When I was a child, I struggled tremendously with reading. In turn, this made reading books a not-so-fun or exciting experience. When I was about 10 or 11 years old, I realized that there were books out there that were made into movies, which changed my world forever. I began comparing the differences between books and movies like Charlotte's Web, Babe, Alice and Wonderland, and so many more. If it wasn't for the concept of book-to-film adaption, I don't think that I would have been inspired to read. The book-to-film adaption has inspired me to read during a time when I struggled the most. I was a very shy child, so when it came to needing help in school, I got passed over. I always felt like teachers were talking over my head, but never taking the time to show me or explain to me how things worked. Watching films gave me a visual of what I was reading. I struggled to grasp and see the big picture of what I was reading. Looking back as a child, I thought language arts as a whole was my worst subject, and I can truly say that language arts is my best subject and one that I love. I couldn't live without my abilities in language arts today without those skills that were sparked by the concept of book-to-film adaption. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. My mother was diagnosed with Lymphoma and died soon after. A year before my mother died, my father died suddenly of kidney failure. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The concept of book-to-film gave me an outlet of enjoyment that was the spark to where I am today. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself to becoming who I am today. I am striving to become a counselor to reach those who are tormented by their secrets. I wish to be an inspiration and support for those who want to move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that have plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is too short to not live it, while you can. One of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later, my mother died from cancer. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is too short to not live it, while you can. One of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself to becoming who I am today. I am striving to become a counselor to reach those who are tormented by their secrets. I wish to be an inspiration and support for those who want to move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that have plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is short to not live it while you can, one of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Writing has always been an outlet for me, whether through journaling, writing poetry, or writing a fun, imaginative story to illustrate. I began exploring and writing children's books in my late twenties. I love to write children's short stories, picture books, and chapter books. My children are what inspire me to write. I love how broad and flexible writing is in interpretation and inspiration. I draw my inspiration from my children, my cats, experiences, and the world around me. Writing is something more than just something to do, it is a part of who I am. There is never a bad time to write. I write when I am happy, I write when I am sad. It brings me clarity in a time of chaos or confusion. Writing is a part of who I am. Growing up was a journey within itself to becoming who I am today. I am striving to become a counselor to reach those who are tormented by life with secrets that need to be let out. I wish to be an inspiration and support for those who want to move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that have plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is short to not live it while you can, one of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is short to not live it while you can, one of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Success is never giving up, no matter what life throws at you. Success is accomplished through failures, for by one's failures, you learn and grow. Success is determined by one's own gauge; it is a look back on the life lived and seeing the hard, seeing the pain, and seeing the times of getting back up. Having a determination, that no matter what, I am going to succeed... Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is short to not live it while you can, one of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I think encouraging young people to pursue their hobbies starts with my own children. Whatever my children love to do, I want to encourage their curiosity by supplying an avenue to pursue that hobby. Hobbies are a great way to find joy, tranquility in life, and find friendships with people who like the same things.. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. I have struggled with anxiety throughout my whole life. It has truly hindered me from moving forward to pursue my career. My relationship with Jesus has transformed me into someone who can handle my anxiety. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. I chose to move in with my mother to take care of her. A couple of years later, my father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My whole life has been one huge obstacle and without Jesus, I would not be where I am today. Jesus is the reason I am still here, breathing and alive. I want to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out. So, that they can move forward in their lives without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that have plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. As I strive to become a counselor, I wish to help people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. The Lord is my strength, joy, peace, rock, and foundation; He is my everything. Through Christ, there is healing and peace from the darkness that plagues people. The Lord healed my heart and gave me a tremendous desire to help the lost and the hurting. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college, nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old, and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California, by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic who drank from the time she woke up till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt due to a car accident that left her disabled. I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. Being the first in my family to receive a college degree would mean everything. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Since I was very young growing up along the coast, Volleyball has been a love and passion of mine. Every waking moment that I wasn't attending school or working I would be playing volleyball. It was an outlet for me that allowed me to drown out my home life as a young person. I felt a sense of freedom when I played volleyball. Even as I think about playing volleyball now, it brings such joy and happiness. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through life events that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I want to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. The loss of both my parents has taught me to never give up on my dreams. Life is short to not live it while you can, one of the greatest gifts in life is helping others around you and taking time for the little things because in a second everything can change. The way I have dealt with the loss of both my parents is by spending time with God and allowing Him to take me through a process of understanding, grief, loss, and healing. God has truly helped me find happiness, self-worth, and joy. I want to be an example to my children and the people around me to never give up and never let life events hold you back from your goals in life. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Life can either tear you down or you can learn and grow from it. I choose to learn, stretch, and grow from my experiences. Thank you for your time

