It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Throughout my life I have given back in many ways. One of which was as a volunteer at Paws of Central Texas. I walked dogs, took pictures, and posted them on social media to help them find their forever families. Recently, I have been volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community, which I plan to continue throughout my life. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am a volunteer at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community while gaining experience in my field. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation. The How She Works Scholarship for Women's Education would help me to fund out of state tuition and complete my final semester towards my Bachelor's degree in zoology while allowing me to focus on my academics with out the worry of the financial burdens.

"Their win is not my loss." This is from Jealousy Jealousy by Olivia Rodrigo. Even though that is the rational thought, that's not what she is thinking. She would like to be anyone else but herself. I think every teenage girl or young adult can relate to this line. Have I gotten dressed and thought I didn’t look as good as ANYONE else? Far too many times. I see the pretty girls with their sense of style while I feel short and like nothing fits right. I see my friends in Europe for study abroad and feel like everyone has more money than me.even though I know their success is not my loss, I can’t help but get caught up in it all. Logically I am happy when those around me look good or succeed, but our brains at this age are not always logical. Sometimes the smallest blemish on my face seems so huge. I think most girls my age can relay to the lyrics of Olivia Rodrigo. However, I also have days I look in the mirror and know I am beautiful. I have days where I can look around and realize how very lucky I am to be getting this education, how very lucky I was to study abroad in Madagascar last year (even though it looked very different from my friends study abroad experiences). I try hard to keep my brain in the space of gratitude. I attend therapy and work with a mental health practitioner to improve my mental health. I work with my doctors to improve my physical health. I have had stumbles in my academic career and much of that has been due to my health issues both physical and mental. My zoology courses are difficult but I have gotten the tutoring I needed to succeed. It’s easy to think none of my friends have struggled academically. Eventually I learned they have. Success is not always linear. My mom always told me a college degree is not about being smart. It’s about perseverance. I have that! I have spent my entire life attending school with fever, fatigue and nausea. But each day I get up and keep going. This summer I worked at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies. I learned so much and was so happy after each shift. I had my nails done and felt like such a cool chick when I saw the pictures of the snakes in my hands with my beautiful nails. I have learned to appreciate my differences and recognize these are the things that make me unique. I don’t need to compare myself to others to measure my success. I am successful and worthy of my own accord. I will struggle in this life. I will have days I wake up not feeling great about myself. I may give in to comparison. But I can look in the mirror and appreciate myself. I can appreciate my strengths. It doesn’t make me arrogant to appreciate who I am. It allows me to be filled with gratitude and appreciate who I am. Appreciation and gratitude are the things that allow me to be successful. When I am filled with comparison and jealousy I sink into depression. I can not allow this to happen. Each day I take the steps forward to build my future and the life I want. Some day when I am traveling the world to work in the rainforest in the field of conservation, someone, somewhere will be looking at me wanting this life I built.

My uncle took his own life after a battle with colon cancer. His brother is currently facing the same cancer battle as well as his own mental health struggles. My aunt attempted suicide. She was in a coma for a week and remained hospitalized for a while. Knowing she was transported from the hospital to court in an ambulance, but basically like a prisoner was confusing. The judge was shocked she had so much family in attendance. There is a strong genetic component of mental health challenges on both sides of my family. I have my own struggles some of which may be genetic and some of which may be due to challenges I face. My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush pink blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Sometimes I live in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am performing infinitely better than I was able to before. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. My health has been, and probably always will be a struggle. I've had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community, which I plan to continue throughout my life. Like Kalia, I ran Cross Country in high school. I was the Cross Country Manager for two years. I grew up going to the beach with my family and that is one of the things I really miss now that I have been in Colorado for school. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. For me this disease can cause months of fever, fatigue, nausea, and joint pain. Due to my disease working while enrolled in school full time is difficult, although I am currently working on the Rover app and hoping to continue pet sitting during the school year as much as I am able. The Kalia D. Davis scholarship would help me to fund out of state tuition and complete my final year towards my Bachelor's degree in zoology while allowing me to focus on my academics with out the worry of the financial burdens of tuition.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can't help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I felt confident, happy and was staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. It has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I've had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge needed to protect and care for living creatures as well as their homes properly. Nature and living things have always been helpful to my mental and physical health. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Achieving my degree will allow me to be financially independent. Honestly, I was a little afraid I wouldn't be able to handle working in conservation, but traveling to Madagascar last year to study lemurs helped me to learn this is what I'm meant to do.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush pink blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning was not the first time I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my unique differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. It has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for living creatures as well as their homes properly. Nature and living things have always been helpful to my mental health. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

When I was three years old my uncle took his own life after a battle with colon cancer and the challenges he would have in his life from his many surgeries. His brother, my uncle Tony, is currently facing the same cancer battle and his own mental health struggles. These uncles are my dad's brothers. When I was in middle school my aunt on my mom's side attempted suicide. She was in a coma for a week and remained hospitalized and then in a court ordered mental hospital for a while. Our mental health system needs serious help. Knowing she was transported from the hospital to court in an ambulance, but basically like a prisoner was hard. There were kind nurses along the way. She was one of the lucky ones who had family support. The judge was shocked she had so much family in attendance. There is a strong genetic component of mental health struggles for me from both sides of my family. I have my own struggles. Each day can be a struggle mentally and physically. My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush pink blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning was not the first time I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Sometimes I live in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my unique differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. It has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. Nature and living things have always been helpful to my mental health. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR) as well as pet sitting. Although it can be taxing on my body physically, I am always so happy when I leave RACR or when I am able to lay on a couch with a dog or have a cat in my lap. These are some of the things I find joy in. Although it is a balance of juggling my schedule and making sure I honor my commitments, the joy I see when a new animal is adopted is beyond measure. I am working hard to find joy in the little things and to recognize the glimmers around me.

Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It’s doing something you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I've always loved animals. I'm a zoology major, so I volunteered at a local animal shelter for many years. I spent time with cats, walked dogs, and took pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. I'm currently volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Rescue of the Rockies. Service has helped me feel fulfilled, while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Sterling was handed off to my mom and I in a parking lot at a McDonald's in a nearby town. As we pulled away he stood in the back seat. He probably didn't know the hope we had for his future or how close he had come to euthanasia. We delivered him to the volunteers at Paws. Within days we were able to see his adoption to his forever family. I've worked an adoption event which allowed four dogs to find their forever homes and assisted in transporting a cat to the veterinarian to be evaluated for a broken leg. Throughout my years with Paws of Central Texas I touched the adoption of about 130 dogs and cats. Throughout my middle school and high school careers I was a member of an organization called Coapt. CoApt is a drug and alcohol prevention program for youth in Blanco County. I feel strongly about this program because I have a brother who struggles with addiction and has been to rehab twice and arrested multiple times. Throughout these years I helped to plan many events but I would say one of the most important was a Wellness Fair for the local community which serves about 200 local families. These wellness fairs brought together local organizations who could help the community members in various ways from doctors visits to eye exams, to fitness. Due to my life experiences, I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I've played various roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I'll continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can not help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning was not the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. FMF is an invisible physical disability. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. My health has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. During my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation. The challenges I have been through have helped me develop what I consider my greatest strength: my determination. I will do anything and everything to meet my goals just as I did anything and everything to get her at CSU a school fourteen hours from home where I didn't know a single soul. My determination and empathy are what make me a great candidate. I will reach my goals and help the people around me as well as this beautiful planet.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation. The Bright Lights scholarship would help me to fund out of state tuition and complete my final year towards my Bachelor's degree in zoology while allowing me to focus on my academics with out the worry of the financial burdens.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. In middle school, my ecology teacher, Mrs. Meirs', took an interest in me and helped me see I could have a career with animals and conservation. Mrs. Meirs' and this zoologist changed my story. They inspired me and let me know I could follow my passion. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU and am currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. Service helps me to feel I am giving back to my community. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. In middle school, my ecology teacher, Mrs. Meirs', took an interest in me and helped me see I could have a career with animals and conservation. Mrs. Meirs' and this zoologist changed my story. They inspired me and let me know I could follow my passion. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This Fall I will be entering my fourth year at CSU. I'm currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. Their center focuses on animal care as well as conservation. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will use my education to make changes in this world. We can make a difference if we try. For me, that change will be working in conservation and helping to leave this planet a little bit better for the next generation.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. This one little video set me in my path of “planning my work and working my plan!” I am a fourth year zoology student. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I have saved money for college my entire life. It began with birthday money. When I started working I saved half my earnings. This money has allowed me to have monthly spending and grocery money while away at school. I apply for as many scholarships as possible and have earned close to $60,000 in scholarships. From the time I chose an out of state school, I was told scholarships were my contribution. In addition to the financial aspects of achieving my dreams, the hard work and perseverance have been essential! I started taking much of my course work in high school. As I got to college it has been course by course. I take tutoring for those difficult classes such as organic chemistry and physics. Last summer when I was in Madagascar researching lemurs I realized many of the researchers have graduate degrees. I am currently researching graduate programs. My current plan is to remain focused on the end game, volunteering or working in my program where I can. I am currently volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies. It has been a fabulous experience and I am learning so much!

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. In middle school, my ecology teacher, Mrs. Meirs', took an interest in me and helped me see I could have a career with animals and conservation. Mrs. Meirs' and this zoologist changed my story. They helped me narrow down my focus and know I could follow my passion. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. As time passed, and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Next year, I will be entering my fourth year. I'm currently exploring graduate programs. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I am volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR), which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. My focus will be on animal care as well as conservation. In our larger world community, as well as our smaller communities, it often feels like many people go about their daily lives not giving any thought to their impact on the world around them. My never ending empathy doesn't allow this. It breaks my heart to see animals suffer or to think about microplastics and what they are doing to the world. I have made my decision that I will make a difference whether I have the resources or not. If given the resources, I would start in my local community educating others on ways to make an impact. I am doing that this summer working for RACR. There are steps I can take now such as working towards my Bachelor's degree, volunteering for RACR and Paws of Central Texas.

Most things are universal from place to place: kids chasing each other down sidewalks, teenagers laughing with their friends, people trying to get to work and going about their normal errands. I think that’s my favorite thing about traveling. I love the differences, but the similarities are definitely what give you the most insight into the culture. Experiences can open your eyes to cultures and problems that may exist in the world. I have made a promise to the Malagasy people. My promise was to share their story. Their situation cannot improve if we don’t spread awareness. I take my promises seriously and I am a person of my word. One of the most urgent problems with wildlife conservation and human wildlife coexistence is that you cannot try to save a species until you solve the underlying issues of the people. For example, you cannot work on saving lemur populations if someone hasn’t eaten in twenty four hours and that lemur will fill their child’s belly. Last summer I was fortunate enough to be able to study lemurs in Madagascar. Along the way, I fell in love with the rainforest and Madagascar. This experience opened my eyes to issues that are bigger than my passion which is nature and conversation. I hope to return to Madagascar and the rainforest someday. We can make a difference. I have just learned we need to work on building relationships with the people, understand their culture and understand their needs. It may mean helping them find ways to earn a living for their families. It may mean eventually helping them understand that lemur they believe to be a demon is really harmless. We can build bridges. Sometimes, it takes time. This problem isn’t isolated to Madagascar. This is a problem all over the world. It is easy for those who are passionate about conservation to go in with idealistic views and not pay attention to the needs of each population including the human population. I have family members who rely on wildlife to eat. Although I am a vegetarian, I am not against hunting. It can help to manage the deer populations. I am passionate about saving endangered populations. I am passionate about learning to understand why the populations are becoming extinct and what we can do to help. But I have learned we need to listen and understand all aspects of the problems. Building bridges, helping families appreciate wildlife and learn about aspects of endangered species while being compassionate towards the communities you work in to understand their needs and problems seems to be imperative in this line of work. This summer I will be volunteering at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR). I will have the opportunity not only to work in animal care, but to help with educational programs and conservation projects as well. I have worked with rescue populations since 2019 starting with Paws of Central Texas. My work at PAWS mostly involved dogs and cats, but I was involved in spreading awareness on social media and appearing in pamphlets and training videos. RACR works in rescue as well as conservation and education, striving to increase public understanding of how these animals play a vital role in our ecosystem. I am thrilled to further my passion and play a role I find so important.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. I will be entering my fourth year. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I a preparing to volunteer at RACR which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. My focus will be on animal care as well as conservation. I am also currently researching graduate programs. When I was in Madagascar last summer I realized all the researchers who had jobs I am interested in have graduate degrees. My dream is to work in the rainforest some day. I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species, ideally in field trapping. My future career is just not attainable without college. My education is opening the doors for my career in zoology and conservation. Like Kayla Nicole Monk, things have not always been easy for me as I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever which for me can cause months of fever, fatigue, nausea and joint pain. I understand the struggles of achieving your dreams while facing health issues. Due to my disease, working while enrolled full time is difficult for me. Nature has always helped me and I just want to protect the things that have always helped me. The Kayla Nicole Monk Memorial Scholarship would allow me to focus on my academics while lessening the financial stress of out of state tuition.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can not help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning was not the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. FMF is an invisible physical disability. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my unique differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. It has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. Nature has always been a passion of mine and I just want to help the things that have always helped me! I chose Colorado State University due to their top zoology program as well as their focus on conservation. Out of state tuition has been costly, scholarships have helped make attendance possible!

