Hello! I'm Elisabeth Henrich, a 19-year-old rising freshman at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Through my years of balancing the demands of practice, competitions, and commitment to having good grades I've learned that being a working student requires a unique blend of dedication, planning, and resilience. As a student athlete I've had to navigate practices, personal commitments, and being a reliable captain for my teammates. However I have also learned that there is more to life than what is inside the arena or on a football field, even more than what is seen and learned in a classroom. Through these discoveries, I grew aspirations to work in a unique and creative field where I will be empowered and given the opportunity to help others achieve their dreams. This is where I enter the world of publishing. A place where words have the power to transcend boundaries, inspire change, and spark imagination. I see a path where I am able to continue my path of being an athlete and take my dedication and patience I have learned from my sports to my career, a place where I can uplift individuals from all places in life. My choice to pursue a career in the publishing industry stems from my own experience of watching my older sister become a published author. After seeing her hard work and effort, time and money, years of discussing and guidance with her own advisor, it made me realize that was what I wanted to do in life. I have the belief that our experiences, perspectives, and passions can serve as a catalyst for change. If I can use my passion and experiences to help amplify others voices, champion causes, build a space where other individuals can find solace, courage, and inspiration to pursue their dreams then that's what I'm going to do. Whether I'll help someone create a fictional story, or acquire and promote diverse voices whom advocate for social justice initiatives, or even lead projects that aim for inclusion and representation through a narrated story I will be committed to using my position for meaningful change within and beyond the world of literature. Moreover, as briefly mentioned before my journey as a student athlete has equipped me with a set of skills and attributes that are valuable in the realm of publishing. The discipline and perseverance needed for the equine world will be equally applicable in the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of media and literature. Whether it'll be a matter of meeting tight deadlines or juggling multiple projects simultaneously I'll have learned the skills needed to posses the tenacity and adaptability required to thrive in an industry that demands creativity and pragmatism. In conclusion, the things I have learned through being a student athlete serves as my own testament in shaping a path of personal fulfillment and giving me the drive to have a positive impact. Lastly, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that would help me further my education by lightening the financial strain which college presents itself with. Thank you for your time!

First, I am so honored to be able to apply for this scholarship and hope to share how my coach impacted my life in the way David G. Sutton impacted his athletes and helped them grow the same way my coach instilled in me the traits which he embodied. A coach can truly make or break an athletes passion for their sport. In my circumstance, I was blessed. I met my cheerleading coach the end of my freshman year of high school during try-outs. You might be wondering why I waited until after my first year of high school to join the team and I'll tell you why. I was a transfer student from a small, private, christian school nearby and by the end of summer before my ninth-grade year began I convinced my parents to let me transfer to our local public school, however I was slightly disappointed I would not be able to cheer my first year as try-outs were in the spring and I transferred the end of summer. However this ended up being a blessing in disguise. When I arrived to the first day of try-outs at the end of ninth grade, I was stunned to only see nine other girls there. From what I had heard the cheerleading team was a popular team and had a winning competition team, and that was not what I saw when I arrived. When our coach saw who turned up the first day, her face flashed with sadness yet she put on a smile and welcomed all of us. I later discovered that she had retired after the 2018-2019 season and they had brought in two new coaches for the 2019-2020 season, however these coaches were extremely toxic and destroyed the team. Nobody wanted to come back for the 2020-2021 even when they found out our old coach had come back as those two coaches destroyed their love and passion for the sport. Our coach cared so much she came out of retirement and spent countless hours in an attempt to rebuild the team that had been lost. On a more personal level, she helped me grow not only as an athlete but as a person. I was extremely nervous my first year and very quiet as I did not know many people having been a transfer student, furthermore most of the girls on the team were way above my level of cheer as they had competition experience. However, my coach was kind yet fierce, and over the course of the season she pushed me as an athlete and always got me to try new things, to open my mind to do things I would have never dreamed of before I met her and by junior year I was volunteering to try new stunts and teach cheers to the underclassmen. Additionally, she pushed me as a person. The girl who was once quiet and afraid to speak her mind would now go out and ask people to join the team, volunteer to host practices and meetings, and try out for the captain position her senior year and grew enough to achieve that position. I am so very thankful for my coach and hope to continue helping others whether its through encouragement to try out for a new team, coach a riding lesson, help a young child grow over a fear after falling, or simply be a person whom they can confide in and go to for advice, I'm going to strive to help others the way my coach and David G. Sutton did.

