My path toward becoming a mental health counselor has been shaped by both my personal experiences and the relationships that have stayed with me over time. I was raised primarily by my grandparents in Hawai‘i until I was seven years old, while my parents faced financial instability. Although that period of my life was uncertain, my grandparents created a home grounded in consistency, compassion, and cultural connection. My grandfather, in particular, showed me what it means to support others with patience and presence. That early experience taught me that stability and care, even in small moments, can shape a person’s life in lasting ways. My interest in mental health deepened during high school when my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. While it was difficult to watch him struggle physically, what impacted me most was how he described his experience in therapy. He shared that he often felt like a file rather than a person. Hearing that stayed with me. It made me reflect on how important it is for people to feel seen and understood, especially during their most vulnerable moments. From that point on, I knew I wanted to become a counselor who values human connection just as much as clinical knowledge. Through my work as a behavior technician and my experience with the Oregon Department of Human Services, this calling became clearer. Working one-on-one with children taught me that progress is not always immediate or obvious. Sometimes it looks like a child feeling safe enough to engage after days of hesitation. During my time in child welfare, I worked closely with children in foster care who had experienced trauma, instability, and separation from their families. I saw how easily their behaviors were misunderstood when their experiences were not fully considered. What stood out most to me was that when a child feels genuinely cared for and supported, that is when growth begins. These experiences have shaped my commitment to serving marginalized communities, particularly children and families navigating complex systems. Being bilingual and having lived between different communities, I have seen how cultural differences and systemic barriers can limit access to mental health care. I believe that mental health is influenced not only by individual experiences but also by cultural, relational, and environmental factors. Because of this, I am committed to providing care that is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and accessible. My long-term goal is to return to Hawai‘i and provide affordable mental health resources for children and their families. I want to help families navigate systems that can feel overwhelming and isolating, and to create spaces where individuals feel safe, understood, and supported. I hope to contribute to a more equitable mental health system by reducing barriers to care and advocating for services that reflect the needs of the community. Pursuing a career in mental health is more than a professional goal for me. It is a commitment to showing up for others in the way my grandfather showed up for me, with consistency, compassion, and care, and to making sure that no one feels like they are just a file when they are seeking help.

My personal experiences and professional work with children, adolescents, and their families have been my reason for pursuing a degree as a mental health practitioner. I was raised primarily by my grandparents until I was seven years old in Hawai’i because of the financial instabilities that my parents were experiencing. The greatest influence in my life, my grandpa, taught me from a young age how important consistent support and compassion are in everyday life. My work at the Oregon Department of Human Services solidified my reason to pursue a degree in mental health counseling. I want to support youth and their families and create a meaningful impact in their lives. When I was in high school, my interest in mental health grew when my best friend got diagnosed with cancer. It was difficult watching him struggle both physically and mentally. I remember the first time he told me how therapy made him feel like a file rather than a person. That stuck with me. It made me wonder, what can I do to ease others' struggles in their most vulnerable times? From that moment, I knew I wanted to be a counselor who values connection and presence as much as skills and techniques. My work as a behavior technician and interning with the Oregon Department of Human Services has solidified this career path for me. I have seen firsthand how traits such as patience, creativity, and consistency can help children feel safe to grow and engage. I’ve noticed that progress does not mean drastic changes. It can be something as small as a child opening up after being shy for a few days. At the Oregon Department of Human Services, I worked primarily in the child welfare branch. Here, I worked with children in foster care who had experienced trauma, instability, and separation from loved ones. I saw how children in the state system were treated and how easily these children were misunderstood regarding their trauma. When these children feel that someone genuinely cares about their well-being, that is where growth becomes possible. These experiences helped me realize that I want to focus on direct clinical work where I can build trust and help clients heal at their own pace. My goal is to support children and their families with a holistic approach by helping them learn to strengthen their communication, emotional safety, and relationships. I want to provide accessible care in a community-based setting that is both grounded in trust and culturally responsive. My values: social justice, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed care. These developed from moving between different communities, being bilingual, and seeing how systematic barriers affect access to mental health services. I have also recognized that mental health is shaped by emotional, relational, spiritual, and cultural factors. Ultimately, my reason for pursuing a master’s in clinical mental health counseling is deeply personal and intentional. I want to be there for clients during their most vulnerable moments and offer care that is client-centered, relational, and compassionate.

