Math is everywhere. A lot of people joke about math in school being a waste of time because you never use it when you get older but math is literally all around us. People use math every day in their day-to-day lives and might not even realize it. We use math to calculate our finances, tell time, and compare prices at a gas station or grocery store. It is the basis and foundation for a plethora of ideologies. Using and understanding math from an early age also helps us as individuals develop crucial skills like problem-solving and pattern recognition. Without math, we would not have successful businesses, buildings, or technology like computers or cell phones. Math is even a huge part of science and art. The list goes on and on. Math is an integral part of the growth and development of society. Especially in our modern world that is driven by data and the internet. This is one of the many reasons I love math. Another reason I love math is that math is constant. Numbers are not subjective. Math is almost therapeutic in a way I would say. I have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorder. Math is a retreat for me because it provides rules and routine. I strive for structure and I love being organized. I have loved math and have been good at it for as long as I can remember. I was elated to take Advanced Placement Statistics in high school, not a common feeling for the average teenager. I can just be driving down the road or sitting in a room and I find solace in counting the lines on the road or analyzing the different angles in a room. The list of contributions math has provided to the world is endless. Math is beneficial in almost all if not every field. I am grateful for the many wonderful advancements our society has been able to make thanks to math. To me, math has always been a welcomed subject that has imparted confidence and relief. Even when math is challenging, it is exciting yet comforting.

Technology is all around us. It has become an almost customary part of our everyday lives. Yet, technology is a phenomenon that has and continues to exceed expectations throughout the world. In so many ways, technology has improved our quality of life and opened up astounding opportunities. Technology has aided growth in education, the medical field, agriculture, global trade, and more. It has eased communications decreasing cultural divides and enhanced knowledge thanks to the abundance of information at our fingertips. It seems there is a new development almost every day. One of the most inspiring developments in technology that has inspired me is the advancement in wearable smart devices. A specific example of this is the Owlet. It is a baby monitor that attaches to an infant's foot to monitor their oxygen levels and heart rate. I am a mother and my son had a heart defect. Using this device helped ease our concerns as parents. We were able to track these things from home to help determine if he needed medical attention. If the device detected an abnormality, it would send an alarm to an app on our phone. We were fortunate enough that no emergencies ever arose. However, I have heard a personal story where the device alerted the parent that something might be wrong with their child's heart rate. The child was showing no symptoms of distress. The parent acted quickly and brought their child to an emergency room where they determined there was something wrong. The device essentially saved this child's life thanks to the parent being able to take quick action. Without advancements in technology such as wearable smart devices, this child's life might not have been saved. This is just one example in which technology has made an astounding impact in our lives through the use of a tool that was previously unattainable. I was born in the 1980s and I have witnessed the exponential rate at which technology has expanded and how it has changed lives. As a woman and a parent, I am excited and grateful to be a female seeking a degree in the STEM field. Working in the tech industry will provide me with the opportunity to help aid the future of technology and the impacts it will continue to have. Technology has provided society with many conveniences but it is also responsible for making the world a better place.

STEM jobs play a crucial role in our ever-growing economy and society. There are several motivators as to why I believe it is important to pursue a degree in the STEM field. These reasons include changing the dynamic of a field in need of women, contributing to a field in need of women leaders, and obtaining a career in a prospering field. My past experience along with these reasons have led me to apply to college in pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity Management. I recently medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant after serving almost ten years active duty. I was an Intelligence Analyst which primarily focused on Information and Personnel Security. Being a female in the military definitely puts you in the minority. I learned quickly that I needed to work twice as hard to stand out amongst the men. It was a constant struggle. I gave birth to two beautiful children while I was active duty. This put me behind in my career as I could not attend required schools while pregnant. I watched males I joined with pass me in rank. I realized I could not progress with my peers because of my gender. I joined a group called the Army Mom Life to help make a change. I have given testimonies and signed petitions to Congress in hopes of changing this dynamic. By obtaining a degree in the STEM field, I also hope to decrease the statistic that only 27% of tech positions are held by females and only 22% of Fortune 500 tech companies have women leaders. When I left the military, I was a Staff Sergeant with years of leadership experience. Being a Staff Sergeant, I was responsible for the welfare and training of multiple Soldiers. I learned in the military that being a leader is an honor, especially being in the minority as a female. The military defines a leader as someone in a position of influence who unites a group of individuals to accomplish a mutual goal. To me, a leader is also someone who encourages and inspires. I am excited about representing women in the STEM field and becoming a future leader in the field. I want to show other women that we are strong and can be successful in any career we set our minds to. The STEM field is prospering. It is a vital part of many developing technologies and companies. I believe it is every individual’s responsibility to contribute to society in the best way possible. I have years of computer science experience after serving time in the military. I also enjoy learning about new technologies as I find it exciting how the STEM field is constantly evolving and changing. I am motivated as a female and a mother to succeed. I whole-heartedly believe that I will prosper in a STEM career and represent women well. Through my career in STEM, I hope to accomplish many things. The most important of these is representing women and mothers. Through my achievements, I can set the example to other women that they can be successful and be a leader even if the odds are against you. I hope to accomplish a change in the STEM workplace by becoming a leader to mentor and inspire other females pursuing STEM careers. I want to show my children that hard work and determination can help you accomplish your dreams. The STEM field is a dynamic and inspiring career. I look forward to decreasing the gender gap in this growing field through my experiences as a woman, mother, and leader

