The courage to return to school did not come from confidence. It came from survival, healing, and the realization that it is never too late to pursue a deeper purpose. At thirty-six years old, I am not beginning my education for the first time. I am returning to school as a woman who has lived, endured, and grown, ready to build a second career rooted in service and impact. I was born into generational addiction and placed into foster care as a toddler. Although I was later adopted into a home that appeared stable, the reality behind closed doors included years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. By adulthood, I had learned how to survive difficult circumstances, but I struggled to believe I deserved more than survival. Education felt distant, not because I lacked ability, but because trauma convinced me I was unworthy of long-term goals. Despite these challenges, I built a successful career in cosmetology. I have been a licensed cosmetologist for fourteen years and later became a licensed cosmetology instructor. Teaching allowed me to pour into others, especially students who reminded me of myself. I also became a published author, writing a book for newly graduated cosmetology students to help them understand how to grow, manage, and sustain their own businesses. I am proud of the lives I impacted through education and mentorship. Still, I felt a quiet but persistent calling for something more. That feeling became undeniable when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the age of thirty. As a single mother undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID lockdowns, I was forced to confront the fragility of life. I spent long days isolated with my young son, wondering whether I would live long enough to watch him grow. In that season, I realized fear had already taken too much from me. I could not allow it to take my future as well. Surviving cancer changed how I viewed time, purpose, and possibility. I understood that continuing in a career solely because I was established in it was no longer enough. I wanted to give back in ways that were deeper and more impactful, particularly through healthcare and service. Returning to school became an act of courage and self-trust, proving to myself that it is never too late to change direction. Going back to school as an adult learner has required determination, resilience, and faith in myself. I balance motherhood, healing, and academic responsibility, knowing that every class completed is evidence that my past does not define my potential. This career change represents growth, not abandonment of where I came from. I am returning to school to create stability for my son, to serve others with compassion, and to honor the life I fought to keep. My journey is proof that courage does not mean starting over without fear. It means choosing growth anyway and believing that dreams remain valid at any age.

The courage to return to school did not come from confidence. It came from survival, healing, and the realization that it is never too late to pursue a deeper purpose. At thirty-six years old, I am not beginning my education for the first time. I am returning to school as a woman who has lived, endured, and grown, ready to build a second career rooted in service and impact. I was born into generational addiction and placed into foster care as a toddler. Although I was later adopted into a home that appeared stable, the reality behind closed doors included years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. By adulthood, I had learned how to survive difficult circumstances, but I struggled to believe I deserved more than survival. Education felt distant, not because I lacked ability, but because trauma convinced me I was unworthy of long-term goals. Despite these challenges, I built a successful career in cosmetology. I have been a licensed cosmetologist for fourteen years and later became a licensed cosmetology instructor. Teaching allowed me to pour into others, especially students who reminded me of myself. I also became a published author, writing a book for newly graduated cosmetology students to help them understand how to grow, manage, and sustain their own businesses. I am proud of the lives I impacted through education and mentorship. Still, I felt a quiet but persistent calling for something more. That feeling became undeniable when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the age of thirty. As a single mother undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID lockdowns, I was forced to confront the fragility of life. I spent long days isolated with my young son, wondering whether I would live long enough to watch him grow. In that season, I realized fear had already taken too much from me. I could not allow it to take my future as well. Surviving cancer changed how I viewed time, purpose, and possibility. I understood that continuing in a career solely because I was established in it was no longer enough. I wanted to give back in ways that were deeper and more impactful, particularly through healthcare and service. Returning to school became an act of courage and self-trust, proving to myself that it is never too late to change direction. Going back to school as an adult learner has required determination, resilience, and faith in myself. I balance motherhood, healing, and academic responsibility, knowing that every class completed is evidence that my past does not define my potential. This career change represents growth, not abandonment of where I came from. I am returning to school to create stability for my son, to serve others with compassion, and to honor the life I fought to keep. My journey is proof that courage does not mean starting over without fear. It means choosing growth anyway and believing that dreams remain valid at any age.

Surviving cancer changed the way I see life and the role science plays in it. During one of the most difficult seasons of my life, my future depended on medical knowledge, technology, and the dedication of healthcare professionals. That experience showed me firsthand how powerful science and medicine can be when used to save lives. It also made me realize how important it is for people from every background, including my own community, to be represented in the STEM field. My name is Javonne. I am a cancer survivor, a mother, and someone who believes deeply in turning adversity into purpose. I believe life is a gift, but only if we choose to take the bow off and open it. My journey through cancer helped me discover that my purpose is to serve others through healthcare and to become an example for people who may not always see themselves represented in STEM careers. I am currently pursuing my second Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a specialty in cardiac sonography. After completing this program, I plan to continue my education by earning my Bachelor’s degree in science and eventually my Master’s degree in a cardiac perfusionist program. These careers fall within the STEM field and play a critical role in diagnosing and supporting patients with heart conditions. Cardiac sonographers use advanced imaging technology to examine the heart, while perfusionists operate life-sustaining machines during open-heart surgery. These professions require strong knowledge in science, technology, and medicine. One of the reasons I am passionate about entering this field is the lack of diversity within it. In cardiac sonography, only about 5% of professionals are African American, and in cardiac perfusion that number is only about 7%. Representation in STEM matters because diversity strengthens innovation, improves patient care, and creates opportunities for new perspectives in problem-solving. When patients see healthcare professionals who understand their experiences and backgrounds, it builds trust and improves outcomes. By pursuing a career in this specialized area of healthcare, I hope to help close the gap in representation while also inspiring others from my community to explore STEM careers. I want young people, especially Black students, to see someone who looks like them succeeding in a field they may have never imagined for themselves. Sometimes seeing what is possible is the first step toward believing it can be done. My journey with cancer also gave me a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. When my life was placed in the hands of doctors and medical staff, I realized how powerful compassion and knowledge can be when combined. Because of that experience, I want to bring not only scientific skill to the field, but also understanding and care for every patient I encounter. Beyond my career in healthcare, I also want to use the stability that STEM careers provide to uplift my community in other ways. One of my long-term goals is to invest in real estate and establish adult foster care homes that provide safe and supportive environments for people in need. My vision is to create opportunities that support both health and stability within my community. Pursuing a career in STEM is not just about personal achievement for me. It is about representation, service, and creating opportunities for others. My journey has shown me that even the hardest challenges can lead to purpose, and I hope to use my STEM education to make a lasting impact in both healthcare and my community.

Surviving cancer changed the way I see life and the role science plays in it. During one of the most difficult seasons of my life, my future depended on medical knowledge, technology, and the dedication of healthcare professionals. That experience showed me firsthand how powerful science and medicine can be when used to save lives. It also made me realize how important it is for people from every background, including my own community, to be represented in the STEM field. My name is Javonne. I am a cancer survivor, a mother, and someone who believes deeply in turning adversity into purpose. I believe life is a gift, but only if we choose to take the bow off and open it. My journey through cancer helped me discover that my purpose is to serve others through healthcare and to become an example for people who may not always see themselves represented in STEM careers. I am currently pursuing my second Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a specialty in cardiac sonography. After completing this program, I plan to continue my education by earning my Bachelor’s degree in science and eventually my Master’s degree in a cardiac perfusionist program. These careers fall within the STEM field and play a critical role in diagnosing and supporting patients with heart conditions. Cardiac sonographers use advanced imaging technology to examine the heart, while perfusionists operate life-sustaining machines during open-heart surgery. These professions require strong knowledge in science, technology, and medicine. One of the reasons I am passionate about entering this field is the lack of diversity within it. In cardiac sonography, only about 5% of professionals are African American, and in cardiac perfusion that number is only about 7%. Representation in STEM matters because diversity strengthens innovation, improves patient care, and creates opportunities for new perspectives in problem-solving. When patients see healthcare professionals who understand their experiences and backgrounds, it builds trust and improves outcomes. By pursuing a career in this specialized area of healthcare, I hope to help close the gap in representation while also inspiring others from my community to explore STEM careers. I want young people, especially Black students, to see someone who looks like them succeeding in a field they may have never imagined for themselves. Sometimes seeing what is possible is the first step toward believing it can be done. My journey with cancer also gave me a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. When my life was placed in the hands of doctors and medical staff, I realized how powerful compassion and knowledge can be when combined. Because of that experience, I want to bring not only scientific skill to the field, but also understanding and care for every patient I encounter. Beyond my career in healthcare, I also want to use the stability that STEM careers provide to uplift my community in other ways. One of my long-term goals is to invest in real estate and establish adult foster care homes that provide safe and supportive environments for people in need. My vision is to create opportunities that support both health and stability within my community. Pursuing a career in STEM is not just about personal achievement for me. It is about representation, service, and creating opportunities for others. My journey has shown me that even the hardest challenges can lead to purpose, and I hope to use my STEM education to make a lasting impact in both healthcare and my community.

