I am a rising junior Mechanical Engineering student , hoping to pursue a career in the aerospace or automotive field. I am most interested in joining an Engineering firm that is committed to giving back to the community and serving the underresourced whenever possible. My mom was killed in a domestic violence incident when I was 8 years old. I was placed into foster care, and then adopted by a teacher at a local school. Due to her being a first time mom and a single parent, she worked to build community around me, and made sure that i had strong male role models. One such person was a family friend who tutored me in math and science through the years. We would work through various concepts, but we also had opportunities to repair things around the house, such as a leaky water pipe or a car window. He encouraged me to go to a summer camp at the Illinois Institute of Technology where I was able to explore various types of engineering, and thought that I would most enjoy civil engineering. However, after being at my university, other professors gave convincing reasoning to change to ME So far, I am most committed to aerospace and automotive work, but I am open to other possibilities and plan on getting an internship next year. So many people have come around me and supported me, so I most want a career where I can remain committed to giving back and serving others.

When i was 8 years old, my parents started fighting regularly. My mom decided to move us to a domestic violence shelter, where we lived for a month before my dad found the location. I was sitting in my second grade classroom when a social worker came to the school to tell me that my mom had died, and my dad was arrested. I was all alone in the world, sent to foster care. I had no familiar adults, children, or even comforting possessions to help alleviate my pain. I was scared, angry, and grieving. I decided I would work hard to have a different life for myself. At first, I was highly distracted in school. I had trouble adjusting to my new life and was constantly anxious and hypervigilant. My new foster mom asked the school if I could have a mentor through a program funded by our local YMCA. My mentor happened to work at the school as well as an administrative assistant, so she was able to help me daily. I had family friends who would work on tutoring with me each week and include me on their family vacations. My foster mom was a single parent, and a teacher at the local elementary school. She was able to adopt me after two years, and I was able to be fully involved in our church and social activities. Eventualy, I developed a strong work ethic and a love for math and science. I decided I wanted to pursue Engineering at the advise and encouragement of my family friend/tutor. I had the opportunity to attend a summer camp at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and discovered that I enjoyed many aspects of Civil Engineering. However, after a year of undergraduate in general Engineering, I changed over to Mechanical Engineering. College has been extremely difficult for me and I have felt like dropping out multiple times. However, each time, I remember my purpose. I want to live a life of service to others, and truly help where I am needed. I want to honor my biological mom and my foster mom, both who have worked hard to protect and care for me as much as possible. I want to break the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up in, and take something terrible that has happened and turn it into good. Losing my mom, and ultimately you could say my dad as well, had a profound effect on my life. I have to work hard to cling to joy most days. I have to remind myself that life is worth living, and that I should be mindful of that and take care of other people as much as I can. I should strive to do well in my classes in order to truly learn the material in order to be a blessing to others.

