“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brené Brown I was 13 when I went into cardiac arrest due to an eating disorder and heat stroke. I was resuscitated and rushed to the hospital, where my secret struggle with food and control was exposed. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what was happening—I only knew that the emotional pain I carried needed an outlet, and controlling my body gave me a false sense of stability. Growing up in a broken, unstable home left me feeling powerless. Bullying, anxiety, and the breakdown of friendships worsened the pressure. I restricted my eating to feel in control, eating less than 1,000 calories a day. I deteriorated physically and mentally until I hit rock bottom. I’m not proud of that time—but I’m also not ashamed. It’s a reflection of a world that demands perfection but offers few tools for emotional survival. My recovery began in that hospital bed, when I admitted I needed help. Through therapy and support groups, I rebuilt myself. The journey wasn’t linear, but it taught me self-awareness, compassion, and the strength that comes from vulnerability. I became a mental health advocate, working with Missouri Rotary to promote access to care and open conversations. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be okay—and that healing is possible. These experiences shaped my purpose. I’m planning to pursue a degree in international business, driven by a deep respect for cultural diversity and a belief that global collaboration can transform how companies care for people. I want to be part of a generation that reshapes business—not just to be more profitable, but to be more human. My long-term goal is to launch a nonprofit that partners with global businesses to implement trauma-informed leadership, promote mental wellness, and build supportive work environments. I believe in business as a force for good—where employee well-being is as important as revenue, and where empathy is part of executive training. I want to help shift the narrative so companies value their people as much as their productivity. I’m a strong candidate for this scholarship not because my life has been easy, but because I’ve fought to rebuild it—and now, I want to use what I’ve learned to help others. I am driven and resilient. I’ve lived the consequences of neglecting mental health and I’ve seen the power of recovery. That perspective is something I bring to everything I do, from advocacy to academics. Financially, I’m carrying a heavy load. My mother is going through a difficult divorce from an abusive household, and I am solely responsible for funding my education. I work to support myself and prepare for the 75% decline in household income we’ll face when she separates. This scholarship wouldn’t just relieve financial stress—it would help me stay focused on my mission: to advocate for mental health without compromising my own. One person I admire deeply is Brené Brown. Her work on vulnerability, courage, and leadership reminds me that empathy is not weakness—it’s a strength that transforms lives. She has shown that leading with compassion is not only possible, but necessary. I hope to follow in her footsteps, using my own story to create change in boardrooms, communities, and cultures around the world. I’ve explored the darkness—and now I’m committed to using my light to help others find theirs.

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” - Brene Brown. There have been many dark times in my life which have shaped me into the person I am today. I went into cardiac arrest at age 13 due to an eating disorder and a heat stroke. I was resuscitated and rushed to the hospital. There, doctors confronted me about my frighteningly low growth charts. I sat in that cold hospital bed and cried as my darkest secret—my eating disorder—was finally exposed. It had been my reaction to overwhelming emotional pain for over a year. I struggled with my self-image at a young age. Family and peer remarks regarding appearance stung, and as a product of a broken home with an unstable home life, I often felt powerless. I clung to control where and when I could—especially in how I treated and thought about myself. Middle school unleashed bullying and destroyed friendships that exacerbated anxiety and depression. I began to deteriorate mentally as I resorted to restrictive eating, eating less than 1,000 calories daily. I am not proud of that period—but I am not ashamed, either. It speaks to a society that pushes young people to be perfect, but doesn't provide them with healthy coping mechanisms. Eating disorders are very stigmatized, but body dissatisfaction is the norm. That disconnect is how I became a community mental health advocate. I work with Missouri Rotary to promote more access to mental health care and to create open conversation within my community. Despite the darkest hour, I've discovered my light's strength. Although I did not realize it at the time, the services I engaged in after hospitalization saved my life. Through those programs, I initiated therapy, began attending support groups, and established healthier coping mechanisms. I discovered that recovery is not always straightforward—but it is possible. I now live more openly, embracing vulnerability and urging others to do the same. It's okay not to be okay. My journey has taught me empathy, self-awareness, and resilience. These experiences have shaped my goals. I am going to study business administration, not just to lead, but to transform how leadership thinks about mental health. Too often, the corporate world neglects