Between 2008-2011, I lost all four of my grandparents - one per year over four years. In 2017, my father-in-law passed after a long battle with multiple health issues. For the last year of his life, we lived together and I helped take care of him. It was a struggle, especially since his wife was suffering from Alzheimer's. My wife and I separated in 2021 and I moved to Texas. We parted amicably, wishing each other the best, and we stayed in touch. Our marital relationship was over, but we remained friends. I visited whenever I returned to the Pittsburgh area after moving to Texas. On September 30th, 2024, my ex- brother-in-law called me to say that they found my wife unresponsive in her bedroom. Apparently she had taken her own life. I was gutted. That was something I never thought could happen. I have been in therapy over the past year for a couple of issues, but dealing with the grief of her loss is at the top of the list. I don't think I can say any more about that, so the focus of this essay will concern my maternal grandmother, Dixie. I wasn't the oldest grandchild, but I lived closest to my aunt Kathy and Grandma Dixie. My two older cousins lived in New York, so I was somewhat spoiled. We weren't a rich family or anything, but I was spoiled with love and affection. It was even something of a joke that I was "the golden child" because I could do no wrong. I didn't mind, because I enjoyed spending time with my grandma. When I was still very young, I was waiting in line with my grandmother to buy lottery tickets. She asked me to pick a three-digit number and I randomly gave her one. That number hit that very night(!). From then on, I was the lucky charm. My aunt and grandmother would take me to the dog track in Wheeling, WV, the horse track at the Meadows in Washington, PA, and to various bingo games in and around my hometown of Washington. Almost invariably, we would do well. I got to pick dogs and horses, and even play one bingo card. They loved having me around and I enjoyed gambling, such as it was. Grandma and I spent a lot of time together. We'd go shopping together, run errands, go to the grocery store, and do all sorts of things. As I grew older into my teens, she was almost more of a friend than a grandmother. She would help me out with things like haircuts, senior pictures, and lend me her car when I needed it (rare, but it still happened). She'd hold my hand often, and occasionally give it a squeeze. Just a little "I love you" without saying a word. By the time I was 21, we would go to the Elks Lodge for bingo, dinner, drinks, and the most fun I could have - New Year's Eve. We had a blast together. By the time I met my now late- ex-wife, I was more friends with my grandmother than simply a grandchild. Years later, my wife would talk about how we'd randomly call her to go to dinner at the Stone Crab Inn, or simply visit her. Then she started suffering from dementia and it broke my heart. Now, my new fiancée's grandmother has dementia. I support her by visiting her as often as we can. I know how important time together with a grandmother can be. I encourage others to do the same. Thank you for your consideration.

Moments ago, I returned from the Dollar General store just down the street from where I'm living. My fiancee asked me to buy some kitty litter for the impending flooding we're about to get from the hurricane in the Pacific. The idea is to wrap it up, use it for the two days of potential flooding, then donate it to the local animal shelter. In the past week, I made a small donation to the same animal shelter. I was scrolling through Instagram and saw the most adorable one-eyed cat. The comments indicated that they were desperate for donations, so I was happily drawn in to donate. My fiancee is allergic to cats, so I can't have them any longer. She does have two incredible dogs, though. I'm fortunante to have them in my life. Spending time with them means a great deal to me. I don't just plan on making a positive impact on the world through my education and career choices, I plan on continuing the positive impact I've made and am making now. During my time here in El Paso over the past 5 years, I have volunteered a couple of times each for both my political party of choice and El Paso Fights Hunger (EPFH). When possible, I also donate financially to causes for animals. I am politically active and have been since before I could even vote. I'd like to think that I lead by example with respect to volunteering and voting, even if only among my friends, acquaintances, and strangers I regularly talk to in public places. Volunteering for EPFH is extremely rewarding. Being able to see the size and scope of their efforts to feed the hungry is humbling. My parents are retired and in their 70s but they have until very recently volunteered twice a week for their local food bank back in Pennsylvania. Their example has shined a light on the path I walk in my own life. Speaking of my parents, they were instrumental on my path toward schooling and volunteering. Growing up, I was enrolled in the Cub Scouts before graduating to the Boy Scouts, where I was a patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster. I later earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During my time in scouts, public service and leadership were key components to our growth. I can't even remember all of the events we worked at in my youth. We picked up a lot of litter, volunteered weeks worth of hours, and my Eagle project was a blood drive that I coordinated (with a lot of help from my parents and others). One of the most memorable experiences I had during that time was teaching special needs kids how to swim. I quickly realized how much I took for granted in life when I saw how happy something as simple as learning to swim meant to them. Returning to my studies has been almost overwhelming while I work full-time and try to have some semblence of a life. At the end of the day, I would ideally like to help my fellow humans, and pets / animals, too. The qualities of empathy and perseverance are hopefully evident in both the years and breadth of my life experience. Thank you kindly for your consideration.

