My name is Jailyn Taylor and on December 14th, 2018 my grandfather unexpectedly was gone. I was unaware until December 15th, 2018. I woke up to my friend, my little sister, and her friend from that night. I began scrolling on my phone in the living room and began asking questions about why everyone on Facebook was changing their profile pictures to pictures of Grandpa. After our friends left my parents finally told us what had happened. I don't know how to explain the loss of a loved one, especially being your role model and best friend, to someone besides if you know you know, and for that I am sorry. For me, I felt everything in my body stop working. Everything they were saying was gibberish. I felt like I was experiencing this moment out of my body. I ran to the sink and emptied my breakfast. The entire time I was screaming and crying but that moment has been tucked away in my brain because it is not one I like to remember. However, I always remember that feeling of a piece of my heart breaking in a way that could never be repaired. I think about him missing every moment no matter how big or small. Missing my high school and college graduation, my wedding day, my future children being born, and every moment in between. He always encouraged me to be the best I could be, to chase my dreams, never let anyone stop me, and to fight for who I am, my family, and what I love. I will forever do that to honor him. I am fighting to achieve a higher education to become an elementary teacher. I have always loved school, was in the top ten of my class, and loved being there but losing my grandpa made it hard for a while. Yet here I am dedicating every second of my day to school and pursuing the future I want for myself. This scholarship would help me pursue my Bachelor's Degree in elementary education to become the educator future generations need.

My name is Jailyn Taylor. I am currently enrolled at the University of Michigan Flint pursuing my degree in elementary education. I have experienced numerous amounts of events in my life that I've referred to as "the universe being against me." I can proudly say I do not feel that way anymore, but for a while, I was consumed by that phrase. The first event I'd like to share was when I hit the age of ten. I was pulled out of my fifth-grade class by my mother who sat in the car trying to hold back her tears. When she was explaining that I had type one diabetes (T1D) and they'd share more with us when we arrived, I immediately interrupted and said, "But when can I go back to school?" She responded, "We'd be in the hospital for at least a few days." We were actually in the hospital for almost a week. When they tested my blood glucose level (blood sugar) it was almost 700 mg/dL. The average person's blood glucose is between 70-100mg/dL. The doctors at my pediatrician's office said my symptoms were "the start of puberty" and were not going to do a urine test, but my mother being a medical assistant in a pediatrician's office in a neighboring city, asked them to run a urine test to be safe. When they ran the test they discovered ketones, which means my blood was turning acidic. I remind my mother every day, that she created me and saved me. While my body was decaying I simply wanted to go back to school and continue learning with my friends. The next event I'd like to discuss is one that occurred in my freshman/sophomore year of high school. I was in a severely toxic relationship. I experienced every form of abuse. When the relationship was over and I spoke up he began to harass me in school with his friends. Due to this, the girl he did the same thing to also spoke up with me and we moved to schools (Unfortunately not the same school). All I wanted to do was be a normal high school girl. I wanted to keep learning because I loved learning, I loved learning from the teachers I had and with the friends I had. Yet, that all changed but for the better. At my new school, I discovered a loving community where I made the decision I want to be an educator for future generations. I loved learning and going to school so why would I not devote my future to educating future generations? I am studying elementary education and plan to make a positive impact on the world through my career in many ways. The first way I've already had the opportunity to do that is by working as a teacher's assistant at a children's developmental center at my college campus. I've had the opportunity to educate preschoolers on T1D and technology like the Omnipod and Dexcom that deliver insulin and regular blood glucose. I want to work in a low-income community around me that needs teachers who are going to advocate for their students. I want to teach future generations in a way that is meaningful, inspiring, and appropriate for them. I want to be the teacher my students send me a card for their graduation because I made a difference for them. I helped them discover their growth mindset. Students are at school for hours on hours a day throughout the week please help me become the educator future generations need. Thank you.

