My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My current work in behavioral health for the Peace Corps has shaped me in many ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. It was an incredibly scary and frustrating time and forced me to prioritize my mental health. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. I am confident that my studies will help me help so many others with their mental health through knowledge coupled with experience.

My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

When I saw Taylor Swift in concert, I was inspired to follow my dreams and have an impact on society. After seeing her influence and inspiration, I started applying to graduate school programs and when I was accepted my dream school, Johns Hopkins University, I was so happy that I was starting to achieve my dreams. I am confident that I will be able to learn skills that will help me help others. In 2020, I published my first book, The Silly Yak Who Had Celiac and that coupled with inspiration from places like Taylor Swift's concert has inspired me to seek a degree in Health Communication. There are many reasons why I wish to pursue not just a degree, but also a career in Health Communication. First and foremost, I have lived with an autoimmune disease since I was a teenager. My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy.

I currently give back in many ways. My experiences living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today and how I give back in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My experience living with a disability has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My experience living with a disability has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having a disability. I will use this degree to continue to help others. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in the lives of other disabled people.

My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

My favorite book-to-film adaptation that is special to me is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. One of my earliest memories is having my parents read me the book on Christmas Eve. I remember watching the story come alive with the short film. As a child, I went from being afraid of the Grinch to empathizing with him to wanting to be his friend. The story has always had a special place in my heart. Last year, for the week before Christmas, I set up a projector, some camping chairs, and a small fire pit in my yard and invited my neighbors with young children to come watch this movie with me. It was amazing to watch the children in my neighborhood fall in love with this story the same way I once did when I was their age. I have already had my neighbors ask if we are going to do it again in December this year. I cannot wait to make this a tradition in my neighborhood. I know not many people would consider this book-to-film adaptation; especially when books like the Harry Potter series exist. But, this book and film are one in the same to me. The holidays can be a difficult time for many people but I truly believe books and films with such a good message about how we are never too angry, stubborn, or forgotten to actually celebrate Christmas, can change a person’s perspective. This movie has done this for me. A few years ago, I had a traumatic event happen before Christmas and was really upset the next Christmas. I had a hesitancy to decorate my Christmas tree but wanted to overcome my struggle. I played a playlist of Christmas music and when the theme song from The Grinch who Stole Christmas started to play all of the good memories rushed back to me and I was inspired to focus on the good and create new memories. The power of this book and movie is just that. It is the essence of love, forgiveness, and resilience wrapped up into a wonderful story that still leaves an impression on everyone who is lucky enough to see it. I love this movie, am so grateful for this movie, and cannot express how much this book and movie have shaped my life in just 600 words but hope this essay gives it justice. The viewing experience has evolved so much in just my life. I never would have imagined as a child that one day I would sit in my yard with my beautiful neighbors in freezing temperatures watching the movie on a projector. I cannot wait to see how the viewing experience will change in another twenty years.

I have lived in both a suburban area such as Washington, D.C. and a rural area such as Crespatown, MD. I have been able to see sustainable ways to live in both areas. While living in Washington, D.C. I would use public transportation like the Metro or use my bike regularly. But, I would not have space to compost my food scraps or maintain a small garden. However, in my current home, while it is not realistic to use public transportation, I am able to use a compost bin to “recycle” my food scraps into dirt for my garden. In my garden, I’ve been able to grow berries and freeze extras and use them for smoothies. When I am able to grow my own food, I am also able to minimize my visits to the grocery store. When I do visit the grocery store, I always use a fabric reusable bag to carry my groceries. I try to use fabric bags because they are easier to clean and dry and help ease any anxiety I would have by repeatedly using a plastic reusable bag that may collect germs. I also can food from my garden by making homemade sauces and salsas. By doing this, I am able to barter foods with my fellow neighbors. I have wonderful neighbors next door that grow many vegetables like squash and cabbage and share them with me for some jars of my homemade tomato sauce or salsa. I use the squash and cabbage in homemade minestrone soup and am able to make it shelf-stable by canning it in a jar and using it in the Winter time. I also recycle cardboard by composting it or recycle plastic and metal jars and cans in my house. I also try to be sustainable in other ways. I have a Little Free Library in my yard that is used by dozens of people in my neighborhood. I am so proud of it when I see people walking their dog or walking with their children and are able to recycle their libraries at home by sharing these books with their neighbors. I have been able to read many books for free and without further needing an additional copy made just by receiving a copy in my LFL. In fact, I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. In the Fall, I will begin graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University. I will be pursuing my MA in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication. I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of many people. It is so important to live a sustainable life because the world we care for is the world the next generation will live in and the examples we set for them are how they will live.

