Growing people is one of my passions. I enjoy helping others be the best version of themselves. There is no better feeling than seeing someone you care about achieve their dreams. For me people are my purpose. They create excitement in my life, they add community, and they bring warmth. Sometimes they can bring about challenges and conflict, but that's where the growing is done for me. This is where the lessons are learned, the relationships become deeper, and trust becomes more valuable. In my experiences mentoring others has been about destroying their limiting beliefs, and giving them tools and avenues to use to take action in their lives. My hope through my impact on my mentee's is, that I would leave a legacy behind. I want to leave an imprint on them beyond our years together. The people who have mentored me have all left me with food for thought. They have challenged me to raise the standard, and to think different. Each one leaving different imprints on my being, that I have taken with me as I've journeyed through life. To me the main goal of mentorship is to change the trajectory of a person's life. To make them better, to cause them to look at their life or situation through different lenses. One should never leave a mentorship unchanged. In my opinion someone should come out with a new attribute, quality, way of thinking or activating. To have a mentee who is not phased by my influence on their life would be a fail on my part to help them be their best version. When I send someone out from under my mentorship I want them to use our time together to impact their endeavors in a positive way.

Resolutely or dutifully, firm and unwavering ... steadfast. If there is one thing I value over all else is my ability to be steadfast. When you suffer from chronic illnesses there is always the temptation to quit, give up, and lose interest in pursing your life goals and aspirations. I can say with full confidence when you live with Autoimmune diseases your plans are at total will of the disease. Flares come and go with no warning, and when they come they have final say most of the time of what they will inflict on you. In my younger years I used to take my situation as something that would be forever, and very well my condition might never change physically. However, I do have the power over my mind to change my perspective. Mind over matter is something I've had to learn to master as I've grown up with my condition. I've had to learn how to pivot daily. The biggest thing I've had to cultivate in myself is steadfastness. The ability to keep going when it looks impossible. The ability to learn how to do things differently to still achieve the goal or keep going. I've had to learn to take the stand of never waiving the white flag in defeat to my diseases. Every situation I have faced has been different, and each one comes with its own set of challenges. I value my cultivation of steadfastness as it has helped me to overcome unbearable situations. It has helped me to realize my strength when things become difficult. Most of all my steadfastness has allowed me to have opportunities I might not have experienced otherwise. Going to college has always been something I've wanted to do, and due to my illness I wasn't able to attend right after graduation. I have always enjoyed sports, and the impact they have had on my life. I was never able to play, but found joy in the managing of sports. Without going to college my goal of being in the sports industry was unachievable. The pause between graduation and today, where I am now able to attend college, almost five years later has been the fight of my life. I have had to learn to through many trials and lessons the value of being steadfast. I've learned you can never give up because you don't know whats on the other side of standing firm. I believe just like in the past and now currently, being steadfast is going to equip me with a fervent enduring spirit. I believe this quality will open up doors for me others won't walk through because I will be willing to knock the door down no matter the cost. Being steadfast as I progress through life will also help me to look at challenges through multiple different lenses in order to know how to progress through them in a manner that will honor my goals and life circumstances. I certainly haven't experienced everything, but I believe having an unwavering spirit gives me depth to be prepared for unexpected situations. I also believe it will ground me in my values and beliefs, so when situations find me or opportunities present themselves I will be ready to know what to give my energy to and what not to. I believe steadfastness will give me a patience to stand firm when situations may be trying or tempting to quit.