The difference a grandparent can make in a child`s life can be life altering. Like Sloane, my adopted grandmother was the rainbow in my clouds that who's memories continue to lead me to the to the light. Making an impact is why I am in existence. The world needs genuine people that lives for touching lives of other human beings. There are three things that my grandmother taught me. The first, and very important lesson was to always put God first in everything that you do, as he serves as the guide as you travel through life. Secondly my grandmother taught me that people are going to speak upon you no matter what, so live life to the fullest don't care what others think. Lastly, my grandmother always would say " no matter what you do in life, get yourself an education"! It saddens me that her last saying hadn't quite hit me until now. When I speak on not taking education seriously until my mid-thirties people often would say, better late than never. What I say to others is, " how do I change this"? How do I get younger Afro- American teens to see the value in education, and why its detrimental to their lives and to those that will follow after. The only way to accomplish this is to lead by example, be genuine, honest, and to stay true to who I am, and what I represent. Being that I have experienced many traumas in my life, in both childhood and adult hood. And, also living with ADHD (Attention- Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder) Combined Presentation. Which means that I have difficulties with inattentiveness, and also hyperactive impulse control. I also live with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) which makes your body feel constantly in fight or flight mode, and PTSD. One would probably question how will she make an impact with all of the psychological issues that is presented? Broken down into Latin terms impact originates from "impactus", meaning "to press into" or to, " strike against". I lift my eyes beyond the hills of my past and stay focused on my future. This is the only way to help to influence others to follow their wildest dreams. Currently, I am undergraduate at Oakland University to pursue my dream of becoming a cardiac perfusionist. Cardiology has always been the most intriguing physicality of the body to me. So much so that my plan after becoming a cardiac perfusionist is to open and adult foster home that will cater to adults that has been discharged from the hospital after cardiac difficulties or surgeries and may have not fully recovered. My education will ultimately help give ongoing care to adults that are in vulnerable situations feel safe, seen and heard and will provide exceptional bed side care. Having hospital experience will bring great impact to my community by providing long term care to help lead residents to a happier and healthier life. Upon completing my vision, I will also impact those around me by providing financial help for college and trade programs to break down financial barriers between education vs financial hardships. I will continue to stride forward until the job is done!

I have always wondered why the caged bird sings. With its feathers appearing so elegant, beautiful, and bright through day and night. The only time its head is bowed is when its sleeping. And when the bird awakens, it still puffs its chest out, spread its wings. But most incredibly, the beautiful sound that comes out its beak speaks louder than the sound of when the cage closes ,and the key locks its soul inside. My life has been the resemblance of that beautiful cage bird. Through life circumstances I have refused to loose my voice. Adversity has taught me to stand up and face life with grace, to find beauty in all circumstances. We all face triumph and difficult times. How we choose to use what we have been thru determines how life ultimately plays out. Every day I wake up intentionally to be a good person, I ask God to use me as a tunnel of love to pour into those that needs to feel close to him. As I take my journey in college with the pursuit of becoming a cardiac perfusionist, I strive daily on the cardiac holding unit to provide a peace that cant be felt by saying your going to be okay. I leverage my uniqueness by providing upstanding patient care through every patient I come in contact with. I check my energy before entering a patient room. I pay attention to verbal and non verbal ques that they express. Most importantly I provide a space for them to express what they may be feeling at the time. Many of my patients are in venerable spaces and are scared to make it out of surgery alive. In those moments I pour into them prayer, comfort, I share my story of being a cancer survivor, I remind them of all the other things that they were afraid of, but got through it. By the time I have left the room the calmest over the room is something that can only be done by God. Many people ask, how are you able to still have a loving, giving, kind soul after all of the abuse, abandonment, and rejection that you have experienced? My answer is always, I never want anyone to experience the pain I have experienced. What good would I be if I fed everyone the pain of my past by how I treat others? Having integrity has and always will be important to me. What you do in private for others changes lives, and though people may not see. It plays a big role in your character and your value in life. What has been become more important to me in being obedient to my calling and stay true to the purpose I have here on earth. Being able to live my life confident in who I am, allows me to continue to pour gracefully into others. Without shame, without expectations, without guilt. For me this is a rich life, a life of joy and freedom I wish for everyone to one day feel.

Every day that I wake up and my feet hit the ground I know that there is purpose in every step that I take. Once I put on my scrubs, passion meets purpose. I am Javonne, a current undergraduate student that attends Oakland University in Rochester, MI. I decided to pursue my bachelors degree in diagnostic sonography, with a specialty in cardiac sonography. I currently work on the cardiac holding unit as a patient care tech. I am responsible for prepping patients before they go in for procedures regarding the heart. However where I attend school and where I work has nothing to do the purpose behind my life assignment. My assignment is to give each patient I come in contact with a safe place. Every day I get to be there for human beings that are scared, vulnerable and not sure if they would make them out of their procedure. What I give each patient is a safe place, a safe place to feel any emotion they may be feeling, allow them to express themselves, and be a comfort during vulnerability. While, I am confident that I am great at my current position, the greatness of what I do comes from within. Making a positive impact for me is shown through the love I have for taking care of each person individually. The energy from within generates to each patient I touch, hug, laugh with, cry with, and share stories with. My goal is to turn a scary procedure into an experience of comfort and support. According to Henry Ford Health (n.d.), service, excellence, creativity, and respect are core organizational values. I stand true to the Henry Ford core values with integrity. As a cancer survivor myself I have been on the side where I was the one fighting for my life. I believe that God allowed me to live to make an impact on others going through the similar situations. Being able to sympathize with my patients brings on greater understanding on both ends. Because my goal is to make sure each patient feels cared for I say yes. I don't believe that a place where everyone is there to care for others, that egos should be allowed. So I say yes to getting the blanket, yes to doing this after I'm done with that, and even when tired yes ill go the extra mile. What inspires me daily is all of the milestones I've hit that i can only see when I look back. Each milestone reminds me of how far I've come, the hurdles I thought I could never jump, the mountains I thought i was too weak to climb, yet I am still here. If I quit then its all in vein. I am reminded every day the preciousness of being alive, and the understanding of what that being alive truly means. Single motherhood has had tough days, but the beauty of it all is the reflection of myself when I look into my sons eyes. It`s always then I remember one day it will be all worth it.

The moment you hear the word “cancer,” life changes—not just for the person diagnosed, but for everyone who depends on them. When I was diagnosed during the height of COVID, I faced my battle mostly alone, with only my one son relying on me and very little family support to lean on. Every treatment, every doctor’s appointment, and every moment of uncertainty felt heavier because I had no extended network to guide or encourage me. There were times I wondered if I could get through it, but I knew I had to—for myself and for my child. Facing cancer with limited support taught me the true meaning of resilience. My son became my anchor, my reason to fight, and my motivation to keep moving forward. Even in isolation, I discovered an inner strength I didn’t know I had. I learned to navigate appointments, manage treatments, care for my child, and handle the emotional toll of cancer—all while holding onto hope. That experience taught me that even without a large support system, determination, love, and courage can carry you through life’s hardest challenges. Surviving cancer changed the way I see life. Every day is a gift, but it is up to us to unwrap it and use it meaningfully. My experience inspired me to turn survival into purpose. I realized that challenges, no matter how overwhelming, can become opportunities to grow, inspire, and make a difference in the lives of others. One of the most profound lessons I learned was the importance of compassionate healthcare. During treatment, I encountered medical professionals whose skill and dedication not only saved my life but also showed me the profound impact empathy and understanding can have on patients. Their influence inspired me to pursue a career where I could offer that same care and support to others during their most vulnerable moments. I am currently pursuing my second Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a specialty in cardiac sonography. After completing this program, I plan to earn my Bachelor’s degree and eventually a Master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. These are highly specialized fields that are critical to patient care, yet African Americans are significantly underrepresented—only about 5–7% of professionals in these fields are Black. By entering this niche, I hope not only to break barriers but also to serve as a role model for others who may feel that these careers are out of reach. Cancer taught me resilience, independence, and purpose. It showed me that even in isolation, we can persevere, grow, and create impact. My journey is about more than surviving; it is about turning survival into opportunity, inspiring others, and leaving a legacy of hope, courage, and compassion—for my son, my community, and those who will follow behind me. Through this scholarship, I hope to continue my education without the financial burden that comes with surviving a life-altering illness. I want to honor the struggle, the lessons, and the strength my journey has given me by using my education and career to make a meaningful difference in healthcare and in the lives of others facing adversity.

Surviving cancer changed the way I see life and the role science plays in it. During one of the most difficult seasons of my life, my future depended on medical knowledge, technology, and the dedication of healthcare professionals. That experience showed me firsthand how powerful science and medicine can be when used to save lives. It also made me realize how important it is for people from every background, including my own community, to be represented in the STEM field. My name is Javonne. I am a cancer survivor, a mother, and someone who believes deeply in turning adversity into purpose. I believe life is a gift, but only if we choose to take the bow off and open it. My journey through cancer helped me discover that my purpose is to serve others through healthcare and to become an example for people who may not always see themselves represented in STEM careers. I am currently pursuing my second Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a specialty in cardiac sonography. After completing this program, I plan to continue my education by earning my Bachelor’s degree in science and eventually my Master’s degree in a cardiac perfusionist program. These careers fall within the STEM field and play a critical role in diagnosing and supporting patients with heart conditions. Cardiac sonographers use advanced imaging technology to examine the heart, while perfusionists operate life-sustaining machines during open-heart surgery. These professions require strong knowledge in science, technology, and medicine. One of the reasons I am passionate about entering this field is the lack of diversity within it. In cardiac sonography, only about 5% of professionals are African American, and in cardiac perfusion that number is only about 7%. Representation in STEM matters because diversity strengthens innovation, improves patient care, and creates opportunities for new perspectives in problem-solving. When patients see healthcare professionals who understand their experiences and backgrounds, it builds trust and improves outcomes. By pursuing a career in this specialized area of healthcare, I hope to help close the gap in representation while also inspiring others from my community to explore STEM careers. I want young people, especially Black students, to see someone who looks like them succeeding in a field they may have never imagined for themselves. Sometimes seeing what is possible is the first step toward believing it can be done. My journey with cancer also gave me a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. When my life was placed in the hands of doctors and medical staff, I realized how powerful compassion and knowledge can be when combined. Because of that experience, I want to bring not only scientific skill to the field, but also understanding and care for every patient I encounter. Beyond my career in healthcare, I also want to use the stability that STEM careers provide to uplift my community in other ways. One of my long-term goals is to invest in real estate and establish adult foster care homes that provide safe and supportive environments for people in need. My vision is to create opportunities that support both health and stability within my community. Pursuing a career in STEM is not just about personal achievement for me. It is about representation, service, and creating opportunities for others. My journey has shown me that even the hardest challenges can lead to purpose, and I hope to use my STEM education to make a lasting impact in both healthcare and my community.

