Last week I was handed the syllabus for 4 different college classes. I felt extremely overwhelmed, but immediately started doing the assignments. I was recently diagnosed with OCD, but the symptoms started a long time ago. When I was in middle school, there were several assignments that I did not turn in. I was constantly getting in trouble for forgetting to do my work and not paying enough attention to details. When I got to high school, however, I decided I was going to make all A's in my classes and turn in all of my work. I began obsessively checking google classroom and making sure that I completed everything days before it was done. It was a system that worked well for me in high school, because my teachers usually posted our assignments each day so they were well paced out. We had the occasional project, but I was frequently done with mine well in advance. By Wednesday of last week, I was confused and floundering. I wanted to be done with the entire list of assignments for the semester, but I was quickly learning that was an impossible task. I had not even been taught most of the material; of course I could not correctly complete the assignments. In addition, there were new platforms for turning in work, different ways that I was supposed to indicate which group I worked with, and many assignments that weren't even "open" yet. I was so frustrated because having items left on my "to do" list was very disconcerting. When I went to college, I decided to continue my weekly counseling sessions. I had a traumatic childhood, as my biological mom died from domestic violence when I was 8, and I went to foster care. I was eventually adopted by my second foster family, but I developed anxiety from the experience. In counseling, I have worked through my grief and trauma, and developed many strategies for my anxiety. Some of the most effective things I have found are swimming, hiking, reading, and listening to music. I try to incorporate those into my daily life when possible. I am anticipating joining the club swim team at college, and I listen to music as I am walking around campus. Although I have a lot of material to read for my classes, I will still take time to read for pleasure. I have a monthly subscription to National Geographic, which I love. Another effective strategy for me is community service. I serve weekly at my church leading a group of seventh grade girls. I have been with those girls since they were in first grade, meeting with them each Sunday and guiding them through worship, games, and small group. I volunteer at the local soup kitchen.. We prepare food for the homeless and under-resourced in our community, and serve them as they come through. In moments where I am focused on others, I am unable to obsessively think about my own worries and fears. I am forced to get out of my own cyclical thoughts. Even though I have only been a college student for a couple weeks, I can already tell that making my mental health a priority will be extremely important. I will not be able to manage the stress of classes without taking care of myself.first. I know that I will need to make time for weekly counseling, and that I will have to be willing to implement whatever she suggests. I will practice getting my work done at a reasonable pace, and not developing obsessive thought patterns.

Last week I was handed the syllabus for 4 different college classes. I felt extremely overwhelmed, but immediately started doing the assignments. I was recently diagnosed with OCD, but the symptoms started a long time ago. When I was in middle school, there were several assignments that I did not turn in. I was constantly getting in trouble for forgetting to do my work and not paying enough attention to details. When I got to high school, however, I decided I was going to make all A's in my classes and turn in all of my work. I began obsessively checking google classroom and making sure that I completed everything days before it was done. It was a system that worked well for me in high school, because my teachers usually posted our assignments each day so they were well paced out. We had the occasional project, but I was frequently done with mine well in advance. By Wednesday of last week, I was confused and floundering. I wanted to be done with the entire list of assignments for the semester, but I was quickly learning that was an impossible task. I had not even been taught most of the material; of course I could not correctly complete the assignments. In addition, there were new platforms for turning in work, different ways that I was supposed to indicate which group I worked with, and many assignments that weren't even "open" yet. I was so frustrated because having items left on my "to do" list was very disconcerting. When I went to college, I decided to continue my weekly counseling sessions. I had a traumatic childhood, as my biological mom died from domestic violence when I was 8, and I went to foster care. I was eventually adopted by my second foster family, but I developed anxiety from the experience. In counseling, I have worked through my grief and trauma, and developed many strategies for my anxiety. Some of the most effective things I have found are swimming, hiking, reading, and listening to music. I try to incorporate those into my daily life when possible. I am anticipating joining the club swim team at college, and I listen to music as I am walking around campus. Although I have a lot of material to read for my classes, I will still take time to read for pleasure. I have a monthly subscription to National Geographic, which I love. Another effective strategy for me is community service. I serve weekly at my church leading a group of seventh grade girls. I have been with those girls since they were in first grade, meeting with them each Sunday and guiding them through worship, games, and small group. I volunteer at the local soup kitchen.. We prepare food for the homeless and under-resourced in our community, and serve them as they come through. In moments where I am focused on others, I am unable to obsessively think about my own worries and fears. I am forced to get out of my own cyclical thoughts. Even though I have only been a college student for a couple weeks, I can already tell that making my mental health a priority will be extremely important. I will not be able to manage the stress of classes without taking care of myself.first. I know that I will need to make time for weekly counseling, and that I will have to be willing to implement whatever she suggests. I will ractice getting my work done at a reasonable pace, and not developing obsessive thought patterns.

