Writing has long been one of humanity's most powerful tools for documenting its most important achievements and moments. It transcends time, providing a direct glimpse into the voices, thoughts, and experiences of those who lived long before us. I use writing to help me stay focused and in tune with my mind and heart. With it, I can sit down and organize my thoughts and priorities and remain loyal to my goals. Whether I'm listing my duties for another busy week or mapping out resolutions for the new year, I get a sense of clarity and inspiration whenever I remind myself of my goals and why I must reach them. My high school experience has been a rollercoaster. Being in the Early College program, taking college classes in place of high school ones, along with maintaining my extracurriculars, work, and personal projects, high school became a challenge that took me years to fully navigate and manage. When things got too overwhelming, I'd procrastinate, worrying about all the work I was falling behind in. It was an endless cycle of stress and more stress. At times, I’d wonder why I was doing it all in the first place. That’s when writing came in. Gratitude journaling helped me stay aware of all the blessings I had to be thankful for. Journaling helped me calm my cluttered thoughts, and poetry gave me the break I needed to check in with how I was feeling. Writing gave me the chance to reconnect with my higher purpose and find the resilience and motivation I needed to keep going. I am now a high school senior with a passion for humanitarianism and social change. I want to become a social worker who creates projects and programs that address the needs of my community. One day, I want to lead an ogranization with the same impact as Doctors without Borders or the Red Cross to solve some of our world's most pressing issues. I know this dream will take decades of hard work and discipline before it takes root. But writing will be there to guide me through it. As I move on to college, the first step towards my dream, I will continue to write. As a future Social Work student, it's important I know how to write and communicate. Only when we can properly articulate our understandings of the world can we go on to lead successful lives and careers. I look forward to all the challenges and opportunities life has waiting for me, because I know my passion for change and my love of writing will be right beside me every step of the way.

If you had asked me a few years ago, I wouldn’t have described myself as someone with grit. I was always the quiet, soft-spoken peacemaker, more comfortable avoiding conflict than confronting it. In my mind, people with grit were bold and fearless, able to tear through any obstacle that stood in their way. Surely, I was not one of those gritty-minded people, right? Wrong. If my father taught me anything, it was the true meaning of patience, wisdom, and inner strength. "Didn't I show you this already? How dumb can you be?!" "For all that studying you do, you sure are slow." Once again, I found myself quietly counting down the seconds until his criticisms subsided. How many times did I find myself in this exact situation- silent, still, numb, absorbing every one of his harsh insults? Each time it happened, I accepted my father's words as fact and told myself I was the problem. Each time, I felt my spirit grow weaker. Deep down, I knew I only did this because it was easier to blame myself instead of him. If it were my fault, I could at least change. And change I did. It was hard at first. The most difficult part of my change was choosing to acknowledge that what my father did was wrong, and in time, instead of trying to rationalize and minimize my pain, I allowed myself to feel. And it hurt. Years of convincing my brain that my father wasn't such a bad person came down crashing, and I finally faced that reality that I had been avoiding. It hurt more than I expected to let go of the version of him I created in my mind to protect myself. But with that came freedom. The words stopped going inside, and I finally could see the truth about myself and understand his actions didn't define my identity. Finally, I was healing. I let my feelings run their course and saw my father for who he was- an incredibly flawed, angry, and unhappy person capable of wrongdoing just like anyone else. Somehow, seeing him in this new perspective made it easier for me to forgive him. He was only human, after all. Through my healing, I've gained the patience, wisdom, and resiliency I needed to not only accept my situation for what it was, but to deal with it as best I could. I am now an Early College student, on my way to earning my associate's degree alongside my high school diploma. Already accepted into my top-choice school, I plan to major in Social Work and eventually earn my Doctorate. My dreams of becoming a social worker stem from my desire to help others find their way through challenges and overcome adversity, just as I have. My experiences may have not been pleasant, but they have molded me into a future- focused, driven individual with enough grit, love, and confidence to pursue my passion in making my world a better place.

