On February 25, 2017, my life changed in the blink of an eye. One minute I’m snuggled up in bed, dreaming about my tenth birthday in a couple of weeks, and the next minute my mom is coming into my room saying that my dad has died suddenly and unexpectedly from a pulmonary embolism. In that moment, my entire life was flipped upside down. Instead of feelings of happiness and joy in the weeks leading up to my birthday, all I felt was sadness anxiety, grief, anger. Instead of planning for a birthday party, my mom had to plan a funeral. My dad meant the world to me and losing him left the biggest hole in my heart that would never be filled again. When my dad died, not only were my mom and I crushed emotionally, but we were also crushed financially. I wanted to help my mom as much as I could. This was really hard because I was too young to get a job at the time and my mom was a teacher, so she didn’t make a lot of money. I decided to help at at the things I knew I could do, mainly school and church. When I was in sixth grade I began volunteering at church. I served as a teaching assistant in the second and third grade rooms at church. When I was old enough, I was given my own group to teach. I continue to do that and will until the time I leave to attend college. I have also volunteered at our community's local food bank. When I started high school, I worked as an after school tutor to help elementary student who were struggling in math classes. I also became very involved at school. I took AP classes and several dual credit classes. I graduated in the top 5 of my class. I was in drama and was in several plays. I was on the Scholastic bowl team. I played tennis all through out high school and my senior year was chosen as team captain. I also participated in track and basketball during junior high and my freshman year. I was recognized during my senior year as an all state academic athlete for the Illinois High School Association. During my senior year I received the local Daughters of the American Revolution service award. When I was old enough, I spent my summers working as a day camp counselor for our local parks and recreation department. I enjoy working with children and hope to be able to continue to volunteer at schools and help students, especially young women, to explore careers in STEM fields. I plan to major in cyber security engineering at Iowa State University. While there, I am going to be a part of the WISE program, Women in Science and Engineering. My goal is to continue on after receiving my Bachelor's degree and earn a Master's degree. I hope to someday work in the law enforcement field and help people who have lost money or had their identities stolen by scammers. If my dad hadn’t died, paying for college wouldn’t be such a hardship, but now my options are very limited. Even though I have already committed to Iowa State University, I might have to reconsider schools if I don’t get enough scholarships because Iowa State is expensive for out-of-state students like myself. I really do not want this to happen, because I want to go to to college so that I can make my dad proud.

My name is Ivy Winstead and in the fall I am attending Iowa State University where I will major in Cyber Security Engineering. I am worth it! I have value! I can achieve anything. This is something my mom has taught me my entire life. I grew up in a Christian community going to a Christian school, where sometimes the role of women was relegated to being the support for men. I have heard that women should be subservient, and should create a life to serve their husband and children. There were teachers that doubted me when I expressed interest in pursuing a degree in a STEM field. Despite hearing this, my mom always taught me that I did not need to find my self worth in a man, but in myself. My mom raised me on her own after my dad passed away suddenly when I was nine years old. My mom was left to support me on her own working as a teacher. Despite the challenges we faced, she made sure I had opportunities to experience so many different things. Because of these ideals my mom instilled in me, and the example that she set for me, I am in the top five of my class, I have traveled the world, I excel in math and science, and have chosen to major in a STEM field, data science. I have never doubted who I am as an individual. I know that because I am a woman going into a field that is a predominantly male field, that I may have to work harder to prove myself. But I also know that I can do it. Once I earn my degree in data science, I plan to go on and pursue another degree in criminal justice. For so long women have been underrepresented and dismissed when it comes to crimes committed against them. I plan to use data, logic, and facts to change that. Every woman deserves to be heard and represented. As a young woman living in a time where we seem to be going backwards in the rights and value of women, I know that I will be working against the ideas that some may have that women cannot accomplish what men can or that once a woman has a family, that becomes the main focus. I have seen it done. I have the example of a strong, independent woman in my life. A woman who works, takes care of a home, loves and supports her family. I know I can achieve it as well!

I have played tennis my entire high school career. This year I was chosen as an IHSA All-Academic nominee. I was also chosen to be captain of the tennis team. When my coach asked me to be team captain, it wasn't because I was the best player on the team. I was not the best player, but he told me that he chose me because I was kind, honest, and inspired and lifted up the other players on the team. This is what we need to do as women across all areas. Support and empower each other. I have seen how girls sports are often overshadowed by boys sports, in particular, tennis. Many look at tennis as an 'easy' sport, when in reality, it is physically and mentally demanding. Because of the mental demands of tennis, I have learned to be a stronger individual and to stand up for myself. In high school tennis, we call our own line calls, and often I would be up against players who used this to their advantage. I learned to be strong and advocate for myself when if I felt a call was not correct. I also learned to be honest and make sure I was correct in my own calls, even if they were not in my favor. If I can stay strong and focused in my athletic endeavors, then I feel this transfers over into my daily life. I have been a straight A student my entire school career. Even though I was an athlete, I made sure that I left time to focus on academics and other activities. I was the lead in our school play this year. I volunteer at church and participate in a small group. I do all of this while also helping out at home, since my mom is a single, working mother. She has always taught me that no matter the obstacle, I can overcome it to achieve the goals I have for myself. She has also taught me that I do not need to be intimidated by the fact that I am going to be entering a male dominated profession. I plan major in cyber security engineering, which is currently a male dominated field. When I go to Iowa State University in the fall, I am going to be living in a dorm with other female engineering students. I am looking forward to working with other women going through similar experiences, as they traverse a path previously dominated by men.

