I used to be a student at Buena High School in Sierra Vista, Arizona. My experience there wasn't exactly great--high school can be rough especially when you are dealing with struggles in life and in mental health like I was. But despite everything, there was one teacher that made it all worthwhile: Mr. Bradley Gallant, the band/music teacher. I had the chance to take two classes of his which were Music Technology and Intro to Piano and Guitar. These classes were probably the best ones I took. He gave me and the entire class a great environment, but I think I was the one that was the most grateful for it. He wasn't the usual strict teacher, no-nonsense teacher you may have had in your school career, just don't break the instruments and you're fine. He made learning fun, even when life outside of the classroom for me wasn't fun. He had this way of bringing joy into the classroom. He'd crack jokes about social distancing (he had a hula hoop and a music tube?!) and smacked his head down onto the keys of a piano to show where middle C was (his nose landed on it haha). He would also hand out treats before vacations or after we did our final for his class and helped us do our best without the pressure of it all. You really got his full respect as long as you done his work and showed respect! That respect meant a lot to someone like me. He juggled so much as well. He was the main music/band teacher of the school district so he was constantly bouncing between schools and different classes. I also knew he was raising a young son at the time. He definitely doesn't make enough money for the effort and time he puts in supporting every kid he did in the entire school district. No matter his situation, you'd 99% of the time run into the most silliest teacher you ever seen. His classroom was always the safe place for me to relax while learning. He taught me about life and changed my approach. Some of the biggest lessons I learned from that man I still carry with me. If you treat people with respect, they'll treat you with respect. If someone is struggling, make sure to lend a helping hand! If someone is sad, try to make them happy somehow. These were the lessons I learned. But, the main lesson I learned from him was to make sure to look at the positives rather than the negatives, and never lose that hope. He has definitely influenced me to be very ambitious and passionate into going into cybersecurity so some of the credit should go to Mr. Gallant. He taught me how to embrace who I am and not let the negativity of others define me. "Issabella, I enjoyed having you in class. I appreciate your perspective on the world. Keep your light bright. As 311 would say, 'F the naysayers, cause they know not what we bring.' Keep positive -Mr Gallant" That quote stays with me, and so does everything he gave me--kindness, laughter, confidence and a reason to keep going. Mr. Gallant didn't just make high school bearable; he changed the way I approach life.

Coming from a single-parent, low-income family of two (which is me and my mother) has been challenging, but it has definitely shaped who I am today and helped me to become stronger. I’ve learned important life skills before I turned 18. My father passed away when I was eight. My mom and I have lived on her disability checks and my survivor’s benefits, which is about 22k a year. I never let this affect or burn out my passion for studying what I want, which is cybersecurity/cyber operations. My mom has given me the knowledge, love and strength to get through this. She taught me how to pay bills and sign forms, she taught me how to live on food stamps and limited resources. We get housing assistance, ACCHS, and food stamps with DES. We’ve had to move more than once due to rising costs, but we never lost hope. My resilience has definitely shown through my final years of being a child and becoming an adult. This has helped me to learn how to manage money. Just in case the world chooses its fate of me being low-income well into my adult years, I know how to certainly get by. I gained my diploma seal for personal finance and have recieved an A in Financial Literacy. Not just because I need to know how to manage my finances while I am still at home, I wanted to learn how to manage my finances so I can maybe retire early, have a good amount of money stored up to have a family, have a good wedding and be able to support raising children on a steady income. Not only has it given me wisdom for my life, it also has taught me to be quite crafty as well and learn about one-of-a-kind fashion on a budget! These experiences made me keep this in mind: “Many people who succeed start from rock bottom and slowly work their way up.” “Strength and willpower can overcome almost anything.” I want to be that proof. Right now, I am using anything I can get my hands on (for free!) to keep that passion going for cybersecurity. In 2023, my passion for cybersecurity was awakened by great instructors at Cochise College. There was a GenCyber bootcamp. I got excited because this is one of my dreams. I’ve wanted to be in this field since before kindergarten, around 2011-2012. On our Windows Vista/7 desktop at home, I would mess around with CMD not knowing what I was doing, but it spoke to me and made me happy when I was a kid. I did however do frequent checkups to make sure the computer was virus-free and I would watch the troubleshooting channel on DirecTV to learn how to fix things. I earned my certificate of completion and earned a Raspberry Pi. I knew I wanted to become a respected, high-ranking person in the field. I started my learning path on TryHackMe, trying to finish up all of the learning courses I can for free so I can save money for the Premium and certifications on the site and CompTIA. (I also love to hack my Wii as well) I want to use this scholarship and show everyone that dreams are very possible if you have a passion for reaching them. If you find your resources/right people to guide you towards your dreams, you can achieve them, one step at a time. Thank you for your time! https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTjhqanIK1X (A thank you message I recieved from Scammer Payback for getting his merch, he was/is my idol for cybersecurity.)

