For over 20 years, I have worked in the world of college recruitment, a delightful combination of higher education, sales, teenagers, and purpose. By day, I help teens choose their future major, apply for financial aid, and think deeply about meaning, success, and their intersection. By evening and weekend, I write novels for such teens. Although I published one novel nearly a decade ago, I have encountered setbacks and personal loss that have significantly slowed me down. But chronic illness, imposter syndrome, and experiencing devastating loss in my family will not stop me. I love writing. I have had to peel back the layers of my identity to be certain of this. I was not sure I loved publishing. I was not sure I loved the promotion and marketing. But I was sure I loved writing itself, that river of creativity that baptizes us as little gods who make characters and worlds and conflicts. With all the layers removed, there was only writing, the stark joy of it, the solid foundation of it. And even better— writing specifically for teens, a universe of firsts: first love, first loss, first identity. My background and education are primarily in literary fiction; but lately, I have been wanting to learn more about commercial writing— not sacrificing the literary quality of a manuscript but finding the perfect balance of artistic prose and riveting plot. It’s a tightrope I am navigating as best I know how. This is why I seek out opportunities to grow— writing classes, workshops, webinars, and books on craft that help me hone and polish my skills and understanding of the industry. For years, I have been longing to attend an SCBWI conference, but I’ve not had the resources necessary. This scholarship would allow me to do so. At my core, I am a learner. I love that I will never know everything there is to know about this craft. Everything before me is curiosity and growth and more and yes please. What a thrill! It reminds me of the teenagers I work with daily, and how their futures are wide open before them, a beautiful excess. Curiosity will not disappoint you, I remind them. Fan that flame; it can light a whole world. I love writing, and more importantly, I am called to write. The purpose I find in this calling beckons to me like a sun that won’t expire.