the emotional wellbeing of its employees. I would like to create a future where mental health is a business leader's priority, where vulnerability is a sign of strength, and where humans are valued as more than their productivity. Specifically, I would like to initiate a mental-health-first movement in corporate structures, namely trauma-informed leadership structures. This movement would train executives and managers to be sensitive to employees' psychological and emotional requirements, to develop accommodating wellness policies, and to build a workplace culture where mental well-being is proactively nurtured. I believe business can be both high-functioning and humane—and I'd love to be part of the generation to make that clear. I also have significant financial need. I am solely responsible for funding my own education, since my mother is going through a quiet and tumultuous divorce in an abusive household. This has forced me to take on financial responsibility outside of school, as I work to support myself and prepare for the steep decline—over 75%—in our household income that will come when she completely separates. Helping my mother gain independence and emotional safety is a burden I carry heavily, and I'm committed to doing everything I can to reduce the burden on her while building a future for myself. Receiving this scholarship would not only finance my academic dreams—it would also allow me to continue fighting for mental health in meaningful ways without compromising the health of my family. I’m grateful for the chance to live this “second life.” As Brené Brown said, I’ve explored the darkness—and now, I’m committed to using my light to help others find theirs.

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” - Brene Brown. There have been many dark times in my life that have shaped me into the person I am today. I went into cardiac arrest at age 13 due to an eating disorder and heat stroke. I was resuscitated and rushed to the hospital. There, doctors confronted me about my frighteningly low growth charts. I sat in that cold hospital bed and cried as my darkest secret—my eating disorder—was finally exposed. It had been my reaction to overwhelming emotional pain for over a year. I struggled with my self-image at a young age. Family and peer remarks regarding appearance stung, and as a product of a broken home with an unstable home life, I often felt powerless. I clung to control where and when I could, especially in how I treated and thought about myself. Middle school unleashed bullying and destroyed friendships that exacerbated anxiety and depression. I began to deteriorate mentally as I resorted to restrictive eating, eating less than 1,000 calories daily. I am not proud of that period—but I am not ashamed, either. It speaks to a society that pushes young people to be perfect, but doesn't provide them with healthy coping mechanisms. Eating disorders are very stigmatized, but body dissatisfaction is the norm. That disconnect is how I became a community mental health advocate. I work with Missouri Rotary to promote more access to mental health care and to create open conversation within my community. Despite the darkest hour, I've discovered my light's strength. Although I did not realize it at the time, the services I engaged in after hospitalization saved my life. Through those programs, I initiated therapy, began attending support groups, and established healthier coping mechanisms. I discovered that recovery is not always straightforward—but it is possible. I now live more openly, embracing vulnerability and urging others to do the same. It's okay not to be okay. My journey has taught me empathy, self-awareness, and resilience. These experiences have shaped my goals. I am going to study business administration, not just to lead, but to transform how leadership thinks about mental health. Too often, the corporate world neglects the emotional wellbeing of its employees. I would like to create a future where mental health is a business leader's priority, where vulnerability is a sign of strength, and where humans are valued as more than their productivity. Specifically, I would like to initiate a mental-health-first movement in corporate structures, namely trauma-informed leadership structures. This movement would train executives and managers to be sensitive to employees' psychological and emotional requirements, to develop accommodating wellness policies, and to build a workplace culture where mental well-being is proactively nurtured. I believe business can be both high-functioning and humane—and I'd love to be part of the generation to make that clear. I also have significant financial needs. I am solely responsible for funding my own education, since my mother is going through a quiet and tumultuous divorce in an abusive household. This has forced me to take on financial responsibility outside of school, as I work to support myself and prepare for the steep decline—over 75%—in our household income that will come when she completely separates. Helping my mother gain independence and emotional safety is a burden I carry heavily, and I'm committed to doing everything I can to reduce the burden on her while building a future for myself. Receiving this scholarship would not only finance my academic dreams—it would also allow me to continue fighting for mental health in meaningful ways without compromising the health of my family. I’m grateful for the chance to live this “second life.” As Brené Brown said, I’ve explored the darkness—and now, I’m committed to using my light to help others find theirs.