Growing up around a dysfunctional family of substance abuse was often a confusing, terrifying nightmare. All victims of this situation know what it's like to question why our parents didn't love each other like everyone else's, why objects may be thrown around the house, or why men and women would come dressed nicely to our house and ask us questions about well-being. From birth up until recent, I would fall into dark places, victimizing the tough life my young brother and I were dealt. Breaks from seeing our parents due to restraining orders and rehabs, and the constant affluence of law enforcement within our young and quickly changing lives. Sometimes I would sit and cry with him, and just ask the universe why things had to be this way. Through all the madness, I made sure to stay moving. I became the Class President of my school, a four year varsity starter for football at Middletown HS North, and an advanced placement student eager to learn. My grades weren't always perfect, but I was destined to show up no matter what and make an impact. Football, my friends, and my community have been my escape from Kindergarten on. I firmly believe that I had the most perfect-imperfect childhood, and would never allow my tough up-bringing to get in the way of how I treated other people. My relationships have always been treasured to me. Sometimes I couldn't bear all of the pressure to make it out. All of the trauma left me in a dark place once it was time to grow up a little sooner than I would have liked. Standing between two addicts that you love with your whole heart as a young boy was not a job for the weak. Protecting my brother and I certainly left me with my scars, and the mental weight started to press down on me at a crucial turning point in my life. Panic attacks and depression left me hopeless and confused on what seemed to be an uncertain future. Therapy wasn't the answer for me, and would often cause my symptoms to worsen. This was until I realized that instead of feeling sorry for myself, I can turn what I'm learning into my real life expectations. I started to act as a therapist to my parents around the house, and to my surprise, it was sort of working. Chasing my father down the block to prevent relapse, slowing things down to my mothers tears to help her find a plan for her sobriety. My parents listened to me as I matured, because they began to realize that if they wanted to be a part of the direction I was destined to head in, they had to change their way of life. This time last year, I came to the conclusion that I want to help young boys and girls who were in the same exact spot that I grew up in. I want to be a shoulder to learn on, and an example of pure heart and humility. I will be furthering my education in Psychology and addiction studies, and I could not be more excited. I will turn the leaf on what's been a decade of struggle, pain, and sadness. I will get my degree and make a change in our world one lost kid at a time. Everyone needs someone. -----Thank you for your blessings, this is an honor to apply for and low income students appreciate you.