A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I witnessed my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I retreated to fantasy worlds in the books I read to seek calm, peaceful places when things were challenging in our house. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major. I hope to make a difference in the lives of each patient I will see as a clinical psychologist. The most impactful activity of my high school career has been my involvement with Best Buds. This school-run club facilitates mainstream students connecting with peers with disabilities, specifically those our county considers Exceptional Students (students with developmental delays). At the first meeting as a shy freshman, I pushed past my nervousness and struck up a conversation with Cam, a student whose positivity spreads to everyone around him. We talked about our mutual love for music, he told me about the band he plays in, and we made art together. From that day on, I vowed to become a leader and more involved at my school. I attended all the Best Buds meetings, creating friendships with many students and encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same. I realized that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to bullying prevention. Seeing the determination and joy of the Buds is incredibly rewarding; it reinforces my belief in the power of inclusion. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have inspired me to continue serving others. I am passionate about understanding human behavior, especially how people cope with different situations; my degree is the first step toward my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

My Opa has qualities similar to Mr. Godwin and he is a Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant. He is not just a storyteller; he has become the historian for our family since his retirement. The funniest story that comes to mind is one he and my mom tell about his return to Willow Grove NAS after Desert Storm. He had been overseas for months, living in "tent city". Finally, their unit was headed home. They stopped overnight in New England before the welcome ceremony outside Philadelphia. Opa called my mom that morning, before she left for the base, to let her know his head was bandaged and looked worse than it was. He wanted her to know he was OK. The crowds had gathered; signs, flowers, and loved ones were everywhere. The planes approached in the distance; the excitement was building. They landed, crews disembarked, and reunions began. Off came my Opa in his flight suit, tan from the desert sun, smiling with his entire face and with bandages wrapped around his head. Attention from so many shifted to him, this poor soldier wounded and returning home. People were emotional: concerned for him, swarming him, thanking him for his service, praying for him. I believe there was even a nun who made the sign of the cross, laid hands on him, and prayed for him. He graciously thanked them and just kept trying to get to his family without any fuss. He was in a hurry to leave the base and get to the family gathering. That was where he revealed the cause of his injury. The night before, in New England, he had tripped on a tent stake and sustained a pretty significant gash on his head. It wasn't the wartime injury everyone assumed, and he was embarrassed by all the attention. My Opa isn't flashy; he doesn't thrive on attention, so this story is just very funny to me. I learned so much about his time in the service when he turned 75 two years ago. My mom reached out to as many former Air Force buddies as she could and had them all record a video message wishing him a Happy Birthday. These were guys he hadn't seen or heard from in decades. Each one my mom connected with had story after story they shared, and my mom kept a notebook with notes from the various tales. She and I drove down to Florida to surprise him for his birthday. We took him for a burger on the big day. Little did he know that my mom had found his best friend Chris, whom he had lost touch with years ago. Chris drove 8 hours to be part of our surprise and just happened to walk up to our table and ask if he could join us. At first, Opa didn't recognize him. Then, when it clicked, he was stunned! It was amazing to be part of such a genuine surprise. My mom wanted to give him the gift of memories and friendship. We still have the video of all the tales and birthday wishes, as well as some great old photos. Chris came back to the house, and the storytelling continued into the night. My other grandpa is Retired US Navy CW04; he told me he wished he could have had a tape recorder to record all the war stories his grandfather told. When a loved one passes, all the stories that aren't recorded go with them, yet it's the stories and memories that keep them alive. I couldn't agree more and love hearing the stories.

