It is hard to put into words what it feels like when a single illness repeatedly targets the people you love most. Cancer hasn't just been a medical diagnosis in my family; it has felt like a relentless presence that keeps coming back to take away the people I rely on. Dealing with it has shaped my entire life, forcing me to grow up fast and find a strength I didn’t know I had. The first major blow hit during my senior year of high school. While my friends were planning for college and going to prom, my dad died of colon cancer. Losing him so young completely shattered my world and took away my biggest supporter. Not long after, my grandmother passed away from breast cancer. Losing both of them left a massive void in our family, but my mom and I leaned on each other just to keep going. Then, in 2020, it became my turn. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had to have hysterectomy. The surgery saved my life, but the emotional fallout was something no one prepares you for. At a young age, I had to grieve the loss of my fertility and process the fact that my body had changed forever. It has been a long, painful, and incredibly lonely emotional road. Honestly, I am still working every single day to mentally recover and find the person I used to be before that surgery. Just as I felt like I was finally getting my head above water, it happened again. Only last month, my mom had to have cancer removed from her breast, and she is currently going through radiation. Watching my mom—the person who helped me through my own cancer battle—go through this is heartbreaking. Once again, I am stepping into the role of caregiver while still trying to heal myself. Going through all of this has been exhausting, but it has also given me a deep sense of purpose. I know firsthand how fragile life is, which is why I am so determined to get my education. I don't take a single day or opportunity for granted anymore. This scholarship would change everything for me. Between my own medical bills and now my mom's treatments, the financial strain on our family is heavy. This support would allow me to focus on my classes instead of constantly stressing over how to pay for them. Cancer has taken so much from my family, and it took a massive piece of me, too. But by earning this degree, I am proving to myself that our story doesn't end with this disease. I am ready to build a future defined by my own achievements, not by what we’ve lost.

Purpose & Connection How does making meaningful connections serve the community; making for a better place in the world after college is starting a community-based program, where we teach under-privileged people basic computer skills, keyboarding and basic coding. This program will inspire entrepreneurship and give basic job skills to those that attend. We will also provide employment related resources like interview clothes and transportation to interviews, help with used office equipment for those seeking at-home based employment. Currently, I provide hygiene and employment haircare services for homeless people/ Sometimes if I get time to seek donations, I provide small quantities of sack lunches (such as sandwiches, fruit, chips, water). I have learned that a little goes a long way. When I started giving out haircuts to homeless, it was these huge events thrown by city or bigger organizations. At those events so many people came out, the homeless was usually the last in the line. I decided to change this by going myself alone to the homeless camps, parks, under bridge, behind stores offering a bag lunch and haircut to whoever I saw homeless. Sometimes, I would cut about 4 homeless people and just pass out whatever I had to give. This created trust with the homeless and I have even trimmed women’s hair that was homeless. I have met some wonderful homeless people, when they see me they always give me a hug, tell me great stories about themselves and their lives. Homeless people are very giving so if you are someone they trust expect a gift of some sort. I have received all types of cool things from the homeless population. I have learned a ton of weird things also. In a perfect world I would say I would build a homeless shelter but with the city and county's ordinances, no neighborhood wants a realistic homeless shelter next door to it. However, creating a program to help the homeless work for themselves doing technology-based work and tasks, they would be able to maintain some type of income qualification for government rental assisted help. I have considered a transitional living situation for those who are able to gain employment. There are many ways we can all give back and help those less fortunate then we are, this is what makes the world a better place. I have been homeless, currently I live in a motel, I still go to parks and cut homeless people hair, because I can provide enough for me daily but I remember when I couldn't and i was in those same shoes, washing up in the gas stations, nowhere to wash my hair and more. The lease I can do is be a help to at least 5 people a month regardless of where I am in life. I have keep to that for years. This Scholarship would mean the world to me just like those haircuts and bagged lunches mean to the homeless. Please make your selection for the scholarship award. Thanks for accepting this essay entry.