I grew up in a rural area in the upstate of South Carolina. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. I went to foster care. When I was 10, I was adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who is a teacher. Education is very important to me. My biological parents did not have a college education, so I promised myself that I would have a better future. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom. It was hard to concentrate on school with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. However, when I was adopted by my mom, we would work together getting my schoolwork done. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and a responsibility to do well in class. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through foster care. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, my mom encouraged me to open up to counselors and to use calming strategies. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality intact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, and a different school. It took a long time to develop healthy strategies, and one of mine is walking and hiking, getting exercise outside and exploring new areas of town. I have served at our local soup kitchen regularly since I was in 8th grade. The soup kitchen sits on the edge of downtown Greenville, but ironically, the homeless are not very welcome at the local parks. They are rarely able to participate in recreation, which would be vital to their mental and emotional health. I want to go to college and pursue a degree in architectural or civil engineering. With this degree, I want to design and build green spaces and community centers in under resourced areas of town. Recreation decreases stress and violence, and I want all parts of town to have areas where they can engage with one another, relax, and play. I am passionate about children being able to live in stable homes, and being part of healthy communities. I want them to experience a childhood free of violence, and part of that will be educating their parents on mental health strategies. Community centers can be great resources and areas to host health fairs and events that would promote healthy habits. Perhaps even more important, they can be areas where families connect with one another. Living in relationship with others is another important aspect of staying healthy and stable. This scholarship will help me minimize my school debt, so that when I graduate I will be ready to gain employment and start giving back to the community. I will not have to focus on only myself and my own financial needs. Instead I will be able to create a budget that includes giving generously and serving others. The scholarship will also help me complete school without working full time. I still plan on working on weekends, but I will be able to have time during the week to focus on studying and participating in research inquiry groups.

I grew up in a rural area in South Carolina. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was convicted of murder and I went to foster care. When I was 10, I was adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who is a teacher. Education is very important to me. My biological parents did not have a college education, so I promised myself that I would have a better future. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom. It was hard to concentrate on school with all of the uncertainties. However, when I was adopted by my mom, we would work together getting my schoolwork done. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to do well in class. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through foster care. The day my mom died was the last day I saw anyone I had been connected with. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, my mom encouraged me to open up to counselors and to use calming strategies. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality intact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, and a different school. It took a long time to develop healthy strategies, and one of mine is walking and hiking, getting exercise and exploring new areas. I have served at our local soup kitchen regularly since I was in 8th grade. The soup kitchen sits on the edge of downtown, but ironically, the homeless are not very welcome at the local parks. They are rarely able to participate in recreation, which would be vital to their mental health. I am pursuing a degree in civil engineering. With this degree, I want to design and build green spaces and community centers in under-resourced areas of town. Recreation decreases stress and violence, and I want all parts of town to have areas where they can engage with one another, relax, and play. I want children to be able to live in stable homes, and be part of healthy communities. I want them to experience a childhood free of violence, and that will mean educating their parents on mental health strategies. Community centers can be great spaces to host health fairs and events. Perhaps even more important, they can be areas where families connect and play, another important aspect of staying healthy and stable. Being a woman in a male-dominated field is also hard. I was one of only 3 females in my high school calculus class. I was happy and surprised to see a few more women during college orientation. However, when I walked into my first college Engineering class, I was one of only a handful of females. I know that I am going to have to work hard to gain respect and employment in a male-dominated field. There will be challenges to receiving equal compensation, and to making sure my voice is heard. However, I believe women have a lot to bring to the table, and it is important to continue to break down the barriers to women being involved in STEM. I hope to inspire young females and other minorities to join STEM fields. Diversity in the field will challenge and advance our thinking, and enhance our final product.

Towards the end of my second grade year, I was called out of class for an early dismissal. I was excited; an early dismissal usually meant extra time to play at home. Unfortunately, when I arrived in the office, it was to find a social worker, not my mom. The social worker was there to tell me that my mom had been killed that morning, and that I would be going to foster care. I barely did any work during the next three years of elementary school. I was smart, but I could not concentrate on what the teachers were saying or my assignments. I was filled with anxiety and grief. I knew that foster homes could change quickly, and my world felt very unstable. I changed foster homes within the first month, so I was constantly afraid I was going to have to move. Additionally, I did not have anyone from my previous life to come alongside me. The day my mother died was the last day I saw anyone from my elementary school, neighborhood, or family. I was completely cut off from everything I had ever known. My foster families tried to support and help me, but I could not focus on school or friendships. My second foster mom ended up adopting me. She was a teacher, and worked tirelessly to help me. I started weekly counseling, and we did intense trauma and grief work. My counselor helped me learn coping strategies for my anxiety, and helped me work on forming strong relationships with my family. I also had a tutor who would work with me each week on math and science. My tutor inspired me towards a career in engineering, and I decided I wanted to major in Civil Engineering. As I entered high school, I developed a strong work ethic and desire to do well in my classes and overcome the cycle of poverty and abuse that my biological parents raised me in. Another family friend had sparked my interest in swimming. I knew that I could join our school's swim team, which practiced at the local YMCA. During the summer before high school, he worked with me on the four different strokes. I practiced regularly and found that I really enjoyed it. I also discovered that exercise was a very effective way for me to manage my stress and anxiety. The first day of practice was hard, but I also made some friends. Sports helped me develop strong relationships, and a strong sense of community as we were all competing both individually and as a team. For swim competition, each swimmer is allowed a certain number of individual events and a certain number of relays. I loved being chosen as a relay member, and how we would all work together to meet our goals. My adoptive family and our church have given me a strong foundation in serving others. Due to how many people wrapped themselves around me when I was struggling with the loss of my mom, I am very motivated to give back to others. As an engineer, I plan on developing green spaces and community centers in under-resourced areas of town. As a swimmer, I would love to give back by volunteering to teach younger kids how to swim, and coaching.