This could be a controversial answer, but I would have everyone read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This was the most difficult book I have ever read in the emotional aspect as a result of some of the contents within the novel as there are very sensitive topics all throughout the story, however they are carefully chosen and smoothly blended within the chapters they are part of and are not unnecessary. In fact, they sharpen the novel. By this I mean the sensitive chapters only add to the meaning behind the book and are a driving force when analyzing the deeper meaning as well as why Hosseini wrote the book. While I struggled reading the novel as a result of the difficult scenes, I feel as though it was the best book my teacher selected out of all the novels we read during our AP Literature class as it was the most realistic and eye-opening out of all the stories we read and I am so very thankful that he made us read it. The novel itself is wonderfully written and a great work of art, however I would select it for the themes and deeper meaning. For instance, it brings awareness to social issues and ways of life that those of us in well-developed countries could never imagine. The issues that men and women both face within the novel are things people in America would never even think of in a million years, and I have never been more thankful for living in the conditions which I do as a result of reading the novel and seeing how different life could be with just a few changing circumstances. The Kite Runner is an eye-opening literary masterpiece that everyone should have the chance to read at least once in their life.

Title: Prioritizing Mental Health as a Springboard for Success As a rising college freshman majoring in English and Literature at the Indiana University Of Pennsylvania, I wholeheartedly believe in the cardinality of mental health in shaping individuals' realities and their experience of life. Mental health is a compelling matter that should frequently feature in our public and private conversations. The multilayered effects of mental health, both subtle and profound, cloak our lives, touching every sphere from our personal well-being to academic performance. The impact can be detrimental with lasting effects if left unrecognized and untreated. An affinity for Literature has inculcated in me a deeper understanding of the human psyche, enhancing my comprehension of mental health issues. I recall authors like Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf who battled their mental health struggles, demonstrating its inescapable grip and influence. Appreciating their works and imbuing the underlying theme of mental wellness has assisted in shaping my understanding and founding my belief on the importance of mental health. In my pursuit of education, where stress factors vary from academic pressure to adapting to new environments, sound mental health has played an instrumental role. To me, maintaining mental wellness is not an isolated effort but a comprehensive blend of work-life balance, self-care, and recognition of distress indications. Balancing my academic rigor with leisure activities has been critical in keeping my mind healthy. I partake in activities that uplift my spirits and provide relief from potential stress, such as immersing myself in the tranquility of nature, indulging in reading diverse genres, and spending congenial times with my friends. This balance serves as my personal coping mechanism during high-stress episodes like finals or significant life transitions that dwindle on my mental strength. Rigorous academic demand, augmented by my majors in English and Literature, requires a high cognitive capacity. Maintaining sound mental health mitigates exhaustion, sustains intellectual vigor, and promotes a robust learning environment. It also enhances my ability to help others, aiding my friends and peers as they grapple with their own academic or personal struggles. I have observed a direct correlation between my mental well-being and my grade point average (3.2), affirming that maintaining mental wellness has a significant impact on academic success. Exploring and understanding human emotions and interactions within literature has brought forth a nurturing perspective towards mental health. It affected my understanding and taught me that just like the heroes in our books, we too, are humans, sometimes prone to stress and anxiety, but always worthy of care, love, and understanding. Mental health importance to me is imprinted not only in my personal experiences, but is intertwined with my academic journey too. It’s significance if not underscored, could leave us stripped of happiness, our potential unexplored, and our lives unfulfilled. I strongly affirm that we must prioritize mental wellness as our basic right, a pillar in the creation of wholesome, successful individuals, and a society that thrives in all it's aspects. In the pursuit of my degree and life beyond, I pledge to continue prioritizing my mental health and spreading awareness about its significance. This scholarship award would assist me in staying resolute in my mission towards cultivating a mentally healthy society.