When people think about leadership, they often imagine someone who stands in front of a crowd giving directions or holding a title. My understanding of leadership looks different. For me, leadership has meant learning how to overcome challenges, finding my voice, and using my experiences to support others who may feel overlooked or misunderstood. I was diagnosed with autism as a child and was nonverbal until I was five years old. Communication did not come easily to me, and for a long time, people questioned whether I would be able to succeed in school or keep up with my peers. Those early years were difficult, but they also taught me perseverance. With time, support, and determination, I slowly began to develop my ability to communicate. By the time I was almost seven, I was speaking fluently. Looking back, that experience shaped how I see both leadership and resilience. I learned that growth does not always happen quickly, but with patience and persistence, progress is always possible. Because of those experiences, I grew up with a strong sense of empathy for others who feel different or struggle to be heard. As a first-generation Latina college student, I also understand how challenging it can be to navigate spaces where you may not always see people who share your background or experiences. These perspectives have motivated me to pursue a career where I can advocate for others and help people feel supported rather than judged. One of the most meaningful experiences that has shaped my leadership has been working with foster children and families. Many of the children I have worked with have experienced trauma, instability, or difficult home situations. In those moments, leadership does not look like authority or control. Instead, it looks like patience, listening, and helping someone feel safe enough to trust you. Sometimes leadership simply means being the person who reminds someone that their story and their struggles do not define their future. Working with these children strengthened my desire to pursue a career in the mental health field. I want to help expand access to mental health services for children and families, particularly those in underserved communities who may not have the resources or support they need. Too often, individuals with special needs or difficult life circumstances are misunderstood or overlooked. My goal is to help change that by advocating for compassionate, accessible, and culturally responsive care. The challenges I experienced growing up with autism once felt like obstacles that set me apart from others. Over time, I have come to see them as strengths that shaped my perspective and my ability to connect with people. Leadership, to me, is not about having all the answers. It is about using your experiences to guide, support, and uplift others along the way. As I continue my education, I hope to keep growing into the kind of leader who helps others feel seen, heard, and capable of reaching their full potential.

As a first-generation Latina college student, pursuing higher education has been both a challenge and a privilege. Growing up, I did not have family members who had already navigated the college process, so many parts of the journey felt unfamiliar and overwhelming at times. However, those challenges also taught me resilience and independence. They motivated me to work harder and remain focused on building a future where I can give back to my community and support others who face similar barriers. My passion for helping others developed through my experiences working with foster children and families. In this role, I witnessed how trauma, instability, and lack of resources can deeply impact a child’s life and mental health. Many of the children I worked with showed incredible strength and resilience, but they often did not have consistent access to the emotional support or mental health services they needed. Being able to work alongside them and support them during difficult moments helped me realize how meaningful compassionate guidance can be. These experiences strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career where I can advocate for vulnerable populations and help connect families with the resources they deserve. Community involvement has always been important to me because I believe meaningful change starts with supporting the people around us. Through volunteering and working with families, I have learned that sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer someone is simply being present, listening, and showing empathy. These experiences have shaped the person I am today and have reinforced my desire to pursue a career focused on mental health and community support. Balancing school, work, and community involvement has required dedication and perseverance. As a first-generation student, I have often had to figure things out on my own, whether it was navigating financial aid, academic planning, or career decisions. While those experiences were challenging, they helped me grow into someone who is determined and adaptable. They also strengthened my desire to create opportunities for others who may feel uncertain about their future or lack the support systems needed to pursue their goals. Receiving this scholarship would help ease the financial burden of continuing my education and allow me to focus more on my academic and professional development. More importantly, it would represent encouragement to keep moving forward in a path dedicated to service and advocacy. I want to use my education to help improve access to mental health services for families and children, particularly those in underserved communities who often struggle to find affordable and culturally understanding support. The legacy of hard work, ambition, and kindness that this scholarship represents is something I deeply value. As a first-generation Latina student, I hope to continue building a path that not only helps me succeed but also creates opportunities and support for others. Through education, compassion, and perseverance, I hope to make a lasting impact in the lives of the communities I serve.

As a first-generation college student from an underrepresented background, pursuing higher education has been both challenging and deeply meaningful. Navigating college without the guidance of family members who have gone through the process often meant learning through trial and error. While those experiences were difficult at times, they also helped shape my determination and sense of purpose. They showed me how important access to support systems and resources can be, especially for people who are trying to overcome barriers that others may never have to face. My decision to pursue a career in social work was heavily influenced by my experience working with foster children and families. Through this work, I witnessed how trauma, instability, and systemic barriers can impact both children and their caregivers. Many of the children I worked with were incredibly resilient, but they often lacked consistent mental health support and access to resources that could help them process their experiences. Seeing this firsthand changed the way I understood the role that compassionate professionals can play in someone’s life. It made me realize that support, advocacy, and understanding can have a lasting impact on individuals who feel overlooked or unsupported. When I first began my academic journey, I knew that I wanted to work in the mental health field and help people through difficult life experiences. However, as I have progressed through my studies, my understanding of social work has grown far beyond individual support. I now recognize that social workers play an important role in advocating for systemic change and improving access to resources within communities. Social workers help individuals navigate complex systems while also working to address the larger inequalities that affect vulnerable populations. This broader perspective has strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career where I can support individuals while also advocating for meaningful change. In the future, I hope to focus my work on supporting foster youth and families who have experienced trauma. My goal is to help expand access to affordable and culturally responsive mental health services for families who may not otherwise have access to care. I want to work in environments where I can provide direct support to children and families while also advocating for policies that strengthen mental health services and community resources. Too many families struggle to find consistent support, and I want to help create systems that prioritize both healing and long-term stability. Giving back to my community is a central part of why I continue pursuing this path. As someone who has navigated many challenges to reach higher education, I understand how powerful guidance, advocacy, and opportunity can be in changing someone’s future. My goal as a social worker is to be someone who helps others feel heard, supported, and empowered to overcome their circumstances. By working with vulnerable families, advocating for better mental health resources, and supporting foster youth, I hope to contribute to building stronger and more equitable communities. Social work allows me to combine compassion with action, and that is the kind of impact I hope to make throughout my career.