A chronic medical condition has quietly influenced almost every part of my life—both in my own body and my mother’s body. I’ve grown up surrounded by symptoms, tests, misdiagnoses, and the emotional weight of worrying about whether my mother would make it. When I was 12, I was forced to become an advocate, not only for myself but for my mother. I learned how to speak up when we weren’t being heard, and to act quickly when her survival depended on it. In 2020, my mother’s condition worsened. I found her on the floor, completely drenched in sweat and nearly unresponsive. We spent night after night calling paramedics, trying to get her stable. Her case was highly complicated. Doctors began to call her a “medical mystery”. Some gave up on her. One even suggested a surgery that would only let her live for 7 years. I was a pre-teen/teenager dealing with this, but I became her unofficial nurse, nutritionist, and live-in aid. For five years now, I’ve made it my job to make sure she gets what she needs when she needs it. There’s no real clock-in or clock-out. Sometimes, its going to be in the middle of the night to help her, even all through the night to where I need to sleep with her. Being a caregiver is a 24/7 role, and it’s one that has left me exhausted, emotionally and physically–but never unwilling. Luckily, someone did come to the rescue in this year and is making sure she will be healed. Meanwhile, I was also dealing with symptoms of my own. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt profoundly tired–more than the usual kind of tired people talk about. I’d sleep and still wake up with no energy, struggling to keep up with daily life. Every time my mom noticed, she would tell my doctors, but they simply brushed me off. “Your bloodwork looks normal.” “It’s probably just stress.” “Are you sure its not just because shes a teen?” For six years, I knew something was wrong, my mother knew something was wrong, and no one took it seriously. It wasn’t until 2024 that a doctor—my mother’s cancer specialist—finally listened. He pushed for me to be a patient, even though the clinic was not for minors. That led me to recieve infusions that were supposed to help, supported by great and amazing staff and doctors, but that light vanished. They came with allergic reactions. From October to January, I was practically on bedrest five days a week, and working the other two just to stay afloat. School felt impossible. I’m currently trying to finish up my missed schoolwork even from that time, which is why my graduation is moved to either before or in December. My body hated it, and my mind was trying to push through it. What keeps me going is my ambitious heart and sense of purpose. I’ve lived through years of being dismissed and misunderstood. I’ve watched someone I love be told she might not survive, and I’ve had to be the one to hold things together. But I also know what it means to be resilient–-to fight for every inch of progress, to find light even in burnout, and to believe that things can get better. I want to use that strength to empower others. My experience doesn’t define me—but it does drive me. And I intend to turn that drive into real change. Nothing should hold you back from wanting to reach your goals of higher education, your dreams and goals are just on the other side of this.

