I was a child when I first realized the importance of how you treat people. I struggled to talk to other children and become their friend. I had a speech impediment, and autism, and was never known as being an athletic kind of person. I seemed to spend most of my life watching from the sidelines and wondering when somebody would take the time to notice me. When I was 12 I met another boy who was frequently made fun of, teased, or left out of activities. I never understood it because, to me, he was kind, smart, and had a lot to say. He just needed somebody to give him the chance. I started talking to him and we developed a friendship, one which we still have to this day. I became more assertive and charismatic as I grew older, and I used those skills to teach others to be inclusive. This allowed him to grow and become the person he is now. Kindness is the most important characteristic in my life. I like to believe that all people have a bit of good somewhere inside of them; it just needs to be reached. In a world that is full of fights, uncertainty, and anger, kindness is one of the only things we have left. It is a simple decision to choose to be kind to others. While it may not seem to be a big deal to greet people, thank them for helping, or reaching out to those who need it, those acts can change somebodys life for the better. I want to pursue healthcare and become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Kindness is a very important quality to have for any career, but especially for those that involve working with people. Nobody would want their nurse or doctor to be rude or dismissive. It is important, too, for those working in psychology to be attentive, patient, and good listeners. Taking the time to give back to others through simple acts of kindness and goodwill can make a huge difference in everybodys lives. It can be difficult to do the right thing and be a kind person. It is a conscious decision that has to be made every single day to not be rude, passive aggressive, or sarcastic to others. I am more than happy to make this decision, though, and I want others to know me as somebody who is kind and takes the time to help others. Just because something is hard doesn't mean that it isn't worth it; usually it is the hardest decisions that make the biggest impact on our lives.

I always felt like I was different from everybody else. True, lots of people feel this way, and it isn't a very unique thing to say. Still, though, to me, it was all I ever knew. Other children seemed to move towards one another like magnets and were able to easily become friends and play together. My family could walk into a restaurant and easily order their meals, unlike me who would freeze up and stutter over what I wanted. Last summer, I had a horrible few months. It wasn't like when you have a bad day but then are able to get over it. Every single day was difficult and something I dreaded. I looked forward to going to sleep every night and my only goal throughout each day was to last until I could go to bed. Finally, I talked to my parents about what was going on and was taken to a doctor and then a clinical counselor. It took five minutes into the first session with my counselor for her to ask me if I had ever been tested for autism. Suddenly, everything in my life started to make a whole lot more sense. I wasn't messed up or weird or missing a piece of myself. I just had autism. This started the process of trying to figure out who I really was, which parts of me were masks that I hid behind to fit in society, and which parts of me were genuinely who I was and wanted to be. That journey of self-reflection and growth isn't something that I would wish on anybody, but I am so grateful that it happened. While I had and still have challenging days, periods, and trials, it has led me closer to knowing who I am and what I want out of life. I have always known that my main goal in life was to help others and make a difference in the world. After learning more about myself in the past year, I have decided that the way to do this is to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I have always loved mental health, even before I was diagnosed with my own conditions. I love researching and discovering the unknown. I love having answers and being able to identify issues. I also have always loved the medical field and nursing. My career field overlaps both of them and will be the perfect way for me to accomplish my goals. I want to be somebody who is able to help others learn about themselves, in the same way my counselor helped me. While I am eager to help anybody who needs it, I specifically hope that I am able to help people like me who have conditions such as autism and never even knew it. I spent my entire childhood feeling different and inferior to everybody else, but after the past year of self-discovery, I have learned to embrace my differences and use them to be an inspiration to others.

I was 17 years old when I felt as though my life was ending. True, those feelings were a bit dramatic, and others have experienced much worse. To me, though, I had never dealt with a lot before. Yes, I had been bullied a bit growing up and never really had stable friendships. I always felt like an outcast and like I didn't fit in the world. I never knew what people expected from me or how to make others like me. Everybody feels like that, though. I never knew why I did, but I knew that I surely wasn't alone. When I was 17, I started seeing a mental health counselor after experiencing the worst summer of my life. I was plagued with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and couldn't get out of bed most days. I resented the fact that I had to get help at all and couldn't solve whatever the problem was on my own. It took five minutes with the counselor for her to ask me if I had ever been tested for autism. After that, the next few weeks were an experience of new thoughts and emotions that I had never experienced before. I finally had answers as to why I always felt different throughout my entire life. But, I didn't want that to be the answer. I couldn't believe that I went through almost my entire childhood and nobody ever noticed anything or did anything to help me. Even my parents, who know me better than anybody else, were shocked at the diagnosis and the fact that they missed all of the signs which, looking back, were so incredibly obvious. With all of that said, I want to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I was 13 when I discovered my love of psychology and mental health. I understood it in ways that I never understood anything else before. It provides answers to why people feel the way they do. It explores the brain and how unique everybody truly is. It gives the opportunity to help others figure out who they are and thrive in the world. I initially wanted to become a counselor, but I also love the healthcare field and am interested in nursing as well. I am going to become an RN and then complete a program to become a psychiatric nurse. I will be able to study and learn about science and medicine, and in the end, have a career that allows me to use my love of mental health and my ambitions to help others. If it wasn't for the doctor and counselor that I met that summer when I was 17, I don't know if I would still be here. I certainly wouldn't be where I am today or understand things about myself that I never thought possible. I want to be that person for others. I want to help those who need it the most and make a difference in their lives. Not for the glory, but just so that I can know that I am helping the world and making a difference to others in the way that I needed for my entire life.