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate help them get past the darkness that haunts them. People who are living with non-family and family secrets; they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people who are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college nor any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce was finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. I did not graduate high school because my mom decided to homeschool me only up to the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, where I discovered that I could be more than where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure and a year later my mother died from cancer. I have seen things that have truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are tough to go through. I have a desire and passion for helping people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, My goal is to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I want my three children to have a better childhood than I did, and pursuing a higher degree will help me accomplish that. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure suddenly a year prior to my mother passing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. This Scholarship brings me that much closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a trauma counselor to help others heal and grow from their traumatic experiences. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My views on life, I would have to say, wouldn’t and couldn’t necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to becoming a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. By parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medication to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. My mother's father died when she was nine years old, causing my mother to be in and out of foster homes. Until she went to live with her mother, my grandmother. My grandmother began prostituting my mother when she was nine years old until she got pregnant with my oldest brother when she was twelve years old. My grandmother introduced my mother to alcohol in order to make her more compliant to her customers. My mother met my father when she was around 10 or 11 years old through my grandmother prostituting her. When my mother became pregnant with my oldest brother, my grandmother kicked her out of the house, and told her to go live with my dad. My dad was thirty-two years old, living with his mother, and married with one daughter when my mother came knocking at his door. When I went to live with my mother full-time, after my father decided he didn’t want the responsibility to take care of my two brothers and I, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child through family and conjugal visits. Growing up was hard living in a house filled with chaos. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. During my adult life I struggled with how life works, how to take care of myself, and how to deal with the life that I was given. I gave my life to the Lord when I was twenty-five years old on Valentines Day. My relationship with the Lord took time and effort on my part, but I have come to a point in my life where I can say I forgive and love my parents and my siblings. I know without my relationship with the Lord, I would not have been able to heal from my past experiences and move forward in my life. I had the chance to develop, the best relationship that I could, with both of my parents before the passed away from cancer and kidney failure. As of today, I am a mother of three children, that I am homeschool, and have been married for the past 15 years. Prior to marriage, I worked as a preschool teacher in California and was in the process of finishing my B.A. degree in Child Development. But then, I got married and we started having children. So, my focus shifted towards raising my children. I have owned my own companies, volunteered, and worked for different women shelters. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on your own. I have a passion to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision.

Mindcraft is a place where you have a limitless of opportunities to create a world that is beyond imagination. I love how you can create a world how ever you choose, with challenges or just free play. I enjoy the aspect of exploring other worlds, villages, and places. I like how you can either play with others online or you can play by yourself. I also like how you can make it challenging with zombies or villagers or you can play it on a mode where you can just create. It is just an amazing game that has encouraged me through building and creating. I like how it can bring the kid out in someone by using their imagination to explore, create, and thrive. My children love to play it as well. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure suddenly a year prior to my mother passing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My views on life, I would have to say, don't necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure suddenly a year prior to my mother passing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My views on life, I would have to say, don't necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure suddenly a year prior to my mother passing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My life growing up, I would have to say, doesn’t necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to becoming a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feelings of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for so many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. The dynamics that I was born in was the tail end of my parents’ marriage. I am the second to the youngest of nine children. The first five oldest children were for the most part already moved out, by the time I came around. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. I started college when I was 17 years old at the local community college in Stockton, California in 1998 and I graduated with my Associates Degree on May of 2000 with honors. During that time, my mother was struggling with her health, but wasn’t completely sure what was happening with her. When I was 23 years old my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. I came back home to take care of my mother and help her the best I could. As I was taking care of my mother, I was trying to finish my education in Child Development. My father died of kidney failure suddenly and my mother died almost a year later of lymphoma and leukemia. Through the time of taking care of my other I learned resilient, determination, compassion, forgiveness, and true meaning of love. Taking care of my mother as she slowing passed away was a truly hard experience to go through, but I do not regret it. I believe that it has made me who I am today. As of today, I am a mother of three wonderful children, that I am homeschooling, and I have been married for the past 15 years. I feel like I am at a point in time in my life where I would like to finish my schooling. Prior to marriage, I worked as a preschool teacher in California and was in the process of finishing my B.A. degree in Child Development. But then, I got married and we started having children. So, my focus shifted towards raising my children. During our marriage, I have owned my own companies, volunteered, and worked for different women shelters. Through my life, I have seen things that have truly resonated with me and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion to help people see the world in a different light. Giving individuals tools to manage and take control of a life that they lost, would be something that I could be proud of. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and who is focused on accomplishing my goals. I also have three children who are watching me and I want my children to not only be proud of who their mother is, but what I am planning to accomplish. When my children can see where I have come from and what I chose to do with my life, I want them to be inspired and strive to aim higher in their own lives. Thank you for your time.