Leadership shapes our future by setting goals, inspiring others, and creating new ways to solve issues, no matter the topic. We need strong leaders to shape the future, they provide direction, motivation, and structure for progress. Leaders can see a bigger picture, set goals that others might think are not achievable, and can help people come together to work towards a common vision. Effective leadership determines how society evolves, how people grow, and how changes should take place. True leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to a successful, civil society and an effective organization. Equally important is the ability of a leader to be adaptable, as this will become the culture of an organization. So often people and entities become complacent with the status quo, this is when all essential growth and innovation ceases. When science and exploration is no longer explored or a factor innovation dies, with that success wains. Perspective and putting people first is also a key component here, I hope it remains so even as we enter the era of artificial intelligence. AI can be used to enhance operations but I do not believe it will ever have the ability to lead people. AI adapts but in very different sense. Focusing on the field of psychology, my major, leaders in this discipline help to lead teams and create new ideas, theories, and practices that help forge new solutions for mental health care and research. No matter what the leaders’ job title is, they drive innovation by challenging outdated beliefs, fostering collaboration, and applying psychology to solve problems affecting thousands, if not millions, of people on the Earth today. Science shapes our future as it explores new ways to fix existing and emerging issues in our world. For example, psychologists are always trying to find new, healthy coping strategies for people struggling with various mental illnesses, whether it’s depression, anxiety, etc. Without scientists, people diagnosed with these conditions would have a much tougher time in daily life. Using these new coping strategies can allow them to live healthier, longer, and happier lives. Scientific advances yield improved quality of life as well; new innovations in medicines, devices, implants, treatments and so forth. Overall, leadership and science together shape our futures and the physical and mental health we hope to enjoy.

"A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. My mom still has it in our home. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I still tend to be the voice of calm and reason when friends have disagreements. I have been called "an old soul" many times. I did witness my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major, but science has literally been part of my DNA since I can remember. That said, I have never had a teacher or a health care provider who looks like me. I haven't had a Hispanic doctor or dentist. I have had the privilege of having several passionate teachers. In the fifth grade, I had Mrs. Grant, who nurtured my love of science and ignited it in other children. We made pasta cars and raced them. We did a lab depicting how the digestive system worked with saltines, fake stomach acid, and pantyhose. We learned about genetics and created fictional new breeds of dogs based on how we arranged genes. We did a variation of this project my junior year of high school in my animal science class where we created dogs to the breed standards. I made a Curly Coated Retriever and won "Best in Group". Mrs. Grant made science so fun! She reminded us of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, but she was not as eccentric and had tame hair by comparison. In eighth grade we learned all the elements of the periodic table using a rap song to commit them to memory. We created Element City where each of us created a 3D model showcasing the uses and applications of our elements, mine was Gold. In high school I took ten science courses when only three were required for graduation: Biology, Horticulture, AP Environmental Science, Chemistry, Animal Science, Sports Medicine 1,2,3 and 4 and Marine Ecology. Earning this scholarship will help me fulfill my dreams of attending a four-year college; it will ease the financial burden that comes with higher education. This will allow me to focus more on my studies, subsequently affording me more time to volunteer and participate in internships that will provide me with hands-on experiences and skills I will need in the future. My father has been laid off twice; this has made it difficult for my family to save adequately for my college education. I have managed a cumulative 3.7 GPA while working and saving for the last two years, but the cost of a college degree is still significant. Overall, this scholarship will not only help me financially but will also help me make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Thank you for your consideration.

"A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I still tend to be the voice of calm and reason when friends have disagreements. I have been called "an old soul" many times. I did witness my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major. The lyrics of a favorite song come to mind when I think of how that little, sea turtle-loving girl will be a positive force in the world as a whole. The song says: Like a small boat on the ocean, sending big waves into motion. Like how a single word, can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion. Every small act of kindness, every positive thought and action, every piece of trash picked up makes a difference. The most impactful activity of my high school career has been my involvement with Best Buds. This is a school-run club where mainstream students connect with peers with disabilities, specifically those our county considers Exceptional Students (students with developmental delays). At the first meeting as a shy freshman, I pushed past my nervousness and struck up a conversation with Cam, a student whose positivity spread to everyone around him despite his need for extra support. We talked about our mutual love for music, he told me about the band he plays in, and we made art together. From that day on, I vowed to become a leader and more involved at my school. I attended all the Best Buds meetings, creating friendships with many students and encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same. I realized that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to bullying prevention. Seeing the determination and joy of the Buds was incredibly rewarding; it reinforced my belief in the power of inclusion. I discovered that community involvement isn’t just about helping others; it’s about learning from them and making lasting connections. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have inspired me to continue serving others in meaningful ways throughout my life. As someone who is passionate about understanding human behavior, especially dealing with how people cope with different situations, my degree is the first step toward my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. However, the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses make this dream hard to achieve. My father has been laid off twice; this has made it difficult for my family to save adequately for my college education. I have been working and saving for two years, but the cost of a college degree is significant. Overall, this scholarship will help reduce my financial stress, allow me to fully commit to my education and career goals, and help me make a meaningful impact in the lives of others through volunteering and serving my community.

