My path toward higher education has been anything but traditional. At forty-four years old, I have learned that growth rarely follows a straight line. My journey began long before I ever sat in a classroom again. It started in the darkest years of my life when substance use had taken nearly everything from me. Rebuilding my life taught me discipline, humility, and the importance of service. Those lessons are what ultimately led me to pursue my master’s degree in social work and dedicate my career to helping others overcome the same struggles that once held me captive. For the past decade, I have worked in the field of Substance Use Disorder treatment, beginning as a counselor and growing into my current role as Lead Counselor for the Alpha Recovery Centers at Ampla Health. Our program serves low-income and underserved patients across Northern California who face not only addiction but also poverty, stigma, and limited access to care. Every day, I have the privilege of sitting across from people who remind me of my younger self, tired, scared, and ready for change. Guiding them through that transformation has become my life’s purpose. My experiences have shaped my personal values around empathy, accountability, and perseverance. They have also inspired me to keep advancing my education so I can bridge the gap between behavioral health and medicine. I will complete my Master of Social Work degree in February 2026 and plan to continue on to Physician Assistant school specializing in addiction medicine. I want to integrate clinical treatment with compassion-based counseling, helping patients not only stabilize but also find long-term healing. I have already seen the difference this integrated approach makes in my current Medication-Assisted Treatment clinic, where collaboration between medical providers and behavioral health staff leads to better outcomes and fewer relapses. Pursuing this goal has not been easy. Returning to school in my forties while working full-time and managing family responsibilities has tested my endurance. Yet it has also deepened my appreciation for education as a tool for redemption and empowerment. I was recently accepted into Johns Hopkins University’s program to complete the science prerequisites required for Physician Assistant school. Unfortunately, I have exhausted my federal financial aid eligibility, and the cost of these courses presents a serious barrier. Receiving this scholarship would relieve that burden and allow me to stay on track toward my next academic milestone. Beyond professional advancement, my education is a way to give back. I mentor new counselors, advocate for evidence-based Medication-Assisted Treatment access, and continue developing programs that make treatment more inclusive for rural and underserved populations. Every accomplishment I have achieved, whether writing a policy, counseling a patient, or leading a team, has been rooted in the belief that second chances matter. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education but also strengthen my ability to serve others who are still fighting for theirs. Higher education, for me, is not just about earning another degree. It is about carrying forward the lessons of survival, resilience, and purpose. I am living proof that recovery and reinvention are possible, and with this support, I intend to spend the rest of my career showing others that they are too.

My dream of becoming a medical provider was born out of both pain and purpose. Years ago, I was not on a path toward medicine at all. I was struggling with addiction and trying to survive one day at a time. Through faith, recovery, and the support of people who refused to give up on me, I rebuilt my life. That experience gave me a deep understanding of human suffering and the belief that healing involves more than medicine, it requires compassion, connection, and hope. It also gave me a mission, to dedicate my life to helping others reclaim their health and dignity. Today I serve as the Lead Counselor for Ampla Health’s Alpha Recovery Centers, where I oversee Medication-Assisted Treatment programs across several sites. Every day I work alongside physicians and PAs who inspire me with their balance of skill and empathy. I have seen how a PA can sit with a patient, explain complex medical information in simple language, and build trust that changes outcomes. Those moments have shaped my goal, to first become a Physician Assistant specializing in addiction medicine, and eventually to earn my medical degree so I can lead integrated treatment programs and advocate for systemic change in addiction care. The road toward this goal has not been easy. Like many first-generation college students, I have faced significant financial obstacles. I paid my way through community college and earned my Bachelor of Social Work from Chico State while working full time. Now, as a Master of Social Work student at Walden University, I continue to balance academics, a leadership role, and tuition costs. Because federal aid limits have been reached after years of higher education, I rely on private loans and scholarships to fund my next step, completing science prerequisites for PA school through Johns Hopkins University’s online program. Every dollar I earn or receive goes toward tuition, and every class brings me closer to the future I have worked hard to build. Financial hardship has taught me discipline, humility, and perseverance. It has also given me a unique empathy for the patients I serve. Many of them face the same barriers, poverty, stigma, and limited access to care. Because I have lived through struggle myself, I never forget that my patients’ circumstances do not define their worth or potential. I treat each person with the same respect and hope that I once needed. These lessons will follow me as I advance into medical practice. I plan to specialize in addiction medicine because it is where my heart and experience meet. The opioid crisis has touched every community, and too often patients with substance use disorders are dismissed or judged rather than treated. I want to change that by providing care that integrates mental health, physical health, and spiritual well-being. My long-term vision is to open a clinic that combines behavioral health counseling, MAT services, and medical care under one roof, creating a model of recovery that restores the whole person. Becoming a PA is the next step, and this scholarship would make that possible by helping fund my prerequisite courses and preparation for PA school applications. Eventually, earning my M.D. will allow me to expand my impact through teaching, policy work, and clinical leadership. Every challenge I have faced has strengthened my faith and deepened my compassion. I believe those qualities, shaped through struggle, will make me a better provider and a better person. My journey has not been perfect, but it has been meaningful, and I am ready to continue it one patient, one life, and one act of grace at a time.