Since a young age I have always been a helper. When I was in sixth grade, I volunteered to be a teaching assistant in our church's small group for second and third grade students. When I became a freshman, I was able to have my own small group of students. I loved watching them grow and develop a love for God and the church. In my own small group, we often serve the community by working at our local food bank, or providing daycare for a single mothers' group at church. At school, I serve as a student chaplain, working with other students develop their own sense of community. I have also shared my story with others at my school. When I was nine years old my dad unexpectedly passed away. This had a profound affect on me and my faith in God and society as a whole. I have been able to share my experience with others who have been struggling with their own spiritual journeys. This has been a challenge, since talking about that time in my life is difficult. At heart, I tend to be an introverted person, but this is something I work through so that I may share my story with others. I have always wanted to share my testimony with others, to help them with their own obstacles in life. It can be a challenge in today's society to put others first. With the "pick me" attitude young people have, we see all the tings people are doing for themselves and the "me first" attitude that individuals display all over social media. I have been inspired by my mom, who is a special education teacher and always has the best interests of her students at hear. She has raised me to love God, love people, all people, and not to be judgmental of others. Instead, we need to look at what we can do for others. We are called upon to be a community and this means working with and for society as a whole. Even when met with different roadblocks, I try to think of how I can serve others, without looking at what I can gain from the situation. I have always tried to live my life as an example to others and hope that I have been able to inspire and guide at least one person on their path through life.

m worth it! I have value! I can achieve anything. This is something my mom has taught me my entire life. I grew up in a Christian community going to a Christian school, where sometimes the role of women was relegated to being the support for men. I have heard that women should be subservient, and should create a life to serve their husband and children. There were teachers that doubted me when I expressed interest in pursuing a degree in a STEM field. Despite hearing this, my mom always taught me that I did not need to find my self worth in a man, but in myself. My mom raised me on her own after my dad passed away suddenly when I was nine years old. My mom was left to support me on her own working as a teacher. Despite the challenges we faced, she made sure I had opportunities to experience so many different things. Because of these ideals my mom instilled in me, and the example that she set for me, I am in the top five of my class, I have traveled the world, I excel in math and science, and have chosen to major in a STEM field, data science. I have never doubted who I am as an individual. I know that because I am a woman going into a field that is a predominantly male field, that I may have to work harder to prove myself. But I also know that I can do it. Once I earn my degree in data science, I plan to go on and pursue another degree in criminal justice. For so long women have been underrepresented and dismissed when it comes to crimes committed against them. I plan to use data, logic, and facts to change that. Every woman deserves to be heard and represented. As a young woman living in a time where we seem to be going backwards in the rights and value of women, I know that I will be working against the ideas that some may have that women cannot accomplish what men can or that once a woman has a family, that becomes the main focus. I have seen it done. I have the example of a strong, independent woman in my life. A woman who works, takes care of a home, loves and supports her family. I know I can achieve it as well!

Empowerment means that I am worth it! I have value! I can achieve anything. This is something my mom has taught me my entire life. I grew up in a Christian community going to a Christian school, where sometimes the role of women was relegated to being the support for men. I have heard that women should be subservient, and should create a life to serve their husband and children. There were teachers that doubted me when I expressed interest in pursuing a degree in a STEM field. Despite hearing this, my mom always taught me that I did not need to find my self worth in a man, but in myself. My mom raised me on her own after my dad passed away suddenly when I was nine years old. My mom was left to support me on her own working as a teacher. Despite the challenges we faced, she made sure I had opportunities to experience so many different things. Because of these ideals my mom instilled in me, and the example that she set for me, I am in the top five of my class, I have traveled the world, I excel in math and science, and have chosen to major in a STEM field, data science. I have never doubted who I am as an individual. I know that because I am a woman going into a field that is a predominantly male field, that I may have to work harder to prove myself. But I also know that I can do it. Once I earn my degree in data science, I plan to go on and pursue another degree in criminal justice. For so long women have been underrepresented and dismissed when it comes to crimes committed against them. I plan to use data, logic, and facts to change that. Every woman deserves to be heard and represented. As a young woman living in a time where we seem to be going backwards in the rights and value of women, I know that I will be working against the ideas that some may have that women cannot accomplish what men can or that once a woman has a family, that becomes the main focus. I have seen it done. I have the example of a strong, independent woman in my life. A woman who works, takes care of a home, loves and supports her family. I know I can achieve it as well!