Imagine receiving a call in the middle of the night—a loved one has been killed by a drunk driver. The grief is immediate, the loss irreversible. Sadly, this scenario happens far too often, and each time, it could have been prevented. Driving under the influence (DUI) doesn’t only harm the driver; it devastates families, breaks friendships, and leaves communities in mourning. Having lost my biological mother to a stray bullet, I can relate to the overwhelming pain of losing someone suddenly and senselessly. Although the circumstances are different, the heartbreak is tragically similar. Growing up in foster care until I was 13, I lived with many families, each of whom taught me about compassion, diversity, and inclusivity. I learned to appreciate every race, religion, and nationality. Like my own experience with loss, DUI-related tragedies affect people from all backgrounds and communities. The pain is universal, and preventable. I’ve come to understand the importance of making responsible choices to protect those around us. Morally, driving under the influence is a reckless and selfish act. When someone chooses to drive impaired, they are not only endangering their own life but also the lives of innocent people. It’s a failure of personal responsibility that can have devastating effects. Losing my mother to violence taught me how deeply such irresponsible acts can cut. Whether it’s a random act of violence or a DUI, the result is the same—heartbreak, and the burden of knowing it could have been avoided with a different choice. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to prevent DUIs. One such solution is the installation of ignition interlock devices, which prevent vehicles from starting if the driver is impaired. These devices have proven to reduce repeat DUI offenses significantly. Raising public awareness through education is critical. Personal stories from families affected by DUIs can influence better decision-making. Additionally, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft offer safe alternatives. These technical solutions, combined with a strong moral responsibility, are essential to preventing DUI-related accidents. The effects of a DUI extend far beyond the person responsible. Families cope with the sudden loss of loved ones, and survivors often struggle with guilt and regret. Having lost my mother unexpectedly, I understand how deeply grief ripples through a family. She died while I was in foster care, which brought new challenges while I dealt with my grief. The emotional toll is profound. I empathize with families who lose loved ones to DUI tragedies because I know firsthand how devastating it is to lose someone without warning. Despite the hardships I’ve faced, my passion for helping others has remained constant. From a young age, I’ve dreamed of becoming a mechanic and one day owning my own auto shop. My connection with cars, forged through bonding with my father despite his struggles with addiction, has motivated me throughout my life. I’m determined to make this dream a reality by completing the Bobcat RISE program at Texas State University, which will give me the skills I need to become a certified mechanic. Beyond technical skills, I aim to build a business rooted in diversity and inclusivity, values I’ve embraced my whole life. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational goals and empower me to give back to my community. I want to mentor others from disadvantaged backgrounds and be a role model for people with disabilities. Being the first in my family to attend college is challenging, but I want to show others that overcoming adversity is possible. With your support, I can work toward a future where I make a positive impact on my community.

WRONG place, WRONG time, WRONG friends. My mother was murdered by a stray bullet while walking to the convenience store when I was 12. By this time I had been in foster care since birth and had been in and out of multiple homes and shelters. I lost count of how many. She was a victim of the addiction crisis in the United States and now this is what motivates me to make our community a better place. I cannot cure addiction but I can affect the environment in a small way that I hope will reduce substance abuse. Since the cause of drug addiction is complex and multi-faceted, the solutions are also complex but I would like to focus on simple and realistic interventions. I love cars. My dream is to be a mechanic and own an auto shop where I can teach and mentor troubled youth. I would guide them in their career path, education opportunities and personal development strategies. If I can help them find purpose and meaning, I hope to stray them away from poor coping mechanisms like drugs and alcohol. I’ve learned that in addition to being good at working with my hands and cars, I also have a gift of good listening skills. A number of my classmates and friends open up to me with whatever is troubling them. I remember getting in trouble once with my adoptive mother because I skipped class to listen to my friend that was in an emotional predicament. To take advantage of this skill, I hope to volunteer at my church to help as a counselor or just someone to listen. Counseling can provide crucial mental health support that can improve well-being and stability. After cars and helping people, my other passion is animal advocacy. Advocating for the welfare of animals instills values of compassion and empathy in the community. It teaches respect for all living beings and the importance of ethical treatment of animals. Engaging in mentoring, counseling, education, and animal advocacy builds a stronger, more compassionate community. These efforts not only support individual growth and well-being but also foster a collective sense of responsibility and care. Perhaps this would be indirect but my hope is that all of these efforts would chip away at addressing the addiction crisis in our communities. Unlike my mother who was murdered senselessly, I would like to be in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, with the RIGHT friends.

