When I started thinking about writing this essay, I realized that it is very difficult to talk about myself, whether in a positive or negative context. It just seems like I am not being objective enough, but I will try my best to describe my personality and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today so that you can get a broader picture of my current life, as well as the plans and goals I want to fulfill in the future. August 20th, 2018 was the day my life took a major turning point. It was the day I came to the US for the first time, scared, with two suitcases, overpacked with my desire for success, new experiences, and advancement in the field of education and the game of basketball. For the first time in my life, I felt what it was like to be miles away from the safety of my home. I needed to quickly learn to adapt to a new culture and the new way of learning in school because everything seemed to be very different compared to my home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As an international student, I learned how to be independent and take responsibility for myself, because the circumstances have taught me to deal with problems and obstacles on my own. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to come here, play the sport that I love, get my degree, and become a school psychologist. I met lots of beautiful people along the way, made great connections in the world of basketball and psychology, and learned so much about diversity, interpersonal relationships, and social justice. This experience made me a better person. It broadened my horizons and made me more open-minded. Although I have been going through a difficult period lately, including the loss of close family members due to COVID19, two devastating knee injuries in less than a year, that temporarily separated me from playing basketball-the thing that brings me joy and helps me stay excited about life, I still found a way to gain strength to keep working hard and never give up, which I am most proud of. Things I went through have taught me an important lesson: life is very unpredictable and not a single opportunity should be taken for granted. From now on, I use every moment to work on myself, help others, and positively change our society. My parents are my greatest support, they always have my back, no matter good or bad moments. They made so many sacrifices to provide me with everything I need to finish my education and play basketball, and my biggest wish and number one priority is to make them proud. I want to inspire young people, especially from my home country, to follow my example and try new things, without fear of risk or failure. I want to show everyone that it is possible to achieve great goals, even if you come from a small, rather poor, and underdeveloped environment. I am trying to be a role model for young children, and promote the importance of sports, education, mental and physical health. This scholarship would help me financially by making my last year as an undergraduate student a lot easier and less stressful for me and my parents. But I think it also goes way beyond the money, it means to support, it means that someone cares about international students and understands how difficult it could be for us. It means motivation for the future and wind in the back for everything that is coming.