I started college when I was 17 years old at the local community college in Stockton, California in 1998 and I graduated with my Associates Degree on May of 2000 with honors. During that time, my mother was struggling with her health, but wasn’t completely sure what was happening with her. When I was 23 years old my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. I came back home to take care of my mother and help her the best I could. As I was taking care of my mother, I was trying to finish my education in Child Development. My father died of kidney failure suddenly and my mother died almost a year later of lymphoma and leukemia. Through the time of taking care of my other I learned resilient, determination, compassion, forgiveness, and true meaning of love. Taking care of my mother as she slowing passed away was a truly hard experience to go through, but I do not regret it. I believe that it has made me who I am today. As of today, I am a mother of three wonderful children, that I am homeschooling, and I have been married for the past 15 years. I feel like I am at a point in time in my life where I would like to finish my schooling. Prior to marriage, I worked as a preschool teacher in California and was in the process of finishing my B.A. degree in Child Development. But then, I got married and we started having children. So, my focus shifted towards raising my children. During our marriage, I have owned my own companies, volunteered, and worked for different women shelters. Through my life, I have seen things that have truly resonated with me and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion to help people see the world in a different light. Giving individuals tools to manage and take control of a life that they lost, would be something that I could be proud of. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, I am determined, and I am someone that if I focus on a goal in mind to accomplish, I will accomplish it.

I started college when I was 17 years old at the local community college in Stockton, California in 1998 and I graduated with my Associates Degree on May of 2000 with honors. During that time, my mother was struggling with her health, but wasn’t completely sure what was happening with her. When I was 23 years old my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. I came back home to take care of my mother and help her the best I could. As I was taking care of my mother, I was trying to finish my education in Child Development. My father died of kidney failure suddenly and my mother died almost a year later of lymphoma and leukemia. Through the time of taking care of my other I learned resilient, determination, compassion, forgiveness, and true meaning of love. Taking care of my mother as she slowing passed away was a truly hard experience to go through, but I do not regret it. I believe that it has made me who I am today. As of today, I am a mother of three wonderful children, that I am homeschooling, and I have been married for the past 15 years. I feel like I am at a point in time in my life where I would like to finish my schooling. Prior to marriage, I worked as a preschool teacher in California and was in the process of finishing my B.A. degree in Child Development. But then, I got married and we started having children. So, my focus shifted towards raising my children. During our marriage, I have owned my own companies, volunteered, and worked for different women shelters. Through my life, I have seen things that have truly resonated with me and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion to help people see the world in a different light. Giving individuals tools to manage and take control of a life that they lost, would be something that I could be proud of. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused on accomplishing my goals. Thank you for your time.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My views on life, I would have to say, don't necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 22 years old and died of Lymphoma sometime later. My father died of kidney failure suddenly a year prior to my mother passing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. Thank you

