This adventure all started in a small backyard with my twin brother who was playing outside with me. We had this jungle gym in the back, which at the time we thought was huge... with these monkey bars and a rockwall on the side and some swings. We thought it was just the collest thing ever and we would pretent like we were on the show Ninja Warrior jumping from one platform to another. WE knew that we had to be careful but we loved the adrenaline and rush that playing on that jungle gym gave us. One day I even decided to climb onto the shed. There was a dog house right next to the shed which I got onto first, since the shed was so tall. I wanted to get to the top becuse we had honey suckle growing on the top of the fence but we couldn't reach it. I was so determined to get my brother and I some to try and nothing was going to stop me. As twins do, we worked together to get the job done. He gave me a hand to stand on and helped me get on top of the dog house so then I could get to the top of the shed. Once the mission was complete I brough some down both the both of us to try and it sure did taste like victory. I have always loved climbing on things no matter how hard it was or how high they were. I love the thrill that it comes with! Another thing that I like to do is prove people wrong. Many people think that just because I am a girl that it means I can't climb as high or do what a guy can do, but that is where I prove them wrong. I have always been a fighter and growing up with my twin brother I have always had to compete with him... I even joined an all boys soccer team with him. I would never let him beat me in anything because I was so determined to prove that I could do it too... I can do anything he does. This is how I got into climbing really and then I even worked with kids and taught them how to rock climb so that I could share that joy with others. This scholarship will help me pursue higher education and help me stay out of debt while getting a good quality eduication. This will help me prove everyone wrong and prove that first-generation students whom are woman can make something big out of themselves too. I will use this scholarship to help pay for my schooling so that I wont have to worry about how much debt I will have to pay off since I am paying for college on my own.

Giving back to the community is important to me because I believe that you were given gifts and you should share them with others. In my mind, I believe that if you have these good gifts, then you should share them with your community. My community is very important to me and is like my second family. I am a first generation student so money problems are big in my family and I don’t like worrying about money so I try to turn that stress into act of service. Whenever I have spare time on my hands, I like doing community service with my friends or with my school. Not only are you helping others and doing good, but you are also growing as a person. I also think that the good comes back around, good karma is real and if you do good you’ll receive good. I help my aunt out at her non-profit organization whenever I can because not only do I love giving back to the community, but my aunt is a great role model. When I was seven years old, I moved in with my grandma who lived in Kentucky so I could go to a good school. Before then, I didn't grow up in the greatest neighborhood, and I often had a lot of time to go outside to make friends with the neighbor’s kids since my parents were often at work. During this time, I saw many people living on the street and felt the desire to do something about it. When my aunt introduced me to Helping Hearts, I started making kits, packages, and bundles containing different materials to give to people in need. Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization and we set up events for people in need to provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise have. People frequently donate materials to us, and with those donations, we sort them into different kits and distribute them. This includes food, hygiene, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, diapers, and baby items. In addition to sorting, I get to know the people who ask for help and let them know they’re not alone. Through this work, we support parents and guardians and their children that live in Northern Kentucky and are financially struggling to purchase their families’ immediate needs. I have listened to so many stories from different people. Taking time to get to know people before judging them and becoming more understanding and empathetic. A big thing I have learned by helping run the organization is how to better connect with people with vastly different life experiences than me. My drive to be of service to others has helped me change as a person and open my heart to others. I have learned so many things from my aunt these past few years and the people reaching out to the organization. I learned the difference between needs and wants at a young age and became selfless. I knew I wanted to help people in some way when I was older. I plan on majoring in sports management and marketing, plus minoring in psychology and economics, I think that growing up in these conditions and being surrounded by acts of service, would be a fitting degree. Being a part of Helping Hearts has taught me to be patient, empathetic, trustworthy, and a good listener, which are all great characteristics. I have grown as a person spending so much time with my aunt running this organization and getting to know other people’s experiences.