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I have volunteered at a local animal shelter. I spent time with cats, walked dogs, and took pictures of animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. This summer my plan is to volunteer at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies (RACR). Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I have always known I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that God gave us. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My faith has always been an important part of my life. If you stay connected to God and faithful in prayer, you can feel God leading you where you need to go. It is not loud, but a strong feeling of what comes next. This summer as I was considering an internship, I kept feeling called toward RACR. As I was discussing my options with my mom, she encouraged me to volunteer for RACR, feeling it may be where God was leading me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever, which for me can cause months of fever, nausea, joint pain and fatigue. I think due to the struggles of dealing with chronic illness, I also suffer from anxiety and depression. The last couple of years I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my illness versus fatigue from depression. I have been working with my doctors and therapist and am learning coping skills and have medication adjustments. The struggles I have been through help me to have compassion for others. This makes me an excellent leader because it helps me to realize what you see on the surface may not be all there is that someone may be dealing with. My disease has taught me what I consider my greatest strength: my determination. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Determination helps me to lead by example because I will do anything to meet my goals just like I did anything and everything to get here at Colorado State University a school fourteen hours from home where I didn’t have a single friend. I was recently given the opportunity to do some work as a paid content creator for a scholarship platform. This gave me the opportunity to lead by example by sharing the knowledge I have gained in my years of applying for scholarships. As an upper level zoology major there are times I am able to lead on campus by helping other students who may need a helping hand. I lead by example and with compassion. Leadership can come in many forms. It comes from being a hard worker, reliable, compassionate and skilled at getting along with others. I’m a leader in all I do.

I look twelve. I am twenty. I can appreciate my youthful look as there is nothing that will change it, and as I age, I hope that will help me remain younger looking. In some ways my younger appearance has kept me out of trouble. When my friends asked if I wanted a fake ID my answer was a swift no. Who would believe I was twenty one? This summer I was flying to Madagascar to study lemurs. My mom flew with me to catch my first flight as I was too young to rent a hotel room by myself. As we go through security at the airport the TSA agent asked for my boarding pass. He had already asked for my identification and was holding that in his hand but clearly hadn’t looked at it. As he was proceeding to ask me who I was traveling with and where I was going, he figures out that I am an adult. He looks at the driver’s license he is holding and says, “Oh! You’re an adult? I don’t need your boarding pass.” When I boarded my flight to Paris for the next layover the flight attendant gave me a bag. I was the only one in the group who received a bag. When I opened the bag, I burst out laughing. I was given a wooden car and a coloring book. My friends and I shared the items to make the best of our long flight. You have to learn to accept and appreciate the things you can’t control. In high school, this was a source of bullying as I didn’t drink. It felt like most kids in my school did drink and attend parties. I was excluded from many events due to this. I can’t say that was due to my appearance as much as that I didn’t participate in some of the activities they participated in. I am a rule follower and in high school that isn’t always popular. I may have been perceived as a baby or immature which may have accompanied how I look. In reality, I know I had a maturity beyond my appearance. As I have grown I have learned the things that made me unpopular in high school are the things that make me an exceptional adult. I am a third year zoology major. I am currently researching graduate programs. I traveled to Madagascar to study lemurs, and I have applied to volunteer at the Reptile and Amphibian Center of the Rockies this summer. I have remained true to my values. I am a hard worker and try to do the right thing even when it isn’t popular. I have accepted my youthful appearance as I know there can be a positive outcome in the future. I have remained focused on my future throughout my life, knowing that working hard today, can lead to a better future not just for myself but for the world as well, since my goal is to work in conservation. I have always known I wanted to work in conservation, but honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever, which for me can cause months of fever, nausea, joint pain and fatigue. However, in Madagascar this summer, I learned I am not fragile and this is exactly the kind of work I am meant to do. Being small in stature, youthful looking, battling health issues or being responsible are not things that hold me back. Instead, they fuel me.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. I am currently a third year zoology major. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I a preparing to gain experience at RACR which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. I am also currently researching graduate programs. When I was in Madagascar last summer I realized all the researchers who had jobs I am interested in have graduate degrees. My dream is to work in the rainforest some day. To start I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. Ideally that would be in field trapping. My future career is just not attainable without college. College is opening the doors for my career in zoology and conservation. Things have not always been easy for me as I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever which for me can cause months of fever, fatigue, nausea and joint pain. Nature has always helped me and I just want to protect the things that have always helped me.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I explored schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. As a third year zoology major I have been building a future, not only for myself, but hopefully to make a greater impact on surrounding communities. Creating healthier environments for animals creates a healthier environment for humans as we are all interconnected and share this planet. This summer I plan to gain experience at RACR which is an amphibian and reptile rescue. This not only allows me to gain experience but to make an impact now.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can't help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my unique differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. It has been, and probably always will be, an ongoing struggle. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. Winning the Robert and Suzi Degennaro Scholarship for Disabled Students would allow me to focus more on my my academic pursuits and to finish my final year or studies towards my Bachelor’s degree in zoology. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. My long term goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. My short term goal is to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree and continue exploring graduate programs. As an underrepresented woman in STEM, it doesn’t escape me that there was a time I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my education. This helps me to remember that education is a privilege. I especially try to do my best to demonstrate I am as worthy to be here as anyone else. My grandfather was a member of Lulac and attended UT Austin at a time when it wasn’t as common for underrepresented Hispanic students. He is no longer alive but his legacy and encouragement for me to pursue my education lives on. Hispanics only make up about thirteen percent of zoology students. I pursued zoology because of my passion, but hope to set an example and open doors for other underrepresented minorities in the field. The SigLa Education Scholarship would help to fund my final year of my Bachelor’s degree. This scholarship would allow me to focus more on my education while prioritizing my health needs. I am looking forward to my final year of undergraduate studies.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

Sabrina’s Short and Sweet tour tickets came available while I was at work. I convinced my mom to wait in that virtual line to buy my tickets. Fortunately, she agreed. After watching that virtual man walk forever she finally got through. Tickets were two hundred dollars a person. I couldn’t afford more than one ticket. It didn’t matter. There were not two seats together any way. I told my mom to get my ticket. She did, but she immediately felt nervous. She didn’t think it was safe for me to go alone. When my dad found out I planned to attend her concert alone, he was not happy. I thought I would find other kids attending from my university, but that didn’t happen. My parents helped me arrange transportation because they were so worried. I promised to stay in touch with my mom along the way. There was no way I could miss this concert. It meant everything to me! I bought the cutest pink dress and Naked Wolfe boots just like Sabrina wears. The boots were so expensive but my brother had given me a gift card for Christmas. My mom gave me the last little bit because she knew this was a carefully considered purchase. I do not typically make impulse buys. These boots are still my favorite to complete a fun outfit. Sabrina Carpenter is funny. She makes me smile. Sometimes life feels heavy. Sabrina Carpenter always feels light. I have listened to her since her Disney days. It was such a feat for me to get tickets to her show, the perfect outfit, and get to Denver for the concert. But even though I was at that concert alone, I loved every minute of it. I cried singing along to all my favorite songs. I listen to Sabrina’s music when I drive across the states from my little town of Blanco Texas to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, while I am studying, or when I am getting dressed to go out. I know every word to every song. She can help me escape when life seems too hard. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever which for me can cause months of fever, fatigue, nausea, and joint pain. I also suffer from anxiety and depression. Music, and very often Sabrina Carpenter can be an escape for me. I have all her CD’s and much of her merchandise. I am short like she is, so that is another way she is relatable to me. But mostly it’s her humor. I just think she is funny and sometimes that is what I need. When the world feels dark and heavy, Sabrina just makes things lighter. We could all use a little more Sabrina in our life.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. This benefits a healthier world for all.

As cliché as it might sound, my brother taught me lessons that guide and shape how I live. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. He was nineteen. He cried and promised he’d change. This was following his first arrest. Every time we thought he was doing better, he would get worse again. He would lie, break promises and skip holidays. With little warning, he called drunk, suicidal and crying. He said how much he loved me, and how he wanted to change. A few days later he came to visit. Although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive, walked around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. The suicide threats have been cyclical. Every time he gets himself in trouble again and realizes what he is facing, he threatens suicide. Each break up brings on the suicide threats as well. I have lived with never knowing if I will lose my brother to suicide or prison. A couple of years ago, around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again. I cried, but I also decided that was the last time I would have expectations. He has continued to be arrested and has served a year in jail and court ordered rehab. Nothing seems to help or work. This weekend he was just arrested again. I don’t know what his future holds. I will be happy when he does better. I will be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. I have spent far too much time worrying about him and letting it pull me in to deep depression. He has taught me no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. When I was younger, my brother always had me put on my clothes and we would wander the property to go "hunting". He carried his BB gun and we walked and talked. Nature has always helped me. It has been healing to me. I have chosen the major of zoology for this reason. I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. My brother has always loved nature and being outside. I wish he would be able to get back outside and find his true self and forget the drugs. Mental health and addiction are crazy things and they don't always have easy solutions. I am determined to make meaning of this life and not follow in his footsteps.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. Suddenly I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one goal that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain in Madagascar while on study abroad. I had the opportunity to plant trees in the rainforest and get to understand the culture and the needs of the Malagasy people. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. Madagascar reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. I can't help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before, on top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. Despite my disease I have participated in many extracurricular activities from Varsity cheerleader to Cross Country Manager and I have been an officer in many clubs. I have been an active member of St. Ferdinand's Catholic Church. While in Fort Collins I attend Mass at St. John XXIII. My academic awards include graduating top ten in my graduating class. One of the awards I am most proud of is the Chip Roy Exceptional Senior which only one student from Blanco High School received in 2023. This award is given to students who consistently displayed high levels of character, leadership, integrity, and diligence. These virtues are evident through their philanthropic activities, academic successes and reputations among peers and teachers. I have received other honors such as Academic All-State Cheerleader, National AP Scholar, 1st Team Cross Country Academic All State and many others. This summer through study abroad, I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I am meant to do. I realized my clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. I gained perspective on the world, but mostly on myself. I am not fragile. This is the kind of work I am supposed to be doing. I always knew this was what I wanted, but I honestly was not sure if I was cut out for it. Realizing how much I loved this experience was just the validation I needed. I came home with a renewed connection to the earth and a renewed connection to myself. I am a third year zoology student who hopes to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. Out of state tuition at CSU is costly. I chose this university because of their focus on conservation. Most schools in Texas are pre-veterinarian. The Christian Fitness Association General Scholarship would help me to finish my senior year at Colorado State University being able to focus on my academic goals allowing me to finally achieve my degree in zoology and may the type and size of impact I so greatly want to make on this world.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. Suddenly I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one goal that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. Madagascar reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. Like Jeannine Schroeder, I have a passion for the environment, I have been active in my church, and have participated in service in many ways.

Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I've always loved animals and I'm majoring in zoology, so I volunteered at a local animal shelter for many years. I spent time with cats, walked dogs, and took pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Through Paws of Central Texas I assisted in a day long adoption event which allowed four dogs to find their forever homes. I assisted with pulling a dog from a shelter and transporting him to Paws ensuring he didn't face euthanasia. I've assisted in transporting a cat to a local veterinary to be evaluated for a broken leg. Throughout my years with Paws of Central Texas I touched the adoption of about 130 dogs and cats. This organization makes a lifetime commitment to their animals and is near and dear to my heart. Throughout my middle school and high school careers I was a member of an organization called Coapt. CoApt is a drug and alcohol prevention program for youth in Blanco County. I feel strongly about this program because I have a brother who struggles with addiction and has been to rehab twice and arrested multiple times. To my knowledge, he is currently clean from drugs, although we never know what the future may hold. Throughout these years I helped to plan many events but I would say one of the most important was a Wellness Fair for the local community which serves about 200 local families. These wellness fairs brought together local organizations who could help the community members in various ways from doctors visits to eye exams to fitness. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. My goal is to make the world a little better by working in conservation to protect threatened and endangered species.

Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so I volunteered at a local animal shelter for many years. I spent time with cats, walked dogs, and took pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Through Paws of Central Texas I assisted in a day long adoption event which allowed four dogs to find their forever homes. I assisted with pulling a dog from a shelter and transporting him to Paws ensuring he didn't face euthanasia. I've assisted in transporting a cat to a local veterinary to be evaluated for a broken leg. Throughout my years with Paws of Central Texas I touched the adoption of about 130 dogs and cats. This organization makes a lifetime commitment to their animals and is near and dear to my heart. Throughout my middle school and high school careers I was a member of an organization called Coapt. CoApt is a drug and alcohol prevention program for youth in Blanco County. I feel strongly about this program because I have a brother who struggles with addiction and has been to rehab twice and arrested multiple times. To my knowledge, he is currently clean from drugs, although we never know what the future may hold. Throughout these years I helped to plan many events but I would say one of the most important was a Wellness Fair for the local community which serves about 200 local families. These wellness fairs brought together local organizations who could help the community members is various ways from doctors visits to eye exams to fitness. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. Service and leadership were essential to me developing a little more confidence in myself and this world.