I grew up near a golf course. I would drive by it almost daily as a child. I was always interested in the sport and watching people relax and compete against friends. I wanted to be part of the golf community in high school. In 2010, I started high school and asked if there was a golf team. I was overcome with joy to learn that not only was there a golf team but that the team also wanted players. I was so excited to finally learn about the game of golf. At the first meeting, I noticed that I was the only female to try-out for the team. A few of the young men were hesitant to have a female on the team but the coach was more than supportive and helped me learn how to hold a golf club and hit the ball. Unfortunately, we only had the chance to meet a few times before the coach became sick. So for seven years I patiently waited until I was able to meet a group of like-minded students at the University of Maryland and learn about the game of golf. We bonded over the game and the other women in the group and I quickly bonded over the game and also how some of us were the only females interested in joining our golf teams in high school. Once a year a few of the women in that group and I get together to visit a topgolf and allow our love of the game and appreciation for the struggles we’ve overcome. The game of golf has brought me so many friends and helped me realize that if we truly persist and want to learn something, we can accomplish anything. I hope to bring that same type of resilience and mentorship to any environment I work in, whether that be in my education or in my professional work, I hope to always cultivate a welcoming environment for minorities and people who would not otherwise be represented or welcomed. In the Fall, I will begin graduate studies at JIhns Hopkins University. I will be pursuing my MA in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication. I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of many people.

There are several experiences with anxiety that have shaped who I am today in many ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. During this time, doctors, teachers, and family members would say that my symptoms were a result of anxiety, which only made me feel anxious. Since then I have set out to help others and create resources for others who feel anxious as a result of a chronic illness. I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

There are several experiences that have shaped who I am today in many ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.

Winnie the Pooh’s new friend, Stitch: Two of my favorite Disney Channel shows as a young child were The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Lily & Stitch: The Series. Naturally, a crossover between these two shows comes to mind. Imagine an episode titled Winnie the Pooh’s new friend, Stitch. In the episode, Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Gopher stumble across a crashed rocketship in the forest. Tigger bounces around the rocketship while Winnie says his famous line, “oh bother” and discusses how they are in a sticky situation. Eeyore says, “looks like someone had a better day than me.” Just as Piglet starts to cry, the wrecked rocketship starts to rumble and a loud roar comes from it. Suddenly, Stitch jumps from the rocketship and bounces around, almost as fast as Tigger bounces on his tail. Winnie the Pooh shouts that he thinks it’s a koala bear. Owl says that it must be a dog. Stitch suddenly stops and hides behind a tree. He looks sad and scared. Piglet does the same and also hides behind a tree across from Stitch. In amazement, Winnie the Pooh realizes that the new animal looks different but acts more like one of his friends. He looks down and beside the wrecked rocketship is a small patch of flowers. Everyone watches as Pooh grabs some flowers and walks over to Piglet to whisper something in his ear. Piglet then grabs the flowers and walks slowly over to where Stitch is hiding and starts laying the flowers one by one to where Stitch is until he is standing only a foot away from Stitch and then a blue arm slowly and shakily reaches out from behind the tree and grabs a flower. Piglet holds another flower in his hand. He shakily lifts his hand up towards his nose to smell the sweet scent of the flower and Stitch does the same. Simultaneously, they both smile at the delicious smell of the flower. Stitch takes a small step out from behind the tree and just as Piglet is about to take a small step forward, Tigger bounces over and snatches a flower off the ground. He is about to bounce again when he sniffs the flower and abruptly sneezes from the pollen. The sneeze causes him to stumble and crash mid-bounce. Everyone laughs. Stitch laughs the loudest of them all. Tigger finds Stitch’s response funny and does it again, only this time, he does it purposefully. Tigger dramatically sniffs and sneezes so bad that he jumps twice as high as he usually does. Owl says “I think we found something else we have in common.” Rabbit says, “we don’t know who we just met, but we know we just made a friend.”

