Being a first-generation student is rewarding, but difficult at times. It makes you a little prouder of who you are, considering you are making history in your family by going to college. It gives you a drive to do good, which has a positive impact on school performance. However, there are struggles to it as well. I have really struggled with the thought of leaving my family to go to college in another city. There is also a lot of pressure. Often, my family members have talked about their dreams of going to college and have put those dreams on me. They boast to people about what I plan to do in college, almost as if I have already done it, which does stress me out at times. My dream is to become a Psychologist and help people with their struggles in mental health. I have seen that recently, more people have struggled with mental health issues, and fewer of them are getting help. They are suffering in silence instead, and that is not good for them. I want to help them and everyone that I can, because I feel like that is my purpose in life. I am driven by my family, friends, and the people I know I will impact in the future. My family and friends have always been by my side and supported me in any way they could. They know I can achieve my goals and do anything I set my mind to, and I could never thank them enough for that. The people I will meet in the future drive me as well, because I won’t be able to meet them and help them if I don't reach my goals. When God has us cross paths, I want to be able to make a difference in the people of the future. This scholarship will help me continue my journey because it will help give me the finances I need to make that doctorate in Psychology happen. I have the determination and motivation to obtain it; all I need is the money to do so. College is very expensive, but it will give me the knowledge I need to change the world on the mental health scale.

Mental illnesses hit very close to home. A lot of my close family members struggle with mental illnesses, from agorophobia to depression, to anxiety, and even to addiction to several things like prescriptions or alcohol. I also have several friends with different mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more. There have been family members and friends who have ended up in the hospital because of their mental struggles, and some have even lost their lives to it. Not only have mental illnesses affected people close to me, but they have affected me as well. I have issues with anxiety and PTSD, and I know from personal experience that they are a challenge that is not easily dealt with, especially without proper help.Sometimes experiencing the impact of mental ilses has a negative impact on daily life. Experiencing mental illnesses can make a person feel trapped and alone, especially if they don't have the help they need. It is easy to feel like there is no escape or relief in sight, which can cause a spiral into a worse mental state or more mental issues. When it comes to being a witness, seeing loved ones in this kind of pain can cause extreme guilt and stress. They can feel like they aren't doing enough for the person, even when they have done everything they can. This can cause mental health issues for the witness as well, causing them to potentially go down the same spiral as their loved ones. I have seen what it is like for a person struggling and suffering in silence because they couldn't get help. Because of this, I want to be able to help people on the mental health scale. I want to be able to provide more people with the help they need, so they can have a better quality of life. With everything that is happening in this world, mental health is dropping, and I want to be a part of bringing it back up. I also want to bring awareness to others about mental health, because it has been severely overlooked, especially by the people who have not experienced mental illnesses. If more people understand the severe impact of mental health issues, there would be more people willing to help, which is what this world needs. To do this, I plan on getting my doctorate in Psychology, so I know everything I need to. Then, I will find a facility for psychologists to work there. While there, I will get people who need my help. I will listen to them, talk to them, and find solutions for their problems, no matter what it is. I will ensure they always have a way to contact me whenever they need me, and I will give my best efforts to everyone who needs my help, including their friends and families. If everyone got the help they needed, this world would be a better place. Nobody would need to sit there and struggle in silence anymore. Nobody would need to find solutions in prescriptions, drugs, alcohol, or violence anymore. I am going to help make that happen.