My goal in life is to serve others. My mom was killed in a domestic violence incident when I was 8; my dad was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and I was placed in foster care. I was eventually adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher at a local elementary school. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. I had a mentor in elementary school who would sit with me, and that helped me be calm and focused during school. A family friend spent time tutoring me in math each week, which inspired my interest in engineering. My grandparents would take me to different appointments. My mom and I worked daily on getting my school work completed. Other family friends would include us in their family vacation plans, and one couple even took me on a trip to Europe. This inspires me to serve others. I have spent the last ten years growing in my experiences of helping others. The judge who presided over my adoption gifted me with a dog, and my mom and I used to take him to the nursing home. I was able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I serve quarterly at the soup kitchen. I learn new cooking skills while also helping others. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 6 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are in 6th grade. I have gotten up each Sunday morning to worship, play games, and have small group time. Our church has a strong foster/adopt ministry, so I have been able to take my experiences of foster care and adoption and help the younger girls experiencing that. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was knowing that my dad was incarcerated. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, community, school, and way of thinking about the world. My experiences have made me a more compassionate person - more aware that people could be experiencing hard things that no one knows about. This makes it easier for me to work with all people. While losing a parent and going into foster care is not something that I will ever “overcome”, I feel like living through those things is something that has shaped me into the person I am today. I know that college will be a challenge, but I am convinced that it will also give me experiences that will continue growing my character. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. As an engineer, I can help create community centers and green spaces in under-resourced areas. I can be someone who recognizes a need and steps in. The way that I take care of myself is by taking care of others.

One day at the end of my second grade school year, I was called out of class. I left school with a guardian ad litem, a lady who told me that my mom had been killed in a domestic violence incident, and I was being sent to foster care. I remember feeling hopeless, abandoned, sad, and terrified. In the weeks that followed, I promised myself I would have a better life for myself. I knew that my parents didn't have a college education or a steady income. I didn't want my life to end up like theirs; I wanted a successful future. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom and all of my relationships with teachers, classmates, and neighborhood friends. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. I almost never completed my classwork, and my teachers were convinced that I had ADHD. However, a year and a half later when I was adopted by my foster mom, she helped me throughout my early schooling years. We would work together getting my classwork and schoolwork done. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. I found out that studying and concentrating on math and science actually helped alleviate a lot of the anxiety I had. Working problems and focusing helped center my mind and calm my thoughts. Other people also came alongside me when I was struggling. My grandparents would drive me to appointments and take me to serve at the soup kitchen. I had a mentor throughout school who would eat lunch with me and help me stay focused. We had family friends who would include us on vacations, and one who would tutor me in math. That friend was an engineer, and he would tell me stories about the projects he was working on at work designing fire sprinklers. He would also include me in his projects around the house: we would work on fixing refrigerator water lines and repairing riding lawn mowers. It encouraged me to think about how things worked and create solutions to problems. I was inspired to pursue a career in engineering. Last summer, I had the chance to attend a camp called "Engineering the Built Environment" at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. We had opportunities to explore the different types of engineering through various group projects. I found out that I excelled at designing and building bridges and models of buildings. I am now interested in pursuing civil and architectural engineering. I also found that working with different people was challenging, but also inspiring. Collaborating on projects helped me generate new ideas and think through different solutions to the problem. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through the foster care experience. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, a different school, and a different way of thinking about the world. These experiences will help me in college as I will have to do the same thing - learn a new school and new community and a different way of life. My family situation is unique. I spent 8 and a half years with my biological parents. Those formative years showed me what life is like without an education: living in cycles of poverty, addiction, and violence. When I was 10, I was adopted by a single lady who is a teacher at a local public school. I have seen what it looks like for someone to live on a stable salary, saving money and living within a budget. I have seen the stark contrast between living an isolated life, making sure no one was aware of the hard things happening at home, and the life rooted in community, making sure there are always people around to help and support. I have decided that I want to live my life around other people who can support me. I want to go to college, pursue a degree in engineering, and continue developing and adding to my support system. I am also continuing to develop and refine my skills in order to help other people. So many people supported me when I was going through a hard time, and I want to be able to give back. I have been disheartened to see the racial disparity in access to recreation and green spaces in my hometown. Even though our mayor is diligent about researching and developing parks in the area, it is almost always in neighborhoods and areas mainly accessible to rich, white people. As an engineer, I want to be able to use my skills to design and create green spaces and community centers in under-resourced areas. Recreation and community promote healthy relationships by reducing stress and, therefore, reducing violence. Everyone deserves the opportunity to have recreation accessible in their own neighborhoods. I am excited to dream about how my education will not only set me up for success, but also allow me to serve others.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Life can be very difficult to get through. I have first-hand experience with this; my biological mom passed away from domestic violence when I was 8, and I was placed in foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by a single lady who is a teacher at a public school. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. No one could bring my mother back, but people would spend time with me, which really helped alleviate some of my pain. I had a mentor in elementary school who was able to help me be calm and focused during school. I had a family friend who would spend time each week tutoring me in math. Due to the many hours we spent together, I decided I wanted to pursue the same career he has, engineering. My grandparents would take me on bike rides and drive me to different appointments. I had other family friends who would include us in their family vacations, and one couple took me on a two week WWII trip to Europe. Because friends and family worked to provide me with help, it is one of my goals in life to help others too. I have spent the last ten years growing in my experiences of helping others. The judge who presided over my adoption gifted me with a dog, and my mom and I take him to our local nursing home to visit the residents. I am able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I serve at least quarterly at the local soup kitchen, providing lunch to the homeless population in the area. I am learning new cooking skills while also helping others, and my grandfather takes me around the eating area as he visits with different folks. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 6 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are about to start 7th grade. I meet with them each week for worship, bible study, and discussion. I also participate in their retreats and fun activities. The most important thing I have learned from my adversity is to give back to others. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. As an engineer, I can give generously. I can also partner with organizations and help design and create community centers and green spaces in under-resourced areas. Participating in recreational activities and being involved in community activities reduces family violence. I am committed to helping children grow up in peaceful neighborhoods and home environments. I can mentor other students, similar to how my mentor helped me. I can be someone who recognizes a need and steps in. I am confident that the skills I acquire through education will help me grow in “compassion, be useful, be honorable, and make some difference.”

