowadays, I do not get to see my kids, but, I do encourage myself everyday to be the woman that I need to be in order to have a successful future. Staying in my recovery. I do have my bad days, I do question myself sometimes, and I still get the urges when it comes to my past substance use. But, I am stronger now, I have faith that God will provide the best possibilities for me. It's empowering to know I came out of such a hell, not even three and a half years ago. To see where I am now, restores my faith in everything and everybody. This scholarship would help me in several ways as I am paying for my own college, finances have been tight, and moving forward in my education is not only going to help me with my future endeavors but, it has taught me so much about myself and the world I live in. I have social issues and being in college has brought me out of my shell and is one of the best thing that's happened to me in a while. I know who I want to be, I know who I can be. Waking up every day, being able to be here is not only a blessing but, it's life-altering. I would truly enjoy being in ties with someone and their recovery, having the ability to be there for somebody in such a sensitive situation is life-saving. I want to be one who save lives. Mental health is not always negative, there are some people who don't struggle with that side of things but, if you are one of those who do, know you are not alone and there is help out there. Seeking it was one of my main problems, it was hard for me to ask for help, so I do understand the difficulties that come with having such issues. We must always remember to be there for one another, no matter the differences. We must love ourselves and others, there is alot of hate and discrimination in this world, and I do believe in my heart, mental health and addiction are frowned upon and rarely looked into. My help onto others will save lives.

The happiest memory I can recall would have to be the time when I got to see my kids after I got out of jail. It had been four months since I had seen them last. Nothing takes the pain away like my boys do. I have three sons, they are the three best things that has ever happened to me, despite them not living with me anymore. I had made mistakes in the past which got them removed. But, being able to see them after so long, gave me a refresh, which was something I had really been craving.

My name is Ashley Neagle, I attend New Mexico State University. I'm now getting my bachelor's degree in social work. My future career goal is to become a chemical dependency counselor. This has been a goal of mine for the past 3 years. I feel and have faith the impact and power I can provide to others. It will be life-changing to them. I have had my own personal experience in the substance abuse world, so I know that side of things. I feel with my experience with addiction, and past use, others will feel better connected with me. I understand how hard it is and I know how difficult it can be going through a diction or recovery alone. I had a harsh learning experience cause me to lose everything in my life, I don't want to see others make the same mistakes. Addiction is not like any other illness in my opinion, tends to take over before it even becomes aware of being an issue. I want to be a chemical dependency counselor not only to just help others with addiction and recovery, but I also want to influence how one can go from having nothing and losing everything to building oneself back up. I still get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. The fact that there are so many individuals who do struggle with substance abuse just makes it that much more important in my opinion when it comes to helping and supporting others through their recovery. I did not have that support nor was any of my family there during my fallout. They showed me tough love now that's all fine and dandy but I just don't feel in my heart that addiction and recovery is something that one needs to go through alone. I have no 3 going on for years sobriety going for my bachelor's, and I'm actually rebuilding my life with the broken pieces that were shattered during I would say the most horrible time during my life. No matter what, if you take out all the shame and guilt. I can stand proud and be very encouraging as this road I have been down before. I feel my college experience is helping me with my social skills and communication approaches. I just refuse to give up no matter how hard the struggle was or is, and with my dedication I truly believe the lives I can save within my future career endeavors.