The multidisciplinary career I am pursuing is heavily influenced by the social sciences and anthropology. It's taken me a long time to find my calling. The problem was that I could never truly define what I'd like to do. Doing fieldwork for cultural anthopology hits on all the things I like to do anyway - study people in their "natural" environment, think critically about the world around me, and find ways to change the world for the betterment of everyone. I write when I can, but I'd like to focus that outward, instead of inward, which is where my work generally leads me. How I'll get to that career, I don't know, but I'm having a great time trying to figure it out taking the last couple of classes I have left to complete. I've learned a lot about the world, but also about myself. Translating the latter into a force for good is where I'd like to end up. I don't just plan on making a positive impact on the world through my education and career choices, I plan on continuing the positive impact I've made and am making now. During my time here in El Paso, I have volunteered a couple of times each for both my political party of choice and El Paso Fights Hunger (EPFH). I am politically active and have been since before I could even vote. I'd like to think that I lead by example with respect to volunteering and voting, even if only among my friends, acquaintances, and strangers I regularly talk to in public places. Volunteering for EPFH is extremely rewarding. Being able to see the size and scope of their efforts to feed the hungry is humbling. My parents are retired and in their 70s but they have until very recently volunteered twice a week for their local food bank back in Pennsylvania. Their example has shined a light on the path I walk in my own life. Speaking of my parents, they were instrumental on my path toward schooling and volunteering. Growing up, I was enrolled in the Cub Scouts before graduating to the Boy Scouts, where I was a patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster. I later earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During my time in scouts, public service and leadership were key components to our growth. I can't even remember all of the events we worked at in my youth. We picked up a lot of garbage, volunteered weeks worth of hours, and my Eagle project was a blood drive that I coordinated (with a lot of help from my parents and others). One of the most memorable experiences I had was teaching special needs kids how to swim. I quickly realized how much I took for granted in life when I saw how happy something as simple as learning to swim meant to them. Returning to my studies has been almost overwhelming while I work full-time and try to have some semblence of a life. At the end of the day, I would ideally like to help my fellow humans, and pets / animals, too. The qualities of empathy and perseverance are hopefully evident in both the years and breadth of my life experience. Thank you for your consideration.

What I’ve learned from the books that I've read is a large part of who I am, and how they’ve shaped my goals is no less important. My story, with particular respect to books, starts a long time ago - in another century even(!). As a small child, my mom would read to me. I loved anything Dr. Suess or adjacent. One of my favorite stories about growing up is the one where she "complains" about me asking her to read the same books over and over again. When she would try to 'skip ahead', I would call her out on it because I knew how to follow along. In short, I started reading well before kindergarten. In 1st grade, my friend Ricky Byers and I were allowed to read any books we wanted from the elementary school library. From then on out, I was a voracious reader. Since we lived in a rural area ouside the third-class city of Washington, Pennsylvania, the only libraries I knew about were at school, and the public library in town - Citizen's Library. Going there in the evening with my mom was a wondrous thing. There were so many books! I couldn't grasp at all how an old, stale building wasn't full of people all the time. It was dark and dingy, but I was in love with the place no matter what. Each of those books on the shelves represented a new world to me, a path to unlimited knowledge. My love of books was one of the few constants as I grew up, went through adolescence, and became an adult. I recall skipping study hall in high school to go hang out in the library. I could pick out a book, read it for a period, stuff a bookmark in it, and come back the next day to continue reading. Eventually, I just remembered the page numbers. It's one of the many fond memories from high school that was solely about myself. After dropping out of college in the mid-90s, I continuted to read, but it became sporadic. In my thirties, I made a "to read" list of books that I wanted to read. There were so many classics that I never had a chance to read. High school forced upon me The Scarlet Letter, A Tale of Two Cities, The Good Earth, A Separate Peace, 1984, Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, and many more, but not War and Peace, Anna Karenina, For Whom the Bell Tolls, et al. My favorite author has been, and always will be, Kurt Vonnegut. Never have I laughed out loud so much and so often than when I read his books. In fact, I was at a chess tournament at a library recently and picked up Slaughterhouse Five to re-read yet again. Given how many books I've read in my 51 years plus so far, the only person who inspired me to be a writer was Vonnegut. Stephen King should be mentioned, because his On Writing was a great read, but Vonnegut stands alone, in my opinion. I am running out of space, but I would like to mention that my Children's Literature course professor here at UTEP is a librarian by trade. I learned a great deal in her class and try to stay in touch with her when I can. I wish I could talk about the elementary school librarian I had at Amity elementary (Fran Yakima), but that's a whole 'nother essay altogether. Thank you for your consideration, and if you've read this far... thanks for reading! Have a great day!

I am probably an outlier in the Sabrina Carpenter fan club, yet I firmly remain a member. At 51 years of age, I haven't generally listened to a lot of contemporary (read: new) music over recent years. However, I fell in love with an amazing woman here in Texas and she likes to listen to the new music stations. She has since turned me on to a lot of new artists, many I would have never listened to otherwise. Heck, she even got me to go to a Jonas Brothers concert in San Antonio a couple of years ago! Of all the new artists out there right now, Ms. Carpenter resonates with me the most somehow - but I can't readily explain how or why. The first time I heard "Manchild" I thought it was the most incredible song, both lyrically and musically. Maybe I occasionally relate to the theme of the song too much, because Lord knows half of my brain ain't there at all times, but she sings with such conviction, and even humor. It's refreshing. I mean, if y'all saw the episode of The Muppets Show where she sang the song, my girlfriend and I were DYING laughing at the chickens singing back-up vocals. It's nice that she doesn't take herself so seriously. I think Sabrina is an amazing artist and I wish her nothing but continued success and happiness. Goodness knows this world could use it right now. Thank you for your consideration!

