In April of 2020, my dad passed away after a brief illness and complications from Sepsis. I was 12 years old and the COVID pandemic had just begun. I already felt isolated and sad, and this event sent me spiraling into anxiety and overwhelming grief. As an only child, my parents were literally my whole world, and in a brief moment, that world came crashing around me. I was young and had no idea how to handle it or even how to talk about my feelings. My mother reached out to anyone she could to find the perfect therapist for me to talk to. I was introduced to Dr. Kate and had Zoom conversations with her three or four times every week. She listened to me, and I always felt she heard and really understood me and what I was feeling. I could talk about my concerns, my sadness, and what made me feel anxious. She never made me feel like my feelings were invalid or that I should be done grieving. Without her, I would have buckled under the weight of my emotions. Had she not been there for me whenever I needed her, I am not sure I would have been able to work through my feelings and sadness as effectively as I did. Over time, I spoke to her less and less, but she was always a phone call away whenever I needed her. Because of her patience, knowledge, and grace, I learned how to work through my emotions and make the most of the rest of my school career. I became drum major of my school marching band, secretary of The Beta Club, and succeeding in AP classes. I was accepted into all 18 colleges I applied to, and from early in my high school career, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I plan to major in psychology and neuroscience and continue to graduate school to become a clinical psychologist. My career goal is to specialize in working with teens and children who have experienced trauma. I want to be a Dr. Kate for as many children and teens as I can so that I can be the reason they survive and thrive, just as she was there for me. If I can keep one teen from taking their life or feeling helpless and making rash decisions that could destroy their lives, then I will feel like I was paying it forward for all of the help that was provided to me.

I hope to continue to make a positive impact on the world through my social awareness platform, Healing Hunger. I started Healing Hunger about a year ago. I had always been moved by the struggle of food insecurity faced by so many people in the United States and around the world. As a child growing up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I became aware of homelessness and hunger at a very early age. My church cooked and served meals at a local men's shelter twice a month, and I started volunteering there when I was 8 years old. They also conducted a massive food-packing event through Rise Against Hunger, which I also participated in until the COVID pandemic. During the pandemic, my family and I moved to Mississippi and immediately began searching for ways to give back. I participated in Habitat for Humanity and volunteered at a local underserved school in our area. I enjoyed both of these activities and continue to do them, but as I drove by people who were clearly in need, the plight of food insecurity continued to tug at my heart. I looked for ways to help, but other than feeding the local shelter on Thanksgiving Day, there were few volunteer opportunities. Last summer, I decided that if I couldn't find any opportunities to give back, I would create my own, and thus, Healing Hunger was born. I started out with a lofty goal of organizing my own event with Rise Against Hunger. No one in my town had even heard of them, let alone worked with them. My mother registered me as the coordinator, and my work began. I designed a t-shirt to sell, organized two dinner fundraisers, hosted a benefit concert, and was interviewed on local news - all to raise money and gain attention for my upcoming event. In early February, after raising nearly $10,000, I gathered 150 volunteers in a church fellowship hall to pack 20,000 meals to be sent to school children in underdeveloped countries. I was again interviewed by our local news with the wonderful volunteers behind me packing boxes of nourishing food. It was a meaningful event, a first for our city, and one I look forward to organizing again. I did not stop there. I also saw a lot of food insecurities in my town. Although Mississippi is considered a rural and agricultural state, I live in a city of about 50,000, with two universities and two major medical complexes. Despite all the good my town has to offer, we still face issues with homelessness and hunger. I continued selling my t-shirts and raising money, and have spent, as of today, approximately $2,000 on creating nourishing food boxes that consist of snacks like beef jerky, trail mix, dried fruits, and other nonperishable items. These small boxes are sent to our local shelter, where they are given to the residents to take with them during the day when they leave the shelter. I have sent about 400 boxes so far and will continue to do more. I am always looking for ways to expand Healing Hunger's impact in my community, and I plan to do the same in my new college town next year.

In 2024, I started a social awareness platform called Healing Hunger and used that platform to raise money and awareness related to food insecurity. My first and most significant event to date was organizing a Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing event. Rise Against Hunger is a nonprofit that provides packed meals of rice, soy, dried vegetables, and vitamins to school children in other countries who struggle with hunger. We aimed to recruit 120 volunteers and raise $9,000 for an event where we would pack 20,000 meals in two hours. For six months, I organized fundraisers, including a Breakfast for Dinner, Potato Bar, and Singing for Their Supper Benefit Concert. I also designed an original Healing Hunger shirt that was sold at fundraisers, around town, and at the event itself. I met with local businesses and those interested in philanthropy to share the mission of Healing Hunger and help raise the money. I did two spots on our local news - one advertising the benefit concert and the other on the day of the meal-packing event. On February 2, 2025, we had over 150 people from all over the city, including churches, synagogues, Beta Club, scout troops, university Greek members, and even a women's social club who supported the cause. I raised $9,100, and we were able to pack just over 20,000 meals in about an hour and forty-five minutes! It was an incredible feat, and the atmosphere was positive and energetic! After successfully completing the Rise Against Hunger event, I decided to turn my focus toward food insecurity in my town. I continued raising money and worked with the other members of my school's Beta Club to collect nonperishable, nutritious foods. I organized box-packing sessions where we would pack small boxes of these snacks and deliver them to homeless shelters, food pantries, churches, and other places where people in need sought help. These boxes provide 4-6 snacks with protein, low in sugar and fat, so they have things that will satiate them as needed. Not only do I believe that service is important, but I also believe that leadership in service is important. I developed leadership, communication, and organizational skills by leading these efforts, organizing the volunteers and fundraisers, and running the event itself. I let people around my city see my passion on a regular basis. I could share my "why" and talk about my history and the reasons that food insecurity is so important to me. It gave others, those I knew and those I did not, insight into where my desire to help others came from, how I hope to change the world through service, and gave them the ability to share in that common goal. Perhaps others who participated will see that if one seventeen-year-old girl can make something like this happen, they can also step out on faith that others will share their compassion and desire for good. I am attaching a PDF of my Healing Hunger website as well as the two links below of my news interviews. Although I am heading to college, I hope to continue working to eradicate hunger and food insecurity in my hometown, my college town, and worldwide. https://www.wdam.com/2025/01/24/university-baptist-hosting-2-hunger-fighting-events-coming-days/?utm_source=canva&utm_medium=iframely https://www.wdam.com/2025/02/03/oak-grove-high-school-student-organizes-meal-packing-event/?utm_source=canva&utm_medium=iframely