My 2023 soundtrack would include "Out of The Woods (Taylor's Version)," "Clean (Taylor's Version)," and "Is It Over Now? (Taylors Version)(From The Vault). Yet, the number one song would be "You Are In Love" (Taylor's Version). I entered this year with a romantic relationship that would have ended me if it had progressed any further. I was so deeply in love it consumed every part of my life. Day after night, I posed the question, "Are we out of the woods? Are we in the clear yet?" We were in love for a year, but "It was months and months of back and forth." I never truly knew if he was in it the way I was in it. When the final month came, and the rain began to pour, I realized, "When I was drowning, that's when I could finally breathe." I needed to lose him to find myself. I longed to have someone love me the way I have loved. When I lost him, I thought I lost everything, but I was truly gaining what I wished for all along. I gained a love for myself I never knew I had, began to do things for myself and by myself, and started reading and going on trips again. I stayed up late, reconnected relationships, and finally felt like I had friends again after being isolated for so long. I was finally able to reopen myself up to life. I have been alive for nineteen years but never truly started living until it was over. Until I realized the love I was pouring into others was the love I should have been pouring into myself all along. This relationship created a downward spiral of mental and physical changes. I stopped eating. I am a Type One Diabetic, so developing an eating disorder changed a lot. I decided to take control of my life, body, love, and everything in between. "I had the decency to keep my nights out of sight" and allowed myself to live in the moment. I only ever heard "rumors 'bout my hips and thighs" because who wouldn't when I lost twenty-plus pounds? I was clean the moment he cut all ties to me. Cutting ties with someone you've craved for so long is possible. The possibilities on the other side of the door allowed me to meet my "invisible string" and allowed me to find a love I thought only existed on the "Lover" tracks. I had known my current lover for approximately a decade, and he was the first crush I ever had back in middle school. Our families were best friends, and our sisters were best friends, but he and I were never on the same playing field. That was until the summer of 23'. The moment we began to dance around each other lives, I understood "Why they lost their minds and fought the wars" and why Taylor had spent her "Whole life tryin' to put it into words." I took a breath and recognized the events that had to occur to place him and me in the same room. My man "Keeps his word," and like Taylor said, "for once, you let go of your fears and your ghosts, one step, not much, but it said enough." Letting go of what is not meant for you allows room for what is to come to light. 1989 was the year Taylor Swift was born, and releasing Taylor's Version rebirths her and her music, much like letting go of a love that is not meant for you and allowing what is.

My name is Jailyn Taylor. I am currently a senior at Bendle High School. Growing up in this world, especially as a female, we try so hard to find self love and confidence! This year I have learned self love and confidence. It is not a road ending, but more so a road that must be continued. There is no end to the amount of love you can have for yourself. One thing I love about myself is my mental strength. I struggle from anxiety, depression, and ptsd. Since the age of 10 I had to be an adult. In the 5th grade I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, following with a diagnose of Endometriosis as well. My freshman and sophomore year of high school I lost my grandpa, following my great grandma, my papa, and my other grandpa. During this time I was also in a very abusive relationship. Through this time I never gave up. I never gave into the pain, sadness, or darkness. I struggle, and some days harder than others. Some days felt like the only option was to give up. Yet, my strength got me through the hardest, and darkest moments of my life. It took years to realize that I love my mental strength, and my perseverance. I never gave up, and I never will. No matter how many curve balls this world throws my way. I encourage you to do the same if you're struggling. You're one of a kind, and keep fighting.

One way I try to have a positive impact on the world is to spread inclusion. I am a senior at Bendle High School, and I am involved in a program within our schools called LINKS. LINKS is a program in our school that pairs student in the general education classes to work with students who struggle with special needs. I am currently in my second semester of this class, and I have learned so much. March is inclusion month, and so far we have done so much within our community! Inclusion is such an important aspect of our world that we don't touch on enough. An example of inclusion acts this month we have made sticky notes with positive, inspiring messages and stuck them on the lockers. We also have a word of the week where I speak over the PA system for the morning announcements speaking on words such as; empathy, inclusion, friendship, kindness, etc. I hope to take these acts of inclusion to keep making a positive impact on this world. We need acts of kindness, empathy, and inclusion. We are all living in a dark world that can use a bit of kindness.

One personal finance lesson I find important is saving! Any form of income take an amount of it, and save it. Being a senior in high school we are required to take a personal finance class. In this class we followed Dave Ramseys curriculum. David Ramsey is an American personal finance personality, and businessman. In his lessons he teaches us all about finance. The first foundation is to always have at least a 500 dollar emergency fund. Its not a "if" an emergency will occur, but "when." Saving and investing your money is very important. Any form of your income you should invest and save. The earlier the better, but its never too late. I recommend listen to his podcast to learn all about finance!

