Being one of the first openly LGBTQ+ students at my school, I have had to fight an upward battle. I have been a transgender student in a small-town culture. I have faced questions and opposition from every angle as I fought the typical High School battle. But I beat it, I made it through and I'm proud of how I did. So with this scholarship, an empowered, transgender High School graduate will be sent off on his way with a little boost and investment in his future. As I attend college, I will be entering a foreign environment full of adult problems. It is there where I will be on my own, becoming a self-advocate, far from the support system that was built around me throughout the past four years. I will face the "real world" and plan to stand just as strong as I have been. However, the cost of this further education is more than I can currently afford. It stands tall in the face of my plans to grow as a person. That being said, I still plan to "tighten my belt" and save my money for this task, but the more scholarships I can earn will help to offset the stress that I already face in my day-to-day life. With that in mind, I hope to add this scholarship to my arsenal of aid. Furthermore, I plan to enter the healthcare field as an RN. So, I will be entering a female-dominated workplace not only as a man but as a transgender one at that. With the money provided by this scholarship, it will be an investment in not just my future but the future of healthcare, providing a more robust, diverse environment for future patients to enjoy. Finally, I plan to continue my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community both directly and indirectly. Through clubs and outreach, I hope to inspire other kids to be proud of themselves as I am and to be a figure of success, so they know that they can do this too. That they can reach for their dreams and succeed, just like I hope to do. But if I can't afford college, all that goes to dust. With the money from the scholarship, I will be able to achieve my dream. Furthermore, I will be proud of where those funds came from, from a fund with a goal I can stand behind. With all that in mind, thank you for your time, and I hope you will consider me for this scholarship. Sincerely, Elliot Dietrich