You see, as a go‑getter extraordinaire, I run into problems regularly. Here’s an example. Just a few weeks ago, I was on a mission trip to the Philippines. I can’t even begin to describe how pumped I was to be there. I’m a half‑half kid, American mixed with Philippine blood, and so the Philippines feels like a second home to me. Not only do I love the food and people and language, but I love my kids. In the Philippines, countless children live in horrible conditions: physically and mentally wounded, on the streets or in the mountains. Seeing them, speaking with them, I ache inside. Years before this trip, right after my first visit, fourteen‑year‑old me was filled with determination to make a difference. A young me started a ministry at my church to donate supplies, toiletries, and candies to support these kids. Overnight, the ministry flourished. Before I knew it, we were sending over four enormous boxes of goodies for the children. I even created comic‑style gospel tracts in my mother’s dialect to include in the packages, hoping to share with the kids how much God means to me. That’s why I was pumped. After months upon months of grueling work, pressure, and leadership, I was right where I wanted to be, just waiting for the prior batch of cargo to arrive. The problem? It never came. I’ll never forget that moment, that day, that disturbingly clear image: me staring at my reflection in a shoddy bathroom mirror, looking mad enough to kill. My face was a sick red, my body trembling in horrified, heartbroken anger. There was a delay in the cargo, a delay that meant my mission trip was pretty much pointless. I had nothing. Poor Rachel, a young entrepreneur who had devoted a ridiculous amount of time, effort, sweat, embarrassment, and tears to help these kids, had wasted it all for nothing. I’ll admit, I cried until I couldn’t anymore. I wailed and threw complaints at God, feeling utterly, selfishly miserable for myself and my project. But that’s when things got better: when I turned to Him. When I let God work. I realized how small my problem was in the long run, how I shouldn’t be whining, but looking to Him for answers. God picked me up and set me back on my feet. He said: I gave you a problem. Solve it. I gave you an obstacle. Become stronger. I am here, and I’ve got a better plan. With newfound determination, I opened my notebook and began planning once again. In the end, I purchased enough supplies to package 250 care bags, which I put together on my own. I shared my faith with over 300 children. I even earned a certification of appreciation from the Philippines Department of Education. This was the hardest obstacle I’ve ever faced in my life, but because of my faith in God, I didn’t just survive. I conquered it. Even though for a moment I felt as though I had nothing, I had God, and He truly worked things out for the better. I want to be a nurse so I can better support those kids. I want to treat their wounds and make sure the underprivileged get the care they deserve. My career is centered on my faith, my mission goals, and my love for others as God loves me. But most of all, I want to help people through the hardships life throws at them and share with them that God will come through in the end, just like He did for me.

Oh boy, books. For theme's sake, I’ll start with the exposition, establishing my relationship with books. I grew up a thirsty child, thirsty for adventures and friends and a thrill. When I couldn't find that in real life, I dove into books. I started picking out authors and reading every title they'd written. I stayed up late at night, breezing through multiple books each week. When I got in trouble, my parents would confiscate my precious reads. Books were both my escape and my world. Back then, they meant everything to me. Even now, they still do. So now to the question. What have I learned from reading? Another, better question: what have I not learned from reading? Reading, whether novels, textbooks, or my Bible, has taught me practically everything I know. Novels have taught me to think about others. I've learned good people do horrible things. That mistakes happen both on accident and on purpose. I've learned that people hurt, even if they don't act like it. These books make me look at real people and go, "Huh. I got no idea what internal monologue is going through their head, and I got no clue whether or not they're hurting." So I try to be pleasant and make their day better. I put myself in their shoes, and I've actually gotten really good at that. I have no idea who I'd be or how I would treat people without all the books I've read. Textbooks have taught me a lot too. Even though I've grasped tons of information from them, more than anything, they've developed my attention span. They've taught me how to stay focused when everything else is begging for my attention. I've read through some dense things, but I've learned to enjoy them. I'm grateful for my background with these books because now I'm confident I have enough endurance to make it through college. Lastly, the Bible has taught me the most. Morals. Right from wrong. Where I am in this world. Why I'm here. This book has shaped everything about my beliefs. Because of it, I know human life is precious. I've learned emotions are good but sometimes shallow. I've learned that we're not enough, but that's okay. Now I love people passionately, like Jesus, but I've learned not to force what I believe on others. The Bible has even taught me how to share my faith with understanding and kindness, not force. So how has reading shaped my goals? I have this dream I've been chasing forever. It's buried underneath other dreams that are more "important" like my Nursing degree and desire to be a missionary, but here it is: I want to publish a book. I don't want to write to make big bucks or to be famous. I don't care if only one person reads my books. All I want is to give someone else an adventure, some awesome friends, a thrill. That's my secret dream: to write a book that keeps a little kid like me up at night. That teaches him to think deeply about others. That grasps his attention span. That teaches him that evil is real and to watch out for it. But most of all, I want to change his life, even just a little bit. Reading changes lives. Without reading, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Reading has shaped every aspect of my life and goals. And with this scholarship, it would make it so much easier to accomplish my secret dream and give someone else, even if it's just one person, a good book.