Coming from a single-parent, low-income household has been challenging, but it has also been a gift for me. I’ve learned important life skills before I turned 18. My father passed away when I was eight. My mom and I have lived on her disability checks and my survivor’s benefits, which is about 22k a year. I never let this drain my passion for studying what I want. My mom has given me the knowledge, love and strength to get through this. She taught me how to pay bills and sign forms. We’ve had to move more than once due to rising costs, but we never lost hope. Our resilience taught me that no matter how tough life gets, just keep going. These experiences made me keep this in mind: “Many people who succeed start from rock bottom and slowly work their way up.” “Strength and willpower can overcome almost anything.” I want to be that proof. Right now, I am using anything I can get my hands on (for free!) to keep that passion going for cybersecurity. I study on TryHackMe (will be looking for other places to study on as well), watch creators like Scammer Payback to help me understand real-world scams, and spend hours modding the Wii me and my boyfriend co-own to sharpen my technical skills. I have learned how to make the most of what I have. I’ve wanted to be in this field since before kindergarten. My goal is to be working for the DoD, defending a nation against cyberthreats and maybe even teaching the military for cyber warfare. I want to use my background to tell others that financial status and background should never influence your dreams. I want my drive and power to inspire people like me to build positive dreams like mine.

When I was four or five, I thought I was a hero because I “protected” our family computer by playing around on Avast Antivirus. It may sound silly, but that simple act sparked a dream I’ve carried with me ever since: to become a cybersecurity expert and protect people from online threats. What started as a game became a goal, and today, it means everything to me—because growing up, I know what it feels like to be unprotected. I’ve been raised by a single mother for most of my life. Our household income has been low for about 10 years—about $24,000 a year between my father’s death benefits and my mom’s disability check. My mom is disabled due to several health issues, including severe reactive hypoglycemia, and she’s had over 14 surgeries. Despite all this, she has never stopped fighting to take care of us. Her strength has shaped the way I see the world. We’ve had to move several times to escape traumatic situations, which put even more pressure on our already limited funds. We rely on HUD Section 8 housing and a low-income programs (with utilities, internet, etc) just to stay afloat. But through it all, my mom never let me give up on my future. She wants me to spread my wings, life my life, and encourages my love for technology and always has even when we couldn’t afford the best tools. She made sure we had internet so I could keep learning and dreaming, especially since in my high school years and ever since Covid, I have needed Internet to access my schooling. One of the hardest things we’re facing now is that my father’s benefits will end when I turn 18 this July. That means we’ll lose half of our income overnight. It’s scary. I’ve spent years worrying about money and watching my mom juggle bills and doctor appointments. But I’ve also learned how to stay focused and use discipline to build a better future. I work hard in school and plan every step of my future carefully, knowing that education is my way out. I have taken a diploma seal course to be proficient in financial literacy so I can make sure I have a stable future but to also support my mother as much as possible. What keeps me motivated is the thought of one day giving back—not just to my mom, but to the world. I want to help stop scammers and hackers, just like I’ve seen people do on “Scammer Payback.” I want to make the internet safer for others, especially people like my mom, who are vulnerable to fraud. I know I can make a difference in this fast-moving tech world if I’m given the chance. My community and town has played a huge role in helping me get this far. From having access to these low-income programs, being able to ride the bus to school in the early days, riding a scooter, budgeting, going to the public libraries, and not being picky and sensitive to limited resources has definitely helped. This is more than just a career dream for me, it's my way of turning a life full of challenges into something powerful and good. I want to prove that where you start doesn't have to define where you end up. Starting from rock bottom in some cases helps you get to your very high moments. (caption for pictures: red marking photo is where we live now, the selfie is my favorite picture with my mom for my prom, other photo was another apartment we lived in)