Mental health issues come in many shapes and sizes. It is not one size fits all. Struggles with mental health can indisputably affect an individual’s core being as well as the ones around them. Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with these struggles. I, myself, have struggled for years and continue to struggle with mental health issues. I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. My mother and husband struggle with some of these issues as well as my late brother and late childhood friend. These issues have truly shaped every aspect of my life including my relationships, beliefs, and career aspirations. In October 2014, I lost my childhood friend of 21 years to suicide. Her name was Malyssa. She struggled severely with depression. While some of us knew she was struggling, none of us including her mother and sister knew to what great extent. She decided she could not take on the world anymore and took her own life. I was shocked when I heard the news and even more distraught while attending her funeral. This was the first time I had to say goodbye to someone I loved. Losing someone in that manner genuinely opens up your heart and mind to pay more attention to the ones you love and appreciate all the small things. I learned to understand that nothing in the world is guaranteed or should be taken for granted. Following Malyssa’s death, I began to notice how much my older brother Michael struggled with depression. I was in the military and stationed over 12 hours away but I made sure to be present for him whenever he needed me even if it was just through text or a phone call. My brother passed away at the young age of 35 years old in December 2017 due to a heart aneurysm. While my brother did have some medical issues, I believe the stress and constant negative thinking and personal criticism affected his health. Devastated is not a strong enough word to describe losing my brother. Time does not heal all wounds. These losses stirred a passion in me to spend as much time as possible with loved ones. I treasure everyone and everything positive in my life. I encourage myself and everyone around me to chase your dreams and do what makes you happy. My personal battles with mental health as well as experiencing loved ones’ struggles have changed my careee aspirations in life. My anxiety and depression still get the best of me somedays. Medication helps but using techniques that I’ve learned in outpatient therapy like mindfulness, hunt the good stuff and cognitive behavior therapy have made a lasting impact as well. I live purely for my family. I live to support them and make sure they feel loved. These are some of the reasons why I chose a career in computer science. I know that due to the growth in jobs in this field I should not have difficulty finding a job. I live to be the best mother I can be and positive role model to my two beautiful children. I want them to be optimistic and have healthy internal dialogue. My beliefs have changed because I feel as if I have learned what is truly important in life. To me, it is living in the moment and expressing your love. Life is ever-changing and unpredictable. It’s hard. We have to rally together and support each other, one day at a time.