The first that is a must-have is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I recommend this book to others for several reasons. To me, the historical representation of queer love is incredibly impactful. Although the tale is fictitious, it is still historically accurate. The main character, Evelyn and her lover, Celia St. James must hide their romance and as a result, Evelyn marries friends to hide her love of another woman. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, this story resonated with me for many reasons. First, I was raised in a predominantly-Catholic, conservative town in rural Appalachia. While earning my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, near Washington, D.C. I saw acceptance, tolerance, and people fighting for justice. This book does a wonderful job of teaching the reader the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. In the story, Evelyn is an old woman granting an interview to a young journalist, and shares the story and truth of her love life. She does not want to have any regrets and wants to restore her legacy while also inspiring others to live their life authentically and fully. This book stands out to me particularly because in September 2024, I will be starting my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration on Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University. I intend on pursuing a doctorate degree upon completion of this degree. I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. This is critical information for our communities because marginalized people based on race, sexuality, sexual orientation, among many others is going to impact our next generation both physically and mentally. Purposely excluding groups of young people in schools is a form of government-endorsed bullying. To take away a narrative that informs fellow students of the experience a BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ student may experience is to take away the experience of empathy for those students. This scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment in the health and welfare of marginalized students in school settings and further preserve the right for students to think and learn for oneself.

My experience living with an autoimmune disease has shaped who I am today in several ways. After two years of fighting a mystery illness, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, celiac disease. Since then, I have authored five children’s books, with three specifically about how to live a happy and healthy life while maintaining a strict gluten-free diet. As part of my activism for the celiac and food allergy communities, I have been privileged to partner with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). As part of this partnership, I have spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for legislation like the ADINA Act, which legally requires non-food items like prescriptions to have food allergen warning labels. I have educated others through health principles relating to celiac disease. As part of this work, I have met with and gained support from several legislators. This lobbying experience, coupled with my experiences teaching students and adults at schools, libraries, businesses, and hospitals, has made the study of health communication not just a passion but also essential to my career goals. I will be earning my Master of Arts degree in Communication with a concentration in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University starting in Fall 2024. The field of health communication first had a significant impact on my life when I was seven years old, and my Dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. There are several reasons why this degree is significant with my journey of having an autoimmune disease. First and foremost, I will use this degree to continue to help others who have celiac and/or a food allergy. I hope to earn a doctorate degree in public health upon completion of my master’s degree. This scholarship can help me fight the financial burden of graduate school. If granted this scholarship, it will help propel me towards earning this degree and further helping others with autoimmune disease like celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. I intend to publish more books and conduct and publish studies focusing on best practice methods for physicians. I believe rural medicine is the reason it took me two years to get diagnosed with celiac disease. Part of the research I would like to study focuses on minimizing the knowledge-gap so many people experience in rural areas. Similarly, I am interested in studying several areas of health communication. For example, I am interested in eventually learning about the mental health effects of book bans. I started a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown after a board member for my county’s board of education talked about banning LGBTQIA+ books in local schools. We repeatedly hear people in educational meetings argue that book bans are harmful or helpful while rarely citing empirical research to support their opinion. Additionally, my experience as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the National MS Society is a testament to my interest in the health communication field. I coordinated talks between patients and pharmaceutical companies. I also led social media marketing campaigns and member recruitment campaigns. I gained experience that fortified my professional interest in public relations principles, strategies, and methods specific to health communication to promote positive healthcare outcomes. Studying health communication is only one of many ways to help promote patient satisfaction and patient care. Awarding me this scholarship will undoubtedly be an investment that will yield unlimited dividends by helping me develop the technical expertise to make a substantive contribution in healthcare and in the lives of people with autoimmune diseases.