My name is Gabriella Frain and I am entering the applied psychology and studio art as a double major at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For the past decade, I have lived in an abusive household. Recently, my mom, sisters, and I were able to escape that situation, and now I am living with my mom and my sisters with virtually no support system from my extended family. That experience shaped me into a stronger, better, and more productive person. I have learned to persevere through the many struggles and challenges I have faced in my life. I believe I should be selected for this scholarship because I have demonstrated resilience and determination in the face of adversity. One of the biggest obstacles I have overcome is dealing with the emotional and mental strain of living in an abusive environment. Despite the chaos at home, I focused on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. My high school became my sanctuary, a place where I could feel safe and express myself fully. I poured my energy into my studies and theatre, which provided a much-needed escape and a way to express myself. These experiences have taught me resilience and the importance of having a support system. These lessons will help me succeed in college and beyond, as I know how to stay focused and positive even in difficult situations. My goal is to work as an art therapist and provide support to those who are struggling with their mental health. I want to create a safe space where people can express themselves through art and find healing. I believe that everyone deserves access to mental health care, and I am committed to making that a reality. In addition to becoming an art therapist, I have a long-term goal of creating a non-profit organization that provides free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals. This organization would focus on helping those who do not have the resources to access traditional therapy. By offering these services for free, I hope to make a significant impact on the mental health of those in need. I am particularly passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ community because I know firsthand the challenges that come with being part of this group. Many LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination and mental health struggles, and I want to use my education to support them. Through my non-profit organization, I hope to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and supported.

My name Gabriella Frain and I am going to study applied psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I chose this field because I want to help others with their mental and emotional health struggles, just like others helped me through mine. Growing up, I faced many personal struggles, and art and therapy were my lifelines. Art allowed me to express myself when words failed, and therapy gave me the tools to navigate my emotions. These experiences have inspired me to give back to my community in the same way. I want to provide a safe space for others to heal and grow through art and music therapy. I believe that understanding psychology will enable me to better serve my community by providing support and resources to those who need it most. My goal is to become a counselor or therapist, working with individuals who have experienced trauma or are dealing with mental health issues. Education and academics have always been what I have turned to when my life has gotten challenging. Now that I am continuing my education in applied psychology and studio arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I am committed to fostering my strong relationship with education. In the future, along with being a therapist in the professional field, I would love to create a non-profit organization that would enable underrepresented individuals to benefit from art and music therapy. This program would be completely free to the individuals who need it. I want it to be my way of giving back to the community with the two biggest things that helped me get through my personal struggles: art and therapy. By providing free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals, the non-profit organization would offer a safe and inclusive space for them to express themselves, heal, and find solace. This initiative would break down financial barriers, ensuring that those who may not have had access to such resources before can now experience the transformative power of art and therapy. I know that starting a non-profit organization will not be easy, but I am determined to make it happen. I plan to take courses in business and non-profit management to learn how to run an organization effectively. I also want to gain experience by volunteering at existing non-profits and working with professionals in the field. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can make a positive impact on my community.

For the past decade, I have lived in an abusive household. Recently, my mom, sisters, and I managed to escape that situation. This experience has shaped me into a stronger, better, and more productive person. I have learned to persevere through the many struggles and challenges I have faced in my life. My mom has been my rock throughout this entire situation, and she has helped me stay both focused on my personal and academic future. My mom has been my inspiration throughout this journey. Her strength and determination have shown me that it is possible to overcome even the toughest situations. She has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and has supported me in every way possible. Her belief in me has given me the confidence to aim high and work hard to achieve my goals. One of the biggest obstacles I have overcome is dealing with the emotional and mental strain of living in an abusive environment. Despite the chaos at home, I focused on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. School became my sanctuary, a place where I could feel safe and express myself fully. I poured my energy into my studies and theatre, which provided a much-needed escape and a way to express myself. These experiences have taught me resilience and the importance of having a support system. These same lessons will help me succeed in college and beyond, as I know how to stay focused and positive even in difficult situations. I am going to study psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I chose this field because I want to help others with their mental and emotional health struggles, just like others helped me through mine. I believe that understanding psychology will enable me to better serve my community by providing support and resources to those who need it most. My goal is to become a counselor or therapist, working with individuals who have experienced trauma or are dealing with mental health issues. Living in an abusive household has taught me the importance of mental health and the impact it can have on a person's life. I have seen firsthand how trauma can affect individuals and their ability to function. This experience has fueled my passion for psychology and my desire to help others. I want to be a source of support for those who are struggling, just as others have been for me. Throughout high school, I maintained a GPA of 3.6, despite the challenges I faced at home. I was determined to succeed academically and make a better life for myself. I participated in theatre, which allowed me to express myself and provided a much-needed escape from the difficulties at home. These experiences have taught me the importance of perseverance and the value of hard work. I believe that my experiences have prepared me well for college and beyond. I have learned to stay focused and positive, even in difficult situations. I know how to set goals and work towards them, and I am determined to succeed in my studies and my future career. This scholarship will help me achieve my goals by easing the financial burden of college, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. I am excited to study psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and make a positive impact on the lives of others. My goal is to help individuals who are struggling with their mental health and provide them with the support and resources they need to overcome their challenges.