When I saw this scholarship, I thought to myself, “Wow. This fits me perfectly.” That's because my heritage has influenced pretty much every aspect of my life — my dreams, my passions, my goals. My mother is a full-blooded Filipina, and my father is American. That makes me and my four siblings “halo-halo” (half-half) kids. Just last month, I went back home to the Philippines. Because of my blood, I got two homes. That means I get double the culture, double the experiences, double the friends, and double the tears when leaving. I’ve lived most of my life in the U.S., but I’d rather be in Davao City, Philippines, any day. So why do I love the Philippines so much? Maybe it’s because people are shocked that a white Americana like me can speak almost fluent Bisaya. Maybe it’s because Filipino food always beats American food. Maybe it’s because I miss all my Aunties and Lolas. Those are good reasons, but the main one is this: I want to go back for mission work. My faith means everything to me, and I believe that sharing the truths of the Bible alongside support and genuine care for poor kids in the Philippines is what the Lord wants for me. The last two years, I used my own money to buy my ticket (might I add, those tickets are ridiculously expensive). With the help of my church, we put together over four hundred packages of food, medical supplies, and toiletries to send in our Balikbayan box. I even created gospel tracks in my mother’s dialect. Last month, after sharing supplies with a school in the mountains, I earned a certificate of appreciation from the Educational Department of the Philippines! I work hard to get the funds I need. I’ve tutored algebra and arithmetic since I was fifteen, cleaned houses since I was twelve, acted as a junior assistant in my mother’s insurance WFG, and served at a banquet hall. Even with all that, sometimes I still can’t afford what I need. That’s why college is so important to me. I want a stable job that allows me to support my mission work. After years of prayer, I’ve finally landed on nursing. Because I study restlessly, I know I’ll make a great medical student. Doing nothing makes me uncomfortable, and so I’m always doing things with my brain: memorizing Bible verses, reading old textbooks, working on Bisaya for my next mission trip. You see, I'm always planning. Nursing fits my plans perfectly. Just last month, I was mentoring a group of 15–20 Filipino kids in my Lola’s backyard. During an activity, one little girl scraped her knee badly, and so I brought out rubbing alcohol, tissues, and band-aids. The kids watched in awe as I worked my magic. Because my mother worked extremely hard for her education, she has a medical degree here in the States. That's why I know my way around a first aid kit. Soon the kids were begging for band-aids. I told them in Bisaya they didn’t need any, but then, no joke, each one of them showed me a wound somewhere on their body. One boy even had a stomach wound with pus and flies. Seeing that ... it broke me. My dream is to help these kids. Without my heritage, I wouldn’t have half the motivation I have now. I hope you consider me for this scholarship. The support would seriously encourage me to continue working as hard as I can to make a difference in the lives of these kids, a dream rooted in my heritage.