My mom passed away from domestic violence when I was 8.5 years old. My dad was arrested, I was sent to foster care, and in the blink of an eye, my life changed. I was sent to an emergency foster placement for a month, and then moved to a different foster home about an hour away. About 18 months later, I was adopted by a single lady who teaches preschool in the local public elementary school. Education has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. My biological parents did not have a college education or steady income, so I promised myself at a young age that I would make a better life for myself. A very good family friend tutored me each week in science and math, and through the time we spent together, I decided I wanted to pursue the same career he has - engineering. I attended a summer camp at Illinois Institute of Technology, and was extremely interested in Civil and Architectural Engineering. However, after my first year at college, I changed my major to Mechanical Engineering, and would like to focus on Automotives. Although my elementary and middle school years were difficult for me, as I was still adjusting to my new family and life, I developed a very strong work ethic and excelled in high school. I really enjoyed my math and science classes and especially loved teaching and explaining concepts to my peers. At Clemson University, I am enjoying my hands on lab classes and working hard to master new concepts and skills. I am currently commuting to college, which is taking about an hour and twenty minutes each day, in order to save money. I have enjoyed doing this, but it is time consuming and very limiting in terms of tutoring, clubs, and social activities. As my classes are getting harder and I am approaching the halfway mark in my college years, I am hoping to live at Clemson next school year. I will need a scholarship to make this happen, especially because my state funded medicaid and adoption medical subsidy to pay for counseling will end this December. I will be responsible for many more expenses next year. However, I still feel like this is the best move, because Clemson offers several group and individual tutoring experiences in the evenings, the Automotive Engineering industry has mostly group projects that I will need to be on campus to complete, and the swimming club team at Clemson practices at night. I also feel like living independently will help me continue to develop life skills that I will need in the future. I have been so blessed by all of the people who came alongside me when I was going through a difficult time. I want to be able to repay that kindness to others. I have been serving with my grandfather once a month at our local soup kitchen. I have also been leading a group of middle school girls at my church. I have been working with those same girls since they were in first grade, and have moved up with them each year to continue developing relationships and mentoring them. My engineering degree will help me continue in this endeavor - both by allowing me margin to give generously, but also being able to serve through my career. I want to be able to help engineer community centers and spaces in under-resourced areas of town. I can also find ways to help make certain cars more accessible to all populations.

When I was 8 years old, I had never heard of Jesus or been to church. I was living in a camper, in a rural area, with my parents and older brother. One day my mom decided to move us to a domestic violence shelter. I had to change schools and leave most of my belongings behind, and was thrown into life with other moms and their children always crowding around. A month later, my dad found out the location of the shelter. I was in second grade, and a social worker came to the school to tell me that my mom had passed away in a domestic violence incident, and that I would be going to foster care. Within a month, I had been in two different foster homes, and yet I had never seen a counselor or met my caseworker. I truly felt all alone in the world. I was in an unfamiliar school, in a new town, and with none of my belongings. I was terrified, and grieving, but as a child I really had no idea what was going on. Would I be adopted by strangers? Would anyone from my family come for me? What was happening to my dad? Where were my dogs? What was happening with my brother? One morning at my newest foster home, my foster mom took me to church. I remember feeling safe there, and asking her as we were leaving if we could go back the next day. She explained that the church did not have services every day of the week, but that we could go back the next Sunday. She had a Jesus storybook bible and she explained the gospel to me. I remember clinging to that hope, and imagining that all of the brokenness around me could actually be redeemed one day. A couple years later, I really understood my own sin and my need for a Savior. I came into a deeper relationship with the Lord and decided to pursue Him and to continue to look for Him for peace and comfort, even in the middle of all the trauma I had experienced and the ways the memories continually came back up in my life. My biological parents did not have a college education, or a steady income. I decided that I was going to make a better life for myself. I applied to a local university to study Engineering. My adoptive mom is a single lady who is a public school teacher. In order to pay for college, I have been working as a lifeguard at the local YMCA and as a childcare worker at my church. I have also been applying to scholarships. Each time, I am reminded of God's faithfulness to provide everything that I need. I have been living at home in order to save money, but I am hoping to live closer to campus next school year. There have been so many people who came alongside me during this difficult journey. I have had a mentor, family friends, and many small group leaders and other church members who have been instrumental in my life. I also want to give back and provide others help in the same way. I have been serving at our local soup kitchen, and leading a group of middle school girls at church. As an engineer, I want to work in areas that serve under-resourced populations - either by designing community centers or engineering neighborhoods and community centers that will benefit others. I want people to have access to recreation, as that is proven to reduce violence.