Being a first-generation student hasn’t always been easy, the road I am on has been difficult for me but also my parents. Growing up was rough, especially around the age of five. I lived in Ohio, in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often because my parents wanted me to be safe. Only one of my parents would be home at a time, which was rough because my father was getting home by the time I was asleep. I never got to see him much, which was sad because he lived under the same roof as me. When I was six, I started staying with my grandma in Kentucky. My parents had me do this so I could go to a good school. During that time, my parents still lived at the old house, but after a year moved in with my grandma and me. It was hard to live with my grandma for multiple reasons, but a big one was that there were reminders of my grandpa everywhere. He had recently passed away, so I took it hard because I looked up to him. Not living with my parents for a year was rough because I already didn’t get to see them that much and never got the chance to truly bond with them. I did not have the special connection with my parents that all my friends had. To this day, I live with my grandma, parents, and twin brother. Growing up was rough because I was trying to grow as an individual and figure out who I was. At a very young age, I knew that I liked girls but my grandma is very homophobic, therefore I did not come out, since she would have kicked me out. It was rough because she used to slap me in the face and verbally abuse me, so knowing that she hated people in the LGBTQ+ community, I had to hide who I was for eight years. She does not slap me anymore, but I decided not to tell her I am a lesbian. It has been very stressful growing up as a first generation, looking at all my friends who don’t have to get jobs because their parents give them allowances every week.I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and had to buy my own car, because the one I my parents got for me was old and the engine exploded on the side of the highway. I now have to start fro scratch and am working overtime to have enough to go to college and try to not have as much debt as my parents have. I know that they are doing the best that they can and if they had the money they would help and pay… but sometimes things don’t work out that way. Overall, I take my life growing up as a whole, an experience that has substantially impacted my life. I want to help create a more diverse community and inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted. I want to show that being a first-generation student doesn’t make you different or less successful. I want to prove to everyone wrong that has told me I won’t be successful and use this opportunity to not only grow as a student but as a person too and surpass those expectations everyone has of all first-generation students. I want to do big things, and accomplish my goals, with my education I will use my knowledge and give back to the community and I hope to own my own buisness too.

A Heavy Metal music lover! I am a first-generation student, who loves sports and outdoors, social events, and rock on. My name is Brooklyn Pickens and I will be a freshman in college this upcoming fall. Money has always been a struggle for my parents so we had to move in with my grandma who paid for our school since my parents couldn't afford it. I have been working since I was 12 years old trying to save up so that I could buy my own things and starting to save for college. I started a college savings fund but last year I had to use all of it to get a new car... the one my parents got me was older and while I was driving it decided to start smoking from the inside. I pulled over on the side of the highway and got out as fast as I could, not even a minute later the front of the car exploded and pieces of my hood blew all over the highway. It was very traumatizing but I think that it made me even stronger. They investigated it and no one could figure out why the engine exploded but my car was completely totaled and I wouldn't be here today if I didn't get out of my car. I used my college funds to buy myself a car which is a safe and reliable one and can get me from place A to B... since my parents couldn't afford another one since I have a twin brother. My academic and professional goals are to make a positive impact on others' lives and make a difference. I want to make use of myself and show people that first-generation students can do things too. My goal is to earn a degree in management and marketing and have a certificate in psychology. I hope to run my own company one day but on the way to that goal, I hope to do sports management and work with athletes. I am very passionate about athletics but also music so who knows what the world has in stock for me. With that being said, I need this scholarship award to help me avoid student loan debt and to help me pursue higher education without having to worry about how much debt I will have to pay off. This scholarship would benefit me greatly and support my financial needs to be a successful student. I plan on paying for my education with the money I have made working, I have stopped buying things that I don't need and just want because I know that I needed to start saving up... especially if I have to pay for college by myself without any help. I work at a nursing home and I also coach soccer and tball... but as a side from that, I also picked up a side job as a nanny because I need all the money I can get. I work Monday through Friday 9-6 and then I go coach. I try to keep myself occupied too because I can't just sit and do nothing all day..., so I mise well work and get paid. Heavy Metal Music is art really, so many intricate pieces are put together to make music and bring so many people together that can connect over it. I mean the thought that goes into making Heavy Metal Music is always dismissed but never deeply thought about how long it took and how much effort and care was put into it. On the other hand, it means a lot to me because it helps me express my emotions. I love listening to it and jamming out with my brother... we don't even need to talk, we kinda just listen to it and bond over it. He introduced me to Slipknot and ever since then that is all we listen to together and how we have made such a strong friendship over it throughout the years.