Surviving cancer changed the way I see life. It reminded me that every day we wake up is a gift, but it is up to us to unwrap it and use it for something meaningful. Before anything else, I want to give my deepest condolences to Ms. Durant’s family. As a cancer survivor myself, this essay holds a special place in my heart. Women like Michele leave behind more than memories, they leave legacies that inspire others to keep going. I am grateful for women like Michele who have passed the baton to women like myself. Because of people like her, many of us have the courage to keep pushing forward with purpose. My name is Javonne. I am a survivor, a mother, and an overachiever. I believe life is a gift that is given to us, but only if we choose to take the bow off and open it. Inside that gift is a world of possibilities. My goal is to make a positive impact on the world and my community by being a living testimony—showing others that no matter what adversities they face in life, there is still purpose in being alive. One of the ways I plan to create that impact is through my education and career in healthcare. I am currently pursuing my second Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a specialty in cardiac sonography. After completing this program, I plan to continue my education by earning my Bachelor’s degree in science and ultimately my Master’s degree in a cardiac perfusionist program. These fields are highly specialized and critical to patient care, yet they lack diversity. In cardiac sonography, only about 5% of professionals are African American, and in cardiac perfusion that number is only about 7%. By entering this niche industry, I hope to break barriers and create new pathways for others who may follow behind me. Representation matters because when young people see someone who looks like them succeeding in fields they once thought were out of reach, it opens their minds to new possibilities. My goal is not only to take a seat at the table, but to help create more opportunities for others. My experience with cancer strengthened my passion for healthcare. During that time, my life was placed in the hands of medical professionals. That experience showed me how important compassionate and dedicated healthcare workers truly are. Because of my own journey, I bring empathy, resilience, and understanding that will allow me to connect with patients in a meaningful way. When I think about who God has called me to be, I think about legacy. To me, legacy means creating generational wealth, opportunity, and stability for my family and my community. I am committed to finishing school and building a career that will allow me to pursue my long-term goals. One of those goals is to invest in real estate and establish adult foster care homes that provide safe and supportive environments for people in need. By doing this, I hope to build generational wealth while also giving back and helping others along the way. My journey is about more than surviving cancer. It is about turning survival into purpose and using my story to create hope, opportunity, and impact for others.

⸻ Drug addiction has affected not only me, but my entire family in an astronomical way. It has traveled through my bloodline, starting with my grandparents and continuing to both of my parents, who were addicted to crack cocaine. Because of this, I was taken away and eventually given up for adoption. Addiction did not just take my parents from me emotionally. It reshaped the entire course of my life before I ever had a chance to choose my own path. My grandmother later lost her life to AIDS from needle sharing with heroin. That loss, along with the absence of my parents, left me carrying emotions that no child should have to navigate. I have known rejection, abandonment, and a deep feeling of not belonging. For more than twenty years, I wore my pain like a badge. It became part of my identity because it was all I knew. I learned how to survive before I ever learned how to feel safe. For a long time, I believed that surviving was the same as healing. I now know it is not. Healing came later, when I finally gave myself permission to seek help. Therapy, meditation, journaling, and yoga have been lifesaving. Meditation continues to help me regulate my nervous system after a lifetime of living in survival mode. It gives me moments of quiet where my body can finally rest. Journaling has given me a place to put my true thoughts without fear of being judged or feeling guilty for them. Therapy has given me the tools to recognize my triggers, understand my patterns, and respond to life instead of just reacting to it. Through these practices, I have learned that I am not broken. I am resilient. Going to college, for me, is not just about a degree. It justifies everything that I am. It proves that I have the strength to start something and finish it. It gives me comfort and confidence knowing that when I complete my education, I will not need validation from anyone else. I will know that I earned it. I put in the work. I endured. And I grew. Education represents stability, purpose, and a future that I am building with my own hands. The biggest influence in my life has been my adopted grandmother. She was truly an angel on earth. In the middle of all the chaos, she saw something special in me and helped bring it out. She saw my ability to care for others before I ever saw it in myself. She planted seeds in me that are only now beginning to fully sprout. I am grateful for the soft soil she gave me. It allowed those seeds to take root deep in my soul. When the time was right, I grew into everything she believed I could become. Because of what I have been through, I do not just want a better life. I want a meaningful one. I want my story to be proof that pain does not get the final word. Healing does!

The courage to return to school did not come from confidence. It came from survival, healing, and the realization that it is never too late to pursue a deeper purpose. At thirty-six years old, I am not beginning my education for the first time. I am returning to school as a woman who has lived, endured, and grown, ready to build a second career rooted in service and impact. I was born into generational addiction and placed into foster care as a toddler. Although I was later adopted into a home that appeared stable, the reality behind closed doors included years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. By adulthood, I had learned how to survive difficult circumstances, but I struggled to believe I deserved more than survival. Education felt distant, not because I lacked ability, but because trauma convinced me I was unworthy of long-term goals. Despite these challenges, I built a successful career in cosmetology. I have been a licensed cosmetologist for fourteen years and later became a licensed cosmetology instructor. Teaching allowed me to pour into others, especially students who reminded me of myself. I also became a published author, writing a book for newly graduated cosmetology students to help them understand how to grow, manage, and sustain their own businesses. I am proud of the lives I impacted through education and mentorship. Still, I felt a quiet but persistent calling for something more. That feeling became undeniable when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the age of thirty. As a single mother undergoing chemotherapy during the COVID lockdowns, I was forced to confront the fragility of life. I spent long days isolated with my young son, wondering whether I would live long enough to watch him grow. In that season, I realized fear had already taken too much from me. I could not allow it to take my future as well. Surviving cancer changed how I viewed time, purpose, and possibility. I understood that continuing in a career solely because I was established in it was no longer enough. I wanted to give back in ways that were deeper and more impactful, particularly through healthcare and service. Returning to school became an act of courage and self-trust, proving to myself that it is never too late to change direction. Going back to school as an adult learner has required determination, resilience, and faith in myself. I balance motherhood, healing, and academic responsibility, knowing that every class completed is evidence that my past does not define my potential. This career change represents growth, not abandonment of where I came from. I am returning to school to create stability for my son, to serve others with compassion, and to honor the life I fought to keep. My journey is proof that courage does not mean starting over without fear. It means choosing growth anyway and believing that dreams remain valid at any age.

Growing up in foster care required a level of resilience I did not yet have the language to name, but I learned to live it daily. My siblings and I entered the foster care system after my biological parents lost custody due to drug addiction, a reality that was all too common in the 1980s as crack cocaine devastated low income neighborhoods and families like mine. What makes me proud of my resilience is not a single triumphant moment, but the quiet strength I developed while enduring circumstances I could not control and still choosing not to give up. When family placement was explored, addiction had already touched both sides of my bloodline, leaving no safe alternatives. As a result, my two sisters and I were placed into foster care. Ironically, our foster home was owned by my grandmother, a beautiful three story brick house in Detroit that had sheltered foster children for years. It was a home filled with love and stability, yet despite its warmth, we would never return to our biological parents. Eventually, my foster grandmother’s daughter adopted us. She was unable to have children of her own, and on the surface adoption seemed like the answer to our instability. What followed, however, was a painful chapter of my life marked by physical abuse that began when I was about four years old and continued until I was sixteen. Although the physical abuse eventually ended, the psychological effects remained long after. One of the moments that makes me most proud of my resilience is recognizing that despite the absence of safety, love, and emotional security, something inside me refused to break completely. As a child, I made a promise to myself that I would survive, no matter how difficult life became. That promise became my anchor. Even when I felt rejected, abandoned, and unworthy, I kept moving forward. For a long time, I carried the wounds of that broken child into adulthood. Foster care taught me early that I could not control what happened to me, only how I responded to it. Learning to forgive my adoptive mother was one of the hardest challenges I have faced, yet it was also one of the most transformative. Forgiveness did not excuse the harm. It allowed me to release the weight of it and move forward with clarity and strength. That same resilience was tested again years later when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Facing a life threatening illness required the same inner strength I developed in foster care. I endured surgery, recovery, and lasting physical limitations, all while learning to trust my body and spirit again. Surviving cancer reinforced my belief that adversity does not define the end of my story, but strengthens my determination to keep going. Today, I apply that resilience to my education as a college student pursuing a degree in cardiac sonography. I approach my studies with discipline, perseverance, and purpose. When academic challenges arise, I remind myself that I have already survived circumstances far beyond the classroom. Foster care and cancer taught me endurance, self reflection, and the ability to rebuild even when the foundation was unstable. I am proud not in spite of my foster care experience, but because of it. The trials I endured shaped my resilience, my perspective, and my commitment to building a future grounded in purpose rather than pain. I choose not to use my past as an excuse to shrink, but as the force that propels me toward growth, perseverance, and greatness.

