As a child, I was faced with verbal and sometimes physical abuse at the hands of my mother's boyfriend. While I was more fortunate than other children, I still feel the lasting effects of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. As a mental health counselor, I would like to work with children and help them to overcome their trauma and give them the tools they need to cope with it. I understand that trauma will never be erased, and never will be nonexistent. However, with the proper tools and opportunities to speak and recover from their trauma, we can form a healthier child, thus a healthier world. This may sound idealistic, but I strive to be the person that I needed as a child. I often consider what my life would be like had I learned how to handle the trauma I faced, and how to recover from it. I struggled so much with wondering why my mother did not "love" me enough to stop the abuse, which led me to seeking that feeling of love as a young adult. I was so desperate to feel loved and wanted, that I allowed myself to be involved in dangerous situations, which led to an instance of sexual assault. Following these abusive, traumatic experiences, I felt that there was nothing worth living for. After receiving counseling as an adult, I have learned to not blame myself for the trauma I have faced. I was also taught coping mechanisms to regulate myself when feeling anxious or depressed. We formed a "plan" of the steps I would take to avoid engaging in self-harm and reduce instances of suicidal thoughts. After these experiences, I have struggled with controlling my anxiety. For too long I was afraid of going out and meeting other people, even going to the grocery store induced debilitating fear. By encouragement from my counselor and my family, I was determined to go back to school and get my B.S. and eventually my M.S. and become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. In many ways my anxiety has been a constant battle for me, from subtle anxious feelings to overwhelming anxiety attacks. I became very reliant on anxiety medications to function each day, but eventually I learned how to control my anxiety and take my life back from my illness. I still struggle to raise my hand in class or speak my opinion if it is different from another person's, but now I notice the desire to do so. I no longer wish to be complacent to avoid triggering my anxiety. I refuse to let my social anxiety steer the course of my life any longer. Pursuing my degree is going to allow me to teach other ways to manage their various mental illnesses and allow them to regain control of their own lives. With mental health needs increasing, the importance of mental health professionals increases as well. I aspire to use my experiences and successes to help others meet their own successes.

My name is Emily Morris, and I am pursuing a B.S. of Sociology and minoring in Psychology with the intentions of completing a M.S. of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have struggled with mental health for most of my life, and battling these disorders or issues is often a silent fight. I was abused at the hands of my mother's boyfriend, verbal, emotional, and sometimes physical abuse became regular in my childhood. At this point, I have learned the ways to cope with the trauma I had been through, but before counseling, I had no idea where to turn or what to do. I often consider what my life would be like had I learned how to handle the trauma I faced, and how to recover from it. I struggled so much with wondering why my mother did not "love" me enough to stop the abuse, which led me to seeking that feeling of love as a young adult. I was so desperate to feel loved and wanted, that I allowed myself to be involved in dangerous situations, which led to an instance of sexual assault. Following these abusive, traumatic experiences, I felt that there was nothing worth living for. After receiving counseling as an adult, I have learned to not blame myself for the trauma I have faced. I was also taught coping mechanisms to regulate myself when feeling anxious or depressed. We formed a "plan" of the steps I would take to avoid engaging in self-harm and reduce instances of suicidal thoughts. I am so blessed to have found a counselor which aided in my recovery and my continued success. My counselor saved my life, and reminded me that I was loved, needed, and wanted in the world. My only regret is not finding this help sooner. He instilled a sense of purpose in me, the desire to help others overcome their trauma. My counselor helped remind me that life was worth living, and that no matter what, I am needed and loved within this world. A reminder I now say frequently to myself, as well as my friends or family who are struggling with their mental health. My personal experiences are certainly a motivator in my desire to help others. Currently, I am working a full-time job while also attending Texas A&M as a full-time student. This scholarship would be such a blessing to me and help me further my educational career and allow me to focus more of my energy towards school and allow me to be less concerned about finances. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application.