On May 31, 1978, I came into this world to a family of eleven. The dynamics that I was born into was the tail end of my parents’ marriage. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. As an adult, trying to learn how to be an adult and understand who to trust and who not trust came to be very difficult. I came out the gate a very trusting and naïve person. During the time I was trying to learn about what a normal, healthy relationship looked like. I started dating and I ended up meeting someone who raped me and held me against my will for a time. Life at that moment stopped for me and all my desires to be something more than where I came from went out the door. I did end up reporting him, his dad, and his dad’s girlfriend, who were arrested and charged. I found out that he had done the same thing to other girls and some did not make it out. I gave my life to the Lord when I was twenty-five years old on Valentines Day. I know without my relationship with the Lord, I would not have been able to heal from my past experiences and move forward in my life. I am at the beginning of my journey of helping others, but I feel that with my childhood and adult experiences, I can relate to what my clients are feeling and going through. Making me a bit more intuitive on how to help them in the right direction of healing. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive influence and motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people, see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision.

On May 31, 1978, I came into this world to a family of ten. Eleven months later my younger brother was born, which made it a family of eleven. The dynamics that I was born into was the tail end of my parents’ marriage. I am the second to the youngest of nine children. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. My parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled and in a wheelchair. As an adult, trying to learn how to be an adult and understand who to trust and who not trust came to be very difficult. I came out the gate a very trusting and naïve person. During the time I was trying to learn about what a normal, healthy relationship looked like. I started dating and I ended up meeting someone who raped me and held me against my will for a time. Life at that moment stopped for me and all my desires to be something more than where I came from went out the door. I did end up reporting him, his dad, and his dad’s girlfriend, who were arrested and charged. I found out that he had done the same thing to other girls and some did not make it out. I gave my life to the Lord when I was twenty-five years old on Valentines Day. My relationship with the Lord took time and effort on my part, but I have come to a point in my life where I can say I forgive my parents and my siblings. I know without my relationship with the Lord, I would not have been able to heal from my past experiences and move forward in my life. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive influence and motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision.

Growing up was a journey within itself, to becoming who I am today. My views on life, I would have to say, don't necessarily fit in the category of the norm. But I have realized that, though most have not and could not relate to the life I have lived, there is some people out there still searching, still looking for someone that can help them get past the darkness that haunt them. There are people out there living with non-family and family secrets, that to this day they have not spoken of. As I strive to become a counselor, those are the people that I wish to reach. The people that are struggling in life with secrets that need to be let out, so that they can move forward in their life without feeling of embarrassment, grief, sadness, depression, guilt, shame, hurt, and pain that has plagued them for many years from the trauma that has left them broken and lost. I grew up in a family of 9 children, I am the second to the youngest. Neither one of my parents finished college or any of my siblings. By parents separated when I was seven years old and their divorce finalized when my two brothers and I were dropped off in the middle of the night in a parking lot in Stockton, California by my dad. He decided that he did not want the responsibility to take care of us, so he abandoned us. My mother was an alcoholic, who drank from the time she woke up, till the time she went to bed. She also took prescription medications to help with the pain that she felt, due to a car accident that left her disabled. When I went to live with my mother full-time, my mother had remarried an inmate who was charged with murder. So, I learned a lot about the prison system as a child, through family visits. I never felt comfortable as a child because I never knew who I could trust. When I was in the 7th grade, my mother decided that she needed more help at home, so she took me out of school and decided to homeschool me. I did not graduate high school. I dropped out of the 10th grade. When I was 17 years old, my mother decided to put me in college, which is where I discovered that I could be more then where I came from. I have seen things that has truly resonated with me throughout my life and I would like to be a positive motivation for individuals who have gone through things that are really tough to go through on their own. I have a passion inside of me to help people see the world in a different light. In turn, I am motivated to finish my degree in trauma counseling. I still love to teach so I think the combination with a Bachelor in Educational Studies and then my Masters in Trauma Counseling is a great fit for my educational goals. After my Masters in Trauma Counseling, I would like to pursue my Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Education and Supervision. I believe that I would be a great candidate to be considered for this scholarship because I am motivated, determined, and focused. I also have three children who are watching me and I want my children to not only be proud of who their mother is and what I plan to accomplish, but I want them to strive to aim higher in their own lives.