My mom passed away from a domestic violence incident when I was 8 years old, and I went to foster care, leaving all of my friends and belongings behind. When I was 10, I was adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who is a teacher. Education is very important to me. My biological parents did not have a college education, so I promised myself that I would have a better future. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom. It was hard to concentrate on school with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. However, when I was adopted by my mom, she helped me throughout my early schooling years. We would work together getting my schoolwork done. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to do well in my classes. My mom wanted to make sure that I had strong male influences in my life. One of those men was a family friend who tutored me in math each week. I loved hearing about his career as an engineer and figuring out how to solve problems together. I decided I wanted to pursue engineering as well. I went to a camp called “Engineering the Built Environment” at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago last summer. Through the different projects we worked on, I discovered that I excelled in building models of bridges and other structures. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through foster care. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, my mom encouraged me to open up to counselors and to use calming strategies. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality intact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, and a different school. I will be able to utilize these skills in college. This scholarship will help me meet my goal of becoming an engineer and serving others. I want to pay back all of the kindness that was showered on me when I was going through a difficult time. I want to design and build green spaces and community centers in under resourced areas of town. Recreation decreases stress and violence, and I want all parts of town to have areas where they can engage with one another, relax, and play. I want to see tax funds distributed equitably to all communities, but until they are, I want to bring my own skills to the scene for the good of all. A scholarship will help me attend college without accruing thousands and thousands of dollars in school debt.

My mom was murdered in a domestic violence incident when I was 8, and I was placed in foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. When I was 10, I was adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a public school teacher. Education has been an important factor throughout my life. My biological parents did not have a college education or a steady income, so I promised myself that I would make a better future for myself. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. However, when I was adopted by my mom, who was a teacher, we would work together to get all of my assignments done. When I entered high school, I developed a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to maintain a high GPA and do well in my classes. I decided that I wanted to become an engineer. I am specifically interested in architectural and civil engineering. I explored various types of engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology this summer through a summer camp program specifically designed for engineering. I found that I excelled in making models of buildings and also building small bridges and that I was interested in becoming an architectural or civil engineer. I also love history and art. In art, I have had my work recognized locally and statewide, as I have won multiple competitions. This helped to affirm my abilities in art. I was able to go to Europe in the summer of 2022 on a WWII tour for high school students. I specifically enjoyed learning about the resilience of people during difficult circumstances. I was also intrigued by the countless stories of children in war. Art will help me in the engineering field, through being able to sketch out designs and plan buildings and structures. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through the foster care experience. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences; how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, and a different way of thinking about the world. These experiences will help me in college as I will have to do the same thing. While losing a parent and going into foster care is not something that I will ever “overcome”, I feel like living through those things is something that has shaped me into the person I am today. I know that college will be a challenge, but I am convinced that it will also give me experiences that will continue growing my character. I am seeking financial assistance in order to complete my college degree with limited debt. I have a goal to give back to the community, by providing engineering services in under resourced areas and by giving generously. I want to be someone who can come alongside others, similar to how so many came alongside me in my grief and struggle.