I believe one of the greatest battles we face as human beings is the battle within ourselves. For me, that battle has included experiences with depression, ADHD, childhood trauma, and surviving stomach cancer. These struggles have profoundly shaped my life, my relationships, and my understanding of myself and the world. I have faced moments where life felt overwhelmingly heavy, where it seemed impossible to navigate the challenges before me. Yet through these experiences, I have learned the power of resilience, self-awareness, and seeking help when needed. From a young age, I carried deep emotional wounds. My early childhood included the pain of adoption and exposure to unstable family environments, which left me questioning trust and love. Later, as I grew older, these unresolved experiences intertwined with depression and ADHD, creating challenges in school, relationships, and daily life. I often felt distracted, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to process my emotions. Year after year, I carried anger, grief, and self-doubt, seeking validation in relationships with people who could not meet the love and support I longed for. Life became a tangle of past and present, and I struggled to separate my history from the life I wanted to create. Motherhood was another turning point. When I had my son in 2015, I was terrified that I could not provide the stability and love I had always craved. For years, I struggled with mixed emotions, sometimes leaving him with my adoptive parents while grappling with guilt and sadness. During these years, I felt numb and overwhelmed, drifting through life without direction. Then, on December 26, 2019, I was admitted to the hospital for severe abdominal pain and, by early the next morning, was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Facing a life-threatening illness forced me to confront my mortality and my purpose. For the first time, I fully recognized God’s presence in my life. Surviving cancer became the turning point that transformed my fear into faith and my doubt into determination. It solidified my commitment to live intentionally, pursue my purpose, and embrace the tools available to help me heal. Through therapy, medication, and self-reflection, I have learned how to manage my mental health and ADHD effectively. I take medication consistently, which helps me focus, regulate emotions, and maintain daily structure. Therapy provides a safe space to process trauma, develop coping strategies, and challenge negative thought patterns. Journaling, mindfulness, and accountability practices have become tools I use daily to remain grounded and intentional. These practices are not just survival strategies—they are ways I actively choose growth, self-awareness, and healing. Managing my mental health has directly shaped my educational goals and professional aspirations. I am pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography, a field that allows me to combine technical skill with empathy and emotional awareness. I understand that patients often experience anxiety, fear, and vulnerability during medical care. My lived experiences, including surviving cancer, equip me to offer reassurance, comfort, and understanding during these moments. Additionally, I plan to open an Adult Foster Care home in the future, creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals struggling with mental health challenges. My goal is to provide stability, care, and emotional support to those who need it most, using both my personal and professional experiences to guide my approach. Recovery is an ongoing journey, and I approach it with intentionality and accountability. I recognize my triggers, maintain my medication and therapy routine, and actively apply the skills I have learned to navigate challenges. I have come to understand that growth is not linear, and setbacks do not define my progress. Each day is an opportunity to practice resilience, compassion, and self-awareness. My experiences with depression, ADHD, trauma, and cancer have shaped the person I am today. They have taught me empathy, patience, and the value of seeking help. I have transformed my struggles into opportunities for personal growth, and I am committed to using my story, education, and skills to support others facing similar challenges. Recovery is not just a personal journey; it is a foundation from which I can uplift, heal, and empower others

In life, we all have a purpose. Whether we choose to recognize and accept that purpose or not, life does not become easier. However, having a clear understanding of why we do what we do often provides the greatest strength to keep pushing forward. For me, healthcare was not simply a career choice. Healthcare chose me. From a very young age, I felt an unexplainable sense of joy in caring for others. I remember being just seven years old when my grandmother would call out through the house, “Nurse! Nurseeee!” In a home full of children, everyone knew she was calling for me. Being entrusted with her care, even in small ways, gave me a deep sense of pride and purpose. Although I was young, something in me understood that caring for others came naturally. Despite recognizing this calling early on, I struggled for many years to feel worthy enough to belong in the healthcare field. I carried the weight of childhood trauma, instability, and self doubt, which often overshadowed my strengths. Even after volunteering and working in two different hospitals, I questioned whether my past disqualified me from a future in healthcare. The pain I had endured felt difficult to separate from my identity, and I underestimated my ability to serve others professionally. Everything changed in December of 2019 when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Facing a life threatening illness forced me to confront my mortality and reevaluate my purpose. In that moment, I made a promise to God that if my life were spared, I would live fully and intentionally, dedicating myself to the purpose He placed within me. Surviving cancer became the turning point that transformed my fear into faith and my doubt into determination. My experiences as a patient deepened my understanding of how intertwined physical and mental health truly are. Fear, anxiety, and uncertainty often accompany medical care, and I witnessed firsthand how compassion and empathy can make an immeasurable difference in healing. This realization solidified my decision to pursue a degree in cardiac sonography, where I can combine technical skill with emotional awareness to support patients during vulnerable moments. As a woman in healthcare, I hope to make a positive impact by leading with empathy, accountability, and compassion. My lived experiences allow me to connect with patients beyond their diagnoses and to recognize the silent battles they may be carrying. I aim to create safe spaces where patients feel heard, respected, and reassured. In the future, I also aspire to open an Adult Foster Care home, extending care beyond clinical settings to those who need stability, dignity, and support. Healthcare is not just what I do. It is who I am. My journey has taught me that purpose is often revealed through adversity, and that strength is built by choosing to show up despite fear. As a woman in healthcare, I plan to serve with resilience, humility, and heart, using my story not as a limitation, but as a source of connection and healing for others.

More than this opportunity being meaningful to me, it is meaningful that God chose me to be a testimony. I believe my life is not only my own story, but a reflection of God’s ability to restore, redeem, and reach those who feel abandoned, broken, or lost. If my journey can help bring even one person closer to Him, then every hardship I endured has purpose. There was a time when I believed God had abandoned me just like everyone else in my life. I could not understand why my biological parents, who struggled with drug addiction, were removed from my life, only for me to be placed into an adoptive home filled with abuse. I often questioned why God would allow me to have four living parents, yet experience no true sense of parental love or safety. These questions consumed my thoughts day and night, becoming a weight I carried everywhere I went. Year after year, I held in anger and pain, chasing relationships with people who lacked the capacity to love me in the way I desperately needed and deserved. My past and present became so intertwined that I could no longer separate who I was from what I had endured. I did not know who to trust or which direction to turn. When I gave birth to my son in 2015, a moment that should have been the happiest of my life, I felt overwhelmed with fear and despair. I struggled to understand how I could give my child something I had never received myself. In my brokenness, I made the difficult decision to leave my son with my adoptive parents on and off for years. I was filled with conflicting emotions. I was grateful that my son was receiving the love and stability I wanted for him, yet deeply saddened watching him experience the very affection I had always longed for. I became emotionally numb, allowing life to carry me forward without direction, like a wave drifting out to sea. Everything changed on December 26, 2019, when I was admitted to the hospital for severe abdominal pain. By three o’clock the next morning, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. In that moment, I came face to face with my mortality. For the first time, I did not question where God was. Instead, I realized He had been with me all along, sustaining me through every trial I thought I would not survive. My faith began to transform from something distant into something deeply personal. I learned that God does not waste pain. Through cancer survivorship, motherhood, and healing from trauma, my faith became my anchor. It gave me the strength to seek help, to forgive, and to rebuild my life with intention and purpose. Today, as I pursue my education and future goals, my faith remains my guiding force. I plan to continue using my story to uplift others, serve with compassion, and lead with humility. I trust that the same God who carried me through abandonment, fear, and illness will continue to guide me toward greater heights. My success is not measured by how far I go alone, but by how many people I can help along the way through unwavering faith.

I believe one of the greatest battles we face as human beings is the battle within ourselves. Our mental health is shaped by our past experiences, including childhood trauma, and by the ways we learn to cope with pain, stress, and uncertainty. True growth often begins when a person recognizes that something is wrong, an internal alarm that reveals itself through overwhelming emotions, heightened stress, or emotional reactions when we are triggered. Some individuals are able to identify what causes their emotions or stress levels to rise, much like water reaching its boiling point. Many others are not. Mental health support is often stigmatized, and people may feel unsure where to start, embarrassed to ask for help, or afraid of being judged. I have learned that unaddressed pain does not simply disappear. Instead, it often turns inward and shows up as self destructive behavior, emotional withdrawal, or strained relationships. One of the most important lessons my mental health journey has taught me is the importance of self accountability. Healing requires the courage to honestly examine our own patterns and recognize when our behaviors are no longer serving us. Avoidance, isolation, and emotional reactions can feel protective in the moment, but over time they create deeper harm. Learning when to pause, reflect, and seek help has been a turning point in my growth. Asking for support is not a failure, but a decision to take responsibility for one’s well being. My experiences with mental health have reshaped how I relate to others. I was always taught to treat people the way we wish to be treated. Although this idea may sound cliché, it becomes difficult to practice when frustration, stress, or mental illness takes over. Too often, people unintentionally take their pain out on those closest to them, not because they do not care, but because they do not yet know how to process what they are feeling. Understanding this has allowed me to approach relationships with empathy instead of reaction, patience instead of judgment, and accountability instead of blame. I believe that if more people understood the silence attached to mental health, we would be far more mindful of how we treat one another on a daily basis. Life becomes clearer when we consistently put ourselves in other people’s shoes. With that awareness, we would be kinder at work, more patient at home, and more compassionate during the brief interactions we share with others in passing. Mental health struggles are often invisible, and recognizing that reality has changed how intentionally I show up for people. The beauty of my life journey has been reaching the bittersweet realization that the obstacles I endured, including childhood trauma, were not in vain. The pain and challenges I faced shaped me into someone who can now support others. Through honest yet gentle conversations, I have helped individuals take their first steps toward healing by encouraging therapy, introducing self help resources, and promoting journaling as a way to process emotions. By sharing my experiences when appropriate, I help others feel less alone and more willing to seek support. Essays like this are important because they bring awareness to the quiet ways mental health struggles appear in everyday life. Mental illness does not always look dramatic or obvious. Sometimes it looks like withdrawal, irritability, exhaustion, or silence. Recognizing these patterns can be the difference between someone feeling invisible and someone feeling supported. This awareness has reshaped my understanding of the world, teaching me to see people beyond surface behavior. Life often moves too fast for us to slow down and truly notice one another. We assume there will always be more time to check in, to listen, or to care, until time passes us by. One unexpected positive outcome of the COVID 19 pandemic was that it forced many of us to slow down and look inward. It encouraged reflection on our mental health, our households, and our relationships in ways we may have avoided before. While it exposed emotional wounds, it also opened the door to healing, growth, and self awareness. My experiences with mental health have directly shaped my goals. As I pursue my associate degree in cardiac sonography, I recognize the deep connection between mental and physical health. Patients often experience fear and anxiety during medical care, especially when facing uncertainty. I plan to provide reassurance, empathy, and emotional comfort during those vulnerable moments. I understand that healing is not only physical, and that compassion can be just as impactful as clinical skill. Beyond my academic and professional goals, I aspire to open an Adult Foster Care home where individuals can experience stability, dignity, and compassionate support. Mental health struggles often worsen in environments lacking understanding and safety. My goal is to create a space rooted in empathy, patience, and emotional awareness, one where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Ultimately, my journey with mental health has shaped not only who I am, but how I move through the world. It has taught me the value of accountability, the courage to seek help when needed, and the power of empathy in healing. We are all in the same race, though some finish before others. The true beauty of finishing lies in what we choose to do once we reach the other side. In every role I take on, I hope to use what I have learned to offer understanding, comfort, and reassurance that growth, healing, and transformation are always possible.