How I plan to make the community a better place after college is starting a community-based program, where we teach under-privileged people basic computer skills, keyboarding and basic coding. This program will inspire entrepreneurship and give basic job skills to those that attend. We will also provide employment related resources like interview clothes and transportation to interviews, help with used office equipment for those seeking at-home based employment. Currently, I provide hygiene and employment haircare services for homeless people/ Sometimes if I get time to seek donations, I provide small quantities of sack lunches (such as sandwiches, fruit, chips, water). I have learned that a little goes a long way. When I started giving out haircuts to homeless, it was these huge events thrown by city or bigger organizations. At those events so many people came out, the homeless was usually the last in the line. I decided to change this by going myself alone to the homeless camps, parks, under bridge, behind stores offering a bag lunch and haircut to whoever I saw homeless. Sometimes, I would cut about 4 homeless people and just pass out whatever I had to give. This created trust with the homeless and I have even trimmed women’s hair that was homeless. I have met some wonderful homeless people, when they see me they always give me a hug, tell me great stories about themselves and their lives. Homeless people are very giving so if you are someone they trust expect a gift of some sort. I have received all types of cool things from the homeless population. I have learned a ton of weird things also. In a perfect world I would say I would build a homeless shelter but with the city and county's ordinances, no neighborhood wants a realistic homeless shelter next door to it. However, creating a program to help the homeless work for themselves doing technology-based work and tasks, they would be able to maintain some type of income qualification for government rental assisted help. I have considered a transitional living situation for those who are able to gain employment. There are many ways we can all give back and help those less fortunate then we are, this is what makes the world a better place. I have been homeless, currently I live in a motel, I still go to parks and cut homeless people hair, because I can provide enough for me daily but I remember when I couldn't and i was in those same shoes, washing up in the gas stations, nowhere to wash my hair and more. The lease I can do is be a help to at least 5 people a month regardless of where I am in life. I have keep to that for years. This Scholarship would mean the world to me just like those haircuts and bagged lunches mean to the homeless. Please make your selection for the scholarship award. Thanks for accepting this essay entry.

How I plan to make the community a better place after college is starting a community-based program, where we teach under-privileged people basic computer skills, keyboarding and basic coding. This program will inspire entrepreneurship and give basic job skills to those that attend. We will also provide employment related resources like interview clothes and transportation to interviews, help with used office equipment for those seeking at-home based employment. Currently, I provide hygiene and employment haircare services for homeless people/ Sometimes if I get time to seek donations, I provide small quantities of sack lunches (such as sandwiches, fruit, chips, water). I have learned that a little goes a long way. When I started giving out haircuts to homeless, it was these huge events thrown by city or bigger organizations. At those events so many people came out, the homeless was usually the last in the line. I decided to change this by going myself alone to the homeless camps, parks, under bridge, behind stores offering a bag lunch and haircut to whoever I saw homeless. Sometimes, I would cut about 4 homeless people and just pass out whatever I had to give. This created trust with the homeless and I have even trimmed women’s hair that was homeless. I have met some wonderful homeless people, when they see me they always give me a hug, tell me great stories about themselves and their lives. Homeless people are very giving so if you are someone they trust expect a gift of some sort. I have received all types of cool things from the homeless population. I have learned a ton of weird things also. In a perfect world I would say I would build a homeless shelter but with the city and county's ordinances, no neighborhood wants a realistic homeless shelter next door to it. However, creating a program to help the homeless work for themselves doing technology-based work and tasks, they would be able to maintain some type of income qualification for government rental assisted help. I have considered a transitional living situation for those who are able to gain employment. There are many ways we can all give back and help those less fortunate then we are, this is what makes the world a better place. I have been homeless, currently I live in a motel, I still go to parks and cut homeless people hair, because I can provide enough for me daily but I remember when I couldn't and i was in those same shoes, washing up in the gas stations, nowhere to wash my hair and more. The lease I can do is be a help to at least 5 people a month regardless of where I am in life. I have keep to that for years. This Scholarship would mean the world to me just like those haircuts and bagged lunches mean to the homeless. Please make your selection for the scholarship award. Thanks for accepting this essay entry.