I grew up in rural area in upstate of South Carolina with my parents and my older brother. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was later convicted of murder and I was sent 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, nor a steady income, 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, my mom and I 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 am in college pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With this degree, I want to partner with organizations to design parts of 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 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, all things I am passionate about due to my background. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. I had a mentor all throughout elementary, middle, and high school. She would sit and listen to me, and her presence and advice helped me remain calm and focused during the school day. I had family friends who included me on family vacations, and one couple even took me on a two week trip to Europe. My grandparents would take me bike riding and drive me to appointments. Each person helped me overcome tremendous obstacles, and helped me see the way to a brighter future. I am currently in my second year of college at Clemson University. My classes can be very challenging, and I have thought about dropping out multiple times. However, I choose to persevere and stay with it because not only do I truly love math and science, I also feel strongly that education will help me continue to break the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up with. It will help me set my future, and my children’s future, on solid ground, in a field where I can be confident in a good salary. In turn, I can find stable housing, develop a strong community, and continue my work in serving those around me.

I grew up in rural area in upstate of South Carolina with my parents and my older brother. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was later convicted of murder and I was sent 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, nor a steady income, 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, my mom and I 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 am in college pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I want to design parts of green spaces and community centers in under resourced areas of town. Recreation decreases stress and violence, and I want people to have equal access areas where they can engage, relax, and play. I want children to be able to live in stable homes in 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 areas where families connect with one another. Living in relationship with others is another important aspect of staying healthy and stable, all things I am passionate about due to my background. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. I had a mentor all throughout elementary, middle, and high school. She would sit and listen to me, and her presence and advice helped me remain calm and focused during the school day. I had family friends who included me on family vacations, and one couple even took me on a trip to Europe. My grandparents would take me bike riding and drive me to appointments. Each person helped me overcome obstacles and see the way to a brighter future. My college classes can be very challenging, and I have thought about dropping out multiple times. However, I choose to persevere and stay with it because I truly love math and science and feel strongly that education will help me break the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up with. It will help me set my future on solid ground, in a field where I can develop a strong community, and continue serving those around me.

When I was in the second grade, my mom decided to move us to a domestic violence shelter in a nearby town. I was sad to leave my childhood home, my school, and my friends. It was challenging living in tight quarters with multiple other families. One day a few weeks into the move, I was called out for an early dismissal. When I got to the office, a social worker was there. She told me that my mom had been killed that morning, shortly after walking me to the bus. I was devastated, but also thought that I might be able to return home to my dad and to all that was familiar. Instead, I was told that my dad had been arrested. I never saw either of my parents again. In fact, I was moved to a foster home quite some distance away, and never saw anyone from that life ever again. Education has always been important to me. Neither of my parents had a college education, or a steady income, so I promised myself that I would made a better life for myself. However, I could not concentrate in school. I was so worried about what was going to happen to me, and when I would ever have a permanent home and someone to take care of me. I was constantly in trouble for not completing my schoolwork and not getting along with my classmates. My second foster home placement was with a single lady who was a public school teacher. She would sit with me in the afternoons and make sure I completed all of my homework and any classwork that I had not done. She helped me develop a strong work ethic; in fact, by the time I finished high school, I had won 5 "Best Work Ethic" awards. She also found a counselor who specialized in trauma. I went to counseling each week, some sessions with foster mom who later adopted me, and some sessions by myself. I learned important coping strategies and how to heal from the loss. Many people came alongside me when I was going through a hard time. I had a mentor who followed me from elementary school to high school. She would sit and talk to me, and it really helped me stay calm at school. We had family friends who included us on vacations, and one couple even took me on a WWII tour of Europe. My grandparents took me bike riding and drove me to appointments. We also had another family friend who tutored me each week in math and science. Due to spending so much time together, and working on various household projects together, I decided I wanted to pursue his same career - Engineering. I enjoy figuring out how things work and planning out how to design things to work more efficiently. I am currently a sophomore at Clemson University. I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering. My classes are extremely challenging, and I have thought many times about dropping out. However, each time I am brought back to how hard it was to make a new life for myself when I was only 8 years old. I am reminded of the ways other people lent me strength for the moment, and how I want to repay that by serving others. An Engineering degree will allow me to get a good job; breaking the cycle of poverty and violence that I grew up in. It will allow me to give generously to others, and to find ways to make life better for those around me.