STEM jobs play a crucial role in our ever-growing economy and society. There are several motivators as to why I believe it is important to pursue a degree in the STEM field. These reasons include changing the dynamic of a field in need of women, contributing to a field in need of women leaders, and obtaining a career in a prospering field. My past experience along with these reasons have led me to apply to college in pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity Management. I recently medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant after serving almost ten years active duty. I was an Intelligence Analyst which primarily focused on Information and Personnel Security providing me with computer science experience. Being a female in the military definitely puts you in the minority. I learned quickly that I needed to work twice as hard to stand out amongst the men. It was a constant struggle. I gave birth to two beautiful children while I was active duty. This put me behind in my career as I could not attend required schools while pregnant. I watched males I joined with pass me in rank. I realized I could not progress with my peers because of my gender. I joined a group called the Army Mom Life to help make a change. I have given testimonies and signed petitions to Congress in hopes of changing this dynamic. By obtaining a degree in the STEM field, I also hope to decrease the statistic of STEM being a male-dominated field. When I left the military, I was a Staff Sergeant with years of leadership experience. I learned in the military that being a leader is an honor, especially being in the minority as a female. The military defines a leader as someone who unites a group of individuals to accomplish a mutual goal. To me, a leader is also someone who encourages and inspires. I am excited about representing women in the STEM field and becoming a future leader in the field even if it is an obstacle along the way. I want to show other women that we are strong and can be successful in any career we set our minds to. The STEM field is prospering. It is a vital part of many developing technologies and companies. I believe it is every individual’s responsibility to contribute to society in the best way possible. I have years of computer science experience after serving time in the military. I also enjoy learning about new technologies as I find it exciting how the STEM field is constantly evolving and changing. I am motivated as a female and a mother to succeed. I whole-heartedly believe that I will prosper in a STEM career and represent women well. Through my career in STEM, I hope to accomplish many things despite facing possible obstacles. Through my achievements, I can set the example to other women that they can be successful and be a leader even if the odds are against you. I might have to speak twice as loud or work twice as long to make sure my voice is heard and work is recognized but I will do it with dignity and respect. I hope to accomplish a change in the STEM workplace by becoming a leader so that I may be in a position to make changes and to mentor other females pursuing STEM careers. The STEM field is a dynamic and inspiring career. I look forward to helping it continue to grow through my experiences as a woman, mother and leader.

Mental health issues come in many shapes and sizes. It is not one size fits all. Struggles with mental health can indisputably affect an individual’s core being as well as the ones around them. Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with these struggles. I, myself, have struggled for years and continue to struggle with mental health issues. I have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. My mother and husband struggle with some of these issues as well as my late brother and late childhood friend. These issues have truly shaped every aspect of my life including my relationships, goals, and understanding the world. In October 2014, I lost my childhood friend of 21 years to suicide. Her name was Malyssa. She struggled severely with depression. While some of us knew she was struggling, none of us including her mother and sister knew to what great extent. She decided she could not take on the world anymore and took her own life. I was shocked when I heard the news and even more distraught while attending her funeral. This was the first time I had to say goodbye to someone I loved. Losing someone in that manner genuinely opens up your heart and mind to pay more attention to the ones you love and appreciate all the small things. I learned to understand that nothing in the world is guaranteed or should be taken for granted. Following Malyssa’s death, I began to notice how much my older brother Michael struggled with depression. I was in the military and stationed over 12 hours away but I made sure to be present for him whenever he needed me even if it was just through text or a phone call. My brother passed away at the young age of 35 years old in December 2017 due to a heart aneurysm. While my brother did have some medical issues, I believe the stress and constant negative thinking and personal criticism affected his health. Devastated is not a strong enough word to describe losing my brother. Time does not heal all wounds. These losses stirred a passion in me to spend as much time as possible with loved ones. I treasure everyone and everything positive in my life. I encourage myself and everyone around me to chase your dreams and do what makes you happy. My personal battles with mental health as well as experiencing loved ones’ struggles have changed my goals in life. My anxiety and depression still get the best of me somedays. Medication helps but using techniques that I’ve learned in outpatient therapy like mindfulness, hunt the good stuff and cognitive behavior therapy have made a lasting impact as well. I live purely for my family. I live to support them and make sure they feel loved. I live to be the best mother I can be and positive role model to my two beautiful children. I want them to be optimistic and have healthy internal dialogue. My understanding of the world has changed because I feel as if I have learned what is truly important in life. To me, it is living in the moment and expressing your love. Life is ever-changing and unpredictable. It’s hard. We have to rally together and support each other, one day at a time.

I am a mother and will be attending school full time in the Fall 2022. I will not be working so that I may focus on school and still have time for my children as they are very young. I will be medically retired from active duty service in the Army as of May 12, 2022. I have served for almost ten years. Due to my time in the miltiary, I have spent countless days and nights away from my children which makes my time with them even more precious. I want to be able to attend school without having to work at the same time, leaving me with no time for my children given the sacrifices I have made in the military. I am pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity Management. My husband and I live paycheck to paycheck. If I were to win this scholarship award, we would be able to afford a laptop for me to use in school. I am hoping to be able to afford a laptop capable of the performance requirements needed by a computer science student. This would be an extraordinary help in providing me with a crucial tool to succeed in college. I am honored for the opportunity.

