As humans, we all have these deep feelings that exist within the inner depths of our beings... Some of us are more aware of them than others. Some of us are more comfortable with them than others. But I believe we all have them and that they determine how we see ourselves and the world around us. My favorite thing about Disney is that they create stories of fiction and fantasy that can speak to the heart of anyone. Disney's messages transcend gender, age, income, or ethnicity. This is because Disney seeks to unite their audiences by evoking the deep sentiments that every human inherently has. Disney films have a way of bringing people back to the beginning... They have a way of reviving memories from the past to encourage personal healing while simultaneously propelling you into a future full of beautiful and bright possibilities. I will never forget the day my parents sat me down and told me that we would be leaving our home in Fort Drum, New York to live in a different state for my dad's career as a military officer. This would be my tenth move. Constant transition was something I had grown accustomed to from a very young age, but for some reason, I felt in my heart that this move was going to be extra difficult. Perhaps it was because New York had been the longest place I had ever lived. In retrospect, three years is not that long to live somewhere, but for me, three years was just long enough to begin thinking that this could be home. Perhaps I felt fooled. Why would I have ever let my guard down? I felt like I was being robbed. That same year, Disney and Pixar released the film Inside Out. I remember going to the theaters to see the movie with my family. Looking back, I don't think there has ever been another movie that has impacted me the way that one did. As a little kid, sometimes you don't have the words to describe what you are feeling in your heart. Inside Out gave me the words. I identified with Riley as she was moved by her parents, placed in a new state where they ate weird pizza, and placed in a new school where she didn't know anyone. She missed her friends. She missed her hockey team. She missed ice skating on the lake during the winter... She missed her home. I had never felt more understood. The film ended with Riley's acceptance of her new home in San Fransisco and all of the beautiful gifts that the newness had to offer. Disney showed me that even though change is hard, it can be the gateway to something better. This is what Disney does. Disney presents you with a sweet gift every time: something or someone to aspire to. Disney calls an individual's character higher. If awarded this scholarship, I will use it to make a difference in my little corner of the world. My education is imperative to my journey in raising humanitarian awareness. Like Disney, I want to awaken people to the beauty of being human in this world. That even when your days get a little dark... There is always light on the other side.

When I was twelve years old, my mom began her battle with Chronic Lyme Disease. For eight years now, I have had a front-row seat at watching how physical illness limits and hinders an individual from reaching their full potential in life. There is no doubt that my mom’s physical illness has affected her mental health, the health of her friendships, and most importantly, her relationships with her husband and children. Because of her illness, my mom has lived many years believing that she has missed out on her chance to be the mom she always hoped to be. Yet, if I could steal the pen and rewrite all the lies my mom believes... I would write to her this: Mom, You have positively impacted my life in more ways than I can count. I believe it is first worth mentioning that you have taught me the gift of suffering. I am aware that this may sound like somewhat of an oxymoron, but that is after all the message of Jesus Christ. You have shown me what it looks like to approach discomfort with an eternal mindset. This is not to say that your suffering has not been challenging and there have not been days where your faith has wavered. It is rather said to emphasize your demonstration of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. You have recognized that this "light momentary affliction is preparing for [you] an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." This is a revelation that can take a lifetime to receive. Your faithful obedience to walk through illness with Jesus has catalyzed my understanding of what it truly means to live a life unto the Lord. This leads me to my next point. You have taught me what it looks like to love sacrificially. You have sacrificed your comfort to walk the path the Lord has laid out before you. Your life reminds me of the Bible story concerning Abraham and Issac. God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac. As Abraham was about to follow through with the sacrificing of his son, a ram came into view and the Lord released Abraham of his assignment. Christians everywhere look to this story as an inspiration of faith. Here I am now comparing your life to this Bible story. This brings me to my third and final point. Mom, your faith has positively impacted my life. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Thank you for being such a wonderful example of this verse. When circumstances have shifted from the mountaintops to the valleys, you have clung to the one thing that remains: Jesus Christ. That is not lost on me. When troubles come in my own life, I have learned from you the lesson of steadfastness. You have been instrumental in making me the person I am today. My compassion, confidence, and determined mindset come from you! Since I was very young, you have always encouraged me to love the lowly...the people who are often overlooked. Perhaps that is the reason I am so passionate about humanity! If you had not instilled the value of acceptance in my heart, I don't think I would be studying Journalism to hopefully one day highlight the people around the globe who no one cares to take notice of. Mom, I know you feel your illness has limited your ability to be a mom. But I am here to tell you that God has redeemed that hope in your heart. You have been the best mom in the best possible ways. I love you.