What do you do when mental illness and trauma are set upon you before you are even born? How do you navigate life knowing that part of you is shaped by genetics and the other part by family dynamics beyond your control? More importantly, how do you begin to put those pieces together so that healing can occur? These are questions I have wrestled with for most of my life, returning to them again and again as I searched for understanding and stability. I entered the world surrounded by instability. I was born to a mother struggling with addiction and was later placed in the foster system. My early years were marked by inconsistency, fear, and environments that did not offer the emotional safety a child needs to develop a sense of security. Eventually, I was adopted, but instead of finding refuge, I experienced further emotional harm that deeply impacted my mental health and sense of self. These early experiences shaped the way I viewed the world and myself long before I had the language to explain what I was feeling. As a child, I always felt different. I was constantly anxious, easily overwhelmed, and struggled with racing thoughts and emotional regulation. I was often fidgety, hyperaware, and fearful without fully understanding why. Rather than receiving support or understanding, my behaviors were misunderstood. I was labeled, teased, and dismissed by people who were supposed to protect and guide me. Being told there was “something wrong” with me reinforced feelings of shame and isolation. Mental illness was not discussed openly in my family, and when it was, it carried judgment. The stigma surrounding mental health made it difficult to speak up or ask for help. I later learned that I live with ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. For years, however, I remained undiagnosed and untreated because admitting I needed help felt unsafe. I learned to internalize my struggles, masking my symptoms and pushing forward while silently suffering. Mental illness affected not only how I thought and felt, but also how I related to others. Trust was difficult, emotional regulation felt exhausting, and self worth was fragile. Trauma shaped my nervous system and influenced how I responded to stress, relationships, and authority figures. It took time for me to understand that my reactions were not signs of weakness, but responses to prolonged adversity. Healing began when I allowed myself to acknowledge the impact of my past without letting it define my future. Seeking professional help, learning about my diagnoses, and educating myself about trauma changed my life. Therapy, self reflection, journaling, and learning healthy coping skills allowed me to rebuild my sense of self piece by piece. I began to understand that mental illness is not a character flaw, but a health condition that deserves care and compassion. Mental illness has affected my life deeply, but it has also shaped my empathy, resilience, and desire to help others. My experiences have taught me the importance of breaking stigma, advocating for mental health awareness, and creating safe spaces where people feel understood. Healing is not linear, but it is possible. My story is not one of defeat, but of survival, growth, and continued commitment to becoming whole.

My name is Javonne Hatcher, and I am deeply passionate about caring for others and making a positive impact on the world through compassion, empathy, and service. I believe one of the greatest battles human beings face is the battle within ourselves. Our past experiences, including childhood trauma, shape our mental health and influence how we respond to life’s challenges. Through personal hardship and professional experience, I have learned that healing begins when individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. I am currently enrolled at Baker College pursuing an Associate of Applied Science with a specialty in Cardiac Sonography, while also working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a rehabilitation center. Working bedside has given me a profound understanding of patience, dignity, and the importance of emotional presence. Caring for individuals who are elderly, ill, or vulnerable has taught me that none of us are exempt from needing care at some point in our lives. These moments have strengthened my commitment to providing care that addresses both physical and emotional well-being. As a survivor of childhood trauma and stomach cancer, I understand healthcare from the patient’s perspective. I know the fear, uncertainty, and emotional toll that accompany illness and recovery. Experiencing vulnerability firsthand has shown me how powerful compassionate communication and strong bedside manner can be in the healing process. Because of this, I strive to create safe spaces for honest conversation and emotional support. Outside of my clinical responsibilities, I have helped many individuals begin their mental health journeys by encouraging therapy, introducing self help books, and promoting journaling as a tool for reflection and emotional processing. I believe growth requires self awareness, and I often support others by helping them shift their perspective, recognize their resilience, and take small but meaningful steps toward healing. These experiences have reinforced my belief that mental health and physical health are deeply connected. In addition to my healthcare career, I plan to open an Adult Foster Care home to provide a stable, nurturing environment for individuals who need consistent support and understanding. My goal is to create a space where residents feel safe, valued, and empowered to grow emotionally and mentally. Through this work, I hope to extend my impact beyond clinical settings and contribute to long term emotional stability for those in my care. As I continue my education in cardiac sonography, I am mindful that patients often experience anxiety and fear during diagnostic and medical procedures. I plan to use my role to provide reassurance, empathy, and calmness during these vulnerable moments. My long term goal is to pursue a master’s degree at Lawrence Technological University in the Cardiac Perfusionist program, allowing me to support patients during some of the most critical moments of their lives. Through my career and future endeavors, I aim to be a professional who not only delivers skilled care but also leads with compassion and understanding. My purpose is to remind others that healing, growth, and transformation are possible when people are met with empathy, patience, and genuine human connection.

I believe one of the greatest battles we face as human beings is the battle within ourselves. Our past experiences, including childhood trauma, and the ways we cope with them shape our mental health. True growth begins when a person recognizes that something is wrong, an internal alarm that often reveals itself through overwhelming emotions, stress, or emotional reactions when we are triggered. Some individuals understand what causes their emotions or stress levels to rise, much like water reaching its boiling point. Many others do not. This can be because mental health support is often stigmatized, because people are unsure where to start, or because they feel embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. I have learned that sometimes the most powerful support we can offer is being present, listening without judgment, and gently guiding someone toward healthier coping tools. The beauty of my life journey has been reaching the bittersweet realization that the obstacles I have endured, including childhood trauma, were not in vain. The pain and challenges I faced shaped me into someone who can now support others. Through honest yet gentle conversations, I have helped many individuals take their first steps toward healing by encouraging therapy, introducing self help books, and promoting journaling as a way to process emotions. By sharing my experiences when appropriate, I help others feel less alone and more willing to seek help. As I pursue my associate degree in cardiac sonography, I recognize the strong connection between physical and mental health. Patients often experience fear and anxiety during medical care, and I plan to provide reassurance, empathy, and emotional comfort during those vulnerable moments. Alongside my studies, I plan to open an AFC home where I can create a safe, supportive environment for individuals who need stability, understanding, and compassionate care. In my future career, I plan to emotionally support others by offering comfort in times of worry, peace when the mind feels overwhelmed, and understanding rooted in shared human experience. My goal is to help others trust the process of growth and recognize that healing and transformation are always possible.

Being a single parent while pursuing higher education is both rewarding and profoundly challenging. Every day I navigate the responsibilities of caring for my young son and advancing my education. Balancing homework, studying, and assignments with meal preparation, bedtime routines, and emotional support is a test of endurance, patience, and self-discipline. There are moments when exhaustion and doubt creep in, when the weight of responsibility feels almost too heavy to bear. In these moments I remind myself why I started this journey. I am not only working for my own future but also for the life I want to create for my son. My ability to persevere through these challenges is rooted in my past. I was born into generational trauma and placed into foster care as a toddler. I was later adopted into a home that appeared stable from the outside, but behind closed doors, I experienced physical, emotional, and psychological abuse that lasted until I was seventeen. Those experiences left deep scars, shaping how I viewed the world and myself. For years I struggled with feelings of unworthiness and the belief that I could never break free from cycles of adversity. In December 2019, everything changed when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing a life-threatening illness while caring for my son was terrifying. I endured the isolation of treatments, physical weakness, and emotional pain while ensuring my son felt safe and loved. That experience gave me clarity I had never known. Life is fragile, and every moment matters. Surviving cancer strengthened my resolve to pursue education and create a life of stability and purpose. Working as a nursing assistant challenges me both physically and emotionally. Long shifts and physically demanding tasks, combined with the lingering effects of cancer, often leave me exhausted. Despite this, I remain committed to my work because it reminds me of my calling to help others. At the same time, the physical demands limit the time and energy I can devote to school and to my son. Receiving this scholarship would provide the support I need to reduce work hours, focus more fully on my studies, and give my son the attention and care he deserves. Over time I have learned that my past does not define my future. Through therapy, faith, and self-reflection, I have developed the ability to speak positively to myself, replace self-doubt with encouragement, and approach challenges with resilience. I model this mindset for my son, showing him that setbacks do not determine worth and that strength is built by moving through challenges with courage and grace. My goal is to complete my education in cardiac sonography, continue on to a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion, and build a meaningful career in healthcare. I want to combine my professional expertise with my lived experiences to create opportunities for others who, like me, have faced adversity. By pursuing excellence in my field, I aim to accumulate the resources and stability necessary to give my son the tools, guidance, and support to pursue his dreams with confidence. Being a single parent and a student is demanding, but it is also transformative. It has taught me resilience, time management, empathy, and the importance of self-advocacy. Most importantly, it has reinforced my commitment to being a living example for my son, showing him, that strength is not the absence of struggle but the courage to keep moving forward despite it. This scholarship is more than financial assistance. It is a bridge to opportunity and a symbol of hope. It would allow me to focus on being a mother and a student without the exhaustion of long work hours. By continuing my education, I am not just building my own future. I am modeling resilience, determination, and purpose for my child, teaching him that with courage, intentionality, and faith, he too can overcome obstacles and achieve his dreams.

