Recently, I have read a few books that have transformed the way I look at the world and how I view myself. As a reader, I was provided with feelings of joy, happiness, heartbreak and sadness. But what I came away with changed the way I viewed my life. I discovered what truly matters in this life and now view my life as the glass half full instead of half empty. This resulted in me finding a treasure trove of life lessons in the midst of my doing some soul-searching, I’ve also come to understand a few important lessons. For starters, the first lesson is everything happens for a reason. We are all connected in some way whether we realize it or not. There are no random events in life and all individuals and experiences are connected in some way. No matter the obstacles or outcome that comes my way, I should not give up on something I am passionate about. Before, if I had encountered a hurdle, I probably would have just given up, but I now know I am stronger than what I used to give myself credit for. I use this mindset to inspire others to not abandon something they are truly passionate about. Other lessons include sacrifice, “Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else.” I want to inspire others to achieve their dreams, even if in the midst, I have to sacrifice my own. I know that my acts of selflessness will only passed on, which will create more compassionate and giving human beings. Forgiveness is another lesson I am welcoming into my life. I have chosen forgiveness because I know I can’t pursue or build new relationships if my heart is filled with anger. "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." My goal is to motivate others to forgive more and let go of the anger they are holding onto. All human life has a purpose. Even though we may feel what we do in our life is mundane or inconsequential, our life is far from being a waste and we are far from being failures. I want others to know this as well. We all have those moments of doubt and question our self–worth. If anything these lessons have taught me, that everyday challenges I come across, only make me want to prove to myself that I can achieve my goals and also encourage others to pursue their goals as well. After all, “Dreams don’t have deadlines!”

A book I have recommended to many people is "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. It's a fascinating story about a man named Eddie who awakes in the afterlife only to learn Heaven is a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew when you were alive, and others who may have been strangers to you. I enjoyed this book because it was an easy format to understand, a short read, entertaining and it is a treasure trove of life lessons for anyone who may be doing some soul-searching. It also helped me understand a few important lessons. For starters, the first lesson is everything happens for a reason. We are all connected in some way whether we realize it or not. There are no random events in life and all individuals and experiences are connected in some way. The book then goes on to highlight other valuable lessons like sacrifice, “Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else.” Forgiveness and how we can’t pursue or build new relationships if our hearts are filled with anger. "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." The essence of love will always remain even if the person we love has physically left us. Even in a different form, love is still love. Last but not least, all human life has a purpose. Even though we may feel what we do in our life is mundane or inconsequential, our life is far from being a waste and we are far from being failures. Albom’s book transformed the way I look at the world. A beautiful story worth reading until the end. There is such meaning in this book that it will leave everyone wondering how his or her personal heaven will be. It provides readers with feelings of joy, happiness, heartbreak and sadness. But what the readers will come away with will change the way they view this life forever. It teaches you, as a reader, what truly matters in this life and lets you see life as the glass half full instead of half empty. If you haven’t already, pick up Albom’s sequel, “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven.” It’s a wonderful read as well.

My name is Ella Collins and I am currently a senior at Warsaw Community High School. I was raised by my mother who worked two jobs while she attended college full-time to earn her degree. Through seeing her commitment and determination, I have been taught with hard work, perseverance and the right mindset, I can accomplish anything. I was diagnosed with epilepsy and Tourette syndrome during the first semester of my freshman year. I was placed on a medication that often made me feel rundown and my energy levels were depleted. This diagnosis and medication brought another round of adjustments for me. I am delighted to say that even though I have had some struggles, these experiences have helped me learn that with hard work I can overcome any obstacle and what motivated me to pursue my degree while still in high school. I am currently taking five college courses and should receive my Technical Certificate in Criminal Justice this summer. I plan on majoring in Criminal Justice in the fall of 2024 while minoring in Women’s Studies. My career goal is to be a Crime Scene Investigator. I want to contribute to investigations that will collect the evidence to bring criminals to justice. I do my best work and I am happiest when it isn’t stationary. I like to be challenged in new and different ways and a career in Criminal Justice will meet those challenges. My positive impact on the world will come from protecting citizens from crime and helping victims of crime by ensuring they receive proper justice by promoting fair practices in the justice system. My ambition is to protect my community by making sure offenders are properly punished and to work with criminals to rehabilitate them. I spend a lot of time volunteering as a youth cheer coach and I want to be a positive role model for young girls, displaying to them females have a much-needed presence in a male-dominated career field. I enjoy working with the youth and I aspire to be an advocate for juveniles and participate in mentor programs to aid in rehabilitating them so they will have an opportunity in the future to become a positive member of my community and society. I also want to use my degrees to aid those who are victims of sexual assault. Many cases go unreported and I would like to create more programs across the country that will help prevent violence and educate people on steps to protect themselves from becoming a victim of sexual assault.