Trying to narrow down "whose story changed yours" is virtually impossible for me. As an older student, I've had a greater life experience compared to the majority of students in college right now. There is no one person throughout the course of my life that I can point to that changed my life without also having an argument for someone else. There have been thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands of imperceptible moments in my life that have made me who I am today. I think about the encouragement, lessons, and kind words from teachers like Mrs. Bugaile (kindergarten), Joyce Wherry (2nd grade), Craig Alderson (4th grade), Lisa Komm (Art/Homeroom 10th-11th grade), Art Richardson (9th, 11th, 12th grade history), Herr William Adams (9th-12th German), and a plethora of professors at university these past few years. My parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, friends, distant relatives I only see at family reunions... there's no shortage of people who have influenced my life. Maybe it's just the way that my brain works, but I consciously think about a lot of moments with these people, and probably have at least ten times more moments I only ponder subconsciously. Chester Bailey was the elementary school "nature guy." He wasn't a teacher on staff (that I was ever aware of, at least), but he would come up and take classes out on nature walks through the woods behind the school. He would point out plants and different trees on our walks so that we could identify them later on. He showed us how to plant trees. One time, he showed us how to use graphite and paper to more easily read a tombstone that sat just off the rear of the property at Amity Elementary school in Amity, Pennsylvania. One time, he showed us how to tap a maple tree. We boiled the sap in the back of class for a week or so. Once it was ready, they marched the whole school into the cafeteria and we had a small dish of homemade ice cream with a little maple syrup that we made on top. Let me tell you, I think about that whole experience often. There is not enough space here to talk about all of the other volunteers I've had the pleasure of meeting over the years in baseball, Boy Scouts, and swimming, plus so much more. Every one of them has a whole life story that's just a blurb, but the weight of their actions help mold me over time. I wish I could tell you about them all. 2nd topic: Most people in my community move past litter. Granted, I live in the southwest where winds can occasionally wreak havoc in a variety of ways. On garbage days, people's trash containers will blow open and any loose content is free to wander the city. Almost nobody seems to care because I rarely see anyone who isn't a city worker picking up trash. I'd like to believe that my leadership style is to lead by example. It feels disingenuous to mention my good deeds, but I try to pick up random litter all the time. Occasionally, I'll grab a grocery bag and walk down my block, just tidying up a little. Usually, though, I'll pick up random garbage in parking lots or at the store(s). I don't do any of this for noteriety, but part of me hopes that someone else sees me doing these little deeds and maybe thinks about either not littering themselves or even picking up trash when they see it. Thank you for your consideration.

I come from a long line of blue-collar, working-class people. My parents actually met at the factory where they both worked, and where my dad retired from a few years ago. They instilled in me the thinking that hard work is rewarded with a good life, good pay, and financial security. As an aging Gen-X -er, I now realize none of that is true. The struggle is real and it's getting more real every passing day. Have you seen the price of gas lately? How about the rise of authoritarianism in America? The King of England was in our country recently and spoke about democracy. We live in the upside down. 1984 and Animal Farm were warnings, not road maps, yet here we are. Even though my parents only have high school educations, they're smart enough to know that an education is the key to a better life, even in this dystopian future. That's why they support my return to college this late in life. They are retired now but still contribute to my education with modest financial support and overwhelming encouragement. They have always been proud of me but I've never felt the support I'm getting like this before. I was a terrible student in high school and college the first time. Once I got my act together, I started doing well in school, but had to drop out for financial reasons. I never expected to return to my studies. Over the years, I worked hard but never really amounted to much. I worked at menial jobs, and still do, but I never made much money. That's one of the other things my parents taught me - that money isn't everything. I never cared about the accumulation of wealth or material things. To some degree, that's worked against me. I'm a struggling student taking part-time classes and working full-time at a job that doesn't pay much at all. Quite frankly, I use most of my student loans just to live. Part of me still believes that an education will lead to a better life. Even if it doesn't, at least I'll accumulate something worthwhile - knowledge. That's my true pursuit in college. I want to better myself and learn about the world. I still have a ways to go before I get my bachelor's degree, but I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't readily admit to having long-term goals. I don't want money, fame, or power. I don't need things to make me feel like I'm a success. All I want to be is happy and content. However, as I learned from my psychology class, with respect to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, I need to have all of my basic human needs fulfilled before I can hope to reach self-actualization. Even still, I don't need everything. I've got 25-50 years left at best before I shake loose this mortal coil. All I want is to rest, relax, and try to make the world a little better than it is right now. The key to that is an education, which unfortunately, isn't free. Thank you for your consideration.

The most difficult part about reflecting on a time when a challenge led me to personal growth is narrowing it down to only one time. While that may sound flippant or something like a joke, it's really quite far from it. Unlike many of my peers, who for the purposes of this essay are university juniors, I have more than fifty years of life experience (read: challenges) to draw on. Narrowing the challenges I've faced since the time of COVID-19 will be my focus here, but even then, my story starts back in the 1990s when I was enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh (Greensburg campus). I was a deplorable student but I wasn't intellectually-challenged. After being forced to take a year off for academic probation, I collected myself and returned to Pitt for a semester. I took two classes and earned Bs in both. After that, I had to drop out altogether. I needed to work to support myself and I couldn't do that and go to school at the same time. Fast forward to 2020 and the lockdown of COVID-19. Everyone was riding the struggle bus during Covid and I was no exception. However, I had the advantage of working from home leading up to that time, so the transition for everyone going remote was nothing for me. My wife and I at the time had been under a great strain and our marriage had all but fallen apart. In April of 2021, we separated and I moved to Lubbock, Texas after applying to Texas Tech and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). I couldn't stick around SW Pennsylvania where I was born and raised. All of the problems I had kept repeating, like so many arguments between my wife and I. I needed a new environment. I needed to expand on multiple levels. We separated but did our best to remain amicable. When I would return for the holidays, I would visit her. I was accepted to UTEP but my enrollment was delayed because my transfer GPA didn't meet the minimum criteria. My past as a terrible student had finally come back to haunt me. I appealed the decision and UTEP took a chance on me. Determined to better myself, I moved everything once more to a predominantly Latino city on the border. Knowing no one else in a city of more than half of a million, I started taking part-time classes while still working full-time from home. Somehow, I got As in both of my classes. Surprising even myself, I repeated the result in the Spring 2023 semester. My parents were proud of me, even though they missed me being "home" in Pennsylvania. Even my ex-wife was supportive of my studies. We wanted the best for each other, even if that meant not being together anymore. I struggled financially during this time, and even now, but it's not as bad as it was there for a year or so. I felt ashamed to get SNAP (food stamps) benefits, which I qualified for by being poor. My job wasn't going well and we had to cut our pay. Even now, I'm earning half of what I did when I first moved to El Paso. Then in the fall of 2024, we lost my ex-wife to suicide. I have been struggling with it ever since. I'm in therapy and I know that grieving is a process but I'm still working through it. I somehow still have a 4.0 but it's been incredibly difficult. I'm about to hit the maximum word count. Thank you for your consideration.

