My problem started slowly, with an ache in my knee or an inexplicable pain in my back. I figured I had just pushed myself a bit too hard, but gradually, I could no longer ignore it. Eventually, I could not even walk around school without a cane or go to events without a wheelchair. I was later diagnosed with two conditions called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It was an extremely difficult period of my life, but I slowly adjusted. Growing up, I participated in sports, loved exercising, and was full of energy. I started a roller-skating club at school, leading me to meet new people who shared my passion for the sport. I dedicated over 300 hours to community service. When I turned 16, everything started to change as my disability came to light. While I had to give up some of my passions, I adapted. I shifted my focus from skating to baking and even started my own small business selling cookies. I had to shut down the roller-skating club, but I focused on other clubs related to community service. I advocated for myself in school to ensure I got the necessary accommodations and kept my grades high. School suddenly became difficult. It was not because of the material, but because of the accessibility. I frequently missed classes due to a broken elevator and could no longer handwrite my assignments because of wrist pain. I struggled with focusing as I was in constant pain. Like my diagnosis, it took me a year to get accommodations. These experiences gave me a better understanding of the struggles disabled people go through and made me more compassionate. Despite these struggles, I never stopped fighting. I knew I would have to work much harder, and I did by communicating with my teachers and adjusting my schedule to suit my needs. The one thing I refused to do was give up after three years of dedication. This experience taught me a great deal about advocating for myself and being persistent. These experiences showed me just how much harder I would need to push myself to succeed. I knew I could still accomplish my goals with a lot of effort and a little bit of support. I achieved the status of Valedictorian and am ready to graduate high school with three associate degrees. My perseverance and resilience paid off. More than anything, having a community of people to help me and wanting to help them in return gave me the strength to continue. Through these experiences, I believe I have come to embody the same resilience, compassion, and commitment to others that defined Andrea Worden’s legacy. My disability may have held me back, but it also motivated me and taught me things I would never have known otherwise. I have always had a passion for learning, particularly about the different circumstances people have and how those issues can be alleviated. As I move into studying political science and sociology further, I want to dedicate my studies to understanding these issues and spreading awareness. In my career, I want to do more research so that real change can happen, especially for the disabled community. Even if my options are limited, I would like to continue volunteering as well. Above all, I am grateful to be part of an amazing community and connect with other disabled people. Regardless of their disability, we have a shared connection. Each person I meet brings a new perspective into my life and motivates me to continue my education. They are incredibly supportive. I am grateful to every one of my friends for their endless support. As I look toward the future, it is uncertain how my abilities will change. Regardless of what happens, my experiences have shaped me immensely. Even if a cure were discovered tomorrow, I would not be the same person I was before. My disability may have changed my path, but it gave me strength, empathy, and community, which I will carry proudly into the future. Whatever comes next, I move forward with a commitment to using what I have learned to uplift others, just as so many people have uplifted me.

My dream is to work in the political science field, specifically research. I am especially interested in the struggles marginalized communities face and how they can be alleviated. This is why I started working toward an associate’s degree in the subject in high school. Volunteering and seeing these issues firsthand pushed me toward this field. My work so far has already taught me skills in critical thinking and evaluating sources, and nothing influenced me more than my education and passion for learning. Growing up, my parents always made sure I understood the value of education. They encouraged me to learn and equipped me with the resources to do so, which made college feel like the natural next step in pursuing the subjects I care about. In 10th grade, I began working toward my associate’s degree in sociology. Naturally, I could not yet attend a four-year college, so community college gave me the opportunity to start studying what I was interested in early on. Along the way, I branched into political science and discovered it was something I greatly enjoyed. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to try and accomplish three associate degrees: political science, sociology, and law. While there was a benefit of transferring my credits and being able to get my bachelor’s degree earlier, I mainly did it because of my desire to learn. Because of this, college to me means getting to explore my passions in a way I could not do on my own and gaining the structure and guidance I needed to develop as a student and a future researcher. Aside from my passion for learning, community college was also accessible to me as someone with a disability. The courses I took were online and allowed me to prioritize my physical and mental health while still making progress toward my goals. Balancing my symptoms with coursework was often difficult, but college gave me a space where I could keep moving forward without compromising my well-being. Without this opportunity, I would have struggled with starting my education and had more barriers to worry about. To me, college represents independence and being able to achieve despite my disability. Being disabled has also made me want to be an activist for my community, and community college gave me the opportunity to learn how to accomplish this. Without community college and the influence of my parents, I may not have been motivated to achieve as much as I have or gotten the chance. As I move into studying for a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology, I want to dedicate my studies to understanding social issues and spreading awareness. By continuing my studies, I want to contribute meaningful insight that addresses social inequality and influences public policy. Community college was the first step for me in my long-term goals, and it has brought me much closer to accomplishing them. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue pursuing my education without added financial stress, allowing me to stay focused on my goals and the work I hope to contribute.