I plan to use my education to become an art therapist and help people with their mental health struggles every single day with the power of art and therapy, just like my art and therapy pulled me out of so many hard times in my life. Furthermore, in the future, I would love to create a non-profit organization that would enable underrepresented individuals to benefit from art and music therapy. This program would be completely free to the individuals who need it. I want it to be my way of giving back to the community with the two biggest things that helped me get through my personal struggles: art and therapy. As a rising freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I am majoring in Psychology. I chose this field because I have always been fascinated by how the mind works and how different forms of therapy can help people. My high school GPA of 3.6 reflects my dedication and hard work, and I am excited to continue this journey in college. Mental health is a significant issue in our society, and many people, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, do not have access to the help they need. Art therapy combines my passion for art with my desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. Art has always been a way for me to express myself and cope with my struggles. Through my studies in psychology, I am learning how to use this powerful tool to help others. My goal is to work as an art therapist and provide support to those who are struggling with their mental health. I want to create a safe space where people can express themselves through art and find healing. I believe that everyone deserves access to mental health care, and I am committed to making that a reality. In addition to becoming an art therapist, I have a long-term goal of creating a non-profit organization that provides free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals. This organization would focus on helping those who do not have the resources to access traditional therapy. By offering these services for free, I hope to make a significant impact on the mental health of those in need. I am particularly passionate about helping the LGBTQ+ community because I know firsthand the challenges that come with being part of this group. Many LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination and mental health struggles, and I want to use my education to support them. Through my non-profit organization, I hope to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and supported. In conclusion, I plan to use my education to become an art therapist and help people with their mental health struggles through the power of art and therapy. By creating a non-profit organization that provides free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals, I hope to make a positive impact on society. My experiences have shown me the importance of mental health care, and I am committed to giving back to the community that has supported me.

For the past decade, I have lived in an abusive household. Recently, my mom, sisters, and I managed to escape that situation. This experience has shaped me into a stronger, better, and more productive person. I have learned to persevere through the many struggles and challenges I have faced. One of the biggest obstacles I have overcome is dealing with the emotional and mental strain of living in an abusive environment. Despite the chaos at home, I focused on my schoolwork and extracurricular activities. School became my sanctuary, a place where I could feel safe and express myself fully. I poured my energy into my studies and the theatre, which provided a much-needed escape and a way to express myself. School became one of my only healthy coping mechanisms. The only other one I had was art. I used art to express emotions that were dangerous for me to say, and I believe that art is one of the only reasons I'm still alive and thriving today. With all the abuse I faced throughout my life, my sophomore year I became addicted to multiple illicit substances, including pills, nicotine, marijuana, and shrooms. For the past year and a half, I've been working towards digging myself out of the hole that my drug addiction had in my relationship with my younger sisters, my mom, my friends, and my extended family. I have finally been able to have the support system I need to be open about my addictions without fear of being abused or punished. I have so many great friends and a great boyfriend in my life that I am now proud to say that I am completely off pills and shrooms, and my dosages of nicotine and marijuana have significantly lessened in the past months. My next goals are definitely to quit nicotine completely, and get closer to quitting marijuana completely. My recovery wouldn't be possible if I didn't view the problem within myself and the fact that I had a problem and needed to stop before I caused irreversible damage to my life. My dream is to create a non-profit organization that would enable underrepresented individuals to benefit from art and music therapy. This program would be completely free to the individuals who need it, and I want it to be my way of giving back to the community with the two biggest things that helped me get through my personal struggles: art and therapy. By providing free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals, the non-profit organization would offer a safe and inclusive space for them to express themselves, heal, and find solace. This initiative would break down financial barriers, ensuring that those who may not have had access to such resources before can now experience the transformative power of art and therapy. Being a woman of mixed race who has faced abuse, mental health struggles, and substance abuse, I understand the unique challenges that underrepresented individuals face. I want to use my experiences and my education to make a positive impact on the world. By creating a non-profit organization that offers free art and music therapy, I hope to provide a lifeline to those who need it most.

For the past decade, I have lived in an abusive household. Recently, my mom, sisters, and I managed to escape that situation. This experience has shaped me into a stronger, better, and more productive person. However, this has also caused an immense amount of trauma to be left upon me. This is why if I could change one thing in the world, I would have free therapy open to everybody who needs it. This falls right into what I want to do in my future to try to make this idea a reality. Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet so many people do not have access to the help they need. Therapy can be expensive, and for many, it is a luxury they cannot afford. This is especially true for underrepresented individuals who may already face financial hardships. I believe that everyone deserves the chance to heal and grow, regardless of their financial situation. My dream is to create a non-profit organization that would enable underrepresented individuals to benefit from art and music therapy. This program would be completely free to the individuals who need it, and I want it to be my way of giving back to the community with the two biggest things that helped me get through my personal struggles: art and therapy. By providing free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals, the non-profit organization would offer a safe and inclusive space for them to express themselves, heal, and find solace. This initiative would break down financial barriers, ensuring that those who may not have had access to such resources before can now experience the transformative power of art and therapy. Being a woman of mixed race, I understand the unique challenges that underrepresented individuals face. I want to use my experiences and my education to make a positive impact on the world. By creating a non-profit organization that offers free art and music therapy, I hope to provide a lifeline to those who need it most. In conclusion, if I could change one thing in the world, I would make therapy accessible to everyone who needs it. My dream is to create a non-profit organization that offers free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals. This initiative would provide a safe and inclusive space for people to heal and grow, breaking down financial barriers and ensuring that everyone has the chance to experience the transformative power of therapy. I believe that by pursuing my education in Psychology and working towards this goal, I can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

