Jayda Young Mental health has become a meaningful part of my life through personal experience and the way it has shaped how I support others. I have learned that helping someone with their mental health does not always require having the right answers—it requires presence, patience, and understanding. I support others by being someone who listens without judgment. Friends, teammates, and peers often come to me when they feel overwhelmed, anxious, or unsure of themselves. I make it a priority to create a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and emotions. Whether it is checking in after a tough day, encouraging someone to seek help, or simply reminding them that they are not alone, I try to lead with empathy and compassion. As a student-athlete, I am especially aware of the mental pressure that comes with expectations, performance, and balancing multiple responsibilities. I support my teammates by offering encouragement during challenging moments and reminding them that their value extends beyond results. I have learned the importance of recognizing when someone needs support and responding with kindness rather than assumptions. My experiences have shown me that emotional support is rooted in consistency and trust. I understand the importance of respecting boundaries while still showing care. I also encourage healthy coping strategies such as reflection, journaling, prayer, and open communication. These practices help others process emotions in a way that feels manageable and empowering. Looking ahead, I plan to use my studies and future career to continue supporting others emotionally. Through education, I want to develop the leadership skills and emotional intelligence needed to create safe, supportive environments especially for young women and student-athletes. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or program development, my goal is to promote mental wellness and normalize conversations around emotional health. I hope to use my platform to remind others that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By combining education, lived experience, and compassion, I plan to support others in building confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. Helping people feel seen, heard, and valued is central to the impact I want to make in the world.

Jayda Young As a high school senior at Chapel Hill High School in Douglas County, Georgia, I will be attending the University of Pittsburgh for my first year of college. My journey has been shaped by determination, discipline, and a strong desire to support underserved female athletes—especially those who, like me, see sports as a pathway to opportunity, personal growth, and a future beyond their circumstances. Over the years, I’ve learned that not everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities. Many talented and driven young girls, particularly in underdeveloped communities, never reach their full potential because they lack proper coaching, facilities, exposure, and support. For young women, sports are more than competition; they represent structure, confidence, safety, and hope. As a student-athlete, I have experienced firsthand how sports can change lives. Softball opened doors to education, mentorship, and leadership that once felt out of reach. Throughout high school, softball was central to my life. It taught me discipline, accountability, resilience, and teamwork. Balancing academics with the demands of competitive athletics challenged my time management and mental toughness, but each sacrifice strengthened my belief that success is built through consistency, effort, and self-belief. Beyond my personal growth, athletics made me more aware of the responsibility I carry to help others. I’ve seen how limited access to quality training and exposure affects young girls in underserved neighborhoods. These experiences deepened my commitment to advocating for equity in youth sports. Representation matters. Seeing women succeed in athletics and higher education helps young girls imagine themselves in those spaces. I strive to be someone who proves it’s possible to rise, lead, and succeed while staying grounded in where you come from. Community support—through mentorship, volunteering, and youth programs—has played a significant role in shaping my goals. I’ve learned that impact doesn’t always come from big gestures. Sometimes it comes from encouragement, presence, or sharing your story. Being accepted into the University of Pittsburgh as an ACC softball player is both a privilege and a responsibility. Pitt provides a powerful platform for academic, athletic, and social impact. Competing at the ACC level reflects my hard work and opens doors to expand my influence. I am committed to using this opportunity not only to grow as a student and athlete, but also to uplift young women who want to use sports as a way out of underserved communities. My future goals go beyond personal achievement. I plan to pursue an education that equips me with leadership skills and the knowledge to create programs, mentorship opportunities, and pathways for young female athletes who lack access. Whether through youth sports development, community engagement, or advocacy, my goal is to help close the gap between talent and opportunity. During college, I will remain active in service, mentor young girls in sports, and share my experiences to inspire others. I believe the combination of education and athletics has the power to create meaningful change, and I am determined to use both intentionally and responsibly. This scholarship would support my education and allow me to focus on maximizing my impact on and off the field. It represents belief in my vision and commitment to serving underprivileged communities. My journey has shaped me to lead with purpose, resilience, and compassion. As I begin this next chapter at the University of Pittsburgh, I am committed to using my platform to ensure that more young women are given the opportunity to succeed. Winning matters—but creating opportunities for others matters more.