I AM THE CONSEQUENCE, I LIVED THE CONSEQUENCE. My mother was addicted to cocaine while she was pregnant with me and, as expected, I was born with cocaine in my system. I went straight into the foster care system and was in and out of different homes until I was adopted at age 13. When my parents were clean from drugs CPS would allow my brother and I to live with them. Unfortunately, these visits were short-lived as the chains of addiction would get the best of them. I would like to drive positive change for our nation by addressing the ADDICTION CRISIS. I think we are dealing with an addiction crisis in the United States for a number of reasons. In the case of my family, it was likely a combination of POVERTY and MENTAL HEALTH. People with economic hardship tend to have higher rates of addiction and there also seems to be a link between mental health and substance abuse. My adoptive mom is a pharmacist and she talks about how pharmacy companies misled providers by assuring them that patients would not get addicted to their pain killers. Thus poor PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES also led to more addiction and overdoses. The EASY AVAILABILITY of illegal drugs has probably contributed to the addiction crisis as well. In the case of my family, I don’t know how they got their supply of drugs but I can’t imagine it was too hard or too expensive as they seem to get their hands on them quite easily. The consequences of drug addiction are far reaching, multifaceted, heart-breaking and devastating. It is difficult to put into words. As mentioned before, “I lived the consequence”. I was snatched away from my biological family at birth. While the foster system does its best to care for the children under their care, it is far from desirable. I got to know my family in spurts while they were clean but I always ended back in a shelter. As a child I needed medical care because of my ADHD and special education because of my dyslexia. These were likely HEALTH CONSEQUENCES when you are born with drugs in your system. All this was neglected as my parents prioritized the addiction. While these were consequences for me, I can't imagine the health damage to my mother. I never knew. What I do know about is the PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT of drug addiction. It is absolutely heart wrenching. My adoptive family is loving and caring but, to this day, I fantasize about what it would be like to have that “ideal” family with both my biological parents, my siblings and my dog; a picture perfect family in a house with a white-picket fence. This possibility vanished when my mother was murdered by a stray bullet. She was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong friends. So DEATH is another consequence; if it wasn’t from a stray bullet, it would have likely been from an overdose. The ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES are difficult to discern. It is like a “catch 22” or the concept of “what came first, the chicken or the egg”. I was a young child but I have memories of my father working, yet not having enough to pay the bills or to own a car. Or perhaps it was the unwise spending on drugs that led him to not have enough; or the fact that it was the only low-paying job that a high school drop-out could get. Regardless, financial problems are at the heart of drug addiction. INCARCERATION is another consequence. This can be because of the strong urge to get the drugs or because they are so “high” that it impairs their judgement and make poor decisions. I’m not sure if this is why my grandfather was in jail but the last I knew, he was still incarcerated. HOW CAN WE FIX THE DRUG ADDICTION CRISIS? This is a million dollar question. I wish I knew the answer. I have some ideas but being that the cause is such a complex issue, the remedies are even more difficult to decipher. The hardest thing to decide is WHERE in the addiction cycle is the best place to start but I think it starts at home. The home needs to emphasize the importance of EDUCATION, GOOD FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. Education provides individuals with skills and qualifications that can lead to better job opportunities. Stable employment and a sense of purpose can hopefully reduce the likelihood of turning to drugs. Educated individuals are likely to access resources easier, they have better decision-making skills to evaluate the consequences of their actions and they are more likely to participate in community initiatives that may reduce drug abuse. I, in particular, loved to play basketball and this kept me out of trouble. I played every free minute I had and in every basketball rim available. Strong family ties create a reliable support network that individuals can turn to in times of need. Families can instill strong values and clear expectations, be role models and provide emotional support. In addition to family support, spiritual growth can also provide a sense of purpose and meaning. It can lead to better coping mechanisms as well as less stress and anxiety. Since mental health is an underlying issue, treating mental health is key to reducing drug addiction. This includes REDUCING STIGMA overall and making health professionals easily available and accessible. I don’t think my parents ever got the help they needed and deserved. I, on the other hand, have been in counseling and therapy as long as I can remember. That being said, I recall my adoptive mom having a hard time finding a health care provider that would take my insurance plan and that was accepting new patients. This should be easier. Drug policies and enforcement should also be aimed at harm reduction rather than focusing on punishment and criminalization. There is so much more that can be done to improve the addiction crisis but one thing I think is often overlooked is the 12-step process. Programs like alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous can address all of the key components necessary in a recovery process including support, accountability, spiritual growth, etc. I was exposed to a 12-step program when I attended “Al-Anon” which is a 12-step program for family members of addicted individuals. I realized that the addict is a victim of their circumstances and I as a family member am not guilty of my family’s addiction. . . . I did not CAUSE it, I cannot CONTROL it, and I cannot CURE it.