I live in a mid-sized town in Mississippi that thrives in many ways, including an excellent live music and art scene, two wonderful universities, and an overall safe and inclusive environment. However, one thing that my town struggles with is homelessness and food insecurity. About a year ago, I started a social awareness platform called Healing Hunger, which focuses on reducing food insecurity in our city. Locally, I have held fundraisers, hosted benefit concerts, designed and sold original Healing Hunger t-shirts, and raised awareness of this issue in my school, church, and the community at large. I have used the money I have raised through these endeavors to tackle hunger in several ways. I have put together boxes of nutritious, nonperishable snacks that homeless shelters and other organizations can pass out to our needy citizens when they come in looking for food. I have used funds I raised and my role as an officer in our school Beta Club to get these snacks donated by my peers and organize packing parties regularly to put these boxes together. We take 100-150 boxes monthly to various shelters, downtown businesses, and churches, who often get inquiries from those in need. I have also served meals at our men's shelter and participated in food drives for our local food pantry, where I have collected pantry staple items that low-income families may need. Although I plan to go away in the fall for college, I will continue to partner with these organizations regularly to ensure they get the appropriate supplies to help those in need. While I know I cannot completely eradicate hunger in my city, I will continue to do what I can to satisfy the needs of our citizens who struggle the most. Mississippi is a poor state, and many Mississippians struggle regularly. My goal is to do what I can to ease the suffering of my fellow Mississippians by providing nutritious snacks, warm meals, and access to resources around the city to those who need it most.

Anxiety has affected me in significant ways, but not all of them have been negative. My anxiety began when I was in the 7th grade and my dad passed away. I had grown up in a close-knit, supportive home. I am an only child, so my parents were my everything. When he passed away, my entire world was turned upside down, and I felt like I was suffocating. I got help from a wonderful therapist and have worked to manage my anxiety, though it does still affect me. I still struggle in large, crowded spaces and get more anxious during unexpected situations, especially negative ones. I do not handle disappointment, negativity, or stress well. It often takes me back to that night when my dad passed away, and I have anxiety attacks. It has also helped me grow. I know that nothing will ever be as difficult as losing my dad at 12 years old, and that allows me room to try things without worrying about their outcome. My mother and I moved from Maryland to Mississippi to be closer to her family. Being in a completely new place brought with it apprehension and more anxiety, but also gave me options to put myself out on a limb to reach my goals and aspirations. I auditioned for and became my school marching band's drum major. I started my social awareness platform, Healing Hunger, raising thousands of dollars to help decrease food insecurities locally and abroad. I got elected as secretary of The Beta Club. I feel that I am proof that you can overcome and manage anxiety to be successful in life. Pursuing a college degree and where I have chosen to pursue it are extremely important to me because it allows me to be the help to others that my therapist was for me. I applied and got accepted to eighteen schools, many of which are exceptional liberal arts colleges. For several reasons, I ultimately chose to attend The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. I do still experience anxiety in places with large numbers of people, and Sewanee is a small, Episcopalian university on a mountain in a tiny town. It has wonderful mental health and wellness resources that I know will be able to help me when needed. I decided to major in Psychology and Neuroscience because my ultimate career goal is to be a clinical psychologist for children and adolescents who have or are experiencing trauma. I know how vitally important my therapist was in my own healing and understanding of my mental health, and I want to provide that for other children and teenagers. Achieving this goal is not only important for my mental health, but also for those I will help. Managing my anxiety has helped me empathize with others who have struggles with mental illness and mental health disorders. I know that not everyone can always be "on" in social situations. I have learned to give my friends space when their social bandwidth is at capacity, to listen and not try to fix things when someone wants to talk, and to have more grace for people who may appear to be rude when they are just in the throes of anxiety or depression. Understanding mental illness and mental health disorders on a personal level from experience allows me to see that someone reacting due to an unstable moment is not who they are, but a response to how they are feeling at the time. I have been lucky to be given that grace from others, which has helped me give it myself.

After the death of my father, when I was 12, I began experiencing severe anxiety and continue to do so. This anxiety presents in many ways - inability to function properly during tests or auditions, feeling overwhelmed in large or crowded spaces, and frustration that comes easily when things are unexpected or do not go as planned. I have been fortunate to seek therapy with a doctor who specializes in teens with trauma, but the effects of anxiety are with me daily. I empathize with friends and acquaintances who also have anxiety, because I know that, at the least convenient time, it can often be the most debilitating. I use my experiences with severe anxiety to offer support to others, be they friends, adults that I know, or, and in my opinion, most importantly, to the unhoused population of my city, who are often overlooked. I believe that my struggles have helped me not only be more aware of the struggles of others, but to look beyond their struggles, whatever they may be, and see the person that they are. By volunteering, interacting, and conversing regularly with those who society may deem unworthy, I am not only helping myself get out of my comfort zone to face my anxiety, but I also show them that they are worth knowing, being heard, and being loved. My doctor helped me so much in my handling (I would never say fixing, because it is something that I am not sure is ever fixed) of my anxiety, that I want to do that for others. My career plan is to become an adolescent psychologist. I want to help other children and teens navigate their own anxiety and trauma. Teenagers go through enough emotional struggles during a normal adolescence. When death, illness, abuse, bullying, or other traumatic issues occur, the effects can be devastating. I plan to study not only psychology but also neuroscience during my undergraduate education. I am interested in not just learning about mental illness, what causes it, and how it can be treated, but also the science of the brain and how it changes for people who struggle with mental illness. I believe that the combination of those subjects will help me better understand the genetic and biological aspects of mental health. I believe that my experience with mental health struggles and desire to learn more will make me successful in whatever path I choose. I also believe that patience, empathy, and understanding are key to working with people who struggle. It is important not to make them feel as though they are misunderstood, a nuisance, or strange. They are people - I am a person - and we all deserve to be valued.