My story is one of second chances, faith, and a commitment to helping others find hope when they believe theirs is gone. I grew up in Northern California in a family that faced more challenges than resources. As a young adult, I lost my way and fell into addiction, a battle that nearly cost me everything. Recovery changed my life completely. Through faith, hard work, and the support of people who believed in me when I could not believe in myself, I rebuilt not just my life but my purpose. That journey inspired me to dedicate my career to serving others who struggle with substance use and mental health challenges. Today I serve as the Lead Counselor for Ampla Health’s Alpha Recovery Centers, where I oversee Medication-Assisted Treatment programs across multiple clinic sites. Every day I work with patients who remind me of where I once was, people who are trying to hold on to jobs, families, and dignity while fighting a disease that few understand. My role is more than a job, it is a calling. I meet people where they are, remind them that their story is not over, and walk with them as they begin to heal. My faith guides how I treat each patient, with respect, compassion, and a belief in their potential for change. I am currently pursuing my Master of Social Work at Walden University and will graduate in February 2026. My next goal is to attend Physician Assistant school, specializing in addiction medicine. I want to bridge the gap between behavioral health and primary care by becoming a provider who treats both the mind and the body. Too many people with substance use disorders are overlooked in medical settings because their struggles are misunderstood. I want to change that by combining my social work background with advanced medical training so I can provide whole-person care to underserved populations. This scholarship would directly help me take the next step toward that goal. I have been accepted into Johns Hopkins University’s online premedical program to complete the remaining science prerequisites for PA school. Because I have already reached the federal aid limit from years of undergraduate and graduate study, I must rely on private funding to continue. Every dollar from this scholarship would go toward tuition for those courses, allowing me to keep working full-time with my patients while completing the academic requirements needed to apply to PA programs at Touro University and Samuel Merritt University. Beyond financial help, this scholarship represents something deeper. It would be an affirmation that my past does not define my future and that perseverance, purpose, and faith can turn pain into progress. I have walked a long road to get to where I am, and I know my education is not only for me. It is for every patient who sits across from me, wondering if they can change. It is for my community, which needs more providers who understand addiction not as a moral failure but as a treatable medical condition. My ultimate goal is to open an integrated addiction medicine clinic that combines behavioral therapy, medical treatment, and faith-based recovery support under one roof. I want to continue mentoring others in recovery and training new counselors and providers to lead with compassion. This scholarship would not just help me reach a career milestone, it would help me continue a mission that began the day I decided to live differently. I am proof that faith can rebuild what was broken, and I want my life’s work to show others that healing is always possible.

