In small towns like Newton and Hickory, North Carolina, community is not just a word—it’s a feeling. It’s waving to neighbors even if you don’t know their names. It’s knowing which church lot has the best barbecue fundraiser. And for me, it’s the memory of one of my favorite local events: the Hickory Christmas Parade. What started as a simple outing with my family turned into something much bigger—a moment where I realized how much small-town unity can mean, and how events like this shape how we care for each other. I remember standing on the curb, bundled up in a scarf and gloves, watching the floats roll by under strings of twinkling lights. Local bands played. Firetrucks passed with kids waving out the windows. High schoolers from nearby schools tossed candy to the crowd, and even though it was cold, the street felt warm. Not just from the lights or the cider stands, but from the way people came together, no matter their background or differences. For one night, everyone belonged. Everyone had a place. That event was more than a holiday tradition. It was a reminder that joy can be shared, that the people around you are more than strangers passing by. I’ve been to bigger cities, seen grander productions—but nothing compares to the feeling of belonging that comes from seeing your community celebrate itself with pride and heart. The Hickory Christmas Parade made me feel connected, and connection is something many of us are starving for in the world right now. But while the parade shows what’s beautiful about Hickory and Newton, it also makes me think about what we’re still missing. I’d love to see more events like that—moments of gathering and celebration—but focused around youth expression and creativity. Not everyone gets to be in the marching band or on the float. What about the young poets, the quiet kids, the artists who work in sketchbooks more than spotlights? I’d love to see a community storytelling or local youth writers’ event come to Hickory or Newton. Something where teenagers and young adults can share their voices, their experiences, and their hopes. I’ve written and published books myself, and I know how life-changing it can be to feel heard. Giving young people a stage—whether it’s for spoken word, short stories, or personal essays—could not only empower individuals, but deepen the empathy and understanding within the community as a whole. The parade reminded me of what it feels like to be part of something. But it also reminded me how powerful it can be when people come together not just to watch, but to create. I hope to help make that happen one day in Newton. And I hope that through writing, leadership, and involvement, I can bring the kind of energy to my community that builds bridges, not barriers. We don’t need perfect streets or massive stages to make an impact. We just need people who care. I plan to be one of them.

I’ve spent most of my life learning how to speak up. Not in the loudest room, but in the quietest moments—the ones where your voice shakes, where no one else volunteers to go first, where the silence feels heavier than the truth. Those are the spaces I’ve learned to step into, not because it’s easy, but because it matters. And that instinct to speak, to write, to advocate, is what’s shaping my life and career. I am a first-generation college student from North Carolina, and I plan to major in Political Science and Philosophy before attending law school. I want to become a lawyer who works in youth advocacy, educational equity, and mental health policy. My goal is to challenge the systems that leave vulnerable people behind and to build better ones in their place. I don’t just want to work in the legal system—I want to help reimagine it. That vision comes from lived experience. I grew up surrounded by instability, unanswered questions, and the kind of silence that makes you grow up fast. I’ve battled depression, anxiety, and ADHD. School wasn’t always easy, and neither was life at home. But through it all, I never stopped believing in the power of words. Writing became the first way I fought back. Before I turned eighteen, I published two books, including a memoir. I didn’t write them because everything was perfect. I wrote them because everything wasn’t—and I knew I wasn’t the only one. That experience showed me what impact really means. It’s not always a headline or a big moment. Sometimes it’s just one person feeling less alone because you said something honest. Sometimes it’s one student realizing they can make it through, because you did. That’s the kind of difference I want to make—not through perfection, but through persistence. In college, I want to study not just to earn a degree, but to become someone who understands how power works, how policy is written, and how justice can be more than a word. I want to use what I learn to create change, to protect people who feel unprotected, and to help young people like me find their voice before the world convinces them to stay quiet. This scholarship would help me continue walking the path I’ve already started. I’ve come this far with determination, resourcefulness, and support from the people who believed in me when I didn’t yet believe in myself. I want to use that same energy to pour into others. To pay it forward. To do the hard work that builds real, lasting change. My dream is not just to succeed. My dream is to leave doors open behind me. I want my story to remind someone else that their beginning doesn’t define their end. And I want my career to reflect the values that got me here: honesty, courage, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to be heard.

