I have a deep passion and aspiration for the wellness of others. I always have. Industries like social work remind me that everyone needs help and there has to be someone there to help them. I plan on receiving a degree in social work to fulfill my dream, improve kid's lives, and leave my mark on the world. I would like to go into the social work field to fulfill my dream. I am 18 years old and I will be going to a 4-year university where I'll major in social work and minoring in child development. Growing up, I've had many different ideas of what I wanted to pursue, but I have always wanted to help the people around me. Not only is that common decency to me, but I would not feel right if I lived my life in a career that wouldn't be beneficial to others. I strongly believe that I've been put on this Earth to help as many people as possible. The impact that you can have on someone is more than anyone could ever know, so why not give it a try? I am looking forward to majoring in social work to improve the lives of kids. I believe that the needs of children are the needs of all people. Kids are the future and if I can cause an integral change in a child's life, then I have truly succeeded. I've seen friends live in bad situations and they can't get out of them. I would like to always be available for the kids just like them. Whether I choose to become a medical social worker, a case manager, or even a foster care specialist, I will be there to help children. No matter what, I want to leave a positive mark on the world. Throughout my life, my main goal has been to make at least one person smile every day. This will continue to be my goal, especially within my career. Most of the kids that I will be working with will come from rough homes and living situations. Sometimes it may feel like there is nothing to smile about. However, I will try my very hardest to brighten their day and eventually their entire lives. Being an inspiration for others, especially kids, would mean the world to me. Children deserve the absolute best chances that this world has to offer and if I can be an influence for that, then I know that I've accomplished it all. There are many career paths that I can go down. Choosing social work will me to explore different jobs all under the same branch. Regardless of what I decide, I will be there to help people. I hope you will consider me.

I don't believe that I truly realized how the things that I have experienced affected my mental health. One day, it all just hit me. Once I acknowledged that I have these issues, I have tried to help others with their similar experiences. I have experienced lots of loss in my life. My parents got divorced when I was seven, which led to the loss of a strong relationship with my father. I recall being very confused during this time and torn between the two. When I was eight years old, my sister died due to heart issues. She was only 20 years old. I admired her so much. There have been plenty of people that I've lost, but my sister had to be the absolute worst feeling I've experienced. My oldest brother moved out at the age of 13 and moved in with my grandmother. A few years later, my other brother moved in with my dad. This led to me feeling even more abandoned. The 3 most important guys in my life had all left. With all these things going on, my mother became financially unstable. We had to move in with my grandmother just so we could have a roof over our heads. I began to think that life would be cheaper without having to worry about me. All of these things led to me questioning myself at a very young age. "Everyone leaves me." "Am I the reason why this happens?" "Would everyone be better without me?" These questions led to my only suicide attempt. When I was ten, I grabbed a knife from my grandmother's drawer and pointed it towards my heart. I figured that everything would be better for my family if I was gone. That maybe they could focus on "more important" things. However, something stopped me from actually going through with it. I put the knife back in the drawer and I never spoke of it. A few years later, I started meeting people who were struggling and who had attempted multiple times. I found myself trying to convince them that this life was worth it, despite ignoring my own experience. As of today, I have only told one person my story. I suppose a part of me is ashamed because I fought so hard for others but not myself. I learned so much about myself in high school and I've come to realize that my experience is not as horrific or damning as I thought. I've learned that it is okay to not be okay and sometimes you should talk about it. Even though it was a sad time in my life, I am very grateful that I have survived and persevered to get to this point in my life. This has all led to me wamting to become a pediatric social worker. Kids experience so much in this day and age that they need someone that they can depend on. Having someone to talk to can mean so much. I believe that it's important to talk about our experiences. All of us can show sympathy, but being able to emphasize with people makes a world of difference. I will try to continue to show others their worth. Life gets hard and sometimes, it's horrible, but I am living proof that we can face all types of adversity. Even though there has been lots of people lost, there are many stories of survivors. We can be apart of a change to try to reduce the number of losses. We all are here together. Let's make the most of it.