Music had always been a part of my life, but I had no idea how much it would teach me about confidence, connection, and commitment. I grew up singing with my mother, playing piano, playing the trumpet, and taking song and dance classes. Things changed in 2020 when the COVID pandemic began. My middle school musical was canceled, as were our honor chorus rehearsals. Not only did I not have school, but my outlet for expression and creativity was gone. I also lost my dad during this time, which brought about significant change. The summer before high school, my mother and I moved from Maryland to Mississippi to be near family. I was about to enter high school at a brand new school with over 2,000 students. The anxiety and nervousness were overwhelming. This is where music came in. Before school began, I started summer marching band camp, and though I was nervous about what I was embarking on, I did not need to be. This group of 150 students welcomed me with open arms, and I met my dearest friends who became my tribe for the next four years. Marching band to me as an anxious, quiet "new kid" was more than a musical outlet. I could be myself, no matter what that looked like, and had friends who embraced me. Because my confidence grew in those first two years, I gathered the courage to audition for drum major. I got it and, for two years, I led the band and learned more about structure, dedication, communication, and overcoming challenges than I could have ever imagined. My interpersonal and problem-solving skills developed, and I became more confident and courageous to try other things. I participated in musical theater—both in high school and in community theater—and began singing in my church praise band. Putting myself forward and taking those risks assured me that I could keep putting myself out there. Even if I am part of the ensemble, I am cooperating and collaborating and making true magic with my new friends. I also tried something that was entirely out of my comfort zone. Midway through my freshman year, someone mentioned that the Indoor Percussion group needed more cymbal players. I played the trumpet and had never played any sort of percussive instrument. The percussion director encouraged me to give it a try, and I fell in love with indoor percussion. Indoor percussion was a new level of discipline and precision, a challenge I fully embraced. It was a considerable time commitment, but worth all the social things I may have missed. During my sophomore year, we won first place in our state and 6th in our division at the WGI International Competition in Dayton, OH. That accomplishment meant so much, and though we did not do as well the following year, going to Dayton each year and watching so many groups just like us come together to create these detailed and complex shows provided me with a push to be just that dedicated no matter what I choose to do. My high school music experiences truly saved my life. I was a broken-hearted girl who lost her dad and moved fourteen hours away from home, but I became a confident, outgoing, fearless woman ready to take on the world. I am excited to continue my musical journey by taking part in the University Choir at the college I plan to attend. I do not have to be a music major to know that music is and will continue to be a significant part of my life.

I am a senior in high school and have been active in my new school. I was the drum major of our marching band, secretary of the Beta Club, and active volunteering with people experiencing homelessness in our town. I live in Mississippi, but I am not originally from here. I spent most of my childhood and early years in Maryland. We moved here in 2021 to be near my mother's family, and sepsis was a big part of that move.  In 2020, when I was twelve years old, my dad was not feeling well and went to the hospital for blood work. At the beginning of Covid, people had virtual doctor's appointments and were not allowed in the hospital unless they had to be. So my mom let him go inside and waited in the parking lot. A few hours later, the doctor called her cell phone to let her know he would spend the night in the hospital to do more tests. The following day, he was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection, and we were told he would be in the hospital for a few more days. The following day, after having a procedure to relieve fluid from his abdomen, he collapsed on the floor, going back to bed from the bathroom. The nurse called us to say he was septic and would likely not make it.  Because it was during the Covid pandemic, the nurse told us we could not come to say goodbye. My mother refused to accept that, and my grandmother drove us to the hospital. When we were out in the parking lot, they called and said we could not come in because he was conscious again and would make it after all. We returned home and tried to stay calm and at peace with how things were going. Just a couple of hours later, she got that phone call again. This time, it was the doctor who not only said the sepsis was extremely dangerous but that he would not likely make it through the night. We got back in the car; this time, my mother's best friends were at our house, and they drove us, along with my grandmother, back to the hospital. As my mother and I walked in, we were terrified at what we would see. The doctor would not allow me to see him, so I went back outside with my grandmother. Although I did not get to see him, I used the phone to tell him how much I loved him and would always work to make him proud. He was not conscious, but I felt like he heard me, and it was something that I needed to do. Just an hour later, he passed away. We were outside in the parking lot, and my mother was in the ICU with him.  We learned that, while the gastrointestinal infection was extremely dangerous, it was the sepsis that he died from. I never really knew much about it, but now, whenever I hear someone talk about knowing someone who is septic, I feel like it is a death sentence. For him, it happened fast, within a day or two, and I worry that when sepsis occurs, you do not even have a fighting chance. Sepsis changed my life and took my dad from me. However, that moment also changed how I looked at life, and I became stronger and more committed to doing the absolute best I could. My goal ever since has been to make him proud.

I feel that I strive for excellence and exemplify that in several ways. One of the ways that I do that is by doing what I can to eradicate food insecurity both locally and globally. I had volunteered at homeless shelters with my parents when we lived in Maryland and longed to find something similar in Hattiesburg, MS. Because I could not find exactly what I was looking for, I decided to create it myself. I established a social advocacy platform, Healing Hunger, to look for ways to eradicate food insecurity locally and globally or at least lessen it. Upon starting Healing Hunger last summer, I looked for my first project and it was a big one. I partnered with Rise Against Hunger, an international nonprofit, and scheduled a meal-packing event for 20,000 meals. The requirements were to raise at least $8100 and recruit at least 130 people to volunteer on the event day, which were incredibly daunting tasks. I organized fundraisers and requested donations from local bakeries and restaurants. I also organized a benefit coffeehouse-style concert, recruited several accomplished local musicians, gathered donated refreshments to serve, advertised around town, and promoted the concert and meal-packing event on the local news. I even performed in the concert with my family. It was a success, not only in the money that we raised, but because it achieved the goal of getting the word out and creating interest and community support behind this event. On February 2, I welcomed over 150 people to the event. They came from the local college, churches and synagogues, high schools, and the general community. They came to pour, measure, seal, and pack over 20,000 meals for African schoolchildren. The atmosphere was electric, and I was emotional looking around that room and seeing strangers come out to serve others. While they did not come for me, I knew it would never have happened without my leadership. The local news returned to film the event, and I got to share my commitment to serving others. Leading that many people was not easy, but I successfully brought the project to fruition and raised nearly $9,000. This only charged me to want to do more locally to match what I was able to do on the global scale. I had gotten all of these people around the community to come together and wanted to get them together again, this time to help feed our fellow community members. I have been regularly gathering people together to collect nonperishable, healthy snacks and fill boxes to pass out to our local homeless shelter, and to pass out to unhoused citizens I see around town. We have been able to do this several times and I am excited to organize more of these snack-packing events. While it is a much smaller endeavor, I hope to continue to provide these boxes because it is essential and affects our community as a whole. While I live in a small southern town in Mississippi that is, on the surface, solidly middle class, we have a growing population of unhoused citizens. Working with Fieldhouse for the Homeless to provide these boxes, as well as helping serve meals, and collecting donations to help fill their needs fills my passion for helping others. I am grateful that I have the ability to lead my peers and adults in my community to help fulfill the need that we have when it comes to food insecurity.

