One of the most difficult seasons of my life began last year after I was involved in a car accident. While the accident itself was frightening, what followed afterward became an even greater challenge. In the months that followed, I began struggling with intense anxiety and frequent panic attacks. Before this experience, I had been very active in my church, and serving in a ministry that I founded for kids in my community. Being involved in church has always been a place of joy and comfort for me. However, after the accident, my life changed in ways I did not expect. I began experiencing multiple panic attacks each day, sometimes three in a single day and they made even the simplest activities feel overwhelming. I developed an intense fear of death and uncertainty about the future. My mind constantly raced with questions and worst case scenarios. Things that once felt normal, like attending church events or being in large gatherings, suddenly became extremely difficult for me. It felt as though fear had taken control of my thoughts and emotions. During that time, I found myself crying out to God in ways I never had before. I remember many sleepless nights where I would lie awake, overwhelmed with anxiety, praying and asking God, “Why me? Why is this happening?” I spent hours in prayer asking for peace and healing. I even fasted, believing that if I sought Him deeply enough the panic would immediately disappear. When the struggle did not instantly go away, it forced me to confront something deeper about my faith. Yet even in the middle of that struggle, the Lord sustained me. Although I felt weak and overwhelmed, God continued to give me the strength to show up and serve the children in my community. Even on days when my anxiety was heavy, God provided just enough strength for me to pour into others. This season taught me what it truly means to rely on God. I realized that faith is not only about trusting Him when life is going well, but also trusting Him when nothing makes sense and when the answer to your prayers does not come right away. I had to learn how to surrender my fears, my questions, and my future to Him day by day. Some days the only thing I felt capable of doing was praying and reminding myself of His promises. Through consistently reading Scripture, worshiping, and having honest conversations with God, I slowly began to experience transformation. My faith became an anchor during the moments when my mind felt out of control. Over time, those moments of prayer and worship helped calm my nervous system and bring peace to my thoughts. It was not an instant change, but a gradual process where I saw God meet me in my weakness and restore my mind little by little. Looking back now, I realize that although that season was painful, it also deepened my relationship with God in a way I never experienced before. I learned to depend on Him not just occasionally, but daily. I learned to trust that His plan is greater than my fears and that He is present even in the most difficult seasons. Today, there is not a day that goes by where I do not thank God for bringing me through that battle. What once felt like a season that would never end, became a testimony of His faithfulness. That experience strengthened my faith, taught me resilience, and reminded me that even in our weakest moments, God can bring healing, peace, and a sound mind.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship because, at 15 years old, I never imagined that I would be where I am today. I am now 21 , and the most significant day of my life was June 9th, 2019, when I gave my life to Jesus. This decision came after months of wrestling with faith because my parents had come to Christ in November of 2018. At the time, I was distracted by drugs, boys, and gangs. I thought that was all I needed to fill an empty void in my life. Over the next months of attending church with my family, I reached a low point in my life and gave my life to Christ. As I began walking with the Lord, I developed new dreams, hopes, and goals. No one in my family had ever graduated high school, so simply finishing high school felt like an achievement. But the Lord opened doors for me to apply to college, and I did. Though I applied to many Christian universities, financial constraints kept me close to home, and I chose Sonoma State University. I never thought college would be a reality for me, but by God’s grace, I am here today, learning in a place I once thought was out of reach. My faith and education journey have been intertwined with serving the Lord. Since I gave my life to Christ, I have volunteered at the Redwood Gospel Mission, spreading the gospel and serving at events. I have also served at my church, Decision Time, assisting with children’s classes and handling the Zoom and Facebook live streaming for our services. One of the most significant ministries I have been part of is the Bible class I started in my neighborhood. I live in a low-income community, and nearly two years ago, the Lord placed it on my heart to create a Bible class for the kids in my area. I obeyed, and every Monday at 7 p.m., you’ll find me at the community room with the kids, worshiping and learning about the Bible. We’ve named the group “Walking By Faith Kids". Since the start of this class, four children have given their lives to Christ, and parents returned to the Lord. On March 23rd, I had the privilege of witnessing their parents baptism. It was a moment where I saw how God was transforming families through this class. The Bible class has grown, and I currently have about eight kids attending regularly.My father saved up to buy a projector, and we watch Bible stories through the series Super book with the kids. We occasionally do crafts when I’m able to save money, and I make sure to always provide snacks. This class has been entirely funded through the grace of God, with no external support from anyone else but my parents, but we continue because God provides. The Lord has brought me so far, and I never imagined that I would have the privilege to attend college, help at my church, and serve the children in my community. This scholarship would not only help me finish my education but also allow me to invest some of the money in my Bible class, so we could reach more kids. I am the first in my family on both my mom’s and dad’s sides to attend college, and I want to be the first to graduate as well. I am incredibly thankful for all that God has done in my life, and I am excited about the opportunity to further my education and continue serving others.