I grew up in rural area in upstate of South Carolina with my parents and my older brother. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was later convicted of murder and I was sent 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, nor a steady income, 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, my mom and I 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. It sits on the edge of downtown Greenville, but ironically, the homeless are rarely able to participate in recreation, which is vital to their mental and emotional health. I am in college pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With this degree, I want to partner with organizations to design parts of 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 part of that will be educating their parents on mental health strategies. Community centers can be great resources and areas to host events that promote healthy habits. Perhaps even more important, they are areas where families connect with one another. Living in relationship with others is another important aspect of staying health and stable; things I am passionate about due to my background. I am currently in my sophomore year at Clemson University. My classes can be very challenging, and I have thought about dropping out multiple times. However, I choose to persevere and stay with it because not only do I truly love math and science, I also feel strongly that education will help me continue to break the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up with. It will help me set my future, and my children’s future, on solid ground, in a field where I can be confident in a good salary. In turn, I can find stable housing, develop a strong community, and continue my work in serving those around me.

I have been leading a group of 7th grade girls in my church student ministry. Each week we talk about the struggles the girls are having at school, home, various sports teams, and other clubs they are involved in. Many of the girls struggle with anxiety and wanting to fit in. I am able to help them reframe their negative thoughts and focus on what is true. I am also able to help them be mindful and pay attention to those around them. I have learned various strategies and coping mechanisms over my many years in counseling, and I am able to pass that knowledge on to them. I grew up in a tumultuous household. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8 years old. I was sent to foster care, and never saw anyone from my community ever again. I was completely devastated, and yet, I was expected to function and live peacefully in a completely new environment with new expectations and a new framework for looking at the world. I had to learn how to keep the core parts of myself alive, while also adapting to a new life. During this time, one of my mom's close family friends became a math and science tutor for me. He would also show me how to do various household projects, like repair a refrigerator water line or fix an HVAC system. Due to the time we spent together, I decided I wanted to pursue his same career - Engineering. With an engineering degree, I can get a good job, allowing me to give generously to others. I can partner with organizations in designing and building community centers and green spaces in under resourced areas of town. Recreation reduces stress and violence in communities, and I want every child to have a place where they can work and play safely. I want adults to be able to build support systems and have ways to proactively decrease any tension or violence in the home. Even though a job in a STEM field doesn't seem like it lends itself to helping mental health, there are always things that can be done, even small things, to make the lives of those around you better. My past has shown me how horrific family violence can be, and I want to do anything I can to help prevent that violence from affecting 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. The day my mom died was the last day I saw anyone familiar to me - my teachers, my classmates, my neighbors, my brother, and all of my friends. I had a very hard time concentrating in school due to my grief and anxiety over the future. I would read during independent work time, escaping into fiction stories instead of completing my actual classwork. I was constantly in trouble for having missing assignments and for being off task. Teachers told my foster mom that I was presenting like I had a severe case of ADHD. Doctors suggested trying medication to help with my anxiety and ADHD. However, the combination of medicine was not good for me, and I was angry and volatile. Counseling helped me, but I had a hard time remembering any strategies when I was upset. My home life was spiraling downward, as I was struggling with the medication side effects of agitation and anger, and simultaneously trying to push my foster mom away as I was certain she would not want to adopt me anyway. However, I knew I wanted a college education. I knew that my biological parents did not have an education or a steady income, and that it caused a lot of chaos in their lives. I knew I wanted a better life for myself. When I started high school in the middle of the covid pandemic, I made a commitment to myself to do well in school and to work on managing my anxiety. During my freshman year, I discovered that hyperfocusing on school helped me calm my anxiety. I went above and beyond, and worked incredibly hard in all of my classes. I ended up earning a "Best Work Ethic" award in my English class, and making all A's in school. That inspired me to continue doing well in high school. At the same time, my foster mom asked a family friend to tutor me each week in math and science. Through the hours we spent together tutoring, as well as the time we spent doing various house projects like repairing a water line on the refrigerator or repairing the HVAC system, I decided I wanted to pursue his same career - Engineering. I worked very hard in my high school calculus and physics classes, and really made sure that I understood the concepts. I was accepted into an Engineering camp in Chicago at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and found different things I really enjoyed about each area of Engineering. I continue to be proud of the way that I changed my educational path during foster care. I do not think that my high school teachers would ever have believed that I used to refuse to do work during elementary and middle school. I was able to completely turn around my future trajectory by working hard at school and therapy. I am currently a sophomore in college, and my classes have been increasingly difficult. There have been many times I have considered giving up and dropping out. However, I am able to remember the shift I made in high school and persevere.