Faith has been a guiding light throughout my life, but it became most powerful during one of the darkest periods I have ever faced. On December 26, 2019, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at thirty years old. In that moment, I felt fear unlike anything I had ever known. Thoughts of my young son and the life we would face without me consumed my mind. I was physically weak, emotionally drained, and terrified of the unknown. Yet it was in that moment of desperation that my faith became my anchor. Before my diagnosis, I had endured years of hardship. I was adopted into a family that ran a foster care home, but instead of a safe and nurturing environment, I experienced abuse that lasted from the age of five until I was seventeen. Those experiences left me carrying wounds I did not yet know how to heal. For years, I questioned my worth and struggled with anger, abandonment, and doubt. My faith had always been present in small ways, but it was during my cancer battle that I truly learned to rely on it. As I began chemotherapy and faced the physical and emotional pain of treatment, I discovered a new depth in my relationship with God. I prayed for strength, for clarity, and for the courage to keep going even when my body and spirit felt broken. I realized that while I could not control my illness, I could control my response to it. Faith gave me a sense of purpose and perspective. It reminded me that my life, my healing, and my future were in God’s hands and that I was not alone in my struggles. During those long days of recovery and isolation, my faith encouraged me to shift my mindset from one of fear to one of resilience and hope. I began to see my experiences not simply as obstacles but as opportunities for growth, compassion, and service. I committed myself to living with intention, forgiving past hurts, and reclaiming the love and joy I had been denied for so long. My faith taught me that survival was not enough; I could thrive, heal, and create a life grounded in purpose. This transformation has shaped my approach to both my personal and professional life. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography, with plans to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. I am also a single mother, balancing work, school, and parenting while striving to provide a better future for my son. My faith continues to guide me, giving me the patience, perseverance, and compassion needed to navigate these challenges. In the future, I plan to partner with my sister, a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide residents with care that values their dignity, individuality, and humanity. The lessons I have learned through faith resilience, hope, and compassion will be central to the environment I create. Relying on faith during my battle with cancer taught me that true strength is not simply physical or mental it is spiritual. Faith has been the compass that guided me through the darkest moments of my life, and it continues to shape the way I approach challenges, relationships, and my purpose in the world.

Adversity has been a constant presence in my life, shaping the way I approach challenges and deepening my commitment to my goals. From childhood through adulthood, I have faced obstacles that tested my resilience, self-belief, and determination. Each challenge has taught me that while adversity cannot always be controlled, my response to it can define my future. My early years were marked by trauma and instability. I was adopted into a family that ran a foster care home, but behind the doors of what appeared to be a stable environment, I experienced years of abuse. Growing up in this environment taught me the importance of perseverance and self-advocacy. I learned to navigate spaces that were not designed for my success and to find strength even when I felt unseen and unheard. These early experiences instilled in me a resilience that has guided every step of my educational and professional journey. In adulthood, I faced another life-altering challenge when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at thirty years old. The diagnosis was terrifying, and the treatment process was physically and emotionally grueling. I experienced exhaustion, fear, and pain, yet I knew that giving up was not an option. Throughout chemotherapy and recovery, I maintained focus on my responsibilities as a single mother and my commitment to pursuing higher education. I relied on support systems, established routines, and unwavering determination to continue moving forward despite the physical and emotional toll of treatment. My response to adversity has always included clear planning, prioritization, and seeking support when necessary. I have learned to break large goals into manageable steps, maintain discipline, and adapt when unforeseen obstacles arise. Returning to school as a single mother, I have balanced work, parenting, and coursework by organizing my time meticulously and focusing on one task at a time. This approach has allowed me to maintain progress in my studies and keep my long-term vision in sight. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography and plan to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. My experiences with adversity have strengthened my empathy and understanding, which I believe are essential qualities in healthcare. I approach patients and colleagues with compassion and patience, recognizing that each individual faces their own challenges. My goal is not only to excel in my career but also to use my knowledge and skills to create environments of care, dignity, and respect. In the future, I plan to partner with my sister, a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide high-quality, home-like care where residents are treated as whole people with unique stories and needs. My experiences with adversity have prepared me to meet challenges with resilience, problem-solving, and empathy, ensuring that I can provide the best possible care and leadership in both clinical and community settings. Adversity has not defined me; it has refined me. Each obstacle has strengthened my determination, sharpened my focus, and deepened my compassion. By confronting challenges head-on and refusing to give up, I continue to advance toward my career aspirations, equipped not only with technical skills but also with resilience, empathy, and the confidence to make a lasting impact in healthcare and the lives of those I serve.

Balancing education with the responsibilities of being a single parent is both a challenge and a motivation in my life. As a mother, my first priority is the well-being and stability of my child, but I also understand that pursuing higher education is essential for creating a better future for both of us. I have learned to carefully manage my time, set priorities, and approach challenges with resilience, determination, and flexibility. Each day requires planning and intention. My mornings often begin early, preparing my son for his day while reviewing assignments or course materials. Evenings and weekends are dedicated to studying and completing schoolwork while also ensuring quality time with my son. There have been times when exhaustion and stress have made the path feel overwhelming, yet I have discovered that perseverance is a skill cultivated through necessity. Balancing school, work, and parenting has taught me discipline, patience, and how to adapt when unexpected obstacles arise. My journey as a single mother and cancer survivor has also shaped the way I approach education. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography and plan to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. These programs are demanding, requiring both academic rigor and clinical experience. I am committed to excelling in my studies while modeling resilience, dedication, and the value of education for my son. By demonstrating that hard work and perseverance lead to achievement, I hope to inspire him to pursue his own goals with confidence. Receiving this scholarship would significantly support my ability to balance school and family. It would allow me to reduce work hours, dedicate more focused time to my coursework, and maintain my health while meeting the physical and emotional demands of both parenting and education. This financial support would reduce stress and make it possible for me to fully immerse myself in my studies, ultimately bringing me closer to completing my degrees and advancing in my healthcare career. In the long term, my education will allow me to make a lasting impact in healthcare and in my community. Alongside my sister, a registered nurse, I plan to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan to provide individualized, high-quality care in a private, home-like environment. The skills, knowledge, and credentials I earn through my education will enable me to create spaces where residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Balancing education and parenting is not easy, but it is deeply meaningful. Every challenge I overcome strengthens my ability to provide for my family and pursue my dreams. This scholarship would not only ease financial burdens but also empower me to continue on this path with focus, determination, and purpose. By investing in my education, I am investing in a future where I can provide stability, opportunity, and hope for my family and the communities I serve.

Being a member of an underrepresented minority population has profoundly shaped my perspective, my resilience, and my determination to succeed in both life and education. From the very beginning, my life was marked by challenges that were compounded by systemic inequities. I was born to a mother struggling with addiction and, along with my siblings, entered the foster care system before being adopted. Growing up as a Black girl in foster care, I often felt invisible and misunderstood, navigating spaces that were not designed to nurture someone like me. My identity became intertwined with resilience, adaptability, and the ability to advocate for myself even when I had little guidance or support. Being part of an underrepresented population has influenced my path in education and healthcare in ways both subtle and profound. Early on, I learned to persevere in environments where I was often underestimated. I developed the ability to listen, empathize, and find creative solutions to challenges. These skills have been essential as I return to school as a single mother and a cancer survivor. They help me navigate the demands of balancing work, parenting, and academic responsibilities while pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography, with plans to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. My experiences have also shaped my commitment to creating spaces that are inclusive and equitable. I have seen firsthand how lack of representation, understanding, and access can impact outcomes. This awareness drives my desire to provide compassionate care in healthcare settings, ensuring that patients feel seen, heard, and respected regardless of their background. Beyond my clinical aspirations, I plan to partner with my sister, a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan that provide individualized, high-quality care. Our goal is to offer an environment that honors diversity, promotes dignity, and values each resident as a whole person. Being a member of an underrepresented minority population has instilled in me a sense of responsibility. I recognize that my successes are not just personal achievements. They are opportunities to challenge stereotypes, break barriers, and inspire others who may feel limited by systemic inequities. I hope to serve as a role model for my son, other first-generation students, and members of marginalized communities, demonstrating that perseverance, education, and compassion can create meaningful change. My identity continues to influence my path by shaping my goals, values, and approach to service. It informs the way I communicate with patients, the care I provide, and the standards I set for my future Adult Foster Care homes. It motivates me to advocate for equitable healthcare, to lead with empathy, and to create spaces where underrepresented voices are not only heard but valued. Being a member of an underrepresented minority population has taught me that challenges can be transformed into purpose and that my experiences are a source of strength, guidance, and inspiration as I work to leave a positive impact on my community and the world.

Being a first-generation student means carrying the hopes and dreams of my family while navigating a path that no one before me has walked. It means facing the unknown, figuring out systems and processes that others take for granted, and learning to advocate for myself in ways that were never modeled. For me, being first-generation is both a challenge and a responsibility. It drives me to work harder, persevere, and make my education count not just for me, but for my son and my family. My journey has not been easy. I grew up facing trauma and instability and later in life I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at thirty years old. Between work, school, and raising my young son as a single mother, the obstacles have been immense. There have been moments of exhaustion, doubt, and fear, yet every challenge has strengthened my resolve. I have learned the value of resilience, self-advocacy, and determination. I have learned that progress is made in small steps and that perseverance often matters more than perfection. Returning to school has been an act of courage and commitment. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography with plans to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. My long-term goal is to work in healthcare while also partnering with my sister, a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide high-quality, individualized care in a private, home-like setting where residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Education is the key to making that vision a reality. Receiving this scholarship would make a significant difference in my journey. It would allow me to reduce my work hours, focus more fully on my studies, and protect my health while pursuing my degree. It would bring me closer to completing my education and achieving my professional and personal goals. Beyond financial assistance, this scholarship would serve as a reminder that the challenges I have faced and the work I am putting in are seen and valued. Being a first-generation student means more than earning a degree. It means breaking cycles, creating opportunity, and modeling determination for the next generation. It means turning past pain into purpose and using my experiences to uplift others. This scholarship would help me continue that journey and move closer to a future where my education allows me to serve, lead, and create positive change for my family and community.