While I do not suffer from NF, I am plagued with multiple Autoimmune diseases, such as Mast Cell, POTS, and NMH. In the 11th grade I suffered a massive Concussion. Due to my underlying health conditions the recovery time was significantly longer than most Concussion patients. I was in pain physically from it for 9 months, but my brain didn't fully heal for at least a year. Since the initial hit to my head, I have struggled with learning not just in a classroom setting, but I had to even learn how to operate a car again. In the months following my Concussion diagnosis I was put into Cognitive and Physical Therapy. I needed help with learning how to formulate thoughts to write papers. I needed help learning how to read off of a piece of paper again. I had to learn how to study and remember information all over again. It very much reminded me of my days in elementary school. Many days I could only do school work for a max of two hours a day as I couldn't comprehend beyond that. I ended up having to miss attending school in person. I was forced to do school at home. I even had to get specialized eye glasses as my eyes couldn't process information at a speed I could read at well. I had to have specialized paper where my teachers would print out my school work on blue sheets for me to read off of. Everything was different and extremely difficult for me. I was already used to a life that wasn't normal due to my Autoimmune diseases, but the added stress on my body from the Concussion was hard to deal with. I could forget any of the normalcy, the very little of it I did have, as gone. This injury put me back significantly for attending college in the fall after graduating. The actual Concussion symptoms did leave, but its lasting affects on me cognitively didn't leave so quickly. In fact the years following graduation were some of my hardest as my Autoimmune disease began to flare out of control leaving doctors unaware of how to treat me. Instead of heading into the university classrooms I was finding myself in many hospital rooms. I eventually was able about a year and half ago due to help from my medical team to get to a place of stability with my conditions. Through all my experiences I have realized I am at a point in life where I want to fight for what I am truly passionate about ... sports. With help from my Accommodations office at school I have found I can sustain going to school. This scholarship will help me to cover costs of schooling. Being able to get a degree would mean better health insurance for me to cover all my treatments. I would be able to get a job that will accommodate my conditions as well. I am a fighter. I will pursue my education to the best of my ability never giving up because I know what it means to be where I am today. I at one point didn't think this would be a possibility to pursue a degree, so getting this opportunity is something I value. I still struggle to function and learn at 100%, but I keep showing up in hopes that each day will be an improvement. I know this scholarship would give me the freedom to not worry about costs, so I can give my full attention to my studies.

Battling multiple Autoimmune diseases has taught me the value of good health. It has given me a perspective, that health shouldn't be taken for granted. Good health isn't just promised. Some individuals might get lucky with a clean bill of health, but for most of us we are forced to make a conscious intentional decision and effort to honor our bodies by taking care of them. Living with chronic illnesses is extremely hard and has limited my experiences greatly. In order to live a close to normal life where I have energy, and am not limited by my illnesses I prioritize my health through eating well, moving my body, therapeutic treatments, and meditation and spiritual wellness. Being able to have a choice is the reason I prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Living with Autoimmune diseases means I'm normally at the will of my disease. Flares come and go whenever they want, and I typically don't have a say in their arrival or what they choose to inflict on me when they do happen. There was a point in time when I wasn't able to move around like I would want, I couldn't attend a college, or even work. Since working with my medical team I have been able to find some success where I am now able to do light work and even attend college. I am thankful I have been able to utilize some of the options my medical team has given me to take my health back into my own hands. Through treatments such as, Dry Needling, my muscles have been able to function properly allowing me to get around and sustain more activity. Doing low impact exercises have allowed me to move my body in a way that won't allow for inflammation. This is important as inflammation is a sure way to cause a full on debilitating flare. I very much value being able to move even at low impact because, the more I move the less chance of my body shutting down on me. The more I take care of myself now by being as physically in shape as I can be, the more my future self with thank me. I surely do not want to be elderly with an Autoimmune disease that has not been treated well and taken care of when I was younger. There is also a mental side of Autoimmune diseases. I have greatly been impacted by waves of depression from not being able to live the life I would have picked for myself. Multiple years in a row of being basically bed ridden was not enjoyable, and it does begin to take a toll on you mentally. It can start to feel like your current situation is your forever situation. Mental health is important. Keeping a good outlook on your life helps to keep you motivated and engaged in the life you have been given. One of the ways I maintain and improve my mental health is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have found meditation and prayer has given me a hope. I also eat wholefoods to reduce inflammation, which avoids flares giving me good nutrients to help my mental state and body. Good health isn't always guaranteed, so for me prioritizing healthy living is my only option. I find extreme value in it.