My favorite community event was one that I organized. I never could have imagined how wonderful it would be, and it exceeded all of my expectations. In the Fall of 2024, I had a goal of organizing and hosting a Rise Against Hunger Meal-Packing event. I had taken part in these events as a child in Maryland, and wanted to organize one here. I had only participated on the day of the event and had no idea how much work it would take to organize it myself and what kind of impact it would have on me. I was supported by my church who provided the location, but knew that figuring out how to raise the $8100 and recruit at least 130 people to participate in packing 20,000 meals would be daunting. I hosted dinner fundraisers, a benefit concert, and did a news segment promoting the event. The concert was especially fun to organize, because I got to perform with my mother and stepdad. We had other local musicians participate and the turnout was great. The big event happened just a week later when we saw that huge Rise Against Hunger truck arrive from Birmingham with the supplies to package and ship out 20,000 meals. I was so excited to have them, but was worried that even though we had quite a few people sign up, it was not the 130 that we needed and I did not know if we would get any more. I needn't have worried. In the end, we had nearly 150 people at the meal-packing event on February 2nd, a turnout I could have never imagined. People came from churches, college sororities, the local synagogue, scout troops, Beta Club, and even a local women's group called The Brunch Babes. We started as strangers, or at best, acquaintances, and over the course of two hours we raised $8,100, poured, measured, packed, sang, danced, and rang the gong every time we hit 1,000 meals. I was in awe of the support I had, the people who came and supported me and this wonderful cause. Being able to share the mission of Rise Against Hunger to so many people who, before that day, had never heard of them was important because I believe in their cause so much. Our meals were packed and sent to Kenya where hundreds of school children will get to eat all year long. The ability to reach that goal was wonderful, but knowing that I was able to accomplish something that was so meaningful to me, those who donated or packed meals, and, most of all, the children we fed, was an incredible feeling. I was so grateful to my community for all of their help. Coming together for a common good with people that did not know me or my interest in eradicating food insecurity, but just wanted to help others. Everyone left asking when the next one was and I was excited to talk to the pastors who helped me about reprising the event next year. In the meantime, I have collected food and prepared boxes of nutritional, nonperishable food and snacks for our local homeless shelter. On two occasions so far, I have brought people together to fill nearly 150 boxes and then taken them to Fieldhouse for the Homeless. While it is not a major event, every little bit helps and I hope to find other ways to work to end food insecurity locally and globally.

The pandemic, lockdown, and uncertain future of 2020 caused anxiety for many. For me, there was more. I was 12 years old when my mom took my dad to have blood tests because he had not been feeling well. Little did I know he would be admitted to the hospital and pass away six days later. That was the day when my life came to a screeching halt. I was heartbroken as I watched half of my family wither away without a goodbye- I knew nothing would ever be the same and felt an emptiness unlike anything I had felt before. I had no control over my life; I was forced to catch every stone thrown my way and not complain. I was lucky to have my mother and grandmother who showed me what courage looked like daily. They were my pillars of strength. They held me up when my foundation crumbled around me, and never made me feel like a nuisance. Their unwavering love and support were the bedrock of my resilience, and made me feel less alone. Change swept me off my feet, and before I realized what was happening, I fell once more, landing 1000 miles south of home. The thought of more change horrified me. Walking through homes that were not mine, I felt pressure to smile, comply, and not show fear. I knew my mother needed the same support she provided me and hers was not in Maryland; it was in Mississippi, where we needed to be. The world kept spinning, and I became a stranger in a strange land. I knew nobody in my new school of 2500 students, and nobody knew me. I faced the challenge of adapting to a new culture, a new school, and a new community, all while grieving the life I had and missed terribly, but I refused to let these challenges define me. After two years of attending school virtually, I was thrown into this huge school in the south. I truly felt like a “yankee” for the first time. There were so many things I did not know. I worried about how I would be perceived and if I would be accepted. My high school is one of the best performing schools in Mississippi and I was nervous about assimilating and thriving after learning in the privacy of my bedroom. That, combined with my ADHD and anxiety, made me worry that I would not make it. I joined the band and immediately made a group of friends that accepted me for who I was. While I had a learning curve the first few weeks, I found my footing and dedicated myself to making my dad proud. I have maintained my academic goals throughout my four years while also becoming a drum major, performing with Indoor Percussion, and the high school theater department. My mom and I had to start over with her teaching salary and government assistance provided to us because my dad had worked for the federal government. It was helpful, but not easy. We made many sacrifices and even now, I worry about whether she can afford the things she does for me. My goal is to use my college education to become a Clinical Psychologist and give back for all she has given me. I am still sad, as is she, but we both have worked incredibly hard to do our best to make my dad proud and not let our lowest point define us. I think that we have been able to do that.