Nature's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one goal that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. We only have one planet and our resources are finite. The many ways we damage our planet daily affect each of us. It can be easy to think there is not a lot we can do as one person. But even right now as I am earning my degree, there are things I can do individually. I recycle. I think about sustainable purchases and use my purchases for a long time. I donate the things I no longer need and try to make purchases from Goodwill or other places like that. This summer I traveled to Madagascar to research lemurs and was fortunate enough to be able to plant trees in the rainforest. Each of us has a responsibility to work towards a sustainable future and if we each do our part we can make things better.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can't help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge unique challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I have had to learn to distinguish between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. With the help of my mental health nurse practitioner and therapist, each day I learn to better handle both. My brother struggles with addiction. Each arrest or scary choice seems to take another hit on my mental health. I am having to learn I have to love myself first no matter how much I love him . This summer through study abroad, I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. I realized my clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. I gained perspective on the world, but mostly on myself. I’m not fragile. This is the kind of work I'm supposed to be doing. I always knew this was what I wanted, but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. Realizing how much I loved this experience was just the validation I needed. I came home with a renewed connection to the earth and a renewed connection to myself. I am a third year zoology student who hopes to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I can't help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) worse than it’s been for a while. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. But one day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I can accept my differences. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I felt more confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. Working on myself allows me to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I’ve had to work to distinguish between fatigue from my disease versus fatigue from depression. I have learned discipline and responsibility working many leadership positions from Varsity Cheerleader to Cross Country Manager as well as an officer in multiple clubs. This summer through study abroad, I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. I’m not fragile. This is the kind of work I'm supposed to be doing. I always knew this was what I wanted, but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. My goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. Suddenly I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one goal that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. Madagascar reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. Familial Mediterranean Fever causes me months of fever, joint pain, nausea and fatigue. But, FMF hasn’t stopped me from achieving my dreams.

My alarm blares and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I will throw on before I go to school, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, was not the first time that I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after many months of crushing fatigue, I couldn't pull myself out of bed. I wasn't able to see the difference between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner, I had some medication adjustments and am doing much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both. My advice to anyone struggling with their health or really any issue in life is to just keep going. Put one foot in front of the other. You can continue.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I've made contributions to the world from planting trees in the rainforest to petting dogs at the local shelter. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one goal that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. Madagascar reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly, from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. As a woman in STEM I plan to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. Suddenly, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I was fortunate to travel for field research in Madagascar recently. My goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

Growing up I have sometimes felt like I wasn't sure where I fit in racially. Biologically I am Hispanic: Spanish and German. I grew up in a small town in Texas which is primarily white. The Hispanic population is primarily from Mexico. At times I was unsure exactly where I fit in culturally. I was raised with my mother and stepfather who are both primarily of German descent. But my skin is a bit darker. Occasionally I would be asked where my coloring came from. Where that Hispanic last name came from. I did see my dad. My sisters over there are darker as their mom is Mexican. My skin is olive colored. My coloring is more like my stepbrothers than anyone genetically related to me. Sometimes this left me feeling just a bit unsure exactly how I fit in. Growing up in small town Texas there were times I heard racial slurs. I really never felt they were directed at me although they could sting just the same. My mom was a school counselor in the district I attended. I think some people saw me as white in spite of my name and coloring. Sometimes things would be said in front of me. I'm not sure if the kids just didn't really recognize who I was culturally or if they just don't understand what they were saying in general. I often think it's the latter. As a Hispanic woman in STEM, it hasn't escaped me how lucky I am to be in my classes. It really wasn't too long ago women or people of color may not have been able to attend university. Sometimes I look around my campus or my classroom and feel overwhelmed with just how lucky I am to be here. This summer I was fortunate enough to travel abroad to Madagascar. Primarily, I was there to research lemurs and experience field work first hand. I was able to experience their culture in a way I hadn't before. One of the things that impacted me the most is food insecurity. My mom grew up not knowing where her next meal was coming from. Conservation is my passion, but I realized that it doesn't matter to a person if they are eating an endangered species if they haven't eaten in twenty four hours. I plan to work in conservation using the knowledge I have learned to take all aspects of a culture into consideration. That means really getting in to an area and understanding their culture. Getting to know them and their needs. What do they need to be able to consider the environmental concerns. As a female woman in STEM, I feel I bring different experiences to the world. I have an empathy about me that comes from lived experiences. Sometimes this empathy can be hard because I take on things that are not mine to carry. As a Hispanic woman in conservation (only 12-29 percent of zoology majors are Hispanic), I can prove women of color can be successful and lead by example. However, this empathy is what allows me to really see what others need. I feel it intensely. It allows me to notice things others might not. My primary goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. I have a genetic disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever. It can cause months of fever, joint pain, nausea, and fatigue. One of the things that has always helped me is nature and living things. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. I had my Pie in the Sky dream. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My zoology major will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. My clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can't help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge unique challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I'm performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year, after a year of crushing fatigue, I couldn't pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. Working with my therapist and mental health practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. My doctor's currently working to try and get me approved through insurance for injections to treat my FMF. I know throughout my life I may continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. Each day I learn to better handle both. Nature's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I'm a third year zoology major. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge needed to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This degree could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer through study abroad, I spent time following my favorite lemur through the rain. It felt like I was doing exactly what I’m meant to do. I realized my clothes were covered in mud from brushing against trees and pen marks from hurriedly clutching my field notebook to my body anytime I had to run after them. My legs were covered in bruises from falls and stray branches; my hands covered in cuts from gripping tree trunks and digging through my backpack. And yet I loved it; I was at peace. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. The version of myself that goes outside of my comfort zone. The version of myself that made friends with eight girls I barely knew on the floor of the Denver airport. The version of myself that can hike 26 flights of stairs in a day and still enjoy the rest of her day. The girl who discovered that hiking through the mud, getting stuck in the rain, caught on vines, and bruised by trees is really the only thing she wants to do. This trip reminded me why I have done everything I have done: all the classes I’ve struggled through since high school, moving fourteen hours from home, and pushing through my health issues. It was always to get here. Madagascar was good for me. I gained perspective on the world, but mostly on myself. I’m not fragile. This is the kind of work I'm supposed to be doing. I always knew this was what I wanted, but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it. Realizing how much I loved this experience was just the validation I needed. I came home with a renewed connection to the earth and a renewed connection to myself.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I have participated in many volunteer activities such as wellness fairs, cheer camps, project graduation, and many others. The one I have been most connected to has been my work at Paes of Central Texas. I walked, trained and photographed dogs to help them be more adoptable. I spent time in the cattery to help socialize cats. With my cheer team I have hosted cheer camps for many of the local students as well as working Wellness Fairs. Serving my community near and far has been an important part of my life. Caring for animals as well as all of our living spaces helps to create a more sustainable future for everyone. In the future, I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I just returned from Madagascar conducting field research with lemurs. We planted trees in the rainforest. There are species of lemurs on the verge of extinction and I am learning what I can do to help. My future working in conservation has already begun!

Growing up I have sometimes felt like I wasn't sure where I fit in racially. Biologically I am Hispanic: Spanish and German. I grew up in a small town in Texas which is primarily white. The Hispanic population is primarily from Mexico. At times I was unsure exactly where I fit in culturally. I was raised with my mother and stepfather who are both primarily of German descent. But my skin is a bit darker. Occasionally I would be asked where my coloring came from. Where that Hispanic last name came from. I did see my dad. My sisters over there are darker as their mom is Mexican. My skin is olive colored. My coloring is more like my stepbrothers than anyone genetically related to me. Sometimes this left me feeling just a bit unsure exactly how I fit in. Growing up in small town Texas there were times I heard racial slurs. I really never felt they were directed at me although they could sting just the same. My mom was a school counselor in the district I attended. I think some people saw me as white in spite of my name and coloring. Sometimes things would be said in front of me. I'm not sure if the kids just didn't really recognize who I was culturally or if they just don't understand what they were saying in general. I often think it's the latter. As a Hispanic woman in STEM, it hasn't escaped me how lucky I am to be in my classes. It really wasn't too long ago women or people of color may not have been able to attend university. Sometimes I look around my campus or my classroom and feel overwhelmed with just how lucky I am to be here. This summer I was fortunate enough to travel abroad to Madagascar. Primarily, I was there to research lemurs and experience field work first hand. I was able to experience their culture in a way I hadn't before. One of the things that impacted me the most is food insecurity. My mom grew up not knowing where her next meal was coming from. Conservation is my passion, but I realized that it doesn't matter to a person if they are eating an endangered species if they haven't eaten in twenty four hours. I plan to work in conservation using the knowledge I have learned to take all aspects of a culture into consideration. That means really getting in to an area and understanding their culture. Getting to know them and their needs. What do they need to be able to consider the environmental concerns. As a female woman in STEM, I feel I bring different considerations and experiences to the world. I have an empathy about me that comes from lived experiences. Sometimes this empathy can be hard because I an take on things that are not mine to carry. However, this empathy is what allows me to really see what others need. I feel it intensely. It allows me to notice things others might not. My primary goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. I have a genetic disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever. It can cause months of fever, joint pain, nausea, and fatigue. One of the things that has always helped me is nature and living things. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

1989 is full of excellent songs. At only 20, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over that year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

My alarm blares and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I will throw on before I go to school, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, was not the first time that I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This is my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. But, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a year of crushing fatigue, I could not pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I will throw on before I go to school, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, was not the first time that I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This is my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. But, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a year of crushing fatigue, I could not pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue from my disease and fatigue from depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both. Nature's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Being surrounded by nature and living things has always helped me. I just want to help the things that have always helped me. This summer I traveled to Madagascar. I knew what I always wanted to do but I was afraid I wasn't cut out for it due to my health issues. I left this trip with a renewed connection to the earth and myself. I know this is exactly what I am meant to do.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can't help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I'll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I'll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn't the first time I'd felt like I couldn't keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn't make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a months of crushing fatigue, I couldn't pull myself out of bed. I was unable to distinguish between fatigue from FMF and fatigue from depression. After working with my therapist and mental health practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing much better. I know throughout my life my resilience will be tested, but, each day I learn more and more how to handle both my mental and physical health better. Due to my disease working while in school full time is difficult. This five hundred dollars would go directly towards tuition at Colorado State University. I currently have a five thousand dollar scholarship, which leaves a gap of fourteen thousand dollars this scholarship would help to fill.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through TikTok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I could not look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Ward Green Scholarship for the Arts and Sciences would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The one thousand dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. I currently have a fourteen thousand dollar gap in funding I am working to fill. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. Everything on this planet is interrelated. Caring for animals as well as all of our living spaces helps to create a more sustainable future for everyone. In the future, I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I just returned from Madagascar conducting field research with lemurs. We planted trees in the rainforest. There are species of lemurs on the verge of extinction and I am learning what I can do to help. My future working in conservation has already begun!

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I will throw on before I go to school, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, was not the first time that I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This is my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I am actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. But, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a year of crushing fatigue, I could not pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue and depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both. Losing an uncle to suicide and watching an aunt in a coma for a week after a suicide attempt taught me how very important mental health is. I strive to be a kind accepting person every day. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am a third year zoology major because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. As I researched schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature and being outside is such an important aspect of mental health. I strive to improve this world not just for myself but for those around me. One of the things I have found most helpful to me is sitting outside, going for walks, and this summer even wandering through the rainforest to research lemurs. I gained a lot of perspective on the world, but mostly on myself. I am not fragile and this is the kind of work I am supposed to be doing. I always knew what I wanted, but I wasn't sure I was cut out for it. So, realizing how much I loved this experience was just the validation I needed. I have a renewed connection to the earth and to myself.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold, concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I will throw on before I go to school, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I will inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, was not the first time that I had felt like I could not keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This is my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. But, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a year of crushing fatigue, I could not pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue and depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both. Dealing with this genetic disease has taught me determination. My determination is what will propel me through life guiding me each step of the way to figure out what step to take next. I am deserving of this scholarship because I have worked hard to get where I am despite my struggles. I have earned many recognitions such as the Chip Roy Exceptional Senior award. I was nominated by the teachers at my high school. ESA winners are recognized for high levels of character, leadership, integrity and diligence. These virtues are evident by their philanthropic activities, academic success and reputation among peers and teachers. I was the only person chosen from my high school to receive this award in 2023. I have achieved many other recognitions and awards such as Academic All State Cheerleader and AP Scholar. I am proud of myself for achieving at this level even though I have had struggles. This summer I traveled to Madagascar to study lemurs. I was a little afraid if I could physically handle this trip, but it taught me a lot about myself. I am not fragile and this is the kind of work I am supposed to be doing. Excelling in spite of challenges' is what gives me an advantage over others. Not just normal everyday challenges, but also challenges other students may not be facing. I have not been perfect, it has not always been easy, but I know where I am headed and that I will do anything and everything to meet my goals just like I have done to get to Colorado State University a school fourteen hours away from home. The courses have been challenging, but I enjoy them. I left Madagascar with a renewed sense of connection to myself and I am going to do all I can to keep what I have learned with me and keep learning. My determination and perseverance are what set me apart from others.

