My experiences with learning disabilities and loss of my father as a teenager has made me a stronger person and one who can advocate for others, after learning to be my own best advocate. I have known I was dyslexic since I was a young girl, but when I was a high school senior it was discovered that I also had Auditory Processing Disorder. At the same time I was grieving the death of my dad and I worked many long hours to learn to read and to improve in the last few months of high school, in order to go on to college. Several of my teachers and coaches doubted my abilities and I had to fight through the stigma that I wasn't good enough--I was and it took many professionals to put the pieces of my puzzle together and support me. I knew I wanted to use my experiences to support others and I have pursued a major in Orphans and Vulnerable Children with a psychology minor. This major is unique and not often offered, but it would best be described as a specific social work area--working with children enduring traumatic events, just like myself. I just completed a study abroad semester in Belfast, Northern Ireland and it was an amazing adventure. My internship took me to a local community center, where I worked alongside with the Irish families at the church and learned they are still overcoming many years of civil war, called "the Troubles". It is still dividing the country and the staff are working to teach empathy, acceptance, and give the vulnerable children the resources they need to succeed. I have improved my own academic skills enough to willingly travel halfway across the world for this opportunity. It isn't easy to go to a new university with learning disabilities-- different culture, schedule, food, language, and all that a different country bring to a guest. I knew the experience would make me a better mentor and leader working with the world's vulnerable children. I had also done a Spring Break mission trip through Taylor University and seeing the way children live in a third-world country was overwhelming, yet it gave me the heart to continue working on my education so that I could become a better mentor to my future clients. I am confident in my knowledge and own personality traits that I will be a great encourager to young people in my community after graduation. Because I accepted and worked with my learning disabilities and grief, I have been able to teach myself to be resilient and joyful in the process. It wasn't always easy and I am blessed with family who never gave up on me and always encouraged me to be the person God created me to be. It takes me longer to learn and study than the average person and I use accommodations at school to assist my learning, but I know I can do it and I have to take it one step at a time. All of the skills I have learned for myself will make me relate better to the vulnerable children I care for as a part of the social work resources. Thank you for considering me. I am appreciative of all the extra resources to support my education in the final year.

My ALS journey began when my dad was diagnosed in 2018. Before that, I had only briefly heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge. I didn't understand the disease and the heavy impact it would leave on my life until it happened. My mom and I were his primary caregivers as his mobility declined. We did our bet to make him feel comfortable and cared for until his death in 2020. The night he passed I was 3 hours away at cross country camp. I remember not being able to sleep and feeling restless. When mom called me at 3 am, I picked up on the first ring and just knew. I don't remember how I reacted but I did have a sense of peace that he was no longer suffering. The months that followed were a haze and I realize now that my brain blocked out many of those memories as a way of coping. Grief is a strange thing. It wasn't until much later that I am understanding how deeply his loss has affected me. I am studying abroad this semester in Belfast, Northern Ireland as a part of my college education. My major at Taylor Univeristy is Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I am so excited at all that I will learn while living in Belfast. It will directly affect my knowledge and skills moving forward to my senior year and graduation with a Bachelor's degree. I decided to focus on social work and specifically OVC after living through the grief of losing a parent at the age of 16. It changed me and now, I want to help others to live successful and meaningful lives. I can be empathetic to young children who are experiencing loss in a way that many professionals cannot even begin to understand or comprehend. I want to use my life to help others in my community. I don't know if this experience will develop a love for Belfast forever, but I do know I am learning and experiencing things many will never have. I wouldn't have guessed a few years ago that my learning disabilities as student would have lead me to being comfortable flying halfway around the world for 4 months. I believe ALS has significantly impacted my career choice and even my own personality and character traits. I wouldn't want anyone to experience ALS as a child, but I also know I developed a strength and perseverance that I wouldn't not have developed in the same way. As I learn more about OVC and helping the most vulnerable children, I know that as a teenager walking through terminal illness and the death of a parent changed me in ways that I may never totally understand. TU is a private, local school. I love the support and community close to home. I am getting a great education and it is one of the few post-secondary schools to offer a degree specifically in OVC. I have worked and volunteered during breaks to increase my own contribution to my expenses. I have applied for scholarships and been blessed with several to help me to pay for college. This semester in Belfast is expensive, but I believe the trade in experience and knowledge will far outweigh the cost. My mom has worked hard to overcome the financial loss our family experienced to support my dad and his ALS expenses, but she also helped my three older siblings and there is quite a bit left in my last year to cover. Any help you can offer to me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Right now, I am in Belfast, Northern Ireland to begin a semester in a study abroad program at Stranmillis College University. My school, Taylor University, has a collaboration with Stranmillis as I work toward a degree in Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I will be taking classes and working at a local community center. I want to learn to live well. I decided to move deeper into Social Work and especially those most at-risk after volunteering at The Ark Christian Ministries with the Mephiboseth Program/Camp and helping my father battle ALS for 2 years before succumbing to the disease when I was 16. The campers in this program had special needs and I was one of the teenagers paired up to support a camper through a week at church camp. I excitedly volunteered for this camp multiple times in high school. I learned so much about helping adults with many special needs. I also volunteered at The Red Barn while in undergraduate work. The at-risk elementary aged students would come after school to play games, do homework, make conversation, and eat a snack. Our role was just to be available to help them and be ready to support them after school. Some days it meant sitting with an upset child with a snack and other days I was playing basketball. All three of these situations really helped to determine my path at college. I also learned that my own battles with learning disabilities and the loss of a parent could be used for the greater good as I work to gain the knowledge needed to support vulnerable children. My will to overcome was not easy and I could have listened to my initial gut and not gone to college at all, but I know my dad would want me to push through my own problems to help others. If you would have told me I would go to a foreign country for an entire semester just a few years ago, I would not have believed it. I worked hard to learn to read in high school and to use auditory therapy to help my brain learn to hear properly. Hearing aids has given me a new way of listening with confidence. Now I am just about 18 months from finishing my degree with the skills I need to work with Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Not all of the children I will be encouraging and supporting in my career will have special needs, but many of them will (as they are the most vulnerable and at-risk population). My coursework at Taylor and Stranmillis is preparing me to learn the research and strategies best practiced at this time. I am excited to dig into my semester in Ireland and return to finish one last year in America before graduating. I have learned to value each person as a unique human created by God. Since I have learning disabilities, I believe I can be empathetic and a strong listener as I know that is what I want each day. I have to take the time to learn each students' strengths and needs. I am a firm believer in using their strengths to improve upon weaknesses. Any and all scholarship funds are appreciated. My family spent more than our life savings to help my dad with his needs. That left my mom a widow with 4 children and we all have worked hard to get a successful career jump. We were eligible for free lunch in school. Finances were a big concern. Thank you for all of your help and reading my essay. Live well!