Growing up, I could see my some of my friends had a male presence in their lives. “That’s my dad” was the response I would get when I asked who that person was. My peers always told me “Everyone has a dad”, but I didn’t. My mom began to see how this was confusing me and stirring up mixed emotions in me. She knew it was time to have “the discussion.” As a single mom, my mother was always very protective of me, but she didn’t hide things from me. When I was old enough, she told me the story of my biological father. Remaining sensitive to an eight-year-old with her story, she informed me he left us while she was seven months pregnant with me. While she told me my friends were right, in a way, everyone has a biological father, but not everyone has a “dad.” My mom could see I was sad and a bit defeated by the news. She put my face in her hands and said, “Ella, you’re a fighter! Always remember that”! When I was old enough to know the biology of how a child comes into existence, my mom and I discussed the story with a little more depth. She said, although I was unplanned, I was never unwanted. She mentioned the necessary precautions to prevent pregnancy were taken, but I still somehow made my way into existence. She told me, “I was supposed to be.” She looked at me again and said, “Ella, you’re a fighter!” I struggled academically during the first semester in high school. My mom, who has always been my biggest support system, encouraged me to reach out for help at my school. I began working with a tutor and staying after school twice a week to maintain my good grades. I made the honor roll for the fall semester of freshman year, but I could feel I was sliding backward and having trouble focusing and finishing tests and assignments on time. During winter break of my freshman year, I had a seizure. One minute I’m at a sleepover at my friend’s house and the next minute I’m in the hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines. The next few months were a string of doctors’ visits and multiple tests. Eventually, I was told I had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Finally, we had an answer to why I was having difficulties in school. My mom was there to make sure I stayed focused on schoolwork. She reached out to the faculty and staff at the school to get me extra time to complete tests and assignments. She continuously made sure I was understanding and completing my assignments, checking the due dates and my grades online, communicating with my teachers and even printing off sheets for me to write assignments down in, along with getting the teachers to sign off on them when I turned them in. She made sure I had anything I needed when it came to school projects. She would pick up my peers and take us to the library when we had group projects to work on. If I forgot I needed supplies for a class, she would run out to get them. She never complained, she was just there for me. At first, my diagnosis was shocking and scary, but I didn’t quit. My mom wouldn’t let me. I have worked harder because of it. I won’t let it break my spirit or negatively affect me as a student. After all, I’m a fighter!

@therealellacollins

My dream version of my future self is a woman, who despite her disabilities, not only attains a successful career as a Crime Scene Investigator but becomes a role model for other girls and young women who want to pursue a career in a mostly male-dominated field.

Growing up in a single-parent household, our finances have always been limited. While my mother always saw I was provided for, we did experience financial hardships from time to time. My mother worked two jobs and put herself through school to earn her associate's degree. Even at a young age, I saw how hard she worked to make sure I didn’t go without any necessities. I wanted to help alleviate some of my mother’s financial battles. As soon as I turned fifteen, I started to work two jobs so I would be able to help my mother with some of the financial responsibilities. Although we both worked two jobs, there still was not enough to save for my college education. Seeing the struggles my mother went through has not only inspired me to attend a University to attain a four-year degree, but to pursue a career I will be enthusiastic about. I have always had a passion for helping others. This is why I want to pursue a career in Criminal Justice. Being a first-generation college graduate has the potential to make an immense impact on many lives. I want to be able to change my life and the life of my family and community for the better. To accomplish that, I need to pursue my degree. This scholarship will not only help alleviate the financial burden of college but will also allow me to take time away from work so I may focus more on my studies. Eventually, I would like to be able to not only reach my goal of being a college graduate with a Criminal Justice degree but also finally be able to give my mother the chance to go back to finish her degree as well.