To me a healthy lifestyle is more than exercising and strict diets. Living daily with multiple Autoimmune diseases has forced me to really prioritize healthy living. To me a healthy lifestyle is important to me because, without it I wouldn't be able to give my body the proper love and care it deserves to function well. When I'm not healthy every other part of my life is effected. A healthy lifestyle helps me to be prepared for my future. It also helps me to be available to my friends and family. Anyone who is familiar with Autoimmune diseases is aware they are energy suckers. They are very unpredictable. They can be extremely limiting, and those effected by them do not ever know what each day will hold for them. For me particularly, I have to be very cautious of what I give my energy to. This is one the biggest reasons I prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Eating well, moving my body, setting boundaries, and utilizing the right kinds of treatments all help me to gain energy. If I were to ignore treatments like, Physical Therapy, which help to move my body I would become stiff and unable to move. The pain in my muscles would begin to keep me from getting to work, school, or even doing things with friends and families. This is just one of the reasons I find taking care of myself to be important. Another reason I prioritize and value healthy living is so I can be prepared for my future. Autoimmune diseases can cause you to have highs and lows mentally. Sometimes it can feel like your present situation will be your forever situation. Keeping up with a healthy lifestyle allows me to keep moving forward. Exercising helps me to be physically well to move. It helps to produce chemicals, which in turn create feel good feelings to help me think positive. Healthy eating keeps inflammation from arising in my body, and this is good for me in order to think well and avoid flares. Avoiding flares will help me to stay involved in my schooling and working. All these aspects help to ensure my body and mind are well enough to do my daily responsibilities, so I can be prepared for my future. When I get older I will thank myself for taking all these things into consideration because, as you age with Autoimmune diseases the body can be harder to move and the flares can worsen. I hope by taking these measures now when I am older I will be in good position to still work and take care of my family. Autoimmune diseases are also very limiting. They are very draining to your energy. They act up whenever they want regardless of your schedule. They don't care if you have plans with your friends to get ice-cream on a Friday evening they will throw a flare right into your evening plans. This is another reason I find a healthy life style important. There is less of a chance your Autoimmune disease will slow you down if you are moving and proactively choosing to take care of yourself. For the longest time I was unable to fully move or be out of bed more than maybe 3 hours a day. I am so grateful now for the routine I have created and the healthy habits I have put into place to keep me in a position to be well enough to avoid multiple flares. Being able to attend college has been one of my biggest goals in life. Graduating with a degree at one point seemed impossible. Due to prioritizing my health and intentional living I am finally at a good place to attend school. This is probably the biggest reason I think a healthy lifestyle is important because, it has allowed me to have choices I might not have been able to have without the healthy habits I have put in place. Its the choices, the energy I have, being able to move my body, and not being limited by my illness, that I have choose to intentionally live a healthy life. Its important for me to prioritize health because, it gives me the freedom to live a somewhat normal life regardless of my not so normal diagnosis. Without putting my systems into place I can't imagine how much I would have to forfeit. Good health can sometimes come by luck, but most of us humans have to choose to intentionally make an effort to take care of ourselves; I'm thankful I have the option to do just that.

To be brave means typically one is faced with a challenge, and there might be even be some danger involved. To be bold means normally one is daring to change a standard of some kind. To be both to me means being a conqueror. When living with multiple chronic illnesses one is given a choice to either surrender to the disease or rise above against all odds. I never imagined when I passed out one day in the 7th grade, that my life would never be the same again. As my disease progressed into high school I realized my life would always be different from that of my peers. My life sentence would always be limited by the many diseases plaguing my body. I never felt like I had a choice. For many years I hated my illnesses. I let them define me, and allowed myself to be limited by them. Until one day I found my purpose in the Lord of my life, Jesus. I began to dream again. I realized my pain had purpose, and my disability was an intricate part of my life. As I now find myself pursing my college degree, I realize just how much my disease has given me. I have gained resounding strength and resiliency. I get up everyday knowing I’ll have to fight every cell in my body to accomplish my dream. I am a conqueror because I choose to get up everyday to pursue the life I know I can have for myself. I’m bold to dare the limits my doctors give me, and I’m brave to trust God has a plan when I come up short. It’s not easy to fight the very makeup of your body. It takes serious determination.