Jayda Young Resilience is something I’ve learned through experience, not just definition. It’s the ability to keep going when things don’t go as planned and to use those moments to grow and uplift others. Throughout my life as a student-athlete and a young Black woman, I’ve had to develop resilience in ways that shaped how I lead, support, and inspire those around me. One of the clearest ways I’ve demonstrated resilience is through softball. There have been moments when I struggled with performance, confidence, or pressure times when mistakes felt louder than successes. Instead of giving up or shrinking back, I chose to stay committed to the process. I showed up early to practice, stayed late to work on my skills, and remained coachable even when feedback was hard to hear. Younger teammates watched how I handled losses, setbacks, and tough days, and I realized that resilience is often demonstrated in how you respond when no one expects you to keep pushing. I’ve made it a priority to encourage others, especially younger athletes who may be experiencing doubt. I take time to check in with them after games, remind them that one mistake doesn’t define them, and share my own experiences of failure and growth. By being honest about my struggles, I help them understand that resilience doesn’t mean being perfect—it means being persistent. Outside of athletics, resilience has shown up in how I balance school, responsibilities, and financial challenges. I’ve learned how to manage my time, stay focused on my goals, and remain motivated even when resources were limited. Watching my family make sacrifices taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. Sharing that journey with others has helped classmates and teammates realize that challenges don’t disqualify you from success they prepare you for it. As a young Black woman, I also understand the importance of representation. I strive to carry myself with confidence, discipline, and integrity so that others especially young girls can see someone who looks like them pushing forward despite obstacles. I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just personal; it has the power to inspire others to believe in themselves and their potential. Through my actions, attitude, and willingness to uplift others, I’ve demonstrated that resilience is about growth, leadership, and staying committed to your purpose. If my journey encourages even one person to keep going when things get tough, then every challenge I’ve faced has served a greater purpose.

Jayda Young The challenges I’ve faced in my life have shaped me into someone who is resilient, disciplined, and determined to create more opportunities for myself and others. Growing up, I learned early that nothing would be handed to me. As a Black young woman and a student-athlete, I’ve had to work hard to be seen, heard, and taken seriously—both academically and in sports. I’ve faced moments where resources were limited, expectations were high, and failure was not an option. Those challenges taught me how to push forward even when the path felt overwhelming. My family has always stressed the importance of education, even while navigating financial challenges. We have had to be intentional about budgeting, prioritizing needs over wants, and making sacrifices so I could stay focused on school and softball. There were times when extra expenses travel for sports, equipment, or college prep felt heavy, but instead of discouraging me, those moments motivated me to work harder and stay committed to my goals. Softball has been a major part of my life, but it hasn’t been easy. Balancing academics, training, and responsibilities at home required discipline and maturity. I’ve learned how to manage my time, stay focused under pressure, and remain confident even when things didn’t go as planned. The setbacks I experienced—losses, injuries, and moments of self-doubt—taught me perseverance and accountability. They also reminded me that growth comes from challenge, not comfort. Financially, pursuing higher education is a significant challenge for my family. College costs extend beyond tuition, including housing, books, meals, and travel. While my parents have done everything they can to support me, scholarships are essential in helping make my education possible. This scholarship would ease the financial burden on my family and allow me to focus fully on my academics and athletic commitments without the constant stress of how expenses will be covered. Receiving this scholarship would not only support my education, it would represent belief in my potential. It would help me continue my journey as a student-athlete, allowing me to grow academically, athletically, and personally. More importantly, it would give me an opportunity to give back in the future by mentoring younger athletes and showing them that with determination, support, and education, they can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. Every challenge I’ve faced has prepared me for this next chapter.

Jayda Young Throughout high school, I’ve learned how to balance a lot at once school, softball, work, and giving back to my community. Each experience has shaped who I am and taught me lessons that go far beyond the classroom or the field. I’ve worked jobs that taught me responsibility early. Showing up on time, staying focused, and doing my part even when I was tired helped me understand the importance of discipline and consistency. Balancing work with being a student-athlete wasn’t always easy, but it pushed me to manage my time better and take pride in everything I commit to. I learned that effort matters, even when no one is watching. Volunteering has been just as important to my growth. Being involved in community service and leadership activities showed me how powerful it is to pour into others. As a young Black girl, I’ve seen how access and opportunity aren’t always equal, especially in sports. Volunteering helped me realize that even small acts encouraging someone, helping out, or simply showing up can make a real difference. The mentors in my life have played a huge role in shaping me. My parents taught me resilience, faith, and the importance of working hard for everything I have. My coaches pushed me to be mentally tough and to hold myself accountable not just as an athlete, but as a teammate and leader. They taught me how to handle pressure, accept correction, and bounce back after setbacks. My teachers helped me believe in my academic abilities and reminded me that my future is bigger than one moment or one season. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come without challenges. I’ve faced losses, setbacks, and moments of doubt, but each experience made me stronger. Softball taught me how to fail and still show up the next day ready to work. Life taught me that progress takes patience and confidence in who you are. As I prepare for college, my goal is to continue growing as a student-athlete and as a young Black woman. I want to compete at the highest level, succeed academically, and use my platform to inspire younger girls especially those who look like me to believe in their potential. I hope to be someone who leads with confidence, stays grounded, and gives back to the communities that helped shape me. Everything I’ve experienced so far has prepared me for what’s next, and I’m excited to keep growing into the best version of myself.

