Faith is the driving factor behind every aspect of my life. From surviving brain tumor surgery in 2001, to the time that my first father decided to leave me and my mom, back in 2008, along with trying to kidnap me in 2012, I have discovered how Jesus Christ is truly the only friend that I need, in a world filled with sin. It is Him alone who has protected and provided for me during times of distress. In the present day, even the job I have, and starting school were initiated by faith. It has been at the center of every direction I have gone. As long as I stay in contact with Him throughout my day, the Holy Spirit will guide and direct me. Even when I fall and commit sin, He provides conviction, informing me that the decision(s) I just made were not the best choices. The faith that I have in Jesus Christ, that His work at Calvary - His death and burial - and His resurrection from the grave solidifies my assurance that I will one day be in the complete presence of God. With that guarantee, I can live this life in peace - even during the trials and storms that will occur - trusting that God will direct my paths, and continue to do a good work in me, preparing me to enter into His full presence. I have discovered that faith is all I truly need in this life because, just as the old hymn proclaims, I just need to “Trust and Obey” the Lord everyday. Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims that the Lord knows the plans He has for us, which are to prosper us, not harm, and to give us a hope and a future. With this understanding, faith has also impacted my life in complete service to Him. I have let go of my dreams and desires; I no longer have seek after dream jobs or lifestyles. I just allow for the Spirit to guide me in the direction that He wants me to go. Do I have ideas of jobs or ministerial endeavors I could do, yes. However, before pursuing anything, my prayer is that the Lord keeps these ideas in my head, and that I do not forget about them. And if the Lord opens the door to pursue said endeavor(s), who am I to turn the other direction? So, how do I plan to utilize faith to help others? This is accomplished through living by example. I am to live as the most joyful individual a person will meet, no matter the circumstances of my life, inner circle of influence, or beyond. I am to live a life that exemplifies the fact that no matter how hard life gets, I can experience and express joy. To show people how I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, and allowed God to direct my paths, I hope to show others the assurance they can find in trusting the Lord as well. Living by faith shows others that while we may not always be in the most profitable position, we are where God wants to - to fulfill His ultimate plan of spreading the message of salvation to all nations, resulting in an eternal relationship with God, who is the only One who can provide eternal joy, hope, and peace. I trust Him in all aspects of my life. While I may not know why I am in my current position, my faith is strong enough to realize that it serves a bigger purpose for what God has in store.

The greatest achievement I have obtained so far throughout my life is obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. I started in the cub scouts, and went all the way through Boy Scouts, obtaining the highest rank that can be obtained. Many consider this award to be recognized, as many young men drop out before reaching such a rank, which is a statistic that I can vouch for, as me and only two other of my friends who started together in cub scouts made it to the end. The Boy Scouts of America trained me to be a productive member of society, one that is always of service, and one that strives to put my best into every endeavor that I pursue. From societal communication skills, to outdoor survival, STEM knowledge, trade skills, artistry, and beyond, the Boy Scouts of America provided me with a vast knowledge of societal inclusiveness, and preparation for educational and career advancement. Throughout the whole experience, which lasted throughout my tenure as a primary and secondary education student, the primary lesson that I obtained was to put others first. The whole entire purpose of becoming a Scout is to help others, no matter the reward, if any. While in the scouting program, you are taught how to take care of yourself mentally and physically, as well as how to survive if necessary, but the primary purpose is to be of service to the community, and to the nation. One even has to conduct a major project that will serve as a benefit to either the community or beyond to obtain the rank of Eagle. The Boy Scouts of America helps one to realize that there is more reward in helping others achieve success and well-being, compared to self-advancement and pleasure. Regarding future achievements, due to the receiving of this achievement, I hope to take part in career endeavors that are of service to others. Whether through a not-for-profit, or starting my own business, I want my business endeavors to be one’s that benefit others, in terms of well-being, physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. I have discovered that I find much more joy and pleasure in service, rather than being served. I hope to take part in projects that benefit communities, help lower-income families/communities, and help spread the joy of service amongst individuals of my age group, rather than being focused of self-promotion.

Overall, the way that I positively impact the climate is to use all the resources that I have until they are beyond fixation. This, in my opinion, is the best thing I, as an individual person can do, instead of buying “green” products when what I have works just fine. For example, many may think that they are helping the climate buy buying electric cars. Unfortunately, all they are doing is changing fuel sources. Instead of fossil fuels from gas pumps, they are using power plants, which force just as much toxins into the atmosphere, burning coal, and forcing CO2 into the atmosphere. If we want to make the climate, and our world, better for the coming generations, then we can do so by being conservative with our resources. If using the example above, if your gasoline powered car has driven its last mile, and the cost to fix it is not worth the outcome, then by all means, retire that car, and purchase an electric power car. However, the reality of this scenario is that the human race has exposed our atmosphere to so many gases, that it would take an exuberantly massive percentage of the world population to even make a small impact on “cleaning up” our atmosphere. All in all, the best thing that I can do, as an individual, to make a positive impact on the climate, is to be conservative with my resources. Just because something new comes out, and it is shinier, bigger, and may have neater tools or utilities does not mean that my current possessions are worthless. As one person, I may not be able to make a exuberantly positive impact that will drastically better our climate, but I can do my part by using my resources to their fullest.