What twelve-year-old asks for medical books for her birthday? I still remember waving around my nursing mnemonic book and thanking my parents. Before I turned ten, I had all the major bones and muscles of the body committed to memory. By eleven, I knew how to check blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate. By age twelve, I was constantly dreaming about giving someone CPR or performing the Heimlich maneuver. Was I weird? Or passionate? Maybe both? Becoming a nurse has always been my dream, but beyond my obsessive childhood aspirations, there are many reasons why this vocation has caught my eye. First, pay is very high. A nurse’s median wage is $45 an hour or $93,600 a year. Another motivator is job security. There is a constant demand for employees in the health care field, so working in this industry can provide job security in good times and bad. There are even many instances of people basically quitting their jobs to become nurses. The third reason for my interest is the vast opportunities that nursing offers. Joana Ladson, a family friend and personal mentor who is a registered nurse, discussed these possibilities with me. She said that I could be a traveling nurse and see the world, a pediatric nurse and work with children, or what excites me the most: a nurse practitioner. According to Victor Zondoga, a nurse practitioner who is basically my uncle, nursing education is basically comparable to a ladder. Once I complete one degree, I can advance to specialization to improve my wages and credentials. The last reason I have taken an interest in nursing is both the encouragement of family and friends and the idea of making a difference for God’s glory. In my life, there is an abundance of medical professionals who are constantly urging me toward the field. All the nurses I personally know are remarkable individuals, proficient in medical knowledge and always ready to serve. It is my dream to be just like them. Also, I believe that God is calling me to nursing so that I can be like the Proverbs 31 woman: “She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” Whether I am stationed in a clinic or hospital, I will have the opportunity to serve others who are in need, thereby serving the Lord. Overall, because of pay, security, opportunities, encouragement from others, and guidance from the Lord, I have developed a deep passion for becoming a nurse. After extensive research of articles, a handful of memorable interviews, and a dangerous amount of time in informational books, I now understand the job of nursing: the motivating factors, the purpose and expectations, and education. Now, I am more confident than ever that nursing is the right path for me. Being a nurse will benefit me in many ways, as Victor Zondoga said, “Nursing is where the big bucks are. You’ll never be without a job.” These benefits are good, but they are not why I am choosing this job. It all started with an obsessive little girl practicing CPR on her pillow, but now I completely understand the future challenges and am ready. With all this knowledge backing me up, I am done dreaming about nursing and am ready to conquer the challenges of college and medical training to get to where I know the Lord wants me to be. All I'm asking for is a chance. Thanks!

I kinda started by accident, but then I took lead. I'm a half-half kid. Half American. Half Filipino. This means I get to experience both worlds, both the good stuff and the bad. Last trip, when I finally figured out how to communicate in my mom's dialect (even though I sound like a caveman), I met tons of kids who live in the streets. They were so happy and optimistic, all because they had no idea what they were missing out on. One time, without thinking too much, I brought out some lollipops for the kids. Their faces lit up, and they were like, "American kendi! Oh my goli!" They enjoyed every lick. It was hilarious and heartbreaking. So many people in the Philippines don't have half the stuff we do here in the U.S. No shoes. No toothbrushes. No soap. Basic stuff like that. When I got back to the U.S., I couldn't stop thinking about the street kids. I knew their names, their faces, their personalities. All so young and underprivileged. It felt unfair and wrong. At my church, I started talking to people about what I saw in the Philippines. I'm a passionate person, and when I talk about things I tend to go overboard, but thankfully the individuals I spoke with felt the same way. Then boom. Overnight, my church started collecting stuff to send to the street kids in the Philippines. This was around three years ago, and I remember feeling like I was dreaming when the project was announced before the sermon. One of my mentors gave me the idea to make gospel tracts in my mom's dialect. It took ages, but I did (they are beautiful by the way). Now, every year my church collects items like toiletries, candy, food, and other things to send to the Philippines. This year we made over 400 bags. Just think! That's enough supplies to help over 400 street kids! This is how I am a positive force right now. I'm using my voice and passion to connect two communities and get people involved in something bigger than themselves. When I grow up, I want to start a ministry there. One bag of supplies might make a kid happy for a day, but when that stuff is gone, what are they supposed to do? I think having someone there would be life‑changing. Someone passionate enough to get a church hyped enough to send stuff over. I would teach the kids about economics and how to save money. I would encourage them to go to college so they can better their lives without needing tons of support, so they can support other people in need instead. This is how I see myself being a positive force in the future. Not just giving temporary help, but doing something that helps kids change their own lives. A lot of this comes from the social norms I grew up with. Filipino culture taught me everything about community and taking care of each other even when you don’t got much. It's just a dream right now. Seems impossible. But I'm going to fight with all I’ve got to make this real. Thank you for this opportunity. If you choose me, I'll use every bit of it to build something real for these kids. All I'm asking for is a chance.

