As a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, I am driven to build a network of Little Free Libraries to bring books and hope to underserved communities in rural Appalachia, particularly in Western Maryland and West Virginia. Growing up in this region, where resources are scarce, I saw how access to books can spark imagination and ambition. My grandfather began mining coal in West Virginia at just six years old, a testament to the region’s hardships and resilience. His stories of grueling work to support his family instilled in me a deep appreciation for education and community as paths to a better future. Building these libraries is my way of honoring his legacy while empowering others. Little Free Libraries are more than book exchanges; they are beacons of community and empowerment. In rural Appalachia, where libraries and bookstores are often miles away, these small, accessible structures can transform lives by providing free books to children and adults. By placing them in community centers, churches, or front yards, I aim to make reading a shared experience, fostering connections among neighbors who swap books, share stories, and build bonds. This project is both inspiring and empowering. For me, it’s a commitment to give back to the community that shaped me, channeling my grandfather’s perseverance into a cause that uplifts others. Each library built is a step toward breaking cycles of poverty through literacy, offering kids the chance to dream big. For the community, these libraries create spaces where people gather, exchange ideas, and feel valued. In Appalachia, where isolation can weigh heavy, this sense of belonging is transformative. A single book can inspire a child to pursue education, much like my grandfather’s sacrifices pushed me toward my studies at Johns Hopkins. The impact extends beyond books; building these libraries involves collaborating with local schools, businesses, and volunteers, strengthening community ties. It empowers residents to take ownership, perhaps by maintaining a library or donating books, fostering pride and agency. My goal is to build a network of 10 Little Free Libraries across Western Maryland and West Virginia, each a hub of learning and connection. This work shapes my future by grounding my academic passion for researching literacy access in real-world impact. It’s a way to blend my studies with my roots, ensuring that children in Appalachia have the tools to dream and grow. By fostering literacy and community, I hope to create a ripple effect, empowering future generations to overcome challenges and build brighter futures, just as my grandfather’s resilience inspired me to do.

As a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, I love golf for its unique blend of physical challenge, mental focus, and the tranquility of nature. Growing up in rural Appalachia, where golf courses were scarce, I found joy in the game’s precision. Each swing, from powerful drives to delicate putts, demands technique, timing, and strategy, making every shot a puzzle to solve. The rolling fairways, surrounded by lush greens and towering trees, offer a peaceful escape from the demands of daily life, a sanctuary where I can breathe, reflect, and recharge. Golf also fosters connection; networking with fellow golfers builds lasting friendships, whether we’re laughing over wayward shots, cheering perfect approaches, or sharing stories over a post-round drink. The sport’s constant challenge to improve, whether chasing a better score or mastering a new technique, keeps me engaged, teaching resilience and strategic thinking that shape my academic work and personal growth. As a female golfer, I’ve faced significant challenges in a male-dominated sport. In high school, I was told women don’t golf, a stereotype that hit hard and made me question my place on the course. But my Dad believed in me, encouraging me to practice relentlessly with his old, worn clubs on our weathered local course in Appalachia. His unwavering support gave me the confidence to join my high school golf team, a bold move in a community where girls rarely played. Joining the team wasn’t just about competing; it was about proving a point. I worked diligently to refine my swing and course management, teaching younger girls on the team tips on grip, stance, and mental focus, showing them that skill, not gender, defines a golfer. Inspiring them to embrace the game felt like breaking down barriers, one swing at a time. Resources in Appalachia were limited, with patchy fairways, underfunded women’s programs, and few opportunities for formal coaching. I practiced with my Dad’s outdated clubs, saving for years to buy my own set, a milestone that felt like a triumph. I sought online tutorials and drove hours to attend clinics, building my skills through sheer determination. Balancing golf with school, family, and part-time work was tough, especially as a woman navigating societal expectations to prioritize other roles. Early morning range sessions became my solution, allowing me to hone my game while managing responsibilities. These challenges strengthened my resolve, teaching grit and perseverance. Networking on the course opened doors to mentors and peers, from local politicians to university contacts, enriching my graduate experience at Johns Hopkins University. I play golf for the love of the game, to inspire other women, and to carry Appalachia’s resilient spirit to every swing.