Life can be very difficult to get through. I have first-hand experience with this; my mom was killed in a domestic violence incident when I was 8.5, and I was placed in foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher at a local elementary school. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through the foster care experience. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, a different school, and a different way of thinking about the world. These experiences will help me in college as I will have to do the same thing - learn a new school and new community and a different way of life. I have learned how to take hard situations and become stronger and more innovative because of them. I will use these skills to problem solve in my new work environments, as well as in school. I have also spent the last ten years growing in my own experiences of helping others. The judge who presided over my adoption gifted me with a dog, and my mom and I used to take him to our local nursing home. I was able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I serve quarterly at the soup kitchen. I learn new cooking skills while also helping others, and my grandfather takes me around the eating area as he visits with different folks. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 6 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are in 6th grade. I have gotten up each Sunday morning to worship, play games, and have small group time. Our church has a strong foster/adopt ministry, so I have been able to take my experiences of foster care and adoption and help the younger girls experiencing that. My experiences have also made me a more compassionate person - more aware that people could be experiencing a variety of hard things in their lives that no one really knows about. This makes it easier for me to work with all people, even those I do not share a particular connection with. While losing a parent and going into foster care is not something that I will ever “overcome”, I feel like living through those things is something that has shaped me into the person I am today. I know that college will be a challenge, but I am convinced that it will also give me experiences that will continue growing my character. Being able to serve others and show empathy towards them is another example of how I can adapt and change to accommodate new people and to successfully navigate the social situations that arise at school and work. Education has been an important factor throughout my life. My biological parents did not have a college education, nor a steady income, so I promised myself at a young age that I would fight for a better future than the ones my parents had. During high school, I decided that I wanted to become an engineer. I am specifically interested in architectural and civil engineering. I enjoy math and science, and I enjoy the aspects of design. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. As an engineer, I can partner with organizations and help create community centers and green spaces in areas that are underresourced. I can be someone who recognizes a need and steps in. I am confident that the skills I acquire through education will help me grow into someone who can model a life of serving. I know that I will continue to adapt and change as different situations arise and as I meet and connect with a variety of people. However, I have also learned how to keep my identity and values in tact in the midst of change.

My biological mom died in a domestic violence incident when I was 8, and I went to foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher. I was very sad about losing my mom and all of my relationships with teachers, classmates, and neighborhood friends. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. However, when I was adopted by my mom, she helped me complete my schoolwork. This increased my work ethic, causing me to graduate high school at the top of my class with all A’s. Growing up in a single family household was an unique experience for me, as I had a large amount of support from my mother. Because I was an only child, my mom would spend a vast amount of her time with me teaching me things and supporting me. We are very close and I believe that I wouldn’t have that close of a relationship with her if I had two parents. My mom made sure I had male figures in my life. A family friend would tutor me in math each week, and we would also do projects around the house. Through spending time with him, I decided I wanted to pursue engineering. Another family friend inspired me to take German in high school, and now I plan to minor in German in college. That same man was also an avid swimmer, and was able to coach me in swimming, causing me to join the varsity swim team. My grandpa would take me to serve at the local soup kitchen. These few males in my life have taught me important lessons, such as being patient when things don’t go as I planned. I would not have had such strong relationships with them if I had been in a two parent household. Living with a single mom has taught me to create budgets. As I did not have two parents providing for me, I had to learn how to save money. My mom taught me the importance of cutting back in simple ways. I learned to appreciate the value of hand me downs and budget grocery stores. My mom still took me on vacations and provided for my needs, but I always knew that we had to sacrifice things in order to save for what we wanted. I saw my mom making room in her budget to be generous to others. I learned that it is important to always consider others. Growing up in a single parent household helped me understand the importance of working together. My mom and I would often complete chores together; in a single parent household everyone has to work hard to keep things running smoothly. Because I learned this at an early age, I now have a phenomenal amount of work ethic and am able to work well with others in accomplishing tasks. My experience has helped me become a more empathetic person. I’m more willing to help others who are less fortunate than me, because I understand that life can be difficult and that everyone has hard situations. My mom is also a very caring and empathetic person, so she has taught me how to love others well. When people consider single parent households, they often think about the negatives and believe that it is harmful for children as they grow. However, I believe my household has many benefits. I have a stronger character and am a better person because of it.