Nothing influenced me more than my education and passion for learning. Growing up, my parents always made sure I understood the value of education. They encouraged me to learn and equipped me with the resources to do so. In 10th grade, I began working towards my associate’s degree in sociology. Naturally, I could not yet attend a 4-year college, so community college gave me the opportunity to start studying what I was interested in early on. Along the way, I branched into political science and discovered it was something I greatly enjoyed. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to try and accomplish three associate degrees: political science, sociology, and law. While there was a benefit of transferring my credits and being able to get my bachelor’s degree earlier, I mainly did it because of my desire to learn. If I had gained no degree, I still would have wanted to learn just as much. Aside from my passion for learning, community college was also accessible to me as someone with a disability. The courses I took were online and allowed me to prioritize my physical and mental health while still making progress towards my goals. Without this opportunity, I would have struggled with starting my education and had more barriers to worry about. Being disabled has also made me want to be an activist for my community, and community college gave me the opportunity to learn how to achieve this. The more I learned in my classes, the more I wanted to pursue political science as a career. Looking for options, I came across the idea of research and decided it was what I wanted to do as a career. Taking college courses and uncovering more about people’s struggles has greatly influenced me to commit myself to this path. Without this and the influence of my parents, I may not have been motivated to achieve as much as I have or gotten the chance. As I move into studying for a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology, I want to dedicate my studies to understanding social issues and spreading awareness. Community college was the first step for me in my long-term goals, and it has brought me much closer to accomplishing them.

I was recently diagnosed with a genetic disability. The year before this, it had begun to impact my daily life. As someone who values financial stability, one of my biggest concerns was how I would save money without being able to work a traditional job. Combining the cost of tuition and living, having money saved was becoming more essential as I moved towards college. Although I was worried, I knew I had overcome other challenges relating to my disability before, such as struggles with accessibility at school. I was already able to graduate as Valedictorian and earn 3 associates degrees before finishing high school, so I knew I could overcome my financial barriers too. Baking had always been a hobby of mine, and I decided to take it a step further than just making cookies for my friends. I started a small business selling them around my school, and I dedicated hours each week to making and advertising them. This venture taught me valuable skills in promotion and networking, which will help with future jobs. It also gave me a source of income that was consistent and accessible because of the time flexibility and physical requirements. Every penny I earned went back into the business or directly to my savings, slowly building the money I had for the future. I believe building credit early is one of the best things college students can do to secure their financial futures. My parents have always instilled in me the importance of being smart with money, and they decided to get me a credit card while I was in high school. They believed it would help educate me on responsible spending, paying off my balance on time, and help build my credit for the future. It gave me a sense of independence as well as responsibility. I knew having a credit card was a big deal, and I needed to use it properly, only buying things I could afford. Going forward, I will remember what they have taught me to continue making good decisions with my money, whether it be a house, car, or college. As I move into the future, I will continue seeking money-making opportunities that are accessible to me, whether it be baking or something new. One of the ways I have been doing this is through my scholarship applications. Starting from the beginning of my senior year in school, I spent hours every week compiling and applying for scholarships, doing everything I could do to increase my chances of being selected. College costs are one of the biggest concerns for young people, and I am no exception. These scholarships help alleviate that pressure and allow me to focus my money on other important purchases, such as rent. When combining my efforts and what I have learned, I feel confident that I can have a successful financial future.

Growing up, I always felt excluded. I never connected with any of the other kids around me, despite my best efforts. Life at home was not much better. I never understood my parents, and they never understood me. I felt that I was constantly getting in trouble, and I never knew why. I was only doing what I thought was right. These struggles were extremely damaging to my mental health, and I ended up developing Persistent Depressive Disorder. As I got older, I learned more about what autism was, and met others who had it. Still, I never felt that I might have it until I turned 16 and really looked into it. When my mom found out I was trying to get a diagnosis, she told me she had known my whole life and never felt the need to do anything about it. I was angry, and I felt I was right to be. If I had been diagnosed earlier, I may not have had as many struggles as I did. I could have gotten the right support, been able to connect with others, and gotten along with my parents better. Yet, no one seemed to care enough to guide me there because I was doing well in school. “A good student surely does not need any extra help” was an unfortunate mindset held by a lot of adults in my life. However, I persevered despite the lack of help. I continued to excel in school, and was able to overcome my mental health struggles, including my depression. It was hard, but it also taught me a great deal about how strong I can be. If I start to struggle now, I know I can handle it because of everything I have faced in the past. When I received my diagnosis, I was very happy. After 16 years, I finally felt understood. It did not make my struggles go away, but it did give me an explanation for why I was dealing with these things. I was not broken or dumb, just different. Now that it has been almost two years since my diagnosis, a lot has changed for me. Since then, I have gained many opportunities to connect with others. I joined clubs and tried my hardest to make friends. My past experiences of being rejected were valuable in helping me learn how to interact with others. As much as I would have benefited from support as a child, I know now that I can figure things out on my own, while still having people around me who offer their help. This has shown me just how deep my resilience is. I am fortunate to have made many friends during my time in high school who support me and love me for who I am. These lessons will stick with me my whole life, and I am proud to be who I am, autism and all.