By awarding me this scholarship, Coco's legacy will be honored by easing the financial burden for me. I will be starting my Master's degree at Johns Hopkins University in Fall 2024. I am eager to start this academic journey for many reasons. First of all, my intended thesis is to study the negative impacts of book bans. About two years ago, I founded a literary nonprofit in my rural Appalachian hometown, The Western Maryland Literacy Initiative. Through this cause, we have been able to donate about 50,000 books to other nonprofit organizations like schools. My identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has guided me to pursue a place in society where I can help others. By studying book ban impacts on minority communities like LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folks, my goal is to close the literacy gap that is created through book bans. By eliminating narratives through books, we are also eliminating the ability for students to bond with other students, empathize with each other, and ultimately grow together by learning about our collective struggles. My goal is that my research in my graduate studies will help honor the legacy of Coco and others who have come before me to honor the fight and strides towards progress that have been made. I am confident that an investment in me and my future will allow me to focus and spend more time with my literary nonprofit and further help many others know that they are cherished, valued, and heard. One of my goals in life is to always help people and be the person I needed when I was younger. By growing up and being in a position to help others is a truly beautiful thing and I hope one day that I will be in a position to share the message of Coco and also contribute to a scholarship for a student in the future. To help represent the LGBTQIA+ community, help the community, and reflect on the strides made, I know that we will overcome every obstacle placed before us. By showing love, helping others, building understanding, and being a leader for others to see how we can help, we overcome struggles like book bans. To have our voices silenced is to be told that what we have to say simply does not matter is a blatant lie. To silence people is to hurt people in one of the most sacred ways. To ignore the voices of people is to stop history from being written. I will make sure that Coco's legacy will be cemented in history and always honored.

Russia's war in Ukraine has impacted me personally in several ways. Achieving my educational goals will empower me to overcome my hardships resulting from the war in many ways. First, and foremost, I will begin studies for my Master's degree this coming Fall 2024. I will be studying Communication with a concentration in Health Communication. I am motived to study this because of my experience living with an autoimmune disease and because of a literary nonprofit that I founded two years ago. Through my literary nonprofit, The Western Maryland Literacy Initiative, we have been able to donate almost 50,000 books. During engagements with students in schools, we have repeatedly been asked to donate books about the history of Russia, about cultures and countries like Ukraine, and books on how to help. Recently, I have a 9-year-old student named Lilah ask if we can find a book for her on how she can help the people in Ukraine. We were so moved and motivated by Lilah's request that we connected with her school's Principal on books on how to create crafts like supportive cards, bracelets, and many more. After getting books on the history of other wars like World War II, World War I, the Vietnam War, and smaller conflicts like the Korean War, we were proud to donate them and further educate the students of this school. Students were emboldened to act and support the county of Ukraine. While I did not initially expect this war to have a deep impact on me, it has. I now look at history books and think of students like Lilah. I see the hope and resiliency of the next generation and am inspired by them and their willingness to act and be a source of hope. By donating craft books, Lila and her fellow students reached out to the Embassy of Ukraine and sent letters of support to the resilient citizens of Ukraine. Lilah created origami cards, letters, bracelets, paintings and drawings for the people of Ukraine. Although her messages were in English, they were heard and understood loud and clear because she spoke the universal language of love. Lilah's caring spirit was contagious because her fellow students followed her lead. Every student in her school used the books we donated to learn how to create origami cards and bracelets. By asking the simple question, "how can we help?" We were able to help many more than just the students in the school. I hope that we helped many more in Ukraine. By helping ease the financial burden of my graduate studies, I will be able to focus more on this nonprofit and further help spread the message of hope and support the people of Ukraine.

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.