Living with chronic medical conditions, both my own and those of my loved ones, has profoundly shaped my journey and ignited my passion to become a forensic and compliance accountant. While many see accounting as merely numbers and regulations, I see it as a powerful tool to protect vulnerable people from exploitation. My experiences have revealed how financial systems can either support or harm those who are already struggling. I live the reality of managing invisible disabilities while providing care for my father, whose declining health requires constant adaptation. I've written essays bedside in the hospital, interrupted work to help him off the floor, and balanced being a parent, spouse, student, and employee while managing my own health challenges. These experiences could have broken me, instead, they helped me see how to use my skills for others. Living with chronic medical conditions has taught me resilience in its truest form. When anxiety and exhaustion threatened my academic success, I created systems: mental preparation before exams, quiet spaces, deep breathing exercises, strategic breaks. These adaptations increased my test scores by 10-15% and taught me that limitations can be managed with creativity and determination. I also learned the critical importance of building community. As an Academic Peer Navigator at National University, I help students navigate academic challenges while balancing disabilities, caregiving, or non-traditional circumstances. Research shows that peer academic support increases course completion rates by up to 16%. Behind that statistic are real students, many managing health challenges and family responsibilities, who might have quit but didn't because someone reached out and understood. My inspiration comes from a powerful realization: the people who've walked the hardest roads often become the best guides for others on similar journeys. I didn't have a traditional education. My parents homeschooled me without oversight, but they taught me that reading is like a superpower, that I could learn anything with determination. That lesson saved my education and showed me that unconventional paths can lead to extraordinary destinations. Watching students overcome obstacles that once seemed insurmountable reminds me why I push through my own challenges. We excel because our limitations have taught us empathy, resourcefulness, and unwavering commitment to helping others. Each student success story reinforces my belief that struggle creates strength. I chose forensic and compliance accounting because I've seen too much corruption, particularly in the banking industry. Financial exploitation disproportionately harms people who are already vulnerable: families managing medical debt, people with disabilities trying to access services, households like mine stretching resources impossibly thin. I want to be the person who holds these institutions accountable. As a forensic and compliance accountant, I will ensure customer protections and advocate for transparency and ethical practices. I understand intimately what it means to be vulnerable in systems that should protect you but often don't. I won't just audit financial statements. I'll safeguard the people behind those numbers. Through my mentoring, I continue building communities where people support each other through challenges. Through my career, I'll advocate for policies that protect consumers, particularly those managing medical expenses and disabilities. Through my example, I hope to show others that chronic conditions equip us with unique perspectives that make us better advocates and leaders. My personal experiences with chronic medical conditions have profoundly shaped my aspiration to protect vulnerable populations. By embracing the challenges I face daily, I have found purpose and a burning desire to empower others. This scholarship will help me focus more energy on my studies, bringing me closer to protecting others the way I wish my family and I had been protected.

The hospital backpack sits by my front door, packed and ready. Laptop charger, notepad, pens, water bottle, snacks, and a Red Bull – everything I need to study for exams while my 80-year-old father receives emergency care. At this stage in his health, it's not really a balancing act anymore; it's more like juggling. When I decided to take my GED at 42-years-old, I knew the path wasn't a traditional one, but I didn't expect to be studying for my exams in hospital rooms. But I am here, keeping a 3.47 GPA while acting as primary caregiver for my father who has dementia, managing my own chronic pain and newly discovered ADHD, and mentoring over 200 students each month as an Academic Peer Navigator. The challenges that could have derailed my education have become the foundation for helping thousands of other students succeed. My college story changed because of a choice that defines my character: putting my children first. When my kids started school, I enrolled in community college. But when my children struggled, one with dyslexia, the other with both dyslexia and ADHD, I decided to put my degree on hold. My kids needed more support, and I wanted to ensure they had the tools and help necessary to succeed in school. For ten years, I focused on being their advocate, learning about learning differences, and helping them build a "toolbox of tools" to manage their individual challenges. When my oldest approached his junior year in high school, struggling to see the value of good grades, I realized I needed to lead by example. My husband had a work trip planned, and I seized that window of opportunity to study for and take my GED test. I was nervous – much more than I had been ten years earlier – but I was determined to show my son that education mattered at any age. Within five months of earning my GED, I enrolled at the university. After struggling with tests term after term, I discovered I had ADHD, seeing the same traits in myself that my son had struggled with. At the same time, I became the primary caregiver for my father, whose dementia and ongoing health issues meant frequent ER visits and hospitalizations. Despite challenges, I've made the Dean's List several times and maintained my 3.47 GPA. In my second year at university, the Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Letters approached me. He was launching a pilot Academic Peer Mentor program and wanted me to be part of it. As an Academic Peer Navigator, I facilitate one-on-one peer meetings, coordinate small group study sessions, and lead virtual student panels, supporting up to 200 students and four professors each month. I provide technical and emotional guidance to a diverse undergraduate student body, helping improve engagement, retention, and overall student satisfaction with a measurable positive impact of 88%. Each month I support a new batch of roughly 200 students, meaning I've supported over 4,800 students. My role involves collaborating with faculty, advising, and support services to connect students with critical resources including financial aid, tutoring, mental health services, and academic accommodations. The challenges I've faced as a non-traditional student managing caregiving duties and chronic pain have become tools for understanding and supporting others facing similar obstacles. I've also taken on leadership responsibilities, presenting training sessions for new Academic Peer Navigators and producing informative community-building videos for both students and faculty. Every strategy I share about time management under pressure, every connection I make to mental health resources stems from my journey overcoming adversity while maintaining academic excellence.