I must be either incredibly lucky or forgetful in my advanced age, because I can't recall a time where credit earned and due to me was given to another. At 51 years old, I've lived a long and complicated life, but I can't remember a time where credit earned and due was given to someone else. Perhaps though, it's because I simply haven't done something worthwhile enough (yet) to warrant sufficient credit, least of all have it taken away from me. However, I think there's another reason. To be perfectly honest, I don't care about accolades, making a bunch of money, gaining power, or anything like that - I just want to be a regular person, happy and content. This probably sounds fake but I don't mind not getting credit. Maybe it's a psychological thing - if I'm not responsible for something, I can't be held accountable regardless whether it succeeds or fails. That doesn't seem right, either. I have received accolades in the past. I earned my Eagle Scout badge in high school. It wasn't easy and it was time consuming, but I also readily admit that I didn't do it all myself. The whole "it takes a village" thing is true as much as I understand it. My parents, friends, scouting staff, and others all pitched in to make sure I was successful. Speaking of Boy Scouts, I worked my way up the ladder for advancement, but I didn't pull the ladder up behind me as I went. Leadership was an important part of my Eagle Scout journey. From assistant patrol leader to patrol leader, all the way up to junior assistant scoutmaster, I was responsible for teaching the younger scouts about all sorts of things. Two of my favorite things to teach were "totin' chip" and swimming. The "totin' chip" card was earned via learning about safety with a knife, hatchet, and axe - all important tools for camping out, which is something we did on a regular basis. If you made mistakes while camping with a blade or cutting tool, I would be responsible for taking a corner off of your totin' chip card. After 4 corners were removed, the scout had to re-take the course. My favorite thing to teach was swimming. In middle school, I started swimming competitively with the local YMCA, and by high school, swam and dove on the varsity team. Since I could practically swim circles around my fellow scouts during the course of our lifesaving merit badge, I was tasked with teaching the cub scout kids how to swim. It's easy to take things for granted until you see how hard others struggle with it. It's been a long time now, but I vividly remember how excited one special needs kid was when he learned how to swim. That's something nobody can take away from him, or me. Life lessons in scouts, as well as in swimming and baseball, or the game of chess that I love and play today, molded my leadership-style, if I may be so bold to call it that. I'd like to think that I'm a "lead from the bottom" kind of person. Lead by example. It's something I've felt has been cemented in my after being in the workforce for so many years. If the boss can't do your job, should you really be listening to them about how to do your job? Personally, I think not. Also, there's a certain degree of respect that can be earned by teaching someone else how to do a task. Before I get too far off topic, I'd like to return to the point I'm trying to make. I'm not sure I'd care if someone takes credit for something I did. If they are so desperate that they need to steal it, then they can have it. Theoretically, I can replicate my own successes, as long as it wasn't obtained by sheer, dumb luck. Most likely, this other person could not repeat the same success. Perhaps, though, I might feel differently if I won something like the Nobel Prize and didn't receive the credit earned and due. I'd like to think that the truth will win out at the end of the day. It's like the saying goes in the Chernobyl series - "every lie incurs a debt to the truth." Eventually, the truth will come out, and with it, vindication. At the end of the day, I just want to be happy and content. I have a job, a great partner (fiancée), a roof over my head, food, and a couple of dogs to take care of here. Oh, speaking of dogs, I read Marian's obituary and enjoyed hearing about "a donkey, monkeys, pigeons, dogs, and her favorite, cats." That reminds me... growing up, for a very brief time, I had a pet Raccoon. It's a story for another day, but I've always loved animals. I'm glad to have at least that in common with Mrs. Sturz. PS - With respect to recommendation letters, I don't really have anything "traditional" to share. I attached PDF print out from LinkedIn, which is technically a recommendation. My history professor here at UTEP (M. Juarez) offered to write me a letter of recommendation for the PhD degree program for history, should I choose to go that route. For now, I'm trying to cobble together classes for Sociology and Anthropology. UTEP has a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies program and it suits me perfectly. Lastly, I have a recommendation letter from my high school history teacher stashed away somewhere... Maybe I need an archaeologist to help me locate it! Thanks for your consideration.