My alarm blares and I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Although I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. Throughout the years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This has been my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren't worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. This is resilience. Getting up everyday and trying again and again. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I changed my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I’d watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. It seems a little anticlimactic, but my life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. But, that wasn’t the end of my struggles. Last year after a year of crushing fatigue, I couldn’t pull myself out of bed. I was unable to see the difference between fatigue and depression. After working with my therapist and mental health nurse practitioner I had some medication adjustments and am doing so much better. I know throughout my life I will continue to struggle with my physical and mental health. But, each day I learn more and more how to handle both.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. Throughout the years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This has been my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. My disability has made me more aware that you can not always tell what others are dealing with by their outward appearances. Hard work and determination are imperative to my success. Nature and being outside has always helped me. That is why I have chosen to major in zoology and work in conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Nature has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade, and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am a third year zoology major. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This summer I traveled to Madagascar for field research with lemurs. We planted trees in the rainforest and learned how to educate the natives to try to help with species that are reaching extinction. It was truly a life changing experience The Kalia D. Davis Memorial scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while in school full time difficult. The thousand dollars would go directly towards my tuition. Tuition at Colorado State exceeds eighteen thousand per semester. I have a five thousand dollar scholarship at this time which leaves a gap of thirteen thousand I am trying to fill with scholarships. I have had many different sports experiences including Varsity Cheerleader, Cross Country athlete and manager, as well as softball when I was younger. The activities helped me to gain confidence as well as maintain fitness. I still find ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter as well as many other places. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. Convincing myself to start my day, I ca not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My health is worse than it has been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework assigned. This was not the first time I had felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years, I'd watched peers stay up until early hours to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my genetic disease will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes and give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Knowing boundaries, I’m performing better than I was before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Recently I was having trouble distinguishing between fatigue from my disease versus fatigue from depression. I'm currently in therapy and have had medication changes that seem to be helping. Nature’s always been an inspiration of mine. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge needed to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. Being outdoors and around animals helps me physically and mentally. I want to protect the thing that have always protected me.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging, but I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Future Green Leaders Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The one thousand dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. Everything on this planet is interrelated. Caring for animals as well as all of our living spaces helps to create a more sustainable future for everyone. In the future, I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. Caring for them and their environment ensures a safer space for all. I am currently in Madagascar conducting field research with lemurs. We have planted trees in the rainforest. There are species of lemurs on the verge of extinction and I am learning what I can do to help. My future working in conservation has already begun!

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. Convincing myself to start my day, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. I seem be able to manage the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do homework assigned. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During past years, I'd watched peers stay up until early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of FMF, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes and give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Knowing boundaries, I’m performing better than I was before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Recently I was having trouble distinguishing between fatigue from my disease versus fatigue from depression. I'm currently in therapy and have had medication changes that seem to be helping. Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge needed to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology at could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. Convincing myself to start my day, I can not help but wonder if I will have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it has been for a while. All I seem be able to manage the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I will go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework assigned. This was not the first time I had felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During past years, I had watched peers stay up until early hours to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of FMF, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Knowing my boundaries, I’m performing better than I was before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Recently I was having trouble distinguishing between fatigue from my disease versus fatigue from depression. I'm currently in therapy and have had medication changes that seem to be helping. My disease has taught me the character trait I am most proud of, my determination. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and better routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It has taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Ray Alpin Memorial Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The one thousand two hundred fifty dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. Things are not always easy for me. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while in school full time is difficult, This scholarship would help me be able to better focus on my academic endeavors.

I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I've played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles, I've made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students make as much of an impact as possible. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school my biology teacher, Mrs. Meir’s’, helped me realize science was my favorite subject. I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I'm majoring in the degree of zoology. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I'm diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression. but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Nature is not just beneficial to my mental health, but also so many others! This past year I became unable to distinguish between the fatigue from my illness or the fatigue from my disease. I have started to see a mental health practitioner and a therapist. Both of these have been helpful. My family has had a history or mental illness. My aunt attempted suicide and my uncle took his life. I do my best to look for signs in all I meet and am careful to listen and try to encourage others to get help. For many years I also served on an organization called CoApt. This organizations goal was to prevent substance abuse in our youth. I was even an officer. Part of preventing substance abuse is to have good mental health. We held wellness fairs and brought resources to our small town. Substance abuse in our town dramatically reduced since CoApt’s inception.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir’s’, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Artense Lenell Sam Scholarship, but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. But through these obstacles I have persevered. This scholarship will help me continue to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment. I was awarded the Chip Roy exceptional senior award. State Representative Chip Roy awards this to students who have consistently demonstrated high levels of character, leadership, integrity and diligence. These characters are evidenced through their philanthropic activities and reputation among teachers and peers. This was a nice recognition of my endeavors.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir’s’, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship, but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. But through these obstacles I have persevered. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment. I was awarded the Chip Roy exceptional senior award. This award gave me hope and fueled me to continue to strive for greater things. It helped me to see that others recognized my character and had faith in my success.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it is actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Due to life experiences I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, volunteer for vacation bible school and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students and make as much of an impact as possible. My faith and my effort to live in Jesus' example has guided how I treat others. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. They will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I have struggled with anxiety and depression. The one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally as well as others. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher, Mrs. Meirs’, helped me to see that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. My family, but especially my mom has encouraged me to pursue my education. Mrs. Meirs’ has continued to be a huge source of encouragement. I also have a strong drive and will do anything and everything to achieve my goals. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Patricia Lindsey Jackson Foundation Eva Mae Jackson Scholarship of Education. This scholarship would help me achieve my degree in zoology with my long term goal of working in conservation and would go directly towards my tuition.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The West Family Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The one thousand dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. But things are not always easy for me. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. All species are connected in this planet. Saving one helps us all.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Abran Arreola-Hernandez Latino Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The five hundred dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. As a women of color I hope to show that women of color can be successful in this field.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok. All of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Learner Tutoring Innovators of Color in STEM Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at CSU. The five hundred dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. As a women of color I hope to show that women of color can be successful in this field.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok like usual. When all of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. For as long as I can remember, I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Dr. Howard Hochman Zoological Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. The thousand dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. Ideally my future career would be in field trapping.

My alarm blares and I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During past years, I'd watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This has been my reality. Despite struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of FMF, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes and give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Knowing boundaries, I’m performing infinitely better than I was before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. I was recently having trouble distinguishing between fatigue from my disease versus fatigue from depression. I'm currently in therapy and have had medication changes that seem to be working. I've played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. I've made every effort to help those I serve. Leadership positions have allowed me to acquire confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them.

One of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. While these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. Service is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my home community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would try to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. This summer I will be flying to Madagascar to do field work and DNA extraction on lemurs. We will be planting trees and educating natives about a particular lemur that is reaching extinction in hopes to help.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This summer I will be traveling to Madagascar to work in the field to study primates, plant trees, and educate natives on a particular lemur that is nearing extinction. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have served in many different ways. I have worked at Vacation Bible School, youth cheer camps, wellness fairs and so many other places. But, one I am most connected to is Paws of Central Texas. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Priscilla Shireen Luke scholarship, but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. But through these obstacles I have persevered and remained steadfast in my long term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me continue to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok like usual. When all of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. For as long as I can remember, I have always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Ross Mitchell Memorial Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. The thousand dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. Ideally my future career would be in field trapping.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This has been my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I recently learning I was having trouble distinguishing between the fatigue from my disease versus the fatigue from depression. I am currently in therapy and have had some medication changes that seem to be working. My disease and other challenges have taught me my greatest strength which is my determination. My advice to others facing health challenges is to keep working with your doctors. Keep pursuing your dreams and don't give up!

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok like usual. When all of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen. I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer, I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Nature's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I'm majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Charlene K. Howard Chogo Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. The five hundred dollars would go directly to my tuition. Out of state tuition is costly, but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I'm diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that's always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. Ideally my future career would be in field trapping.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it is actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I've played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, volunteer for vacation bible school and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I've made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I'll continue using these skills in college to help other students make as much of an impact as possible. My faith and my effort to live in Jesus' example has guided how I treat others. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. They will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I'm diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I've struggled with anxiety and depression. The one thing that's always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally as well as others. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Build and Bless Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship would help me achieve my degree in zoology with my long term goal of working in conservation. My plan is to continue to serve others throughout my life.

I’ve always been “smart’ or “gifted” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always struggled with simple things like making decisions, organization, prioritizing tasks, and time management. We always kind of suspected I had ADHD but I was doing fine in my classes so we never sought a diagnosis. But once I got into high school it really started affecting me. I'd forget about assignments, procrastinate, and loose papers and this is what most people think the extent of ADHD is, but in reality it goes so much deeper. No one talks about how sometimes you have energy to do a certain kind of task, but not another or how if the one you have energy for is done you just feel kind of bored the rest of the day but you still can’t make yourself do the other. No one talks about the emotional dysregulation, how your feelings can change just as fast as your thoughts or how painfully aware you are that you’re messing up, or making something more difficult than it should be. The amount of times I've thought why can’t I just do this? It just kept getting worse, but my sophomore year when I was fifteen years old I was finally diagnosed because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was crying everyday. I’m medicated now and it does help a little, but something about the diagnosis is comforting. It’s reassuring sometimes to know I'm not just lazy or weird, my brain just works in different ways. Nature's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am also diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) which can cause months of fever, nausea, fatigue, and joint pain. I just need much more sleep than my peers. I am also diagnosed with anxiety and depression. It became difficult this last year to distinguish between my fatigue from my disease and the fatigue from my depression. I am now working with a therapist and mental health practitioner and it is helping. Due to my disease, working while in school full time is difficult. The Dylan's Journey Memorial Scholarship would me continue to attend CSU, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment. I believe I am a good candidate for this scholarship because I have struggled with health issues as well as learning disabilities but have still found ways to be successful!

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it is actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. I have done many different types of service in my community, but the one that I feel most connected to is my work at Paws of Central Texas. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. As a leader, I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. They will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I'm diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. In addition to my FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally as well as others. I know you have so many qualified applicants for the Patricia Lindsey Jackson Foundation-Mary Louise Lindsey Service Scholarship. I hope that my application stands out. In spite of my challenges I have achieved many academic recognitions such as graduating in the top 10 of my high school class as well as awards such as the Chip Roy Exceptional senior which was granted to only one student from my high school class. This scholarship would help me achieve my degree in zoology with my long term goal of working in conservation.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past several years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This is my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Working while attending school full time is difficult. The Robert and Suzi DeGennaro Scholarship for Disabled Students would relieve some of the stress of out of state tuition. The $1,001 would go directly to tuition at Colorado State University which costs over $18,000 per semester. I have a $5,000 scholarship which currently leaves me with a gap in funding of $13,000.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it’s been for a while. I can only manage the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do homework I’ll be assigned. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of school. I watched peers stay up until early hours to do homework. I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences allowed me to think of ways I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize effects illness had on me. Once the worst passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by taking care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m performing better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Nature’s been a passion since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we’re doing to the world around us, from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. I fell in love with biology. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. Science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge needed to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Sloane Stephens Doc & Glo Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education. The $2,500 would go directly towards tuition. In addition to FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression. Nature and living creatures have always helped me. I want to protect the things that’ve always protected me.

It was my sophomore year of high school well after midnight. I was laying in my bed scrolling through Tik Tok like usual. When all of a sudden, I came across this video of a zoologist. She was in the forest setting up mist nets to catch birds. I watched as she gently untangled the small birds from the net. Some she quickly identified to the camera and released immediately but, when she caught what she was looking for she explained what she was doing as she took measurements and marked her data in a small notebook before releasing them. I couldn’t look away. I stared in awe as she gently and skillfully maneuvered the birds to whatever position the measurement required. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always known I wanted to work with animals. I considered many ways to make this happen and I knew what I wanted to major in, but I never knew this was an option. I did a little more research on field work and conservation, but honestly from the moment I saw that video nothing could stop me. I knew what I wanted to do. As time passed and I did research on schools and what their zoology programs had to offer I realized the school that had the best program for me was Colorado State University. Flash forward, and here I am. The courses are challenging even though I enjoy them. Each time I talked to someone it seemed like the reason they were doing so well was because they had experience whether it be be an internship, job, or study abroad. That’s when I started thinking even though I’m only a sophomore in college I felt behind for the first time, because how could I ever know I’m good at something if I only think about the theoretical. I had been thinking this for a couple months when I got a canvas notification. I had investigated study abroad before and didn’t see anything that really matched my goals, but this notification was different. It was everything I had ever dreamed of traveling across the globe, learning about new cultures, wandering through rain forests, research and conservation. I didn’t think anything could be that perfect. I thought I was a good candidate because I’m determined and an enthusiastic learner, this is the kind of work I want to someday partake in and I would do anything to get there just like I did everything I could to get here to CSU a school fourteen hours away from home where I didn’t know a single person. I was just accepted to study abroad in Madagascar this summer. This opportunity will allow me to observe the processes of real research and conservation efforts which I believe will not only serve me when I enter the job market but also give me the confidence I need in the classroom by providing a point of reference and a real world understanding of the topics we cover, better preparing me for my future. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade. My teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Pastor Thomas Rorie Furthering Education Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. The fifteen hundred dollars would go directly to my tuition at Colorado State University. Out of state tuition is costly but I chose Colorado State because they have a conservation based program. Most of the programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian. This school and this program are directly tied to what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. My disease can cause me to run fever every day for months at times. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My end goal is to work in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. Ideally my future career would be in field trapping. Due to my disease working while in school full time is difficult, although I do work when I am able. This scholarship would reduce my stress of funding out of state tuition. Reducing stress, reduces flares of my FMF and allows me to focus on my studies with less fatigue. The last few semesters it became difficult for me to distinguish between the fatigue of my FMF versus the fatigue from depression. I am now in therapy and have had some medication changes. These changes are allowing me to succeed infinitely better than I was before. My disease and some other things in life have taught me what I consider to be my biggest strength and that is my determination. I will do anything and everything to meet my goals!