I have a deep passion and aspiration for the wellness of others. I always have. Industries like social work remind me that everyone needs help and there has to be someone there to help them. I plan on receiving a degree in social work to fulfill my dream, improve kid's lives, and leave my mark on the world. I would like to go into the social work field to fulfill my dream. I am 18 years old and I will be going to a 4-year university where I'll major in social work and minoring in child development. Growing up, I've had many different ideas of what I wanted to pursue, but I have always wanted to help the people around me. Not only is that common decency to me, but I would not feel right if I lived my life in a career that wouldn't be beneficial to others. I strongly believe that I've been put on this Earth to help as many people as possible. The impact that you can have on someone is more than anyone could ever know, so why not give it a try? I am looking forward to majoring in social work to improve the lives of kids. I believe that the needs of children are the needs of all people. Kids are the future and if I can cause an integral change in a child's life, then I have truly succeeded. I've seen friends live in bad situations and they can't get out of them. I would like to always be available for the kids just like them. Whether I choose to become a medical social worker, a case manager, or even a foster care specialist, I will be there to help children. No matter what, I want to leave a positive mark on the world. Throughout my life, my main goal has been to make at least one person smile every day. This will continue to be my goal, especially within my career. Most of the kids that I will be working with will come from rough homes and living situations. Sometimes it may feel like there is nothing to smile about. However, I will try my very hardest to brighten their day and eventually their entire lives. Being an inspiration for others, especially kids, would mean the world to me. Children deserve the absolute best chances that this world has to offer and if I can be an influence for that, then I know that I've accomplished it all. There are many career paths that I can go down. Choosing social work will me to explore different jobs all under the same branch. Regardless of what I decide, I will be there to help people. I hope you will consider me.

I would like to go into Clinical Social Work and work in a children's hospital. I believe that it is important that kids see people who look like them helping them. I want to go to an HBCU to get a deeper understanding of being my authentic Black self. This fall, I will be attending Texas Southern University. I am extremely excited to get a college experience but mainly to be in the presence of those who look like me. I don't think that I know enough about myself when it comes to my Blackness. I hope that I can join different clubs and organizations that will continuously help with my experience. While in school, I intend to gain a Bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in child development. As I mentioned, children should be able to look up to people who look like them. As a CSW, I will be there for kids to talk to. It's important to make sure they feel comfortable. Black people need representation in every industry possible and I plan to be a part of the change. Being Black means empowerment to me. I want to encourage others through my career and experience. The new generation will need new roles. I hope to make every one of them proud.

I believe that showing children how incredible they can be is very important. They should have every opportunity that is available to them. I plan to start a scholarship for less fortunate minority students, give them access to mental health workers, remind them that it's okay to show their individuality and let them acknowledge that there are more roles out there than what is presented to them. I plan to start this change with a social work degree. I believe that the needs of children are the needs of all people. Kids are the future and if I can cause an integral change in a child's life, then I have truly succeeded. With getting a degree in social work, I intend to work for the betterment of children. This can start with a helpful scholarship for minority students. Growing up, I was surrounded by all types of people from all types of backgrounds. Even though my life wasn't perfect, a lot of those people made me realize that my life and the situations within it could have been worse. As I've grown, I've realized that all I want to do is help those types of kids. Creating a scholarship can motivate some of those less fortunate children to take that step into college. Many of them are afraid because of finances. This can lead to self-doubt about their place in their future. These worries can, for example, lead them into careers they don't want. Their dreams can change the world and it is upsetting that this is the reality for most. I would like to try to alleviate some of that pressure for them and their families. Many kids, particularly minorities, have limited access to information about mental health. Kids need this information more than ever right now. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America. I would love to make children feel safer, better adjusted, and content. Many kids in rough situations grow up to never feel like they're in a safe place, whether that's mentally or objectively. For example, when I was younger, I didn't mind talking to strangers and giving them hugs, attention, etc. As a child, you should be able to encounter people without the fear that they'll harm. You can't tell what someone is going through just by looking at them and it's the same with kids. I recognize that there is beginning to be a push for mental health education in schools, but believe that we can go a step further. There are a plethora of people in the mental health field who are ready and willing to help children understand all the changes they are going through. Children must remain educated. That way they can teach those who come after them the same lessons they were taught. Leading a change in a child's life can be extremely beneficial to their mental state as well. Sadly, life can never be perfect, but I shall try my hardest. Individuality is oftentimes shunned in society. Trying to express yourself, especially at a young age, can be complicated. I want to be an advocate for expression. I know what it feels like to want to hide my personality. I also know what it's like to overcome that. This nation is supposed to be all about freedom and declaration. We should allow kids to explore every aspect of themselves. I was able to join as many clubs as I wanted, and different organizations, meet new people, and simply have fun. I would like to give the next generation the same opportunities that have been given to me. Introducing kids to new music, new hobbies, and new places, is just starts to show them their ability. Children deserve to know happiness in the best forms, particularly the children who were born into situations where they have no control. Seeing them have contentment is one the greatest gifts I can receive. Being able to lead a change in someone's life, especially a child's, is very important to me. Many children don't get to see all the great things they are capable of achieving. Minorities are often put in a box. This box is where they feel like they must stay to be proven successful. It is important to make it known. Small things like integrating more fine arts or clubs into schools are very helpful. There is no limit to what children can do as long as the adults don't make them feel that way. I want to lead the change for inspiration and encouragement. These kids deserve to know that there is a bright future waiting for them. By gaining a degree in social work, I intend to put the well-being of children at the top of my list. There are so many things that can be done with this study but helping a child with the many hardships in life means the most to me. Whether I choose to become a medical social worker, a case manager, foster care specialist, I will be there to help children. Children in the lower class often get overlooked and receive the "short end of the stick." I believe that everyone should receive the same opportunities and benefits, no matter their social status. I will continue to push for their future, no matter what. This scholarship will help me help our future: children. Particularly the children that I can physically connect to the most. Helping them gain a sense of normalcy, and checking to make sure they are being provided for and protected will be my main objective. Making sure that they can receive similar opportunities as others, making sure they know that it's okay not to be okay, and showing them that there is more to their little world. Overall, the care of our youth should be one of our nation's top priorities. Being able to have a hand in molding the future is something I simply cannot wait for. I hope that I will be a considerable candidate for this scholarship.

