I think that the qualities i most value in myself would be, empathy, compassion, understanding, and patience. I believe this to be true because I think these are the exact morals that humans need to survive as a species. For too long we have been interested in petty squabbles such as race, nationality, gender, and economic standing. In the grand aspect of the universe, we all share a single small planet, with finite resources. We as humans are selfish in nature, and strive for more constantly. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, this baseline often manifests into negative actions. It takes each other to get through the tough things in life, and you must practice these ideas to truly comprehend the nature in which we go about in our daily life. There is already too much hatred in this world, and we must all work TOGETHER and practice these things in order to overcome said hatred. I see so much negativity every day, so i want to contribute tp what mikes life sweet, and that is each other. My personal goal for my education is to become an addiction counselor, so that i can help those who are currently struggling with the plague of substance abuse. I personally believe that these characteristics will help me in my future career. This is because in order to help those who are currently struggling, i have to practice compassion and empathy, so that I can relate to the individualism. I know I will have to be patient as well, because recovery is not only a long but also winding road. Addicts are especially hard to work with, because relapses and self-seeking are a common sight to see with someone who is currently in recovery. so patience is a must have for someone going into this field. Finally, oi believe understanding is the biggest characteristic that is required for this field. Because without truly understanding where an individual is coming from and what they are dealing with, the patient or recoveree will most likely view the counselor as judgmental, or apathetic. This can be detrimental to the recovery process, and may even cause someone to relapse in itself. With these characteristics it is my personal belief that I will excel in this field, and be able to provide the outside help these people need in order to recover. thank you for considering my application. Have a great day, -Eldon Lyda

Hello, my name is Eldon Lyda, and I come from humble roots. I have lived with my grandparents for most of my life, due to my biological parents being unable to support me. Growing up in East Texas, i have developed around a heavily drug-impacted community. At the age of 11, I was homeless for a few months, this allowed me to see how bad it can be for us. This has given me a very humble mindset with my activities in life. Many of the people I have witnessed facing adversity with drug use, or homelessness, try to dig themselves out on their own. However, this in my opinion is completely impossible. When you're in a trench this deep, 99% of the time it takes outside resources to help yourself. This was also the case with myself. It took a great AA group, and outside support to get myself sober. Without these awesome sources, i would likely be dead as we currently speak. It is through the help of others and god i was given a second chance. However the one condition for my saving was that i had to help others with the same afflictions that i personally suffered from. To give you some context, my family has an extremely long history of Depression, Anxiety, substance abuse, among other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. While I didn't realize it at the time, I have been suffering from depression since about the 5th grade. This very depression is what led to me abusing substances in order to "take the edge off". While very casual at first, i slowly got trapped in a never ending cycle of: Feeling depressed, taking a substance to combat this, only for the depression to come back stronger when the intoxication wore off. If it weren't for the addiction counselors, and therapist I visit, then I would either still be in this cycle, or not even be able to type this message. I tried to battle my addictions on my own, only for them to get worse. Or develop into something unhealthy like self-hatred. It is only through these amazing people, that i have turned a new leaf and been able to truly see the error of my ways. It is also through these people and their resources that i have realized that i want to become an addiction counselor. So that I may provide the very thing i needed. I do not want anyone to have to almost die like i did, in order to get clean. That is my personal goal. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon

Hello, my name is Eldon Lyda. I am a senior in highschool who not only struggled with substance abuse, but also comes from a long family history of substance abuse disorders. Going through these obstacles, I'm now aware of the true impact that these disorders have on peoples lives, and the grip these chemicals can obtain on human beings. I have watched many people go through the problems of substance abuse, and i have also seen several of these people actually die from this. I myself was one of these people, who not only almost succumbed to their substance abuse, but was trapped in a never ending cycle of:Feeling depressed, craving a high, using a substance to "take the edge off", only for the feelings of depression and anxiety to come back stronger once the intoxication wore off. My substance abuse almost killed me, and if it wasn't for a higher power giving me a purpose, i would not be here to write this currently. I often say addicts are often looked at as "stupid" or "idiotic", well i am here to educate people on the true nature of the internal psyche of addicts. Many of the people who are currently suffering from addiction are actually very intelligent, they see the finer more rough details of life, and its cursed and sinful nature. To cope with this, they need outside sources to deal with the anxieties of todays world. Instead of forming healthy habits to deal with these problems, they use (insert substance here) as a crutch to walk on. As mentioned above i myself was one of these individuals. I was on a path of progressive abuse, starting in my freshman year of High School. First Nicotine, then it began to progress. Alcohol, Marijuana, Pills, Ecstacy, Psychedelics, Cocaine, i did it all. This drug use came to a head one night when i consumed a high dose of LSD, and had a "bad trip" for a total of 6 consecutive days. In the beginning, to calm down, i took medications. This caused a blockage in my heart, and i ended up in the ER for three days. My blockage was found at the beginning of the third day, which was subsequently cleared. However, i still wasn't coming down. Myself, doctors, and my parents thought i had fried my brain permanently. I was taken to a mental hospital, where i was evaluated and when i eventually came down, i was released. If it were not for "divine intervention" giving me a purpose, i would have had a heart attack in the ER. That purpose given to me was to help those who are sick like i was. My substance abuse almost killed me, and i don't want anyone else to have to go through what i did in order to get clean. So my goal is to be the helping hand many of us needed at one point, and to educate the uneducated on the true nature of substance abuse disorders.

