" Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is Meaningless!" is one of the most shocking statements found in what is arguably one of the greatest works of ancient literature: the Bible. At First glance the author of Ecclesiastes appears to be saying that life has no purpose and that everything people do is ultimately pointless. However, a closer examination of the text reveals a much deeper message. The author is not arguing that life itself is meaningless. Instead, he exposes the inability of wisdom, pleasure, wealth and success to provide lasting fulfillment. By repeatedly showing the limitations of these earthly pursuits, he leads readers to recognize that true meaning cannot be found in temporary things of this world but only in a relationship with God. Through this message, Ecclesiastes challenges readers to look beyond what is " under the sun" and seek a purpose that lasts beyond the fleeting nature of life. The text I have chosen to analyze is Ecclesiastes 1: 1-11. At first glance, the passage appears to present a bleak and hopeless view of life. A nihilist, someone who believes that life has no ultimate meaning, purpose or value, might read the opening verses and conclude that the author shares this perspective. A nihilist may argue that nothing truly matters, that all human effort is ultimately pointless and that success, relationships, wisdom and achievement have no lasting significance. When the author opens with the declaration, " Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" ( Ecclesiastes 1:2), it is understandable why some readers might initially assume that this is the message being communicated. However, like many great works of ancient literature, Ecclesiastes requires careful attention to context. To fully understand the author's meaning, readers must look beyond the opening statement and consider both the surrounding text and the historical setting in which it is written. Rather than promoting despair, the author is wrestling with some of humanity's deepest questions. This becomes clear in verse 3 when he asks, " what do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?" This question serves as the foundation for the rest of the passage. The author is not asking whether people can accomplish things: rather, he is asking whether those accomplishments can provide lasting significance. Throughout the passage, he examines life from the perspective of what can be gained solely through earthly pursuits, a perspective he repeatedly describes as life " under the sun." As the passage continues, the author points to the natural world to support his argument. In verse 4 he observes that " Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever." Human beings often spend their life pursuing achievement, recognition and influence, yet each generation eventually passes away. The earth continues while individual lives fade into history. This observation is not meant to suggest that people are worthless. Instead, it highlights the temporary nature of human existence and the reality that no earthly accomplishment lasts forever. The same theme continues through the author's description of nature. In verse 5, " the sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises." In verse 6 and 7, the wind continues its course and rivers continually flows into the sea, yet the sea is never full. These images create a picture of constant motion without final arrival. Nature operates in predictable cycles that continue regardless of human effort. By drawing attention to these repeating patterns, the author emphasizes that much of life exists beyond human control. People often spend their lives trying to secure permanence and certainty, yet live within a world characterized by continual change and repetition. A common misunderstanding of Ecclesiastes comes from the English translation of the word " meaningless." The original Hebrew word is " hevel", which more literally means vapor, breath or mist. This image provides a much deeper understanding of what the author is trying to communicate. Imagine seeing your breath on a cold morning. It is real and visible, yet it quickly disappears. You can see it, but you cannot grasp it or hold onto it. In the same way, the author is not necessarily claiming that life has no meaning. Rather, he is emphasizing how temporary, elusive and difficult to control life can be. Human beings often chase after things that they believe will provide lasting satisfaction, only to discover that those things are fleeting as a breath in the air. This understanding helps explain the author's observations in verses 8 through 11. he writes that " the eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing" ( v.8) Despite all that people experience, there remains a sense of longing for something more. Humans desires are never fully satisfied by what the world offers. This idea reaches its climax in verse 9 when the author declares, " There is nothing new under the sun." While new inventions, trends and achievements may appear throughout history, the fundamental struggles and desires of humanity remain the same. People continue searching for fulfillment in wealth, pleasure, wisdom, success and accomplishment, yet generation after generation reaches the same conclusion: these things cannot provide lasting purpose on their own. For this reason, Ecclesiastes should not be understood as a book of hopelessness but as a challenge of misplaced hope. The author's purpose is not to convince readers that life is meaningless. Rather, he seeks to expose the inability of temporary earthly pursuits to provide lasting fulfillment. By revealing the limitations of everything people often build their lives upon, he points readers beyond the fleeting realities of life " under the sun". The deeper message of Ecclesiastes 1: 1-11 is that meaning cannot ultimately be found in what is temporary. Instead, the passage invites readers to seek a source of purpose greater than the changing and uncertain nature of the world itself.