With getting a degree in social work, I intend to work for the betterment of children. Growing up, I was surrounded by all types of people from all types of backgrounds. However, the kids who were seen as troubled always caught my attention. Even though my life wasn't perfect, they made me realize that my life and the situations within it could've been worse. As I've grown, I've realized that all I want to do is help those types of kids. I plan to work to make children like them feel safer, better adjusted, and content. Many kids in rough situations grow up to never feel like they're in a safe place. When I was younger, I didn't mind talking to strangers and giving them hugs, attention, etc. Now that I'm older, I'm a little more cautious. As a child, you should be able to encounter people without the fear that they'll harm. Many children not only fear that from strangers, but from their closest family members. I want to ensure that these kids are in safe places. Whether it's with a different family member or a different family, no child deserves to feel afraid of the people they should trust the most. In many cases, children are often moved from place to place because of the circumstances they are in. This can cause them to not form lasting relationships and friendships, which are vital to development and growth. Often the caregiver does not have a choice, however, this will cause the child to be isolated. By figuring out a solution to help them have more stability, the setup for their future will align. Leading a change in a child's life can be extremely beneficial to their mental state as well. Sadly, life can never be perfect, but I shall try my hardest. Children deserve to know happiness in the best forms, particularly the children who were born into situations where they have no control. Seeing them have contentment is one the greatest gifts I can receive. Being able to lead a change in someone's life, especially a child's, is very important to me. By gaining a college degree, I intend to put the well-being of children at the top of my list. Helping them gain a sense of normalcy, and checking to make sure they are being provided for and protected will be my main objective. Overall, the care of our youth should be one of our nation's top priorities. As many say, the youth are the future. So being able to have a hand in molding the future is something I simply cannot wait for.

Social work reminds me that everyone needs help and there has to be someone there to help them. I plan on receiving a degree in social work in order to fulfill my dream, improve kids lives, and leave my mark on the world. I would like to go into the social work field in order to fulfill my dream. I am an 18 year old senior in high school. I intend on going to a 4-year university and majoring in social work and minoring in child development. I haven't always been interested in social work, but I have always wanted to help the people around me. Not only is that common decency to me, but I would not feel right if I lived my life in a career that wouldn't be beneficial to others. I strongly believe that I've been put on this Earth in order to help as many people as possible. The impact that you can have on someone is more than anyone could ever know, so why not give it a try? I am looking forward to majoring in social work in order to improve the lives of kids. I believe that the needs of children are the needs of all people. Kids are the future and if I can cause an integral change in a child's life, then I have truly succeeded. I've seen friends live in bad situations and they don't have the ability to get out of them. I would like to always be available for the kids just like them. Whether I choose to become a medical social worker, a case manager, foster care specialist, I will be there to help children. No matter what, I want to leave a positive mark on the world. All throughout my life, my main goal has been to make at least one person smile everyday. This will continue to be my goal, especially within my career. Most of the kids that I will be working with will come from rough homes and living situations. Sometimes it may feel like there is nothing to smile about. However, I will try my very hardest to brighten their day and eventually their entire lives. Being an inspiration for others, especially kids, would mean the world to me. Children deserve the absolute best chances that this world has to offer and if I can be an influence for that, then I know that I've accomplished it all.