While my early childhood included both of my parents with whom I was incredibly close, at twelve years old my life changed drastically when my dad passed away early during the Covid pandemic. Our lives were changed instantly and we were left to navigate life without him. Losing my dad at the same time that we were relegated to solitude at home caused me incredible anxiety and sadness. I went from being a little girl who was happy and carefree, with doting parents and a wonderful life, to a devasted and lost child who struggled to function. My mother was always strong and stable, but she could not offer the support I needed because she needed so much herself. I know she wanted to help me, offer comfort, and show me that we would be okay, but she was in deep grief herself. The first year it was just the two of us was hardly easy. My dad was the breadwinner and we lived in the Washington, D.C. suburbs which has an extremely high cost of living. She was a teacher and began tutoring via Zoom for hours after school each day for extra money. We had to change the way we lived and learn how to do many things that he had always done. She did not even know the log-ins and passwords to the websites he used to pay bills. I always knew he took great care of us but did not realize just how much he did for us without us even knowing it. The learning curve was steep and on top of all of the financial, practical, and home-related issues we had to navigate, our intense sadness was still a huge part of our lives. The best thing she did for me was reach out to a therapist for teens dealing with trauma just a few short weeks after his death. As difficult as our financial situation was, she was always willing to pay the $120 for an hour-long session whenever I needed one. Early on, I spoke to Dr. Kate three times a week, or more if I felt like I needed it. I never wanted to burden my mother with my feelings and struggles because I knew hers were just as deep so Dr. Kate was my lifeline. Dr. Kate was so helpful for me, that I knew that I wanted to do the same. Not only did she improve my mental health, she influenced me to want to help other teens. Because of her influence and kindness, I plan to major in psychology in college and become a clinical psychologist, helping teenagers and children who have experienced trauma. I believe that my experiences of losing a parent, living in a single-parent home, and exploring therapy to better my mental health will give me the patience, understanding, and empathy it takes to help other children and teens who have experienced the same. We moved to Mississippi to be closer to my mother's family so she could get the support she needed. About six months after moving to Mississippi, my mother ran into an old college friend, and after rekindling their friendship, they eventually married, which brought with it a whole new set of struggles. My new stepfather is very kind but before marrying my mother he had never married and had no children so coming into a house with a teenager was difficult for all of us. We have spent the last two years overcoming the growing pains of melding two homes and lives and are all the better for it.

I have always tried to impact the world in any way I can positively. From volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to serving dinners at homeless shelters, helping those who need it most has been my passion since I was young. Most recently, I started a social awareness platform called Healing Hunger Near and Far, which I organized to raise money for food insecurity in my hometown and abroad. I am passionate about helping those in need and treating them with respect and empathy. I hope to do that in my career as an adolescent psychologist. Assisting teens to work through their struggles, whether they have a mental illness, family discord, or behavioral issues that they struggle with, is vital to me because an adolescent psychologist helped me tremendously during the most difficult period of my life. In 2020, when I was just twelve years old, my dad passed away early during the Covid pandemic. I was a daddy's girl and an only child, so the amount of attention and love I received from him, and hopefully reciprocated, was endless. To have that stripped away from me before I became a teenager was devastating. My mother was and still is a strong presence, as well as my closest friend and confidant. She helped me when she was not even sure she would survive her sadness. The most important thing she did was to reach out to an adolescent psychologist to help me navigate this extraordinarily stressful and crushing season of life. Dr. Kate was my lifesaver, figuratively and literally. She listened to my concerns, helped me navigate the sadness with coping strategies, and gave me advice on how to go forward - especially on those days when I wondered if I ever could. Thanks to Dr. Kate, my outlook on life and how I would go forward changed. We moved 1,000 miles away from Maryland, where I had lived my entire life, to Mississippi, where my mother's family is. I was able to go forward, put myself out there, and not be afraid of how I will be accepted or what people will think of me. I auditioned and got selected to be a drum major at my new school. I participated in theater productions, the Indoor Percussion group from my school, and several clubs. I felt like I had been given permission to go through life with a positive outlook, understanding that my dad would rather know that I was happy and successful than wallowing in self-pity. It has not always been an easy choice, but I am proud that I have honored my dad by doing my best, being successful, and trying new things. I am excited to be able to provide support to other teens who need the listening ear and open heart of a therapist. I see myself in so many people who struggle with anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health issues and feel like my mission is to help other people understand that their feelings are entirely valid, their pain does not last forever, and give them the tools and advice to help work through the challenging moments. It is the best way I feel that I can pay it forward after having such a supportive family and therapist get me through an incredibly dark time in my life.

The year 2020 was a challenging one. At 12 years old, I was navigating a pandemic and school lockdown when my dad was admitted to the hospital following some blood tests and passed away six days later. My life came to a screeching halt that day. I was a heartbroken girl who knew life would never be the same and the emptiness I felt was unlike anything I had ever experienced. As an only child, I cherished out daddy's girl/girl dad relationship that I knew could never be replaced. He chased me around basketball courts, attended every concert and recital, and loved me without reservation. He was my biggest supporter and losing him left me feeling incredibly alone. Despite the heartbreak I felt, I had a strong support system. My mom and grandmother were pillars of strength, supporting me as my world crumbled around me. Their love and support gave me the resilience to keep going, and I knew I was not alone on my journey. A swift change swept me off my feet, and before I knew it, I found myself 1,000 miles south of the only home I had ever known. The thought of facing more change terrified me, but I understood what my mother needed. She required the same support she had provided me; that support was not in Maryland, but in Mississippi, where we needed to be. No one goes through a challenge without undergoing change. The world kept spinning, and I had to start over. I knew nobody, and nobody knew me. I faced the challenge of adapting to a new culture, a new school, and a new community while grieving for the life I had, which I missed terribly. However, I refused to let these challenges define me. I became stronger, braver, and bolder than I ever thought I could be. I had never been one to take risks, but having lost what was most important to me, I thought, "What else could I possibly lose?" With my dad's spirit behind me, I went after anything I wanted. It was easy to feel sorry for myself and blame everyone around me after losing the person who supported me no matter what. I wanted to make him proud, and I knew he would be prouder if I pursued my goals rather than shutting myself down. I realized that dwelling in sorrow and self-pity was not an option if I wanted to be successful. I decided to put myself out there without fearing what people might think. I stepped up to become the trumpet section leader and drum major in the marching band. I actively participated in multiple arts programs, performed in several productions, and competed nationally—all because I no longer feared change. Additionally, I became a leader in my community, which I had thought would reject me. Instead, I was welcomed with open arms. I have made a positive impact and helped improve my community through my work with the unhoused population, underserved schools, and my advocacy for food insecurity. I am no longer afraid of what change can bring. I faced a tragedy that devastated my path and made me stronger on the other side. I will never take life for granted because I know it can change instantly. Only now, I feel his support and spirit and use that strength to grow through challenges on my own terms, without permission from anyone else.