I’ve written essays and taken exams, bedside my dad in the hospital. I have interrupted work to run to my dad’s room to pick him up off the floor. Living in a multi-generational home I have to balance many roles; I have children I care for as well as my parents. With my dad’s diagnosis of dementia and his other on-going health issues, along with my responsibilities as a parent, spouse, student, and employee to say it gets overwhelming seems like an understatement. The anxiety and pressure to succeed as a student while trying to balance my responsibilities as a caretaker are immense. Not to mention the mental noise of ADHD while taking tests and being exhausted I’ve had to implement some measures to help me maintain focus during tests. I’ve begun mentally preparing 15minutes before the test, I quiet my room, put on study music to drown out household noises, deep breathing 1 minute before starting, and if it’s a long test I prepare some almonds and a cup of tea so I can maintain focus if I get hungry or thirsty. With this routine, I’ve seen my test score increase by about 10-15%. While these challenges make many things harder, these experiences have taught me to effectively prioritize under pressure and deepened my empathy for others facing difficult situations. These qualities have made me more resilient in my academic journey and strengthened my ability to support other students. I know that during the terms when I am having the biggest struggles with mental health, they also seem to be when I have the hardest time in my courses. To combat this and help ensure I can do my best work in school, I have learned the importance of self-care. This applies not only to how I schedule my course work, but also the need to schedule time for myself. I do best when I make time for something as simple as an evening bedtime routine, where I let my mind wind down while I wash my face and do a simple skin care routine, this allows mental preparation for sleep and an intentional time to start calming down. This bedtime routine of washing my face, applying lotion, and self-massage brings heightened anxiety to a manageable level before getting into bed. Scheduling exercise time several times a week allows me to work out frustrations and relieve stress through movement, and quiet time when I can sit and read in solitude creates a mental rest period. I have learned that communication and community are key to my success as a student and in my professional and personal life. Sometimes that means explaining my situation and asking for an extension, sometimes it’s just asking for help. I have taken on a role as an Academic Peer Mentor at my university to helping students navigate academic accommodations and improve time management. Our campus is largely online, which is fantastic for accessibility, but it comes with the challenge of feelings of isolation for the student body. Creating a community online helps us encourage each other and push past the hard to get to the successful outcomes. I’ve taken some of the things I’ve learned as a mentor and applied them to my own course work, by seeking out classmates that have similar goals and creating study groups for those in our degree program we are able to support and encourage one another, as well as offer study suggestions and tips.