I don't believe that I truly realized how the things that I have experienced affected my mental health. Once I acknowledged that I have these issues, I have tried to help others with their similar experiences. I have experienced lots of loss in my life. My parents got divorced when I was seven, which led to the loss of a strong relationship with my father. When I was eight years old, my sister died due to heart issues. All of these things led to me questioning myself at a very young age. This led to my only suicide attempt. When I was ten, I grabbed a knife from my grandmother's drawer and pointed it towards my heart. However, something stopped me from actually going through with it. I never spoke of it. A few years later, I started meeting people who were struggling and who had attempted multiple times. I found myself trying to convince them that this life is worth it, despite ignoring my own experience. As of today, I have only told one person my story. I suppose a part of me is ashamed because I fought so hard for others but not myself. I learned so much about myself in high school and I've come to realize that my experience is not as horrific or damning as I thought. I've learned that it is okay to not be okay and sometimes you should talk about it. Even though it was a sad time in my life, I am very grateful that I have survived and persevered to get to this point in my life.

With getting a degree in social work, I intend to work for the betterment of children. Growing up, I was surrounded by all types of people from all types of backgrounds. However, the kids who were seen as troubled always caught my attention. Even though my life wasn't perfect, they made me realize that my life and the situations within it could've been worse. As I've grown, I've realized that all I want to do is help those types of kids. I plan to work to make children like them feel safer, better adjusted, and content. Many kids in rough situations grow up to never feel like they're in a safe place. When I was younger, I didn't mind talking to strangers and giving them hugs, attention, etc. Now that I'm older, I'm a little more cautious. As a child, you should be able to encounter people without the fear that they'll harm. Many children not only fear that from strangers, but from their closest family members. I want to ensure that these kids are in safe places. Whether it's with a different family member or a different family, no child deserves to feel afraid of the people they should trust the most. In many cases, children are often moved from place to place because of the circumstances they are in. This can cause them to not form lasting relationships and friendships, which are vital to development and growth. Often the caregiver does not have a choice, however, this will cause the child to be isolated. By figuring out a solution to help them have more stability, the setup for their future will align. Leading a change in a child's life can be extremely beneficial to their mental state as well. Sadly, life can never be perfect, but I shall try my hardest. Children deserve to know happiness in the best forms, particularly the children who were born into situations where they have no control. Seeing them have contentment is one the greatest gifts I can receive. Being able to lead a change in someone's life, especially a child's, is very important to me. By gaining a college degree, I intend to put the well-being of children at the top of my list. Helping them gain a sense of normalcy, and checking to make sure they are being provided for and protected will be my main objective. Overall, the care of our youth should be one of our nation's top priorities. As many say, the youth are the future. So being able to have a hand in molding the future is something I simply cannot wait for.

During my senior year of high school alone, I managed to have 56 community service hours. During my life, I have volunteered with many different organizations. Many people consider community service as just feeding the homeless or cleaning up our parks. These are of course great acts, however, there's so much more that can be done. Giving toys to the children for Christmas, painting a house, helping with a school banquet, or even decorating for homecoming. I hope to continue doing outreach and volunteer work in and after college. Everyone deserves a chance to get assistance, no matter how small it may seem. I will be majoring in social work, so I believe that this will help me achieve this goal.

Hello, My name is JaTiya. I have a deep passion and aspiration for the wellness of others. Industries like social work remind me that everyone needs help and there has to be someone there to help them. I plan on receiving a degree in social work to fulfill my dream, improve kid's lives, and leave my mark on the world. I would like to go into the social work field to fulfill my dream. I am an 18-year-old senior in high school. I intend on going to a 4-year university and majoring in social work and minoring in child development. I haven't always been interested in social work, but I have always wanted to help the people around me. Not only is that common decency to me, but I would not feel right if I lived my life in a career that wouldn't be beneficial to others. I strongly believe that I've been put on this Earth to help as many people as possible. The impact that you can have on someone is more than anyone could ever know, so why not give it a try? I am looking forward to majoring in social work to improve the lives of kids. I believe that the needs of children are the needs of all people. Kids are the future and if I can cause an integral change in a child's life, then I have truly succeeded. I've seen friends live in bad situations and they can't get out of them. I would like to always be available for the kids just like them. Whether I choose to become a medical social worker, a case manager, foster care specialist, I will be there to help children. No matter what, I want to leave a positive mark on the world. Throughout my life, my main goal has been to make at least one person smile every day. This will continue to be my goal, especially within my career. Most of the kids that I will be working with will come from rough homes and living situations. Sometimes it may feel like there is nothing to smile about. However, I will try my very hardest to brighten their day and eventually their entire lives. Being an inspiration for others, especially kids, would mean the world to me. Children deserve the absolute best chances that this world has to offer and if I can be an influence for that, then I know that I've accomplished it all.