During the spring of my second grade year, my mom decided to move us to a domestic violence shelter about half an hour away. It was a very hard adjustment for me to go to a new school with totally different demographics and expectations, and to live with multiple other children. One day, I was called out for an early dismissal. A social worker told me that my mom had been killed that morning. I hoped that I could go live with my dad in my old home. When she told me that my dad was arrested for murder, I was devastated. I did not fully understand what was happening. I was driven to an emergency foster placement, and remember wanting to be adopted like the other two girls there, but not understanding the process and not getting along with the other girls. I was supposed to be there for 24 hours, but ended up staying for a month. By the time I left that placement, I had been in trouble multiple times and was convinced that they were moving me because I was bad. On the day that my new foster mom came to pick me up, I remember asking her if she was going to adopt me, be my new mom, and take me on fun vacations. She said that a judge would get to make all of the decisions about where I lived. I was in my new home for over a year before I ever met a judge. During that time, I was scared and had a very hard time at school. I was constantly in trouble for not working or getting along with my classmates. I would throw fits and tell my foster mom how much I hated her, and how I wanted to live somewhere different. I was convinced that my foster mom would never want to adopt me because of my behavior at home and school, so I was deliberately trying to push her away. One day when it was close to Thanksgiving, my foster mom surprised me by telling me that the judge said she could adopt me. I immediately started crying happy tears and crawled up in her lap and just sat there for the longest time. I had already lost my biological parents, and with that I lost my home, my dogs, my brother, my school, my neighbors, and my friends. I was so thankful to know that all of these people were going to be permanent, and I could put down roots and grow and flourish here, in this house, with these people. Ten years later, I can reflect in a much more mature way. I have been through years of trauma and grief counseling. I understand more about why I was acting out at a young age, and how I was really demonstrating my need for control, stability, and love. I have found multiple strategies that help me cope with my grief and loss. Last semester, I was even able to take a one hour recreational class in college on meditation. This helped me learn techniques to be mindful and present and focus on specific thoughts for extended periods of time. Education has always been important to me. I know a college degree will be extremely helpful in breaking the cycle of poverty and abuse that I grew up in. One of my good family friends tutored me each week in math and science, and that helped grow my desire to be an Engineer. It is an extremely difficult major, but I am enjoying the challenge.

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 used to take him to our local nursing home to visit the residents. I was able to use an animal given to provide comfort to me to provide comfort to others. My grandfather and I would serve quarterly at the local soup kitchen, providing lunch to the homeless population in the area. I was learning new cooking skills while also helping others, and my grandfather would take me around the eating area as he visited with different folks. I have been serving at my church with a group of girls for the past 7 years, starting when they were in 1st grade and going all the way through with them - now they are in 7th grade. The most important thing I have learned from my adversity is to give back to others. With my engineering degree, I can give generously. I plan on serving throughout college and making it a way of life for the future. I can partner with organizations and help create community centers and green spaces in areas that are under resourced. 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.” In 30 years, I will consider myself successful if I have accomplished my goal of serving others. In order to do this, I will have to have a strong community of people around me. I have a very solid support base right now, and they keep me anchored and grounded. They encourage me to work hard and develop skills in a variety of areas. I will have to keep cultivating friendships and mentorships throughout my life. Staying connected with people, while also serving others, will be my measure of success.