Growing up, I was just like any other child. I participated in sports, loved exercising, and was full of energy. I started a roller-skating club at school, leading me to meet new people who shared my passion for the sport. I contributed over 300 hours to helping my community, constantly challenging myself. When I was 16, I became disabled after a genetic condition started to manifest. This made it difficult for me to walk or do physical activity. While I had to give up some of my passions, I quickly adapted. I shifted my focus from skating to baking, another one of my interests, and even started my own small business selling cookies. I had to shut down the roller-skating club, but I focused on the other clubs I was involved in, such as the ones related to community service. School suddenly became difficult after being something that was never a struggle. It was not because of the material, but the accessibility. I frequently missed classes due to a broken elevator and could no longer handwrite my assignments. I struggled with focusing as I was in constant pain. Emotionally, the pain was taking a toll, but so was the lack of support from my school. Like my diagnosis, it took me a year to get accommodations. Despite this, I never stopped fighting, regardless of how many times the school told me it would take weeks to fix the elevator or that I could not get some of the necessary accommodations. I knew I would have to work much harder, and I did. The one thing I refused to do was give up after three years of diligence. This experience taught me a great deal about advocating for myself and being persistent. Nothing influenced me more to push myself than my education and passion for learning. In 10th grade, I began working towards my associate’s degree in sociology. Through my classes, I discovered a great deal about the struggles people face every day, such as homelessness. On top of this, the thing that continuously inspires me to give back the most is wanting to carry on the legacy of everyone who has guided me in the past. So many people have selflessly spent time assisting me with my disability, in school, or with my mental health struggles. Now that I can, I want to assist others who are struggling with the same things I did and what I learned about in my classes. Becoming disabled also made me more aware of the challenges those with disabilities face and motivated me to try to prevent them. As I move into pursuing my bachelor’s degree in political science, I plan to do research into social issues such as homelessness and the struggles of disabled people that my previous volunteer work was intended to alleviate. My goal is to further our understanding of these problems and discover more solutions. This scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream of researching and addressing social problems and serving inside and outside of my community. While I do not know what the future holds for me, my experiences will guide my research, volunteering, and how I support others.

When I was 16, I became disabled after a genetic condition called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome started to manifest. This made it difficult for me to walk or do physical activity. However, I am still dedicated to contributing in any way I can. Every day, I do something that furthers this goal, whether it be communicating with organizations to volunteer, dedicating time to my schoolwork, or just pushing through my disability. When I first began volunteering, I focused on opportunities that were close to me. I joined the Project Linus Club at my school and made blankets for children in need. These blankets gave children in unstable situations not only a useful item, but something to provide comfort in difficult times. In Interact Club, I made peace cranes, letters, and breast cancer awareness ribbons to bring joy and support to those who needed it most. In my third year in the club, I became the secretary of community service. This created the opportunity to assist those in need myself and recruit other volunteers for these important causes. Outside of the classroom, I assisted during events at over 10 different elementary schools for more than 60 total hours. As a child, I had always felt excluded, and I hoped to let these children have fun and create lasting memories so that they would not feel the same way. In one instance, a boy succeeded in a carnival game I was running. He beamed and thanked me. It showed me that even little moments of kindness can brighten someone's day. These moments were the most impactful to me because of my own childhood, and represent what leadership means to me: helping those who need it most, even when others do not step up. Participating in events run by others was not enough for me, and I decided I would start hosting my own. As president of the Roller-Skating Club and Gender and Sexuality Alliance, I facilitated campus clean-ups multiple times a semester, motivational sticky note exchanges once a semester, and encouraged participation in school events. All of these opportunities taught me the importance of compassion, dedication, and resilience. After completing 300 hours of community service, I want to continue giving back. Looking ahead, I will carry these lessons with me, and I know I can keep doing more to help, just as others have done for me. Through all of this, I never let my grades falter. I began pursuing an associate’s degree when I was in 10th grade, and I am on track to graduate with three degrees in law, sociology, and political science by the time I finish high school. On top of this, I achieved the status of Valedictorian with a 5.0 GPA for two years straight. These accomplishments took daily hard work and focus, traits I carry with me throughout my life. Becoming disabled made me more aware of the challenges those with disabilities face and motivated me to try to prevent them. As I move into pursuing my bachelor’s degree in political science, I plan to do research into social issues, such as homelessness and the struggles of disabled people, that my previous work was intended to alleviate. My goal is to further our understanding of these problems and discover more solutions. This scholarship would allow me to achieve my dream of researching and addressing social problems and serving inside and outside of my community. While I do not know what the future holds for me, my definition of leadership will guide my research, volunteering, and how I support others.