Along with a career in Higher Education Administration, I want to stay involved in mission work with the mission organization that I am active with. The last trip I was able to go on was back in 2018, to Trujillo, Peru. Afterwards, I started going back to school, and my finances had to go towards financing my education. Then the pandemic hit, and said organization has not been able to bring along members of the body of Christ, to partake in expanding the Kingdom of God. While we have ministered to communities through child/missionary/preacher/church planter sponsorships, we have not been able to get back out on the field. Therefore, I have been taking this opportunity to complete my higher education endeavors, to complete my master’s degree, and get back out on the field. This sinful world needs to hear the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ, as it is this sole factor that will help bring people into the Body of Christ, progress through a sinful and decaying world, and enter into a coming eternal world and Kingdom that will never perish. As mentioned at the start, I also want to get involved in Higher Education Administration, primarily within the Seminary realm, when I am not out on the mission field with the missions organization I am associated with. I see the utmost value in providing society with the opportunity to better themselves for societal progression. While having a degree in Higher Education is not a garauntee that one will succeed in this life in whatever endeavor(s) is/are pursued, I believe that it is important for everyone to take every logical opportunity they can to better themselves for societal advancement. A pursuit in Higher Educaiton is one of those opportunities for personal progression. Obtaining a degree shows employers that you have the head knowledge to think through potential problems, and that you have the capability of understanding and obtaining the traits obtained through on-the-job training. To be a part of expanding the Kingdom of God through Great Commission work is my passion, and being able to aid students in the their educational pursuits to prepare for ministry, likewise, is a missional desire that the Lord has placed upon my heart. To go out into the nations, tell people about Christ and what He has done for us, and to see the Body of Christ grow is a joy that no substance on earth can even compare to. The responsiblity that the Church has to tell the world about Christ turns into the premier joy we have on this earth, right after the relationship we have with God Himself. Likewise, to provide children of God with an education, from a christian perspective, is of utmost necessity in this day and age. While not every child of God is called into the pulpit, or out into the mission field, we are all called to have a relationship with God, daily learn about His Truth and Being, share with and serve others, and therefore, take advantage of every opportunity to learn more about Him, and better prepare ourselves on how to prepare and provide for what the world brings to us. I see it as my responsibilty to do my part in preparing coming ministers and children of God to live our and pursue Great Commission endeavors. All in all, I want to make this world a better place by giving the world the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ, and provide students with an opportunity to better prepare themselves for future endeavors, through Higher Education.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I am wanting to pursue higher education - because I see the value that higher education has in giving the individual the head knowledge of reality that is needed to blend with experience that is obtained outside of the classroom - even though I am only making money through SSI, and without Federal Student loans or aid. I see the value of obtaining as much education as one can. 2. My academic and/or career goal(s) is/are to work within the higher education system, potentially one day as a Director of Online Studies, or within the Registrar’s Office. 3. In 2008, my dad decided to leave me and my mom, and continue living his life with the women he was having an affair with. He continued to force me to visit him, due to his “parental rights.” In 2012, he tried to kidnap me. All of these instances, from 2008 to 2012, strengthened me, and taught that trust is aspect of life that should not be taken for granted.

In June of 2001, I had two gramma seizures. After the second episode, I was transported to our state children’s hospital, where they determined that I had a benign tumor within the left front lobe of my brain causing these episodes. The surgery commenced, and the aftermath resulted in short-term memory loss, hypothyroidism, and what was thought of at time as epileptic seizures (only to be found out years later that I have PNES, or Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures). In regards to the prompt, this experience has influenced my career endeavors in a negative way. No one has wanted to hire me, due to the potentiality of seizure activities, not to mention the potentiality of forgetting what to do, due to short-term memory loss. I have been able to find work, but not for long-term. I have primarily survived on SSI. I am in no intimate relationship with anyone, primarily because my condition has somewhat adapted me to somewhat of a loner lifestyle. Regarding my beliefs, in terms of spiritual beliefs, I know that there is a God, and He uses instances like mine to draw His children near to Him. When I was in surgery, my mother prayed in the waiting room, proclaiming that if God saved me, she would dedicate herself and me to Him, and whatever He wanted us to do. We were not christians at the time, yet my mom felt compelled to pray to the Creator of everyone and everything. Overall, my experience with mental health has influenced the said areas in such ways: God is faithful and provides for His children, and there are opportunities for everyone to seek after if you look hard enough. No, I do not have a full time job, but I have been able to make ends meet. Through the SSI I receive, and the little money I make doing side jobs every now and then, I have been able to pay for the necessities of life. My condition may not allow me to have a job in Industrial America, but God has a plan for me, regarding His ultimate plan for mankind. How can I do anything but serve Him? Therefore, I have applied for Seminary studies, online, preparing myself for mission work. This is a great opportunity for me, but it also adds another cost to my daily living, especially for someone living off of SSI. However, the Lord is faithful, and I will continue to pursue education, no matter the cost(s). With my previous statements displaying my experience with my beliefs and career aspirations, regarding relationships now, even though I have this loner lifestyle, I still commune with people. I do not yearn to find a quiet place all to myself, but at the same time, I do not long to be around people. I am just ok in either scenario. I am just not the person who initiates conversation. I will add in my perspective or response if asked or prompted, but usually I will never do so voluntarily. The benefit to this, however, is that I am usually considered the “wise owl” of the group I am with. I sit there quiet, and I’ll make a proclamation that just ends the conversation. This is not me trying to brag, but being the quiet person, I listen before I speak. So there is a benefit to being the quiet person of the group. To conclude, my mental health has affected what I can and cannot do in this life. However, it has not stopped me from pursuing education and what I have been called to do.