It seems I have been dealing with adversity before I was even born. My biological father left my mother when she was only 7 months pregnant with me. I have been solely raised, taken care of, and provided for by my mother. Being in a one-income household put a financial strain on my mother. As long as I can remember, she has always worked a full-time and part-time jobs. As soon as I was old enough, I started working to help alleviate the financial stress. I've had 2 part-time jobs since I was 15. I was bullied from first grade until I reached high school. My mom encouraged me to join anything I might find interesting or fun to help take my mind off of the bullying and hopefully make new friends. I have been a school and all-star cheerleader, gymnast, bowler, rugby player, student council member and pageant girl. The transformation to high school still left me struggling academically during the first semester. While I did make the honor roll that first semester of high school, I could feel I was sliding backward with my grades. I was having difficulty concentrating on assignments and there were times I didn’t finish tests because I ran out of time. I decided to reach out for help at my school. I began working with a tutor and staying after school to maintain my good grades. That’s when the unexpected happened. During winter break of my freshman year, I had a seizure. One minute I’m at a sleepover at my friend’s house and the next minute I’m in the hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines. The next few months were a string of doctors’ visits, EEGs, MRIs, CT scans and multiple blood draws. Eventually, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I knew nothing about epilepsy and I remember feeling scared. My mom explained to me, although this was a “bump in the road”, it didn’t mean my journey stopped there. Medications came along with this new diagnosis and so did the side effects. I became irritable, exhausted and extremely emotional. I also developed tics. At times, my body would jerk as if I had just had a cold chill go through me and other times my arms and hands would just go out or up over my body. I had a pencil in my hand doing homework and it would go flying across the room while I was working on the potter’s wheel and had to start over on a ceramics project because a tic cause me to stab my vase. Being a person with a disability has definitely added emotional, physical and financial strains, but like my mother always told me, with hard work, perseverance and the right mindset, I can get over any “bump in the road.”

Two years ago I was a perfectly healthy 14-year-old girl until I wasn’t. I have participated in extracurricular activities ever since I was five years old. I have taken ballet classes, been a cheerleader (both school and all-star teams), gymnast, bowler, rugby player and even a pageant girl. My mom, who has always been my biggest support system and fan, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and join anything I might find interesting or fun. While I was working hard at these sports, I continued to focus on getting good grades. I noticed I was starting to struggle academically during the first semester in high school. While I did make the honor roll that first semester of high school, I could feel I was sliding backward with my grades. I was having difficulty concentrating on assignments and there were times I didn’t finish tests because I ran out of time. My mom suggested I reach out for help at my school. I began working with a tutor and staying after school twice a week to maintain my good grades. That’s when the unexpected happened. During winter break of my freshman year, I had a seizure. One minute I’m at a sleepover at my friend’s house and the next minute I’m in the hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines. The next few months were a string of doctors’ visits, EEGs, MRIs, CT scans and multiple blood draws. Eventually, I was told I had been diagnosed with epilepsy. I knew nothing about epilepsy and I remember feeling scared. I asked my mom if I was going to die. She explained to me, although this was a “bump in the road”, it didn’t mean my journey stopped there. Together, we educated ourselves on epilepsy. Medications came along with this new diagnosis and so did the side effects. I became irritable, exhausted and extremely emotional. There were times I would cry for no reason and I had no control over it. I also developed tics. At times, my body would jerk as if I had just had a cold chill go through me and other times my arms and hands would just go out or up over my body. There were even times I would have a pencil in my hand doing homework and it would go flying across the room. I have even had to start over on a ceramics project because a tic cause me to stab my vase while I was working on the potter’s wheel. There are certain activities I have to be more cautious about, like swimming, cooking or enjoying a bonfire during the summer. But, I can and do, still, enjoy them. Most teenagers can’t wait to get their driver’s licenses. However, for me, I have to remain seizure free for six months before I can get mine. I’m working on getting my license now. It may be a little later than my peers, but it’s another goal I am not giving up on. My goals for the future are to remain focused on my academics and extra-curricular activities. I’m currently planning my college career by visiting campuses and researching my major (Criminal Justice) and minor (Women’s Studies). I‘m continuing to give back to my community by volunteering as a youth cheer coach and at the local homeless shelter. I’m also moving forward with my pageant career hoping to spread epilepsy awareness through my platform, “Unapologetically Me.” My epilepsy doesn’t define who I am. It is just a “bump in the road” that I soon will be driving over.