There was a time in my life when my mental health reached a place I never expected. At a young age, I struggled with disordered eating and a deep sense of insecurity that shaped how i saw myself. Over time, those thoughts became heavier, and I found myself questioning my worth and whether I even wanted to keep going. It was a quiet and isolating struggle, one that may not have been visible on the outside, but internally felt overwhelming. One of the hardest parts was the feeling of being alone. Even when I was surrounded by people, it felt like no one could truly understand what I was going through. Looking back, I've realized how common that experience is, and it has given me a much deeper sense of empathy. Many people carry battles we cannot see, and that understanding has changed the way I approach others, with more patience, compassion and care. My healing was not instant, but over time, my perspective began to shift. My faith became a steady foundation through that process. Through my relationship with Jesus , I began to understand my worth in a way I never had before, not based on appearance, performance or the standards I once held myself to. Instead of feeling completely alone, I came to recognize that God was present even in the moments I couldn't see it. That truth changed everything for me. These experiences have deeply shaped my goals and relationships. I want to be someone who brings light, encouragement and genuine care into the lives of others. Rather than focusing only on external success, I value connection, understanding and being present for people in meaningful ways. My journey has also influenced the path I want to take in my career. In the fitness and wellness space, I hope to help others build not only physical strength, but also a healthier relationship with themselves. I want to be mindful that fitness and nutrition are often tied to mental and emotional struggles, and I hope to create environments that are supportive , uplifting and centered on long-term well-being. Ultimately, My experience with mental health has shaped how I see the world. It has made me more compassionate, more intentional and more aware of the struggles others may be facing. While is was a difficult season, it strengthened my faith and gave me a greater purpose- to serve others with empathy, to reflect the love I've received, and to help others feel less alone.

To me, living a life of service starts with a shift in perspective. As I've grown closer to Jesus, I've begun to understand what it really means to put others before myself, not it a way that neglects my own wellbeing, but in a way that reflects genuine love and care for the people around me. Service, in this sense , is not about losing yourself, but about choosing to show up for others with intension, humility and compassion. I want my life to reflect that, and shine Jesus's light to others through the way I live, speak and serve. This mindset can feel countercultural. We live in a world that often emphasizes personal success, climbing the ladder and putting ourselves first. While ambition is not inherently wrong, I've learned that constantly viewing life through the lens of my own wants and emotions can be limiting. True fulfillment comes when we step outside of ourselves and begin to consider how our actions impact others. For me, that shift has been both challenging and transformative. As a business major with a strong passion for the fitness industry, I see a unique opportunity to live out this calling to serve. Fitness is often viewed as something purely physical, but I believe it goes much deeper than that. It is connected to confidence, mental health, discipline, and overall quality of life. While helping people reach their fitness goals is meaningful, what matters even more to me in building real connections with others and guiding them toward a healthy relationship with food and fitness. I don't believe life is meant to be centered solely around appearance or feeling a certain way. Those things aren't bad, but they were never meant to be the main focus. We are not here forever and I don't want the purpose of someone's life to be reduced to how they look or how they feel on the surface. Instead, I want to help people find balance, where health becomes something that supports their life, not controls it. Through my education, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills needed to create and contribute to spaces that prioritize people, not just profit. Whether that looks like managing a fitness facility, working in wellness programming or developing my own business one day, my goal is to lead with integrity and purpose. I want to help others build healthier lifestyles in a way that is sustainable, uplifting and personalized to their needs. Most importantly, I want to be someone who truly connects with people. Service, to me, is not just about providing a product or a solution, It's about building relationships, listening and meeting people where they are. Regardless of someone's background or beliefs, everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and supported. Ultimately, embodying a life of service means making daily choices that prioritize kindness , humility, and intentional action. It's not always easy, and I'm still learning, but I know this mindset will shape both my personal life and my future career. My education is not just a path to success, It's a tool I can use to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

As someone planning to minor in nutrition, I am still in the early stages of learning how diet directly impacts the prevention and progression of disease. However, I am passionate about continuing to grow in this area so I can better support others. This interest has become especially personal to me. A close friend of mine from grade school, her father is currently battling pancreatic cancer. My family has been close to hers for years and walking alongside their family through this experience has opened my eyes to how devastating these diseases can be, and it led me to begin researching how everyday choices- especially nutrition- can influence long-term health. I did not fully realize how many foods and lifestyle patterns could impact the risk of certain cancers until I saw it affect someone close to me. It has strengthened my desire to help others take proactive, informed and sustainable steps toward better long-term health outcomes. If awarded this opportunity, I would focus on educating patients and their families in a way that is simple, realistic and sustainable. Rather than overwhelming individuals with complex nutritional science, I would break information down into practical steps- such as how to build balanced meals, read food labels and make healthier substitutions within their current lifestyle and daily routines. I believe that improving quality of life through nutrition is not about perfection, but about consistency and accessibility. I would aim to meet patients where they are, taking into account their financial situation, cultural background, daily routines and overall access to resources. For examples, instead of recommending expensive or restrictive diets, I would help families find affordable , nutrient-dense options and create small, manageable changes over time. In addition, I would emphasize the connection between nutrition and overall well-being, including energy levels, mental health and long-term disease prevention. By creating a supportive and nonjudgemental environment, I would encourage patients to feel empowered rather than discouraged in their health journey. I understand that many people are passionate about preventing disease , but that desire becomes much more meaningful when you witness it firsthand. Watching someone you care about face a life-altering diagnosis changes your perspective entirely. It shifts health from being a general concept to something deeply personal, and it has strengthened my desire to help others take proactive steps toward better long-term health. Ultimately, my goal would be to use both my education and personal initiative to guide individuals toward sustainable habits that improve both their quantity and quality of life.

