Hello my name is Josephine, Josie for short. And I consider myself average. Average looks. Average amount of friends. Average grades. Average family. An average life overall, and then it's odd because I remember I am all of those things, plus epileptic. That's my specialty. It consumes my life and is my personality because it has to, or I cannot survive it. Being diagnosed with epilepsy was my turning point except there is no resolution because I am stuck with it forever. My turning point is what has shaped me as a person today. I will always have epilepsy, risks of myoclonic seizures, absence seizures, and tonic clonic seizures. I take medications every day to prevent them, and I have now been seizure free for 3 years. I have side effects like headaches, and constant tiredness. I would love to not be worried morning and night, questioning myself; did I take my meds? I would love my mother not to question the same. There are so many things that I can’t do anymore because of my epilepsy. Especially growing up, learning different things I want to experience but I can’t because of the potential of having seizures. It is hard for me to see why. Why does this serve a purpose to me? Because that is how I always see the world. Because it is a burden for one most likely means it is helpful for another. That is how I still like to look at things. But epilepsy is one of the biggest parts of my life and I cannot always apply this thought process. I hate to think of myself like this but some do think of me as a burden. I tell them about seizure safety and how to take care of me while I am seizing and it is “too much”. For others it isn’t but I am still leaving them with this responsibility of taking care of me. Now this is hard for me because not only is it friends family but it can be teachers and adults. Teachers sometimes won't look at my seizure action plan. They don’t understand the seriousness of what actually could happen if I have just one seizure. They don’t get that they are the adult that has to take care of me in case of an emergency. The longer you're in a seizure the more likely damage is done to the body. I don;t want a stubborn teacher to be the reason for anything. My brain is already damaged, I have memory loss, and sometimes my brain cannot hang onto certain things. Some don’t believe me. Some think I am over exaggerating to be able to get the accommodations on the 504. I want every child to be believed, to be able to educate better. I want to further my education into cosmetology. I would like to spread epilepsy awareness so that kids in schools don’t have to feel alone, and can get all the help they need, from teachers, families and friends, with ease.

Hello, my name is Josephine (Josie) for short. I have a lot of awkward/weird things about myself but there is one that makes me stand among the crowd. With a 504, or with people surrounding me with questions, worrying about my every move, making sure all my meds are taken, making sure everyone knows what to do in an emergencies, it’s hard not to blend in a little bit. Let me reintroduce myself. Hello, my name is Josephine (Josie) for short, and I have Juvenile Myclonic Epilepsy. And that is how I usually have to start introductions. If you don’t know Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in the brain that causes seizures. I have 3 types of seizures; absence seizures, myclonic seizures, and tonic clonic seizures. I am on medications for the seizures but it can never be fully cured. Now I know that it isn’t particularly awkward, written down. But for me it is, for some it is “too much to take care of”. Because there is always the what to do if I have a seizure. There are always side effects, headaches, I’m always tired. Having to show new friends how to take care of you if you are seizing, is awkward. Never knowing if someone is going to want to hangout with you because they might not want to “take care of you”, that feeling is awkward. Leaving early to take your medications, is awkward. Describing exactly what epilepsy is, is awkward. Explaining memory loss because of seizures, is awkward. Having your mother ask you night and day “Josie did you take your meds?”, is awkward. The feeling of epilepsy in general is awkward, as you can see. But it is mainly because it isn’t just there for people to make fun of you. You have to be the one to speak up and say something, unless you have a seizure in class. But not only is it awkward for everyone around you but also yourself. I got diagnosed in 7th grade, I am in 12th grade now. I called my myclonic jerks “glitches” ever since I was little, I would try to be relatable and ask friends and family about it because it felt like something wasn’t right, and everyone looked at me like I was a crazy little girl. Finally my pediatrician referred me to a neurologist where I got an EEG, and that same day diagnosed with epilepsy. I was living with something I didn’t even know existed. My “adventures” through epilepsy have been rough with medication changes, break through seizures, and always living with side effects. I’m now attempting to turn this “awkwardness” into awareness, so that hopefully nobody leaving early to take meds will be awkward. Nobody has to explain seizure safety. And nobody has to feel awkward just for having epilepsy.