Every experience in my life has shaped who I am, but few have influenced me more profoundly than the challenges I have faced as a survivor of childhood trauma and cancer. These experiences have strengthened my resilience and guided me toward a career in medicine where I can use my personal understanding of vulnerability, healing, and empathy to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Growing up, I faced significant adversity. I was adopted into a family that ran a foster care home, but behind the doors of what appeared to be a stable home, I experienced years of abuse. From the age of five until I was seventeen, I carried the weight of trauma that left me questioning my worth and silencing my voice. For so long, I survived by hiding pain and suppressing my needs, unaware that these experiences were shaping my capacity for empathy and understanding. In adulthood, my journey took another unexpected turn. On December 26, 2019, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at thirty years old. I spent weeks in hospitals undergoing tests and treatment and faced the terrifying possibility of leaving my young son behind. Cancer tested me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was in those moments of vulnerability that I truly recognized the critical role healthcare professionals play not only in treating illness but in providing reassurance, clarity, and compassion. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in medicine, specifically in cardiac sonography with plans to continue toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. My personal challenges have prepared me to contribute uniquely to healthcare. I understand what it feels like to face life-threatening illness and to rely on the expertise and empathy of medical professionals. I have learned the importance of clear communication, active listening, and human connection, skills that are essential when patients are scared or overwhelmed. I also understand the resilience required to navigate difficult situations, a perspective that allows me to approach patients with patience, compassion, and understanding. Beyond clinical care, my experiences motivate me to advocate for patients and promote environments that prioritize dignity, respect, and individualized attention. Alongside my sister, a registered nurse, I plan to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan, providing high-quality, home-like care where residents are seen, heard, and valued. My goal is to combine medical expertise with empathy to create spaces where people feel supported physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Every challenge I have faced from childhood trauma to surviving cancer has reinforced the value of resilience, compassion, and service. These experiences are not burdens; they are the foundation of my commitment to medicine. They have shown me that true healing comes from combining technical skill with humanity. By pursuing a career in healthcare, I hope to transform the pain I have endured into care that uplifts, comforts, and empowers others, leaving a positive impact on every life I touch.

Giving back has always been a part of my life, even before I fully recognized its impact. One of the most meaningful ways I have contributed to my community is through volunteering at a nursing home in Royal Oak, Michigan. As a licensed cosmetologist, I wanted to use my skills to bring joy and dignity to residents who often felt overlooked. Every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., I provided hair services to residents who rarely had the opportunity to feel pampered. What began as a small gesture quickly became a profound experience that shaped how I view service and human connection. During this time, I formed a deep bond with Gwen and Harvey, a couple in their eighties whose family was not frequently present. Their love for each other was inspiring, and I realized how much human connection and attention can impact someone’s quality of life. I began visiting them outside of my volunteer hours, taking Gwen to doctor appointments, helping with shopping, and even taking them on small “dates” to nurture the spark of love they shared. For two years, I showed up consistently, not because I was obligated, but because I understood the power of presence and care. This experience taught me that giving back is not always about grand gestures—it is about investing time, energy, and love into the lives of others. Currently, I continue to give back through my work as a certified nursing assistant. Every day, I provide hands-on care to patients in a rehabilitation facility, offering not only physical support but emotional encouragement to those navigating recovery. My personal experiences as a cancer survivor have given me a unique perspective, allowing me to empathize deeply with patients and advocate for their needs. I have learned that small acts of kindness, listening, and presence can transform someone’s day—and sometimes, even their outlook on life. Looking toward the future, I plan to expand my impact in the healthcare field and the community. I am pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography with plans to continue my education to become a cardiac perfusionist. My goal is to provide life-saving care in surgical settings while ensuring patients feel seen, heard, and supported during some of their most vulnerable moments. Beyond clinical care, I intend to partner with my sister, a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide individualized, high-quality care in a private, home-like environment where residents are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. We aim to create a standard of care that prioritizes emotional well-being alongside physical health. Giving back has taught me that true impact comes from consistency, empathy, and intentionality. I have experienced firsthand how presence, attention, and genuine care can transform lives. As I continue my education and grow as a healthcare professional and community advocate, I hope to create spaces where people feel valued, supported, and empowered—leaving the world kinder, more compassionate, and full of hope.

Empathy is not something I learned in a classroom. It was forged through lived experience, survival, and healing. My unique talents and skills are rooted in my ability to listen deeply, connect authentically, and care for others with compassion shaped by understanding rather than assumption. These qualities guide how I show up in the world and how I plan to contribute to a more empathetic and understanding global community. My life experiences have taught me how easily people can be overlooked, misunderstood, or silenced. Growing up in unstable environments and later navigating serious illness as an adult showed me what it feels like to be vulnerable and unseen. These experiences developed my ability to read emotional cues, offer presence without judgment, and create spaces where others feel safe expressing their fears and needs. I have learned that empathy begins with listening, not fixing. Professionally, I am pursuing a career in healthcare, where empathy is as essential as technical skill. As a future cardiac sonographer and cardiac perfusionist, I will work with patients during some of the most frightening moments of their lives. I plan to use my communication skills to ensure patients feel informed, respected, and supported, regardless of their background or circumstances. Healthcare has the power to either deepen fear or build trust, and I am committed to choosing compassion in every interaction. Beyond clinical care, I intend to extend empathy into community based spaces. Alongside my sister, a registered nurse, I plan to open Adult Foster Care homes that prioritize dignity, cultural sensitivity, and individualized care. Our vision is to create environments where residents are not defined by their diagnoses or limitations, but recognized as whole people with stories, preferences, and voices that matter. By modeling empathy at the organizational level, we hope to influence standards of care that extend beyond our own community. Another skill I bring is my willingness to share my story openly and responsibly. Storytelling creates connection across differences, and I have seen how honesty can break down stigma around trauma, illness, and resilience. By using my voice to advocate for compassionate care and emotional awareness, I hope to encourage others to approach differences with curiosity rather than judgment. Building a more empathetic global community does not always require grand gestures. It requires consistent acts of understanding, accountability, and presence. I plan to contribute by practicing empathy daily, teaching it through action, and creating spaces where compassion is not optional, but foundational. Through healthcare, community care, and honest connection, I hope to leave the world more humane than I found it.

Becoming a single mother changed every part of my life, but it also clarified my purpose in ways I never expected. My journey back to higher education has been shaped by responsibility, resilience, and the desire to build a stable and meaningful future for my child. Every step I take toward my degree is guided by the understanding that my education is not only for me, but for the life I am creating for my family. Returning to school as a single mother has come with significant challenges. Balancing coursework with full time work and parenting responsibilities requires constant sacrifice. There are nights when studying happens after bedtime routines, long shifts, and exhaustion. As a cancer survivor, my body still carries limitations, and managing the physical demands of work alongside academic expectations can be overwhelming. Despite these obstacles, I remain committed because education represents security, independence, and opportunity. This journey has deeply shaped my values. I have learned the importance of perseverance, discipline, and self advocacy. More importantly, I have learned the value of modeling resilience for my child. I want my son to see that setbacks do not define a person and that growth is possible at any stage of life. Pursuing higher education as a single mother has taught me that strength is not about doing everything alone, but about continuing forward even when the path is difficult. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography, with plans to continue my education toward a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. I chose this field because of my own experience as a patient facing serious illness. I understand how vulnerable and frightening medical situations can be, and I want to be a healthcare professional who brings both skill and compassion to those moments. My long term goals also include opening Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan with my sister, a registered nurse, to provide high quality, individualized care in a private, home like setting. Receiving this scholarship would have a meaningful impact on my life. It would allow me to reduce my work hours, focus more fully on my studies, and protect my health while completing my education. Less financial strain would mean more time to excel academically and be present for my child. This support would bring me closer to achieving my goals and creating the stable future I envision. This scholarship represents more than financial assistance. It represents belief in my journey, my potential, and my commitment to building a better life for my family. Through education, I am breaking cycles, creating opportunity, and laying the foundation for a future defined by purpose, stability, and hope.

For most of my life, my voice existed only in my thoughts. It was shaped by questions I never spoke aloud and feelings I learned to hide. From a young age, I understood that speaking up did not make me safer. Silence became my survival skill, and I carried it with me for years. I was adopted into a home that appeared stable and caring from the outside. My adoptive mother ran a foster care home and worked as a social worker, and in public everything looked perfect. Behind closed doors, however, the environment was abusive. The abuse began when I was five years old and continued until I was seventeen. Each attempt to use my voice only led to more harm, so I learned to stay quiet. Silence became a form of self protection. I learned to disappear. That pattern followed me into adulthood. I struggled to advocate for myself in relationships, at work, and even with my own health. I doubted my instincts and minimized pain. When you grow up believing your voice has no value, you stop trusting it entirely. On December 26, 2019, my silence caught up with me. After hours of intense pain, I finally went to the emergency room. Even then, I hesitated to speak up or ask questions. By the early morning hours, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at thirty years old. In that moment, silence was no longer an option. My survival depended on my ability to communicate. Learning to use my voice during cancer treatment was terrifying. I had to ask questions, speak about pain, and advocate for myself while feeling weak and afraid. My voice shook, but each time I spoke, I felt stronger. I learned that confidence is not about being loud. It is about being honest. I realized that my voice was not something to fear. It was something that could protect me. After treatment, healing continued through therapy and intentional self work. I learned how to communicate boundaries without guilt and express needs without apology. For the first time, I understood that my story did not need to be whispered to be valid. My voice had power simply because it was true. Today, as a student pursuing a career in healthcare, I carry these lessons with me. I want to be the kind of professional who encourages communication rather than intimidates it. I know what it feels like to be afraid to speak in medical settings, and I am committed to creating environments where patients feel safe asking questions and expressing concerns. In the future, I hope to use my voice to advocate for compassionate care, both in clinical settings and in long term care environments. Alongside my sister, a registered nurse, I plan to help create Adult Foster Care homes where dignity, communication, and respect are central to daily life. Finding my voice was not a single moment, but a journey. It was shaped by survival, strengthened through healing, and grounded in purpose. Today, I no longer hide my voice. I use it to create change, to protect others, and to ensure that silence is never mistaken for strength again.