Mental health is like a roller coaster, it's different every single day and it is unpredictable at first. After going on the same roller coaster over and over again you start to recognize its patterns and start to understand the movements and vibrations of it. Just like a roller coaster... that is what my mother always told me, sometimes it can go up down and around and all you can do about it is just let yourself go through the motions. It can be crazy sometimes but when you have someone sitting in the seat beside you, it isn't as scary. Again, a roller coaster you can sit by someone or alone... whatever you are more comfortable with. It resembles times in your life dealing with mental health too though. Not many people realize that, as I said about the roller coaster, it is whatever you are most comfortable with. You can decide to handle your mental health on your own, or you can have someone by your side to help you get through it. I have had many experiences with mental health, whether it was my own or a friend's... it is everywhere you go. I have had many struggles with my mental health and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety which isn't easy to deal with. With my friends and family there to help me through this wild roller coaster... it was much smoother. I strive to have good mental health, so I try to dedicate at least fifteen minutes to myself every day to focus on my mental health so I can reach my goals. My mental health has shaped my goals into great things, like doing what is right, having a more positive mindset, and trying to do one good deed for a stranger every day. It has also helped me shape the goals that I have with my partner, we even started doing yoga and meditations together to connect and get rid of all the negative energy that attached to us throughout the day. I try to connect with nature a lot too and try to understand the world a little bit better because not everything makes sense and that is okay! I think I am still trying to figure out what my path is on this long journey I have ahead of me, but I know that I want to make a difference and a positive impact on others' mental health. Knowing that I hope I truly make a difference in the world and spread well throughout it. I’m a first-generation student, and the road I’m on has been difficult but also for my parents. Growing up was rough, I lived in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often. Only one of my parents would be home at a time while the other was at work trying to make enough money to keep our house. When I was six, I stayed with my grandma because my parents wanted me to go to a good school but they couldn't afford it. My grandma paid for schooling so we would get a good education where would make it to college. I want to prove everyone wrong that being a first-generation student doesn’t hold you back and you can still do big things. Mental Health is such a confusing thing, but all you have to do is let yourself be okay with not being okay and trying to slow the roller coaster down.

Sports is what brought me complete bliss and helped me through some of the darkest times. I have been playing soccer since I could walk and my mom even told me I kicked my twin brother in the head when we were in the womb. Soccer has been my safe place ever since I can remember and is truly something I am passionate about. When I first started playing I was on an all boys team with my twin brother… we were unstoppable on the front like together. Everyone was shocked that I was playing against boys and thought that I would get hurt by one of them. I had people doubt me from the start bug I did not let anyone bring me down! Soccer is what I lived and it made me happy so I stayed on the team so that my brother and I could be on the same team and play together. I proved everyone wrong and I was the top scorer on the team and everyone in our league knew my name… not just because I was a girl on an all boys team and no one had heard of that at the time, but because I was faster than all the boys and scoring all the goals in the opponents. I also started getting into track as a middle schooler. Running is important to me because it is a way to sharpen your mind and also have time to yourself. Running helps me focus and relax more, it is almost like a safe place for me. I feel at home when I run and that is why I have been on the Varsity track and field team for five years. It soothes the soul and I feel so refreshed after I go for a run. Running is also important to me because it helps me stay fit and healthy. I love running by myself but also with others so then we can push each other to do our best. Being a track and field athlete has helped me not only grow as an athlete but a person. I love being part of the team because it is like my second family. I am a senior this year and I always stand by the saying “lead my example.” I always put in my 110% effort and I always push myself to do the best I can. I have been on my high school's varsity track team for 5 years and I love every part of it. I have grown so much as a person and have learned so much throughout the years. I want to pass down the traditions and all my knowledge about track to the younger athletes and that is why I make sure to include everyone. This past season I was even named team Captain. This scholarship will help me in so many ways because I plan on majoring in Sports Management. I love sports and running so much that I want to work with athletes when I am older. I also plan on minoring in psychology so that I could become a sports psychologist and travel with the teams and make sure they keep positive mindsets. I believe that I deserve this scholarship because I am a first generation student and want to continue working in sports. I coach a running team and a soccer team for six year olds and I love being around running. I think this scholarship would help me out tremendously and help make my dreams come true and allow me to continue teaching by example.