I grew up in a tumultuous household. My parents were in a constant state of conflict, and my father had a work injury that caused a lot of financial distress. Ultimately, my dad became addicted to both prescription pain meds and alcohol, and the combination, coupled with his mental health illness, caused him to become delusional. He began to believe that my mom was against him, and ultimately, the domestic violence that they became entangled in, sent me to foster care. The foster care experience was traumatic. I was filled with grief and loss from leaving all of my friends and belongings behind. I was moved to different families, none of whom were in my same community and all of which I had no bond with. I had no idea how to act or who to show loyalty to. I remember telling my current mom, during the first time I met her, that I needed to call her "mom" because it was easier to remember that than all of the names of the people taking care of me. I developed my own mental health issues, both of anxiety and depression and "adjustment disorder". However, when I was adopted by a single mom who was a teacher at the local public school, she immediately started researching good counselors in the area. Within a couple weeks of being placed with her, I was in weekly counseling. I have had different counselors, as I have outgrown what a practice could handle or my current counselor changed practices. But my latest counselor has been with me since 2018. We have worked through the grief process and trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy. She is also trained in TBRI, which is Trust Based Relational Interventions, researched and developed by someone who was devoted to finding a method to reach children from hard places. Other people also came alongside me when I was struggling. I had a mentor throughout school who would eat lunch with me and help me stay focused. We had family friends who would include us on vacations, and one who would tutor me in math. My grandparents took me on bike rides and to appointments. My grandfather would also take me with him to serve at the soup kitchen, and I learned compassion and empathy from watching him visit with the clients. Growing up in such a dysfuctional household was extremely hard, as was going through the foster care experience. My biological mom died from domestic violence, and that day was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, a different school, and a different way of thinking about the world. These experiences will help me in college as I will have to do the same thing - learn a new school and new community and a different way of life. My experiences have also made me more aware that people could be experiencing a variety of hard things in their lives that no one really knows about. This makes it easier for me to work with all people, even those I do not share a particular connection with. I am thankful for the way adversity has shaped my character. It has helped me develop a strong work ethic. School was incredibly hard for me when I first went into foster care. I could not concentrate or get my work completed. However, I had a mentor, and she would sit with me and eat lunch each week. She was able to help me calm down and focus at school. I am more empathetic, and sensitive to other people. Due to growing up in a single parent household, I am more well rounded. I have stronger relationships with the males in my life. My mom specifically sought out people who could come around me. I had a family friend who tutored me in math, and he inspired me to become an engineer. I have another friend who enjoys learning the German langage and culture, and also enjoys swimming. Due to his influence, I joined the Varsity Swim Team in high school and took 3 years of German. I am not considering minoring in German for business communications. Mental illness and violence totally disrupted my life. It has caused all sorts of problems for me. Fortunately, it has also produced solid character traits and life experiences that I would not have been able to even dream of. It has also caused me to examine my own mental health, and be diligent about working hard during counseling sessions. My adoptive mom always told me that when mental health problems arise for me, I have two choices: I can run towards help or away from help. I have chosen to run towards help and do everything I can to prevent mental health problems from overtaking my life.

My biological mom died in a domestic violence incident when I was 8, and I went to foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher. I was very sad about losing my mom and all of my relationships with teachers, classmates, and neighborhood friends. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. However, when I was adopted by my mom, she helped me complete my schoolwork. This increased my work ethic, causing me to graduate high school at the top of my class with all A’s. Growing up in a single family household was an unique experience for me, as I had a large amount of support from my mother. Because I was an only child, my mom would spend a vast amount of her time with me teaching me things and supporting me. We are very close and I believe that I wouldn’t have that close of a relationship with her if I had two parents. My mom made sure I had male figures in my life. A family friend would tutor me in math each week, and we would also do projects around the house. Through spending time with him, I decided I wanted to pursue engineering. Another family friend inspired me to take German in high school, and now I plan to minor in German in college. That same man was also an avid swimmer, and was able to coach me in swimming, causing me to join the varsity swim team. My grandpa would take me to serve at the local soup kitchen. These few males in my life have taught me important lessons, such as being patient when things don’t go as I planned. I would not have had such strong relationships with them if I had been in a two parent household. Living with a single mom has taught me to create budgets. As I did not have two parents providing for me, I had to learn how to save money. My mom taught me the importance of cutting back in simple ways. I learned to appreciate the value of hand me downs and budget grocery stores. My mom still took me on vacations and provided for my needs, but I always knew that we had to sacrifice things in order to save for what we wanted. I saw my mom making room in her budget to be generous to others. I learned that it is important to always consider others. Growing up in a single parent household helped me understand the importance of working together. My mom and I would often complete chores together; in a single parent household everyone has to work hard to keep things running smoothly. Because I learned this at an early age, I now have a phenomenal amount of work ethic and am able to work well with others in accomplishing tasks. My experience has helped me become a more empathetic person. I’m more willing to help others who are less fortunate than me, because I understand that life can be difficult and that everyone has hard situations. My mom is also a very caring and empathetic person, so she has taught me how to love others well. When people consider single parent households, they often think about the negatives and believe that it is harmful for children as they grow. However, I believe my household has many benefits. I have a stronger character and am a better person because of it.