Growing up, I could see my some of my friends had a male presence in their lives. “That’s my dad” was the response I would get when I asked who that person was. My peers always told me “everyone has a dad”, but I didn’t. My mom began to see how this was confusing me and stirring up mixed emotions in me. She knew it was time to have “the discussion.” As a single mom, my mother was always very protective of me, but she didn’t hide things from me. When I was old enough, she told me the story of my biological father. Remaining sensitive to an eight-year-old with her story, she informed me he left us while she was seven months pregnant with me. While she told me my friends were right, in a way, everyone has a biological father, but not everyone has a “dad.” My mom could see I was sad and a bit defeated by the news. She put my face in her hands and said, “Ella, you’re a fighter! Always remember that”! When I was old enough to know the biology of how a child comes into existence, my mom and I discussed the story with a little more depth. She said, although I was unplanned, I was never unwanted. She mentioned the necessary precautions to prevent pregnancy were taken, but I still somehow made my way into existence. She told me, “I was supposed to be.” She looked at me again and said, “Ella, you’re a fighter!” I struggled academically during the first semester in high school. My mom, who has always been my biggest support system, encouraged me to reach out for help at my school. I began working with a tutor and staying after school twice a week to maintain my good grades. I made the honor roll for the fall semester of freshman year, but I could feel I was sliding backward and having trouble focusing and finishing tests and assignments on time. During winter break of my freshman year, I had a seizure. One minute I’m at a sleepover at my friend’s house and the next minute I’m in the hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines. The next few months were a string of doctors’ visits and multiple tests. Eventually, I was told I had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Finally, we had an answer to why I was having difficulties in school. My mom was there to make sure I stayed focused on schoolwork. She reached out to the faculty and staff at the school to get me extra time for completing tests and assignments. She continuously made sure I was understanding and completing my assignments, checking the due dates and my grades online, communicating with my teachers and even printing off sheets for me to write assignments down in, along with getting the teachers to sign off on them when I turned them in. She made sure I had anything I needed when it came to school projects. She would pick up my peers and take us to the library when we had group projects to work on. If I forgot I needed supplies for a class, she would run out to get them. She never complained, she was just being there for me. At first, my diagnosis was shocking and scary, but I didn’t quit. My mom wouldn’t let me. I have worked harder because of it. I won’t let it break my spirit or negatively affect me as a student. After all, I’m a fighter!

During my high school career, I have participated in a variety of extra-curricular activities. I was on my high school cheer team, all-star cheer team, gymnastics team, rugby team, and bowling team and a member of the student council. Outside of school, I enjoy being a volunteer youth cheer coach, volunteering at my local homeless shelter, and participating in pageants, reading and hip-hop dance. Although, high school has not been easy for me. I have had many hurdles along the way. I was diagnosed with epilepsy during my freshman year, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to continue doing the activities I enjoyed. I also had concerns about how my diagnosis may affect my ability to learn. I had always struggled with understanding certain assignments and had trouble concentrating at times. Along with my diagnosis, I was placed on medication. The medication often made me feel run down and depleted my energy levels. I had to learn how to adjust to both the diagnosis and medication. I am delighted to say that, even though I have had some struggles, these experiences have helped me learn that with hard work I can overcome any obstacle. Coming from a single-parent household, I know the struggles I face with the costs of college. I know I will need financial assistance with furthering my education. In the meantime, I work two jobs to help out. Experiencing firsthand the need for scholarships and financial assistance, I decided to give my time and help raise funds to create scholarships for those who may be in need as well. The first scholarship I created was in memory of my friend’s father who was a local police officer for over 25 years. Being a future criminal justice major, I wanted to honor an officer who dedicated so much of his life to my community. My plans for giving back to my community are to continue to volunteer as a youth cheer coach and at the homeless shelter. Collecting and donating food and clothing to the local food and clothing pantry and I also want to continue to raise more funds so I may be able to help out others who need scholarships. I also want to continue to be an advocate for epilepsy awareness so we may ensure we have access to affordable, quality health care, end epilepsy-related discrimination, overcome the daily challenges and help find cures and to save lives.