I used to be really ashamed of myself when it came to my mental health. Growing up, everyone in my family would always tell me there was something wrong with me or I needed to take this medication to be "normal" and it just kind of broke me down. It created a void in myself that now at 28 I am just being able to identify. I used to be very insecure and I never believed in myself. I was about 17 when I moved out of home I discontinued taking my medication, got away from the negative people who only wanted to kick me when I was down and instantly I felt a relief. Having to grow up thinking you aren't important, or being told there's something wrong with you and not being guided in a way to make you better, or that fact of always being told you need medication to make you "normal" really takes a toll on one's self confidence. Throughout the years I have learned ways to use those issues in my mental health as a motivation to bring myself more aware have confidence in myself. The issues that everyone always said I had are now actually my ammo to better myself in future endeavors. I had turned to substance use to numb the issues I had within my own perspective when it came to my mental health and upbringing. I now look at it as not necessarily a problem, but more of a strength I can use to become a more successful person. Mental health is very important, it impacts ones way of life, the relationships that come and go, and future goals. I always felt like and was constantly told I was a very angry child, looking back I can now say that, yes, I was angry, but it wasn't with myself as my parents projected it to be. I was angry at the fact that I was always looked at as if there was something wrong with me and never got shown the things that were good. Having a stronger mental health nowadays has opened me up to new opportunities and the love I have for myself is the strongest it's ever been. I have learned to appreciate the faults and characteristics within myself, move past it, use it, and become the successful person I was always meant to be. It's actually one very important aspect to have in my future career goals. I want to become a chemical dependency counselor who deals with all kinds of people with mental health issues. I am able to look at it in a way that appreciates having such a flaw, and use it to empower all the negative and wrongdoings. Substance abuse took a big part of my life and there's nothing that I can compare to the pain and shame that I had been putting on myself. My mental health and the growth has made me in to being a person of high expectations, and still be able to appreciate certain aspects of people despite what others or themselves think. One of my main highlights when it comes to my mental health is getting stuck in thought. I am an overthinker I can get very anxious sometimes and before I was able to find a balance in that the only way to get away from it was to numb myself and hide myself. Recovery has been a huge impact and has guided me to the person I am today. I find it intriguing how despite being so broken and always feeling I am or something is wrong with me. Can turn into a person who can see the good within that and have an opportunity to spread it and share it with the rest of the world. I do know the pain and that uncomfortable feeling one gets when they have no awareness in how to bring themselves back up. Because I have a different and new awareness and perspective, I can see the positive and motivation it can bring one when making a goal to be a better person. I can take something so negative and that is looked down on so badly, and use what those around me said we're my weaknesses or issues and turn it into something so beautiful. I find the most beautiful things in life come from hardships, brokenness, and flaws. Hardships build one's character, brokenness creates beauty from shattered pieces, and flaws can turn into strengths with the right mindset and dedication. The relationships in my life today, have not taken away from this perspective, but only given to me a new outlook as of something unique. When one is told they will not make it in life and are beaten down mentally. If one doesn't let it take control, will set one free in ways that can't even be explained into words. It was not me doing it for anybody else but myself and when I was able to identify just that, help me become a woman of self-love, full of confidence, and the drive to help others who have experienced or struggle with their mental health. Something so beautiful and strong in life, derived from something that was looked at as wrong and ugly. It takes dedication and convincing, but if one believes In themselves enough nothing, not even mental health issues can stop one from growing and reaching life goals.

Women in my opinion, are God's creation for our nurture, sensitivity, love, and to show man our importance within Society. The importance women have in this creation is empowering in itself, so when we have a society that influences women, empowering them to the fullest will bring successful developments. Women's historical role within Society has insured this stability and has had a long-term development within Nations. Society has its ways in empowering women being beneficial now and generations to come. Encourage the women around us empowered women empower other women. Value the women's opinions as negativity can sometimes be a key factor in the downfalls within a society. This negativity exposes women, young women, and even little girls to unrealistic standards in society. So when society is more uplifting and encouraging towards women, it shuts down that negativity. Women who feel worthy, make positive impacts to everything around. Another way is for society to consider allowing more female colleagues in a workplace. When a society derives from the advocacy for female colleagues it brings power and positivity making a stronger workplace and a successful change. Highlight their worth, when society highlights the bravery in women and they encourage this throughout the society. Not only the generations now, but also generations to come, will reap the benefits of the positive impacts. From them feeling worthy enough and valued will positively influence others. Society could engage more in being supportive of organizations that are involved in helping women succeed. This can directly influence equality highlighting the reasoning on why women are so important within this universe. For society to provide more opportunities is an empowerment as well. When we give women more opportunities to use their knowledge, skills, and self-confidence. Inspires them to engage more in which brings empowerment that even future generations will gain from. Being a woman and living in today's society. I can honestly say, when a woman feels she is heard, when she is being valued, and feels she is respected and treated as an equal. Us becomes more developed less chaotic and will teach young girls to stand up speak up and use their voice to make positive change in society. I have always felt empowered being a woman in my family. I have never felt less than and to me that has helped me be successful. It has helped me connect better with others and I have never felt the value taken away from me as a person, my voice, and my opinions. God new man needed women, and in that shows me how important God sees us women. Feeling important and worthy creates beauty, confidence, self-love, endurance, empowerment, and positive outcomes. Creates it within a workplace, gatherings School and basically just about everything else in a society. So we need to make it a priority as a society to not take the importance away from Men but we must not forget the importance in women. Show them they are worth taking a stand for help them see the beauty within themselves and not what Society standards hold them as. Encouragement and respect goes a long way, not just in a family setting, or a workplace, maybe a church, even the grocery store, all these provide opportunities for Society to empower women. Imagine what it can do when the society as a whole participates in empowering and highlighting women and what they bring to this universe. I know when I'm at a gas station for example, and a random person walks up and tells me I'm beautiful, instantly I want to highlight the beauty in another.