What I've Learned from Books and How They've Shaped My Goals I didn't have the best education growing up; my parents homeschooled me without oversight and without really knowing what they were doing. However, they did have an appreciation for reading and books, which I have carried with me. I've learned that no matter what, reading is like a superpower. I can learn anything with the right books and the will and desire to read. From Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespeare, and Hemingway I learned to love language, words, and the musical quality that one can play with when writing. These authors showed me how words create a whole mood through melody, how rhythm and sound matter just as much as meaning. Poe's dark poetry taught me about atmosphere, Shakespeare revealed the music hidden in speech, and Hemingway showed me that sometimes what you leave out is more important. From Douglas Adams, Alfred Bester, and Frank Herbert I learned about the fantastical world of science fiction, and how authors use those worlds to explore humanity, politics, and comedy. Adams taught me that the universe is absurd and that's exactly what makes it worth laughing about. Bester showed me that technology reflects who we really are inside. Herbert's Dune taught me that even in imaginary worlds, people still struggle with the same things - power, faith, and survival. But, books have taught me more than just literary appreciation. I have also learned how to grow produce in my garden and preserve it, how to bake bread, and how to raise chickens and keep them healthy. Every set of instructions I've read, every gardening how-to, every cookbook has reinforced my belief that reading truly is a superpower. Need to know something? Find the right book, and you can figure it out. I can honestly say that without my love of books and libraries and librarians, I wouldn't be an undergraduate student. Libraries became a supplemental classroom when my homeschool education fell short. Librarians were the teachers who helped me find what I needed to learn, even when I didn't know what I was looking for. In my very first class at college, I chose to write my essay on libraries, defending the funding and need for public libraries and noting how many libraries are staying current with their community needs. That essay was personal, I was defending the places that had saved my education and opened up my future. Now as an Academic Peer Mentor at my university, I regularly recommend our library and librarians as a vital resource for student success. I've seen how the right librarian can help a struggling student find exactly what they need for their research, I’ve been that student. I watch students discover that libraries aren't antiquated, they're community centers full of resources and people who want to help you succeed. Barbara Cain understood what I learned through experience: libraries and librarians don't just organize books, they change lives. Even though I don't plan to become a librarian myself, I want to carry forward what she represented, the belief that everyone deserves access to knowledge and that reading can transform anyone's life. As I continue my education and career, I'll always advocate for libraries and the power of books. I want to help other students like me, the ones who took unconventional paths, who learned that reading really is a superpower, discover that they belong in places of learning, just like the librarians who helped me realize I belonged there too.

When extreme pain hits during an exam or deadline, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing through the pain, it’s about adapting in a thoughtful way to succeed despite it. I manage chronic pain, hypermobility (which means I deal with subluxations weekly, if not daily), chronic migraines, and secondary Raynaud’s. Since I’ve been dealing with these conditions for at least 10 years, I’ve realized this most generally requires pacing myself. Long stretches of time at my desk will cause subluxations in my hips and/or SI joint, so I have to make sure I break up my time, I have chosen a degree program that allows me to do nearly all of my coursework and class time online which is a huge benefit as I know some days walking across campus would not be feasible. With the Raynaud’s management, I have mostly found work arounds by using compression gloves (this also helps prevent finger subluxations), wool socks, and making good use of blankets and a big collection of sweaters and jackets to allow me to adjust for changing temperatures. This doesn’t eliminate flares, but it helps minimize some of the pain from them. I generally plan ahead each term with the expectation that there will be medical issues that will cause a hiccup in my routine, so I stay ahead of schedule to provide myself with some grace time, I also communicate with my instructors when issues arise. On my worst days, when I still have to produce work, I’ve learned to build myself what I call a “nest” on the couch, blanket, comfort item, tea, and laptop with tablet and pen to minimize distractions from pain so I can keep at it. During one particularly challenging term when severe migraines coincided with multiple subluxations and my dad needing emergency surgery, I made the difficult decision to request an Incomplete rather than submit subpar work. This accommodation allowed me to maintain my academic standards while prioritizing my health, I completed the course with an 89% after the additional two weeks. One big thing I have learned is to communicate and ask for help when needed. Twice in the past 3 years I took a month off (National University works on a month-to-month basis) to recharge when things became overwhelming). I have also used my experiences to become an Academic Peer Mentor for my university, the empathy I’ve found from my challenges helps me relate to other students and help them find resources and guidance when they face struggles. Managing my health issues has taught me to break projects into manageable phases, anticipate potential obstacles, and develop contingency plans - skills directly applicable to my goals in project management through my Accounting degree. My experience navigating healthcare systems and insurance requirements has also deepened my understanding of financial planning and risk assessment. With proper management, I’ve been able to maintain my 3.46 GPA and have been on the Dean’s List several times. This scholarship would reduce my need to work additional hours during symptom flares, allowing me to focus on my studies during my most challenging periods without the stress of paying for my next course compromising both my health and academic performance.