For the first five years of my life, I could not speak. While most children were learning how to communicate their thoughts and emotions, I struggled to find a way to express myself. I was later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and for my family, those early years were filled with uncertainty about how I would develop and what my future might look like. Communication is something many people take for granted, but for me, it was one of the greatest challenges I had to overcome. Even after I began speaking around the age of five, developing strong communication skills took time. It was not until shortly before I turned seven that I was able to speak fluently and express myself comfortably. During those years, I often felt different from the other children around me. Social interactions could feel confusing, and it was frustrating to know what I wanted to say but struggle to put those thoughts into words. Simple things like participating in conversations or speaking up in class sometimes felt overwhelming. Despite these challenges, I was surrounded by people who believed in my ability to grow. My family, teachers, and speech professionals supported me with patience and encouragement, and slowly I began to gain confidence in my voice. Each small step forward felt like a major achievement. Over time, something that once felt impossible became something I could do with greater ease. Looking back, those early struggles taught me some of the most important lessons in my life. Learning to communicate did not happen overnight. It required patience, persistence, and the willingness to keep trying even when progress felt slow. Because of this experience, I developed resilience and determination at a young age. I learned that growth often happens gradually and that challenges can become opportunities to build strength. Growing up with autism has also shaped the person I am today and the goals I have for the future. I am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Psychology, and I hope to work in the mental health field one day. My personal experiences have given me a deep sense of empathy for individuals who may struggle with communication, emotional challenges, or feeling misunderstood by the world around them. I want to help create supportive environments where people feel heard, valued, and understood. Having faced my own challenges, I know how important patience and compassion can be when someone is working through difficulties. In the future, I hope to help provide accessible and supportive mental health services to families in my community, particularly for children who may be navigating developmental or emotional challenges. If I could offer advice to someone facing a similar struggle, it would be to remember that progress does not always happen on the same timeline for everyone. It is easy to compare yourself to others and feel discouraged, but every person’s journey is unique. Growth may take time, but persistence and belief in yourself can make an incredible difference. The challenges I faced early in life once made me feel different, but today they are one of my greatest sources of strength. They taught me resilience, empathy, and determination, and they continue to inspire the work I hope to do in helping others overcome their own obstacles.

The first time I tried to complete the FAFSA, I remember staring at the screen feeling completely overwhelmed. There were questions about financial information, tax forms, and terms I had never heard before. As a first-generation college student, there was no one at home who could explain how the process worked. My parents had always encouraged me to pursue an education, but navigating the college system was unfamiliar territory for all of us. In that moment, I realized that pursuing higher education would require not only determination, but also the willingness to figure things out on my own. Being a first-generation student has been one of the biggest challenges I have faced, but it has also been one of the most transformative experiences in my life. Many aspects of college that other students may take for granted, such as understanding financial aid, applying for scholarships, or knowing where to seek academic support, were things I had to learn through trial and error. There were times when the pressure of balancing school, financial concerns, and uncertainty about the future felt overwhelming. However, instead of allowing those challenges to discourage me, I chose to approach them with persistence. I spent hours researching scholarships, meeting with advisors, and learning how to navigate the resources available on campus. Slowly, I began to gain confidence in my ability to manage the responsibilities of being a college student. Each obstacle I overcame reminded me that even when the path feels unfamiliar, progress is still possible with determination and effort. This adversity has shaped me in many ways. It has taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of self-advocacy. More importantly, it has helped me recognize how many other students from underserved communities face similar challenges. Many talented students feel discouraged not because they lack ability, but because they lack access to guidance and resources. My experiences have inspired my academic and career goals. I am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Psychology with the aspiration of working in the mental health field. I hope to help provide accessible and affordable mental health services for families in my community, particularly for vulnerable populations such as foster children and families experiencing difficult life circumstances. Through my work with foster children, I have seen how important emotional support and stability can be in a child’s life. These experiences strengthened my commitment to pursuing a career that focuses on supporting individuals and families through challenging situations. If I could offer advice to someone facing similar adversity, it would be to remember that not knowing something at first does not mean you are incapable. Many first-generation students feel like they must navigate everything alone, but seeking guidance and asking questions can open doors to opportunities and support. The most important thing is to stay connected to the reasons why you started your journey and to keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow. Adversity has taught me that determination and perseverance can transform uncertainty into opportunity. While the path to higher education may not always be easy, it has given me the strength and motivation to pursue my goals and to one day help create opportunities and support systems for others who are navigating similar challenges.