Many people may ask why one must study a book just to watch a movie. Watching the film adaptation of the short story by Stephen King, Rita Hayworth, and the Shawshank Redemption answered that question. The story follows the unjust incarceration of Andy Dufresne and the unethical treatment of him and his fellow prisoners. The film follows Red’s path to friendship with Andy as he learns to look past his cold demeanor and realizes that Andy is truly a caring man who just wants to survive. This film also takes critical changes to show the explicit corruption inside and outside the prison system. One decision that stood out to me was the death of the character Brooks. In the book, Brooks is released and dies of old age in a retirement home a year after his release. In the film, Brooks is released and can not function in the outside world after being in prison for most of his life. Out of desperation, he dies by suicide, alone, lost, and hanging from a ceiling board signed, “Brooks was here”. This choice in the film is what sets apart the dark storytelling style that shows the devastating impact of institutionalization and the harsh reality faced by long-term prisoners upon release. Another major difference that sets the film apart from the book is the warden's death. In the book, the warden gets caught up in his schemes and ends up retiring to escape punishment. In the film, the warden ends up shooting himself in the chin as a final escape from the institution that he created. I remember being fully enamored by the book, falling in love with the characters trapped in isolation, and hating the bureaucratic, controlling prison guards. But seeing the film, in contrast, put me in a position of anger at the sight of gut-wrenching emotional scenes that are shot with such stillness and visual silence that they say all that needs to be said. The use of weather to visualize the feelings of freedom after Andy escapes the prison and falls out into the rain can only be portrayed through film. The film also uses color to show the emotions and tension in its scenes. These visual tactics are significant parts of what immerse you into the film. The Shawshank Redemption film is the first movie I have seen that takes the source material and amplifies it with strong blocking and filming tactics.

My interest in mental health as a career is personal. My grandfather is a retired psychologist, and my mother is an administrator in a psychiatric school for children and teens. Through her work, I have learned about the importance of Social-Emotional Health and Learning and how the strategies she teaches her students can also help me. Emotional regulation, social interaction skills, and self-advocacy are essential skills that she has helped me to understand and develop. I have also experienced the benefits of a mental health advocate in my own life. At 12 years old, I lost my dad fairly suddenly at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. It was a devastatingly difficult time, and I was not sure if I would come out of it unscathed, or for that matter, at all. My mother was given the name of a therapist who specialized in teens, and with her help, knowledge, and lots of patience, I was able to navigate my grief and come through the other side of it a stronger and more positive person. She taught me how to be brave, how to put myself first, and how to handle the storms of life constructively. While I have a void that will never be refilled, I have learned from her how to live with that void and use it to fuel my desire to help others. As a clinical psychologist who helps adolescent girls, I would like to provide that same knowledge and patience to guide them through whatever trauma, personality disorders, or mental health struggles they have. Knowing that they are not alone and that someone hears and understands them will hopefully give them the support they need to succeed in life, but more importantly, to be happy in their own skin and develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Regarding my beliefs and relationships, I have found that I am much more patient with those who struggle and may not be socially available in the typical sense. I have been in situations where I am just not able to fully integrate into a conversation or interaction because of my own social anxiety, so I understand that people have moments of seclusion or awkwardness, and I can give them grace when others may grow impatient. I do not see mental illness, behavioral struggles, or reactions to trauma as something to be judged or something that would put people in a "they are different than me" category. Rather, I feel like they bring a perspective and life experiences that can teach lessons to everyone around them. Lessons of resilience, perseverance, and tenacity that they have learned through situations many people cannot even fathom. I have learned that these lessons, at least in my experience, have given me humility and strength, but most of all, compassion. Everyone has a story, and respect for all and their differences is important, especially those who may feel as though they are not heard or understood.

My ultimate career goal is to become a clinical psychologist specializing in helping adolescent girls through trauma, emotional concerns, and psychiatric personality disorders. My first step is attending a liberal arts college, majoring in psychology. During my four years of college, I will connect with professors who include students in helping with research in areas of interest, including abnormal psychology, adolescent psychology, and psychology of personality. These experiences will give me the tools to narrow and guide my path toward future steps. I also intend to participate in internships or volunteer at mental health facilities throughout my undergraduate studies and use the knowledge and experiences I gain during these opportunities when I enter graduate school. While college is expensive, I am applying for both school-based and general scholarships to help cover most of the cost of the school I attend. I am also looking at schools with work-study opportunities to offset some of the cost of my schooling. My family has a limited budget of $10,000 per year to put toward my undergraduate studies, so scholarships, grants, and loans will be required for me to complete my undergraduate education. Following graduation, I will attend a graduate program at a university that focuses on research and experimental design related to psychological studies and work toward a PhD in clinical psychology. While I hope to get a graduate assistantship, fellowship, or some other paid assistance for my graduate work, I know that choosing a career that requires advanced degrees and likely a decade of post-graduate studies is a costly path. If graduate financial opportunities are unavailable, I will likely have to take out loans to complete my graduate work. If needed, I will work for two or three years before returning to graduate school or work through graduate school, preferably in a field related to my career choice. These options may be Behavioral Health Assistants, Applied Behavioral Assistants, or clerical positions in mental health facilities. I plan to find a graduate school where I can pursue a master's and PhD program or go straight to a PhD. I would like to finish school in ten years or less. While I will likely work in a facility or school initially, I would ultimately like to open a private practice specifically for adolescent girls. The experience of working with adolescents in a school or mental health facility will provide me with the tools I need to be a successful therapist and the opportunity to interact with students who are in need of therapy or guidance. My goal is to help girls who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or other trauma and give them the social-emotional tools to work through those experiences and come out of them as strong and independent women with coping strategies to use in situations when anxiety, depression, or feelings related to those experiences resurface. While these plans seem specific and, on the surface, suggest that I am going to pigeonhole myself in terms of who I work with and how I use my education, I have a personal reason for choosing this area of psychology. After the death of my father when I was 12 years old, an adolescent therapist brought me out of an extremely dark place and gave me the tools I needed to be brave and positive, even when those dark thoughts seeped into my subconscious. If I could do that for even one or two young people, I would feel like I had caught the baton from the doctor who had helped me and used it to help others.