My biological mom died in a domestic violence incident when I was 8 years old, and a judge sent me to foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. Just a week after my 10th birthday, I was adopted by my second foster mom, a single lady who was a public school teacher. I have participated in the Varsity Swim Team for the last 4 years. I am taking AP Calculus, AP Literature, and Media Broadcasting. Last year, I passed my AP Art exam and my AP Language exam. I also have a job working at my church doing childcare, and at the local YMCA as a lifeguard. Our family also spends time during the week and on weekends with our family friends - hiking, exploring local restaurants, and helping one another with basic life tasks. My grandparents and aunt, uncle, and cousins all live within a 5 mile radius as well, so we see them often. My grandpa and I serve at Project Host, a local soup kitchen, together at least once a quarter. I also serve each Sunday leading a group of 6th grade girls in student ministry. Education has been an important factor throughout my life. My biological parents did not have a college education, nor a steady income, so I promised myself at a young age that I would have a better future than the ones my parents had. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom and all of my relationships with teachers, classmates, neighborhood friends, my brother, etc. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. At that time, I did not know where I was going to live, who I was going to live with, and where I would be going to school. I knew that foster homes could change quickly, because I had already experienced that. However, when I was adopted by my mom, who was a teacher, she helped me throughout my early schooling years. We would work together getting my unfinished classwork AND my homework done. Once I got through elementary and middle school, I developed a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to maintain a high GPA and do well in my classes. During high school, I had a family friend who would tutor me each week. We would also do household tasks and projects together. I decided that I wanted to pursue his same career, engineering. I am specifically interested in architectural and civil engineering. I enjoy math and science, and I enjoy the aspects of design. I love art, and reading, both the classics and historical fiction. There are so many different interests that I have, but I have decided to focus on engineering at the moment. I explored various types of engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology this summer through a summer camp program. I found that I excelled in making models of buildings and also building small bridges. I also love history and art. I have had my artwork recognized locally and statewide, as I have won multiple competitions. This helped to affirm my abilities in art. I was able to go to Europe in the summer of 2022 on a WWII tour for high school students. I specifically enjoyed learning about the resilience of people during difficult circumstances. I was also intrigued by the countless stories of children in war. Last school year I earned a 4 on the AP Art exam by submitting a portfolio of works about the effects of war on children. Art will also help me in the engineering field, through being able to sketch out designs and plan buildings and structures. Growing up in a tumultuous household was extremely hard, as was going through the foster care experience. The day that my mom died was the last day that I saw anyone I had been connected with - teachers, peers, neighbors, and family members. I had to learn how to navigate in a world that was brand new to me. I was filled with anxiety and grief. However, I learned to open up to counselors and to use strategies to help regulate my emotions. I learned to make new friends and be open to new experiences. I learned how to keep the core parts of my personality and interests in tact, while also developing a new identity as a member of a different family, a different community, a different school, and a different way of thinking about the world. These experiences will help me in college as I will have to do the same thing - learn a new school and new community and a different way of life. My experiences have also made me a more compassionate person - more aware that people could be experiencing a variety of hard things in their lives that no one really knows about. This makes it easier for me to work with all people, even those I do not share a particular connection with. While losing a parent and going into foster care is not something that I will ever “overcome”, I feel like living through those things is something that has shaped me into the person I am today. I know that college will be a challenge, but I am convinced that it will also give me experiences that will continue growing my character. I was also diagnosed with Celiac Disease the fall of my junior year of high school. This makes social experiences revolving around food extremely challenging, as I have to be extremely careful of cross contamination and only eating gluten free. It is something I am still struggling through and learning how to navigate. I plan on going to Clemson University in the fall and studying engineering. I would like to minorin either German communications or Architecture. I live close to a big city, that has a growing desire for parks and recreation centers. However, there is a disparity about and where resources are spent. As an engineer, I want to be able to go into under resourced and underserved areas of town and develop green spaces and community centers that can have a positive impact on the residents. I also want to work with our city to develop better accessibility (public transportation, bicycle loaner programs) to make the parks available as places where people of all backgrounds can come enjoy one another and our town. Recreation is vital to reducing stress and violence. I would like to see that for other people who may be experiencing the hardship of living in tense or stressful situations. I am willing to partner with other organizations and our city's governing powers to help drive my ideas to fruition. Ultimately, I want to break the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up in. Even though I was only in that household until the age of 8, it had a profound impact on my early childhood years, my stress and anxiety levels, and my ability to think rationally about safety. I want to change that, and be someone who can maintain stability, live efficiently, and serve others.

Luke 12: 48 says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” My goal in life is to serve others. Life can be very difficult to get through. I have first hand experience with this; my mom died in a domestic violence incident when I was 8.5, and I was placed in foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher at a local elementary school. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. No one could bring my mother back, but people would spend time with me, which really helped alleviate some of my pain. I had a mentor in elementary school who would just sit with me, and she was able to help me be calm and focused during school. I had a family friend who would spend time each week tutoring me in math, which inspired my interest in engineering. My grandparents would spend time with me each week. My mom and I worked daily on getting my school work completed. Other family friends would include us in their family vacation plans, and one couple even took me on a trip to Europe. I was given much, and I know that much is required of me. I have spent the last ten years growing in my experiences of helping others. The judge who presided over my adoption gifted me with a dog, and my mom and I used to take him to our local nursing home. I was able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I serve quarterly at the soup kitchen. I learn new cooking skills while also helping others, and my grandfather takes me around the eating area as he visits with different folks. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 6 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are in 6th grade. I have gotten up each Sunday morning to worship, play games, and have small group time. Our church has a strong foster/adopt ministry, so I have been able to take my experiences of foster care and adoption and help the younger girls experiencing that in their own families. I also have been to Allendale twice on mission trips to help out with Camp IMPACT, a summer camp for children hosted by Fairfax First Baptist and Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church. I was able to help facilitate games and lead discussions with the students attending the camp. I currently have a job as a lifeguard at a local YMCA, and help build community. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. As an engineer, I can partner with organizations and help create community centers and green spaces in areas that are under resourced. In Greenville, there are many parks but few that are accessible to people in poverty. I want to rectify that and make the parks and green spaces areas where people from all walks of life come together. I can also be someone who recognizes a need and steps in. I am confident that the skills I acquire through education will help me grow into someone who can model “to whom much is given, much is required”. Gun violence totally disrupted my life, but I have the opportunity to not let it destroy me, and instead to let it shape me.

