I have been motivated to pursue a career that includes working with patients that struggle with substance abuse since attending college. During my first year at university, I faced several challenges with two of my roommates who would often consume heavy amounts of alcohol, and one of which who would smoke weed often. This frequent, unhealthy combination caused her to miss deadlines, abuse friendships, and take her family for granted. I poured my heart into her life to help her grow but she chose her path apart from me in the end. Since that year in college, I realized how important it is to invest in people who have no one. Regardless of who they have pushed away during their journey of substance abuse and addiction, everyone deserves to be loved and encouraged if they are seeking rehab. Another great influence in my life concerning addiction recovery is my late grandfather. He fought in the Vietnam War and was addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. He became a triple amputee after a bombing incident, and he was determined to turn his life around. He became a Christian and began his journey as an example of how God can change someone's heart and life around to be a testimony to others. Sometimes it takes more than a helping hand to inspire a change in the life of someone struggling with addiction, but for my grandfather, the support and recovery were just as important as his initial decision to quit. I want to be a source that many can come to and seek refuge and understanding. I believe that finding someone who will not judge them immediately is truly important to those with substance abuse. Genuinely understanding why they depend on different substances to find completion in their life builds a bond. I have never doubted the power of good influence in the life of someone seeking answers and a purpose. I hope that through my pursuit of graduating with a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience, I can extend a hand to those who feel lost and powerless and guide them into a life of recovery and success.

From the gender identity crisis, my body my choice, black lives matter, and the endless minority community protests, I believe that the biggest problem the world is currently facing is a self-centered society. Although it is tempting to say pollution, national debt, world hunger, and terrorism, all of those stem from a society that is self-centered. Pride is the root of all evil and as seen in our nation specifically, it seems most are living in an attention epidemic. The question should change from how can I be better represented to how can I serve the helpless, the homeless, the starving, etc. The greatest humbling experience for me throughout college has been my community service work in Florida. The solution is turning the mirror onto others rather than yourself. Giving of your time, resources, and physical labor are all ways to distract the prideful heart and truly see the needs of others.

My grandmother was adopted at a young age leaving a mother who could not provide for her. If she had been aborted, she would have never met her amazing family of six, had my mother, who later had me. I wouldn't be able to tell my success stories without her mother's mercy on my grandmother. I am a strong advocate for life at conception. I believe that God has knit every cell in a mother's womb for a specific purpose and in His image. I currently counsel many of my college friends to pray over their unplanned pregnancies- that God would provide an answer on how to provide for that helpless child. I have just recently discovered the nonprofit organization Embrace Grace, and I would love to volunteer and support them in the future when I am more financially stable. So long as God allows me to breathe and walk on this earth, I will share His love and compassion for the unborn.

The greatest early life lesson that I have been taught is- the most powerful thing that can change a difficult situation is a change in perspective. Since being a Christian, I have given so many hurtful situations to the Lord and He has changed my heart to be more patient, giving, and understanding. Through my parents' divorce, many family members passing away so early on, and struggling with my brother's ADHD, I have been able to help many friends of mine today who are struggling with similar situations. I have dedicated my life to helping people cognitively adjust to the situations around them to succeed using behavioral therapy.