Disney has been a core part of my life while growing up and still is. I always told my mom that I wanted to be in a Disney show when I grew up. As I started getting older I joined the improv shows, plays, and musicals at my school. One year I even had the opportunity to be in the Cinderella Musical, so I joined.. and it was a dream come true! I truly felt like I was in a Disney movie and it just made me so happy. My parents didn’t go to college, so I am a first generation student so my parents don’t have a very high income. I’ve always wanted to go to Disney World but my parents could never afford it so I’ve always just seen things online or in the movies. I am such a Disney nerd and I don’t know who I would be today if I didn't grow up with Disney channel. Disney channel is the only thing I would watch as a kid and it has affected my life in so many good ways. It means the world to me and I am so ecstatic about this scholarship opportunity.. I mean come on who doesn’t love something that has to do with Disney?! It is quite literally where dreams come true. It has taught me so much throughout the years and helped me learn so many core values to become an independent caring young woman. I would say my favorite thing about Disney is how informative the shows really are. They show that people can make mistakes but it’s okay and how it’s okay to not be okay. It teaches you how to problem solve and make friends and how to have fun! Disney is such a great thing to have in your life and makes so many people across the world happy. I think it is a great way to connect with friends and spend time with your family, especially with all of the new movies and shows they have been coming out with recently! I honestly am so happy that I have the chance to apply for a Disney scholarship because Disney has made such a positive impact on my life and helped me through some really dark times. Disney is truly such a magical place and with this scholarship I believe it will make my dreams come true!

Giving back to the community is important to me because I believe that you were given gifts and you should share them with others. In my mind, I believe that if you have these good gifts, then you should share them with your community. My community is very important to me and is like my second family. I am a first generation student so money problems are big in my family and I don’t like worrying about money so I try to turn that stress into act of service. Whenever I have spare time on my hands, I like doing community service with my friends or with my school. Not only are you helping others and doing good, but you are also growing as a person. I also think that the good comes back around, good karma is real and if you do good you’ll receive good. I help my aunt out at her non-profit organization whenever I can because not only do I love giving back to the community, but my aunt is a great role model. When I was seven years old, I moved in with my grandma who lived in Kentucky so I could go to a good school. Before then, I didn't grow up in the greatest neighborhood, and I often had a lot of time to go outside to make friends with the neighbor’s kids since my parents were often at work. During this time, I saw many people living on the street and felt the desire to do something about it. When my aunt introduced me to Helping Hearts, I started making kits, packages, and bundles containing different materials to give to people in need. Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization and we set up events for people in need to provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise have. People frequently donate materials to us, and with those donations, we sort them into different kits and distribute them. This includes food, hygiene, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, diapers, and baby items. In addition to sorting, I get to know the people who ask for help and let them know they’re not alone. Through this work, we support parents and guardians and their children that live in Northern Kentucky and are financially struggling to purchase their families’ immediate needs. I have listened to so many stories from different people. Taking time to get to know people before judging them and becoming more understanding and empathetic. A big thing I have learned by helping run the organization is how to better connect with people with vastly different life experiences than me. My drive to be of service to others has helped me change as a person and open my heart to others. I have learned so many things from my aunt these past few years and the people reaching out to the organization. I learned the difference between needs and wants at a young age and became selfless. I knew I wanted to help people in some way when I was older. I plan on majoring in sports management and marketing, plus minoring in psychology economics, and think that growing up in these conditions and being surrounded by acts of service, would be a fitting degree. Being a part of Helping Hearts has taught me to be patient, empathetic, trustworthy, and a good listener, which are all great characteristics. I have grown as a person spending so much time with my aunt running this organization and getting to know other people’s experiences.