As a non-traditional student, which I describe here as being a 51-year-old white male enrolled in a predominantly Latino/a university, I have an inordinate wealth of meaningful relationship examples that are difficult to narrow down to just one. The older I become, the more I realize how influential not only individual relationships are in my life, but also momentary interactions. For the purposes of this essay, I’ll discuss the impact of my parents showing me love throughout my life. But first, I want to present a single example out of context that I’ve pondered often. It was the 4th of July in 1993. I had just graduated high school and was enrolled for the fall term at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. A girl I was dating at the time went with me downtown to watch the fireworks display. After fighting traffic and finding a place to park in a downtown garage, we walked to The Point among the masses. Nothing ever seemed to go right with this girl I dated, but after reflection, every miniature disaster was virtually perfect. This date was no exception. Once we found a spot to watch the fireworks, we came across a senior citizen sitting on a bench by himself. The wonderful person she was, she sat down next to him and struck up a conversation. He had been in the war (WWII) and attended the celebrations at the confluence every year. We talked about his life and his service. I really can’t remember much else about the fireworks or what Sue and I did afterward, but I definitely recall talking to this lonely old man before and during the fireworks. She was so sweet and caring toward a stranger. A lot happens growing up that you don’t fully realize until later in life. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, but rarely with indifference. “Why don’t we see Uncle so-and-so anymore?” Or maybe, “whatever happened to cousin what’s-their-name?” When I was a kid, we had a lot of struggles. My brother and I were shielded from most of it because we didn’t know any better. We had no frame of reference. Recently, I had to interview my parents for a course here at UTEP, and I needed to ask them a lot of questions about growing up and relationships. Although I’ve learned a lot about my family over the years, I came away with a new perspective. During the course of the interview, my dad said that “[he] never knew how to love.” I was not entirely surprised, but hearing it from him really blew me away. That’s a heck of an admission to hear from one of your parents—especially since my brother and I were fully aware that we were loved and cared for our entire lives. In fact, to this very day, my brother and I never fail to say “I love you” or “love you” to each other when we part in person or hang up the phone. That’s important to both of us, and something I’ve realized is important to a lot of people over the course of my life. In high school, I had a fair amount of friends. Among a small group of us, we would constantly say that we loved each other. We would hug or be platonically affectionate with each other in public. “I love you, man.” Our classmates thought we were weird, but we didn’t care about being called “gay,” even though we weren’t—not that it would matter anyway. The girl I mentioned earlier said something to me that I haven’t forgotten. Basically, “If you love someone, wait a week, then tell someone else you care about to gauge their opinion. If you can easily convince this third person that you love the first one, then maybe it is love, not just a feeling.” She gave me a letter in June that had “May” written as the month. It confessed her love to me. For the longest time, I thought it was a mistake. Eventually, I realized that she was her own third person—the 'someone' she trusted with her thoughts. Once she realized she was in love, she gave me the letter. There are so many more relationships in my life to talk about, but I lack the time and space here. The gist of all this is: if you love someone, tell them. Never hesitate to share your feelings. It starts at home when you’re young. Thank you for your consideration.

I am still working through the grief process and will likely never fully recover, but that's just the way it goes. When I was in high school, my brother's buddy accidentally shot himself in front of his mother in their front yard. Around the same time, elderly neighbors up the road from where I lived on the family farm died by murder-suicide. We were well-aquainted with them and my grandfather was the person the guy called to come check on the house later the afternoon when it happened. Twenty years ago, give or take a few, my childhood friend's dad went out into the woods and hung himself. Ten or twelve years ago now, my friend Brian shot himself, as did my nephew's friend. There are more instances, but space doesn't permit to talk about them. In short, I have personally been familiar with suicide by many people I have known. In 2015, I confessed to my wife that I felt depressed and suicidal. Her reaction was to tell me that I needed to "get over it." Eventually, she apologized and truly meant it. Nonetheless, multiple issues led to our divorce in September 2023 after 21 years of marriage. We separated in 2021 and divorced later on, but stayed amicable. If anything, our relationship got better after the divorce. She supported me and we regularly stayed in touch. On September 30th, 2024, my ex-wife took her own life. I am still trying to work through the grief. Of all people in the world, I know that she knew she could talk to me about whatever was hurting her. Maybe it was the new medication that affected her? I don't know and I'll never know. Even before I left for Texas in 2021, she made me promise that I wouldn't hurt myself. I made that promise and it's been really hard to keep at times but I have and I will. I know for a fact that all it takes is a moment of weakness for everything to come crashing down. I'm in therapy and I've gone to grief counseling (even recently - through school). One of the lessons I learned is that the stages of grief aren't linear. If anything, it looks like a jumbled ball of yarn. I know a lot of the platitudes: suicide doesn't end the pain - it transfers it to others, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, you've survived every impossible day so far - just keep going, and so on. They simultaneously help and don't help at all. It's difficult to reflect on something when you're smack dab in the middle of it. The challenges are weird. For example, I've become closer with my ex- sister-in-law now. We've worked together to take care of my ex-wife's financial obligations and whatnot. Thankfully, I kept the joint bank account, which is where her mortgage was miraculously held, so I could make the payments for the house with the financing from my ex-SiL. Otherwise, the bank wasn't going to accept any kind of payments from my SiL. Basically, they wanted to foreclose on the house for non-payment. If only we had the finances to hire a lawyer, but I digress. I've found resilience and hope in the face of tragedy by trying to be the person my ex-wife wanted me to be - educated and happy. I know happiness isn't a destination, it's a by-product, but no matter. The more I learn, experience, and suffer, the more I can help others who might be in the same situation. Thank you for your consideration.

I would like to build a world that aims to put the poorest and neediest people first. "Give [us] your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." As a country, we have forgotten this poem inscribed upon Lady Liberty. To build this world, I know that I/we must start in our local communities. Charity begins at home, they say, and I agree. I hope to build this future through my own education, and the knowledge I gain from it, which I would then like to pass on to others. In the short time I've lived here in West Texas, I have worked full time (from home, with my college roommate from 1994-1995, no less) and taken part-time classes each semester since the fall of 2022. Several of those classes have had volunteering requirements that I have happily been able to complete for course credit. It's essentially the best use of my 'spare time' that results in points toward my grades. I have volunteered a couple of times each for both the political party of my choice and El Paso Fights Hunger (EPFH). I am politically active and have been since before I could even vote. I'd like to think that I lead by example with respect to volunteering and voting, even if only among my friends, acquaintances, and strangers I regularly talk to in public places. Volunteering for EPFH is extremely rewarding. Being able to see the size and scope of their efforts to feed the hungry is humbling. My parents are retired and in their 70s but they have until very recently volunteered twice a week for their local food bank back in Pennsylvania. Their example has shined a light on the path I walk in my own life. Being a good person, living by example, and taking the time to engage with those who are less fortunate are the cornerstones of building a better world. It feels like an impossible, uphill battle against the world right now, but that world only wins when we give up. We simply cannot do that and we must not. To quote one of my favorite bands, "we don't own this place but we act as if we did, it belongs to the children of our children's kids." Let's stop letting our world be destroyed by capitalistic greed and give the children of the future a chance to leave an even better world for their kids. Thank you for your consideration. Live long and prosper.