There was a time when getting out of bed felt impossible. The morning alarm would go off, and I would stare at the ceiling, overwhelmed by the weight of a day I hadn’t even started. It wasn’t laziness or lack of ambition. It was depression. It was anxiety. It was ADHD. And it made everyday life feel like a battle I had to fight alone. For a long time, I didn’t have the words for what I was experiencing. I just knew that I felt different. School was overwhelming. Concentrating in class was like trying to hold water in my hands. Deadlines came and went, and even when I cared deeply, I struggled to keep up. I was forgetful, scattered, exhausted, and ashamed. I watched classmates breeze through assignments that took me twice the energy to finish. I constantly wondered why everything felt harder for me than it seemed to be for everyone else. It wasn’t until I started learning about mental health that I began to make sense of what was happening. I realized that depression could wear the face of numbness. That anxiety could be quiet and invisible. That ADHD wasn’t just hyperactivity—it was misfiring thoughts, disorganization, and mental noise I couldn’t turn off. Naming these things gave me power. It didn’t make them disappear, but it gave me a starting point. And from there, I began to rebuild. Perseverance, for me, has meant showing up even when my brain tells me I can’t. It has meant finding new strategies to stay organized, learning how to be kind to myself when I fall behind, and choosing to keep trying, even when the progress feels slow. It means accepting that some days will be harder than others and that rest is not failure. Most importantly, it has meant continuing to dream. Continuing to want something bigger for my life than just survival. I’ve used writing as both a coping mechanism and a way to connect with others who are silently struggling. I’ve published two books, including a memoir, that deal openly with mental health, grief, and resilience. Sharing my story has created space for others to share theirs. I’ve had readers reach out to tell me that my words helped them feel less alone. That kind of impact matters more to me than any GPA ever could. Mental health challenges have shaped every part of who I am. They’ve taught me patience, empathy, and strength. They’ve made me more aware of the invisible battles others are fighting. And they’ve inspired my future. I plan to study Political Science and Philosophy in college, then attend law school. I want to advocate for mental health reform, particularly for youth who are navigating unstable homes, broken systems, and schools that don’t always know how to support them. My experiences with mental health haven’t been easy, but they’ve made me who I am. They’ve shown me how to keep going, even when it’s hard. They’ve taught me how to turn struggle into purpose. And they’ve lit a fire in me to create change, not just for myself, but for others still searching for the words to explain how they feel. This is not just a story about what I’ve been through. It’s a story about what I plan to do next. And that, to me, is the definition of perseverance.

Empowerment is not something I was handed. It’s something I had to build for myself, one hard decision at a time. I didn’t grow up surrounded by role models who went to college, or by people who told me I could become a lawyer, a writer, or a leader. What I had instead were obstacles—complicated family dynamics, mental health struggles, and moments when I truly believed I was invisible. But in all of that silence, I found my voice. And that voice became my power. To me, empowerment means taking ownership of your story, even the parts that once made you feel ashamed or small. It means choosing to stand up, speak out, and move forward, even when no one is watching or cheering you on. It’s the quiet kind of strength—the kind that says, “I’m still here, and I’m not done yet.” That’s the kind of empowerment that has shaped my life. I began writing as a way to survive. What started as scribbled thoughts in notebooks eventually became two self-published books before I turned eighteen. I wrote a memoir called Born From the Unheard, and another work called Solitude That Speaks. In those pages, I shared my truth. I talked about mental health, loss, and the long road toward healing. I didn’t write to be praised. I wrote so that others like me could read my story and feel a little less alone. That act of writing—of turning my pain into purpose—is what empowerment looks like for me. It gave me a way to reclaim control over my life. It also allowed me to connect with others who were fighting similar battles in silence. There is something deeply powerful about telling your story and then hearing someone say, “I thought I was the only one.” That’s when you realize you’re part of something bigger. That’s when healing begins to ripple outward. Empowerment affects every choice I make now. I plan to major in Political Science and Philosophy with the goal of going to law school. I want to work in youth advocacy, juvenile justice, and mental health reform. I want to build the kind of system I wish I had when I was younger—one that protects, listens, and empowers instead of silencing and punishing. I don’t want to just survive broken systems. I want to help change them. Being empowered does not mean I never feel fear or doubt. It means I move anyway. It means I keep choosing hope over resignation, action over silence, and growth over shame. I am not waiting for someone else to give me permission to succeed. I am stepping into that power on my own, and I plan to bring others with me.