"A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. My mom still has it in our home. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I still tend to be the voice of calm and reason when friends have disagreements. I have been called "an old soul" many times. I did witness my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major. Earning this scholarship will help me fulfill my dreams of attending a four-year college; it will ease the financial burden that comes with higher education, allowing me to focus more on my studies. It would also help cover some of the costs associated with my education, affording me more time to volunteer and participate in internships that will provide me with hands-on experiences and skills I will need in the future. The most impactful activity of my high school career has been my involvement with Best Buds. This is a school-run club where mainstream students connect with peers with disabilities, specifically those our county considers Exceptional Students (students with developmental delays). At the first meeting as a shy freshman, I pushed past my nervousness and struck up a conversation with Cam, a student whose positivity spread to everyone around him despite his need for extra support. We talked about our mutual love for music, he told me about the band he plays in, and we made art together. From that day on, I vowed to become more of a leader and more involved at my school. I attended all the Best Buds meetings, creating friendships with many students and encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same. I realized that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to bullying prevention. Seeing the determination and joy of the Buds was incredibly rewarding; it reinforced my belief in the power of inclusion. I discovered that community involvement isn’t just about helping others; it’s about learning from them and making lasting connections. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have inspired me to continue serving others in meaningful ways throughout my life. As someone who is passionate about understanding human behavior, especially dealing with how people cope with different situations, my degree is the first step toward my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. However, the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses make this dream hard to achieve. My father has been laid off twice; this has made it difficult for my family to save adequately for my college education. I have been working and saving for two years, but the cost of a college degree is significant. Overall, this scholarship will help reduce my financial stress, allow me to fully commit to my education and career goals, and help me make a meaningful impact in the lives of others through volunteering and serving my community. Thank you for your consideration.

"A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. My mom still has it in our home. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I still tend to be the voice of calm and reason when friends have disagreements. I have been called "an old soul" many times. I did witness my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major, but science has literally been part of my DNA since I can remember. Maybe my attraction to science began at age six when I was able to witness a mother sea turtle nesting on a Florida beach, the same beach where she had emerged from her shell some years before. Or maybe it was the family vacations to National Parks where we participated in ranger-led activities to become junior rangers, learning about animals, plants, ecosystems, constellations, history, and stewardship of said parks. I can recall the first time I was able to see the Milky Way with my own eyes; it was like a trip to the planetarium, but it wasn't a screen, it was real! My siblings had fallen asleep as we left Zion National Park. We pulled over to the side of the road to look at the stars and let our eyes adjust for several minutes. Then there it was; it was so beautiful and so vast. Seeing something that was only a concept was just something I didn't have words for then, but I now know it was a love of science. My mom still drives us to dark places to see different night sky events: unique moons, eclipses, meteor showers, rocket launches, and the ISS when it passes by. I still have every one of those junior ranger badges I earned too, and despite being seventeen years old now and my mom in her fifties, we still visit National Parks, complete the activities, raise our right hands, and take the oath to earn our Junior Ranger badges. I have had the privilege of having several passionate teachers like Ms. Adams. In the fifth grade, I had Mrs. Grant, who nurtured my love of science and ignited it in other children. We made pasta cars and raced them. We did a lab depicting how the digestive system worked with saltines, fake stomach acid, and pantyhose. We learned about genetics and created fictional new breeds of dogs based on how we arranged genes. We did a variation of this project my junior year of high school in my animal science class where we created dogs to the breed standards. I made a Curly Coated Retriever and won "Best in Group". Mrs. Grant made science so fun! She reminded us of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, but she was not as eccentric and had tame hair by comparison. In eighth grade I had Mrs. Ayyagri, who was also inspiring. We learned all the elements of the periodic table using a rap song to commit them to memory. We created Element City where each of us created a 3D model showcasing the uses and applications of our elements, mine was Gold. In high school I took ten science courses when only three were required for graduation: Biology, Horticulture, AP Environmental Science, Chemistry, Animal Science, Sports Medicine 1,2,3 and 4 and Marine Ecology. So why psychology after all the other sciences? The most impactful activity of my high school career has been my involvement with Best Buds. This is a school-run club where mainstream students connect with peers with disabilities, specifically those our county considers Exceptional Students (students with developmental delays). At the first meeting as a shy freshman, I pushed past my nervousness and struck up a conversation with Cam, a student whose positivity spread to everyone around him despite his need for extra support. We talked about our mutual love for music, he told me about the band he plays in, and we made art together. From that day on, I vowed to become more of a leader and more involved at my school. I attended all the Best Buds meetings, creating friendships with many students and encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same. I realized that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to a successful, civil society. Seeing the determination and joy of the Buds was incredibly rewarding; it reinforced my belief in the power of inclusion. I discovered that community involvement isn’t just about helping others; it’s about learning from them and making lasting connections. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have inspired me to continue serving others in meaningful ways throughout my life. As someone who is passionate about understanding human behavior, especially dealing with how people cope with different situations, my degree is the first step toward my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. Earning this scholarship will help me fulfill my dreams of attending a four-year college; it will ease the financial burden that comes with higher education. This will allow me to focus more on my studies, subsequently affording me more time to volunteer and participate in internships that will provide me with hands-on experiences and skills I will need in the future. My father has been laid off twice; this has made it difficult for my family to save adequately for my college education. I have managed a cumulative 3.7 GPA while working and saving for the last two years, but the cost of a college degree is still significant. Overall, the Julie Adams Memorial Scholarship for Women in STEM will not only help me financially but it will also help me make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. I hope to honor Ms. Adams memory and strive to share our combined passion for STEM for years to come. Thank you for your consideration.