I don't just plan on making a positive impact on the world through my education and career choices, I plan on continuing the positive impact I've made and am making now. Five years ago in April of 2021, I moved to Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. I bet on myself and waited a year to gain residency after applying for re-entry in college. I was forced to drop out of university studies at the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 due to financial reasons. Within a year of moving to Texas, I was admitted to the University of Texas at El Paso. So, I packed my life again and headed toward the borderlands on July 31st, 2022 and have been here ever since. Moving halfway across the country where I knew practically no one in order to return to university studies at an age more appropriate for pickleball and shuffleboard, I've had to overcome a great deal, both externally and internally. It's been a struggle, but one that I believe I have met with courage and determination. In the time I've been here in West Texas, I have worked full time (from home, with my college roommate from 1994-1995, no less) and taken part time classes each semester. Several of those classes have had volunteering requirements that I have happily been able to complete for course credit. It's essentially the best use of my 'spare time' that results in points toward my grades. During my time here in El Paso, I have volunteered a couple of times each for both the political party of my choice and El Paso Fights Hunger (EPFH). I am politically active and have been since before I could even vote. I'd like to think that I lead by example with respect to volunteering and voting, even if only among my friends, acquaintances, and strangers I regularly talk to in public places. Volunteering for EPFH is extremely rewarding. Being able to see the size and scope of their efforts to feed the hungry is humbling. My parents are retired and in their 70s but they have until very recently volunteered twice a week for their local food bank back in Pennsylvania. Their example has shined a light on the path I walk in my own life. Speaking of my parents, they were instrumental on my path toward schooling and volunteering. Growing up, I was enrolled in the Cub Scouts before graduating to the Boy Scouts, where I was a patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster. I later earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During my time in scouts, public service and leadership were key components to our growth. I can't even remember all of the events we worked at in my youth. We picked up a lot of garbage, volunteered weeks worth of hours, and my Eagle project was a blood drive that I coordinated (with a lot of help from my parents and others). One of the most memorable experiences I had was teaching special needs kids how to swim. I quickly realized how much I took for granted in life when I saw how happy something as simple as learning to swim meant to them. Returning to my studies has been almost overwhelming while I work full-time and try to have some semblence of a life. At the end of the day, I would ideally like to help my fellow humans, and pets / animals, too. The qualities of empathy and perseverance are hopefully evident in both the years and breadth of my life experience. Thank you for your consideration.

I don't just plan on making a positive impact on the world through my education and career choices, I plan on continuing the positive impact I have made and am making now. Almost five years ago in April of 2021, I moved to Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. I bet on myself and waited a year to gain residency after applying for re-entry in college. I was forced to drop out of university studies at Pitt in 1996 due to financial reasons. Within a year, I was admitted to the University of Texas at El Paso. I moved to the borderlands on July 31st, 2022 and have been here ever since. In that time, I have worked full time (with my college roommate from 1994-1995, no less) and taken part time classes each semester. Several of those classes have had volunteering requirements that I have happily been able to complete for course credit. It's essentially the best use of my 'spare time' that results in points toward my grades. During my short time here in El Paso, I have volunteered a couple of times each for both the political party of my choice and El Paso Fights Hunger (EPFH). I am politically active and have been since before I could even vote. I attended two events for candidates in the upcoming primary election on March 3rd last weekend. My fiancee and I even voted earlier this week during our lunch break. Volunteering for EPFH is extremely rewarding. Being able to see the size and scope of their efforts to feed the hungry is humbling. My parents are retired and in their 70s but they have until very recently volunteered twice a week for their local food bank back in Pennsylvania. Dad had a stroke but he's recovering now and things are going well, God willing. Speaking of my parents, they were instrumental on my path toward schooling and volunteering. Growing up, I was enrolled in the Cub Scouts before graduating to the Boy Scouts, where I later earned the rank of Eagle Scout. During my time in scouts, public service was a key component to our growth. I can't even remember all of the events we worked at in my youth. We picked up a lot of garbage, volunteered weeks worth of hours, and my Eagle project was a blood drive that I coordinated (with a lot of help from my parents and others). One of my most memorable experiences was teaching special needs kids how to swim. At University now, I am studying towards a Bachelor's of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS) degree. The components of my program include history, social sciences, and creative writing. Ideally, I would like to be a writer, but I find myself drawn to the social sciences, particularly those that deal with the study of people, and actually helping people - psychology, sociology, anthropology, and linguistics. I have taken many courses in the realm of political science and also find myself drawn back there, as well. Quite frankly, I am not really sure what I want to do with my degree once I graduate, but the idea of graduate school is appealing. One of my history professors recently floated the idea of a PhD, which he said he would provide a letter of recommendation for if I chose to apply. At the end of the day, I would like to help my fellow humans, and pets, too. The qualities of compassion, authenticity, and a commitment to shared excellence are hopefully evident in both the years and breadth of my life experience. Thank you for your consideration.

At age 50, I am scared to death of failing, but here I am. I separated from my now late- ex-wife in 2021 and moved to Texas, where I applied to Texas Tech and UTEP. In 2022, UTEP reluctantly accepted me into their Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies program and my second stint in college began. My life's journey has been long and complicated, as well as literal. I live 1,800 miles from where I grew up and I'm back in therapy again, but in many ways, I've never been happier. I'm still frightened of failure, but I keep going. The experiences that motivated me to return to higher education are partially due to my continuing desire to lean, but admittedly to feel 'worthy' of being an adult. In my thirties, I started reading all of the classics that I never read in high school. I read dozens of books, such as War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Moby Dick, For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, Lolita, and many others. My favorite books are Slaughterhouse Five, Sirens of Titan, and Crime and Punishment. If you're able to see my other comments and scholarship submissions on my profile, you will read that my goal(s) in life aren't about accumulating prizes, things, or money - all I want is to be happy. In order for me to be happy with myself, I want to be educated and benefit society. I try to volunteer when I can and I stay active in politics, especially locally. I don't see myself as a leader, but I am usually forced into a role where I have to lead. I think my leadership style is best described as Ghandian, where I lead from the bottom up and by example. I plan to use my education to make a positive impact in my community in many of the ways that I do already - by volunteering and being a good example to others. All of my friends and family support me going back to school to obtain my degree. It makes me tear up a little bit to admit this, but I'm proud to be a good role model in that respect. It's taking a lot of hard with and effort to do well in school now. Plus, I work full time, so there's very little time in the day I have to myself. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, and all they other basic life stuff gets crammed in wherever possible. This scholarship would help me better manage my time, finances, and personal space. Not stressing out about how I'm going to pay for school would be a huge relief. Thanks for reading. I appreciate your time and financial support for older students, even if that student isn't me. Take care and be well. ~Joshua