When I first walked into the Little Library Bookstore in Sierra Vista, I didn’t expect it to become one of my favorite places. It’s a small, quiet bookstore tucked into a corner of the city library, but it’s full of charm. I originally started volunteering there just to gain some work experience for a part-time job. I thought it would be a simple way to earn hours and build a resume—but it quickly turned into something much more meaningful to me. The Little Library Bookstore raises money to support Sierra Vista’s public library. I felt proud knowing that every book I shelved or every customer I helped was directly contributing to something bigger. I wasn’t just organizing books—I was supporting a space that offers access to education, creativity, and opportunity for people of all ages. What surprised me the most was how many kind and interesting people I met along the way. I loved hearing personal stories from visitors about their favorite books, childhood memories of the library, or how reading helped them through difficult times. Those small, sincere moments really stuck with me. Through this experience, I started to realize how important libraries are to the health of a community. Our public library isn’t just a place for books—it’s a free space where people can learn, explore, and connect. It offers access to public computers, internet, and research tools that many people in our city rely on. The library brings people together and creates equal opportunities for those who might not have access at home. As a result of this event, I hope more people in Sierra Vista become aware of just how valuable our library is. I would love to see more kids and teens get excited about reading and learning, or even attending all of the events that the library and the city of Sierra Vista have to offer. From book clubs, pottery classes, to watching movies at the library, it would be so cool to see a community work together more and enjoy each other's company! and I think it would be amazing if more people got involved by volunteering or donating. The more support our library gets, the more programs and resources it can offer. If more people saw the library the way I do now—as a powerhouse of knowledge and community—we could help build a stronger, smarter, and more connected city. Volunteering at the bookstore changed the way I see reading and public spaces. It reminded me that even small acts, like shelving books or recommending a story, can make a big difference.

I remember being obsessed with technology before I started kindergarten. My mother still remembers that I would always watch the troubleshooting channel on DirecTV just for fun. I remember that I would watch it for hours. If a TV or an electronic device broke, I was the first to try to fix it. When I played games on our family’s old Windows 7 desktop, I would also click around programs like Avast Antivirus, even messing around with Command Prompt— though I had no business on cmd at the time. Scanning for viruses and actually deleting threats made me feel like the family's tech superhero. Over the past 14 years, my passion for technology has only grown deeper. Every year I grow older, I become fascinated by the history and impact of computer viruses. I watched documentaries about the world's most dangerous computer viruses and took computer essentials classes online that my mother would find. I wasn't sure at first which specific path in technology I wanted to take, but I knew I was drawn to software, security, and the idea of fighting digital threats. My direction became clear when I attended my local GenCyber bootcamp. That unforgettable week gave me focus and confidence that ignited the spark that has been burning for two years and solidified my goal of studying cybersecurity in college. Recently, I took my first steps into "ethical hacking" by modding my boyfriend’s Wii. It was one of the best days of my life! Bringing a nearly 19-year-old console back to life with CFW (custom firmware) felt like hacking in the most positive, creative sense. Reviving old programs that haven't worked since I was a kid was breathtaking. Today, I spend much of my free time watching videos from creators like Scott the Woz, different modders for retro consoles, people messing around with their VMs, and Scammer Payback. I'm especially entertained by SP's content, who uses his hacking skills to protect others from fraud. His work shows how cybersecurity can have a real human impact. That's what excites me the most about entering this field—I want to help people feel safe in an increasingly digital world, where personal information is always at risk. My journey hasn't been easy. I've lived my whole life with tarsal coalition, a painful condition that limits my mobility and makes it hard to be physically active. I come from a low-income household and was raised by my amazing mother. She works incredibly hard to support me, but with my father's death and with death benefits ending soon, we're facing the loss of half our income. Growing up without a father figure and with ongoing financial uncertainty has been tough, but these challenges have also shaped who I am. They've taught me resilience, determination, and how to problem-solve, qualities that align perfectly with a career in cybersecurity. What excites me the most about tech is that it's always evolving. There's always something new to learn, a new threat to face, whether that be from just a simple worm or trojan to actual cyber warfare and a nation's sensitive information being at risk. I want to be a part of that constant innovation and use it to make a difference. I believe that no matter your background, you can do amazing things if you're passionate enough. I would be incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It would help relieve financial stress and allow me to continue chasing my dream of a career in cybersecurity. I'm ready to work hard, protect others, and prove that with enough drive, anyone can build a future in tech.