I grew up in a well-off household. That was until I was a freshman in high school, and was kicked out of my house. Now, as a senior in high school, I work two jobs and help cover housing expenses my mom can’t afford on her own. Growing up, I was taught how to save and spend money wisely. However, after being kicked out, those lessons quickly became my reality; what once felt like simply advice turned into essential survival. Being forced to become financially independent at such a young age completely changed my understanding of money. I had to learn how to stretch every dollar, prioritize necessities over wants, and make difficult decisions about where my money needed to go. Working two jobs while finishing high school has taught me discipline, time management, and resilience, but most importantly, it has given me a real-world financial education that many people don’t experience until much later in life. With these experiences, I have learned to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of financial stability. I have learned how quickly circumstances can change and how important it is to be prepared. Budgeting is no longer optional for me; it is essential. I carefully track my spending and limit the amount of wants; these habits have helped me stay responsible and focused, even when things feel overwhelming and stressful. As I move forward into college and my future career, I plan to build on the financial knowledge I’ve gained. I want to continue improving my understanding of topics like investing, credit management, and long-term financial planning. My goal is not only to achieve financial independence, but also to create lasting stability for myself and my future family. I want to be in a position where I no longer have to worry about the basic needs of life, but put my money towards things that have a greater opportunity, like growth and success. Ultimately, my experiences have shaped my mindset toward money in a way that is both practical and driven. Financial education, to me, is not just about numbers; it is about security, freedom, and the ability to create a better future. I am determined to use what I’ve learned, along with the knowledge I will continue to gain, to build a life defined not by past hardships, but by resilience and success. I am confident that I can turn the challenges I’ve faced into a foundation for lasting success.

My life was turned upside down in 2021; my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer, we had been kicked out of our house, and my aunt had died. I was a freshman in high school at the time and was already struggling to keep up. My mom wanted to make sure I had a stable place to live so we moved into my grandmothers house but nothing would have prepared us for the diagnosis the doctors gave my mother in November of 2021, she had a grade two Astrocytoma. I knew she was struggling on the inside but on the outside she was handling it like a champion. It wasn’t until March of 2022 she had the surgery to remove it. It was 100% successful and it hasn’t returned to this day. Though we had overcome this challenge it still felt as we were still at rock bottom. My aunt had died the same year that my mom was diagnosed with cancer, she had been fully vaccinated but still ended up with Covid-19 which ended up being the cause of her death. The vaccines had failed her. After all of this things were starting to look up but we still had the lingering problem of no income and college was inching closer. I picked up two jobs which I currently still have to help pay for personal expenses and house expenses, I am a coach for two teams at Champion Cheer Allstars as well as a Lifeguard at Elise Cerami Aquatics Center in Carroll ISD. I currently work around 12 paid hours and 3 unpaid volunteer hours. As well as juggling school and cheerleading. With my money from work I am hoping to pay for some of my college expenses so that I can purse my career in pediatric cardiology. My mom and I have overcome many challenges but at the end of the day we face them together and I always get back on my feet. I am hoping to use this scholarship to put towards my college fund at The University of Oklahoma and start my medical career. I want to go in to pediatrics so I can give children hope and light into there lives when they feel like giving up. I want to be there to help them get better and make it so they can live out there dreams like I had the ability to do. I can’t wait to start this journey.