When I was in high school in the early 1990s, my brother's friend shot himself in the front yard of his parent's house. To make things worse, he did it in front of his mother wife arguing over something as stupid as a video game he wanted. The gun was unlocked in the glove box and he knew it. What an awful tragedy. Around the same time, an elderly neighbor called my grandfather and asked him to come up to his house 'in about an hour.' The wife was in very poor health and terminal. The husband's solution to this was murder-suicide so neither had to suffer. That was the scene my grandfather walked in to that summer day. I never heard him talk about it personally and I can't even imagine how that affected him. I grew up hunting and I own a shotgun and a rifle. Both of those guns are locked in a cabinet some 2,000 miles away. I support gun ownership, but I will talk to anyone who will listen about the need for stricter gun laws. As a 2+ year resident of Texas, I have been active in the local Democratic party in order to put sane people into office who might be able to work towards the goal of reducing gun violence. It's more than apparent that Republicans don't care at all about children being murdered in schools, or anything else along those lines. Living in El Paso, I can see how the community came together and stayed together over the Wal-Mart shooting that happened in 2019. Gun violence affects everyone, but there's no question about how it can tear a family apart who has been directly affected by it. My plan to advocate for gun violence awareness is to continue volunteering for those who can politically advance the cause. I will also continue to encourage like-minded voters to do the same. As far as extracurriculars go, I really only do one thing - play chess. When I was in high school thirty years ago, I was a swimmer and diver. I also played bass guitar in the marching band for a year. When I was in college the first time during the mid-90s, I enjoyed a variety of intramural sports. I especially enjoyed softball, soccer, and volleyball. I love playing chess because it is intellectually simulating and generally a quiet endeavor. One of the other great things about chess is that you can play virtually anytime and anywhere. It's a great sport for the mind and I enjoy it immensely. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. Have a blessed day.

At age 48, I am old enough to be a parent to the vast majority of my classmates. In my return to studies thus far, I have only met one other student near my age, a 40+ year old mother of four from my Intro to Psychology course. In addition to being 'grandpa on campus,' I am a Caucasian male living in a border city where a number of my neighbors don't speak English. Often times, if they do, it's as a second language. The university I attend is the second-largest university in the United States to have a majority Mexican American student population (about 80%). I am probably among the most non-traditional students in the entire state. What drives me to do more is the desire to improve myself through education. In addition to that, I want to correct the mistakes of my past. I was a relatively smart kid, but I was a poor student. More interested in having a good time rather than attending classes, my grades suffered accordingly. Now, as I return to University studies as an adult, I am taking my education much more seriously. My parents continue to help and support my return to school. Along with wanting to improve my life, I want to make them proud of me. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship. Have a blessed day.

The dream version of my future self is a happy person, content with who they are and enjoying life.

I don't have personal preferences for favorite songs from this release, but I can share insights on one of the most popular songs from Taylor Swift's 1989 album. One of the most popular tracks from the album is "Blank Space." The song tells the story of a tumultuous relationship where Swift acknowledged society's images of her through media as a "serial dater," but instead of giving it weight, she turns it into a witty and sarcastic song. The track opens with a soft, almost eerie piano melody, followed by a slight drum beat as Swift's voice comes in, drawing attention to her voice and the lyrics of the song. The catchy melody of the song and the playful lyrics make it a standout track. Swift's use of humor in the chorus, where she repeats the phrase "Boys only want love if it's torture," turns the societal narrative on its head, making people laugh when they hear a perceived "negative" personality trait is portrayed self-deprecatingly. The song’s music video, directed by Joseph Kahn, parodies a wealthy mansion and the lives of the super-rich, making fun of the luxurious lifestyle which popular media has glamorized. The video opens with a snippet of a baroque-style mansion filled with Swift playing with the porcelain statues before intending to date with the lead actor, Sean O'Pry. The song is a perfect embodiment of Taylor Swift's storytelling ability and catchy songwriting artistry. She infuses humor in a story that could have been portrayed morosely and depressing if it were not for her witty, sharp lyrics that make fun of the pop culture image created about her. All in all, "Blank Space" stands out not just because of its catchy melody and clever lyrics but also its excellent use of humor to address a controversial topic. Swift reminded everyone that it's okay to laugh at oneself and that we shouldn't take societal perceptions at face value. That is why it has quickly become a fan favorite and still frequents Swift's concert setlists. If I was going to pick a favorite T. Swift song, it would be Lover. My girlfriend fell in love with it for a variety of reasons and put it on a playlist for a trip we took out of town last year. Now I can't hear the song without associating it to the absolutely wonderful and amazing time we spent together in San Antonio.