Being a first-generation student hasn’t always been easy, the road I am on has been difficult for me but also my parents. Growing up was rough, especially around the age of five. I lived in Ohio, in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often because my parents wanted me to be safe. Only one of my parents would be home at a time, which was rough because my father was getting home by the time I was asleep. I never got to see him much, which was sad because he lived under the same roof as me. When I was six, I started staying with my grandma in Kentucky. My parents had me do this so I could go to a good school. During that time, my parents still lived at the old house, but after a year moved in with my grandma and me. It was hard to live with my grandma for multiple reasons, but a big one was that there were reminders of my grandpa everywhere. He had recently passed away, so I took it hard because I looked up to him. Not living with my parents for a year was rough because I already didn’t get to see them that much and never got the chance to truly bond with them. I did not have the special connection with my parents that all my friends had. To this day, I live with my grandma, parents, and twin brother. Growing up was rough because I was trying to grow as an individual and figure out who I was. At a very young age, I knew that I liked girls but my grandma is very homophobic, therefore I did not come out, since she would have kicked me out. It was rough because she used to slap me in the face and verbally abuse me, so knowing that she hated people in the LGBTQ+ community, I had to hide who I was for eight years. She doesn't slap me anymore, but I decided not to tell her I am a lesbian. It has been very stressful growing up as a first generation, looking at all my friends who don’t have to get jobs because their parents give them allowances every week. I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and bought my own car, because the one my parents got for me was old and the engine exploded on the side of the highway. Now, I have to start from scratch and work overtime to have enough for college and try to not have as much debt as my parents have. I know that they are doing the best that they can and if they had the money they would help and pay… but sometimes things don’t work out that way. Overall, I take my life growing up as a whole, an experience that has substantially impacted my life. I want to help create a more diverse community and inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted. I want to show that being a first-generation student doesn’t make you different or less successful. I want to prove to everyone wrong that has told me I won’t be successful and use this opportunity to not only grow as a student but as a person too and surpass those expectations everyone has of all first-generation students. I want to do big things, and accomplish my goals, with my education I will use my knowledge and give back to the community. I transfer this energy into running because I love it and it's my second home.

I chose this piece of art that I created because it means alot to me and the things I go through. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression and to help me work through my feelings I would draw them out. This drawing represents the constant that eyes are always one you. I am always worried that people are staring at me and I have so many thought to the points I overthink every little thing. I drew this in order to express how I feel whenever I go out in public because I feel people look at me differently because I go to an expenses school that my parents have to use a payment plan for while all my friends parents pay it in full. I don’t come from a family like all of my friends do and I feel as if they look down on me since my family doesn’t make as much as theirs. It is a big struggle i deal with day to day and everyone at scholl talking about their parents paying for their college when I have to pay it all on my own. This drawing shows someone that is overthinking about way to much and their mind is a blur because theres so many eyes on them that theyre too worried about what others think that they started to lose themselves. I used my own experiences to draw this to describe how I feel. I wanted to show that sometimes people can get lost in their thoughts and lose track of what is really important. When you get wrapped up in what others think about you… you start neglecting yourself and conforming yourself to what others want you to me. I drew this to show that sometimes you can lose track of who you really are when there are so many eyes watching and how it can be a struggle when the thoughts become overwhelming. This is my favorite piece of art that I have created because not only does it feature some mental health issues but it also symbolizes ADHD which I was diagnosed with when I was a kid. LIfe can be a lot to handle sometimes and it isn’t easy to cope with and I drew this as a way to transfer those feelings and thpughts into a piece of art to share my experience with others. This piece of art that I drew was even chosen to be a part of the Cincinnati Art Museum Teen Art Expo which was featured in the Great hall of the museum.