My interest in rock climbing began just three years ago. While three years is not long to have been engaging in a sport, I am not lying when I tell you that climbing has been a regular part of my week since the start. My curiosity about the sport was sparked in somewhat of a morbid way. I remember my mother mentioning to me a news story about a young, female, rock climber who had passed away while ascending a mountain with her friends. The girl was quite famous as she was training for Olympic-level climbing. I immediately researched the story and was led down a rabbit trail that exposed me to the world of rock climbing. I had no idea that rock climbing was an actual sport that people participated in regularly! I simply had never known that climbing communities existed. I continued to research and found a climbing gym located just 15 minutes from my house. At that time, I was working at Caribou Coffee as a barista. One of my best friends who I had not seen since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic surprised me while I was working. I knew that if any of my friends were to adventure into a crazy sport with me... it would be her. Within the first week of climbing at ROKC in Kansas City, we both spent $250 on guest passes, rental shoes, and harnesses... We quickly decided that a monthly membership along with some personalized gear would probably come in handy. As our climbing continued, we found that the sport provided us with a community of adventurers and risk-takers. I have always been the kid to climb high in the tree, swim far out in the ocean, and do the most flips on the trampoline. God bless my mother... I was just a crazy kid! To a degree, I still am! Climbing has brought so much thrill into my life and has allowed me to be a crazy kid who does crazy things even as I mature into an adult. The purpose of my educational path is to aid me in my dream to travel the world while documenting people and places. I am currently a Sophomore at Park University studying Multimedia Journalism and Global Studies. I am passionate about human rights and cultural inclusivity. I am also especially interested in how international affairs and political agendas affect daily human interaction and skew our perceptions of the truth behind given issues. Within my career, I would like to not only fuel my love for adventure but also cultivate societal awareness of these issues through photography, videography, and writing. Technology has advanced so much that it is now possible to communicate with mass populations through a single post. I am eager to bring about positive world change through the use of multimedia journalism! If awarded this scholarship, I will be one step closer to achieving my goals without the pressure of financial debt. Education is so important; what a shame it is so expensive! Nonetheless, I cannot escape my yearly tuition. Thus, this scholarship will be used to decrease the amount of time I spend paying off federal student loans and accelerate my journey to creating societal awareness toward international political affairs and human rights.

I have always been excited about life. I am aware this statement may, in turn, sound like false enthusiasm. However, I assure you, it is not. There are too many lively opportunities in this life to settle for apathy. This essay is in fact one that will work to explain this vigor for existence. Hopefully, it will achieve this goal. I have not experienced the most ideal childhood, but that fact has never dictated the way I have approached my future endeavors. I am a firm believer that adversity works only to shape and mold an individual into someone more beautiful than before. It is then required that beauty must be defined. In this context, an individual made beautiful through hardship is someone who has surpassed the challenging circumstance obtaining a more diverse perspective on the reality of life. My childhood consisted of many transitional periods as my dad had committed to serving our country in the army for 20 years. The concept of a familiar home was very foreign to me. I was uprooted and replanted 12 times throughout my years in grade school. The role of an officer in the United States Army is very demanding. Thus, my dad was very absent during my most formative years. His career took him multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan on year-long deployments. I would argue I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom, struggling to keep the family from falling apart, became extremely ill with chronic Lyme disease. The chaos of my parents’ lives soon bled into my own and left me with no other choice than to bear the burden of the brokenness weighing down the people most dear to my heart. In each new setting I was placed in, my perspective expanded through the varying challenges I had to overcome. Friendships were not easily come by. The security of family at home was a distant reality. Growing up proved to be a rather difficult venture. Yet I can now see how these circumstances allowed me to obtain a well-rounded outlook on the decisions and debates that confront me daily. I never gave up amid the struggle. I continued to persevere with determination and courage. I have always pushed myself to try new things. No matter how uncomfortable. I have found that it is within the discomfort where the most success is achieved. The purpose of my educational pursuit is to help me succeed in the goal of living as a journalist abroad, documenting cultures, and raising social awareness among the American population.

I have always been excited about life. I am aware this statement may, in turn, sound like false enthusiasm. However, I assure you, it is not. There are too many lively opportunities in this life to settle for apathy. This essay will work to explain this vigor for existence. Hopefully, it will achieve this goal. I have not experienced the most ideal childhood, but that fact has never dictated the way I have approached my future endeavors. I am a firm believer that adversity works only to shape and mold an individual into someone more beautiful than before. It is then required that beauty must be defined. In this context, an individual made beautiful through hardship is someone who has surpassed the challenging circumstance obtaining a more diverse perspective on the reality of life. My childhood consisted of many transitional periods as my dad had committed to serving our country in the army for 20 years. The concept of a familiar home was very foreign to me. I was uprooted and replanted 12 times throughout my years in grade school. The role of an officer in the United States Army is very demanding. Thus, my dad was very absent during my most formative years. His career took him multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan on year-long deployments. I would argue I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom, struggling to keep the family from falling apart, became extremely ill with chronic Lyme disease. The chaos of my parents’ lives soon bled into my own and left me with no other choice than to bear the burden of the brokenness weighing down the people most dear to my heart. In each new setting I was placed in, my perspective expanded through the varying challenges I had to overcome. Friendships were not easily come by. The security of family at home was a distant reality. Growing up proved to be a rather difficult venture. Yet I can now see how these circumstances allowed me to obtain a well-rounded outlook on the decisions and debates that confront me daily. Later, after graduating from high school in 2020, I left my home in Kansas City to join a missionary group called YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Their vision is to train and equip the youth in fulfilling The Great Commission, making “disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Through the discipleship training school offered by YWAM, I was allowed to travel to Nepal and become completely immersed in the Nepalese culture for about two months. I returned to America, having my world flipped upside down in the most beautiful way. I had never left America before this trip, and thus my bubble popped, bringing new revelations about the world around me. It was during this trip that I discovered a desire within me to integrate my passion for humanity with visual art and the written word to convey the beauty of mankind. I also found myself seeking to find a way to create social awareness and reformation toward human rights. The purpose of my educational pursuit is to help me succeed in these goals. I would not be where I am today if it were not for my past experiences. Whether it be my childhood troubles or my time abroad, both have influenced my dreams for my time on earth. It is true, we only have one life. I am determined to make the most out of mine.