It had been about 17 years since I had last seen my grandpa Jerry. My dad always kept us away from him due to his bad decisions in life. Looking back to when I was a child, I can recall only one time we went to see him. He had struggled with addiction basically in my existence. It was 2012 and I had just had my oldest son Justice. Grandpa Jerry had been sober for a good two and a half years and asked if I would bring Justice to meet him. 17 years was the last time I saw my grandpa and here comes my son and I walking up to his front door for the first time in a long time. It was so nice to see my grandpa and so special for him to be a part of my son's life. I was really proud of him and no matter what my father had to say, I was not going to miss out on an opportunity like this. Fast forwarding a year and a half later, I'm a week away from having my second son Karter. I get a call that Grandpa Jerry died. He had a brain aneurysm due to his excessive use of methamphetamine throughout his life. Despite him being sober for 3 years, the damage was already done. This was such a let down to me because I just got him back in my life and I was looking forward to Karter meeting Grandpa Jerry. Even though I didn't know my grandpa for a long time, the bond and love that we shared in that little time gave me something that will be with me forever. What struck me about it all, was my grandpa was staying clean longer than he had ever done, he had a consistent job, and successfully taking care of his life for the first time in 17 years. At 52 years old, he became sober, at 55, he passed away from his long time use of substance abuse. Because I have been a recovering addict going on 3 and 1/2 years now, I understand the struggle and pain that he must have been feeling. The fact he finally became sober and then died from his past in substance abuse, he never set well with me. In the little time I had with my grandpa, we created a bond that since, has had an influence on my sobriety today. My dad told me he regrets not reaching out sooner to grandpa Jerry. I don't ever want to have to live with that regret. When I get a little older, I want to be able to say, I did it and I failed, rather then looking back and saying I wish I would have, but didn't. I understand my grandpa more than a lot of my family on my dad's side as very few of us struggle with addiction. That in itself shines light on a really dark avenue within my family. My grandpa Jerry has been an empowerment within my sobriety. I know with my dedication he's looking down on me and he's very proud. He always told me to be proud of who I am and who I came from, with my experiences in life, I now am. My addiction does not define who I am anymore, but it does conclude where I'm going to go in life. My grandpa Jerry is actually the one who put the idea of college in my head, and encouraged me to be a chemical dependency counselor. He brought that light to me and I feel because of my grandpa I am where I am today in my sobriety and it has been a full motivation to be a chemical dependency counselor. He had over 30 years under him being an addict, he had about four in his recovery. In the last few years, I could see all the pain he had been going through. In that, I am moving forward in my sobriety with goals to help others who struggle with substance abuse/addiction. My grandpa told me recovery to an addict is either light at the end of the tunnel for those seeking it or a suffocation that you just can't avoid because your not seeking it. There will never be another man in my life like my grandpa Jerry and because I took that extra step and allowing him back in my life I am now on a future endeavor that he knew I could do. He inspired me to believe that with my experience in addiction, the lives that I could help save and the people's hearts that I could touch. I am now getting my bachelor's degree in social work so I can become a successful chemical dependency counselor.

An example of adversity that I have endured in my life would have to be my struggle with addiction in the past. It was probably one of the hardest things I have endured. Aside from my children getting taken away due to an abusive father, that being the start of my addiction, going on four years without them. I was at the heart of my addiction when I came to the realization that I am better than what I was giving myself. I decided I want to be able to be there for my kids one day and that is what helped me push towards my recovery. I am three years in my sobriety now. As I go through my recovery, there's just been so much I have learned about myself and those around me. When it comes to my recovery I can now see clearly in most aspects of my life. I am more considerate of my surroundings, of my relationships, and in my everyday life. Becoming a Chemical Dependency Counselor is something I find so much passion in. The encouragement and support I am able to provide someone who is struggling with addiction due to my own personal experience. I know the pain and guilt that comes with all that. Having the opportunity to be there for others and help them, guide them towards their own recovery, and well, there is just nothing more special.