For the longest time, I knew my life purpose was to help others. I've felt this since I was little, but at that point, I didn't know what 'helping people' would realistically look like. My mom always encouraged my love of helping others, telling me how proud she felt to have such a kind-hearted daughter. As much as I treasured my mom's support, I sometimes felt like what I did wasn't enough. As much as she cheered me on, I sensed she only saw a young girl's youthful wishes rather than her real, lifelong dream. I was frustrated because I could not show my mom and everyone else how committed I was and that what I felt was not a passing phase. But as I grew older, one particular experience gave me the direction I had been searching for. I was starting my freshman year in high school. The Covid-19 pandemic was finally under control, and life began to calm down. I was at my brother's open house when I met Ms. Gaulden, a social worker who worked at an office near my school. I hadn't given her much thought then, but I remembered her saying goodbye and that she'd see me around school. A few months had passed since the encounter, and being excited to volunteer and try community service, I signed up to volunteer with Feeding Northeast Florida, which was visiting my school. Just as I walked to our school parking lot, I recognized the office Ms. Gaulden said she worked in. As if on cue, she popped out, saying what a pleasant surprise it was to see me. We talked that day, and I learned a lot about her: what kind of work she did, why she chose to become a social worker, and how she felt years into her career. By the end of the conversation, I was in awe. This woman was the perfect image of the person I wanted to become. Listening to her, I understood then that this was what I had been searching for all those years. My dream to help others wasn't just a dream at all. With social work, I could put my vision into action. I want to focus on dealing with broader matters harming my community. My goal is to work my way up in my social work career to a position where I can create and lead programs and initiatives that will solve problems in my city. I want to build community events that get people together and encourage them to work with me as a team to tackle our community's issues. I have learned that things rarely get done when we wait for others to step in and solve our problems. When we are proactive and choose to take situations into our own hands, with the support of a team, people are capable of achieving anything. That is why I want to work directly with my people to find long-term solutions to our problems. The first step toward my goal is earning my master's in social work. Winning this scholarship would help ease the financial burden of college, giving me time to focus all my energy on my education, internships, studying, volunteering, and more. I could focus on becoming a social worker who creates lasting change within her community while empowering and inspiring others to do the same. This scholarship would not just be an investment in my future—it would be an investment in the lives I hope to touch through my work, fulfilling the dream I've held since I was a child.

Nothing inspires joy in life like overcoming an experience that makes you question it. When we think of hardships, we often think about the most extreme formsᅳpoverty, war, and famine- but in doing so, we risk overlooking the more subtle struggles in our daily lives. We become accustomed to unfairness and injustice until it feels normal. Today, I write to acknowledge my hardship and how I overcame it. My childhood was what any child would describe as perfect. I had a mother who nurtured my endless curiosity and a sister who was my partner in any adventure. My days were full of fun and exploration, and I was happy. My father, the breadwinner of our household, was rarely around, always working to support the family. Regardless of his absence in my daily life, I admired him for this. My view of my father began to change once I started to reach puberty. Instead of seeing him as the stoic yet responsible provider of our home, he was the bitter, angry critic. Any and all of our interactions were negative, with him criticizing everything I did. At first, it was over things like my messy eating or my clumsiness, but what seemed like genuine cautionary advice turned into direct attacks on my being. I started receiving insults and name-calling. I was "stupid," "sloppy," "childish," or "goofy." I ate too much, I played too much, I talked too much. Soon, I was just 'too much.' Life stopped being warm and fun, and I dreaded the place I called home. My mother was dealing with health issues due to her pregnancy with my brother and became emotionally unavailable. She'd become irritable and snapped at me just as my father had been. School became my only happy place. My friends and arriving baby brother became the only two things keeping my spirits up, but I knew things had to change. I couldn't go on living in day-to-day sadness, so my first step began with me confronting the root of my pain: my father. I had to step back and look at him for who he was: a flawed person who pushed his unhappiness and anger onto his daughter. I had to understand that I was not the problem; he was. From this new journey of self-healing, I discovered the importance of mental health. I learned what verbal abuse was and how its effects could deeply damage one's well-being. My curiosity led me to study psychology, opening up a whole new world of understanding. I began to make sense of my feelings, pain, and, soon, myself. Over time, I had grown wiser, more confident, and more self-aware. I realized that by learning to understand my mind and emotions, I could help others do the same. With my new goal in mind, I knew I wanted a career where I could help others overcome their hardships. That's when I decided to become a social worker and community leader. As a social worker, I can help various people with their problems and provide the support they need to overcome them. I want to uphold the principles of Agape love in my work- love that is selfless and unconditional, seeking the well-being of others. I wish to make this world a better place, and with my resolve to practice Agape love, I will become a source of strength and hope for all those going through hardships.