What twelve-year-old asks for medical books for her birthday? I still remember waving around my nursing mnemonic book and fervently thanking my parents. Before I turned ten, I had all the major bones and muscles of the body committed to memory. By eleven, I knew how to check blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate. By age twelve, I was constantly dreaming about giving someone CPR or performing the Heimlich maneuver. Was I weird? Or passionate? Maybe both? Becoming a nurse has always been my dream, but beyond my obsessive childhood dreams, there are many reasons why this vocation has caught my eye. First, pay is very high. A nurse’s median wage is $45 an hour or $93,600 a year. Another motivator is job security. There is a constant demand for employees in the health care field, so working in this industry can provide job security in good times and bad. There are even many instances of people literally quitting their jobs to become nurses. The third reason for my interest is the vast opportunities that nursing offers. Joana Ladson, a registered nurse who I have interviewed, discussed these possibilities with me. She said that I could be a traveling nurse and see the world, a pediatric nurse and work with children, or what excites me the most: a nurse practitioner. According to Victor Zondoga, a nurse practitioner whom I have interviewed through a questionnaire, nursing education is basically comparable to a ladder. Once I complete one degree, I can advance to specialization to improve my wages and credentials. The last reason I have taken an interest in nursing is both the encouragement of family and friends and the idea of making a difference for God’s glory. In my life, there is an abundance of medical professionals who are constantly urging me toward the field. All the nurses I personally know are remarkable individuals, proficient in medical knowledge and always ready to serve. It is my dream to be just like them. Also, I believe that God is calling me to nursing so that I can be like the Proverbs 31 woman: “She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.” Whether I am stationed in a clinic or hospital, I will have the opportunity to serve others who are in need in my community, thereby serving the Lord. Overall, because of pay, security, opportunities, encouragement from others, and guidance from the Lord, I have developed a deep passion for becoming a nurse. After extensive research of articles, a handful of memorable interviews, and many hours in informational books, I now understand the job of nursing: the motivating factors, the purpose and expectations, and education. Now, I am more confident than ever that nursing is the right path for me. Being a nurse will benefit me in many ways, as Victor Zondoga said, “Nursing is where the big bucks are. You’ll never be without a job.” These benefits are good, but they are not why I am choosing this job. It all started with an obsessive little girl practicing CPR on her pillow, but now I completely understand the future challenges and am ready. With all this knowledge backing me up, I am done dreaming about nursing and am ready to conquer the challenges of college and medical training to get to where I know the Lord wants me to be. I promise I won't let you down. All I'm asking for is a chance. Thanks!

It kinda started by accident, but then I took lead. I'm a half-half kid. Half American. Half Filipino. This means I get to experience both worlds. Both the good stuff and the bad. Last trip, when I finally figured out how to communicate in my mom's dialect (even though I sound like a caveman), I got to meet tons of kids that live in the streets. It's weird because they're so happy and optimistic, all because they got no idea what they are missing out on. One time, without thinking about it too much, I brought out some lolipops for the kids. Their faces lit up, and they were like, "American kendi! Oh my goli! American kendi!" They enjoyed every lick. It was both hilarious and kinda heartbreaking. So many people in the Philippines don't have half the stuff we do here in the U.S. No shoes. No toothbrushes. No soap. Basic stuff like that. When I got back to the U.S., I couldn't stop thinking about the street kids. Stayed up late at night staring at the cracks in the ceiling. I knew their names, their faces, their personalities. All so young and underprivileged. This felt so unfair and wrong to me. At my church, I started talking to tons of people about the things I saw in the Philippines. I'm a really passionate person, and when I talk about things I tend to go a little overboard and annoy them, but thankfully certain people I talked to seem to feel the same way. Then boom. Like, overnight, my church started collecting stuff to send to the street kids in the Philippines. This was around 3 years ago, and I remember feeling like I was dreaming when the project was announced before the sermon to the entire congregation. One of my mentors gave me the idea to make made gospel tracts in my mom's dialect. It took ages, but I did (and the art is beautiful, by the way). Now, every year my church collects items like toiletries, candy, food, and other things to send to the Philippines. This year we made over 400 bags. Just think! That's enough supplies to help over 400 street kids! When I grow up, I want to start up a ministry there. One bag of supplies and treats might make a kid happy for a day, but when that stuff is up, what are they supposed to do? I think having someone there would be lifechanging. Some weirdo like me who's passionate enough to get a church hyped enough to send stuff over. I would teach the kids there about economics and how to save money. I would encourage them to go to college so that they can better thier lives without needing tons of support, so they can support other people in need instead. I would cry with them, laugh with them, explore different towns, and maybe make my way up into the mountains where those more withdrawn native guys (bajau) live. It's just... it's just a dream right now. Seems impossible. But I'm gonna fight with all I got to make this real. This dream will fuel me through college. Yeah, it's a little project I started up when I was thirteen years old, but it's really evolved into so much more. Thank you, scholarship guys, for this opportunity. Please consider me. If you choose me, I'll use every bit of this opportunity to built something real for these kids. I promise I won't let you down. All I'm asking for is a chance.