My goal in life is to become an addiction counselor. It is my personal belief that there are not enough resources for recovering addicts. We as a society have defined Drug and Alcohol use as something "Dirty" or "Only for Idiots". This is not true, it is often the most intelligent of us who succumb to addiction, because they see more harsh truths in the world we currently live in than the average joe. So to combat this they consume substances as a coping mechanism to deal with the realities of daily life. I myself was one of these people for a long time, and watched those around me including family go down these paths of substance abuse. Many people do not seek help for these problems because they are scared of the legal penalties that could be faced, and the stigma that is attached to this. I am going to become an addiction counselor to not only help those who are are literally drowning in themselves, but also to spread awareness about the ugly truth that is this plague. I have witnessed too many people succumb to their self-seeking, and I REFUSE to stand by idly any longer. I will be the support these people need to truly not only build a better foundation, but to also build a promising future for themselves. The reason i am applying for scholarships is because I must obtain at least an associate level degree in order to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. This is my purpose in life, to help those who need it. I can not only relate to their dtruggles, but also serve as an example of what they can accomplish as an individual. This is exactly what I will do to share my views, and help to craft a better tomorrow for the next generations. I will help their parents, so that they can help their kids. While possibly small in the grand aspect of the world, this is something that is accomplishable by me. It is also what i believe i will be good at, and it is my personal belief that someone as small and insignificant as myself can create a huge impact in people. I hope you will find my application acceptable, and share my vision of a better future for the people who are currently recovering. Thank you for considering my application, -Eldon Lyda

If you can't tell from my profile, I am passionate about addiction and addiction-related issues. Watching myself and many of my loved ones go through these problems, I know that I can be the person people like them and myself need to craft a better future for themselves. It is my personal belief that there aren't enough resources for all recovering addicts to get the help they need. I was once in extreme pain and suffering from my personal demons, and now that I am rehabilitated I aim to be the support that these people need. Even if i don't get the scholarship money to get the credentials required, I WILL find a way to help these people. This is my life purpose, I was given a second chance to spread awareness of what could happen, and how much better the other side is. I know this because if it was'nt for divine intervention, my substance abuse would have killed me. I do not want anyone else to have to suffer the way I did. Thank you for considering my application, -Eldon Lyda

Many of the people around me suffer from addiction. I myself was once one of these people. i am trying to lead by example, in order for my loved ones to walk the path of sobriety and serenity i am currently on. I've watched many people dig themselves into an extremely deep trench, that they believe to be inescapable. It is my job to show them it is not. Through my actions I am trying my hardest to be the "Role Model" they need, despite my age. I have seen too many individuals succumb to the plague of addiction. I refuse to sit by idly any longer. I WILL be the helping hand these people need, and I WILL pull them out of these trenches I mentioned above. Some people that I used to run with now view me as though I'm on a "high horse", for my actions, and what I preach to them daily. But that is okay, this is America after all, and they're entitled to their opinion just as much as you or me. However, it is my responsibility to speak what I perceive to be the truth, not what i think others may want to hear. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon Lyda