As I work my way through college and finishing my education, I am finding myself advocating for those with disabilities and educating others to better meet my needs and those like me that find themself at a disadvantage. I was diagnosed with an Auditory Processing Disorder as a senior in high school and became the first person with this disorder at the high school and my university. I was misunderstood in high school and my coaches belittled me for not understanding (but the audiologist informed us that I was only understanding about every fifth word-- making comprehension very difficult). I also learned to move around with my dad as he battled ALS and his needs were ever-changing. Our family discovered many ADA infractions while helping him with the electric wheelchair and his needs. I have learned to speak up more and to advocate while educating about disabilities, not just mine but for any that I see. I have also decided to use my weaknesses and disabilities to also devote my education to helping orphans and vulnerable children. As a child who has lost a parent at the age of 16 and learned to read after that, I know what a tough life can be and I learned to battle the bullies and negative self-talk to now begin to succeed as a junior in college. I have applied to go on a study abroad in January 2025 and without these challenges, I would have never found the strength to apply for this opportunity. I am so excited to see how the people in Northern Ireland work together for their children while studying in their country. It won't be easy but I have learned I am stronger than I thought and I have learned to speak up more to support myself and others with disabilities. My work with orphans will help the underserved communities and I can bring my own experiences and knowledge to my career to better help those that may need help with getting accommodations, support, and maybe just the necessary resources. I know what it can be like to be at a deficit in learning and not succeeding, but I had my mom who didn't stop until she got me the help I needed and the role model I needed to embrace my learning disabilities. I would not be the young adult I am becoming, if it hadn't been for my rough battle to learn and succeed at what others found easy. I can be a better social worker as I overcame and embrace my own strengths and weaknesses. Thank you for the scholarship opportunity. The help is greatly appreciated.