Being a first-generation student hasn’t always been easy, the road I am on has been difficult for me but also my parents. Growing up was rough, especially around the age of five. I lived in Ohio, in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often because my parents wanted me to be safe. Only one of my parents would be home at a time, which was rough because my father was getting home by the time I was asleep. I never got to see him much, which was sad because he lived under the same roof as me. When I was six, I started staying with my grandma in Kentucky. My parents had me do this so I could go to a good school. During that time, my parents still lived at the old house, but after a year moved in with my grandma and me. It was hard to live with my grandma for multiple reasons, but a big one was that there were reminders of my grandpa everywhere. He had recently passed away, so I took it hard because I looked up to him. Not living with my parents for a year was rough because I already didn’t get to see them that much and never got the chance to truly bond with them. I did not have the special connection with my parents that all my friends had. To this day, I live with my grandma, parents, and twin brother. Growing up was rough because I was trying to grow as an individual and figure out who I was. At a very young age, I knew that I liked girls but my grandma is very homophobic, therefore I did not come out, since she would have kicked me out. It was rough because she used to slap me in the face and verbally abuse me, so knowing that she hated people in the LGBTQ+ community, I had to hide who I was for eight years. She does not slap me anymore, but I decided not to tell her I am a lesbian. It has been very stressful growing up as a first generation, looking at all my friends who don’t have to get jobs because their parents give them allowances every week.I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and had to buy my own car, because the one I my parents got for me was old and the engine exploded on the side of the highway. I now have to start fro scratch and am working overtime to have enough to go to college and try to not have as much debt as my parents have. I know that they are doing the best that they can and if they had the money they would help and pay… but sometimes things don’t work out that way. Overall, I take my life growing up as a whole, an experience that has substantially impacted my life. I want to help create a more diverse community and inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted. I want to show that being a first-generation student doesn’t make you different or less successful. I want to prove to everyone wrong that has told me I won’t be successful and use this opportunity to not only grow as a student but as a person too and surpass those expectations everyone has of all first-generation students. I want to do big things, and accomplish my goals, with my education I will use my knowledge and give back to the community.

Being a first-generation student hasn’t always been easy, the road I am on has been difficult for me but also my parents. Growing up was rough, especially around the age of five. I lived in Ohio, in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often because my parents wanted me to be safe. Only one of my parents would be home at a time, which was rough because my father was getting home by the time I was asleep. I never got to see him much, which was sad because he lived under the same roof as me. When I was six, I started staying with my grandma in Kentucky. My parents had me do this so I could go to a good school. I’ve worked since I was 12 years old and had to buy my own car, because the one I my parents got for me was old and the engine exploded on the side of the highway. I now have to start fro scratch and am working overtime to have enough to go to college and try to not have as much debt as my parents have. I know that they are doing the best that they can and if they had the money they would help and pay… but sometimes things don’t work out that way. Overall, I take my life growing up as a whole, an experience that has substantially impacted my life. I want to help create a more diverse community and inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted. I want to show that being a first-generation student doesn’t make you different or less successful. I want to prove to everyone wrong that has told me I won’t be successful and use this opportunity to not only grow as a student but as a person too and surpass those expectations