I admire the great Muhammed Ali. Not just because he is the greatest boxer of all time, but because despite growing up in a world where individualism was shunned and conformity was standard, he not only excelled in how he presented himself, but also preached the many of the fundamental ideas that we rest on in todays society. Those idea would consist of the following: Individualism, freedom of religion, equality for all despite race religion or economic standing, and liberalism. Ali was truly one of the first of many to go against the norm, not only challenging controversial standards but also standing up for what is right. It is my personal belief that many of us should take a page from his book, and practice these maladies in our day to day life. He was a father like figure for many, admired by thousands of young men and women across America. It is through these ideas that i attempt to conduct myself in such manners. These are some of the many founding morals instilled into myself from a young age. It is these exact morals that will guide me through life, and my future career. They will be applied in how I help others, and i hope i will soon be able to instill these morals in people who need them. There are many of us (Myself Included) who can conduct ourselves better in our day-to-day life with these ideas. That is my personal belief anyways. thank you for considering me in your application, -Eldon Lyda

Hello, my name is Eldon Lyda. I am a 17 year old high school senior who has struggled with depression since about the 5th grade. (Even though I didn't know what it was at the time) I have a family history of severe depression and anxiety that goes back many generations. Most of my family also has a prior history of substance abuse due to this depression. We have used substances to "help" with said mental health issues, all the while making these problems worse. My grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, and Father have all abused drugs and alcohol, as well as myself. For me, it was progressive, first vaping, then drinking, then smoking marijuana, taking pills, eventually psychedelics, and cocaine. To escape the horror that was my own mind, I would use one or a combination of these substances listed above. They would make me forget about my internal suffering for a little while, only for it to come back stronger when the intoxication faded away. These bad habits came to its peak, when i ingested a large amount of LSD and had a "Bad Trip" for six consecutive days. To calm down, i was given hydrocodone and Gapapentin (a stupid mistake in hindsight), These medications caused a blockage in my heart, which landed me in the ER. If the doctors had found my blockage even a couple hours later than they did, i would not be here to currently write this essay. Afterwards, i was taken to a mental hospital where i stayed for a little while, until I returned to sanity. After these experiences, i have a newfound passion for those who are suffering from Addiction, and addiction related depression. My goal is to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, so that i can be qualified to help the people who are currently struggling with the same issues i suffered from for so long. That is now my goal in life, and I will obtain this degree one way or another. I am applying for this scholarship because without outside funding, these goals would likely be non-attainable for myself. So i hope that after reading this essay, you would consider my application and help me obtain the education that is required for myself so that i may guide others through the toughest part of their life. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon

Nature is what gives us all the things we want in our daily lives, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the materials used in industry are all produced by mother nature. sadly it is being slowly poisoned by the greedy nature of human beings. I personally follow the "environmental activist" approach in my psychology. Being that i believe that we have to find environmentally friendly alternatives in the near future for our consumption. Otherwise, we wont have any nature to appreciate. I actively recycle, and often pick up trash i find in my community parks and other recreation areas. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon

I would personally say humans are the worlds biggest problems. We are flawed at nature, valuing ourselves as an individual more than us as a race of sentient beings. I think the only way to shift this train of thought would be to truly make people understand that we are a finite race, living in an unimaginably small world, with just as finite resources. Instead of squabbling over things like territory, race, politics, and personal opinion, we need to come together as homo-sapiens to ensure the future of not only our own race, but also the future of the world that we all live in. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon

Researching the market. For something to be successful in the stock market it must have a good use and good future potential. I personally think crypto, while being a volatile asset, is smart. this is because we as a world are slowly shifting towards a digital economy, which will make currencies like crypto extremely valuable.

Joy is something that is eluding to many of us as humans. As stated above, the happy feeling is often bogged down by the negative events life loves to throw at us. Growing up in east Texas, i often encountered people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. These people, including my own mother, shaped my view of life growing up. In the midst of such a depressing reality, I manage to look at the silver lining of things. Despite how hard it is sometimes, i am still blessed enough to wake up every morning, and I constantly get the chance to spend time with my friends and loved ones. This in of itself make life enjoyable. Thanks for considering me, -Eldon

Addiction is something that we have all had encounters with one way or another. Many times not even with ourselves, but with family, friends, neighbors, and other loved ones. I have personally witnessed addiction plague those close to me. Be it with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or other self-destructive behaviors, it is something we almost normalize because we experience it in our day-to-day lives. However, no matter how deep-seated the addiction it can always be broken, I have witnessed it and broke n it myself many times. The only catch is that it often takes outside sources to do so if the addiction in question is buried deep enough within ourselves. My personal goal is to pursue a career in psychology and ultimately become an addiction counselor. This is because, with my social skills, I feel as though this is something I would not only excel at, but it would give me peace of mind knowing that I can do my small part to make the world and its people in it even a tiny bit better. Anyways, I hope I will be able to meet your qualifications. Thank you, -Eldon