When my father was diagnosed with leukemia, everything I thought I understood about life changed. Illness has a way of slowing time, of stripping away the noise of everyday life until all that remains are the things that truly matter. Watching someone you love fight for their life teaches lessons that no classroom or textbook ever could. It taught me compassion, patience, and the value of faith when circumstances feel impossible. In the early days after his diagnosis, I remember the silence in our house. It was the kind of silence that comes with fear and uncertainty. My father had always been my source of strength, the one who carried the weight for everyone else. Seeing him frail and tired, hooked to IV lines and dependent on others, broke something in me. But it also revealed something greater. I saw his faith stay strong even as his body weakened. I watched him pray for others in the hospital, smile at nurses, and thank every person who entered his room. He showed me that gratitude is not a reaction to comfort, it is a choice we make even in pain. Through my father’s illness, I learned that healthcare is not just about treating disease, it is about preserving dignity and offering hope when people feel most vulnerable. I remember sitting by his bedside, listening to nurses talk to him gently, explaining every procedure, and treating him like more than a diagnosis. Their kindness stayed with me. It was in those moments that I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others in the same way. His journey became the foundation for my own. My father’s leukemia did more than open my eyes to medicine, it deepened my faith. There were days when test results were grim and doctors could not give us clear answers, yet there was a peace that came from knowing we were not walking through it alone. Faith became our anchor. I began to understand that even in suffering, there can be purpose. Watching him fight with grace and gratitude reminded me that every breath is a gift, and that life, even when fragile, is sacred. Because of him, I approach every patient I work with through a lens of empathy and understanding. As a counselor in addiction and behavioral health, I see people who are also fighting for their lives, just in a different way. I think about how my father’s care team looked beyond his illness and saw the person he was, and I try to do the same with every patient. His example taught me that healing often begins with how we make people feel, not just what we prescribe. Today, I carry his strength with me in everything I do. My father is still fighting, and every moment we share feels like borrowed time that I will never take for granted. His courage taught me that love, compassion, and faith are the greatest medicines of all. I am grateful for the lessons that came through his illness, even though they were hard-earned. They have shaped me into a person who sees beauty in perseverance and purpose in service. What I am most thankful for is the perspective his journey gave me. It reminded me that every day of life is a gift, that every act of kindness matters, and that healing the heart is just as important as healing the body. My father’s battle with leukemia did not just change my life, it gave it meaning.

Growing up with a family member who lived with disabilities changed the way I see the world and taught me lessons that no classroom ever could. My younger sister was born with a developmental disability that affected her speech, motor coordination, and emotional regulation. While other kids my age spent their afternoons playing sports or video games, I spent mine helping her navigate daily routines that most people take for granted. Watching her face each day with courage and humor taught me what true strength looks like and planted the seed that would later grow into my calling to serve others through healthcare. At first, I did not see caregiving as a calling. I just saw it as love. My parents both worked long hours, so I often helped my sister with meals, schoolwork, and medical appointments. I learned patience by helping her through her frustrations when words would not come out the way she wanted. I learned advocacy by sitting with her during appointments and making sure doctors explained things in ways she could understand. And I learned empathy by realizing how isolating life can feel for someone who does not fit into the world’s definition of normal. Those experiences shaped the way I see every person, as more than a diagnosis, a label, or a limitation. When I got older, I began to understand the emotional and spiritual weight that families carry when someone they love is struggling. That realization became even more personal later in life when I faced my own challenges with addiction and recovery. My sister’s resilience became my inspiration during those dark years. If she could face every day with determination, I could too. Through faith and the love of my family, I found redemption and a new purpose. My recovery became a turning point, showing me that caregiving was more than something I did, it was who I was meant to be. That was when I decided to pursue a career in healthcare. I started in behavioral health and substance use counseling, where I could combine compassion with clinical skill. Over time, my passion for helping others heal grew stronger, leading me to pursue further education in medicine. While my path is currently focused on addiction medicine, I see nursing as the foundation of all compassionate healthcare, a profession built on service, advocacy, and grace. The nurses I have worked with over the years are the heartbeat of every treatment team. They are the ones who listen, comfort, and remind patients that they matter, no matter what they are facing. My sister continues to inspire me today. Her progress is slow but steady, and her joy remains unshaken. She has taught me that caring for another person is both a privilege and a responsibility, one that requires humility, patience, and unconditional love. These are the same values I carry into every patient encounter, whether I am counseling someone through withdrawal, coordinating care for a struggling family, or simply listening to a story no one else has time to hear. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education and expand my ability to serve others with the same compassion that has guided my journey. Nursing, like faith, is about presence, being there for people when life is at its hardest and most fragile. My sister showed me what that kind of love looks like, and now I want to dedicate my life to giving it back.