I have been the new kid twice in my years in school. I first went from being homeschooled up until 6th grade to going to a small, private school with only 200 kids total from preschool to twelfth grade. Luckily, having been in a small school that small I was able to make friends quickly and joining new clubs and activities was not that intimidating due to the small size and everybody knowing everyone. Unfortunately, during my 8th-grade year, COVID-19 began and we went online. Personally, I am not cut out for online learning and no matter how hard I tried my grades began to struggle, not drastically but there was a change. Being at a small private school they did not have enough funds to help support kids learning virtually and with the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming school year my parents looked into enrolling me somewhere that would be more suited to my learning needs. This led to me being enrolled in my local public school my freshman year which was still during the height of COVID-19. Sports and clubs were still unable to meet so the only way to meet new kids was in class, which was also split in half as we followed the hybrid format as many schools were during this time. Although transferring to a new school during a difficult period was overwhelming, it was a blessing in disguise. Struggling to learn online and having my grades not be the best pushed me to work harder throughout the rest of my time in high school, even today during my senior year as I work to improve my GPA in my final year. By the end of my freshman year, I had gained only a few friends and was still struggling. I had lots of anxiety every day that I was in school, and also had anxiety when thinking about school on days I was at home. I was also missing participating in sports, as I was involved in cheerleading and horseback riding. By the end of my freshman year, my close friends from my old school encouraged me to try out for the cheer team for the upcoming season, saying I would have a better chance of making more friends being involved in a sport and hoping it would also help with my anxiety. After a long talk with my parents, we decided I would sign up. The process was intimidating, and there were times I had wanted to give up and not go back, but the love for the sport and the want to be involved with a team where I could make new friends pushed me to keep going and it was one of the best choices I made. Being the new kids, our coach pushed me to be more involved and get myself out there, encouraging me to be friends with girls on the team. I also made new friends by encouraging others to join the team as we were extremely small and it was through this I met one of my lifelong best friends. Being the new kid is hard, but in my case, it taught me to push forward no matter what to reach my goals, gave me some of the best bonds I could have ever asked for, and gifted me the drive to never give up on working towards my dream of being a writer. After all, if I can make it through being a new kid, I can do anything I put my mind to.

Coming from a mid to lower-class family I was told many times to not waste my time working toward college or a "real job" as I "wouldn't be able to pay for it." When I was younger it bothered me more than it does now. I know my parents are working hard with what they have to provide for my sister and me and that is more than I could ask for I would never let those with negative opinions push me to stray from the path I want to go after. Finding ways to financially support myself is not something new to me. With sports and extracurriculars I have lots of experience in fundraising and volunteering so that I could do the things I love without putting that pressure on my parents. When asked why not make them do the work and focus on other priorities, I've said that it should not be on my parent's shoulders to give me something that is not a necessity, I should work for that myself if I care about and want to do it. I've proved to myself that even in doubt I can push myself to achieve my goals and provide for myself, having been a varsity cheerleader for three years and captain for one with my parents never having to spend a dime through my days spent fundraising to pay for all the gear that was needed. It has been the same way as an equestrian. Whenever my barn goes to a show that I am invited to, I spend extra hours at the barn working and volunteering to pay for my spot. Now that I've been accepted to my top school I've been looking and researching scholarships and loan options so my parents don't feel bad about not being able to pay for me to go to school. Winning this scholarship would help to open a door for my future and bless my parents in a way that I cannot do by myself. No matter how nervous I am that I will not win enough money to cover schooling, I am not going to back out. This is something I truly want to do for my future career where I may have the possibility of helping others and that in itself will push me to continue pursuing a college degree. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship, as well as your time and consideration!

Truthfully, I don't have many goals set for myself in the writing aspect. I used to write often as I had endless amounts of time as opposed to recently. With my dad being diagnosed with multiple medical conditions, and my mom and sister at work to pay our bills, I have fully dedicated myself to keeping my grades up as well as going through the college process by myself. I would love nothing more than to be able to write freely once more but my extra time outside of school and extracurriculars is dedicated to searching for tuition help and scholarships and in the few moments I have to myself I read other authors' work. I suppose you could say my one goal as a writer is to get back into the swing of things, to free up some time and let the words flow out with no end. To be honest, with being accepted to my top school early on I am hoping that it will give me the time to start writing a little on the side again, even if it was just with short poems or short stories. A second goal one could say I set for myself is not as a writer but as someone who is working towards a job in the publishing industry. Having watched my sister go through the publishing process to get her book out on store shelves and seeing the different stages that her book went through, inspired me to become one of the people who helped others the way that they helped her. For a short story that I believe everyone should read I would have to go with "The Moonlit Road". To be honest the only reason I stumbled upon this story was because it was a reading assignment given to my AP Literature class. It was such a good short story and the way it was written was such a unique way format-wise I was truly intrigued. Seeing as it was an AP Lit assignment, we were given the opportunity to create a forensics board to help us dive deeper into the story and form our own opinions on the truth of the story while working with other students. Not only was it fun but it was a really good story to debate on and that is part of why I believe many people should read it, not just because it's a "good story" or "fun" but because it can form bonds or even acquaintances if you begin to debate or discuss the story with others and I believe that any story which can bring people together in a good manner as opposed to a negative manner is a story worth reading any day. Overall, I hope to someday be a part of a team that sends stories such as "The Moonlit Road" into the world for others to enjoy and possibly dive deeper into it just as my classmates and I did the last month with this one.