Two of my life situations led me to a social work major and then, specifically onward to orphans and vulnerable children. First, when I was 16, my father died after battling ALS and social workers were an important part of his care. Second, I went on a mission trip to Honduras last year for Spring Break. Both of these situations have helped me to decide that I want to help other kids who have endured trauma and to help them obtain the support they need to be successful and healthy. I still have 2 years of college to learn all I need to jumpstart my career, but I do know that I want to be able to give back to my community and help other kids persevering through trauma and difficult situations. My personal experiences will provide me with an opportunity to relate to the children in a personal way that other social workers may never understand. When my father was diagnosed with ALS in July 2018, he participated in the multidisciplinary ALS clinic every quarter to get the care and support he needed. One of the people most influential in his care and communicating with my family through the two-year process was a social worker. When hospice was needed, again, a social worker provided positive communication with the other professionals keeping my family in the loop and working with all of the others (I believe there were about 8 different disciplines overlooking my dad and his needs). This was the first time I had personal interaction with a social worker and it set my mind in motion to research the career and go to college as a social work major. As I began to study social work in college, I was able to go to Honduras for Spring Break. Here, our team was helping with an afterschool program by painting, cleaning. playing with the children, and even visiting some of the families in their homes. At this time, I decided to focus on OVC (orphans and vulnerable children). Being in a third world country was challenging but enjoyable. It was wonderful to see the loving families despite struggling to get food and clean water, yet they were so happy and joyful. This week set my mind to work on what else I can do to help children needing resources, support, and encouragement. Next year, I will continue to explore the world and social work by studying abroad in Ireland. This will give me more firsthand knowledge and experience related to orphans, vulnerable children, and social work. I am excited to be able to take advantage of this opportunity. I am not yet sure exactly where my degree will take me, but I am excited to be able to use my own personal experiences, including the death of my father as a 16-year-old to relate to other young children. I am learning about nutrition, trafficking, education, as well as normal development of children to better support my future clients achieve success and health. This scholarship would be helpful to me next year as I work toward paying for a regular fall semester on campus and the Spring study abroad. I have decided to commute this fall to save money and to help my widowed mother, who is working hard to help me and my three siblings. Thank you for taking the time to read my application and any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

My life experiences have very much impacted my decision to major in Orphans and Vulnerable Children with a Psychology minor. OVC is a part of social work as it focuses on youngsters needing the most support and care possible. When I was in elementary school, the doctors diagnosed me with ADD and dyslexia. My parents helped me to get more help in high school when I was not able to read and write at grade level. It was discovered that I also was dealing with Auditory Processing Disorder. With the help of auditory training, hearing aids, and private tutoring, I have been able to use accommodations at the university level to begin to understand how I learn and succeed. The doctors have said that my right and left brain were not communicating-- this made learning difficult. It won't ever be "normal" but I am learning to overcome and to adapt using my strengths to improve my weaknesses. I love to read for fun now. I am finishing my sophomore year and looking forward to a study abroad in the Spring semester. When I go to Ireland, I will have practicum experience and be a part of an Irish Studies program with an emphasis on social work and vulnerable children. Another impactful experience affecting my decision to help others was the death of my dad after his battle with ALS (a two-year terminal illness battle for him and my family) as a teenager. My daily struggles to just survive with grief and learning disabilities taught me to persevere and to have empathy for those most vulnerable. I can offer a unique approach to future clients. OVC is a more in-depth training than just social work as I learn to meet the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of vulnerable children. I am learning to work with refugees, orphans, foster children, and trafficking through field experiences and education. Last year I was able to spend a mission trip week in Honduras. It was an eye-opening experience as we worked alongside staff at a school and orphanage. This career will be challenging, but I believe my struggles have toughened me to the unfairness in the world. Most young adults entering the field of social work have not personally experienced multiple learning disorders and the death of a parent as a teenager. High school was not easy for me and my teachers did not understand my challenges. I was working as hard as I could, but I was pressured to work harder and to do better. I want to share the empathy and resources I am learning are available within my career. I am excited to give back to my community and to help others needing support and care. My parents wanted me to have the best opportunities and never put a limit on my skills. They believed in me and taught me to advocate for myself and my needs. In this way, I am learning to help others and to allow them to reach their best potential. Thank you for creating a scholarship for students like me that have not had an easy life.