My brother taught me lessons that guide and shape how I live. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. He cried and promised he’d change. Every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises and skip holidays. With little warning he called drunk, suicidal and crying. He said how much he loved me, and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit. Although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive, walked around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. A couple of years ago, around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again. I cried, but I also decided that was the last time I’d have expectations. He just got out of a court ordered rehab less than a week ago. I don’t know what his future holds. I’ll be happy when he does better. I’ll be there for him, but I’ll no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I knew I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I a majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Jay Curry Eternal Garden Scholarship. I hope that mine stands out. I have faced many challenges especially when it comes to my health but I have continued towards my goals.This $1,000 would go directly towards my out of state tuition at Colorado State University.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Hines scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I have both educated family members and those that were unable or chose not to attend school for various reasons. I do see an income disparity between most of these. Not always, but some of my family who went to school have a more secure future than those who did not go. As a Hispanic female in STEM it does not escape me how lucky I am to be here. I know there are many of women before me who could either not achieve their dreams or not take credit for their work. When the course work becomes difficult I remember the women before me and it helps to motivate me to continue on my path. I came from a small town in Texas where racism could be experienced. The opportunity to learn in a more inclusive environment has been amazing. My dream is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. Ideally my interest is currently in field trapping. I was just accepted to a program this summer in Madagascar field trapping lemurs. We will also be planting trees and educating natives. This is exactly the type of work I hope to do and I am so excited to explore my field further. My Grandfather was very involved in Lulac throughout his life in San Antonio, TX. He graduated UT Austin at a time when it was not as common for Hispanic men to get an education. His last words to me were, “Make me proud!” That is exactly what I intend to do.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Being a woman in STEM I often look around and realize how lucky I am to be here. There are times my program is very hard and it seems easier to quit. I remember those that came before me who were not able to attend university or take credit for their achievements. As a Hispanic woman in STEM I hope to show that I am just as capable as anyone else. Through my actions and achievements I want to show that I can be successful in a male dominated field. Showing up consistently and following through with things shows I can be accountable and successful. Women bring another perspective to fields that might not have otherwise been seen before. I have received many recognitions in my academic career that males did not receive. My top ten graduation class which I was a part of, was all female. The two students at my high school who received National Hispanic Recognition which I was also a part of were both female. I received the highest grade on my Science STAAR test in my entire eight-grade class. That test helped me realize I was capable of succeeding in science. These recognitions show that I am just as capable as any male. Female STEM majors and those entering the STEM field have much to offer. I am a girls girl and I choose to help others around me when I can. I support those around me as best I can and help them to succeed as well. Women lifting up and empowering other women is what will help us to build women in STEM.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it is actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. I have done many different types of service in my community, but the one that I feel most connected to is my work at Paws of Central Texas. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally as well as others. I know you have so many qualified applicants for the Chidube' Bobby Lee Green, Jr. Nkiruka Memorial Scholarship. I hope that my application stands out. In spite of my challenges I have achieved many academic recognitions such as graduating in the top 10 of my high school class as well as awards such as the Chip Roy Exceptional senior which was granted to only one student from my high school class. This scholarship would help me achieve my degree in zoology with my long term goal of working in conservation.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I have recently been rereading my childhood comfort books by Rick Riordan and have even pre-ordered an autograph copy of one of his new books. I have a hard time unwinding when my ADHD medication wears off, but I've found rereading these books helpful. I've always loved especially the Percy Jackson series and it is like visiting an old friend. Reliving my childhood camp days especially comes to mind. The Angelia Zeigler Gibbs Book scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation, because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. But, in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. We have also transported a cat with an injured leg to be evaluated at a veterinarian. Service has helped me to feel fulfilled and I plan to continue service throughout my life.

The Elementary Veteran's Day programs held special memories for me. My grandfather who was a veteran often came to my school program. We would sing and then he and my Oma would stay for lunch. Growing up in a blended family I have multiple grandparents. Two of my grandfather's were veterans. My mom's dad, Opa Jim, served in Italy during Vietnam. My Uncle Tony is also a veteran. My cousin Rusty is a Veteran having served multiple tours in Iraq during the gulf war. He suffers from hearing loss, traumatic brain injuries, hearing loss, as well as post traumatic stress disorder. I value and respect all service members. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Veterans and Family Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I hope to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species.

I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I've played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles, I've made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I'll continue using these skills in college to help other students make as much of an impact as possible. Nature's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. My middle school biology teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I'm majoring in zoology. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I'm diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression. but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Nature's not just beneficial to my mental health, but also so many others!

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I am currently a sophomore at Colorado State University. I chose Colorado State University because most of the zoology programs in Texas are pre-vet. I wanted to work in conservation and Colorado State University's Program is conservation based. My end goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. This entire planet is interconnected. Protecting our environment and it's species is not only helpful to the animals, it makes the planet healthier for people as well. Only 29 percent of zoology majors are Hispanic or Latino. There have been days things have been really hard and I have thought about quitting. Remembering those before me that didn't have the opportunity to be here keeps me motivated. Performing as well as I possibly can helps me to be a role model and to advocate for women and Hispanics in Stem. It does not escape me how lucky I am to be where I am. I strive to be worthy of this opportunity.

Nature has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Our environment is directly tied to our health in so many ways. I want to protect it for myself and others.

I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class and my teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But, in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. Since 2019 I have volunteered at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You are required to take them back to the shelter if you must get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. He now lives with his forever family. We named him Sterling. Last summer I took a course with Paws of Central Texas to learn more about how to work on dogs that may have some aggressive traits so we can prevent issues and work through them. I have worked a day long adoption fair at Petco in which 4 dogs found their forever home. After each dog we walk we post notes about the dogs and cats on social media. These notes are shared with potential adopters. My picture has been used in training materials for the volunteers. Many of our photos have been used to post on social media. I pose the dogs with treats while my mom photographs them. Paws of Central Texas has also used a quote from me to recruit potential volunteers. I plan to continue service throughout my life. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

A Passion for the Environment I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am a sophomore majoring in the degree of zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. The major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. As Hispanic female student in a male dominated field, it does not escape me how lucky I am to be able to pursue my passion. Some days when things are really difficult and I consider quitting, I remember those that have come before me who couldn't go to school or couldn't receive the recognition for their work. It helps me to continue. My goals is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. I was able to participate in Amplify last year which is a residential learning community for Natural Science majors. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. Since 2019 I have volunteered at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You are required to take them back to the shelter if you must get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. I plan to continue service throughout my life.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I was a member of Amplify at Colorado State University. Amplify is a residential learning community for Natural Science majors. I wanted to give myself every opportunity to be successful. Because of my career goals, I chose to major in zoology, and I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. As humans we depend on a healthy ecosystem. It is important to protect all species because we are all interwoven and dependent on each other. Protecting our environment and its creatures ensures it will be here for future generations. Being aware of and monitoring threatened species can give us an indication of problems in our environment that need to be addressed. I think it could be very interesting to work in the field trapping endangered and threatened species because I would be out working in this beautiful environment that surrounds us. It would be a hands-on career that is such important work to make sure populations are healthy. I want to preserve this environment for myself to enjoy as well as all future generations. I chose Colorado State University because of their focus on conservation. Most zoology programs in Texas are pre-vet. Their program is more conservation based and I felt it would give me the best chance of learning all I can learn to protect this beautiful place that surrounds us.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We have also transported a cat with a suspected broken leg for medical evaluation and treatment. She has also been adopted and is now with her forever family. We take donations of laundry detergent, kitty litter, paper towels and other supplies almost every time we volunteer. This is one of the small ways I am able to contribute now. I plan to continue service throughout my life.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. In addition to my FMF diagnosis I have also been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and ADHD. It has been difficult to separate my mental health struggles from my physical health struggles. I am now in therapy as well as working with a mental health nurse practitioner to help the situation as well. I am finding even more help seeking various routes.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. Convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I'd watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. As I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize effects my illness had on me. I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to manage classes and give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires I’d previously skipped. I’m performing better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I've always loved nature. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. I fell in love with my biology class, and my teacher helped me realize science was my favorite subject. Science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I'm majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge needed to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that've always protected me.

A Passion for the Environment I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meirs, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. Since 2019 I have volunteered at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You are required to take them back to the shelter if you must get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. He now lives with his forever family. We named him Sterling. We have also transported a cat that needed evaluation for a hurt leg. She has also been adopted. We adopted our dog, Ken, from the shelter as well. He was a cell dog. He was trained in prison. The cell dog program usually takes dogs that may have difficulty getting adopted. He has been the best dog! However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. In addition to my FMF diagnosis I have also been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and ADHD. It has been difficult to separate my mental health struggles from my physical health struggles. I am now in therapy as well as working with a mental health nurse practitioner to help the situation as well. I am finding even more help seeking these routes.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. My short term goals are to complete my classes successfully and graduate with my Bachelor's in zoology. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Sigala Education scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My disease makes working while attending school full time difficult. I do work summers and when I am able. I also chose an out of state school because the zoology programs in Texas are pre-vet. However, the cost of out of state tuition is high! Colorado State's University's zoology program is more conservation based. My long term goal is to work in the field protecting threatened and endangered species. As an underrepresented minority in stem sometimes I look around and realize how lucky I am to be at my university. There are days it is hard and I wonder if I can do it. Then I remember those that came before me that may have been unable to be where I am. It makes me happy to seem my stem classes full of women and minorities. My grandfather was a long term member of Lulac and these are the things he worked for. I lost my Grandfather during my senior year of high school. The last thing he said to me was, "Make me proud." That is just what I am trying to do!

I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. I watched peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. But, one day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me. I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Nature's has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. At Colorado State University, I'm majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. In addition to my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but, one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am a sophomore majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The William Griggs Memorial Scholarship for Math and Science would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. We adopted out dog Ken and our cat Ronald from Paws of Central Texas as Well. These two bring me a lot of comfort.

My kidneys failing has always been a concern for me. When I was two years old I started with blood in my urine. The blood finally stopped when I was five. I went through much medical testing until I was finally diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever at 7 years old. That medical testing was a bit traumatic. I went through many sonograms, a bone scan, echocardiograms, urine tests, but the testing I hated the most was all the blood work. The blood work continues to this day although my doctor and I have a deal to test it once a year for the most part. My kidneys failing is my greatest risk. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, nausea, and arthritis. I can run fever as often as daily for months at a time. The fatigue has been crushing. It has been extremely difficult to achieve at the level I was accustomed at the university with my disease. My grandfather also had kidney disease. He lived with it for about twenty years before he went on dialysis for 10 years. He passed away when I was in seventh grade. His final words to me were, "I love you baby." One of my favorite people from my high school is also suffering from kidney failure. Her name is Mrs. Hackebeil. She is a true angel on earth. She lights up every room and always has kind words to say. She needs a kidney transplant right now, but has put it off for too long. She has an infection and can't have it at this time. We have been praying for her to be well enough to have the transplant. All of this has taught me how very important it is to protect our kidneys. I have lived with my mortality, although, the risk is not as great as it was once thought. I take medication to manage my disease and thus protect my kidneys. My disease has taught me one of my greatest strengths and that is my determination. I have had to be determined to pursue my education with my disease. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It has taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. One of the things that has always helped me is nature and living things. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I am majoring in zoology and conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. My health has continued to be a struggle at the University. I have had to seek help from a therapist and a mental health practitioner as my physical health has greatly affected my mental health. My disease and other things have taught me my greatest trait which is my determination. I don't quit so I know I will achieve my degree in spite of my struggles the only way I know how which is to continue to put one foot in front of the other and just keep going.

One of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I try to live my life and why these traits are the basis of both my faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my home community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would try to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. I only seem to be able to manage the bare minimum. I feel well enough to go to school, but I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. As I got older and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I knew I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. I'm majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Powering the Future-Whiddon Memorial Future Scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University. My disease makes working while going to school full time difficult. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. In addition to my diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling and he now lives with his forever family. I have volunteered in many other capacities throughout my life. I have worked at vacation Bible School serving snacks, making arts and crafts, and singing songs. I have made bear bags for families of the deceased at Vitas Hospice. The bears are made of clothing of their loved ones. I have washed dogs to raise money for a local woman with cancer. It fuels me to use my passions to help others. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling and he now lives with his forever family. Throughout my high school career I participated in FFA. Most notably I was in the entomology team and we placed in a few competitions. I also participated in a Wash and Wag event to raise money for a local woman with cancer. Being able to give back in ways that involve my passion really fuels me. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized, my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body as I reach to turn it off. After minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years, I’d watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizings my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. On top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but, the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the Ten Commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave us this beautiful environment and I want to protect it so it can continue to help me physically and mentally and so many others!

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it is about working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. God gave me this beautiful environment that surrounds us and I want to use my God given talents to protect it!

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was my reality. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. In addition to my diagnosis of FMF, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. To me, success means getting my degree and working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I chose and out of state university because they have a great zoology program but the cost is higher. Most zoology programs in Texas are pre-veterinarian, Colorado State University's program focuses more on conservation. The Redefining Victory Scholarship would help me to achieve my degree by funding my education.

My name is Chloe Luna. I am a sophomore at Colorado State University. I work at the Blanco County Courthouse and the shop at the Blanco County Cafe. I am also a cheer coach for the Johnson City Middle School Cheer Camp. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But, in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We also transported a cat with a possible broken leg to the veterinarian. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I believe one of the most pressing environmental issues is very broad. All species and their homes are interrelated. My goal is to work in conservation in the field to protect threatened and endangered species as well as their homes. Everything in our environment is intertwined and my goal is to protect these animals and their homes. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are, and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So, I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s in the ten commandments. We are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly. He treated everyone with respect and kindness, no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that's always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money, but to better your community. It's doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I've always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is because it is who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. Over the years, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms were not any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a four-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I am allowed to struggle. It does not make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. My experiences with my brother and other family and community members was inspirational for my volunteer work with Blanco CoApt which is a drug and prevention program for the youth in Blanco County. And on top of my FMF diagnosis, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then, in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It is doing something you might not always like, for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We have also Transported a cat with an injured leg to the veterinarian for evaluation. However, some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. That is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I hope to work in conservation in the field.