"A Curious Girl Who Loves Sea Turtles" was the title of a self-reflection poem I wrote in the fifth grade. My mom still has it in our home. It juxtaposed the thoughts of a carefree child with the worries about peace in the world in which I was growing up. I have always been a nature-loving girl who liked helping others. I assumed the role of peacemaker between my siblings as the middle child. I still tend to be the voice of calm and reason when friends have disagreements. I have been called "an old soul" many times. I did witness my older sister endure bullying from a classmate, and I lived the second-hand effects it had on our family when she would act out in our home, as that is where she felt safe. I believe things happen for a reason, and these events have led me to pursue psychology as my major. Earning this scholarship will help me fulfill my dreams of attending a four-year college; it will ease the financial burden that comes with higher education, allowing me to focus more on my studies. It would also help cover some of the costs associated with my education, affording me more time to volunteer and participate in internships that will provide me with hands-on experiences and skills I will need in the future. The most impactful activity of my high school career has been my involvement with Best Buds. This is a school-run club where mainstream students connect with peers with disabilities, specifically those our county considers Exceptional Students (students with developmental delays). At the first meeting as a shy freshman, I pushed past my nervousness and struck up a conversation with Cam, a student whose positivity spread to everyone around him despite his need for extra support. We talked about our mutual love for music, he told me about the band he plays in, and we made art together. From that day on, I vowed to become more of a leader and more involved at my school.  I attended all the Best Buds meetings, creating friendships with many students and encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones and do the same. I realized that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all. We don't bully or pick on those we genuinely connect with; finding commonalities is the key to bullying prevention. Seeing the determination and joy of the Buds was incredibly rewarding; it reinforced my belief in the power of inclusion. I discovered that community involvement isn’t just about helping others; it’s about learning from them and making lasting connections. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have inspired me to continue serving others in meaningful ways throughout my life. As someone who is passionate about understanding human behavior, especially dealing with how people cope with different situations, my degree is the first step toward my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. However, the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses make this dream hard to achieve. My father has been laid off twice; this has made it difficult for my family to save adequately for my college education. I have been working and saving for two years, but the cost of a college degree is significant. Overall, this scholarship will help reduce my financial stress, allow me to fully commit to my education and career goals, and help me make a meaningful impact in the lives of others through volunteering and serving my community. Thank you for your consideration.