A dog, man’s best friend. There is something so innocent and pure about dogs. Sweet and caring, always willing to be there for you, and of course never not giving their owners a laugh or two. Just with everything else dogs can be a lot of work, but I think most dog owners would agree they would have a hard time living without their furry fiends. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing many great dogs since childhood however, Colt and Winchester, are the two that left an impact on my life. Colt was a protective Black Lab. When I was just a young gal I was his girl. He would follow me around the house watching my every move. He was more than likely waiting to see when I would drop a chip out of my snack baggie he could nibble on. He also loved hanging out with his companion, Winchester. Winchester was my families, Yellow Lab, and Colts partner in crime. The two would always be chasing each other’s tails. When feeling a little more wild they would occasionally destroy every pillow in my parent’s bedroom. One time my parents came home to a room of feathers floating in the air, and sure enough the culprits were those two with feathers stuck to their drool. Those two were always up to something. Until one day my family suffered a great loss. “Scott! Colts been hit we need to go to the vet immediately, he’s hurt very bad,” my mom screamed in the house as ran in from outside. Colt had been outside the front of our house for a bathroom break when a women not paying attention ran into him with her car. She told my mother she had thought she hit a garbage-can, but she had hit something much more precious. A piece of our family … our protector. It was a sad evening when Colt passed. Winchester would now follow me around the house alone with no one to fight for my falling chips. He’d have to chase his own tail. For sure he would now be the man of the house in charge of protecting all of us. A little bit died in Winchester the day Colt left us to be in heaven. Never would there be another Colt. Our dear furry companions come and go through all seasons of life, but their memories never leave. They are sweet spirits that love us unconditionally. Today I’m 24 and I still remember running around with these two pals as a child. This is one of the reasons I love dogs because they just become a part of who you are. I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to not have a dog growing up. Having them I believe taught me how to take care of something, and helped me to appreciate just how special life is. There was one season of life where my family didn’t have a furry family member. It always felt like something was missing. Dogs just add a level of security and companionship. I realize to some this might have been sad to hear of Colts passing, but even today so many years later I love to remember my family’s laughter we all shared over his shenanigans. Dogs always outlive themselves in memory, and that’s just one of the many reasons I love them.

While many of my high school peers were throwing their caps into the air to acknowledge the transition into a new season of life as college freshman, it felt like I was throwing mine right into the garbage-can. My once dream of pursuing a career in the Sports Industry suddenly turned into a nightmare. All my hard fought days in the classroom seemed like waste. Since as early as I can remember I have been fighting multiple Autoimmune disease. This is no easy task as they have one motive of operation: to attack every healthy cell in my body. Needless to say graduation day came after many hospitalizations, stints of time doing school from my bedroom, and many missed events like being able to participate as an athlete in sports. Still I was determined and motivated to not be defined by this illness inhabiting me. However, as gradation approached my hopes of attending college came to a close as I was too ill to attend classes. My illness didn’t just effect schooling it also began to effect my ability to hold employment as well. I found myself feeling purposeless and without meaning. During this time I was fortunate to have found Mary Kay cosmetics where I was able to work from the comfort of my home at my own pace and schedule. Still playing with makeup was very different from being on the field slinging water during timeouts to thirsty ball players. Since I was never able to play sports I fell in love with the aspect of running sports, and what goes into actually running a team. Especially working with the athletes to assist them and care for their needs. Mary Kay may not have given me the thrill of being on the field during a Touchdown, but it did prepare me in more ways than one. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons such as over coming challenges, organization, leading and caring for others, scheduling, time management, budgeting and communication skills. I now see how God’s hand was in the details of my plans after graduation. Without this time I would not have realized how much fight I truly have in me, and how much of a passion I truly have for athletes and the Sports Industry. I was beyond blessed with an acceptance to my school of choice I had originally wanted to attend after gradation. I have fallen in love with their Recreation and Sports Management program. I have found school to still be very challenging, but with the help of my advisers, the Accommodation office, and my medical team I have been able to thrive in this chapter of my life. I’m even more elated to share my accomplishment of making the, Deans List, my first semester. With all that said my Autoimmune diseases are still very prevalent in my life. I still must pick and chose how to spend my energy. Going back to school was a way to follow my passion, but also to provide a way to get better health insurance for all my needs. Holding a job and going to school full time is not an option for me. Getting this scholarship would help to alleviate the financial pressure I am under helping me to focus on my studies. I have a goal of one day being able to finally throw my cap in anticipation of paving a road in the Sports Industry for myself. I hope to be able to bring fresh passion and ideas to the teams I know I will find myself on.