I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and have called this city home since birth. Unlike many of my friends who haven’t lived in Jacksonville their whole lives, I don’t know what it’s like to live anywhere else. I often listened to them complain about the heat, the overcrowdedness, the visible homelessness, and the seemingly endless mass of terrible drivers. Those who moved here from other states often insist that Jacksonville is far from ideal. I, however, thought my city was perfectly imperfect. Yes, the heat is intense, and yes, we do have a homelessness problem. Yes, we could do with fewer bad drivers, but I see so much potential here. I dream of becoming a city leader who helps Jacksonville realize its full potential. Through policies, initiatives, and community programs, I want to address the needs of our people and help our community flourish. I aim to make Jacksonville a place its residents can proudly call home. My journey toward this goal begins with a career in Social Work. Since I was young, I knew I wanted a job that would let me make a lasting impact, helping others and inspiring change. For a long time, I wasn’t sure if such a path existed. My vision was vague, and I didn’t have a clear idea of the change I wanted to create. I considered becoming a politician, imagining myself shaping laws to benefit my community, but that idea felt too distant. Nursing also crossed my mind, but I quickly realized healthcare wasn’t for me. Teaching seemed promising- guiding and inspiring the nation's next group of changemakers- an underappreciated profession I deeply respect. However, after observing the challenges educators face in this country, I felt forced to reconsider. None of these career paths felt right, and I felt like my dream was too idealistic - that the simple wish to "make the world a better place" was not enough. I decided to leave career planning alone and focus on the present. Entering high school, I joined several clubs centered around service, academics, and social issues. In each of them, I gained something insightful. That’s when I met my mentor, Ms. Gaulden, a social worker who showed me how her career aligned with my dreams. Social work isn’t just about addressing simple needs; it’s about creating real change and empowering others to produce even more change. Pursuing a degree in Social Work is the first step toward my dream. Social workers need at least a Master’s degree to perform any clinical practice or hold higher-level positions, making a college education crucial. This scholarship will provide the financial support I need to focus on my studies without the constant worry of finances. Easing this burden will allow me to dedicate more time to internships, research, and community service—experiences that will help me grow as a future social worker. With this support, I can confidently work toward becoming a city leader who will transform her city into a place where all its members can thrive.

I remember my time at KIPP Voice Elementary, how we started every morning, every award ceremony, and every Friday Celebration with the reminder that "Knowledge is Power!" Every lesson was tied to college readiness. College flags decorated the hallways and logos shrouded the school lobby, cafeteria, and gym. It was ingrained in us at a young age that the end goal was to go to college, and going to college meant that you were a success. Even though I found KIPP's relentless message to 'go to college' a bit excessive, I got swept up in the idea that college was the ultimate end goal. Now, as a rising senior, I can appreciate KIPP's college preparatory curriculum as it has undoubtedly prepared me for the rigor and demands of being an early college student. What I do wonder sometimes is if this schooling method was the best approach for all KIPP's students. Since the 2000s, there has been a shift away from vocational education in favor of students attending college. Students who did not have an interest in academics or who could not go to college often felt left out or neglected. Some of these students lost the motivation to perform well and would be labeled as 'lazy', 'disruptive', or 'unintelligent', when this was not the case at all. New data and statistics show a critical shortage of skilled workers across the United States. The issue has been around for some time, but the COVID-19 pandemic worsened it, (US Census Bureau, 2023). Industries like the AutoTech industry (Carver, 2023) or the Construction industry (Walter, 2024) still struggle to find skilled workers. According to Nicholas Wyman at Forbes, in 2015, about 70% of high school students attended college, leaving the remaining 30 percent to either enter the work force or seek vocational training. Out of the 70 percent of college-bound students, 40 percent did not complete their programs, which meant wasted time, debt, and money. To top it all off, those who finished their programs ended up in jobs that didn’t require a degree. (Wyman, 2023). Since this study, there has been a roughly 66 percent increase in student loan debt over the past decade. In 2020-21, 51 percent of undergraduates owed federal loans that averaged around $21,400 per borrower, according to College Board (Pender and Pender, 2022). I am creating a project under the local nonprofit organization 904ward, to bring vocational and technical education back to schools in my city, starting with my high school. My initiative seeks to give my peers access to the opportunity to learn different trades and practical skills from local experts and professionals. The goal is to show students that there are options besides college. Learning from and engaging with local professionals will give students role models to look up to; people who can say,"Hey, I didn't go to college, but I'm still happy and successful!". I hope that with my program, more teenagers can learn more about what opportunities are available to them. My project will help bridge the gap between education and employment in my community and help so many teenagers find the spark they need to ignite their passions for their future. This is just one of many projects that I plan on pursuing. I want to major in Social Work and Public Administration and with my experience working with people and understanding complex issues, as well as an understanding of political processes I will enact meaningful changes that can truly bring improvements to communities like mine. The aid from this scholarship will go a long way in helping me pursue my goals.