Giving back to the community is important to me because I believe that you were given gifts and you should share them with others. In my mind, I believe that if you have these good gifts, then you should share them with your community. My community is very important to me and is like my second family. I am a first generation student so moey problems are big in my family and I don’t like worrying about money so I try to turn that stress into act of service. Whenever I have spare time on my hands, I like doing community service with my friends or with my school. Not only are you helping others and doing good, but you are also growing as a person. I also think that the good comes back around, good karma is real and if you do good you’ll receive good. I help my aunt out at her non-profit organization whenever I can because not only do I love giving back to the community, but my aunt is a great role model. When I was seven years old, I moved in with my grandma who lived in Kentucky so I could go to a good school. Before then, I didn't grow up in the greatest neighborhood, and I often had a lot of time to go outside to make friends with the neighbor’s kids since my parents were often at work. During this time, I saw many people living on the street and felt the desire to do something about it. When my aunt introduced me to Helping Hearts, I started making kits, packages, and bundles containing different materials to give to people in need. Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization and we set up events for people in need to provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise have. People frequently donate materials to us, and with those donations, we sort them into different kits and distribute them. This includes food, hygiene, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, diapers, and baby items. In addition to sorting, I get to know the people who ask for help and let them know they’re not alone. Through this work, we support parents and guardians and their children that live in Northern Kentucky and are financially struggling to purchase their families’ immediate needs. I have listened to so many stories from different people. Taking time to get to know people before judging them and becoming more understanding and empathetic. A big thing I have learned by helping run the organization is how to better connect with people with vastly different life experiences than me. My drive to be of service to others has helped me change as a person and open my heart to others. I have learned so many things from my aunt these past few years and the people reaching out to the organization. I learned the difference between needs and wants at a young age and became selfless. I knew I wanted to help people in some way when I was older. I plan on majoring in sports management and marketing, plus minoring in psychology economics, and think that growing up in these conditions and being surrounded by acts of service, would be a fitting degree. Being a part of Helping Hearts has taught me to be patient, empathetic, trustworthy, and a good listener, which are all great characteristics. I have grown as a person spending so much time with my aunt running this organization and getting to know other people’s experiences.

Giving back to the community is important to me because I believe that you were given gifts and you should share them with others. In my mind, I believe that if you have these good gifts, then you should share them with your community. My community is very important to me and is like my second family. I am a first generation student so moey problems are big in my family and I don’t like worrying about money so I try to turn that stress into act of service. Whenever I have spare time on my hands, I like doing community service with my friends or with my school. Not only are you helping others and doing good, but you are also growing as a person. I also think that the good comes back around, good karma is real and if you do good you’ll receive good. I help my aunt out at her non-profit organization whenever I can because not only do I love giving back to the community, but my aunt is a great role model. When I was seven years old, I moved in with my grandma who lived in Kentucky so I could go to a good school. Before then, I didn't grow up in the greatest neighborhood, and I often had a lot of time to go outside to make friends with the neighbor’s kids since my parents were often at work. During this time, I saw many people living on the street and felt the desire to do something about it. When my aunt introduced me to Helping Hearts, I started making kits, packages, and bundles containing different materials to give to people in need. Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization and we set up events for people in need to provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise have. People frequently donate materials to us, and with those donations, we sort them into different kits and distribute them. This includes food, hygiene, cleaning products, clothes, shoes, diapers, and baby items. In addition to sorting, I get to know the people who ask for help and let them know they’re not alone. Through this work, we support parents and guardians and their children that live in Northern Kentucky and are financially struggling to purchase their families’ immediate needs. I have listened to so many stories from different people. Taking time to get to know people before judging them and becoming more understanding and empathetic. A big thing I have learned by helping run the organization is how to better connect with people with vastly different life experiences than me. My drive to be of service to others has helped me change as a person and open my heart to others. I have learned so many things from my aunt these past few years and the people reaching out to the organization. I learned the difference between needs and wants at a young age and became selfless. I knew I wanted to help people in some way when I was older. I plan on majoring in sports management and marketing, plus minoring in psychology economics, and think that growing up in these conditions and being surrounded by acts of service, would be a fitting degree. Being a part of Helping Hearts has taught me to be patient, empathetic, trustworthy, and a good listener, which are all great characteristics. I have grown as a person spending so much time with my aunt running this organization and getting to know other people’s experiences.

