Trauma that happens during early childhood development can have serious consequences, including but not limited to learning difficulties, problems with health and mental health, and increased involvement in child welfare and juvenile justice systems. I, myself, have experienced childhood sexual assault, and as a result, I had trouble in school, with my health, and mental health. This has made me passionate about pursuing a career in psychology to help children who have experienced childhood abuse and trauma. I plan to combat the issue of early childhood development trauma through research and development, as well as working in the field with some of these children. Research and development can answer the questions we don't have answers to. Experience is also one of the best ways to learn about how trauma in early childhood development affects these children. I believe with these two routes, I can make strides in the mental health community on how to best help these children heal. To be more specific, when it comes to gaining experience working with these children, I plan to pursue a career in psychiatry. Although I do believe therapy is one of the best ways to heal from trauma, I think my skill set would fit in best in the psychiatry field. When I was diagnosed with PTSD, ADHD, and Bipolar Disorder in 2022, it completely changed my life for the better. It was what inspired me to start pursuing a career in mental health diagnostics. The reason I am so passionate about helping these children is because I am one. My abuse stemmed from my step-father, and I am still working on healing these wounds. Because of the abuse that happened to me, I struggled to keep up in school. It wasn't because I wasn't smart enough, but because I had more serious things on my mind and had trouble with focusing. I also have more problems with my health than the average 21 year old, and I have been using mental health services since I was 14 years old. Not to mention the struggle I face with PTSD symptoms. These are the results of childhood trauma. It leaves the victim wondering what they could have been and about the potential that was stolen from them. I hope that one day I can be a part of something bigger, something that will help children who have experienced abuse heal and live better, happier lives. In conclusion, childhood trauma during early development has tremendous consequences. I plan to combat this issue with research and development and working in the field with these children as a psychiatrist. I am so passionate about childhood trauma because of the experiences that I face. I want to change the world.

My name is Julia Toman, and I am passionate about mental health. I, myself, suffer from PTSD and Bipolar Disorder. My chosen career path is in psychiatry. My goal is to help people suffering from mental illness, while also proving that people who are mentally ill or neurodivergent can accomplish great things. I plan to accomplish this through experimentation and research, diagnosis, prescribing medications, and recommending therapy. I believe that my own experience with mental illness has only made me more passionate about mental health, as well as caring and understanding towards others who are also mentally ill. Having a mental illness, pursuing a degree can be harder for me than the average person. Not only do I face Bipolar Disorder and PTSD, but I also have ADHD. These disorders make it hard for me to stay focused and motivated, attend lectures, complete homework, and feel my best. But with the help of my doctors and therapists, I can manage these symptoms. Despite the challenges I face, I will not let that hold me back from achieving my dreams and helping others. Currently, I am working towards earning a B.S. in Psychology. In the future, I plan on going to medical school and earning an MD in Psychiatry. I will be the first generation in my family to earn an MD. My mother is currently working on her bachelor's degree in nursing. As for my experience in mental health, I do not have any professional experience. However, I have plenty of experience learning about different coping skills and therapies. I have been educating myself and receiving education from others about mental health since I was 14 years old. I chose this career path in psychiatry and psychology because while learning about mental health for myself, I became passionate about how the brain works regarding mental illness. I also developed an interest in helping others with mental illnesses. I knew that I wanted to focus on diagnostics when I first got my diagnosis in 2022. The doctor who assessed me truly changed my life for the better and inspired me to follow in his footsteps. I recently developed an interest in also pursuing experimentation and research when I began working in a lab for school and university research. It would be huge if I won this scholarship, not only because it honors Ethan To and is all about mental health, but because my family is low income and both I and my mother have student debt. I am searching for scholarships to help me achieve my dream and in turn, help others with their struggles regarding mental health. In conclusion, I would be honored to receive any kind of help in achieving my dreams of helping others with their mental health.