When was the last one you stopped to think about what goes in your food or if the place your food is coming from is clean? Well in all honesty you probably don’t consciously think of these things when digging into your favorite bag of chips or eating the juicy meat in your burger. There is no need because we know there is ingrident lists, and we have the FDA to give regulations to insure food safety. However, food safety wasn’t always the concern especially in America in the early days of the county. We can thank a man named, Harvey Wiley, for his nonstop pursuit in reforming food and the processes by which food is made. Harvey Wiley is someone I am so grateful for, and admire deeply because without him who knows where the food industry would be today. I am admired by his relentless effort to show the United States government and its citizens what was really in their food. One of the things I found fascinating was his creation of the, Poison Squad. A group of men ate food containing many of the chemicals being used in Americans everyday food, and Harvey would document their reactions. It was soon proven by his experiments these chemicals were causing damage to human bodies when consumed. From there he began to share his findings with the government and citizens in hopes of creating better food ingredients and regulations. I personally have many food allergies and couldn’t imagine being alive during this period of America’s early food industry. I’m thankful people like Harvey paved the wave for safer food production and regulations. If not I’m sure eating would have turned into a nightmare for myself and many others.

The best finaciap advice I’ve ever received is probably contrary to most advice people will share. It might be considered an unpopular idea however, it is something I live by and have found to be very effective. My financial advice stems from a biblical principal called, “Tithing.” Basically you are required to give 10% of your earnings to your church or local storehouse as it is started in the Bible. What’s neat about this principle is 10% is flexible. For example, someone might make $100 dollars, so they will give $10. Another $1000 dollars, so they will give $100. I like this because 10% looks different for everyone, so it can work for any budget. The idea is when you give back to God he will honor that by giving back to you and meeting your needs. Another piece of advice I follow is putting 10% of my earnings in my savings. Then I live off of the 80% of my earnings. With the 80% I do something called naming my dollars. My mom told me once she heard a women speaking about a budgeting and she learned this idea. The women was speaking about how to name where money is being spent so you know 1. Where the money is being spent and 2. It helps to alleviate guilt of spending money. For instance some people may feel guilty for spending money on something they don’t necessarily need but want. The idea here is to set aside money in the budget for that want, so you know that money was specifically budgeted for that want or desire. This helps to make sure you are being intentional with your spending.

A world wide pandemic, to racism, mental health concerns, and economical issues there are so many problems plaguing the world we live in today. Many of these issues it feels like have no end in sight, and are so large it seems there is no way to go about getting them solved. I love the saying, “don’t despise small beginnings.” Sometimes the best thing to do is start somewhere; to do something to invoke change. One of the many issues society faces I believe is Mental Health. I also believe Social Media could be a great tool to advocate for those struggling with Mental Health. I believe Social Media has the power to influence many. We use Social Media for so many things in today’s culture. I think normalizing the importance of taking care of your Mental Health will allow for there to be more of a discussion around how it effects peoples lives. I think it will help to lower the stigma associated with those dealing with Mental Health. Mental Health comes in all forms and doesn’t pick certain people to effect. It can and quiet possibly present itself in anyone at anytime. The issue then isn’t who it’s effecting, it’s what can be done to help those who are effected. Building a society that is aware of how to handle mental health illnesses, and openly talk about them can help. Social Media can certainly do so much more to create content focused on the importance of taking care of yourself and others. Also how to have conversations with those struggling with Mental Illness. To me it’s all about communication and building communities open to having that conversation. I think Social Media is a great place to start as many people already use it.