My mom has been my biggest supporter as I work my way through college. My dad was diagnosed with ALS in July 2018, just before I began my freshman year of high school. He died in July 2020 after courageously battling ALS for 2 years. I am now completing my sophomore year of college and looking forward to the last two years as I earn a Bachelor's degree in serving Orphans and Vulnerable Children. My mom advocated for me when we suspected and discovered I was academically challenged with several different learning disabilities. It was not an easy process to figure out and I was quickly dismissed as a defiant student, instead of a teenager suffering from learning disabilities and grief. Naturally, my personality and behavior were affected by the terminal diagnosis and death of my father. But through it all, my mom never gave up on me. I wasn't sure I wanted to go to college and she helped me to consider all of the pros and cons of taking a gap year versus starting college as a traditional student. She helped me to get tutoring sessions to improve my reading and spelling skills. She taught me how to advocate for myself as I continue to deal with life without a father. She works multiple part-time jobs to support myself and my siblings, while still attending all of our extracurricular activities as a grieving widow herself. ALS cost our family immensely in monetary, emotional, and social aspects. Taylor University is one of the few colleges to grant a degree specifically in working with orphans and vulnerable children. It is a private Christian college and quite expensive. I have been able to work part-time during summers and vacations to help pay for my expenses. My mom has helped to put all four of her children (myself and three siblings) through college. She has responded to many late-night phone calls. She delivers much-needed items to me when I am unable to get away from my rural college schedule. I've never had the best and newest material items, but I have never gone without my basic needs being met. I know she has given up sleep and things for herself to ensure my siblings and I have what we need to succeed in our daily lives. My mom supports me in all ways possible. I want to thank you for taking the time to read about my mom and her ultimate support of my education. I would not be able to pursue and complete my degree without her support. Any and all scholarships will help me to complete my degree as a child without a father. It is all appreciated and much needed. I would love to share the news with my mom that I earned a scholarship. Blessings to you.

When a parent has ALS, it affects the entire family, and we all learned skills and coping techniques no one asked for. I was only 14 years old when my father was diagnosed with ALS, and he died just two years later. I began my high school junior year just a few days after his death and funeral. To be honest, I don't recall the first six months. I have been told that is normal, but it certainly affected my academic, athletic, and social achievements. I was also diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (in addition to dyslexia and ADD) in my senior year. With the help of tutoring and hearing aids, I finally improved my reading skills. Academics were challenging for me, and I wasn't sure I wanted to go to college, but I ended up trying it at Taylor University. My high school coaches and teachers misunderstood my change in personality and failed to consider my grief. Those years were tough; I spent all of high school dealing with ALS. My peers didn't know how to talk to me, and there were many awkward situations. Instead of social activities as a teenager, I was learning how to use a suction machine and care for my dad. It makes for a strange experience that few could even begin to understand. I am so thankful for my experiences at TU. Not many people know what I have endured with my own learning disabilities and my father's ALS, and that is by my own choice. I like blending in and not having to explain the process to everyone. My good friends know and understand; they are supportive on my bad days. It has been better for me to start with a fresh slate, and I do share about ALS when appropriate in a class or setting, but it no longer defines me. With learning accommodations and improved skills, I was so happy to have made the Dean's List last fall. I went on a mission trip last year with my peers and decided to focus on making my career not just social work but on Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I can empathize with others who have lost parents, and it has made me a stronger person. I was forced to grow up quickly, and it started rough, but now that I am finishing up my 2nd year of college, I am thankful to have adult skills of independence and strength. I have so much more to learn in the next two years of college. Next year, I hope to study abroad and learn even more about the world and those affected by loss, trauma, and violence as I work to help in orphanages and the foster system. ALS cost my family financially. My siblings and I work as much as possible during college to earn money. I have applied for many scholarships in hopes of completing my education without relying on my mom and her limited income. My own experiences are helping to mold me into a good employee working with children who need help thriving and surviving. I had to dig deep to overcome grief and learn the skills I would need to go to college. ALS took my high school years away from me. I challenged myself to not give up and to overcome the situation. I wanted ALS to become a part of my story and use it to help others. Thank you for reading about my ALS story. Any financial help would be appreciated and helpful to me. ALS is a tough one.