I grew up in rural area in upstate of South Carolina. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was later convicted of murder and I was sent 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 am in college pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With this degree, I want to partner with organizations to design parts of 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 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. I was on the high school swim team, and on the college club swim team. Being a part of sports, which many community centers offer, helps kids develop all sorts of soft skills they can use in life. Community centers can most importantly be areas where families connect with one another. Living in relationship with others is another important aspect of staying healthy and stable, all things I am passionate about due to my background. This scholarship will help alleviate financial stress on my mom, who had less time to save money for my college education than most. It will also allow me to live on campus rather than commuting, which I have been doing for the last two years. Commuting has been great financially, but has limited my ability to stay on campus for tutoring sessions.

I grew up in rural area in upstate of South Carolina. My mom died from domestic violence when I was 8. My dad was later convicted of murder and I was sent 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. My mom also arranged for one of our family friends to tutor me in math and science each week. During that time, I decided I wanted to pursue the same career he had - Engineering. I enjoyed figuring out challenging math concepts, as well as working on various projects, like replacing the water line in our refrigerator and solving a problem with the HVAC system. 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 am in college pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. With this degree, I want to partner with organizations to design parts of 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 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, all things I am passionate about due to my background.

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. Therefore, I entered college as a Civil Engineering major. However, after taking a few classes, several professors and mentors advised me to go into Mechanical Engineering for the wider variety of jobs available. 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. As a mechanical engineer, I could also develop product that would be useful to others. I plan on gifting some of these items to lower-income areas, and would like to work for a company that has a strong sense of community and service. A scholarship will help me attend college without accruing thousands and thousands of dollars in school debt. I

I lived with my biological parents until I was 8 years old. At that time, my dad's mental health was rapidly declining, and our household was in constant turmoil. Eventually, my dad wound up in prison for murder; he pled guilty but mentally ill. I was placed in foster care, and eventually adopted. I received intensive counseling, but I remember constantly questioning my own mental health, and wondering if I was genetically predisposed to violence. My adoptive mom would always tell me that when someone realizes they have a health problem (mental or otherwise), they have two choices: run towards help or run away from help. Although that was very simplistic advice for a child, I still live by that today. When I notice that I am feeling anxious or depressed, I immediately think about the visual of someone running towards help. I call a friend or practice one of my tried and true strategies, like listening to music or taking a hike. I practice grounding myself in the world around me - asking myself what types of things I can see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. I make lists of things I am grateful for. I seek out extra counseling sessions, and take time to do self care activities. However, I realize that the great temptation is to run away from help; to hide and isolate from others. In the middle of a mental health crisis, it is easy to believe that no one wants to be around you, and that life is not worth living. Everything feels like a huge effort, and it is hard to make yourself want to be around other people. It is also easy to believe that noone and/or nothing will help, and the catastrophic thinking can prevent people from even trying to get help. In this day and age, mental health care can also be very expensive and very hard to find. Unlike traditional medicine, it also can take years for counseling and mental health services to work. While I try to run towards help, I also try to reserve judgment for those who do not have access to help, realizing that there are many barriers towards seeking and receiving help. I try to be an advocate for others, and frequently tell my friends about the advantages of mental health counseling and even medication when needed. Since I lost my biological family at a young age, I think I place a high value on maintaining and preserving relationships. I want to make sure my mental health is the best it can be so that I can be the kind of person that others can count on. I choose my friends wisely, but I also want to be a good and faithful friend back to them. My biological family also did not have a strong support system. They did not go to college and have steady jobs. I realized early on that I wanted a better life for myself. I want a college degree, a good job, and strong relationships. I am going to college to pursue a degree as a mechanical engineer. I plan on using my degree to serve others and to maintain stability for myself and my own family. I truly believe that the more I can run towards help and support, the more successful I will be. While some might believe that independence and doing things yourself makes you stronger, I believe that it is the support systems we have in place and the way we utilize them that truly shows our strength.

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.