I never had a blueprint for success. I didn’t grow up hearing stories about college or careers. What I had was a lot of noise, a lot of silence, and a deep desire to make something better than what I was handed. That desire has turned into purpose. My academic and professional goals are not just dreams. They are a plan for survival, for change, and for lifting others up along the way. I plan to major in Political Science and Philosophy, and then go to law school. I want to become an attorney who works in policy reform, especially for young people who, like me, have experienced instability, systems that failed them, or environments that made education feel like a luxury instead of a right. I want to work on juvenile justice reform and educational equity, and I want to challenge the barriers that keep marginalized voices out of courtrooms, classrooms, and decision-making spaces. I don’t just want to practice law. I want to change how it’s written, how it’s used, and who it protects. But those goals didn’t come out of nowhere. They were shaped by my own experience and by the community I’ve already started to serve. I published two books before the age of eighteen: a memoir and a collection of reflections on identity, pain, and resilience. I wrote these books not for applause, but to speak to people who rarely hear their own stories told honestly. I’ve used my writing to connect with others who have faced mental health struggles, poverty, family loss, and being overlooked. Every message I receive from a reader who says, “I felt seen,” reminds me that this work matters. I have also been actively involved in supporting others through my writing, my time, and my advocacy. I’ve spoken out about the way our systems leave young people behind. I’ve helped friends navigate crisis situations, encouraged classmates to apply for college, and created spaces—online and offline—where people can be honest about what they’re going through. Giving back doesn’t always look like a food drive or a nonprofit. Sometimes it looks like being the one person who listens when no one else will. I’ve tried to be that person as often as I can. Serving my community has shown me that even small actions can create a ripple effect. When one person stands up, others feel like they can too. That’s what inspires me to keep going. I believe the world doesn’t change because one person does everything. It changes because enough people do something. I plan to keep doing something, every day, for the rest of my life. The world doesn’t need perfect people. It needs people who care enough to act. That’s what I want to be. That’s what I’m already trying to be. And with the support of this scholarship, I will continue to grow into the kind of leader and advocate my community deserves.

When I was sixteen, I stood before a judge and explained why I could not live at home anymore. There were no lawyers beside me. No adult spoke on my behalf. Just me, an underage girl from North Carolina, trying to convince the court that my safety mattered. That moment shaped me, not just because of what I endured, but because of what I decided to do afterward. I turned my experience into something that could help others. Before I turned eighteen, I published two books: a memoir called Born From the Unheard and a personal reflection titled Solitude That Speaks. These were more than stories. They were self-initiated projects born out of a need to speak for young people who feel invisible. I wrote for the kids who are overlooked in family court, dismissed in classrooms, and ignored at home. I wrote for the ones who grow up fast and stay quiet because no one ever asks them what they need. My books dive into topics like mental illness, addiction, loss, and trauma. I did not write them to be inspirational. I wrote them to be honest. Because honesty is what underserved communities deserve. We are not statistics. We are not broken. We are survivors of systems that were never designed to support us. Through my writing, I have built a small but powerful community. Readers have reached out to tell me my words made them feel seen for the first time. That kind of connection is what keeps me going. But I did not stop at the page. I have used my platform to talk openly about the failures of the juvenile justice system, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the cycles of poverty that trap families for generations. As a first-generation college student, I am studying Political Science and Philosophy because I want to turn my lived experience into policy reform. I want to attend law school and advocate for youth who are forced to fight alone, like I once did. Everything I have built so far has been on my own initiative. I did not have a team, a foundation, or a safety net. What I had was a story, a voice, and the will to make something out of what I went through. Storytelling has become my form of activism. It is how I advocate, connect, and push for change. I believe in using truth as a tool, even when it is uncomfortable. This scholarship would not just support my education. It would support the continuation of a mission I began as a teenager, when I refused to stay silent about what mattered. I am not trying to be perfect. I am trying to be useful. And I will continue working to ensure that others who feel unheard can find a voice through mine.

I was sixteen when I first stood in front of a judge. There was no lawyer sitting beside me the first time. No advocate helping me explain the situation. Just me, in a room meant for adults, trying to convince a court that I was in danger where I lived. That moment changed me—but learning about a legal case called In re Gault helped me understand I wasn’t alone. Before reading about that 1967 Supreme Court case, I didn’t realize how often kids are failed by the justice system. In re Gault was about a fifteen-year-old boy named Gerald Gault, who was arrested in Arizona for making an allegedly obscene phone call. He was taken from his home without notice to his parents, never formally charged, and was sentenced to six years in a juvenile facility without legal counsel, a trial, or the right to appeal. Had he been an adult, the maximum sentence would have been a $50 fine. But because he was a child, the system treated him like he didn’t matter. This case changed my view of the law forever. I had always thought of the justice system as something solid and fair—maybe flawed, but dependable. After learning about In re Gault, I realized how wrong that assumption was, especially for marginalized youth. The Supreme Court’s decision in the case was a turning point: they ruled that juveniles have the right to legal counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to due process. It was a landmark moment, but it also made me angry. Angry that it had to go to the highest court in the country for people to admit that kids deserve basic legal protections. It made me think about my own case, where I had to advocate for myself in court because there was no one else to do it. I had to prove that staying in my home was unsafe because of years of instability, addiction, and untreated mental illness in my family. I had no legal training, no representation, and no guidance. I just had my voice. And thankfully, it was heard. But In re Gault showed me how many kids aren’t so lucky. That case didn’t just change my perspective—it helped define my purpose. I plan to study Political Science and Philosophy, attend law school, and become an attorney who advocates for children and youth who fall through the cracks. I want to write policy that fixes what cases like In re Gault exposed: that our systems only protect people when we force them to. I believe legal reform starts with stories like Gerald’s—and like mine. Justice doesn’t happen automatically. It has to be demanded, especially for those who are too young, too poor, or too scared to demand it for themselves. That’s why I want to become a lawyer. Not just to interpret the law, but to fight for the people the law forgets.