WRONG place, WRONG time, WRONG friends. My mother was murdered by a stray bullet while walking to the convenience store when I was 12. By this time I had been in foster care since birth and had been in and out of multiple homes and shelters. I lost count of how many. Cars are the only link to my biological father. My first memory of cars is when my father and I used to play together with toy cars. He would teach me how to tell the make and model of cars on the road. By the age of 9, there was hardly a car I could not identify. When my parents were clean from drugs, the department of child protective services allowed my brother and I to go live with them. I always looked forward to spending time with my father to talk about cars. Unfortunately, these visits were short lived as the chains of addiction would get the best of them. My adoptive family has supported my fascination with cars. They take me to car shows, buy me engine models to put together and our family friend, Milo, has been my mentor and allows me to learn with him as we work on a car. “Gino, what do you want to do when you grow up”? My answer has never faltered and it is always a confident, resounding “I want to be a mechanic”. The roar of an engine is like music to my ears. I enjoy working with my hands and, as a mechanic, I would be able to see, touch and hear the outcomes of my work. The impact I can provide in this field has to be connecting with others and being able to help. Being social is one of my strengths and second to cars, I love working with people. It is satisfying to know that my skills and efforts directly contribute to someone’s safety and convenience. As a mechanic, the impact of my work is tangible and meaningful. I will take pride in making sure a stranded motorist gets back on the road or ensuring that a family car runs smoothly on a road trip. This scholarship will help my dreams come true. Hopefully, together with other scholarships it will help pay for tuition, room and board. I can concentrate on learning knowing that my bills are paid. I would be the first one in my family to go beyond high school in my education. I know my biological mother would be very proud of me. I am now in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, with the RIGHT people.

WRONG place, WRONG time, WRONG friends. My mother was murdered by a stray bullet while walking to the convenience store when I was 12. By this time I had been in foster care since birth and had been in and out of multiple homes and shelters. I lost count of how many. The passing of my mother was an experience that shaped my life. No one in our family has gone beyond high school so I want to make her proud. Cars are the only link to my biological father. My first memory of cars is when my father and I used to play together with toy cars. He would teach me how to tell the make and model of cars on the road. By the age of 9, there was hardly a car I could not identify. When my parents were clean from drugs, the department of child protective services allowed my brother and I to go live with them. I always looked forward to spending time with my father to talk about cars. Unfortunately, these visits were short lived as the chains of addiction would get the best of them. My adoptive family has supported my fascination with cars. They take me to car shows, buy me engine models to put together and our family friend, Milo, has been my mentor and allows me to learn with him as we work on a car. “Gino, what do you want to do when you grow up”? My answer has never faltered and it is always a confident, resounding “I want to be a mechanic”. The roar of an engine is like music to my ears. I enjoy working with my hands and, as a mechanic, I would be able to see, touch and hear the outcomes of my work. The impact I can provide in this field has to be connecting with others and being able to help. Being social is one of my strengths and second to cars, I love working with people. It is satisfying to know that my skills and efforts directly contribute to someone’s safety and convenience. As a mechanic, the impact of my work is tangible and meaningful. I will take pride in making sure a stranded motorist gets back on the road or ensuring that a family car runs smoothly on a road trip. This scholarship will help my dreams come true. Hopefully, together with other scholarships it will help pay for tuition, room and board. I can concentrate on learning knowing that my bills are paid. I would be the first one in my family to go beyond high school in my education. I know my biological mother would be very proud of me. I am now in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, with the RIGHT people.

WRONG place, WRONG time, WRONG friends. My mother was murdered by a stray bullet while walking to the convenience store when I was 12. By this time I had been in foster care since birth and had been in and out of multiple homes and shelters. I lost count of how many. I am number three out of four siblings. My older sister ran away from the shelter and evaded foster care. Soon after, she got pregnant and did not finish high school. My younger sister was a baby and was adopted by a young couple. This left my brother and I to be shifted from one home to the other. My biological parents were both addicted to drugs. I don’t know their highest level of education but it was likely not college. “Gino, what do you want to do when you grow up”? My answer has never faltered and it is always a confident, resounding “I want to be a mechanic”. The roar of an engine is like music to my ears. I enjoy working with my hands and, as a mechanic, I would be able to see, touch and hear the outcomes of my work. The field of auto repair is not a typical STEM degree but with newer cars being computerized, I’d like to think that it is a blend of technology and engineering. Cars are the only link to my biological father. My first memory of cars is when my father and I used to play together with toy cars. He would teach me how to tell the make and model of cars on the road. By the age of 9, there was hardly a car I could not identify. When my parents were clean from drugs, the department of child protective services allowed my brother and I to go live with them. I always looked forward to spending time with my father to talk about cars. Unfortunately, these visits were short lived as the chains of addiction would get the best of them. I have dyslexia and was adopted at age 13 so had a lot of catching up to do academically. My adoptive family supported my fascination with cars and they have emphasized the importance of education. Considering my background, graduating from high school would have been good enough and a significant accomplishment in itself. Fortunately, I have recently been accepted to a program at Texas State University and am looking forward to this new phase of my career. This scholarship will help my dreams come true. Hopefully, together with other scholarships it will help pay for tuition, room and board. I can concentrate on learning knowing that my bills are paid. I would be the first one in my family to go beyond high school in my education. I know my biological mother would be very proud of me. Unlike her, I am now in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT time, with the RIGHT people.