I’ve always been “smart’ or “gifted” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always struggled with simple things like making decisions, organization, prioritizing tasks, and time management. We always kind of suspected I had ADHD but I was doing fine in my classes so we never sought a diagnosis. But once I got into high school it really started affecting me. I'd forget about assignments, procrastinate, and loose papers and this is what most people think the extent of ADHD is, but in reality it goes so much deeper. No one talks about how sometimes you have energy to do a certain kind of task, but not another or how if the one you have energy for is done you just feel kind of bored the rest of the day but you still can’t make yourself do the other. No one talks about the emotional dysregulation, how your feelings can change just as fast as your thoughts or how painfully aware you are that you’re messing up, or making something more difficult than it should be. The amount of times I've thought why can’t I just do this? It just kept getting worse, but my sophomore year when I was fifteen years old I was finally diagnosed because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was crying everyday. I’m medicated now and it does help a little, but something about the diagnosis is comforting. It’s reassuring sometimes to know I'm not just lazy or weird, my brain just works in different ways. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my Familial Mediterranean Fever I need a lot more rest then the average teenager so I am unfortunately unable to work while attending school so this scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment I believe I am a good canidate for this scholarship because I have struggled with health issues as well as learning disabilities but have still found ways to be successful!

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I am currently a sophomore At Colorado State University majoring in zoology. I chose this major because I wanted to help the environment. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever, I suffer from anxiety, depression, nausea, arthritis and joint pain. The one thing that has always helped me has been nature. I want to protect the thing that has always helped me. That is how I chose this degree. In spite of my obstacles, I have always achieved at high levels in spite of my disease. I have managed to achieve many honors in spite of my health struggles.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. When I think about my belief in God, my family took me to church as a little girl. I was given the idea early. It's always helped to have Faith to hang on to. As I got older and looked at what the church taught us as in how to treat your fellow man, it just made sense. Treat others as Jesus would and you are bound to be doing the right thing. So, my faith in God is based on human goodness and just having to believe in a power greater than yourself. I think without my faith life could feel hopeless and I could feel insignificant. I know I have a purpose as God created me with one. I have grown up praying before every test, cheer tryout, etc... One morning I was trying out for high school cheer. Things were going wrong. My mom dropped an entire gallon of orange juice on the floor. I said, there is no way I am making it. The day had started off bad. As we left my mom reminded us to pray. During the prayer she kept saying St. Thomas pray for us, but she was trying to say another saint. Frustrated, I asked her why she kept saying St. Thomas. She said she didn't know. So, I looked up Saint Thomas, he ended up being the patron Saint of doubters. I ended up making cheer that year.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. This decision was following an arrest and he ended up being arrested several more times. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again. His decisions and other health struggles had put me into depression. I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. The students impacted by incarceration scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

1989 is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Zamora Borose Goodwill scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. We named him Sterling.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Since I was little I have always climbed something. Partially this came from my small stature and a need. I often hiked and climbed with my mom growing up. In college I have climbed at horsetooth and often barefoot. It seems to give me a better grip on the rock. I just enjoy being out in nature and feeding my soul. The Sean Allen Memorial Scholarship would help me to continue working on my Bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University. I chose Colorado State University because their program is geared more towards conservation whereas the programs near me in Texas were more pre-vet. I plan to work in conservation in the field. However, with an out of state university comes the cost of out of state tuition.

Both of my Grandfathers were military veterans. They came to my veteran's day performances when I was in elementary school. My Mom's dad served in the Air Force and also served in the Navy during Vietnam. My Dad's Father was in the Air Force and also served in the National Guard as well. My Mom's biological father was also in the National Guard. My cousin served 4 tours in Iraq. I grew up with a strong respect for the military as well as education. Education was extremely important to both of my grandfathers. When my Grandfather on my dad's side was passing away I had just been accepted to college. He told me to "Make him proud" in reference to my upcoming graduation and college acceptances. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I have struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that has always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher, Mrs. Meir, helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It is doing something that you might not always like, just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. We named him Sterling. He now lives with his forever family. We have also transported a cat to the animal hospital to be treated for a broken leg from Paws of Central Texas. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I have struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. Being able to turn it up to 11, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized. My mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Since protecting the environment has always been important to me, I not only work with animals, I do all I can now to protect their environments now. Aside from working with animal rescue, I chose a university which is focused on conservation as well. My university has recycling downstairs as well as composting. I sort my recycling and composting and take it downstairs. I chose a Subaru because it is not only a reliable vehicle, their company contributes to animal rescues and environmental impact causes as well. I planted a plant that lives in my dorm and came home with me for Christmas. I purchase some clothing from resale shops and try to make sustainable purchases.

How many times have you not been allowed to say what you think or feel because it might possibly upset someone? Probably way more than you can count, or even remember right? Hearing opposing views and respectfully discussing them is the only way we can grow. My opinions have formed and improved from listening to, and partaking in these types of conversations. Every now and then you will inevitably hear something that will make you a little uncomfortable. Everyone has different opinions and having a nice calm discussion is the best way to see all aspects of an issue, or maybe even get your point of view across. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have censorship. Censorship is when something is prohibited purely because someone else decided that it was unacceptable. Who should get to decide what thoughts you can and can not express? With censorship there is no room for growth or coming to an understanding. Censorship crushes the diversity we all are used to, and prevents people from sharing their ideas. People say crazy things, and I admit sometimes I wish I could make them stop. It is a lot less fun when we think about someone restricting what we think and say. Our country is based on freedom. No matter what kind of person you are, it is a safe haven for you, and your beliefs. Imagine never being able to say what you believe. It sounds vastly different than the beautiful disorder we all have grown to love where we get to think and believe what ever we desire. Not everyone has these rights. We need to realize what privileges we have and we need to protect them not only for ourselves, but for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you believe. You deserve freedom and you deserve to enjoy the many rights that our country has to offer. The First Amendment should never be selective. The second you stop someone from saying something even if it is actually wrong, you compromise both your own and everyone else’s rights. Free speech is necessary for the well being our country. It fuels growth, conversation, ideas, and even respect. It teaches us how to have polite conversations, and respect others and their opinions regardless of how we differ. It allows us to see all sides of disputes and take a less biased approach. It can even allow us to come to compromises which we would not have originally seen. Censorship while it can sound good in theory will never be the answer to our problems. What makes America so great is the individualism that it was built on. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes, or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. And on top of FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year, I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But, in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love, and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you are as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things are not always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that is why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I am finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog. He now lives with his forever family. Some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. At this point, I don’t believe being an underrepresented minority in STEM has affected me. because I have only completed one semester. I did receive Hispanic Recognition for my test scores. This did enable me to receive a little higher scholarship at Colorado State University so that was definitely positive! I know you have many qualified applicants for the SigaLa Education scholarship but I hope my application stands out. But throughout these obstacles I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me continue to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years, I'd watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework. I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Instead, accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of FMF, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. Instead of giving up, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch friends' sports games, and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I'm a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time's gone on. This has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. I also believe my empathy and drive to help others plays a part. I've played many roles such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. I've made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions allowed me to acquire confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I'll continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes, or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my experiences, I’m a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time’s gone on. This has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I’ve played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I’ve made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions allowed me to acquire confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I’ll continue using these skills in college to help students in classes or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible. I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion since I was little. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I’ve always known I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I’m still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money, but to better your community. It’s doing something you might not always like for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals. You’re required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized, my mom and I volunteered to pick him up. He now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I’m diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I've also struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and of a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I am majoring in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I know you have many qualified applicants for the Jim Maxwell Memorial scholarship, but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I’d watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences I was a member of Blanco CoApt in high school, which is a coalition to prevent drug and alcohol use amongst our youth. CoApt recognizes youth often use substances when they are struggling with mental health issues. There is a large focus on mental health. With CoApt we have hosted annual Wellness Fairs attended by about 300 community members. The Wellness Fairs bring services for our families for their health and wellness including mental health and even meditation. CoApt brings speakers to the school’s regarding drug and alcohol prevention and mental health issues. We also hosted events at campuses that include education on drugs and alcohol as well as mental health and meditation. I was an officer of CoApt for two years. I’ve always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine since I was little . As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we’re doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I’ve always known that I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. And on top of my diagnosis of FMF, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My brother taught me lessons that guide and shape how I live. He was the kind of brother that’d pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. As time went on he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. He cried and promised he’d change. Every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. With little warning he called drunk, suicidal, and crying. He said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit. Although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive, walked around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Last year, around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried, but I also decided that was the last time I’d have expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better. I’ll be there for him, but I’ll no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I believe in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time’s gone on. This led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel strongly about this because I can relate. My empathy and never-ending drive to help others plays a part. I’ve played roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I’ve made every effort to help those I serve. These positions allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel comfortable or help with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I’ll continue using these skills in college to help other students in classes or those I see around campus to make as much of an impact as possible. Nature’s has always been my passion. As I got older, I became aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we’re doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. At Colorado State University, I’m majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. Some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I’m diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I've struggled with anxiety and depression. One thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Kidney failure is the biggest risk my FMF has on my health, but at this point, all my tests have come out just fine. My stepgrandfather (not genetically related to me, so a different disease) had kidney failure. I watched him live on dialysis from my birth until he passed away when I was in middle school. It was inspiring to see how hard he fought, but also a reminder of what could happen to me if I didn't care for my health. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it’s been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my days. During the past years of high school, I’d watched peers stay up until the early hours of morning to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch friends' sports games, and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. This disease taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than most anything else in my success. Determination will help get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through issues that may occur. The best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of of work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can help me go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I’ll do anything and everything to get there. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future. It’ll give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I participated in Future Farmers of America in High School and was on the entomology team. We placed at some events. I also participated in a Wash and Wag event through my high school which raised $1,000 for a local woman with cancer by washing dogs. I participated in quite a few fundraisers each year. My best friend raised pigs and I often helped with her pigs. Anytime I can be around animals I choose to do so!

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

The Eras Tour is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I have always loved nature. It’s been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Like everyone, there have been times I didn’t succeed. One that stands out to me happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad. I didn't make it. This wasn't my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back. Ultimately, I didn't make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it. I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I was crushed when I opened the letter and the first word wasn't congratulations. There weren't even callbacks that year so scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a hard decision to make after two failures and one success, but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a private cheer coach as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. At least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I wasn't even a part of. As tryouts approached, I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost daily to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team, but I didn't stop practicing. I continued lessons and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: determination. Determination will creatively inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It'll encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can help me find options when nothing seems to work, by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I'll do anything and everything to get there. Determination will propel me through life, and help me through it all. I'll use determination in the future. It'll give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. Science is how I want to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. I've also struggled with anxiety and depression, but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I've faced many struggles, especially when it comes to my health. But throughout these obstacles, I've persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. The Redefining Victory scholarship would help me achieve the success of my long-term goal of zoology.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. And by receiving the Women in STEM scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so my mom and I volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. And by receiving the Innovators of Color in STEM scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women of color can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women of color.

Nature’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. I have always known I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to focus on conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I believe conserving our environment is good for everyone’s mental and physical health.

I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. Ever since then, I have always known that somehow, some way I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I am majoring in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. In the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love. One of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you're required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while in school would be difficult, but I do work when I am able. The Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would help me to earn my bachelor's in zoology. As I am reading about Kalia, I am seeing many similarities between her and myself. She seems like such an amazing person to be gone so soon. Like Kalia, I ran Cross Country (for two years) and then was the Cross Country Manager for two years. I was also a Varsity Cheerleader. I mostly made A's in high school although I did make an occasional B graduating with a 3.98 and in the top 10. I applied and was accepted to the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana. The beach has always been a happy place for my family.