I didn’t grow up in the church, so my faith didn’t come from years of Sunday attendance or a strong family line of believers. I always believed God was real, but that belief never went much deeper. For the first nineteen years of my life, God was more like a background character. I didn’t live for Him or praise Him when things went well, yet somehow He was the first person I blamed when things in my life went wrong. The beautiful part of my journey is that even when I kept Him at a distance, He never gave up on me. I encountered Him in some of the lowest moments of my life—moments where I thought He would want no part of me. I willingly put myself in situations and relationships with people that mentally drained and hurt me for months at a time. Yet through it all, God was there waiting for me to finally surrender everything to Him. My struggles with identity started early. In middle school I developed disordered eating habits and a difficult relationship with my body that lasted through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 I began working out and quickly became obsessed with the gym. What started as something positive slowly became something I prioritized over school, family, and friendships. Around that time I met a group of people from the gym who encouraged me to attend church with them. While I physically attended church, my heart was still very much in the world. I questioned many of the things I heard and struggled to understand how a good God could exist alongside so much pain and brokenness in the world. Instead of seeking God’s truth, I let the world shape how I viewed Him. In 2024 I ended a relationship that had become toxic. Instead of taking time to grow, I tried to fill the emptiness by pursuing short-term relationships I knew would never last. I would pour my energy into trying to make them work, only to walk away and hurt both myself and the other person. When I started college, that pattern intensified. I found myself in back-to-back “no label” relationships that left me feeling more empty each time. During my freshman year, I began attending a new church that I truly loved. For the first time I felt drawn to God in a deeper way. However, I was still living two separate lives—one version of myself at church and another outside of it. It wasn’t until my last relationship completely fell apart that I realized I could not keep trying to control everything myself. One morning around five o’clock, sitting on the cold pavement in a former friend’s neighborhood, I broke down in tears and finally surrendered everything to God. In that moment I realized I could not continue living the way I had been. I gave my life fully to Him. Since then, God has moved in ways I cannot fully explain. Just weeks after that moment of surrender, I was baptized. He has healed my disordered eating and transformed my relationship with fitness. My relationship with my family has grown stronger after years of tension. I have gained courage in my faith, praying for people outside church walls. Situations that once overwhelmed me now bring opportunities for patience and trust. God has changed my heart and my mind in ways I never expected. My passion for the fitness industry has grown into something deeper over time. While I still love fitness, God has reshaped that passion so it aligns with His purpose for my life. My goal is to build a career where I can help people pursue physical health while also encouraging growth in character, purpose, and faith. The fitness industry often promotes misleading ideas about identity, worth, and fulfillment. I hope to guide others in a healthier direction—both physically and spiritually—by creating an environment that encourages discipline, confidence, and truth. I want to mentor people in ways I wish I had been guided when I first entered the fitness world. Receiving this scholarship would help me afford more than just a college degree. It would give me the opportunity to pursue a future where I can use my education, my passion for fitness, and my testimony to positively influence others. Through this path, I hope to connect with people searching for purpose and encourage them toward a life centered on Christ.