As of today, I can take pride in being the strong, resilient, and happy individual I am- one who is in tune with her emotions and knows who she is. I am lucky I can say these things with confidence and pride, as I know just years ago, I was nowhere near as confident in myself. I was a happy child growing up, raised by a mother who wanted the very best for me. I had a loving family and good friends who were always there for me. I had not known what it was like to experience hardship. It wasn't until fourth grade that my mental state began to change. It started with petty commentary about my eating habits or my appearance. Over time, however, these comments grew more frequent and harsher, turning into direct insults. He began to criticize my weight, my intelligence, and even my personality. The weight of his words began to wear on me, chipping away at my happiness. At the same time, my mother and I were growing apart. She had become uncharacteristically irritable, constantly losing her temper over minor nuisances. We weren't speaking like we used to, and so, with the stress of having two unavailable parents, I began to dread coming home. I shut myself off from my parents and started spending more time alone in my room, finding comfort in my creative hobbies. Besides my hobbies, I had my friends at school. School and friends were my escape from home. With them, I could be silly and be myself without fear of being judged. If it were not for school, I truly felt like I could not survive, like my existence would be too unbearable to stand. Life went on like this for some time before things got better. It turned out my mother had been dealing with health issues she did not know were from pregnancy. She returned to her old self, and we grew close again. Our repaired bond and the news of a new sibling gave me the motivation to keep going. All this happened years ago, and looking back now, I see how those experiences shaped me into who I am today. Despite what I was going through at home, I found resilience in maintaining friendships, reconnecting with my mother, staying focused on my studies, and developing my hobbies. As I grew older, the weight of my father's words was finally starting to dwindle. Not too long after this change in my life, Covid-19 had hit the United States, and the country plunged into years of sickness and chaos. My middle school years were cut short, and I was isolated. Despite all the pain the pandemic caused, it brought me peace and time for reflection. Those two long years in isolation gave me plenty of time to figure out who I wanted to be. I had the opportunity to uncover myself and learn that I wanted to change. I wished to mature and grow from my bad experiences. I began to educate myself on mental health, learning about psychology and self-improvement. I made a resolution then that my purpose in life would be to become the wisest, strongest, and healthiest version of me I could be. I wanted to be a person who was self-assured and who people could look up to if they needed help or guidance, especially if they had gone through something similar to what I have. I want to pursue a career in social work, community organization, advocacy, and public administration. I want to help people in my community lead happy and healthy lives and hopefully reach out to people struggling with issues that I had. For me to do that, I must attend college and earn an education in Social Work and Public Administration. From then on, I can work towards my master's degree in social work, and begin my career as a community social worker, community leader and advocate. Through this, I can help the world become a better place.