My alarm blares. I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I was allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. This experience taught me the value of determination. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It keeps me motivated through the issues that may occur. Determination can help me through stress by letting me picture the end goal of the work so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I was involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. Scholarship assistance would be helpful due to the fact that I have chosen to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. Throughout all of my obstacles I have managed to stay a top student among my peers. My hard work and determination will help me succeed. The Bright Lights Scholarship would make help me achieve my dreams of earning my Zoology degree and fight for our environment.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals, I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I am involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am not currently employed and I do not plan to work in college besides summers. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. On a scale of one to five I would rate myself around a three for need of scholarship assistance due to the fact that I wish to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments, I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. I have been fortunate that my parents have been able to help me ensure I can attend college but I also have saved since I was a little girl.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, somehow, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. Because of my career goals I chose to major in zoology, and in ten years I see myself working in the field to protect threatened and endangered species. I am involved in many extracurricular activities in my school, the most notable being Varsity cheer, UIL, Leo club, NHS, and CoAPT (Blanco Coalition of Awareness, Prevention, And Treatment of Substance Abuse). I do several types of community service including some for the activities listed above however the volunteer work I feel most connected to is my work at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas. I get to help socialize the animals, walk dogs, photograph them, and overall help them to be more adoptable so that they can find a home where they will be loved and taken care of. I am not currently employed and I do not plan to work in college besides summers. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and my symptoms include nausea, fever, joint pain, and excessive fatigue. Due to my disease working while being a full time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. On a scale of one to five I would rate myself around a three for need of scholarship assistance due to the fact that I wish to attend Colorado State University and have to pay out-of-state tuition. Throughout all of my accomplishments, I can safely say I have developed the trait of determination. Determination creatively inspires me. It motivates me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It also encourages me to find alternative and favorable routes by compelling me to see every possible angle. Although I have struggled with health issues, I am fortunate that my parents have helped me significantly to ensure I can attend college and I have saved since I was a little girl.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. For me, it was important for me to find a career I was passionate about and I felt I was making a difference. I don’t think finding a job in my career will ever be a problem. I have spoken to people in my field who have assured me they could always help me get a job when the time come. It seems to be a growing field. I plan to work in conservation in the field.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. Her name was Pam Meir and she really helped me to find my passion, as well as encouraging me in pursuing all of my interests. We talked about the environment, did research, and ran experiments allowing me to really explore my passion. It was thanks to her that that year I figured out how I was going to help, by contributing to conservation efforts. I aspire to help others as she has helped me and so many of her other students. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. It excites me to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. Fortunately I have not known the challenges of cancer but I do know the challenges that come with a chronic health issue. Like Maggie, I left my home state and support system to pursue my education. I chose my University because they have the best program for my degree which is Zoology.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. I was lucky enough to grow up with a beach house. The ocean has always been special to me. My mom and I would grab coffee, walk and talk. Some of my earliest memories are when we would park on the beach in Texas and my dad would clean any trash in the area before we set up our spot. Our world is so connected and everything we do to preserve this beautiful environment affects something else. I believe my work on conservation in the future would most definitely affect the oceans and keep them cleaner for all species.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. To live sustainably I recycle. I chose a school that is known for living sustainably. Colorado State University recycles and compost. When I am home we composs. I purchase much clothing from thrift stores and I try to purchase bags made from recycled materials. I try to purchase high quality clothing when I can. Things that are made to last to reduce waste. My family and I reuse everything we can to reduce waste as well.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. One thing that has always helped me is nature and living things.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to give back to your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Award Honorable Mention (75 winners out of 1,000 entries) National Hispanic Recognition Program: Sophomores and Juniors are eligible if they identify as Hispanic and score in the top 10% on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 within the program by state eligible if they score a 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP exams in the eligible exam periods. Must have a 3.5 GPA at the time they are completing their application. National Rural and Small Town Recognition: Recognizes students based on the location of their high school. AP Scholar Award 1st Team Cross-Country Academic All-State Academic All-State Cheerleader

1989 is full of excellent songs. At only 18, I don’t have tons of life experience but there is something I know all too well, the dynamics of high school. My favorite song on 1989 and one of my favorites in Taylor’s discography is “New Romantics”. The song is a satirical way of addressing how young people look at love and life. It represents a time in life when you realize life isn't like the movies, so there’s no point in living your life for others or being like everyone else when figuring out what you want in life and being fearless will make you feel so much more fulfilled. The first verse of the song is my favorite. As someone who grew up in a small town with a population of 1,780 and a graduating class of around 90 students, this is the most accurate representation of what high school was for me and so many others. The verse starts with the lyrics “We’re all bored, we’re all so tired of everything” This line really hits home since it articulates how stagnant life can feel when you’re around the same people every day especially when you don’t fit in. The verse ends with the lines “We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom, honey life is just a classroom”. It’s the same drama on repeat. Sometimes it felt like it was never going to end. I was never involved in much. I was kind of on the outside. Never involved with drama. At the beginning of senior year homecoming nominees were chosen. I was not one. One girl broke the rules and was bribing students for votes with a party. Someone told the principal. She decided I was jealous of her, and I wanted her nomination. She told everybody I did it and I was pathetic for caring that much. I had no clue what happened till the end of the day. The majority of our grade was planning to go to that party, so I was essentially iced out. Throughout the rest of the year, I was pretty much ignored but the times I did hear something said about me, it was always about that. The part of the chorus where Taylor wrote “I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me, and every day is like a battle” really resonated with me. That line holds some weight for everyone because everyone knows that feeling when you think people are looking at you or whispering about you. The powerful part of the song is the end of the chorus. Regardless of what people are saying, she still ends on a positive note. She says, “We are too busy dancing to get knocked off our feet baby, we’re the new romantics the best people in life are free”. I love that part of the song because I've struggled with mental health, regardless of what happened over the past year, I still really enjoyed myself. I was able to have fun. It’s amazing to get to that point in your life. My best friend, (who has never required anything of me except to be myself) and I wound up having a great year. We went to homecoming, bought pink wigs, and went to prom, no matter how anyone looked at us or who was around we still had a great time. I think that’s an important lesson no matter what you do, you can’t make everyone happy, once you accept that and decide to live for yourself, life becomes more vibrant.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

Like everyone, there have been times I didn’t succeed but one that stands out to me the most happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad and I did not make it. But this was not my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back but ultimately I did not make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it so I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I think that is why I was so crushed when I opened the letter and the first word was not congratulations. There were not even callbacks that year so my scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a really hard decision to make after two failures and only one success but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a coach from a cheer and tumbling business as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. So at least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I was not even technically a part of. As tryouts approached I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost every day to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team but I did not stop practicing. I continued my lessons throughout the years and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: my determination. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in the future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. Her name was Pam Meir and she really helped me to find my passion, as well as encouraging me in pursuing all of my interests. We talked about the environment, did research, and ran experiments allowing me to really explore my passion. It was thanks to her that that year I figured out how I was going to help, by contributing to conservation efforts. I aspire to help others as she has helped me and so many of her other students. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better ,and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

The First Amendment has been drilled in to our heads for as long as we can remember. Freedom of speech, religion, and press, but what a lot of us don’t realize is how often people decide that these rules don’t apply to others. How many times have you not been allowed to say what you think or feel because it might possibly upset someone? Probably way more than you can count, or even remember right? Opposing views and respectfully discussing them is the only way we can grow. All of my opinions have formed and improved from listening to, and partaking in these types of conversations. Every now and then you will hear something that will make you a little uncomfortable, but, that’s life. Everyone has different opinions and having a nice calm discussion is the best way to see all aspects of an issue or maybe even get your point of view across. On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have censorship. Censorship is when something is prohibited because someone else decided that it was unacceptable. With censorship there is no room for growth or coming to an understanding. Censorship crushes the diversity we all are used to, and prevents people from sharing their ideas, and possibly changing the world for the better. It’s a lot less fun when we think about someone restricting what we get to think and say. Our country is based on freedom and while all the people and all the ideas can be a little chaotic and overwhelming at times the chaos is what makes our country beautiful. It’s a safe haven for you and your beliefs. One is freedom the other is a form of oppression. Are they even comparable? Imagine never being able to say what you believe or everyone having to pretend they believe the same thing. It sounds vastly different than the beautiful disorder we all have grown to love where we get to think and believe what ever we desire. Not everyone has these rights, and yet, here we are trying to take them away from each other, rather than embracing them. We need to realize what privileges we have and we need to protect them not only for ourselves but for everyone. Everyone deserves to express their beliefs and opinions whether we agree or not. It doesn’t matter what you believe. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat you deserve to be able to express your opinions. You deserve freedom and you deserve to enjoy the many rights that our country has to offer. The First Amendment should never be selective it should apply to everyone and everything. But the second you stop someone from saying something even if it is actually wrong, you compromise both your own and everyone else’s rights. The second you decide you can stop someone from saying something the whole first amendment is out the window. If you make that decision for someone than anyone can make that decision for you or who ever they feel they should make it for. Free speech is necessary for the well being our country. It fuels growth, conversation, ideas, and even respect. It teaches us how to have polite conversations and respect others and their opinions regardless of how we differ. It allows us to see all sides of disputes and take a less biased approach. It can allow us to come to compromises which we would not have originally seen. Censorship while it can sound good in theory will never be the answer to our problems.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That’s why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto-inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are proven to struggle more with their mental state. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that actually takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are actually required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. My rare auto inflammatory disease can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better and to care for God's creation.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me, you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals, and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog, and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. Due to my disease working while attending school could be difficult although I do take jobs when I am able. And by receiving this scholarship I would more easily be able to pursue my education. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards Honorable Mention AP Scholar National Hispanic Recognition National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team Academic All-State Cheerleader Chip Roy Exceptional Senior Citizenship Award (1 of 4 selected from Blanco High School) Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me. This drive is what has enabled me to acquire as many honors as I have such as: Penguin Random House Creative Writing Award AP Scholar National Hispanic Recognition National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team Academic All-State Cheerleader Chip Roy Exceptional Senior One of 4 Citizenship Awards for Junior Class at Blanco High School Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance

My alarm blares at six in the morning.I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. Symptoms of my FMF are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression, but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my seventh-grade biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals of protecting wildlife. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. But in the meantime, I am still finding ways to do what I love and one of the main ways is volunteering. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. However, some things aren’t always as easy for me as they would be for others. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. Some of my symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I need much more sleep than my peers. And on top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I think that's why I want to major in zoology and work in conservation. I guess I just want to protect the things that have always protected me.

No. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and favorable routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Despite any difficulties I have faced, I have remained at the top of my class finishing number 6 in the class. I have achieved National Recognitions such as AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition, National Rural and Small Town Recognition. I was the only student selected from my High School as a Chip Roy Exceptional Senior. I was 1st Team Academic All-State in Cross Country and Academic All-State Cheerleader. I was one of 4 students to receive the Citizenship from my school for the Junior Class. All of these achievements show I can be successful in the face of adversity!

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years of school, I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework, while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, happy, and am staying on top of schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. My genetic disease and perseverance to succeed despite my difficulties make me uniquely deserving of this award. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with biology class. My teacher helped me realize that science was my favorite subject. Science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. As this kind of person, I would hope to be able to be there for those that may have an unplanned pregnancy in our community. My family and I have donated to centers for women with unplanned pregnancies in our communities. One of the centers sends us pictures of women and children. I love to see the families looking happy. We have always supported those we know who are pregnant in any way we can. Living out our faith daily with those around us is one of the best ways to make people feel they are not alone. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. This scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. Due to my disease working while being a full-time student would be difficult although I do work odd jobs when I can. I chose to attend Colorado State University because they have the best degree program for conversation. Many of the zoology programs in Texas are Pre-Vet. I wanted to focus on conservation. With and out of state University comes the cost of out-of-state tuition. The Bight Lights Scholarship would help me achieve my dream of becoming a zoologist. Achieving my dream as a minority will help to set the path and open doors for others.

As a Catholic one of my strongest beliefs is that we should all work on ourselves and our character constantly. I believe everybody should be treated with love, kindness, and respect no matter who they are and that we should make ourselves of service to others and our communities. And while these are basic, I feel they can sometimes be forgotten or overlooked. So I am going to explain how I live out my faith and why these traits are the basis of both our faith and a strong society. Love, it’s actually in the ten commandments we are supposed to love all of our fellow men. Jesus demonstrated love perfectly, he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter their beliefs or even how they treated him. I believe we should always remember this and do our best to follow his example. Service is something that has always been recommended by the church; it's about working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Paws Shelter of Central Texas is a no-kill shelter that takes in and saves animals from other shelters. They make a lifetime commitment to their animals and you are required to take them back to the shelter if you have to get rid of them for some reason. This is why I do everything in my power to support this shelter. One time they didn’t have the staff to pick up a dog that was going to be euthanized so me and my mom volunteered to go pick him up. He was the sweetest dog and he now lives with his forever family. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Character is probably the broadest of the traits and one of the most important because it’s who you are as a person, the very essence of your being. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. All of these traits help me to stay connected to my faith. And they will continue to help me grow in my faith as I get older because these character traits are what keep me connected to the church.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I watched peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in classes, give me the energy to watch friends' sports games and attend bonfires I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became more aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment. In middle school, I fell in love with biology. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject. I figured out science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology. This degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This major could allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to change this world for the better. I've struggled with anxiety and depression but one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. I want to protect the things that have always protected me.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. The Elevate Mental Health Awareness scholarship would help me achieve my plans by funding my education at Colorado State University to achieve my degree in zoology. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. On top of this, I've struggled with anxiety and depression but the one thing that’s always helped me is nature and living creatures. That's why I want to major in zoology and conservation because I want to protect the things that have always protected me. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

I’ve always been “smart’ or “gifted” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always struggled with simple things like making decisions, organization, prioritizing tasks, and time management. We always kind of suspected I had ADHD but I was doing fine in my classes so we never sought a diagnosis. But once I got into high school it really started affecting me. I'd forget about assignments, procrastinate, and lose papers and this is what most people think the extent of ADHD is, but in reality, it goes so much deeper. No one talks about how sometimes you have the energy to do a certain kind of task but not another or how if the one you have energy for is done you just feel kind of bored the rest of the day but you still can’t make yourself do the other. No one talks about the emotional dysregulation and how your feelings can change just as fast as your thoughts or how painfully aware you are that you’re messing up or making something more difficult than it should be. The number of times I've thought why can’t I just do this? And it just kept getting worse but my sophomore year when I was fifteen years old I was finally diagnosed because I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was crying every day. I’m medicated now and it does help a little but something about the diagnosis is comforting. It’s reassuring sometimes to know I'm not just lazy or weird, my brain just works in different ways. I know you have many qualified applicants for this scholarship but I hope my application stands out. I have faced many struggles especially when it comes to my health. I have a rare auto-inflammatory disease called Familial Mediterranean Fever ( FMF), which can sometimes lead to months of fever, joint pain, and nausea. But throughout these obstacles, I have persevered and remained one of the top students among my peers in addition to working towards my long-term goal of working in animal conservation. This scholarship will help me to attend Colorado State University, get a degree in Zoology, and fight for our environment. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering, to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and nausea. I just need more sleep than my peers. My transcript and activities show I can be successful despite my challenges. Due to my disease working while attending school could be difficult although I do take jobs when I am able. And by receiving the Texas Women Empowerment scholarship, I would more easily be able to pursue my education in a male-dominated STEM field where I could work my hardest to show women can excel in STEM as well as advocate for other women.This scholarship could allow me to focus on my studies. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross-country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I strive to be a kind accepting person someone people can talk to.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My genetic condition is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my disease will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us, from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross-country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles, I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six a.m. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. My FMF will never go away. I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I'd do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This degree could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State Univerisity could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. More women leading with kindness and compassion will make great changes in our world.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. I am diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever. My symptoms are fever, joint pain, nausea and fatigue. I have succeeded despite my obstacles. I have achieved academically earning recognitions such as AP Scholar, National Hispanic Recognition, National Rural and Small Town Recognition, 1st Team Cross Country Academic All-State Team, and Academic All-State Cheerleader. I was just nominated as a Chip Roy exceptional Senior and have locally recieved Citizenship awards as well as Academic Achievement in Principles of Business and Finance. While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying, he said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more.