As I work to help disadvantaged children with a major in Orphans/Vulnerable Children/OVC (social work) and a minor in psychology, I will be able to help all children thrive and overcome many challenges. As a teenager who has personally struggled with learning disabilities and suffered the loss of my father, I have become a caring and empathic individual. I want to work to help children who have suffered loss and could potentially be gifted intellectually but are misunderstood and suffering through social-emotional challenges due to trauma and violence. My parents homeschooled me and my three siblings for a total of sixteen years. I began taking one class at the local public high school each year from junior high through high school. I also did dual credit courses as a high school junior and senior at a local private Christian university. I did not like the social life I observed in these environments. I witnessed many students being bullied and picked on. I became friends with several of these students, and as a person who was different due to my own learning disabilities, I tried to just stay out of the drama. I was only there for one class, so I didn't really know everyone; but I saw what kids could do and say. I am so thankful my parents did not force me to experience that every day and all day. I learned to value each person for their strengths and not to focus on their weaknesses. We are all unique, and my heart hurt for my peers that had to be there all day. As a student with learning disabilities, I didn't learn to read until high school and entering college. After my father's death, my Mom knew something was wrong with my learning, but she also knew I had the potential. She is a teacher and, with the help of a university professor, discovered my older sister was not behind in elementary school as suspected but doubly gifted and bored. She allowed her to skip the sixth grade and challenged her to not settle on the world's view but to do what God intended. She is now applying to graduate schools to become an Occupational Therapist. I am so thankful I have learned by watching my sister and mother, who didn't put limits on us at home. These experiences are shaping me to be empathetic and supportive of all children, including those with intellectual needs as gifted. Last year, I went on a mission trip to Honduras. Seeing those children, who have so little, but they have the same social-emotional needs as American children, and they need people like me to help them find thriving and healthy homes. Next year, I hope to do a study abroad in Ireland and learn even more about children who suffer from violence, trauma, and live in orphanages. I am positive there are children in these situations that have not yet begun to learn using their gifted strengths. I am looking forward to being a part of their lives. The OVC major is not offered in many colleges, so I am pleased Taylor University can meet my desire to specialize in helping Orphans and Vulnerable children, not just a broad social work major. I love my choice and love my home at Taylor University. It comes with a higher expense, but I want to focus on the learning they are providing me and apply to as many scholarships to help me. Any and all financial assistance is helpful and appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my dreams to support the needs of gifted children that are often overlooked during their life challenges.

As a college sophomore this year, I am working my way through my chosen major of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I began college as a social work major and I decided to pinpoint more towards Orphans and Vulnerable Children after going to Honduras last Spring on a mission trip. It was an eye-opening experience. I believe I can help children facing tremendous challenges after having overcome adversity myself. My heart and passion are to ease the lives of others, and empathy shines in my life. I was diagnosed with several learning disabilities making academics more difficult for me than the average student. I have worked hard to use accommodations and learn to use my strengths to overcome my weaknesses and succeed in my education. It has not been easy and many teachers doubted my ability in high school. I also lost my father to ALS just before beginning my high school junior year. As a teenager overcome with grief, daily life was not easy. There were many days that I was just on autopilot and unable to contribute to classes, social situations, or my athletic team. In high school and college, I have worked with tutors to improve my reading skills and to pass several classes. The audiologist has fitted me with hearing aids and given me some auditory training to help my brain to better receive messages, instructions, and lectures. It was a relief to get diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder, in addition to the previous diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia. I was trying my best but needed some extra help to accomplish the same tasks as my peers. All of these situations have been tough for me and to be honest, some teenagers experiencing similar life events have probably given up. I have worked hard to tie the knot and hang on tight. My mother and siblings have been incredibly supportive, but at the end of the day, I have learned how to manage a life full of grief and learning disabilities. I was on the Dean's List last semester and realize that is quite an accomplishment for me. I am planning to do a study abroad in Spring 2025. This will give me more knowledge related to my field of study and provide valuable learning experiences as a young adult overcoming adversity. My skills will continue to develop and some days will be hard, but I am not giving up. My father's battle with ALS affected my family financially, in addition to all of the other issues dealing with terminal illness and death. I have learned to ask for help and I want to help others by providing support and helping them to find the resources they need to be successful. Courage and an outgoing personality have enabled me to travel and make connections that can help me. Any scholarships supporting me would be appreciated and a blessing to me as I finish my education and begin to use my life experiences to help other children. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience and my goal to give back to children facing crises and challenges.

As a college sophomore this year, I am working my way through my chosen major of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I began college as a social work major and I decided to pinpoint more towards Orphans and Vulnerable Children after going to Honduras last Spring on a mission trip. It was an eye-opening experience. I believe I can help children facing tremendous challenges after having overcome adversity myself. My heart is to ease the lives of others, and empathy shines in my life. I was diagnosed with several learning disabilities making academics more difficult for me than the average student. I have worked hard to use accommodations and learn to use my strengths to overcome my weaknesses and succeed in my education. It has not been easy and many teachers doubted my ability in high school. I also lost my father to ALS just before beginning my high school junior year. As a teenager overcome with grief, daily life was not easy. There were many days that I was just on autopilot and unable to contribute to classes, social situations, or my athletic team. In high school and college, I have worked with tutors to improve my reading skills and to pass several classes. The audiologist has fitted me with hearing aids and given me some auditory training to help my brain to better receive messages, instructions, and lectures. It was a relief to get diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder, in addition to the previous diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia. I was trying my best but needed some extra help to accomplish the same tasks as my peers. All of these situations have been tough for me and to be honest, some teenagers experiencing similar life events have probably given up. I have worked hard to tie the knot and hang on tight. My mother and siblings have been incredibly supportive, but at the end of the day, I have learned how to manage a life full of grief and learning disabilities. I was on the Dean's List last semester and realize that is quite an accomplishment for me. I am planning to do a study abroad in Spring 2025. This will give me more knowledge related to my field of study and provide valuable learning experiences as a young adult overcoming adversity. My father's battle with ALS affected my family financially, in addition to all of the other issues dealing with terminal illness and death. Any scholarships supporting me would be appreciated and a blessing to me as I finish my education and begin to use my life experiences to help other children. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience with adversity and my goal to give back to children facing crisis and challenges.