“To whom much is given, much will be required.”(Luke 12:48) My goal in life is to serve others. Life can be very difficult to get through. I have first hand experience with this; my mom died in a domestic violence incident when I was 8.5, and I was placed in foster care, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. My biological parents did not have a college education or a steady income. I was eventually adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher at a local elementary school. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. No one could bring my mother back, but people would spend time with me, which really helped alleviate some of my pain. I had a mentor in elementary school who would just sit with me, and she was able to help me be calm and focused during school. I had a family friend who would spend time each week tutoring me in math, which inspired my interest in engineering. My grandparents would spend time with me each week, taking me on long bike rides and driving me to appointments. My mom and I worked daily on getting my school work completed. Other family friends would include us in their family vacation plans, and one couple even took me on a trip to Europe. I was given much, and I know that much is required of me. I have spent the last ten years growing in my experiences of helping others. The judge who presided over my adoption gifted me with a dog, and my mom and I used to take him to our local nursing home. I was able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I serve quarterly at the soup kitchen. I learn new cooking skills while also helping others, and my grandfather takes me around the eating area as he visits with different folks. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 6 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are in 6th grade. I have gotten up each Sunday morning to worship, play games, and have small group time. Our church has a strong foster/adopt ministry, so I have been able to take my experiences of foster care and adoption and help the younger girls experiencing that in their own families. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. I am going to pursue a degree in civil engineering. As an engineer, I can partner with organizations and help create community centers and green spaces in areas that are under resourced. I can be someone who recognizes a need and steps in. I would love to mentor a younger student and provide support, just as my mentor supported me. I am confident that the skills I acquire through education will help me grow into someone who can model “to whom much is given, much is required”. Gun violence totally disrupted my life, but I have the opportunity to not let it destroy me, and instead to let it shape me.

My biological mom passed away from a domestic violence incident when I was 8 years old, and a judge made the decision that I would go to foster care. A month later, I moved to my second foster home about an hour away, leaving all of my belongings and friendships behind. I was eventually adopted by my foster mom, a single lady who was a teacher at a local elementary school. The first Sunday I was with her, I went to church for the first time. I remember walking out and asking her if we could go back the next day, and she had to explain to me that there weren't church services every day of the week but that we would be back the following Sunday. My biological parents did not have a college education,a steady income, or faith in God, so I promised myself at a young age that I would have a better future than the ones my parents had. When I went into foster care, I was very sad about losing my mom and all of my relationships with teachers, classmates, neighborhood friends, my brother, etc. It was hard to concentrate on school work with all of the uncertainties and unknowns. Once I got through elementary and middle school, I developed a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to maintain a high GPA and do well in my classes. I also continued to grow in my relationship with God and to develop relationships in my church family. So many people have come alongside and supported me, from taking time to mentor me, to taking me on trips to Europe, to helping pay for different sporting endeavors that I would try. Through those experiences, I also started serving in children's and student ministries. When I was in 7th grade, I started co-leading a group of 1st grade girls. I have stayed with those same girls and now they are in 6th grade. Due to our church having a strong emphasis on foster care and adoption, there are 4 girls in my group who are adopted and 2 who have adopted siblings. Through my own experiences, I am able to relate to them and point them towards God's faithfulness and goodness even in hard times. I used to struggle to participate in my own small groups at church due to fear and anxiety, so I am especially equipped to help these girls feel comfortable and be able to talk through their feelings and questions. I also was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about 15 months ago. It instantly changed my life, as I could no longer go out to most restaurants or eat any snacks provided at school or church events. I initially felt extremely isolated, and even ashamed at having to explain to people that I had to eat a special diet. However, it has led me towards compassion and empathy to those struggling with invisible autoimmune disorders or allergies. I am much more cognizant of how I can serve and be a friend to others who need a supportive friend and someone who will adjust plans in order to accommodate their needs. While I am still working through the grief and trauma of losing my mom and growing up in domestic violence, I am persevering. I am learning every day how to manage stress and anxiety, how to move forward and accomplish my goals. I also am continually confirming, through my experiences, my belief that God can still use me and that I have an important role to play in serving my community.