A person from history who I admire is the mother of the freedom movement, the mother of the freedom movement, Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks is most famously known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white male in 1955. She was commuting home from a long day of work at the Montgomery Fair department store by bus. During this time period, black residents of Montgomery often avoided municipal buses if they could, because they found the Negroes-in-back policy so demeaning. Segregation was written into law; the front of a Montgomery bus was reserved for white citizens and the seats behind them for Black citizens. However, only bus drivers had the authority to ask a Black person to give up a seat for a white rider. A white male told Rosa Parks to move to the back of the bus. She refused. Leading to her being arrested. She was arrested because she refused to give up her seat, after a long hard day at work, to a white man who was privileged and was perfectly capable to stand. I admire her because no matter what was happening she refused to let people walk all over her. Nowadays people walk all over each other and for no reason. Just because they can. Parks refused to give up her seat because there was no reason for her to. She continued to prove that just because you're a different skin color, does not mean that you have to give up because you're "less" than them or a woman. I admire her for this.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." These wise words were spoken by Walt Disney. What are my dreams? let me tell you. I am going to change the world, and let me tell you how. My name is Jailyn Taylor. I am currently attending Bende High School. If you ask anyone at my school "who is Jailyn Taylor to you?" They would refer to me as the new girl, who is very involved. I am a part of the yearbook, the morning announcements, and the student council. While being here in the past year, I have created a student section for our sporting events, a school Instagram page, etc. Yet, I have big dreams. Since a young age, I have always been told "be the change you want to see in the world." With this scholarship, I can achieve that. Over the past years, I have been through more than the most teenager or even adult has experienced. Before I moved schools, I was being bullying and harassed. I was in a toxic relationship involving manipulation, mental abuse, and sexual abuse. I was 15. At the age of 10, I was diagnosed with an incurable disease, type one diabetes. I have experienced 6 losses of family members, and close friends in the past 2 years. Now, there is a lot more to break down of my story, t I am here to tell you my dreams. All of these experiences have led me here. Made me eh person I am and want to continue to be while growing. I want to be the change. I want to change your life, and the many lives this world will see. My future career is to become a registered nurse. I want this career because I will be that change. I can accomplish that with this scholarship to be able to pay for my education. My dream is to change one person's life. One person. I want to touch lives, save lives, change lives. I have been a leader in high school, and this is how I will be a leader after high school. I plan on furthering my education to become a registered nurse. From here, I will job seek, and find where I am meant to be. I will create change for this dark world. I will bring the light back, even if it is in one person's life. Help me get there.

"The pain you feel today is the strength you'll feel tomorrow in every challenge encountered there is opportunity for growth." We were told to describe a quote that was special to us. This quote has stuck with me since I could remember. In the 5th grade, I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes. This disease has been with me since I was 10 years old and will continue to be with me for the rest of my life. Following in the 8th grade I began falling into a dark hole. I became severely depressed and began self-harming. Fast-forward into my sophomore year of high school, I was in a very toxic relationship that involved sexual abuse, and mental abuse. Again I started self-harming and eventually had to leave the school district due to bullying from these people. A lot to unwrap, I know. I don't talk about it, but you know what. Here I am. This is my story, and I am going to tell it. I'm going to share it because this quote has inspired me to do so. To share my pain, and allowed me to believe in myself. To follow through in the road I was going through, and to no matter what keep fighting. While I wish I had a more normal childhood, a part of me is grateful that I know all the things I know now. That these horrific experiences have pushed me to stand up and allow my voice to be heard. My name is Jailyn Taylor, and this is only part of my story. As I leave this essay in your hands, I hope to inspire you to tell your story. Tell your truth, and remember no matter what you're growing.

"When you understand that your self-worth is not determined by your net-worth, then you'll have financial freedom." This is a quote by Suze Orman, and this quote speaks volumes to me. Why, you might ask, well let me tell you. Everyone believes success to be how big your house is, how expensive your car is, how you can blow through your money and not worry, etc. Yet to be financially free to me means that you are stable with money because you've created a change you are pleased with. In my opinion, you could have all the money in the world, with the biggest house, and the fanciest car, and be financially set. Yet what impact did you leave? How did you change this world? I plan to be financially stable because I will make a difference. In our life, and the lives after you. I will use that money for good. I will spark that flame, to create change. I will be free from debt, and experience life to the fullest by impacting the ones around me. To be able to speak positively of myself, and how I have made myself successful. That is what it means to be financially free to me.

What does your dream life look like? A question many of us have been asked since we could even comprehend the true meaning of it. What a "dream life" to us truly looked like. My dream life stems from success and happiness. I want to be happy. No matter what, that is my top need. Since I was 10 years old I have struggled with mental illnesses, type one diabetes, and later on endometriosis. Through it, all has been a struggle. I want my future to be happy and healthy. No matter what happens. I want to be successful. I want to create a change. I want to create that change in any department I chose to further my education in. To be able to change the lives of people who have struggled, people who don't feel heard, or even people who just need someone else to put them into words. I want to be that person for them, for everyone whose life I will be able to touch. By granting me this scholarship you will be a part of that journey. Help me, help you. Help me achieve my dream life of being financially stable, married, raising 3 beautiful children, changing the lives of others. Who knows maybe you'll see me on the news 15 years from now. Do you want to be a part of the change I intend to bring to the world to not only create my dream life but many more?

My name is Jailyn Taylor. I am a senior at Bendle High School. This school year I have joined our LINKS program. In our program, we act as a buddy. We are to blend into the classroom. We are there to be a present friend inside, and outside the classroom. Our buddies struggle in different ways. Most of them struggle from autism. While being in this class I have understood what autism really looks like, and affects people. The impact I hope to have on my "buddy" Skyler, is to be there for her. I want her to know I am always going to be there for her. I will be there to talk to her, and help her with school. At the beginning of class we were to right our goals out for our buddies. My goal was to break her shell. She is very quiet, and shy. So in order to be a good buddy I wanted Skyler to see that she was an amazing person inside and out. She just had to allow others to see herself, the way I did.