Faith is not something I talk about only on Sundays. It is the foundation of every decision I make and the reason I dedicate my life to helping others find hope when they believe theirs is gone. To me, living a Pro-Life conviction means honoring and protecting life at every stage, from birth to the final breath, and standing up for the God-given dignity that belongs to every human being. My journey to this calling was not simple. Years ago, I faced challenges that brought me to a place of deep brokenness. Addiction had consumed my life, and I had lost my sense of direction and worth. In that darkness, my faith became my lifeline. I remember praying for God to either take my life or transform it into something meaningful. He chose transformation. Through His grace, I found recovery and a renewed sense of purpose. From that moment, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life helping others realize that no life is beyond redemption. Today, I serve as the Lead Counselor for a Medication-Assisted Treatment program within a Federally Qualified Health Center. I work daily with patients who have been written off by society, men and women who have been told they are too far gone to change. Many of them are parents fighting to regain custody of their children, young people who lost their direction too soon, or individuals whose mental health struggles have left them isolated and hopeless. I see each one as a life worth saving. My faith reminds me that every person I meet is a creation of God, deserving of love, care, and a second chance. My work in addiction medicine has shown me that being Pro-Life extends far beyond birth. It means standing with those whose lives are fragile, the unborn, the sick, the poor, the addicted, the forgotten, and affirming their worth through action. When I counsel a patient through relapse or celebrate a year of sobriety with someone who once wanted to die, I am reminded that life, in all its forms, is sacred. As a future Physician Assistant specializing in addiction medicine, I want to continue living out this calling on a broader scale. I plan to bridge behavioral health and primary care, ensuring that patients who struggle with substance use disorders receive compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Too often, our healthcare system treats addiction as a moral failure instead of a medical and spiritual crisis. I want to change that. My education will give me the tools to heal both body and spirit, to protect life not just in survival, but in restoration. My faith impacts every goal I set. It reminds me that leadership is service, healing is ministry, and every heartbeat has value. I believe God gave me a second chance, not for my own comfort but so I could use it to bring others back to life physically, emotionally, and spiritually. To me, being pro-life is not a political stance; it is a way of life. It is the quiet, daily work of affirming that every life has meaning, even when the world disagrees. Whether I am counseling a patient through withdrawal, teaching coping skills to a young mother, or simply reminding someone that they are worth saving, I am living my faith in action. Through compassion, service, and grace, I protect life at every stage, because every single one matters.

Being a first-generation college student has meant walking a road that no one in my family had traveled before. There was no roadmap, no family member to call for advice about applications or financial aid, and no safety net when things got hard. But what I did have was faith, determination, and the belief that education could change the course of my life and the lives of others. My journey has not been a straight line. Years ago, I faced personal challenges that could have ended my story entirely. Addiction took almost everything from me, my sense of self, my stability, and my hope for the future. When I finally found recovery, I made a promise to myself and to God that I would dedicate my life to helping others find the same freedom I had been given. That promise became the foundation of everything that came after. Starting over was not easy. I enrolled at Butte College, often studying late into the night after working full-time to support myself. I earned my Associate’s Degree and a two-year Addiction Studies Certificate, then transferred to Chico State University, where I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work. Each step forward reminded me that perseverance can transform pain into purpose. Now, as a graduate student at Walden University pursuing my Master of Social Work, I am preparing for the next chapter: applying to Physician Assistant school to specialize in addiction medicine. As the Lead Counselor for a Medication-Assisted Treatment program within a Federally Qualified Health Center, I work daily with patients who face the same obstacles I once did. Many come from underserved communities, battling stigma, poverty, and hopelessness. I see myself in them, and I use my story to show that recovery and purpose are possible. My faith has carried me through the hardest seasons of my life, but education has given me the tools to serve others with skill and compassion. This scholarship would help me continue that journey by covering the cost of my remaining prerequisite courses through Johns Hopkins University’s online medical program. Federal aid is no longer available to me, and private funding is the only way to complete the courses required for PA school admission. Every dollar of this scholarship would directly support that goal, allowing me to keep serving my patients while advancing my education. Being a first-generation student is more than an accomplishment, it’s a responsibility. It means proving that where you start in life doesn’t have to determine where you finish. It means paving the way so that those who come after can see what’s possible. I have learned that faith and education are the two greatest forms of freedom, and with this scholarship, I will continue to use both to make a difference in the lives of others.