Having lost two friends in the past couple of years to suicide, I would consider mental health to be one of the most important aspects of life. Mental health doesn’t just affect the person struggling, but it effects all the people associated to those who are dealing with mental health concerns. Most of the time I found there to be a stigma around the idea of mental health, and how we as society view those affected by it. Life is difficult, each individual has different circumstances, and all those aspects of life impact how we handle or deal with situations. There should be no shame given to anyone for how they are effected by the circumstances of life. While there are options for medications and therapies to help those struggling with mental health concerns, I believe one of the best ways to help those struggling is to be there for them. Reach out to check on your friends and family. Don’t assume someone is ok. A lot of people are so consumed in life and the busyness of it we forget there are other people in the world beside just us. Building a community that is aware of the seriousness of mental health I think is really important. One thing I’ve learned from a recent Communications course at my university is the world is all connected in some way. Scientists and doctors can do the research to show how important mental health is and how it effects people, but as a society we need to digest the information and put what we’re learning into practice. I think communication about the topic and building a community that is open to speaking about mental health is a step in the right direction.

I have always been inspired by people of big faith. Their risk taking influences me to dream bigger. One of my favorite books is by Mark Batterson a Christian author who wrote the book, “Circle Maker.” The purpose of this book is to show Christian’s how to pray in a way that evokes change in their lives. I was so captivated by the many testimonies and life changing events in the book. However, the very first chapter was my absolute favorite. It presented a story of a village going through a drought. The villagers desperately needed rain. As many were dismayed of what to do a man named, Honi, put his pride aside to look a little crazy for minute to pray rain down from heaven for his people. Unwilling to leave the circle not even to eat until God would bring rain on his village. I love the story of Honi because in my own life I have struggled with seasons of drought. It may not have been the kind Honi was dealing with, but certainly seasons where not much made sense or was seeming to take off. Living with a chronic illness that kept me from attending college right out of high school felt like I was in a constant state of drought. I didn’t have a source of purpose. When I think about this story I am inspire to dare the odds. Even now as I am stating my college journey I known I might have more droughts, but with each drought I have been prompted to draw a circle around my situation and have faith it will change. To also have faith I could spark a change in not just my life, but someone else’s as well.

The image of a loved one or friend on a an obituary has gotten old for me. I’ve lost many friends due to mental illness and suicide. One of which, was a teammate of mine during my time on the Varsity Football Team. Always goofing around and enjoying life, I never expected when the phone rang it would be news of my dear friend taking his own life. When I joined CCU in spring of 2022 I was interested in a campus event our LiveWell Office was putting on. I attended a meeting where I found out the campus would be holding a walk for mental health and suicide prevention. I was even more invested when I found out the program director really wanted male athletes to participate. They had never had any sports team participate before. With a passion for sports, athletes, and mental health awareness I jumped to organize my universities football teams participation in the event. With a few emails and the right connections I was able to have the football team show up at the “Out of the Darkness” campus walk for the first time in our schools history. My goal was to 1. Raise awareness for male athletes mental health. I wanted to show these athletes it’s ok to be vulnerable and reach out for help if they need it. 2. I also wanted to show the community one of their prized sports teams does care about the mental health of others, and that they realize suicide prevention is important. In today’s society males are most at risk for suicide. Male athletes especially due to the demand they feel to perform well. I was honored to join efforts with the team to show the community they care.