"Everything begins and ends with mental health." These words from my psychology professor stuck with me throughout his class and to this day. When we talk about mental health, we also talk about physical health, emotional well-being, happiness, and inner peace. Without good mental health, none of these things exist. As a dual enrollment student balancing her school, work, and personal life, mental health has become one of my main priorities in life. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the topic of mental health has become increasingly popular in almost all settings. My school began hosting "Wellness Wednesdays", where we'd watch videos created by the school district that promoted mental health. Suddenly, everyone was talking about it, both online and in person, and mental health was this big thing we had to understand. At first, I didn't know much about mental health, and I didn't understand its significance. I was fortunate enough to have never experienced any major mental health challenges, but I knew that no one was immune to mental health problems and that the sooner I began learning about mental health, the better I would be in understanding myself and others. Social media became my number one teacher on mental health, revealing just how complex mental health can be. I learned that even everyday occurrences like getting criticized by family members to dealing with petty high school drama could impact a person's confidence or sense of self. Learning these things helped me sort through my thoughts and emotions, making me aware of the emotional baggage I had been carrying for a long time. While this educational journey was very enlightening, it was also incredibly uncomfortable. I was forced to confront a lot of painful memories I've had since childhood, and while it helped me gain a better awareness of myself, it brought some upsetting issues to mind. Now, as someone who has learned about mental health and recognizes its importance, I am incredibly passionate about advocating for mental health. Being that social media was the place my journey began, I now use it to promote mental health content and education to those around me. In all my platforms, my audience mainly consists of people my age so I must be someone they can look to whenever they need any kind of support or guidance regarding mental health. When I graduate high school, I want to pursue an education in Social Work and Public Administration. I believe that becoming a social worker, policy maker, and leader in my community can help a lot of people. I also think that as someone who wants to improve the lives of others and be of service to those around me, understanding the importance of mental health is crucial no matter what kind of work you do or what type of path you choose to take. As I continue to follow my dreams of being a community leader, I will continue to be an advocate of mental health.

"I want to be a happy person". Those words were my response to the interviewer's question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Even at the young age of seven, I wanted to give a sincere answer- one that was both true and something I could strive for. I asked some of my classmates what they wanted to be when they grew up, receiving responses such as I want to be “a teacher" or "a nurse, like my mom". As admirable as I found those dreams, I still hadn't manifested one of my own, until I recalled something my mother told me. While scrolling through the news, my mom said to me "You know, Elliana, there are a lot of unhappy people in this world; a lot of people struggling." "You're lucky to have a good life. Not everyone is as happy as you." That is when I decided that I wanted to carry that happiness into adulthood. That's where the answer to the interviewer came from. In response, she suddenly swung me up and gave me a hug, telling me that I was the sweetest kid in the world. Growing up, I was often told that true happiness came from bringing happiness to others. Back then, I only passively took in that idea, never giving it much scrutiny. I just thought that it was another one of those cheesy mantras of life. However, now, as a maturing teenage girl with a goal of going to college to become a social worker and community leader, I realize that my happiness is indeed intricately linked to that of others. That conversation with my mother made me sensitive to the feelings and well-being of those around me, from classmates to passersby on the street. Since then, I have grown to not only be aware of the welfare of others, but to actively seek ways to improve it. That is why I aspire to become a social worker and leader in my community. These roles will grant me the power to kickstart community programs and lead fruitful initiatives that will bring meaningful changes in the lives of those around me. I want to be a person who listens and supports, one who advocates for those who are struggling. I want to come up with proper solutions to our nation's problems and help promote a more just and equitable world. I recently had the opportunity to tutor students at a local elementary school through a non-profit called Read USA. Our job was to promote childhood literacy. Through this tutoring experience, I witnessed just how powerful advocacy can be. Simply caring about youth literacy was enough for me and dozens of other tutors and teachers to come together to make Read USA the successful program that it is today. I was able to watch my kids grow from being hesitant readers to confident and eager learners, all in the span of a few months. My impact through Read USA was minimal compared to the greater issues that face my community. Imagine what more I could do for people as someone with the skills and assets of a social worker and community leader. With my education and experience, I plan on addressing a wider variety of issues. The happiness my work will bring to others will in turn be the happiness I have always sought for myself. This is why my goal is to pursue a career in social work.