I don’t remember the first time I realized I wanted to become a lawyer, but I do remember the first time I needed one. I was sixteen, sitting across from a judge, terrified, trying to explain why I could no longer safely live in the only home I had ever known. There was no lawyer there to help me. Not then. I got through that moment, but I never forgot the silence. The lack of advocacy. The way the system expected me to navigate a legal maze without a map. That experience planted something in me. Not just ambition, but purpose. My interest in legislative and policy work is rooted in lived experience. I have watched how gaps in the system swallow people whole. My brother suffers from schizophrenia and addiction. My biological parents were absent from my life. My guardian father passed away when I was young, and my guardian mother never finished high school. I had to leave her house before I turned eighteen because of the legal chaos surrounding our family. I have seen firsthand how poverty, mental illness, and instability intersect, and how our systems often respond with red tape instead of reform. That is why I am majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. I plan to attend law school after undergrad, with the goal of working in state-level policy reform. I am especially focused on juvenile justice, mental health advocacy, and access to education for marginalized youth. State policy shapes daily life. It determines who qualifies for Medicaid, who gets diverted to treatment instead of prison, and whether students have access to safe schools or are swallowed by the school-to-prison pipeline. A current policy issue I care deeply about is the treatment of youth in foster care and juvenile systems. Too often, these systems fail to distinguish between punishment and protection. I believe civil discourse, actual conversations where people listen and not just speak, is the missing key. Polarization and political posturing do not protect vulnerable children. Real change happens when opposing sides come together to ask what is best for the human being at the center of this policy. To me, the law is not just about rules. It is about people. That is why I write. I have published two books before turning eighteen, both centered around personal experience, emotional honesty, and resilience. Writing taught me that stories move people more than statistics ever will. I plan to use both stories and statistics to craft a career rooted in policy, driven by empathy, and sharpened by discipline. I want to work in government because I have lived on the margins of it. I want to write legislation because I know what it is like to fall through the cracks. And I want to practice law because I remember what it felt like to need someone who understood the system and realized no one was coming. Now, I intend to be that someone for people who think there is no one.

Growing up, education wasn’t just a path forward—it was my lifeline. It was the one thing I could hold onto when everything else around me felt unstable, uncertain, and out of my control. As a low-income student from a home filled with hardship and trauma, I’ve come to see education—especially in the fields of philosophy and political science—not just as an opportunity but as a necessity. It’s the key to a future I’ve fought for, dreamed about, and built piece by piece with my own two hands. When people think of STEM, they often picture lab coats and calculators, but I see something broader. I see systems, logic, critical thinking, and the science behind the structures that shape our lives. Political science, philosophy, and law all rely on research, analysis, data, and logic. These are STEM fields that don’t always get the spotlight but are just as vital to the progress of society. Understanding how governments function, how power moves, and how ideas shape reality requires a STEM mindset—one grounded in problem-solving, strategic reasoning, and innovation. My passion for these fields doesn’t come from textbooks alone—it comes from living through injustice and deciding to do something about it. I’ve always known I was meant to use my voice. The question was how. After years of enduring instability, abuse, and neglect, I found clarity: I want to become a lawyer. I want to use the tools of political theory, logic, and law to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. One day, I hope to open my law practice—and eventually, if the stars align, sit on the Supreme Court. That dream is more than ambition. It’s my way of making sure no one else feels as powerless as I once did. But dreams, as powerful as they are, can’t grow without support. As a first-generation college student, I have no safety net, no financial cushion, and no one to guide me through this process but myself. That’s why receiving this scholarship would mean everything. It would be a step toward stability, a bridge between where I am and where I know I’m meant to be. I’m not just passionate about STEM—I’m desperate for the chance to use my education to spark change. To not just study systems but to rebuild them. And that kind of transformation starts with one thing: Opportunity. I truly do hope that I will be awarded this scholarship.