On July 28, 2020, my father lost his battle with ALS and died in our home. He was diagnosed in July 2018 and the life expectancy after diagnosis is typically 3-5 years. He fought hard but ended up dying just 2 years and 4 days after diagnosis. In those 2 years, he lost all self-help skills and became bedbound without being able to even lift a finger or talk. My mom and all of us kids (I have 3 siblings) helped to care for him around the clock for 2 years. Caregiving is challenging and he was put on hospice just before the Covid-19 pandemic closed everything down in March 2020, which meant we were on our own to minimize contact. I learned many valuable medical skills to feed him, work his breathing machine (a Trilogy, similar to a C-Pap), and his eye-gaze computer (his eye worked a mouse and this enabled him to communicate with us). Since I was a freshman in high school, I have worked and gained valuable adult life skills. Just after my father died, I was diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (which was in addition to the ADHD and dyslexia I was diagnosed with years earlier). These learning disabilities have made learning challenging, but knowing the problems did help me to get accommodations and tutors. It was a relief to know my brain just didn't work the same way as my friends, but I was intelligent and my Mom believed in me. It has been a long road for me to learn, but I work hard and add the extra time it takes for me to succeed. The audiologist said that I most likely hear and understand about every 5th word spoken. That means I must work hard to focus and use note-takers to help me fill in the lectures when I don't understand. Last year, I did get hearing aids which helped me to block out unnecessary noises. After losing my Dad at the age of 16, I learned to be more independent and mature quickly. My priorities changed and most of my friends and teachers did not understand my grief and new life without a father. Their drama and daily issues were not important to me. My Dad would be happy to know how hard I am working and succeeding as a college sophomore. I started as a social work major, but have narrowed it down to Orphans and Vulnerable Children now. I hope to use what I have learned after losing Dad to help support others in similar situations. My strengths are in listening and being empathetic toward others. I have worked with several afterschool programs (including a mission trip to Honduras) and worked with disadvantaged young students in the community. I am gaining the knowledge and skills needed to work with Orphans and Vulnerable Children. I am excited to do a study abroad next year. It will again force me outside of my comfort zone, but give me a wealth of knowledge and experience to support my goal of working with disadvantaged children. My parents were both university instructors (my dad was a pilot/flight instructor) and they taught me to be patient with others, especially those with learning disabilities and challenges outside of the classroom. I would love to help finance my education in my last 2 years with your scholarship. It would be most appreciated as finances were a challenge when my dad's disease put the family into debt. I miss my Dad every day. Thank you for your kindness and this opportunity.

I have learned early childhood development trauma affects the entire development of a young child. The consequences are often delayed growth and learning in all aspects of their life and it continues to be a factor as they grow, develop, and mature. A child may not get the best start in life after a traumatic event. They may need medical care, a home, nutritious food, consistent education, and a supportive family environment. The lack of these resources can cause negatives like illness, disease, learning disability, emotional distress, anger, or aggression. I started college as a social work major, but after a mission trip to Honduras over Spring Break I am now focusing on orphans and vulnerable children. I have worked with several afterschool programs and witnessed the traumatic effects on the students from abuse, low income, homelessness, incarceration, divorce, trafficking, and others. I am looking forward to a study abroad opportunity next year, where I plan to study in Ireland and dig deeper into trauma of all kinds and make connections with others who can help the children. I am gaining the tools I need to be successful in a great program at Taylor University. I am being pushed outside of my comfort zone and gaining valuable knowledge. To change the effects of toxic stress and trauma, a child must be given positive role modeling, better tools, and resources to master learning, as well as improved healthcare and nutrition. I see myself working with orphanages after graduation to support those experiencing trauma. My mother has worked in early childhood education for all of her adult life and thankfully, I was raised to work with her in a daycare setting. She exposed me to the positives and negatives as I assisted her for many years. I can also use what I have learned after my father died to support others. He was diagnosed with ALS when I was 14 years old and died when I was 16 years old. My childhood quickly took a turn and it became a fight for survival. Before his diagnosis, my childhood had been a good one, despite being raised in a low-income household I never felt the negatives as my parents worked hard to ensure we didn't go without the basic needs being met. ALS is hard on the family in many ways as we became caregivers and at the same time, all of our resources went to my dad's equipment and needs, leaving us in debt. I am learning to use my strengths to learn and grow in my early adulthood. I am learning to ask for help when needed for my own mental and emotional health. I believe I will be able to use my skills to help others and my own experiences have given me empathy and the ability to truly listen. I can then use my professional skills within the community to find the best resources to help the children affected by trauma. I am working hard to search for scholarships that will relieve my family of the financial burden and enable me to get a private Christian education at Taylor University. I am dedicating my life to helping children, especially orphans and vulnerable children. Thank you for reading my essay and I would be most appreciative to receive the scholarship.