COVID-19 had such a big impact on my life and was a rough time for my family and me. I am a very social and active student and I am always doing something. COVID-19 took away two of my biggest passion, charity, and soccer. I run a non-profit organization with my aunt and because of covid, made it very hard for us to get materials to those who need them the most. All I wanted to do was help them and get them the materials that they needed but I was not able to come within six feet of them. Service is a big part of my life and I always am trying to find ways to give back to people. Another thing that was taken away because of COVID-19 was my select soccer team because they shut them all down. This caused me to go into a deep hole and it was a struggle to overcome that. Shortly after COVID-19 occurred, I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, along with a sleeping and eating disorder. All because I could not see people and had to self-isolate, I became so sad. I had to overcome those disorders, and yes they are still a struggle to put up with today, but I am a fighter and overcame COVID-19. Growing up was rough, especially around the age of five. I lived in Ohio, in not the safest neighborhood, so I was not allowed to go outside very often because my parents wanted me to be safe. Only one of my parents would be home at a time, which was rough because my father was getting home by the time I was asleep. I never really got to see him much, which was sad because he lived under the same roof as me. When I was about six years old, I started staying with my grandma in Kentucky. My parents had me do this so I could go to a good school. During that time, my parents still lived at the old house, but after a year, they started renting it out, then moved in with my grandma and me. It was hard to live with my grandma for multiple reasons, but a big one was that there were reminders of my grandpa everywhere. He had recently passed away, so I took it very hardly since he was who I looked up to. Not living with my parents for a year was rough because I already did not get to see them that much and never got the chance to truly bond with them. I did not have the special connection with my parents that all my friends had. To this day, I live with my grandma, my parents have moved in along with my twin brother. Growing up was rough because I was trying to grow as an individual and figure out who I was. At a very young age, I knew that I liked girls and had zero interest in boys. My grandma is very homophobic, therefore I did not come out, since she would have kicked me out. It was rough because she used to slap me in the face and verbally abuse me, so knowing that she hated people in the LGBTQ+ community, I had to hide who I was for eight years. She does not slap me anymore, but I decided not to tell her I am a lesbian. I came out to my friends, and my parents just figured it out without, and they accepted me for who I am.

A quality that I value most in myself is empathy. I didn't grow up in the greatest neighborhood, until about seven years old I lived in Fairfax, Ohio. Only one of my parents would be home at a time because one worked the morning shift and the other worked nights. During this time I was exposed to conditions of the less fortunate and it is something I will never forget. I couldn’t bear seeing the people living out on the street going without care, and this is what prompted my passion for service. Helping Hearts is a non-profit organization that I help run with my aunt. We do charity work and set up events for people in need to provide them with resources they wouldn't otherwise have. People frequently donate materials to us, and with those donations, we sort them into different kits and distribute them to people in need. In addition to sorting, I take the time to get to know people who ask for help and let them know that they’re not alone. Being a part of Helping Hearts has genuinely changed my perspective on today's society. A big thing that I have learned by helping run the organization, was how to better connect with people that have vastly different life experiences than me. It has opened my heart up to those who need me the most, and I try to dedicate my free time to service. Spending time with my aunt and watching her give all her time to help others, even strangers she has never met before has touched my heart in so many ways. She could be spending all her time at home watching tv and relaxing, but she chooses to take care of those desperate for help and love. At first, I would go and sit in her office and help sort clothes here and there. Once I was old enough to understand what was going on in the world, I wanted to make a change. I started volunteering at several places, eventually I chose to join my aunt and help her run the non-profit organization. Helping those in need has been such a big part of my life since I was a little girl. I knew that I wanted to help people in some type of way when I was older. I plan on studying psychology and I think by growing up in these conditions and being surrounded by acts of service it would be a fitting occupation. Being a part of Helping Hearts has taught me to be patient, empathetic, trustworthy, and a good listener, which are all characteristics of a psychologist. I have truly grown as a person spending so much time with my aunt running this organization and truly getting to know other people’s experiences. My drive to be of service to others has helped me change as a person and open my heart to others. I have learned so many things not only from my aunt these past few years but also from the people reaching out to the organization. Most of the time, people never give anyone the time of day when they ask for help and it truly hurts my heart. I listened to so many different stories from different people that all had their own unique stories. Listening to them and taking the time to get to know them before judging them is very important to me. Everyone we help is always so grateful but I am honestly grateful for them for sharing their stories with me, helping me become a more understanding and empathetic person.