I can't tell you how excited this makes me to see a scholarship that wants to know about how God is moving in my life. If I am being totally honest I have been doing my best to include God in my essay's no matter what the prompt is, and I am so incredibly grateful I can just get straight to the point here. My faith is in Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior, but I didn't grow up with this belief. My parents both grew up in the catholic church, but when they got married and had kids they didn't want to force us to go. Honestly, I can't tell you how grateful I am for that decision, because that lead me to finding Jesus in my own way. Around sophomore year of high school I began going to church with some friends but I still never truly had God in my heart. I went, agreed with some things said, but disagreed with more and yet I rarely opened the Bible to find out for myself. I was shaping who God was in my mind, based off of my own beliefs that were molded by the world rather than getting to know God truly. In October of 2024, I started going to a brand new church and that is where I truly began to feel God. I cried for the first time in church because of the presence I felt and I lifted my hands up for the first time too. However I was still putting myself through habitual sin that was killing me mentally but I told myself it's what I wanted. A week and a half before I was baptized I realized I needed to give up that sinful desire and relationship. I was baptized in water on March 16, 2025 but the Holy Spirit baptized me a week before that. Life wasn't perfect after, I still had to do damage control with healing from what I put myself through, but I wasn't alone. God picked up my pieces and molded me into someone new. I was and slowly am becoming a woman of God. Through God, I have been given the strength to overcome disordered eating ( something I have struggled with since 6th grade), dependency on relationships for my worth and truly being exposed to what this world tries to convince us is normal but it's completely against God. My faith In God and Jesus Christ has eased my nerves and has helped to cut down my anxiety. It's not all perfect, I still struggle with things at times but I can't tell you how many times I have seen God's hand move and orchestrate my life in beautiful ways. I don't worry about the future and I don't sit here wondering 'what's my life purpose?'. Each season of my life has a purpose, even the rough ones. Jesus Christ was brutally killed, but He went through it willingly so I could get through this life with the Holy Spirit within me. I don't care what I'm going through, I will always be grateful to God. I am free because of Him, and I choose to treat people with as much love and compassion as Jesus did, all while spreading the truth. My faith and devotion to Jesus Christ has helped me achieve more patience, understanding and compassion than I've ever had towards others. We are all God's children. So choosing to follow God has given me the tools and resources I need to help me in any career path I follow.

Growing up, playing a sport was not really a choice for me because my parents wanted me to be active in some way. It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school , when I joined a specific sport and fell in love with it, that made me really look at sports differently. In 2021, my high school officially adopted a new sport to our athletics program, and that sport was volleyball. From the moment we started summer practice to establish skill level, I adored it. I strived to keep improving and correcting my form and technique constantly. I ended up pushing myself in the gym harder as well to make sure I was in proper shape to be playing. I joined a co-ed team and later a club team during off season. As I got older though, I realized there was something I loved just as much, maybe even a little more, and that was being a leader. Being one of the oldest kids at the start of that program meant I had the potential to be someone that younger kids looked up to, and that is exactly what happened. Except I voweled to myself that I would not treat those younger than me the same way I was treated when I was in their shoes. As most people know there is usually a hierarchy when it comes to sports, usually whoever is oldest has most of the power and I understand it to an extent. Most of us equate being older as being wiser and therefore having more knowledge and experience in said sport. I can kind of agree except influence and power isn't something to take advantage. I had numerous experiences where me and a handful of other kids, were treated like servants to our upperclassman in other sports. They always made sure we knew they were older and that's simply how things worked. So when I became older , I did the opposite. I helped the younger kids put up and take down equipment and I partnered with them when someone struggled to find a partner. I did my best to treat them like my equal because I couldn't stand when I was treated like a baby. Leading up to graduation and even after graduation I had the opportunity to help coach the middle school team as well as teach friends in recreational leagues how to improve their techniques. Now I am by no means a professional at volleyball, but I've found that I really love studying and breaking things down for people who struggle ( and let's be honest that is everyone). My favorite thing has been analyzing form or technique and adjusting my guidance to each athlete. So to summarize , the thing that drives me to pursue a career in sports is the fact that I understand that passion and love for a sport and wanting to push yourself to grow. I also understand how there can be corruption in power or bias instances. My goal is to keep it real with athletes by teaching them to be great players and leaders on and off the court.