As someone whose symptoms of ADHD were overlooked due to the common excuse of me, "being a girl with my head in the clouds," it took until middle school for me to get an official diagnosis for something I always knew I had. I find the best way for me to be of help to others around me is to stay educated on the topic of mental health and help dismantle the negative stigma around ADHD. The best service for those with mental health issues including ADHD is education. Without the proper understanding of the different symptoms of ADHD and how they present in males in comparison to females, it is a never-ending cycle of the exact denial I experienced. If I had been given the resources to succeed when I was younger, maybe I wouldn't have felt such confusion and loss when I was behind on work, comparing myself with others, or how I would get lost in assignments. My mind would stray away from the words on a page and I would find myself re-reading lines over and over. As for my future, I hope to build a career providing mental health assistance to adolescent girls who feel like no one is listening to them or addressing their needs. I want to open the eyes of others to the many ways that ADHD impacts all people. With more and more cases of adults diagnosed with ADHD, it is clear that we are headed in the right direction but we are not yet there. Due to this idea that ADHD only presents as "loud, extraverted, and energetic" many people don't want that label attached to them. The beauty of the "Label" that is ADHD is that it is an iceberg of symptoms that many people experience and are too afraid to acknowledge. I want everyone fearful of the label to realize that there is an entire community of individuals who are experiencing something similar and no one is alone in their diagnosis.

I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, and often came into contact with those less fortunate. My early exposure to those in need gave me insight into their lives and caused me to seek out ways to help them have opportunities to live with the same dignity and rights as everyone else. From volunteering at the local homeless shelter for years to working with Habitat for Humanity, seeing people find joy through simple acts of kindness made me so happy that I sought other ways to help those less fortunate. From ages 9-12, I volunteered twice a month every month at the local men's shelter, where we cooked and served dinner and visited with the men who were there. Seeing the smiles of people who just wanted to be treated with kindness was genuinely fulfilling. It never felt like a chore, but it was simply part of my life that provided service to kind and humble souls in unlucky situations. After moving to Mississippi at the beginning of high school, I wanted to find ways in my new hometown to assist my community. I began volunteering with Fieldhouse for the Homeless, Edward Street Mission, and their local Food Pantry to help alleviate food insecurities however I could. From picking blueberries at Edward Street to bagging them and passing them out during food distribution to serving Thanksgiving dinner, I have been able to help in many ways in my new hometown, just as I did in Maryland. Providing dignity and kindness to those less fortunate has helped me learn that everyone has a story that deserves to be heard. I have traveled with Habitat for Humanity three times, once to Pittsburgh, PA, and twice to Vicksburg, Ms. In 2023, I worked in a home of two brothers with developmental disabilities. In this home, I rebuilt floors, covered exposed wiring, and helped them clean up with a group of eager peers who also wanted to see them live life to the fullest extent with all the necessities of a comfortable home. They were both so grateful for the help they received, and I always enjoyed listening to them talk about their childhoods at that very home. Seeing the joy on their faces while they saw a house with improvements they had not had in years made me ecstatic. Finally, after participating in Rise Against Hunger meal-packing events throughout elementary school with my church in Maryland, I wanted to bring the opportunity to do something on a large scale in my new town. With the help of two local churches, I am organizing and running my first Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event in 2 months. I have been actively recruiting the 130 volunteers needed to pack 20,000 meals and fundraising the $10,000 required for materials and shipping, as these meals will be sent to countries worldwide to fight food insecurities in those areas. Knowing that I can create and run an event that, in two hours, will change lives for the better is not only humbling but also encouraging to see that I can always find ways to give back and that I can count on the support of family and friends to help me with those goals. I hope to continue to provide dignity, food, kindness, and an open ear to anyone who needs it for years to come.

As a young teen, I learned the importance of what meaningful therapy by a caring professional can provide. After experiencing the sudden loss of a parent during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the added stress of isolation due to the shutdown and virtual school, and the only people around were my mother and my grandparents. The psychotherapist who was recommended specialized in helping teenage girls who had experienced trauma, and within two weeks, I was on Zoom meetings with her. She answered my request for a Zoom meeting for nearly a year - sometimes twice a week; other times, it would only be about once a month. She was patient when I did not feel like talking; she offered sound words of wisdom when I did not know how to handle my emotions or where to put those feelings. She listened, she helped, and she never judged. I began seeing her as a broken and devasted 12 1/2-year-old girl, reeling from the loss of my dad, and with her help, became a girl who carried his spirit with me as I moved through my teen years with more confidence and understanding that my grief and sadness did not have to define me and that I was allowed to be happy and thriving again. It would be a testament to the dad that he was if I were the best version of me that I could be. I realized I wanted to be that for other young girls. I want to show them that you may be a product of your experiences and surroundings, but they do not define you. I want to pursue clinical psychology, specializing in adolescent psychology with a focus on personality disorders and trauma in teen girls. They deserve to have a sympathetic and understanding ear that supports and guides them without judgment, who understands that their feelings are valid and worth feeling, but they do not have to stay in them forever. Without my doctor, who helped me through the darkest time of my childhood, I would not be who I am today, and I want to be that for others.

I find the beauty of literature is that it invites you to experience different perspectives from all over the world. I have been introduced to cultures of ancient civilizations. Books like The Alchemist, The Kite Runner, and The Book Thief provide an insight into cultures and belief systems that open the mind to a wider understanding of the world around us. If I could write about all of my favorite books and how they made me who I am today I do not know if there would be enough time to put that influence into words. Reading about people who follow their journeys to achieve greater goals has helped inspire me to go on my journey to help the world and leave a positive mark. Similar to the character of Santiago from The Alchemist, I too feel it is important for all individuals to follow the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations. I do this by working diligently to create a community-oriented advocacy platform that spreads awareness and assistance regarding food insecurities in the community. I hope to be an inspiration to others to consider the greater good and the importance of working toward making their community better. Growing from adversities that you have faced, even when it seems most difficult, shows strength and courage. I feel that I exemplify that strength in every aspect of my life. I have experienced some of life’s more difficult challenges through loss, change, and starting over in a brand new place. Like Amir, from The Kite Runner, who acknowledges the struggles of his past and travels on a path to grow from them, I, too, am keenly aware of the pain and sorrow of my past, but make a conscious decision each day to choose hope and positivity and looking toward the future. Just as he becomes a responsible figure of trust and strength to his family and community, and represents redemption and hope in the eyes of struggle and past regrets, I want to represent strength, hope, and bravery to those around me as well. I feel that understanding literature and being able to digest it is such an important skill to have. Being able to look past negativity and find support and enjoyment in these stories is what makes us complete. The primary themes of The Book Thief follow a girl who is introduced to the beauty of reading and can look past the hate and fear that she is surrounded by and find light in utter darkness. I have always felt a connection to Liesel and the comfort she finds in the words that she reads. I am constantly reminded of the importance that stories have on the mind and The Book Thief perfectly compensates the influence that literature has on readers from all walks of life.

