Hello, my name is Chad Haun. In high school, I was placed in DCF custody due to abuse happening within my home of all sorts, towards my sister's and myself. I was in foster care until I aged out of the system and was on my own from there. All of this caused me to fall into a deeper pit of depression and anxiety. I attempted suicide twice, from pills and alcohol poisoning. I also had a gun to my head once, but due to some great friends, I got help. While in high school, my step-father committed suicide and due to such, I turned to alcohol to hide my emotions and act as if everything was fine. A good friend who lost their mother growing up saw my spiral and helped pick me back up. They pushed me to reach out for help from a mental health professional and counseling. I have overcome some of those obstacles with help from medications and learning healthy coping mechanisms. I now recognize the signs of being in crisis, which happened recently from my mother's passing in January, and know when to lean on those around me. I still seek help from my counselor when in crisis as it helps me sort out my thoughts. This allows me to recognize exactly what is going on and see the ability to push forward for not only myself, but others around me, such as my family. I can't begin to express how much this helps. In today's day, I am now a college student who is pursuing a degree in nursing, specializing in mental health and acute care so I can be there for others in their crisis. I am also now a husband and a father to a little girl who I thank God for, literally, each and every day. I now see the blessings I have around me and what to be thankful for. I spend time outside of school and work advocating for suicide awareness by helping out together 5k runs/walks; attending mental health awareness events; and being a chairman on a missions outreach at my church, where we reach out to those who need help. Due to these obstacles I have faced in life, and having the ability to overcome and push through them, I believe I would be a good fit for the Michael Valdivia Scholarship. I want to thank you for your consideration.