While there are many cinematic classics like Forrest Gump, Gone with the Wind and Schindler’s List, my movie of choice would have to be the animated Walt Disney version of Tarzan. This is a story of life, love and loss. Things we all will experience at some point in our lives. This movie teaches us diversity and to accept those who are different from ourselves. We should not feel threatened by anyone different than us. We all can get along and co-exist despite our differences. We all may look different on the outside, but, we are all the same on the inside. We have beating hearts and blood flowing through our veins. We feel the same emotions. We all want to be the best version of ourselves. At the beginning of the movie, Tarzan only wants to fit in with his new family. He adapts to his surroundings by trying to be more gorilla-like by swinging through trees and walking on his knuckles. Even though his adoptive father does not accept him, he still shows determination and dedication to his family by never giving up. When Tarzan meets Jane he becomes tempted because he is so eager to learn more about someone like him. Tarzan is torn between what he knows and what he wants to know. He has been raised by gorillas for as long as he can remember, but his curiosity is piqued by Jane. Like many of us, he wants to know where he comes from and where he belongs. Tarzan struggles to find a place where he can fit in. He accepts the challenges in Jane’s teachings by learning and adapting to all of the new things introduced to him like learning how to speak and read. In turn, he teaches Jane all about life in the jungle. These are the same type of life lessons we learn to do at a young age. This movie teaches us about friendship, loyalty and acceptance. We learn love comes in all shapes and sizes and it can be given to those who aren’t the same as we are. Families who experience loss can come together and learn to heal with the help of one another. Another reason why I feel this movie has made an impact on my life is it is a movie for anyone at any age. Just because it is an animated film, doesn’t mean everyone can walk away having learned some sort of life lesson.

As a current high school junior, I know I want to attend a 4-year University. This year I have made several campus visits, spoken with department heads and faculty about what their programs offer and researched campuses online. The information I gathered gave me a first-hand experience as to what my life as a college student will be like and what to expect. My senior year of high school is going to be dedicated to taking multiple dual-credit courses to get a jump-start on my college career. These classes will not only give me the chance to get ahead when I start college in my freshman year, but they will also help out financially by taking them in high school since the courses are cheaper when taken as a dual-credit. Coming from a single-parent household, I know I will need financial assistance with furthering my education. I work two jobs and I have also been applying for any scholarship I can find that I am eligible for. During my high school career, I have participated in high school cheer, all-star cheer, gymnastics, rugby, bowling and student council. Outside of school, I enjoy being a volunteer youth cheer coach, volunteering at my local homeless shelter, and participating in pageants, reading and hip-hop dance. When I was diagnosed with epilepsy during my freshman year, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to continue doing the activities I enjoyed. I also had concerns about how my diagnosis may affect my ability to learn. I had always struggled with understanding certain assignments and had trouble concentrating at times. Along with my diagnosis, I was placed on medication. The medication often made me feel run down and depleted my energy levels. I had to learn how to adjust to both the diagnosis and medication. I am delighted to say that, even though I have had some struggles, these experiences have helped me learn that with hard work I can overcome any obstacle. My college career plans are to major in Criminal Justice with a minor in Women’s Studies. I have always had an interest in learning American Sign Language. While doing my research, I did find a campus that offers American Sign Language classes. I plan on learning American Sign Language while in college so I can communicate with the hearing impaired. My career goal is to be a Crime Scene Investigator, specializing in helping victims of sexual assault. I want to be part of an investigative team that will collect the evidence to bring criminals to justice and make a positive impact on the community. Though I have had some unexpected detours during my high school career, I have learned to overcome them and I am thriving academically, athletically and in my personal life. I am constantly working on ways to improve my grades, skills, and strengths in sports. I am evolving every day because of my dedication and commitment to my teams, teachers, school, community and most importantly, to myself. I am applying for this scholarship at this time because I know the earlier I start planning for my college career, the less I will have to worry about being in debt when I graduate and I can focus on earning my degree and excelling in college.