Like everyone, there have been tons of times I didn’t succeed but the one that stands out to me the most happened at the end of my eighth-grade year. I was trying out for the JV high school cheer squad and I did not make it. But this was not my first time not making it. I tried out at the end of sixth grade and was called back but ultimately I did not make the squad. However, at the end of my seventh-grade year, I tried out and made it so I was a cheerleader for the entirety of my eighth-grade year. I think that is why I was so crushed when I opened the letter and the first word was not congratulations. There were not even callbacks that year so my scores must not have been close to the girls who made it. It was a really hard decision to make after two failures and only one success but I decided to work all year and try out again at the end of my freshman year. I worked on jumps at least once a week with a coach from a cheer and tumbling business as well as taking other tumbling classes once a week to help with body control. So at least two days a week for a year I worked on a sport that I was not even technically a part of. As tryouts approached I worked harder and once tryout material was released I worked with my coach almost every day to make sure I was improving and using proper technique. Luckily at the end of my freshman year, I made the team but I did not stop practicing. I continued my lessons throughout the years and made the squad throughout my senior year. This experience taught me the value of determination and how hard work is more important than natural ability. The work I put in is what allowed me to make the squad and while this was years ago It taught me one of my best traits: my determination. Determination will inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and better routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving toward success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in the future. It will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject, science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours to do homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge challenges. Accepting differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was little. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we're doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class. My teacher helped me to realize science was my favorite subject, science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. A good leader leads by example they help others and make sacrifices so that they can help those around them. I used to struggle with leadership because I'm a bit shy and I didn’t want to come off as overbearing but over time I realized there's more than one way to be a leader. I can lead by setting an example or I can help my peers with their homework. I even took leadership positions in clubs. Leadership is a quality anyone can have and I've found that it has taught me how to work with people so that I can collaborate in college or when I start my career. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. In the last four years, I have gained environmental experience in many ways. The most basic of which is owning pets and being surrounded by animals every day as well as gardening and composting. However, I also volunteer at my local animal shelter (Paws of Central Texas) and have tried my best to incorporate my goals into my course load. I’ve taken small animal science, and equine science in addition to upper-level math, and science classes such as AP biology and AP chemistry. And I think these classes along with my experiences have provided me with a good base for my future education in science.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have learned to prioritize my personal wellness to suceed at all aspects of my life including college.

My alarm blares at six a.m. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. After minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up. While I decide which sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is worse than it's been for a while. All I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning doing homework while I struggled to stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although, my FMF will never go away, I feel confident, and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with people I love. I've always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became aware and developed critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I've always known that I had to do my part to protect the environment that surrounds us. In middle school, I fell in love with my biology class and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject. That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in zoology because this degree aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. This could be the thing that would allow me to make the impact I desire to have to be able to change this world for the better.

Our strengths help us throughout everything in life and determine how we handle different scenarios. My strength happens to be determination. Now determination can help us do many things in the present, but I think it will prove even more useful in the future. How determination will be useful in my future determination will inspire me creatively, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. Determination will creatively inspire me. It will inspire me to deal with complex problems by pushing me to come up with creative answers. It will also encourage me to find alternative and better routes by making me see every angle. Determination can also help me find options when nothing seems to work by pushing me to never give up. Those are just some of the many ways determination will help me to be more creative. Determination will help to get me through stressful times. It’s taught me to be disciplined so that I won’t give up when it gets tough. It also keeps me motivated through all of the issues that may occur. But the best way determination can help me through stress is by letting me picture the end goal of all of the work and stress so I know the end product can be a reality. Determination can also help me to go above and beyond normal expectations. It encourages me to set goals and to do everything I can until I achieve them. It also keeps me moving towards success, it doesn’t matter how hard I’ll have to work. Determination helps me to never lose sight of the original goal and I will do anything and everything to get there. Our strengths are very important, especially determination. My determination will propel me through life and help me through it all. I will use determination in my future it will give me hope, get me through stressful times, and push me to go above and beyond. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Determination will help me achieve my goals!

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it's been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed, would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning. I struggle to push my blanket off my body. I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it's been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years, I'd watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. One day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed, would allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these skills, I can give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love. I have always loved nature. It's been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology. This degree most closely aligns with my goals. This program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then. I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many. students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I plan to major in zoology, so in my free time, I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. We own a beach house and walking the beach has been a special part of my life. While I prefer to focus on mammals in zoology, I am unsure where my career path will lead me. Our ecosystms are so closely related and everything we do in this world impacts other things. I just want to help protect all the beautiful things in our world.

While this may sound cliche, my brother has taught me many of the lessons that guide my decisions and shape how I choose to live my life. He was the kind of brother that would pull the mattress off of my toddler bed and drag it to his room, so I could hang out with him and sleep on the floor. However, as time went on and we grew up, he began his battle with addiction. During May of my eighth-grade year, he went to rehab, which I hoped would help him. When he left, he came to me. He cried and promised he’d change. But every time we thought he was doing better, he’d get worse again. He’d lie, break promises, and skip holidays. Then with little warning, he called me drunk, suicidal, and crying. He said how much he loved me and how he wanted to change. A few days later, he came to visit me and although my parents told me I didn’t have to, I wanted to help. We took a drive and then walked laps around the track and he confided in me until my feet were blistered. Then last year around Christmas I was told he might be arrested again, I cried but I also decided that was the last time I’d have any expectations. I’ll be happy when he does better, and I’ll be there for him, but I will no longer let his decisions harm my mental health. He taught me that no matter how much I love someone, I need to love myself more. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then, I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. My brother and my Science teacher impacted me in two different ways, but both have helped me become the person I am today.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader. In these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend, or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. A good leader leads by example, they help others, and make sacrifices so that they can help those around them. I used to struggle with leadership because I'm a bit shy and I didn’t want to come off as overbearing, but over time I realized there's more than one way to be a leader. I can lead by setting an example or I can help my peers with their homework. I even took leadership positions in clubs. Leadership is a quality anyone can have and I've found that it has actually taught me how to work with people so that I can collaborate in college or when I start my career. I strive to be a kind accepting person, someone people can talk to. I just want to be the best person I can be and that is where it all fits together. Athletics was a stepping stone to my being a leader.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF is an autoinflammatory disease) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

Service is working not for money but to better your community. It’s doing something that you might not always like just for the greater good. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. I have always loved animals and I actually plan to major in zoology, so in my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at Colorado State Univesity could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many student's with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. At Colorado State University, I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So, the major of zoology at Colorado State University could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as Student Council Secretary, Cross Country Team Manager, and Varsity Cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate, I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my Biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, that year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology at could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better. In the last four years, I have gained environmental experience in many ways. The most basic of which is owning pets and being surrounded by animals every day as well as gardening and composting. However, I also volunteer at my local animal shelter (Paws of Central Texas) and have tried my best to incorporate my goals into my course load. I’ve taken Small Animal Science, and Equine Science in addition to upper-level math, and science classes such as AP biology and AP chemistry. And I think these classes along with my experiences have provided me with a good base for my future education in Zoology. If you're as lucky as me you might even find volunteer work you love and are passionate about. In my free time I volunteer at a local animal shelter. I spend time with cats, walk dogs, and take pictures of the animals to help get them adopted. Service has helped me feel fulfilled while also giving back to my community which I plan to continue throughout my life.

y alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats to throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new skills, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as Student Council Secretary, Cross Country Team Manager, and Varsity Cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. The major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach to turn it off. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I’ll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better care of myself. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started prioritizing my health. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes, and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games, and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Armed with these new traits that will continue to benefit me throughout my life, I now have the ability to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or spending time with the people I love.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may seem a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll be assigned. This morning wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t worse. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my health and energy levels by working to take care of myself better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may seem a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. I have always known, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. I feel that this program will allow me to develop a set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes. The major of zoology could be the thing that would allow me to make the type and size of impact I desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow someway I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

I have always loved nature. It has been a passion of mine ever since I was a little girl. As I got older, I became more aware and developed the critical thinking skills to see everything we were doing to the world around us from the little things like littering to things as big as deforestation. And ever since then I have always known that somehow, someway, I had to do my part to protect the beautiful environment that surrounds us. Then in middle school, I fell in love with my biology class in the seventh grade and my teacher helped me to realize that science was my favorite subject, That year I figured out that science was how I was going to contribute to conservation efforts. I plan to major in the degree of zoology because this degree most closely aligns with my goals. And I feel that this program will allow me to develop a specialized set of skills geared toward ecosystems, conservation, and biodiversity. Ensuring that I have the knowledge I need to truly protect and care for these creatures as well as their homes properly. So the major of zoology could be the one thing that would finally allow me to make the type and size of impact I truly desire to have and to be able to change this world for the better.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to adjustto think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle andto minimize the effects my illness hasd on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. Although While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle andto minimize the effects my illness hasd on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While it may be a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. Although my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body as I reach for it. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to consider ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. While I know it seems a little anticlimactic, my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, I finally realized it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle and to minimize the effects my illness has had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by taking better working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would actually allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries I’m actually performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, And varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make an effort to make me feel more comfortable, or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my blanket off my tired body. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the floor. While I decide which sweats I'll throw on for school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. One summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my challenges. Accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. My life changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend bonfires that I’d skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I’m performing better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping people who need me. Due to my experiences, I am a believer in advocating for mental health. I feel so strongly about this because I can relate, but I also believe my empathy and my drive to help others plays a part. I have learned to help those who need a friend or help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I appreciated these acts of kindness when people would make me feel comfortable or help me with an assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate. I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus and in the world around me.

My alarm blares at six in the morning and as I reach for it, I struggle to push my plush blanket off my tired body. I’ve never really been a morning person. After a couple of minutes of convincing myself to start my day, I finally get up, my knees and ankles popping as my feet hit the cold concrete floor. While I decide which baggy sweats I'll throw on before I go to school, I can’t help but wonder if I'll have to come home early again today. My Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is much worse than it has been for a while and all I seem to be able to manage is the absolute bare minimum. Even though I feel well enough to go to school, I worry that I’ll go straight to bed when I get home, too exhausted to do the homework I’ll inevitably be assigned. This morning, however, wasn’t the first time that I’d felt like I couldn’t keep up with the ordinary rigors of my school days. During the past three years of high school, I had watched my peers stay up until the early hours of the morning to do homework while I struggled to simply stay awake on eight hours of sleep. Too exhausted to join my friends at volleyball games and bonfire kickbacks, I was purely in survival mode. This was the reality of my junior year. Despite these struggles, I refused to acknowledge the difficulties I faced, preferring to tell myself that I was okay and should be grateful my symptoms weren’t any worse. But one summer day, as I lay in bed recovering from a two-month flare-up of fever, joint pain, fatigue, and nausea, it finally hit me that I'm allowed to struggle. It doesn’t make me ungrateful or weak to acknowledge my unique challenges. Instead, accepting my differences has allowed me to think of ways that I could adjust my lifestyle to minimize the effects my illness had on me. Once the worst of my flare-up passed, I decided to change my outlook. Although pretty much anything unpleasant can trigger a flare of my FMF, I knew I could improve my overall health and energy levels by working to take care of myself a little better. At first, I began with baby steps. I started eating better, sleeping more, going for walks, and caring for my mental health. I know it seems a little anticlimactic, but my life completely changed once I started doing this. While my FMF will never go away, I now feel confident and happy and am staying on top of my schoolwork. I never thought doing more of what I enjoyed would allow me to excel in my classes and give me the energy to watch my friends' sports games and attend those bonfires that I’d previously skipped. Now that I know my boundaries, I’m performing infinitely better than I was able to before. On top of knowing how to take care of my mind and body in a way that allows me to maintain and build on my progress. With these new traits, I'm able to give my all in everything I do, whether it be my classes, extracurriculars, or helping the people who need me. Due to my life experiences, I am a firm believer in advocating for mental health. School and college have undoubtedly become more stressful as time has gone on and this has led to many students struggling with illnesses such as depression, and anxiety. While anyone can struggle with mental health, students with ADHD, dyslexia, chronic health conditions, etcetera are statistically proven to struggle more with their mental state. I suppose I feel so strongly about this because I can relate but I also believe my empathy and my never-ending drive to help others plays a large part. I have played many roles in my community such as student council secretary, cross country team manager, and varsity cheerleader in these roles I have made every effort to help those I serve. These leadership positions have allowed me to acquire the confidence and skills needed to approach people who may need a friend or even just help with homework. While these things sound small, I know I deeply appreciated these acts of kindness when people would try to make me feel more comfortable or help me with a hard assignment. Since I was lucky enough to come across people kind enough to make these little contributions which seemed to take a ton off my plate. I strive to be like them. I will continue using these skills in college to help other students in my classes or those I see out around campus to make as much of an impact as possible on my campus