When I was in seventh grade, I had a mandatory reading log for my English teacher. We had to pick books out of the library in her class and as someone who judges books by their covers, I picked up “All the Bright Places” simply because I liked how different it looked and the pastel colors on the cover. It was mysterious with the sticky notes and symbols on the front, so without knowing what I was getting myself into, I picked up the book and started reading. From the very first page, I was drawn into the story and it quickly became one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. March of my seventh grade year, COVID hit and I was struggling with my mental health due to being locked up in my house for months. This book showed me that it was completely normal for teens my age to have similar struggles and made me feel more comfortable in my own skin. When I later discovered that the book had been turned into a movie as well, I was elated at the thought of being able to see all the characters that had changed my mindset so much. I was excited but also slightly apprehensive at how the film would capture the emotions described so in depth in the book. Watching the movie for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the director, Brett Haley did with it. He was able to portray the characters perfectly with the people he chose to cast, and it strengthened my hopes in the bond between books and movies. Movies that have been based off a book don’t usually have a good reputation as readers feel they aren’t able to go as in depth on certain topics like books are. Books are also written to satisfy a certain kind of person, someone who can sit down and spend the time to read through the whole thing rather than a movie that only takes a couple of hours. This is what causes the bad reputation, and I was overjoyed to see that the movie was still able to have the same impact on me, if not more, than the book when I watched it. Overall, this novel to film adaptation bridged the gap between reading and watching experiences by allowing those who may not have the time to sit down and read a book to still receive the important message about mental health in teens. It emphasized the importance of support systems, getting help when you need it, and encouraged open conversations about psychological wellness in young adults. Lastly, at the end of the film, it included resources for those struggling with issues they may not feel safe to tell their families about, guiding viewers to mental health organizations for support.

LeBron James is my glorious king and my sunshine! He is the greatest basketball player of all time because he inspires so many across generations. My mom is a middle school basketball coach and fan. My brother plays high school basketball. I played one glorious year in 7th grade in which my free throw percentage was 100%. That's right, I retired from basketball with a one hundred percent average from the line and it was all thanks to Lebron James. I suppose you'd like the backstory... After a surgery on my femur ended my ten years of dance, I was yearning to be active after my recovery. I decided to try basketball. My middle school friends and I were all new to the sport, but we were committed. We had just read the Kwame Alexander books, "The Crossover", "Booked" and "Rebound". My mom had even taken us to meet the author at a local bookshop. Our team had a chant when we would break our huddle, it was set to the Farmer's Insurance jingle, "We Are Ballers, bum bu bum bum bum bum bum!" Our team played with heart; we won some, we lost more, but we had fun and learned so much along the way. We were at our rival school one cold January day, shorts down to our knees like the Michigan Wolverines in 1989. We wore striped socks up to our knees and embraced a "baller" lifestyle as much as middle school girls in suburban North Carolina could, quite a stretch for a Mexican-American girl like myself. It was an aggressive game, lots of fouls. Their coach and players were intense. I was fouled and sent to the line. I had been watching NBA games with my family, trying to gain an understanding of my role as a "big" playing under the basket. I bounced the ball, took my stance, quietly said to myself, "LeBron James", closed my eyes and released the ball. It went in! Straight swish, no backboard! I repeated the same sequence: bounce, stance, whisper "LeBron James", close eyes, release! The ball went in again! Swish! Our bench went wild and I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude that I channeled LeBron and he came through for me. Those were the only two free throws I took all season and throughout my basketball career. Covid struck several months later and our eighth-grade basketball season was cancelled as a result. I wasn't brave enough to tryout in high school and my involvement changed to that of a fan for the next 5 years. Now as a student of AP Statistics I have a different kind of respect for LeBron, for his statistical dominance across multiple categories; scoring more points than Jordan, having more assists than Magic and more steals than Iverson. All the championships, the MVP and All Star awards, and being the flag bearer for the Olympics in 2024, they are all a testament to the phenomenal athlete he is, but for me, it was that cold day in January 2020 that sealed it for me. I thought of nothing but him and I got nothing but net!