When I was little, I was on a youth cheer team. I was taught to not only be an example on the field, but off the field as well. Academics always came before athletics in my household. So, I worked hard to become a good student, athlete and teammate. As I grew older, I knew some day, I would want to come back to the field where I started and coach the young girls. Being a good role model for them has been something I wanted to be able to pass down. When I started volunteering as a youth cheer coach, I found I enjoyed giving back to my community, but I wanted to do more. Like some people, I was not sure where to start. With the help of my mother, we found a local food and clothing pantry we could volunteer at together. We also signed up to help serve meals at our local homeless shelter. Helping those in need has made me realize that I have always had a servant's heart. I want to continue to volunteer wherever there is a need for it. I recently became involved in pageantry. I never considered myself a "pageant girl", but through pageants, I have learned community service and volunteering is important to shape me into the best version of me I can become. Coming from a single-parent household, I realize how important scholarships can be for students wanting to continue their education. Every little bit really does help. My experience in pageantry has led me to choose my platform of continuing education. I have chosen be a criminal justice major when I attend college in the fall of 2024. With that being said, I wanted to combine my passion for criminal justice and continuing education into scholarships for students. I decided to work with bold.org to create my own scholarships for children of law enforcement (C.O.L.E.). Again, not knowing where to start, with the help of my mom, we went around our community asking for donations. We received monetary donations and local businesses gave items so we could have a silent auction and fundraiser. It took almost two months, but we managed to raise enough money to get the first scholarship ready to launch. Wherever I decide to further my education after high school, I plan on seeking out ways to help the community I am in. Whether it be at a homeless shelter, food and clothing pantry or even creating my own food and clothing collections for the needy. We all have to start somewhere. Even if we start with "baby steps", eventually, we will take off running in no time. I'm glad I took those first baby steps into volunteering. It not only taught me that I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to, but I can inspire others, like my mom, to want to get involved in my community as well.

Impacting the lives of my local community will first have to start with trust. I want there to be a level of trust between me, my fellow officers and the community we serve. Building strong relationships within the community will have a more positive impact on helping to maintain the safety of the public and of our officers. Showing the members of my community I’m an officer they can trust and who they can come to when they are in need is the first step. Even those who may find themselves on the wrong side of the law, can count on my help to get back on track and I will be there to assist them when they need it. Sometimes a second chance is needed. I plan on being an officer who listens to what members of the community have to say and am willing to work with them so we can resolve any problems we may face together. Law enforcement officers need to rely on the community for accurate information when a crime has been committed and a community who has trust and faith in their law enforcement agencies with be more likely to want to help out. I want to inspire my community to work with the law enforcement agencies so we may start to bridge the divide that seems to have come between the two over the last several years. We can find inspiration anywhere we look. Whether it is in a painting, or watching two people interact with one another or even through reading a book or watching a movie or television show. My inspiration actually came from the latter. Growing up in a single parent household, there were some luxuries I did not have access to. One of them was cable television. However, I never even noticed because, my mom always made sure we had entertainment provided from our public library. I would check out books to read and we would check out television shows that were on DVD. Often, we would watch shows that centered on solving crimes. We watched “C.S.I.” (Vegas, Miami and New York), “Criminal Minds”, “The Mentalist” and even the quirky comedy “Psych”. The thing all of these shows had in common was they all were helping to solve crimes. No matter how they went about it, the show was focused on trying to right a wrong. I liked trying to see if I could solve these crimes before the end of the episode. More importantly, I liked the feeling of accomplishment when I felt I had “solved it” before the characters did. The more my mom and I watched these shows, the more I realized I wanted to do that. I could do that! I wanted to be in law enforcement so I could help people. I want to be the change in my community. My mom always told me I could be anything I wanted to be. She also said there may be people in my life who will say that I can’t do it and who will try and deter me from what I want to do in life. She also said as long as I believe in myself, the other opinions don’t matter. Whenever I’m trying to complete something and it isn’t going well, my mom tells me “#babysteps”, meaning we all have to start somewhere and even if we take baby steps, we will eventually reach our destination. So it may be a big task to bring law enforcement and communities back together, but it only takes one and it can be done with #babysteps.