Throughout high school, I’ve learned how to balance a lot at once—school, softball, work, and giving back to my community. Each experience has shaped who I am and taught me lessons that go far beyond the classroom or the field. I’ve worked jobs that taught me responsibility early. Showing up on time, staying focused, and doing my part even when I was tired helped me understand the importance of discipline and consistency. Balancing work with being a student-athlete wasn’t always easy, but it pushed me to manage my time better and take pride in everything I commit to. I learned that effort matters, even when no one is watching. Volunteering has been just as important to my growth. Being involved in community service and leadership activities showed me how powerful it is to pour into others. As a young Black girl, I’ve seen how access and opportunity aren’t always equal, especially in sports. Volunteering helped me realize that even small acts encouraging someone, helping out, or simply showing up can make a real difference. The mentors in my life have played a huge role in shaping me. My parents taught me resilience, faith, and the importance of working hard for everything I have. My coaches pushed me to be mentally tough and to hold myself accountable not just as an athlete, but as a teammate and leader. They taught me how to handle pressure, accept correction, and bounce back after setbacks. My teachers helped me believe in my academic abilities and reminded me that my future is bigger than one moment or one season. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come without challenges. I’ve faced losses, setbacks, and moments of doubt, but each experience made me stronger. Softball taught me how to fail and still show up the next day ready to work. Life taught me that progress takes patience and confidence in who you are. As I prepare for college, my goal is to continue growing as a student-athlete and as a young Black woman. I want to compete at the highest level, succeed academically, and use my platform to inspire younger girls especially those who look like me to believe in their potential. I hope to be someone who leads with confidence, stays grounded, and gives back to the communities that helped shape me. Everything I’ve experienced so far has prepared me for what’s next, and I’m excited to keep growing into the best version of myself.

Jayda Young Throughout high school, I’ve learned how to balance a lot at once school, softball, work, and giving back to my community. Each experience has shaped who I am and taught me lessons that go far beyond the classroom or the field. I’ve worked jobs that taught me responsibility early. Showing up on time, staying focused, and doing my part even when I was tired helped me understand the importance of discipline and consistency. Balancing work with being a student-athlete wasn’t always easy, but it pushed me to manage my time better and take pride in everything I commit to. I learned that effort matters, even when no one is watching. Volunteering has been just as important to my growth. Being involved in community service and leadership activities showed me how powerful it is to pour into others. As a young Black girl, I’ve seen how access and opportunity aren’t always equal, especially in sports. Volunteering helped me realize that even small acts encouraging someone, helping out, or simply showing up can make a real difference. The mentors in my life have played a huge role in shaping me. My parents taught me resilience, faith, and the importance of working hard for everything I have. My coaches pushed me to be mentally tough and to hold myself accountable not just as an athlete, but as a teammate and leader. They taught me how to handle pressure, accept correction, and bounce back after setbacks. My teachers helped me believe in my academic abilities and reminded me that my future is bigger than one moment or one season. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come without challenges. I’ve faced losses, setbacks, and moments of doubt, but each experience made me stronger. Softball taught me how to fail and still show up the next day ready to work. Life taught me that progress takes patience and confidence in who you are. As I prepare for college, my goal is to continue growing as a student-athlete and as a young Black woman. I want to compete at the highest level, succeed academically, and use my platform to inspire younger girls especially those who look like me to believe in their potential. I hope to be someone who leads with confidence, stays grounded, and gives back to the communities that helped shape me. Everything I’ve experienced so far has prepared me for what’s next, and I’m excited to keep growing into the best version of myself.