Growing up in a single-parent household marked by addiction, instability, and trauma shaped me in ways I could not fully understand at the time. My mother struggled deeply, and my father was not consistently present. Our home was defined more by survival than by stability, and I often felt the weight of having to grow up faster than I should have. That experience left scars, but it also planted in me a fierce determination: I would not allow the patterns of my childhood to define the rest of my life. Living in a single-parent household taught me the value of perseverance, resilience, and responsibility. I learned how fragile family can be, but I also learned how critical it is. When a home is unstable, everything else—school, friendships, opportunities—becomes harder. That understanding has driven me to build a different kind of life as an adult. I have now been married for twenty-eight years and am the father of five children, three of whom my wife and I adopted later in life. Raising adopted daughters who came from brokenness has reminded me of my own story, and it has motivated me to give them what I longed for growing up: love, consistency, and a safe foundation. Those early years also fueled my passion for leadership and service. I know what it feels like to be overlooked, to live in chaos, and to struggle without support. That’s why much of my life has been dedicated to making sure others do not feel that way. As a pastor and community leader, I have helped launch programs for single parents, built support systems for struggling families, and served as President of Habitat for Humanity in Tillamook County. My goal has always been simple: to give people the stability, dignity, and hope that I once wished I had. Looking ahead, my future goals are rooted in that same passion. I am pursuing a degree in Applied Management so that I can combine my life experience with practical skills in leadership and organizational health. I want to build stronger nonprofits, healthier churches, and more sustainable community programs. I believe that when families are strong, communities are strong—and that requires leaders who can manage well, inspire people, and multiply impact. My dream is to create systems and resources that help break cycles of trauma, poverty, and dysfunction, equipping the next generation to thrive. In the future I imagine, my talents will be used to do good by empowering others. Whether it’s a single mother who needs support, a teenager searching for direction, or a family in need of stable housing, I want my work to create opportunities for healing and growth. I see a world where my pain becomes someone else’s encouragement, where my story proves that broken beginnings don’t have to mean broken endings. Being raised in a single-parent household has shaped me, but it has not defined me. Instead, it has given me empathy, determination, and a vision for the future. With education, perseverance, and faith, I plan to continue using my talents to help people reclaim their lives and build communities of hope. Thank you for considering my essay, Justin McMahan

My journey to higher education has been anything but traditional. I am returning to school later in life, not as a fresh graduate exploring options, but as a husband of twenty-eight years, a father of five—including three daughters adopted later in life—and a community leader who has spent decades in business, ministry, and nonprofit work. Going back to school at this stage is not about starting over; it is about building on the foundation of my life experiences and equipping myself to multiply the impact I have already been privileged to make. My path has been shaped by both professional and personal seasons that revealed my deepest values. For over a decade, I worked in retail management, eventually becoming a District Manager and regional trainer for Aeropostale. Later, I built and sold a property management company in Montana. Both roles taught me the power of hard work, perseverance, and leadership. Yet while those careers provided success, they also revealed that what mattered most to me was not profit margins but people. That realization is what led me into full-time ministry, where I now serve as a pastor and as the President of Habitat for Humanity in Tillamook County, Oregon. My personal journey has been equally defining. When my wife and I adopted three children later in life—a newborn, a sixteen-year-old, and an eighteen-year-old—we quickly learned that love requires resilience, sacrifice, and consistency. Parenting through trauma and brokenness has not been easy, but it has transformed my understanding of family, leadership, and community. It taught me that real success is measured not in accolades but in the lives restored and the hope rebuilt through steady commitment. These experiences have shaped my core values: integrity, service, and perseverance. They have also clarified my career aspirations. My passion is to build organizations—whether churches, nonprofits, or community programs—that strengthen families, empower leaders, and create sustainable change. That is why I am pursuing a degree in Applied Management. I want to combine the practical tools of business leadership with the compassion and purpose of ministry to lead with excellence and sustainability. My commitment to community service is not theoretical; it is lived out daily. Through Habitat for Humanity, I have seen families move from unstable housing into safe homes. Through our church’s Single Parents Program, I have seen mothers and fathers who once felt invisible find encouragement, resources, and dignity. Through mentoring young leaders, I have seen the next generation discover their potential. These experiences remind me that service is not just an activity—it is a way of life. This scholarship would make a significant difference in helping me pursue my education while still carrying the responsibilities of being a husband, father, and community leader. With a family to support and ongoing commitments to lead in my community, financial assistance will allow me to focus more fully on my studies and prepare myself to serve at a higher level. Ultimately, I see my education as a tool for multiplication. The lessons I learn will not end with me; they will ripple outward into the organizations I lead, the leaders I mentor, and the communities I serve. My goal is simple but profound: to leave people, families, and communities stronger than I found them. Higher education at this stage of my life is not just about achieving a personal milestone—it is about stewarding my experiences, sharpening my skills, and faithfully preparing to make the greatest possible impact with the years ahead of me. Thank you for considering my essay, Justin McMahan

When I think about my career path, one theme runs through every stage of my life: people. Whether in ministry, nonprofit leadership, or business, I have always been drawn to the art of connecting with people, understanding their needs, and inspiring them toward something greater. That is why I am pursuing a career in sales and marketing. For me, this is not just about selling products or creating campaigns—it is about building bridges between people and the solutions, experiences, or opportunities that can improve their lives. My earliest experience with sales came during my time in retail, where I worked as a District Manager and regional trainer for Aeropostale. I discovered that sales is not about pushing a product; it is about creating an experience that makes people feel seen and valued. I watched teams thrive when they understood this principle, and I found joy in training employees not only in the technical side of sales but also in how to communicate authentically. That experience planted the seed for my long-term interest in marketing. Later, when I built and sold my property management company, I experienced the power of marketing firsthand. Success didn’t come from managing properties—it came from how I positioned the company, built relationships with clients, and told the story of why our services mattered. Strategic marketing and a customer-centered approach were what allowed the business to grow and eventually sell successfully. That experience taught me that sales and marketing are not side functions of a business; they are its heartbeat. They drive growth, create identity, and trust. My passion for this field is also tied to my personal values. As a pastor and community leader, I have seen the importance of communication in building trust and inspiring action. Whether I was speaking to a congregation, launching a nonprofit program, or inviting volunteers to serve, the principles of sales and marketing were at work. It wasn’t about manipulation—it was about understanding people, communicating clearly, and inviting them to take part in something meaningful. That same passion drives my desire to pursue sales and marketing as a career. I am inspired by the potential of sales and marketing to influence progress on every level. In today’s world, people are bombarded with messages, products, and choices. The role of a marketer is to cut through the noise and tell a story. That excites me, because I believe stories are powerful. A well-told story can move someone to action, shift culture, and even change lives. My goal is to use my skills in marketing not only to help businesses grow but also to promote ideas and causes that bring value to communities. Ultimately, I love helping people make connections. Whether that’s a customer discovering a product that solves their problem, a client finding a service that makes their life easier, or a community coming together around a shared vision, the principles of sales and marketing are at the core. This career path gives me the opportunity to blend creativity, strategy, and people skills in a way that aligns with both my strengths and my passions. As I pursue my education in Applied Management, I am equipping myself with the knowledge and tools to succeed in this field. My vision is not just to work in sales or marketing but to excel in it, to innovate within it, and to use it as a platform for making an impact. I believe my background, passion, and determination uniquely position me to thrive in this career, and I am eager to bring the lessons I have learned into the next chapter of my journey.