Like many people, I have always spent my life feeling as though I was different from others. This is a common statement that is heard, especially by teenagers. I never quite understood it when others talked about feeling different or as though they didn't fit in the world. To me, everybody else seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do with their lives, had many friends, and had their whole lives in order. That feeling, though, is because I too have always felt as though I never had a place in the world. Diversity is so important, not just in healthcare but in any career field. Everybody has a story and can make an impact on the world; they just have to get the chance to tell it. If everybody saw things the same way, looked the same, and thought the same, the world would be a very boring place. Diversity is needed in order to determine how changes should best be made and to make sure that everybody has a chance to be treated fairly. When I was a child, I met a boy who always was a little different. Other kids would make fun of him or wouldn't play with him. I never saw those differences, though. We would sit quietly together in the grass, not speaking or playing, but simply admiring the world around us in silence. When we did talk, we only talked about issues that we found important. Small talk or polite conversations always seemed like a waste of time to us. When we played games, we never seemed to play them the same way. Once we grew older, I found out that this boy has autism, the same as me. While other people made fun of us or never understood us, because of our diversity he and I were able to become friends and experience a childhood in which we didn't need anybody else. I like to think that this is why diversity is important in career fields as well. With the specific example of healthcare, having doctors, nurses, or psychologists who are diverse, whether it be from health conditions, religion, race, or gender, makes them more able to relate to their patients and co-workers. I think that the moment I fully realized this lesson was after I was placed on a team with a group of very diverse teenagers. I am a member of Civil Air Patrol, which is a volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force and teaches teenagers ages 12-21 about leadership, aviation, character, and fitness. During an event, I spent two weeks on a team with eight other teenagers who were ages 16 through 20. We all came from different backgrounds, had different goals, and saw things differently. The first week with this new team was very difficult. All of us were trying to figure out our place in the team and who would be "in charge" and call the shots. Eventually, though, we started learning more about each other and the reason we all saw the world the way we did. After that, we worked together and were able to accomplish any task given to us. Diversity is necessary in the world and it is especially important in healthcare-related fields. I have spent my whole life feeling different from others, but it is because of those differences that I am able to help others and inspire those who are like me.

All I have ever wanted to do with my life is help people. Whenever other children were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, I always felt like everybody else was interested in money or fame. The president, an astronaut, a dancer. I always answered, though, that I wanted to help people. I always looked for opportunities to improve somebody's day, albeit in small ways. I would share food or candy with friends, play with the kids who looked lonely, and give money to those who needed it. My mother always has said that her one hope for my life is that I could make a difference and inspire others in a positive way. I started directly pursuing a healthcare career when I was 13 years old. I initially was interested in psychology and helping those with mental health conditions while also spreading suicide awareness. I have a couple of nurses in my family, and after hearing about the differences that they are able to make through their careers, I have decided that it is what I want to pursue. I am studying to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I will be able to continue with my love of mental health, but will also be able to help others. Once I achieve my goal, I hope to become an advocate for mental health and seek help for conditions or addictions. I also want to advocate for general health and taking care of oneself. I am about to turn 18 years old and have been accepted into a nursing school program. I have been a member of Civil Air Patrol, which is a volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force and teaches teenagers ages 12-21 about leadership, aviation, character, and fitness, for almost 6 years. I regularly teach classes and help mentor younger teenagers and have also accumulated over 80 hours of volunteer service. I regularly teach about mental health conditions and the best way to prevent and treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. I think one of the biggest reasons I have always felt like I am called to a career in healthcare is because of my own personal experiences. I have struggled with depression, generalized anxiety, and autism, but it has been through the help of doctors, nurses, and counselors that I have been able to get to where I am today. I want to be able to give back to others and know that I have changed their lives for the better. If at the end of my lifetime, I only end up helping one person and saving that one person's life, it will have all been worth it. I am so excited to pursue this career and know what I want to spend my life doing. I love helping people and feel as though I am making a difference in the world. Winning this scholarship would help immensely with affording the high cost of college tuition. Regardless, though, I am certain that I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help others and make a positive impact on the world.

Coming from a family of nurses, I have experienced first-hand the way that lives can be changed. My mother and brother will share stories of the patients they see, the gifts they receive, and the way they help save lives. I can remember listening to my mom talk about her career as a young child and wanting to do something to help people. I started pursuing psychology after I sat in on a lecture at my brother's college and immediately realized that it was what I wanted to spend my life doing. Discovering the unknown has always been a fascinating concept, and there is so much that we don't know about mental health and how the brain works. I wanted to be a part of solving those mysteries and giving people hope for their future. I graduated with my high school diploma and associate's degree at the same time in May 2020 after completing dual enrollment. I continued my degree and earned my bachelor's in psychology in March 2022. I did a few career changes during that time: from being a psychological researcher, to a college professor, and even a children's counselor, none of it seemed to be quite the right fit. After graduating, I fell into a bit of a slump and had no idea what I wanted to do to further my education or what career field I wanted out of life. What started as taking a few weeks off quickly turned into taking an entire gap year. My mental health decreased drastically, but it was through the help of a couple of nurses and counselors that I was able to overcome my struggles and get to where I am today. I still had no idea what career I wanted, though, until recently. I learned about psychiatric nurse practitioners and immediately was intrigued by the idea. It would be a chance to directly help others, but to also incorporate my love of mental health. Becoming a counselor seemed like a risky idea, especially since there are so many outlooks and possibilities for that career. Psychiatric nursing, though, has fewer unknowns to it. I have applied to start earning my bachelor's of nursing in Fall 2023. Afterward, I plan to continue my education to complete a psychiatric program and become certified in the profession. Overall, as I look back in my life, I have always seen a desire to show kindness, compassion, and empathy to others. I am so excited to finally have found the spark and purpose for my life, and I hope that I am able to obtain scholarships to help make my dreams come true.