After starting to study social work as a freshman at Taylor University this year, I have decided to focus on Adoption and Vulnerable Children with a minor in psychology. Children in need of adoption and those who do not have all of their basic needs meet will need help. They need social workers to find full-time reliable care for them, as well as a way to meet all of their basic needs. It takes time, energy, and connections to make it all work. As I move through the next few years of schooling, I will be given the education that I need to work with vulnerable children and adoptions. After going on a mission trip during my Spring Break in March, I have discovered a great need for care in third-world countries. I want to address those issues, while working with the children and helping to arrange for successful adoptions. I have observed several children that I came to love after international adoptions, including my cousin and friends. It will take financial help for me to complete my degree. My family experienced great loss after my dad was diagnosed in July 2018 and died from ALS in July 2020. My mom doesn't have much income, and she is helping my three siblings and me with the emotions of grief and helping us all financially as much as she can. We all work during the summers to support our education. Having lost my own father has given me even greater empathy for helping other vulnerable children. My family had support from family and friends, and we were lucky to have all of our basic needs met, allowing us time to care for my dad and grieve his death. Other young children are not as lucky. I have unique skills and understanding as I help to support others in my chosen career path. It has been challenging to finish high school and begin college without my dad. But it has made me stronger and more confident in what I can do. It has also made me more aware of the problems within our society when kids lose one or both parents. I have much to learn about my chosen career path, but I am confident that with hard work and knowledge, I will be a successful adoption social worker. Any financial help would be appreciated and helpful to me as I work to meet the needs of finishing my degree.

When I volunteer, it makes me a better person. I always learn something new from the staff and other volunteers. I love interacting with others. Most of my volunteering has been related to my church or my local church camp, so I get to help others and strengthen my faith. I also have volunteered at an after-school program with low-income kids, where I could help with homework, play games, and chat with young children. I have found it challenging at times but fun and entertaining at other times. As a teenager who has dealt with losing my father due to ALS, I found it helped me to grieve while also giving back to my community. The kids at church and church camp needed supervision, and I needed to build positive relationships with them. Life has involved climbing several mountains for myself, and it wasn't always easy to find the time to volunteer, but each time I completed the task and felt better emotionally at the end of the day. Volunteering has allowed me to be mentored and to be a mentor to others. I believe volunteering is a good way for me to share my faith and support others. It is a 2-way street and very helpful for them and me. My parents were good role models in volunteering, and I have developed a mindset that I want to continue volunteering in all walks of my life. My family has been in a financial struggle most of my life. First, my parents decided to homeschool my siblings and me, often giving up their own work hours for one of them to be home with us. This school year, my mom is helping to pay for 3 of us in college. My oldest sister graduated from college in 2020, just before our dad died after battling ALS for 2 years. ALS is a very costly disease, and we put most of our money towards his needs (remodeling the house, handicap van, customized electric wheelchair, ramps, lift chair, etc.). My mom works several part-time jobs to keep us all going, and we all work during the summers and vacations to help pay for our expenses and college. As a family that has dealt with a terminal disease and being caregivers, it has not been easy. We were the recipients of others helping us with yardwork, housework, and meals when we needed support. This scholarship would help me to relieve some of the pressure on my mom and enable me to remain in school. My priority is finishing my bachelor's degree in social work focusing on orphans and vulnerable children. Any and all financial help would be appreciated.