Written by Eric Whitacre, “When David Heard” exhibits a rollercoaster of emotions. Whether is one is religious or not, as the text is taken from 2 Samuel 18:33 from the Old Testament of the Bible, this musical composition really exhibits the emotions a person goes through when a loved one has passed. In this song, King David has been informed that his son, Absalom, has been killed, and even though Absalom was trying to take over the Kingdom, and his death was seen as a joyous occasion by the followers of King David, David himself looked at this from a fatherly perspective, rather than a political one. Whitacre makes usage of pan-diatonic chord clusters to resemble the emotion of David mourning over the death of his son. The chords in the beginning and concluding recitativo’s really resemble the emotion that is to be expressed in relation to its terminology; “When David heard that,” is in an a minor chord, which goes into a C7 in 2nd inversion, with C and B clashing together at the top. Here, I see the major C chord resembling the joy of David’s people finding out that Absalom is dead, yet for David, the clash of the B and C, a m2 interval, resonates the negative emotions David would have been experiencing. Whitacre also makes usage of an 18 note cluster chord, using a d minor scale, to display the many emotions and realizations that David would have experienced in hearing of the death of his son; the sorrow he felt, yet knowing of the joy it brought to his people. Also, the key to this song is to embrace the silence in between each motif, which makes the audience put themselves in David’s position. “When David Heard” truly exemplifies the love of a parent.

I come from a childhood of believing that since I was a good person and learned about Jesus in school, I would go to Heaven. In 2001, I had two gramma seizures, and had to undergo brain tumor surgery - Traumatic incident #1. Due to the surgery, my mother prayed in the waiting room to God, proclaiming that if He saved me, she would dedicate me and herself to Him and His Will. The surgery was a success, and after returning home, we started attending a local church congregation. A few months into becoming active with the church, I went on a Kids Church Camp retreat. It was there that I started to learn the truth about salvation, and it was through a clown duo! They displayed, through, a skit, how important it is to have an actual relationship with Christ; just knowing about Him is not enough. I became a true child of God that night. As the years passed, I can tell you that I was a legitimate believer and child of God, but I was definitely not the most dedicated one. Then, in 2008, December 26, my father decided to leave me and my mother for another woman that he had been seeing behind our backs - Traumatic incident #2. In 2012, at the All-State Choir conference, he even tried to kidnap me; Traumatic incident #3. Throughout these incidences, my demeanor changed. I became the quiet child; the loner; the do-it-yourself guy. I hardly would communicate with many people; I was the one who did not want to have friends. However, throughout these storms, I now can see how God used these encounters to strengthen my relationship with Him. When my dad left, me and my mom became far more dedicated to serving in Church than we ever had been. Due to the change of my behavior, in becoming the quiet guy, I studied and prayed more often, not as much as a child of God probably should, but definitely more. To top it all off, my mom met someone new, in 2012, whom she would marry in 2013, and who would become my knew legal father by adoption. God has provided throughout every storm in my life, and that has always motivated me to be of service to Him and His Will for my life. So, how has my background impacted my faith? Likewise, how has it impacted my service endeavors in the future? Just as the old hymn proclaims, “Trust and Obey.” I know now that God will provide for me in every circumstance, and that there is no reason for me to worry about anything. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, and He takes care of His children; He knows what we can handle, and what is best for each of us. Even in the present, in paying for my education, money has come out of nowhere, and has helped me pay for my ministerial education. When God leads me in a particular direction, I have no need to second guess or worry. I just need to go, obeying His Word and commands, and trusting He will guide me through the entire process. There is no storm that is too difficult for my God to handle. My Lord has provided for me throughout every aspect of my life, which I now realize, how can I do anything but give back to Him, through being of service to His Will for my life, and for all creation and eternity? No matter where the Lord places me in the future, I will go, trusting and obeying.