From 10 years old, I spent my afternoons and weekends helping my dad build his businesses from scratch. I watched him and my mom huddle over statements at the kitchen table, stressing over poor monthly sales. I saw their faces light up with excitement and relief when a marketing campaign or new product finally paid off. I witnessed how quickly things could turn around when we figured out how to reach the right customers. Through this, one thing became obvious: it didn't matter how great our product was or how perfectly balanced our books looked. The driving force behind success or failure always came down to sales and good marketing. This early exposure led me to pursue accounting. I figured if I could master the financial side, I'd understand how businesses could succeed. My classes taught me to examine the story behind the numbers, tracking cash flow, analyzing profit margins, and spotting trends that showed whether a company was headed toward success or trouble. But every time I looked at those financial statements, I kept thinking about what I'd seen at home: a pretty balance sheet meant nothing if customers weren't buying. The connection between accounting and marketing hit me during a class project analyzing tech companies. I was looking at companies like Amazon and Apple, trying to understand how their market values could be so much higher than their physical assets. The answer was in their customer costs, customer value over time, and brand strength - all measurable numbers that most marketing professionals struggle with but that clicked for me because of my accounting background. That's when it clicked: good marketing isn't just about creativity or brand awareness - it's about getting measurable results that show up on the bottom line. This number-focused approach gives me an advantage that many marketing professionals simply don't have. What excites me most about pursuing marketing is the chance to directly drive business growth while keeping the financial discipline my parents taught me through their example. I've seen how the right marketing strategy can completely change a company's path. But I've also seen how poorly planned campaigns can drain a family's savings faster than any other business mistake. My accounting background means I understand both the excitement and the risk. The business world relies more and more on data, and marketing is no different. Modern marketing tools and customer analysis all require the kind of number skills that my accounting education gave me. While other marketing students struggle with ROI calculations and budget planning, I can focus on the creative and strategic parts because the financial analysis feels like second nature. My goal is to bridge marketing creativity with financial discipline to build strategies that actually work. I want to develop campaigns that not only build brands and engage customers but also deliver clear results that my future bosses can understand and trust. This means every creative decision should be backed by data, and every budget choice should be justified through careful financial planning. The lessons I learned watching my parents' businesses continue to guide my career goals: success requires both vision and execution, creativity and measurement, passion and smart planning. Having seen firsthand how sales and marketing determine whether families eat well or struggle financially, I'm motivated to master these areas while using my accounting foundation. My background lets me bridge the gap between marketing creativity and financial responsibility, a combination that's increasingly valuable in today's business world. Through pursuing marketing with my accounting foundation, I'm prepared to contribute to that winning formula that I watched my parents perfect over the years.

In 2023, out of a student body of about 40,000 myself and one other student were chosen to become Peer Mentors for a pilot program to help with student retention. I led study hall sessions twice a week for 4-6 professors teaching ENG 240 for the last year. I’ve helped students learn how to navigate the online learning software, learn how to write thesis statements, citing sources using APA/MLA style, find credible resources, how to access resources that the campus offers, how to understand instructor feedback, and helped them fight appropriate battles with professors through proper channels. The courses at National University are only 4 weeks, so I have had to balance teaching them how to be a student, providing them with the right tools, and instilling confidence so they can continue to be successful once they finish ENG240 and no longer have regular access to me. The program has been so successful that as of January 2024, we were approved for a grant to expand the program into more courses. We’ll be bringing on 16 more Peer Mentors in August 2024, and I have been asked to adjust my role to mentor the new Peer Mentors, so I will be leading and guiding them as Peer Mentors. As for my future goals, I have always aimed to bring people up around me, particularly those who don’t have other support. As a Resume Writer, I volunteered resume writing to survivors of domestic abuse and single parents. I have since had a personal need to start learning ASL, so in the future I see reaching out to the Deaf community as well. Honestly, I’m not far enough into my degree to know exactly how I’ll be able to translate these services into the community, I know what communities I have a soft spot for and will cater my community service towards. I can see helping to write business proposals, offering tax services, perhaps having a specialty in finding business loans or grants. My long-term goal is in forensic accounting, where I would like to help the underdog and fight corruption. I don’t tend to think of myself of a leader, but I don’t like standing alone, so I pull people up next to me with encouragement and showing them how I struggled, improved, and succeeded. I keep doing that no matter what I’m doing, I do it at home with my kids, at work, and at school. I can’t help it.