Generational wealth is the accumulation of money and investments that can be passed from one generation to the next. For example, a house that grandfather may have built is out into a trust and passed down to his children and grandchildren. Aside from taxes and upkeep, the property should theoretically be paid off within one / the original generation. After that house is paid off, borrowing against the equity to make investments would be one way to insert a large infusion of cash all at once into a project, like starting a new business. Another example might be receiving an inheritance or other financial investment from your parents. No amount of money can ever replace losing a parent, but preparing for the inevitable is a good way to set your children up to live comfortably after one passes. As far as how I plan on achieving generational wealth in the future, the answer is quite simple - I don't. I grew up on the family farm and we didn't have a lot of money. There was never any chance of affluence through generational wealth. The only chance I ever stood at being wealthy was through winning the lottery. Even then, I would have no designs on building wealth to pass down to the next generation. I would rather give it away to those in need right now. Speaking of which, I always liked the idea of having enough money to be a philanthropist. If I had millions of dollars, I could find someone much smarter than myself to invest it properly so I could then give away the interest every year. College scholarships would be among the most ideal methods of philanthropy. Having been a poor college student at two points in my life, at age 18 and again now at 48, I understand how hard it is to work hard and put oneself through school. This is exactly why I am struggling now and applying for this scholarship. The biggest difference between then and now is that I am no longer a punk kid who was more serious about having a good time instead of concentrating on his studies. Education is important to me, but not with the goal of accumulating wealth. Growing up just above the poverty line taught me a lot, but it certainly didn't teach me to be a money-hungry capitalist. Being happy, helping others, and enriching oneself intellectually - those are the important things in life. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

I am a 48-year-old Caucasian male living alone on the border town of El Paso, Texas. After moving my entire life from Pittsburgh, PA to Lubbock, TX in April 2021, I transferred my college credits from Pitt to UTEP and resumed my university studies in August 2022. Standing out is something at which I excel. I am a long-haired blond guy who grew up on a farm. I hunted, fished, camped, and learned a lot about life in my first 18 years of life. Thirty years later, I am taking everything I’ve ever learned and applying it to my studies. In every class I’ve taken so far, I bring a unique perspective to class discussions. The experience and knowledge I have gained over the years is beyond anything my 18–22-year-old mostly Latino classmates could understand. Sure, they know how to Tik-Tok and Instagram, but I have real-world experience outside of the classroom. To that extent, I believe that I have earned the respect of many of my classmates. Rather than go to the professor to ask questions about assignments, they often come to me instead. I believe it is because of my dedication to the coursework and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. Perhaps if I had that same kind of determination the first time I went to college, I would already have a degree and wouldn’t be back in school now. In today’s society, or any day’s society for that matter, it can be difficult for students to follow their passions and live their truths. One thing I have learned over the years is to not care what anyone else thinks about you. Live your life on your own terms and do what’s best for you. Make mistakes, go places you’ve never been, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, find out who you are, and then never trade that for anything. When I was in high school, I was recruited the morning of a talent show to play rhythm guitar for my friend's band. We played AC/DC's Highway to Hell and rocked the house. They took a chance on me and I took a chance on myself. It was a defining moment in my life. It is my genuine hope that my leadership in class, willingness to embarrass myself for the sake of knowledge, and dedication to the coursework sets an example for my classmates. As an Eagle Scout (1993), I am no stranger to volunteer work. After returning to school in 2022, I began volunteering again. Whether it is helping at El Paso Fights Hunger, canvassing neighborhoods to ‘get out the vote,’ or teaching chess at local gatherings, I enjoy giving back to the community. I not only plan on giving back to the community in the future, but I’m also doing it right now. This scholarship would go a long way toward helping me advance my studies toward the goal of graduating with a bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary studies (History, Creative Writing, Social Sciences). Even my major is non-traditional. I am a maverick, a unique individual, a learner, a son, a brother, an uncle, and dedicated to being the best version of me possible. Thank you for considering me for the scholarship. And don’t forget to vote in the upcoming election!

I am a 48-year-old Caucasian male living alone on the border town of El Paso, Texas. After moving my entire life from Pittsburgh, PA to Lubbock, TX in April 2021, I transferred my college credits from Pitt to UTEP and resumed my university studies in August 2022. Standing out is something at which I excel. I am a long-haired blond guy who grew up on a farm. I hunted, fished, camped, and learned a lot about life in my first 18 years of life. Thirty years later, I am taking everything I’ve ever learned and applying it to my studies. In every class I’ve taken so far, I bring a unique perspective to class discussions. The experience and knowledge I have gained over the years is beyond anything my 18–22-year-old mostly Latino classmates could understand. Sure, they know how to Tik-Tok and Instagram, but I have real-world experience outside of the classroom. To that extent, I believe that I have earned the respect of many of my classmates. Rather than go to the professor to ask questions about assignments, they often come to me instead. I believe it is because of my dedication to the coursework and willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. Perhaps if I had that same kind of determination the first time I went to college, I would already have a degree and wouldn’t be back in school now. In today’s society, or any day’s society for that matter, it can be difficult for students to follow their passions and live their truths. One thing I have learned over the years is to not care what anyone else thinks about you. Live your life on your own terms and do what’s best for you. Make mistakes, go places you’ve never been, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, find out who you are, and then never trade that for anything. It is my genuine hope that my leadership in class, willingness to embarrass myself for the sake of knowledge, and dedication to the coursework sets an example for my classmates. As an Eagle Scout (1993), I am no stranger to volunteer work. After returning to school in 2022, I began volunteering again. Whether it is helping at El Paso Fights Hunger, canvassing neighborhoods to ‘get out the vote,’ or teaching chess at local gatherings, I enjoy giving back to the community. I not only plan on giving back to the community in the future, but I’m also doing it right now. This scholarship would go a long way toward helping me advance my studies toward the goal of graduating with a bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary studies (History, Creative Writing, Social Sciences). Even my major is non-traditional. I am a maverick, a unique individual, a learner, a son, a brother, an uncle, and dedicated to being the best version of me possible. Thank you for considering me for the scholarship. And don’t forget to vote in the upcoming election!