There's a difference between a dad and a father, I have both in the same figure. One may think I am talking about the person who brought me into this world, and to that I would say yes but not who you think. I love my parents deeply, but the figure I'm referring to is the one who created me before I was born into this world. The figure who words couldn't even do justice for how incredible He is. Who goes by a name that many know, some love and most hate. My father figure is God, and many may roll their eyes at me saying that but my feelings weren't always this way. I know this essay was most likely purposed for me to write about someone I can physically see and actually interact with in the way we as people converse and bond, but a figure that came to mind was far beyond that. God not only brought me into this world, but He also brought every potential father figure I could have into this world. He brought Tony into this world to be a father figure and He gave me my dad who I greatly look up to. I found God at a low point in my life, at a time where I was putting myself through a self destruction phase and trying to do everything I could to fit into the world. I wish I could say it was as easy as choosing to believe in Him and all my problems were solved ( as many believe the case is) but that is far from the truth. When I truly accepted God i still broke His heart by putting myself in situations that would harm me and others mentally. Just like any dad not wanting their kid to go down the wrong path, but not being able to do anything about it until that kid decided to work with him. It has been a little over a year since I've truly given my life to God, there has never been a better father figure out there. He made the ultimate sacrifice so you and I could be with Him forever after we leave this earth. It sounds creepy when you don't get as deep into faith, I used to believe people who talked in the way I am writing right now, had lost their minds. However, it's not what He's given us beyond this life that is the only thing special, this entire world was created by Him. Everything good is from Him and everything bad occurs when there is absence of God. Just as darkness doesn't exist, it is simply the absence of light. Every single beautiful moment we experience is possible because of Him. Every loving memory, every lesson learned , the ability to thrive in a hobby of our choice and nature in all its entirety , is from God. Without Him we wouldn't be able to have a bond like "father figure" or any other kind of relationship in this world. So , Who is my dad and my father? I will proudly answer it as someone I never want to live this life without. Even when I can't see Him physically, He is always at work spiritually and I love Him greatly.

I will admit, the title immediately caught my eye because I have been looking for financial support from a christian community base. So why should you consider me? Because I may be the first to admit that I'm not perfect, I could sit here and list some clubs I have been apart of or let you know that I enjoy lifting and Bible studying in my free time. I could give a testimony of how I found Jesus Christ and more importantly where He met me at, that should be worth a million times more than any academic accomplishment. The real question is, ' What is truly noteworthy to you?'. I'll be honest, I am a woman perusing Christ trying to get through college without going bankrupt. I don't know what I could possibly say that would make me stand out or make me more worthy of this scholarship than someone else, but I refuse to lie to you or try to sound perfect. I am far from it but I will make every penny of this scholarship towards my education worth it. So here is me being honest: last year in the fall of 2024 I found God for the first time. Throughout high school I played volleyball and softball, I completed a college program that gave me the credits for a semester in college and was on homecoming and prom court. All that information prior to finding God isn't important though, none of it truly matters because I went through every moment prior never truly knowing Him. After I graduated high school I started attending a community college in Beaver County called CCBC and I immediately got myself into situations that really emotionally wrecked me at the time. A friend from my work persuaded me to go to their church, and eventually I begrudgingly went. Here's the catch, I feel in love with the church but still was stuck in an absolute sinful life outside of it. I cried in church for the first time and lifted my hands in praise for the first time at that same church, but went out into my life and put my faith and worth in other people. I prayed to God every time I was emotionally being drained , even though I put myself in these situations willingly, and wondered why they weren't improving. Looking back now I see God was trying to pull me away while I clung on to what could have been. In March of 2025 a week before my water baptism, I was tired of this pattern of pain, and I finally opened my eyes and recognized it for what it was; Sin. I completely gave up that habitual sin. I may have been baptized by water on March 16, 2025 but I was truly baptized by the Holy Spirit the moment I wanted to stop giving into the world and my consistent sin and give my life to Jesus Christ. I've had eating disorders, from eating too little to eating too much, mainly during the period of covid. I've broken hearts and had my heart broken. I've had an unhealthy obsession with the gym at one point, about four years ago I would've dropped any priority in order to just workout. Any time I found a guy I liked I put my worth and everything I had to be the perfect partner and always drained myself in the process. I have gossiped and sworn. I have dressed in ways I'm not fully proud of and chased approval. I tried to mold myself to the world because I was afraid to stand out in a weird way. So instead of answering in what I believe is noteworthy for you academically, I will answer what God has redeemed and delivered me from. I don't swear and I have no desire to drink. I completely have left behind the situations and sinful habits I willingly put myself in. My relationship with food has been healed significantly. I am not obsessed with the gym as I once was, I prioritize God, family, friends, work and school. God has opened my eyes to things I have never considered, like my desire to listen to secular music or watch movies that preach worldly habits has decreased significantly. The way I dress on a daily basis has changed, I want to glorify God with the temple that is my body, and yes it's a struggle at times, but I still work for it. I don't want to be a "trendy" christian. This world has completely skewed our perception on what christianity should be, I want to be a " lay my life on the line for Christ" christian.