Hello, my name is Haley Elizabeth Rose, and I am an immigrant Black female student from Jamaica. As a young woman pursuing a career in pediatric neuropsychology, I have always been passionate about art, creativity, and understanding human behavior and the mind. Throughout my life, I have explored many career paths, from becoming an art teacher to pursuing neuropsychology, because both creativity and behavioral science have always connected deeply with me. This passion has motivated me to continue learning more about psychology, neuroscience, and the ways art can help people express and understand themselves. My passion for behavioral health has continued throughout both my academic and personal journey. In high school, I took behavioral health courses and earned my Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) certification, which strengthened my understanding of mental health and working with others. I was also selected as one of only two students from my school to participate in an internship with the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, where I gained valuable experience and insight into behavioral health and community support systems. These opportunities confirmed my passion for helping children and families struggling with emotional and mental health challenges. In addition to my academic interests, I was actively involved in Women of Tomorrow, a club dedicated to empowering young women through mentorship, leadership, and personal growth. As a Black female student, being part of a space that encouraged young women to pursue their goals confidently was incredibly meaningful to me and helped shape the woman I am becoming today. Growing up, I was surrounded by many people who struggled with trauma and emotional hardships. Seeing how trauma can reshape the brain and influence the way we behave motivated me to learn more about the connection between the mind, emotions, and healing. It also inspired me to help children who deal with mental health struggles, trauma, and emotional obstacles in life. In my culture, therapy is still often viewed as a taboo subject, especially for women and young girls who are expected to silently carry emotional burdens without support. Many children who later become parents carry unresolved trauma and unintentionally pass those struggles down through generations. Witnessing this within my community strengthened my desire to create change. As a Black woman entering a field where women of color are still underrepresented, I hope to bring representation and understanding into spaces where many children and families may feel unseen. In the future, I plan to open my own practice where I can combine neuropsychology with art-based healing programs to help children heal, communicate, and express themselves creatively. Painting, storytelling, and drawing can express so much for children who may not always have the words to explain what they feel. Throughout high school, I remained dedicated to my education, maintained A and B honor roll grades, and graduated with a 3.6 GPA. However, pursuing higher education as an immigrant student has come with many financial challenges. During my first semester of college, financial struggles forced me to leave school before completing my full first year. After transferring schools during the summer to continue pursuing my goals, I worked two jobs throughout the fall semester to support myself financially while remaining in school. Although my current school is a wonderful institution that provides great opportunities, the cost of attendance is still difficult for me financially. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve some of that burden and allow me to focus more fully on my education, professional development, and future goals while continuing to work toward creating meaningful change for children and families affected by trauma and mental health stigma.