One social issue that I am deeply passionate about addressing is the lack of accessible and affordable mental health services for vulnerable populations, particularly children in the foster care system. Through my experience working with foster children, I have seen firsthand how much emotional support, stability, and understanding can impact a child’s life. Many of these children have experienced trauma, instability, or difficult circumstances at a very young age. Despite the challenges they face, many of them do not have consistent access to the mental health support that could help them process their experiences and build healthy coping skills. Witnessing this reality has had a lasting impact on me and has shaped my commitment to pursuing a career in the mental health field. I am currently an Applied Psychology major with aspirations of working in the mental health field to help provide accessible and affordable mental health services for families in my local community. I believe mental health care is a basic and essential part of overall well-being, yet many families struggle to access the support they need. Barriers such as cost, lack of available providers, and stigma surrounding mental health often prevent individuals from seeking help. This problem is especially concerning for children in the foster care system, who often face emotional challenges but may not receive consistent support. My experience working with foster children helped me understand the importance of compassion, patience, and simply being present for someone who needs support. Many of the children I worked with just needed someone who would listen to them and create a safe space where they felt valued and understood. These interactions showed me how meaningful emotional support can be, and they reinforced my desire to pursue a career where I can help children and families navigate difficult experiences in healthier ways. However, emotional support alone is not always enough when families lack access to professional mental health resources. Many families involved in the foster care system face financial limitations or limited access to mental health providers in their communities. This gap in services can make it more difficult for children and families to receive the care that could significantly improve their well-being. Through my education and future career, I hope to help bridge this gap by contributing to services that make mental health care more accessible, affordable, and welcoming for families who need it most. Public service is important to me because it allows individuals to use their knowledge and skills to create meaningful change within their communities. By working in the mental health field, I hope to not only support individuals but also contribute to larger efforts that promote awareness, reduce stigma, and expand access to care. Jeannine Schroeder believed in using her talents to make the world a more compassionate and beautiful place. Through my work in psychology and my commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families, I hope to continue that legacy by helping create communities where individuals feel supported, valued, and empowered to heal.

Being a first-generation college student has been one of the most challenging but meaningful experiences of my life. Growing up, college was always talked about as an important goal, but the path to get there was never very clear. My parents have always worked incredibly hard to support our family, but because they did not have the opportunity to attend college themselves, many parts of the process such as applications, financial aid, and navigating campus life were unfamiliar to all of us. There were many moments where I felt like I was figuring things out on my own, from completing financial aid forms to learning how to balance coursework, work, and personal responsibilities. Despite those challenges, I remained determined to pursue higher education because I knew it could open doors not only for me, but for my family and my community. As a Latina and a first-generation college student, earning my degree means more than personal success. It represents breaking barriers and creating opportunities that previous generations in my family did not have access to. I am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Psychology intending to enter the mental health field. Mental health support is something that many communities, especially underserved and minority communities, struggle to access due to cost, stigma, or lack of resources. Through my education, I hope to become part of the solution by helping provide accessible and affordable mental health services for families in my local community. My passion for mental health comes from seeing how important emotional support and guidance can be in people’s lives. Many families face stress, financial pressure, or personal struggles but may not know where to turn for help. I want to work in a field where I can support individuals and families while also advocating for mental health resources that are inclusive, affordable, and culturally understanding. Everyone deserves access to care and support, regardless of their background or financial situation. I also hope to inspire other first-generation students by being open about my journey and encouraging them to pursue higher education even when the path feels uncertain. One of the biggest challenges first-generation students face is the feeling that they do not fully belong in academic spaces. I want to help change that by showing that students from all backgrounds can succeed and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Mentorship and representation matter deeply. When students see someone with a similar background pursuing their goals, it can make higher education feel more achievable. I hope to support younger students by sharing what I have learned about navigating college, applying for scholarships, and staying motivated during difficult moments. Even small guidance or encouragement can make a big difference for someone who feels like they are navigating college alone. Being a first-generation college student has taught me resilience, independence, and determination. While the journey has not always been easy, it has strengthened my commitment to both my education and my future career in mental health. By continuing to pursue my goals and supporting others along the way, I hope to create a path that feels more accessible and encouraging for the next generation of first-generation college students.