Growing up, my parents taught me the value of education. They taught me to try my best in school for knowledge rather than a grade. Rather than being upset by a poor test score, my parents would be upset if I did not try on the exam. My mother was attending her first year of college when she had my brother, and due to the chaos of balancing school life with home life, she had to drop out. For the next 16 years, both my parents worked hard each day to allow my younger brother and me to focus on school. After I graduate, I intend to go to Oklahoma City Community College, then transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue occupational therapy. When I was young, my aunt–my mother's twin sister–suffered a significant hemorrhagic stroke that nearly cost her life and left her with physical and cognitive disabilities. With the help of physical and occupational therapists, my aunt returned to a meaningful life. I hope to bring quality to others' lives through this field the same way these therapists brought purpose to my aunt. Since obtaining a master's degree is a vital part of launching a career in occupational therapy, I will face large amounts of student loans as I enter college. That is the reason why a scholarship would help me immensely. This year, I will be entering college along with my mother, who, after working in a factory for 16 years, decided to return to college to pursue higher education. I would be a good candidate for scholarships because I involve myself within my community, love helping others, and am passionate about receiving a good education. This scholarship would allow me to graduate with less debt to achieve my goals and endeavors.

I believe serving others is one of the most meaningful and impactful things in life. This year, I have the honor to serve Mustang High School Key Club as their Vice President. Key Club is a volunteering organization hoping to inspire students to serve their communities through social work, volunteering, fundraising, drives, and more. Since this is my fourth year in this club, I have been to many volunteering events, but one event stands out in particular: Harn Homestead. On July 10, 2021, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Harn Homestead, an outdoor museum featuring a 1904 Victorian-styled home, a one-room schoolhouse, scattered farm buildings, and more. At the event, Mr. Sapper, the owner, tasked the other volunteers and me with planting shrubs and setting mulch strategically at the entrance. Mr. Sapper always teaches me new skills every time I attend Harn. This day, I learned the most effective way to dig a hole when planting shrubs. He taught me about the “clock method,” It was a lot more productive than randomly digging away. Mr. Sapper also showed me the best elevation to plant the shrubs. After planting all the shrubs and laying down the last mulch, Mr. Sapper welcomed us inside his office house and offered us water and snacks. Volunteers and I asked Mr. Sapper many questions about Harn, his marriage, kids, college, life, etc. We were there for about an hour after the event officially ended, getting lost in our conversation. Mr. Sapper told us about his music career when he was younger, and he even told us about how he met his wife. Reflecting on this volunteer opportunity, I encourage my friends to go out and volunteer because it promotes social engagement, builds social trust, and contributes to the growth of social capital.

My goal for my future is to pursue occupational therapy. Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Vanessa, an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Baptist Village Retirement Center. Though my time there was brief, I learned a lot about this field. Upon arrival, I met Vanesa and the rest of the staff. Vanesa then asked me why I wanted to pursue occupational therapy instead of physical therapy. At the time, This question troubled me. I only knew slight differences between the two fields, so it made me think. I told her that I wanted to help others get back to their everyday lives, about my aunt who suffered a stroke leaving her with lifelong cognitive and physical disabilities, and about my older cousin, who currently is an OTR. Vanessa explained that occupational therapists focus on helping people take care of themselves or "back to their occupation." Shortly after, Vanesa started her work. Her first patient was an older Korean man. This patient only spoke Korean, so Vanesa used translation apps to overcome this barrier. He had suffered a stroke two months ago, leaving him unable to move the right side of his body. She taught me how stroke victims usually progressed during the therapy process and explained that there was a low chance of them regaining mobility if they did not get their movement back soon. However, that's when Vanessa revealed to me the beauty of occupational therapy: helping patients find ways to live life around their disabilities. Vanessa continued treating the patient, ensuring that he utilized his strong side. Even though he needed a little help, he was determined to complete each task. After this experience, I still hope to pursue this field so that someday I can help patients return home to their families with meaningful lives.

Patience and tenacity are important ideas to understand for anyone wishing to become successful in life. When I was younger, I had always wanted results to come quickly and as soon as possible. However, rushing things causes unnecessary stress. When I began playing tennis, I wanted one thing more than any other. That was one nice shiny medal from a tennis tournament. I came home empty-handed after every single tennis tournament in middle school. My parents encouraged me to quit, but I stayed in tennis. I spent my summers practicing for hours a day in the heat, and I made each practice session more intense than the last. Even going into high school, failure haunted me after each match. That was until my junior year when I made the team for the first time. I felt vindicated for all my efforts. That season, I went to place first at two varsity tournaments and one junior varsity tournament, and I accumulated seven medals. I credit my wins to the virtue of patience and tenacity, and I encourage others to be patient and work hard for success.

My favorite artist is Keith Haring. Today, he is known for his unique, simplistic art style. You can find much of his work on modern streetwear, and I enjoy wearing these pieces.

I believe that one must constantly push themselves out of their comfort zone to keep a growth mindset. For a long time, I have fought an uphill battle against my social anxiety. Introducing myself to others became a mental challenge, and class presentations were my worst nightmare. When I reflect upon my struggle with social anxiety, one particular memory appears in my mind: a presentation I gave during my freshman year Spanish class. The assignment was to read out loud a report of something related to Spanish culture. As I gave this presentation, I could hear the shakiness in my voice, my classmates became blurry, and my heart thumped fast and heavy. Nearing the end of my freshman year, I decided to overcome my social anxiety. I began by watching countless videos on YouTube on overcoming public speaking and volunteering first for every presentation. I pushed myself beyond my comfort zones by signing up for different activities, such as my school talent show. During my junior year, I joined the choir at my school and took every opportunity to perform, even auditioning for high ensembles and presenting solos. Now, I am the Vice President of the Mustang High School Key Club and the captain of the Mustang High School Boys Volleyball Club. I no longer fear public speaking or public interaction, but I cherish it. Today, I encourage my friends, families, and peers to step out of their comfort zone and seek constant improvement.