My first concert memory was not my first concert, but it stands out as the night I was able to sing with a legend. Since I was born, my mom has played Peter, Paul, and Mary CDs. She loves folk music; theirs is the only children’s music she listens to. We lived in Maryland then, and Peter Yarrow was coming to play at The Barns of Wolftrap in Virginia. It was spring 2012, and I was four and a half years old. The concert was almost like a sing-along - everyone there knew all the words in his songs. My parents and I were not in the same demographic as most of the audience. They were in their mid-thirties, and I was four, but almost everyone else was between fifty and seventy-five years. The concert was terrific, but for me, it would not be complete until I heard my favorite song… Puff, the Magic Dragon. Just before intermission, Peter invited anyone who wanted to come on stage to sing his most well-known song with him. My mother must have known that he was going to sing Puff. She asked me if I wanted to sing Puff on stage, and no one was keeping me in my seat. I ran onto the stage with about fifteen older ladies and maybe one or two girls in their late teens. Everyone was singing along until he got to the final chorus. He knelt next to me, put the microphone in front of me, and as I started singing the final chorus, everyone else stopped. I was the only one singing…my favorite song…with the man who wrote it…on stage in front of hundreds of people! I could not have dreamed something like that up! He asked me a few questions, and I answered them. Then it was over, and we returned to our seats, where my dad waited. That memory is one of my fondest musical memories, and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Peter Yarrow, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and, of course, Puff. My favorite concert so far was my twelfth birthday gift and celebration. My mom, a friend, and I went to see Queen with Adam Lambert in Washington, DC, at the Capital One Arena. I had recently gotten into Queen’s music. My school chorus had performed Somebody to Love in one of our concerts, our DC Capitals hockey team played We Are the Champions on repeat when they won the Stanley Cup a few years prior, and I had gone to their championship parade with my dad. Of course, the Queen movie had just come out, and we saw it in the theater. I was also hyper-focused on science as a child and thought Brian May was cool because he was a guitar player and an astrophysicist. There is always the worry that when someone has to replace a band member, they will not honor the memory of that member, but for Adam Lambert, nothing was further from the truth. Not only did he rock for two and half hours straight, but he honored Freddie Mercury’s spirit and was true to the original style of Queen. It was easily the most entertaining, electrifying, and flawless live performance I have ever seen!

If I were to form my own connections game, for my first grouping I would have the theme be, "alternate names of home" which would include: Abode, crib, pad, and estate. Then I would do "stringed instruments". including: lute, guitar, banjo, and sitar. I would then do "Things a baby needs", this would include: Bottle, stroller, monitor, and swing. The final category would be "Titles with great", this would include: Gatsby, expectations, Houdini, and escape. Referencing the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The Great Houdini, and the Great Escape. The reason I picked each category is because some have a partial overlap that could create some difficulty. As well as the use of film and literary titles, which is something I enjoy greatly, including something that I personally enjoy. I also have a close relationship with music and classical music which I would love to include. I really thought of the baby and home categories because I knew the overlap would cause some difficulty and they are both simple enough as to not be too impossible to get for the easier categories. These are the four categories I would use for a connections round.

What makes anyone a true leader is the drive to push people in the right direction, but to do so with positivity and respect. I feel so fortunate to spend every day as a leader of nearly 175 students in my school as the drum major of my high school marching band. While my love and understanding of the technicality of musicianship and conducting are the reasons I wanted to be a drum major, that is actually a small part of the leadership role that I experience each day. I spend thirteen and a half hours a week with these wonderful students, guiding them through struggles of playing and marching, extending and mastering musical skill at a higher level, and navigating life as a highschooler, while also addressing their behaviors on and off the field, finding missing uniform pieces, calming nerves, and keeping everyone positive and focused. For five months out of the year, I lead this talented group of my peers as we work toward perfecting our passion through a demanding schedule while learning to balance the other aspects of our lives. I have also taken my passion for volunteerism and feeding at homeless shelters, to develop an advocacy platform called Healing Hunger. This platform is my opportunity to work toward decreasing food insecurity in my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and throughout the world. I am currently organizing multiple donation and fundraising events in Hattiesburg to make boxes of nutritious meals for restaurants to provide to unhoused citizens when they approach their business. I am also organizing a meal-packing event with Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit that provides meals all over the world to food deserts. When I see a need in the world or in communities around me, I want nothing more than to fight for their dignity and organize the community assets around me to provide the resources they need to live life as they deserve, and be treated as productive members of society. I can want to fix the problem of food insecurity all I want to, but my drive to lead the community toward change is only 50% of the battle. The other 50% is how I address the solution and how I approach others to help achieve the change I hope to see. It takes organization, focus, assertiveness, patience, and persistence to lead group as large and diverse as our marching band, or to lead an advocacy platform where change is necessary for the improvement of our citizens. As my school's Beta Club officer team member, I have an amazing opportunity to work in my school and community to provide service and inspire other club members to participate. I appreciate listening to other people's service ideas and enjoy figuring out how to make it a reality for them. Hearing others' ideas about building a more unified community makes me want to see others follow down the path of being a leader as well. Over the last three years of high school, I have participated in leadership training for the marching band leadership team that focuses on seven levels of tools that make a strong leader. It is rewarding to see people take your leadership and advice and find faith and confidence in your leadership skills. Through kindness, determination, devotion, willpower, and grit, I have developed an understanding of how to make people feel capable of being their best selves and have earned the title of leader in my community.