My best back to school tip is to get a daily planner. You can find one at any dollar store, so they're inexpensive, yet priceless at the same time. Make sure you track all homework assignments and due dates as well as work schedules, after school activities, athletic practices and games. This will help you meet deadlines on time and also give you a sense of organization, which is important at the high school and college level. It is a good habit to form and will help when you go out into the workforce. I don't recall ever hearing how exceptional organizational skills hindered anyone's success. A daily planner can be one of the tools to help get your school year off to a great start and keep you a step ahead of the game.

I come from a single-parent home. I was raised by my mother, and at times, she was working two jobs and going to school to earn her degree. Being a one-income household, we managed to live comfortably. While she always made sure I had everything I needed, there hasn’t always been enough funds to set aside for my college education. I am currently finishing up my freshman year in high school. I have recently started to apply for scholarships. I am trying to plan for my future now because I believe you shouldn’t wait until the last moment to make something happen. I also was involved in three sports my freshman year. It taught me how to balance athletics and academics. There aren’t a lot of athletic scholarships offered for the sports I participate in. I have managed to earn a 3.57 GPA my first semester and a 3.71 GPA during my second semester. I already know I am going to need scholarship money for my college career. My mother is doing all she can to help and I plan on working myself, but I know in order to make my dreams of becoming a criminologist come true, I am going to need help with scholarship money from the generous donors. I want to have a career in criminology because I want the work I do to bring criminals to justice and to make our communities safer. In order to achieve that, I need these scholarships to help me reach that goal. Thank you, Ella Collins

As I think about women in my life that I admire, my mom is the first one that comes to mind. She has always been a pillar of strength in my life. She has raised me on her own since I was born. My mother always made sure I never went without. I may not have had the most expensive clothes or the fanciest technology gadgets, but she made sure I had what I needed to succeed in school and in life. I saw how hard my mom worked. At times, she worked two jobs while putting herself through school to earn her degree. My mother has always made sacrifices, so I may have the things she didn’t. She always told me that she wants to make sure I continue my education after high school and not wait to do it. Even though she tells me that she’s glad she went and earned her degree, she wishes she would have gotten it after high school instead of waiting until she was in her forties. I have been taught to love myself and embrace all of my flaws because that is what makes me unique and beautiful. She tells me my flaws are what separates me from everyone else. I always remember her saying at a very young age “The world would be a pretty boring place if we were all the same. That is why our differences and flaws make us so beautiful. “ While there are many girls my age participating in things they shouldn’t, my mother has raised me to be a strong young woman and to know that it makes me even stronger when I don’t give in to peer pressure. She has taught me that it’s OK to live my life as a 14-year-old girl and not try to rush into growing up. I know I have a bright future ahead of me and I can accomplish anything, as long as I work hard, persevere and never be afraid to make mistakes. My mom tells me those mistakes are just opportunities for us to learn and grow. When there are times I want to give up on myself my mother is there to pick me up and walk with me until I regain my confidence again. Even when no one has believed in me and I haven’t even believed in myself, my mom has never faltered. She has always believed I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Four months ago, my mother and I faced an unforeseen obstacle when I had a seizure. I had never experienced anything like this before and I had always been a very athletic, active and healthy child. Eventually I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I thought I was going to have to change my career path and settle for something I didn’t want to really do. It was my mom who started researching on the Internet and informed me my diagnosis does not define me and it certainly should not hold me back from what I truly want to do with my life. I want to go to school and study to become a criminologist. I have even told some of my friends and teachers what I wanted to do. Their reaction was basically telling me I could not do it. However, my mom’s words rang through my ears and all I could hear was her telling me I can do it. I can accomplish anything. Even though my mom may not always physically be with me, I know she will always be there for me and be on my side. She has taught me to believe in myself, work hard, appreciate and learn from my failures, never be afraid to ask for help and always get up when life knocks me down. As long as I take these life lessons she has taught me, they will be an asset to whatever career choice I make and there is absolutely no doubt I will succeed in my career and personal life.