The most impactful Physician Assistants are those who combine medical knowledge with humanity, clinicians who treat not just the disease but the person behind it. Compassion, humility, and resilience are qualities that transform a good PA into an extraordinary one. These are the attributes that have guided me through my own life and career, shaping the way I serve others and defining the kind of provider I aspire to become. Before I found my purpose in medicine, I had to overcome my own struggles. Years ago, I faced addiction and the painful consequences that came with it. My recovery was not just about getting sober, it was about rediscovering who I was called to be. Through faith, hard work, and the guidance of mentors who believed in me, I rebuilt my life from the ground up. That experience gave me something no textbook ever could: a deep understanding of human suffering and the power of compassion in healing. When I entered the behavioral health field in 2014, I brought that empathy into every interaction. Today, as the Lead Counselor for a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program within a Federally Qualified Health Center, I work alongside physicians and PAs to help patients overcome substance use disorders and rebuild their lives. I have witnessed how impactful a PA can be, how their presence, communication, and trust-building can inspire hope even in patients who feel beyond saving. Watching these professionals balance medical precision with genuine care confirmed my calling to follow that same path. One quality that defines an impactful PA is adaptability. In addiction medicine, no two patients are the same. Each has a unique story, cultural background, and set of medical and emotional needs. My work requires me to adjust constantly, one moment I am using Motivational Interviewing to engage a patient in treatment, and the next I am collaborating with a provider to manage complex medication protocols. This flexibility is crucial in a PA, whose role demands both independence and teamwork. My years in this environment have prepared me to think critically, act calmly under pressure, and approach every situation with both competence and compassion. Another vital quality is humility, the understanding that medicine is a partnership, not a hierarchy. I have learned that healing happens when patients feel seen, not judged. As someone who has sat on both sides of the clinical table, I never forget that empathy is the foundation of trust. When a patient shares their pain or relapse, I meet them where they are, free from stigma, because I know how powerful it is to be met with grace instead of shame. As a future PA, I want to bring that same spirit into my medical practice. Finally, an impactful PA must be a lifelong learner, someone who seeks growth not just in knowledge but in character. Returning to graduate school while working full-time in a demanding field has taught me discipline, humility, and purpose. Every class and every patient encounter remind me that medicine is both a science and a ministry of service. I aim to specialize in addiction medicine, bridging the gap between behavioral health and primary care in underserved communities, especially through programs like the one I now help lead. My journey has not been easy, but it has been meaningful. The obstacles that once broke me have become the foundation of my calling. Compassion, adaptability, humility, and perseverance are not just the qualities I admire in a Physician Assistant. I want to carry them forward as a PA who heals with both skill and heart.

There was a time in my life when faith was all I had left. I had lost almost everything—my home, my family’s trust, and my sense of self. Addiction had stripped away the future I once imagined for myself, leaving me in a place of darkness I didn’t think I could ever escape. It wasn’t until I reached the point of absolute surrender that I finally began to understand what faith really meant. For years, I tried to fix everything on my own. I believed if I just worked harder or got one more chance, I could control the chaos that had consumed my life. But every attempt led me deeper into despair. The turning point came when I found myself at rock bottom, sitting in a treatment program with nothing but a thin mattress, a Bible, and a heart full of regret. I remember reading the words from Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” For the first time, I didn’t just read the words, I believed them. Faith became more than a belief system; it became my lifeline. It carried me through withdrawal, homelessness, and the painful process of rebuilding trust with my family. Each small step forward was guided by prayer and the conviction that my life had a purpose beyond my mistakes. Over time, that faith gave me the courage to return to school, starting with my associate’s degree at Butte College and eventually earning my Bachelor of Social Work from Chico State University. Today, I’m completing my Master of Social Work at Walden University and serving as the Lead Counselor in a Medication-Assisted Treatment program, helping others find the same hope that once saved me. Working in the field of addiction medicine has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I often meet patients who are in the same position I once was, defeated, hopeless, and unsure whether they deserve another chance. In those moments, I share my faith not through words, but through presence, compassion, and integrity. I believe that faith without action is incomplete, and every day I try to live out the grace I was given by helping others rediscover their worth and potential. There are still challenges. Balancing graduate school, full-time work, and the emotional demands of counseling can be overwhelming. But when I feel stretched thin, I remind myself that I am not walking this path alone. My faith continues to remind me that every obstacle is an opportunity to grow stronger, more compassionate, and more humble. Looking back, I can see that the greatest obstacle I faced was not addiction itself, it was learning to believe in myself again through the lens of faith. God turned my lowest moments into the foundation of my purpose. Today, I stand not as a man defined by his past, but as someone who lives to serve others through the same faith that saved his life.