It is my dream to work in the field of mental health and art at the same time in the future, so I would love to create a non-profit organization that would enable underrepresented individuals to benefit from art and music therapy in the future. This program would be completely free to the individuals who need it and I want it to be my way of giving back to the community with the 2 biggest things that helped me get through my personal struggles, art and therapy. By providing free art and music therapy to underrepresented individuals, the non-profit organization would offer a safe and inclusive space for them to express themselves, heal, and find solace. This initiative would break down financial barriers, ensuring that those who may not have had access to such resources before can now experience the transformative power of art and therapy.

Hi! My name is Gabriella Frain, and I am a senior at Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois. I consider myself a mixed media artist, as I love to jump between a bunch of different mediums and experiment to create new and imaginative pieces of artwork. The mediums I work in the most are acrylic paints, watercolor paints, and colored pencils. A lot of my art pieces mean a lot to me because they remind me of where I was physically and mentally when they were made, along with how far I've come since creating them. I have a wall dedicated in my room to my art, as a constant reminder of what I'm capable of.     Art has guided my life for most of my pre-teen years till now. The act of painting and drawing has allowed me to escape from the struggles of my actual life by letting me focus on something specific, something that is such a uniquely personal experience that I could still share with others around me. Painting and drawing allowed me to channel my emotions and express myself in ways that words couldn't capture. It was a therapeutic release that provided me with a sense of solace and peace. Art became my sanctuary, where I could temporarily escape from the struggles of my actual life and find refuge in the strokes of my brush or the lines of my pencil. It gave me a sense of control and freedom that I desperately needed during those challenging times. Through art, I was able to find moments of clarity and joy amidst the chaos. I wholeheartedly believe that without art, I would not be alive and in the position I am in today. Art has opened so many doors to experience different things, meet new people who would become my closest friends, and bring so much internal happiness in my life when I’ve had very little to be happy about. My art has led me to countless competitions, fairs, and festivals where I've met many people who I wouldn't have met otherwise and diversified the people I surround myself with up to this day. My art has also brought me closer to my grandfather, who is also a self-taught artist and my mentor for most of my life. He is one of the main people I look up to in my life, and I thank him for how far I've made it in my life today.  For my bachelor's program, I am minoring in studio art, and along with my applied psychology degree I hope to return to school in a graduate program to become an art therapist. After I finish all of my schooling I hope to work with people with dementia and Alzheimer's because art therapy and creative outlets have been proven to help people who fall into this population. Through the creative process, individuals can tap into their memories, emotions, and imagination, fostering a sense of self-expression and connection. Art therapy provides a non-verbal and non-threatening form of communication, allowing individuals to express themselves and find solace amid cognitive decline. Not only does it help the people I will see in therapy, but I will also be able to spread my love for art to others who may not have had the opportunity to experience art as deeply as I have.

My love for art stems from my mom's side of the family. They are some of the most artistically gifted people I know personally. 2 of my uncles were professional ballet dancers for most of my developing years, my mom majored in musical theatre, my grandmother is obsessed with scrapbooks, and finally but most likely most importantly, my grandfather is a self-taught oil and watercolor painter. When I was young, I sat next to my grandfather, watching him paint and draw. He allowed me to give actual advice on his pieces and made those small changes in front of me. If I said the lips were too thin, he would pick up his pencil and make them thicker. I thought this was the coolest thing, watching a piece of art develop right before my eyes. It sparked this fire within me to want to create what he was able to create. Around December of 2019, I received a bunch of art supplies for Christmas just like I had for the last couple of years. For some reason, these gifts felt different to me. I truly wanted to create something my grandad and him could appreciate. This led me to start my personal art journey. I spent hours, especially once the pandemic hit, watching YouTube, reading books, and drawing whatever I could. This interest in art led to my relationship with my grandad growing to what it is today. We have an unbelievable connection and I visit him at least once a week. We connect on a deeper level because of our shared interest in visual and traditional art. I am beyond grateful for art doing that for me. My favorite artist emerged from my initial search for art knowledge. I searched on Youtube for other artists to learn from and be inspired by. This led to my discovery of Al, aka lilstarnerd, on Youtube and Instagram. Immediately I was drawn to their work and style of painting portraits and animals. Throughout my growth and personal journey with art, I have always been drawn to their art. I continue to buy their prints, be a Patreon supporter, and watch their YouTube videos for inspiration. I have used their videos countless times to help me get inspired to get up and draw, and even to get out of art block. I find myself motivated to make my own art whenever I see their art. Often when I'm working on an art project or just sketching in my sketchbook, I have one of their youtube videos playing as well.