One of my earliest lessons from school was from a story my kindergarten teacher read to our class. It was called “It’s Earth Day!” from the Little Critter series. The story follows Little Critter as he dedicates himself to helping the Earth after hearing how its warming climate is harming polar bears. His passion lead him to raise money with his class for a Polar Bear saving charity, plant trees in his neighborhood park, and even make a climate control machine! (One with a fan that blew cold air from melting ice). I thought to myself , if he could do all that and more, I could do my part with something as simple as picking up litter around my own neighborhood. This early experience really instilled a sense of responsibility and an awareness of my impact as individual. And so, I acted: One day, while my mom was getting ready inside, inspired by the story, I proudly set out with a trash bag, set on doing my duty of helping the Earth. My mom, initially distraught by my disappearance and alarmed that I was four houses down from home, was amused and proud when she found me picking up litter. This memory, along with many others, motivated me to pursue a career in Social Work and Public Administration, where I aim to serve others and make a positive impact on my community. Throughout my childhood, I continued to learn and grow, shaping my character, but it was in middle school when I reached a milestone. While puberty brought its many challenges, it also brought the need to develop true empathy, understanding, and support for my friends who were facing their own struggles. One such instance was with my friend Maria who was feeling incompetent, often comparing herself to me academically. I wanted to help her see her own intelligence and potential, so I began tutoring her, studying and doing homework together. Instead of running around and playing during gym, we would sit down together on the bleachers and go over math problems. This experience taught me the value of investing time and encouragement in others, and I was proud to see her confidence grow along with her grades. Another significant memory from this time was supporting one of my closest friends Kimani as she navigated her sexual identity. Instead of rushing to judgement and quick solutions, I chose to listen, and simply stand by her side as she navigated her journey. I learned what it meant to give and receive unconditional love, and just how valuable it is to have when you are struggling. Reflecting on these experiences, I see how much I have matured since that memorable day in Kindergarten. I have come to embrace compassion and kindness, finding fulfillment in uplifting others. That is why I choose to pursue Social Work and Public Administration, believing that I can extend my hand to more people. As I move forward, I know there will be obstacles that will test my empathy, strength, and resilience, however, I am resolved in my mission to uplift others and inspire them to be their best selves.

I am pursuing Social Work as my career of choice. Ever since I became old enough to think about my future, I knew I wanted a career where I could work with people and help people, though, at the time I truly believed such as job did not exist. Yes, there was nursing, but I didn't want to limit myself to the healthcare field. I was also considering teaching, however, similar to nursing, there is not much flexibility with that career either. I wanted something that encompassed everything you could find in nursing and teaching. That's when I found Social Work. When I first heard of Social Work, my thoughts were of a job where annoying government employees went to harass families and tried to get them separated. However, this was all before I started doing research and began meeting and reaching out to actual social workers, one of whom I am still in contact with today. Her name is StanVonna Gaulden, and if it were not for her guidance and encouragement to learn more, I would not have known nearly as much as I do about Social Work. I have such an appreciation for social workers now, as they can be some of the most hard-working, caring helpers in the world. After learning all this, I decided Social Work was the career for me, and that there would be a plethora of opportunities for me in this field. Through Social Work, I hope to gain quantities of knowledge, skills and experience needed for me to be given a problem, come up with solutions to those problems, and carry out those solutions. In the distant future, I plan on running for a position in politics, and hopefully, with my experience in social work, I would be well-equipped to help a wide variety of people and their issues and or needs perhaps with this skill, I would apply this to helping a larger scale of people and their needs. While I am grateful to have found a clear career path and a sense of purpose now, getting here was far from a straightforward journey. The COVID-19 pandemic hit during my transition from middle school to high school, and it changed everything. Suddenly, I found myself spending a lot of time alone, with plenty of time to reflect. I grappled with self-doubt and uncertainty. I had this burning desire to make a difference in people's lives, but I had no idea how to turn that desire into a concrete plan. This period also forced me to confront my shyness head-on, realizing that it was holding me back from personal growth and development after looking back at all the missed opportunities in elementary and middle school, all due to me being too hesitant to act. Out of that difficult period, however, something beautiful emerged. I decided to embark on a journey of self-improvement. I worked to boost my self-confidence, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and actively sought experiences that would broaden my horizons. This transformative process led me to the profound realization that Social Work was my true calling, the path that aligned perfectly with my desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. In reflecting on my journey, I've come to appreciate that challenges are not roadblocks, but rather growth opportunities. The trials of the COVID-19 pandemic taught me resilience, self-discovery, and the power of determination, and through this experience, I found my calling in Social Work. I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the field of Social Work and touching the lives of those in need.