Cosmetology has not always been a lifelong dream of mine. It became meaningful to me during a time when I needed it most. In seventh grade, after being diagnosed with epilepsy, I found myself searching for something I could control—something that allowed me to express myself and feel like myself again. That is when I discovered hair, makeup, and eventually nails. What started as an outlet slowly became my passion. When people think of careers that change a person's life, or the world, usually what comes to mind is a doctor, politician, and engineer. Rarely does anyone think of a cosmetologist. People often wonder “why do you not want to be a doctor?” “Why not choose something more important?” But I believe that impact does not always come from saving lives in a hospital or making laws in office. Sometimes, it comes from something as simple as a compliment, a kind word, or a small act that can change how a persons day is going. I want to be that small act. Changing your hair might be small to some people, but to the person sitting in that chair, it can feel like a fresh start, a boost of confidence, or the encouragement they didn’t know they needed. A new hairstyle can help someone see themselves differently. It can help them walk a little taller, smile a little more, and feel proud of who they are. That feeling can stay with them long after they leave the salon. My goal as a future cosmetologist is to make people feel happy, confident, and comfortable in their own skin. I don’t just want to do hair, I want to create an environment where people feel safe, heard and valued. When I imagine my future, I picture people sitting in my chair and feeling comfortable enough to be honest with me. Comfortable enough to say, “this isn’t what I wanted”, and trust that I will listen. That level of trust is powerful, safe. I know that the salon chair often becomes more than just a place for hair. It becomes a place where people talk about their lives, their achievements, their struggles, their stress, and their happiness. I will be someone who listens without judgment, and a with a positive mindset. Sometimes people just need someone to hear them. Sometimes they need a space where they can feel relaxed and taken care of. Cosmetology is not just about appearance; it is about confidence and emotional well being. When people feel good about how they look, it can improve how they feel about themselves overall. I want to give people that feeling every single day. I want my clients to leave not only looking different, but feeling different-lighter, happier, and more confident than when they first walked in. One day, I hope to own my own salon—a place where others can feel as free, comfortable, and confident as I do when I am creating.

When people think of careers that change a persons life, or the world, usually what comes to mind is a doctor, politician, and engineer. Rarely does anyone think of a cosmetologist. People often wonder “why do you not want to be a doctor?” “Why not choose something more important?” But I believe that impact does not always come from saving lives in a hospital or making laws in office. Sometimes, it comes from something as simple as a compliment, a kind word, or a small act that can change how a persons day is going. I want to be that small act. Changing your hair might be small to some people, but to the person sitting in that chair, it can feel like a fresh start, a boost of confidence, or the encouragement they didn’t know they needed. A new hairstyle can help someone see themselves differently. It can help them walk a little taller, smile a little more, and feel proud of who they are. That feeling can stay with them long after they leave the salon. My goal as a future cosmetologist is to make people feel happy, confident, and comfortable in their own skin. I don’t just want to do hair, I want to create an environment where people feel safe, heard and valued. When I imagine my future, I picture people sitting in my chair and feeling comfortable enough to be honest with me. Comfortable enough to say, “this isn’t what I wanted”, and trust that I will listen. That level of trust is powerful, safe. I know that the salon chair often becomes more than just a place for hair. It becomes a place where people talk about their lives, their achievements, their struggles, their stress, and their happiness. I will be someone who listens without judgment, and a with a positive mindset. Sometimes people just need someone to hear them. Sometimes they need a space where they can feel relaxed and taken care of. Cosmetology is not just about appearance; it is about confidence and emotional well being. When people feel good about how they look, it can improve how they feel about themselves overall. I want to give people that feeling every single day. I want my clients to leave not only looking different, but feeling different-lighter, happier, and more confident than when they first walked in. Through my career, I will make a positive impact by helping people see their own beauty, inside and out. I will use my skill, my kindness, and my passion to create small moments that make a big difference in people’s lives. Because sometimes, changing the world starts with helping one person feel better about themselves.

What makes me smile the most is seeing other people feel confident in themselves. There is something really powerful about watching someone walk away feeling better than they did before, whether that confidence comes from how they look, how they feel, or simply knowing someone took the time to care. Being able to play a small role in that transformation motivates me everyday and reminds me why I am working toward a future in the trades (Cosmetology). I have always been someone who enjoys working with my hands and creating things that make a visible difference. When I help someone feel comfortable and confident, it feels meaningful because confidence affects so many parts of a persons life. It can change how they carry themselves, how they interact with others, and even how they see their own potential. Seeing people thrive because they feel good about themselves genuinely makes me smile and pushes me to keep improving my skills. Living with epilepsy has shaped how I view progress and success. It has taught me to appreciate small victories and not take good days for granted. When I am able to focus on my goals, stay consistent, and work toward my future, it feels especially rewarding. Because of this, I value growth and resilience, both in myself and in others. Watching people overcome challenges and grow more confident reminds me that setbacks do not define who we are-how we respond to them does. My experience in school mirrors how I approach life in general. Freshman year was challenging for me, and my grades reflected that-partly because I was dealing with a cluster of seizures that made focusing and keeping up with schoolwork extra difficult. Over time I realized that if I wanted a future where I could do what I love and support myself, I needed to take my education seriously. I started pushing myself to stay consistent, ask for help when I needed it, and not give up when things felt overwhelming. Raising my GPA by full point showed me that real change is possible when effort and determination are put in, even when faced with obstacles I never expected. Ultimately, what makes me smile is growth-seeing it in myself and helping bring it out in others. Whether it is through my education, my future career in cosmetology, or the way I support people around me, I want to make a positive impact. This scholarship represents perseverance,, ambition, and passion for hands-on work, all of which I strive to embody. Being able to continue my education while working toward a career that helps others feel confident would mean everything to me. At the end of my freshman year, my GPA was 2.24. My current GPA is 3.39.