I had my first seizure four months ago. I never had any medical issues before. It happened 12 hours after I had bumped my head during gymnastics practice. I didn’t think anything of it because I felt fine. That night, I spent the night at a friends and the next morning was when I had my seizure. After many doctors appointments and testing, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. My epilepsy has been challenging, but I have worked hard to achieve my academic and athletic goals. I was even named the Most Improved Player on my high school Varsity gymnastics team.

I was a perfectly healthy 14 year old girl, until I wasn’t. I have participated in extracurricular activities ever since I was five years old. I was in ballet for two years, then I took my love of dance in another direction and started competing in all-star cheer and hip-hop. From second to sixth grade I was on three cheer teams. I cheered for my elementary school, a youth football league and an all-star team. I loved the excitement, the crowd and being part of a team. I was on my middle school cheer team for seventh grade. I tried out for eighth grade but didn’t make the squad. So, I took my eighth grade year to focus on my academics. As I was approaching high school, I struggled to see if I wanted to cheer in high school. When I didn’t make the squad for eighth grade year, I started to doubt my abilities as an athlete. My mom, who has always been my biggest support system and fan, encouraged me to try out for the sport I enjoyed and loved so much. I was one of three freshmen who made the JV squad. It felt like I was home again. High school is about experiencing new things so, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and join the high school bowling and gymnastics teams as well. While I was working hard at these three sports, I continued with my good grades and was on the honor roll for the first semester. That’s when the unexpected happened. The students were released for winter break. I had planned on having a sleepover at my friend’s that Friday evening after gymnastics practice. The following morning, my mom was going to pick me up and we were going to go Christmas shopping. I remember communicating with my mom through text that morning, and the next thing I remember I was in the hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines. While I was getting ready for my mom to pick me up at my friend’s house, I had a seizure. I have never experienced anything like this before. My mom rushed me to the ER. I don’t even remember how I got there. I just know I was surrounded by hospital staff and my mom. Since she wasn’t there when the seizure occurred, she couldn’t tell me what happened either and I had no recollection of it. For the next few months, my life became a string of doctors’ visits and having multiple tests done to find out what was wrong. I remember one day after bowling practice my mom took me out to dinner, just the two of us. I was told I had been diagnosed with epilepsy. I knew nothing about epilepsy and I remember feeling scared and I asked my mom if I was going to die. She explained to me, although this was a bump in the road, it didn’t mean my journey stopped there. Together, we educated ourselves on epilepsy. I know epilepsy does not define who I am. It is just a part of my life and I can achieve anything I set my mind to. With this new diagnosis and medications I am taking, I have had to make adjustments with the sports I compete in and work even harder at maintaining my GPA. I still set personal goals for myself and I am excelling in all three sports. By the end of my first bowling season, I raised my average by twenty-one pins, took fifth place overall and first place for the girls in a co-ed tournament. I was also awarded the most improved player my first year on the gymnastics team. I made the honor roll for the second semester and even brought my GPA from a 3.57 to a 3.85. There are certain activities I have to be more cautious about, like swimming, cooking or enjoying a bonfire during the summer. But, I can and do, still enjoy them. Many famous people have had epilepsy and have made a tremendous impact on the world. Authors, religious leaders, philosophers, composers, sports figures, military and political leaders, painters and actors just to name a few. At first, my diagnosis was shocking and scary, but I did not quit. I have worked harder because of it. It keeps me motivated. Epilepsy did not and will not ever break my spirit. I’m a cheerleader. I’m built with an overabundance of that.