Growing up in a close-knit Mexican-American family, I learned early on the importance of faith, perseverance, and community. My fondest memories are of Sunday mornings when we gathered around my grandmother’s kitchen table, sharing stories and listening to her wisdom about facing life’s challenges with grace and strength. My parents, who worked tirelessly to provide for our family, instilled in me the value of hard work and resilience. As the oldest of 2 children, I’ve worked hard to set a good example for my younger brother -- to inspire him to invest 100% of himself into whatever he desires, as I have. Being a student-athlete has taught me invaluable lessons about time management, teamwork, and mental toughness. One instance that stands out was when I had to balance preparing for a regional track meet while studying for midterm exams. During that time, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of expectations, juggling the physical exhaustion from training with the mental strain of late-night study sessions. However, I reminded myself of the goals I set and relied on my determination to push through, which ultimately helped me persevere and grow stronger. I created a detailed schedule, sought help from teammates for motivation, and leaned on my coach’s guidance to stay disciplined. This experience solidified my ability to stay focused and excel under pressure. It’s a delicate balance to maintain rigorous training schedules while excelling academically, but it’s a challenge I embrace wholeheartedly. Now, as a Psychology and Spanish major at the University of Notre Dame, I’m pursuing a Business Economics minor to strengthen my ability to understand human behavior within economic systems, which will equip me to create meaningful client relationships and drive impactful solutions in a professional setting. I hope to enter a client-facing field where I can apply my understanding of human behavior and cultural dynamics to make a meaningful impact. I’ve also had the privilege of serving as the Vice President of my high school’s National Honor Society and co-founding a Student Action Committee focused on social justice. These experiences have deepened my commitment to using my skills to benefit others. For example, in the National Honor Society, I organized a community service project that provided meals for local families in need during the holidays, rallying my peers to contribute their time and resources. Similarly, through the Student Action Committee, I helped lead a school-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion by hosting cultural appreciation events and workshops. These efforts reaffirmed my belief in the power of collective action to create meaningful change. Faith has always been a cornerstone of my life, guiding my decisions and providing me with strength in challenging times. I am deeply moved by Stephan Laurence Wolley’s story and the values this scholarship represents. Like him, I value family, faith, and the competitive spirit that drives athletes to push beyond their limits. As a student-athlete, I hope to challenge myself to honor his legacy by pursuing my goals with integrity and determination. In the future, I aspire to work in roles that combine my academic interests with my passion for mentorship and community building, such as developing leadership programs for young athletes or creating initiatives that support underrepresented students in higher education. Whether through corporate communications or educational initiatives, I want to create opportunities for others to thrive, just as I’ve been supported throughout my journey. This scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden of my education but also serve as a testament to the enduring power of faith, family, and resilience in transforming lives.

There’s a quiet type of strength in standing up for someone who feels invisible—a strength evident in Lieba Joran, who chose to speak out for others who were misunderstood. I was drawn to that same quiet strength as a child. I saw their struggle, related, and knew I had to be the one to speak up. As I look ahead to my career in psychology, I see myself helping gifted children, who, like Lieba, are often misunderstood, finding their voice and their place in the world—where their intellect and emotions can coexist without conflict. Giftedness is often associated with high intelligence and academic excellence, but it also comes with its own set of challenges—emotional sensitivity, asynchronous development, and struggles with social integration. These children may excel in one area but face significant difficulties in others, which can lead to isolation, frustration, and confusion. My career goal is to become a psychologist who advocates for the social-emotional well-being and intellectual growth of gifted children, ensuring they are supported in every facet of their development. Lieba Joran’s legacy resonates deeply with me. Her commitment to kindness, justice, and nurturing others’ well-being speaks to my own values. As a Christian, I believe in the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their social standing or intellectual abilities. Lieba’s boldness in standing up for others, as seen in her childhood actions of defending her friend and advocating for those who were bullied, mirrors the kind of compassionate advocate I aspire to be. Her actions remind me that we are called to act with empathy, justice, and love—qualities that I believe are crucial in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for gifted children. Gifted children, much like Lieba, can feel misunderstood or out of place in their environments. They may struggle to find peers who share their intellectual or emotional experiences, leaving them vulnerable to social isolation and emotional distress. As someone who has both witnessed and experienced the complexities of navigating academic success while feeling disconnected socially, I am motivated to pursue a career that helps these children feel seen, valued, and understood. My goal is to specialize in developing evidence-based psychological interventions that support gifted children’s emotional and social growth. Many gifted children face unique emotional challenges, such as heightened sensitivity or perfectionism, which can manifest as anxiety, depression, or behavioral difficulties. I aim to create therapeutic strategies that provide them with the tools to manage these challenges, promoting emotional resilience while also nurturing their intellectual abilities. In addition, I plan to work closely with educators and parents to create environments that celebrate these children’s strengths while providing opportunities for socialization and emotional development. It is essential to understand that giftedness is not just about intelligence, but about the person as a whole, with unique emotional and social needs that must be addressed. In addition to my professional aspirations, I have been actively involved in helping others through my volunteer work at Brian’s Angels homeless shelter and my experience as a special needs tutor. These roles have deepened my understanding of how kindness, support, and individualized attention can transform lives. Through these experiences, I’ve learned how to approach individuals from diverse backgrounds with empathy and patience, qualities that are crucial when working with children who may feel misunderstood or neglected. I believe these experiences will help me connect with gifted children on a deeper level, recognizing their struggles and addressing their needs. As I pursue this career, I am guided by my Christian faith, which teaches me to love my neighbor as myself and to care for those who are vulnerable. Gifted children, like Lieba, can often feel like outsiders. I hope to create a world where these children are not only seen for their intellectual abilities but also supported in their emotional and social development. I envision a society where they are able to embrace their full potential—where their uniqueness is celebrated, their emotional well-being is nurtured, and their intellectual growth is encouraged in an environment of kindness and justice. Through psychology, I aim to honor Lieba Joran’s mission of nurturing empathy, pursuing justice, and creating harmony in society. By advocating for gifted children, I hope to continue her legacy and ensure that every child, regardless of their abilities, feels valued and loved.