My life has never followed a straight or easy path, but every hardship I have endured has shaped the woman I am becoming and the future I am working toward in healthcare. I am a cancer survivor, a single mother, and a nontraditional college student whose journey into medicine was born not from ambition alone, but from survival, healing, and a deep desire to care for others in their most vulnerable moments. My earliest experiences taught me resilience long before I understood the word. I grew up navigating trauma, instability, and a lack of safety, carrying wounds that followed me into adulthood. For years, I survived rather than lived. That changed on December 26, 2019, when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the age of thirty. In an instant, my life narrowed to hospital rooms, test results, and the fear of leaving my young son behind. Cancer forced me to confront both my mortality and my purpose. Treatment was physically and emotionally devastating, yet it became the moment where healing truly began. I witnessed firsthand the power of compassionate healthcare professionals who did more than treat disease. They explained, reassured, and showed humanity when I felt powerless. In those moments, I realized that medicine was not only about saving lives, but about preserving dignity and hope. That realization stayed with me long after treatment ended. Today, I am pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography at Baker College. I chose this field because it combines advanced medical technology with direct patient care. Cardiac health is deeply personal to me, as I understand how frightening it can be to face serious diagnoses and uncertain outcomes. I want to be the professional who offers both technical excellence and emotional reassurance during those critical moments. My long term goal is to continue my education and earn a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. As a future cardiac perfusionist, I aspire to work alongside surgical teams during life saving procedures, managing the technology that sustains a patient’s heart and lungs during surgery. The responsibility of literally holding a life in balance is not something I take lightly. It is a role that requires precision, calm, and deep empathy, qualities shaped by my own experience as a patient fighting to live. Beyond the clinical setting, I plan to partner with my sister, who is a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide high quality, individualized care in a private, home like environment where residents are treated with dignity and compassion. I believe healthcare should extend beyond hospitals and into spaces where people feel safe, valued, and truly cared for. My path into healthcare is not accidental. It is the result of survival transformed into purpose. I am pursuing this field because I know what it means to be afraid, to be vulnerable, and to rely on others for care. My goal is to be the kind of healthcare professional who meets patients where they are and reminds them, even in the darkest moments, that their life matters.

Receiving this scholarship would have a profound impact on my life, not only in supporting my education, but in shaping the future I am working to build for my family and the communities I hope to serve. My journey has been defined by resilience, healing, and a deep desire to care for others, and education is the foundation that allows me to turn that purpose into lasting impact. I am a cancer survivor, a single mother, and a nontraditional college student currently pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography at Baker College. My long term goal is to continue my education and earn a master’s degree in cardiac perfusion. Surviving stomach cancer forced me to reevaluate my life and my purpose. It taught me that survival alone is not enough. I wanted to thrive, to heal fully, and to use my experiences to bring comfort and skill to others facing serious medical challenges. This scholarship would directly affect my ability to succeed academically while protecting my long term health. I currently work as a certified nursing assistant, a role that is both meaningful and physically demanding. As a cancer survivor, balancing long work hours with rigorous coursework is challenging. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to reduce my work hours, dedicate more energy to my studies, and maintain the physical and mental wellness necessary to excel in a demanding healthcare program. Beyond its immediate impact, this scholarship represents an investment in my future contributions to healthcare. As a future cardiac perfusionist, I aspire to work alongside surgical teams providing life sustaining care to patients during critical moments. Having experienced serious illness myself, I understand how fear and uncertainty can overwhelm patients and families. I intend to bring not only technical excellence, but also compassion, empathy, and calm to every patient interaction. In addition to my clinical goals, I plan to go into business with my sister, who is a registered nurse, to open Adult Foster Care homes in Michigan. Our vision is to provide top of the line, individualized care in a private, home like setting for individuals who deserve dignity, safety, and compassion. We want to create environments where residents feel valued, seen, and truly cared for, rather than institutionalized. This scholarship would support more than my education. It would support a future where my knowledge, resilience, and commitment to care extend beyond myself, strengthening families, improving patient experiences, and creating spaces where healing and humanity coexist.

I have faced many hardships in my life, but the one that changed everything—the one that ultimately saved my life—was cancer. But before I ever reached that point, my story began in trauma. I was born to a mother addicted to crack, who was also the daughter of a mother addicted to heroin. Generational trauma was already part of my story before I took my first breath. Because of my mother’s addiction, my siblings and I entered the foster care system, and by eighteen months old, I was placed up for adoption. I was adopted into a family that ran a foster home. From the outside it looked stable: a social worker as a mother, structure, and a house full of children. In public we looked perfect, always smiling and well-behaved. But behind closed doors, the home where I was supposed to feel safe became a place where I experienced physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. It began when I was five and continued until I was seventeen. Growing up that way left me traumatized and constantly questioning my worth. I spent years asking myself why I wasn’t enough and why I seemed to be the only one singled out for pain. Those questions followed me well into adulthood. They shaped my decisions and relationships and made it hard for me to see myself clearly. But life eventually forced me to confront everything I had carried. On December 26, 2019, after hours of unbearable stomach pain, I went to the emergency room. After several tests and a CT scan, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer at only thirty years old. I immediately thought of my four-year-old son and worried about him growing up without me. After everything I had already survived, I couldn’t understand why this was happening. My adoptive parents came to the hospital and offered for me to stay with them during treatment. A part of me hoped cancer might finally bring the love I always wanted from my adoptive mother. But during the long days of COVID lockdowns, I found myself lying sick and weak in a dark room while she left every day to care for other people. I watched her shadow pass my door, but she rarely came to check on me. Once again, I felt alone. Chemotherapy was extremely difficult—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But in that darkness, I found something I never expected: the love of Jesus Christ. I realized that the tumor was not hereditary or random. Deep down, I knew it had grown from years of pain and emotional weight I never allowed myself to release. I made a promise to God that if He let me live, I would let go of my past, forgive, and learn how to truly live instead of just exist. So I began the work. I went to therapy and finally committed to doing the real internal work. I read self-help books, journaled, faced hard truths, and slowly released the pain I had held onto my entire life. As I healed, I started to rediscover pieces of myself that had been buried under trauma. I began giving myself compassion, patience, softness, and permission to dream again. As I grew stronger, I noticed something else happening. People began coming to me for encouragement—family, friends, and even strangers. They saw something in me, a light that came from everything I had survived. I started helping others by guiding them toward therapy, journaling, self-help resources, and the freedom that comes from letting go. Encouragement comes from experience, and I realized my life had prepared me to help people through their own difficult journeys. Today, I am pursuing my associate degree in cardiac sonography at Baker College and plan to continue on to earn my master’s degree. I am a single mother and work as a certified nursing assistant in a rehabilitation facility. I love caring for people, but the physical demands of the job can be challenging, especially as a cancer survivor. Even five years cancer-free, I still experience fatigue and moments where I have to remind myself that my body went through something life-changing. I am not the same as I was before, and I’ve learned that is okay. Strength isn’t about going back to who you used to be; it’s about becoming someone new. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to reduce my work hours and focus more on school so I can continue moving forward in my education and career. I am not sharing my story for pity. I am sharing it because I want others to know that even in the darkest moments, there is still hope. Life will always present challenges, but the most important question is how we will encourage ourselves through them so that we can continue encouraging others. I am living proof that what doesn’t kill you truly can make you stronger—and that strength can become someone else’s encouragement too.

I have faced many hardships in my life, but the one that ultimately transformed me was cancer. To understand why, you need to know where I started. My story began in trauma—I was born to a mother addicted to crack, who herself was the daughter of a mother addicted to heroin. Generational pain existed long before I did. Her addiction placed me and my siblings into foster care, and by eighteen months old, I was adopted. From the outside, my adoptive family looked ideal: a foster home run by a social worker, full of structure and smiling children. Behind closed doors, it became the opposite of safety. Starting at age five and continuing until seventeen, I endured physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. I grew up feeling unwanted, angry, and burdened with questions no child should have: Why wasn’t I enough? Why only me? Why didn’t anyone protect me? Those wounds shaped my early adulthood and followed me into every relationship and decision I made. Then, on December 26, 2019, everything changed again. After hours of unbearable pain, I went to the emergency room. Tests showed an extremely high blood count, and by 3 a.m., I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was only thirty. In that moment, I believed my life was ending. I thought of my four-year-old son and the possibility of him growing up without me. After surviving so much already, this felt unbearably cruel. My adoptive parents offered to let me stay with them during treatment, and for a moment I hoped cancer might finally bring me the love I had always wanted. But during the long days of COVID lockdowns, I lay sick and isolated while my adoptive mother tended to others. I watched her shadow pass under my door, but she rarely checked on me. I realized I was still alone. Chemotherapy was brutal—physically and emotionally. But in that darkness, I found something I had never experienced before: the love of Jesus Christ. I realized I had been carrying trauma my whole life, allowing it to define me. I promised God that if He allowed me to live, I would heal, forgive, and rebuild my life piece by piece. Today, I am pursuing an associate degree in cardiac sonography at Baker College, with plans to continue to a master’s degree. I am a single mother and a certified nursing assistant, working hard while still navigating the long-term effects of cancer. Even five years cancer-free, my body reminds me of what it survived—but I’ve learned strength isn’t returning to who you were; it’s becoming someone new. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to work less and focus more on school. I am not sharing my story for pity, but to show that even in the darkest moments, hope still exists. I am living proof.