My mom is one of the strongest people I know. Not only has she helped to raise four kids, I am the youngest of the four, but she was the primary caregiver for my dad when he was diagnosed with ALS. ALS is a terminal disease that takes away all of your independence. Dad was diagnosed in July 2018 and died in July 2020. Mom was a rock the entire time. It was incredibly hard for her to be a caregiver 24/7 for over a year, but she didn't complain, and they continued to attend every activity we participated in. This meant lugging the handicapped van with my dad in a wheelchair everywhere. Mom was raised in a Christian home and made sure that we were taught the Bible stories, our faith in God, and morals that exhibited Christ. We have all been grieving for the last 2.5 years, but again, mom is always there for us whenever we need to talk, cry, or laugh. She continues to travel the country to be at our events. She works part-time at several jobs to keep three of us in college this year. She has shown me how to be a Christian and a young woman. I have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, and she continued to homeschool all of us. When academics got hard for me, she found ways to make it work. She never gave up on me. Last year, she helped the audiologist find that I had Auditory Processing Disorder, and she paid for my hearing aids. This has enabled me to focus more on what I hear and to learn better. My brain needed to be retrained, and she studied how to help me in my academics best to tutor me, in addition to my regular homeschool curriculum. She went way over the normal to ensure I was getting all of my needs met. She is a mentor and a wonderful mother. ALS is an expensive disease and any financial help would be appreciated for my education. It would help me and be a gift that I could give back to her after helping me so much all of my life. I want to take all I have learned and endured to work with orphans after finishing my social work degree. The skills my mom modeled for me and taught me will be useful. I am thankful God gave me a mom like her. Life has been tough for all of us, but we never gave up, and we knew God would give us a way. Thank you for reading about my mom.

As a social work major, I have decided that I want to work with orphans after I finish my degree. I have just completed my first mission trip to Honduras, and I have a new outlook on life. It was amazing to work in their after-school program and to improve the space they used in their "garden" (daycare). This culture has little money yet they are surviving and are blessed with love. In America, we have so much, yet as a child who lost a parent, it was tough to be different. My dad died from ALS when I was 16 years old (he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness when I was 14). I didn't fit the cultural norms since my dad had died. I was often overlooked, and my grief was misunderstood. I know what it is like to survive during challenging life moments. I observed the social workers that supported my family. I also have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, and academics have been tough for me. I learned to push through and dig deep. I learned to use my resources and to be a part of the village to help others. My faith in God is the only way that I can say I made it through the last few years. It was tough, but I never gave up hope that God would provide me with a way. He opened up a door for me to go to Taylor University, and it was the perfect place for me to learn and gain my bachelor's degree. Orphans need help. They need advocates to listen to their needs and help them survive tough situations. I want to be that person. It can be a tough job, and I am willing to work as an advocate and mentor. As a college freshman, I am unsure of all that it entails, but I am willing to learn and work hard. My life has been obstacle after obstacle, so I know I can stick with it. Any financial help would be beneficial and appreciated. ALS cost my family a lot of money in equipment and care. My mom is doing her best to support my three siblings and me. This school year, three of us are in college. Finishing my degree is a priority, and I would love the extra help as I work to finish and go to work with orphans.

My father was diagnosed with ALS in July 2018 and died in July 2020. This school year, my mom is helping to pay for me and 2 of my siblings to attend college. My oldest sister graduated in 2020 with her college degree. My brother will finish his degree this year. This still leaves 2 kids in college next year for my mom. During my dad's 2 year battle with ALS, my parents spent their money and took out loans to pay for my dad's much-needed supplies (handicap van, wheelchair, remodel the house, etc.). My mom is working part-time at several different jobs right now. Each summer, my siblings and I work to save money for school. I want to work with orphans after I finish my bachelor's degree (my major is social work). It takes me more time than the average student to study due to learning disabilities (dyslexia, ADD, and Auditory Processing Disorder). I have to work hard, and it is a priority for me, but I need some help. I use Accommodations and Tutors at school, but this also means I cannot work during school. The extra scholarship money would help my family to ease their burden, and I could still work on my education. My family gave everything to help my dad, and now we are all trying to finish our education to get a good start on our adult lives. My mom is spread thin with all of her responsibilities and 4 kids in a short time in college. ALS cost my family loads of income. My dad would be so happy to know I am trying my best despite challenging academics to help others, especially orphans. I know what it is like to be without my dad, and I want to support others as they find ways to succeed despite rough starts in life like me. My dad's ALS and death changed me (I was only 16 years old when he died). I know I can use the trauma I experienced and survived to help others. But I also know that I need financial help. Any extra funds would be used to pay for my tuition and enable me to push onward and to finish my college education. ALS is a terrible disease, and it takes so much from families. As the youngest child in the family, I know how to value every little thing as I was raised with little money. My parents prioritized experiences and togetherness versus new items and eating out. I can pass along these characteristics as I advocate for orphans. If I can help others after losing my parent, it would make my experience valuable. I would appreciate the opportunity to be one of your chosen scholarship winners. It would be a blessing to my family and me.