My name is Heather Chason. I recently medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant after serving almost ten years active duty. I was an Intelligence Analyst which primarily focused on Information Security and Personnel Security. I currently have an Associate’s Degree in Intelligence Operations. I am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity Management. I am also a mother to two beautiful little boys named Liam and Ethan. My hobbies include spending time with family, traveling, outdoor activities like hiking and camping, reading, volunteering, and learning. In the military, I was a Staff Sergeant which provided me with years of leadership experience. I was responsible for the welfare and training of multiple Soldiers. I learned in the military that being a leader is an honor, especially being in the minority as a female. The military defines a leader as someone in a position of influence who unites a group of individuals to accomplish a mutual goal. To me, a leader is also someone who encourages and inspires. Being accountable for a diverse group of Soldiers, young and old, male and female, from all over the world allowed me to become an adept and knowledgeable leader. These skills will aid me in being a successful leader for our future generation. I am passionate about leadership because of my time in the military. As a female in the military, I learned quickly that I needed to work twice as hard to stand out amongst the men. It was a constant struggle. I gave birth to both of my boys while I was active duty. This put me behind in my career as I could not attend required schools while pregnant. I watched males I joined with pass me in rank. I realized I could not progress with my peers because of my gender. I joined a group called the Army Mom Life to help make a change. I have given testimonies and signed petitions to Congress in hopes of changing this dynamic. These experiences have inspired a passion in me to help anyone who finds themselves in the minority or struggling to reach their goals. I had senior leaders help keep me motivated and I look forward to becoming a leader so I can inspire others the way my leadership helped me. I plan on making a positive impact on the world through leadership by mentoring and supporting anyone who is struggling or finds themselves in a difficult position. I believe it is every individual’s responsibility to contribute to society in the best way possible. I am motivated as a female and a mother to succeed. I whole-heartedly believe that I will prosper in a leadership position through my experience and inspirations. I plan on making a difference in the world, even if it is just to one individual who needs a leader.

STEM jobs play a crucial role in our ever-growing economy and society. There are several motivators as to why I believe it is important to pursue a degree in the STEM field. These reasons include changing the dynamic of a field in need of women, contributing to a field in need of women leaders, and obtaining a career in a prospering field. My past experience along with these reasons have led me to apply to college in pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity Management. I recently medically retired from the Army as a Staff Sergeant after serving almost ten years active duty. I was an Intelligence Analyst which primarily focused on Information and Personnel Security. Being a female in the military definitely puts you in the minority. I learned quickly that I needed to work twice as hard to stand out amongst the men. It was a constant struggle. I gave birth to two beautiful children while I was active duty. This put me behind in my career as I could not attend required schools while pregnant. I watched males I joined with pass me in rank. I realized I could not progress with my peers because of my gender. I joined a group called the Army Mom Life to help make a change. I have given testimonies and signed petitions to Congress in hopes of changing this dynamic. By obtaining a degree in the STEM field, I also hope to decrease the statistic that only 27% of tech positions are held by females and only 22% of Fortune 500 tech companies have women leaders. When I left the military, I was a Staff Sergeant with years of leadership experience. Being a Staff Sergeant, I was responsible for the welfare and training of multiple Soldiers. I learned in the military that being a leader is an honor, especially being in the minority as a female. The military defines a leader as someone in a position of influence who unites a group of individuals to accomplish a mutual goal. To me, a leader is also someone who encourages and inspires. I am excited about representing women in the STEM field and becoming a future leader in the field. I want to show other women that we are strong and can be successful in any career we set our minds to. The STEM field is prospering. It is a vital part of many developing technologies and companies. I believe it is every individual’s responsibility to contribute to society in the best way possible. I have years of computer science experience after serving time in the military. I also enjoy learning about new technologies as I find it exciting how the STEM field is constantly evolving and changing. I am motivated as a female and a mother to succeed. I whole-heartedly believe that I will prosper in a STEM career and represent women well. Through my career in STEM, I hope to accomplish many things. The most important of these is representing women and mothers. Through my achievements, I can set the example to other women that they can be successful and be a leader even if the odds are against you. I hope to accomplish a change in the STEM workplace by becoming a leader to mentor and inspire other females pursuing STEM careers. I want to show my children that hard work and determination can help you accomplish your dreams. The STEM field is a dynamic and inspiring career. I look forward to helping it continue to grow through my experiences as a woman, mother, and leader.