One morning during my 7th grade year of middle school, I woke up not feeling quiet right. “Mom can I stay home from school today? I think I have the stomach bug,” I yelled down the stairs. I didn’t know my life after this day would forever be changed. Little did I know I didn’t have a stomach bug. Instead a serious health condition called POTS, which has led to multiple other autoimmune diagnoses. As I think back to my many days in pain and sickness as a high schooler I remember thinking I wish I could end it all. I didn’t want to live such a complicated life. Nor did I want to miss out on all the things kids my age were enjoying. Needless to say I hated what I had to go through. Fast forward to today. I’m not any bit healthier physically, but mentality I’m a different person. I have to owe this change to my savior Jesus Christ. Through my faith I have begun to see myself differently. I have realized the illness that I hated may have held me back from some experiences, but it also gave me experiences others will never have. It’s made me stronger than most people I know. It’s given me a unparalleled determination to never give up. As I continue my college journey I’m thankful for my once hated illness because it has prepared me for challenges in every aspect of life. I have built an endurance for everything life has thrown at me. I now at the age of 24 realize this illness quite possibly may a be gift.

Living with a chronic illness from childhood on up into adulthood has been long and difficult. I have tried my hardest to not allow my illness to define me or become my identity as I choose to see myself as so much more. Strong, brave, loyal, determined, and resilient is more what I would want to be defined as. Joyful is another attribute to my identity. In order to overcome the many hospital trips, devastating diagnosis, and hardships of living with a chronic illness I have always tried to find a silver lining, a lesson to learn, wisdom to be applied, and most importantly hope. Through my faith in Jesus Christ, I have been able to find and purse joy in the midst of chaos. I believe joy is something we are all entitled to. I believe joy is a state of mind. It’s something to be cultivated, nurtured, and protected. I have found many things will try to rob you of hope, peace, and joy. Even the strong in spirit have a breaking point. I believe everyone has a choice to choose joy. One way I’ve been able to maintain optimism, joy, and hope is through something I call a rewards system. This made up system is based on releasing chemicals in the brain by doing activities, which target the release of the chemicals. Example, when I would start to feel down I would go for a walk to release endorphins to help my body’s physical pain, and to release dopamine to help my brain produce feel good chemicals. Once this release of chemicals would happen I would begin to find myself thinking more positively. I would begin to have a sense of joy again.

Hives. Rashes. Body swelling. Throat swelling. The list could go on, but these are some of the common symptoms I’ve had to deal with as a patient with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. I’m allergic to a plethora of foods all the way from chocolate to strawberries to even almonds, and many others in between. Food allergies have impacted my life significantly. The joy of enjoying a delicious treat is always drowned out by the worriment of an allergic reaction. I can’t indulge in even the simplest of things such as eating at the cool hangout spot with friends or on a hot day enjoying fruit by the pool. Everything is limited by what I can and can’t eat. College was an adjustment because there is always a constant stress I won’t be able to get the right nutrients. Worst yet there could be cross contamination of foods in the dinning hall. With Mast Cell normal allergy medications only do part of the job, so it’s very crucial for me to stay clear of any contact with allergens. Many trips to the ER have left me frustrated as it can be hard to treat a Mast Cell reaction with regular medicine. I’m in college to get a solid job, which would offer excellent insurance options as Mast Cell expenses are hard to afford, and normally are only treated by prestigious medical professionals. I will attending the Dysautonomia Clinic at Vanderbilt in August of 2022 for more help in understanding my condition. This scholarship would certainly help me out tremendously as it is hard for me with my health issues to hold a job along with going to school full time. I’ve struggled with Autoimmune diseases my whole life, and the complications that come with that have been unbearable at times. Since being able to attend my university I have found a new hope and a resiliency in myself. I’m proud with the help of the Accommodations office at school to have been able to accomplish the Deans List in my first semester at my university. I know this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my medical team, my school accommodation office, and with the strict food plan I must follow. Having to eat on a low histamine diet most days is not for the faint of heart. With all the ramifications to my eating patterns I can become very overwhelmed. Having this scholarship would also help to alleviate stress on my body as I wouldn’t be worried about the finically burden of school. Too much stress can also cause another type of allergic reaction on top of the food allergies. I’m very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to go to school to pursue my dreams with my current health situation. To ensure I’ll be able to continue on this journey any scholarship money will be greatly appreciated.