When someone mentions "mental health" in these current times, I believe some thoughts come to mind. Examples are: "People with mental health issues are weak-minded and I don't understand it. They need to just decide to be happy" or "These people are crazy and what is their problem?" and "That's so sad if only they could get some help". I believe as people become educated in how our brain works and that it is an organ just like our heart or lungs, for example, we can understand that the brain can have some problems as well causing physiological problems due to chemical imbalances. We must care for those who are fighting a mental battle and bring about hope and healing for them, just as a doctor does through modern medicine. To be honest, growing up, I remember listening to stories on the news about a crime happening, the perpetrator getting charged with a crime and then that same person pleading "not guilty" because he pleaded "insanity". He used mental illness as his justification. I thought to myself "What an excuse and a way to get from being found guilty for a crime". Although each case is unique, I believe many crimes may have been avoided if that particular person could have gotten mental help. I had to go through some tough series of events to change my understanding of mental health and because of the events and help that I received, I am now inspired to make a career in mental health as I understand the struggle and difficulties that come along with mental illness. I too was a victim of dealing with anxiety and depression. But with the help of counseling, I honestly don't know where I would be. My journey began when I was a young child, feeling so afraid to be left alone, or having to talk to someone. Then in my teen years, I would have panic attacks, but, because mental illness wasn't well known in my circle of life, I was never taken to find out why I would have these "fearful" episodes. As life events progressed, my mother died when I was 19 years old and my father did not handle this loss, and found himself as a single parent. He began to say some pretty scary things and life became uncertain for all of us. I ignored much of the pain and went on with my life and later I married and had four children. My father then two years later remarried and his wife persuaded him to disown his children and the pain of losing both parents was unbearable for me. I internalized many things within myself as no one talked about how to get help or deal with pain in life and how to process thoughts from within. I began to go into a tailspin mentally and physically but I didn't know why. It is said that emotions and pain if not dealt with will never go away, they just get buried alive inside the depths of your heart waiting to manifest. Your body knows. This is what happened to me. I began to become irritable and fatigued. Then I began to feel discouraged and the anxiety grew so strong I was no longer able to sleep at night. Desperately searching for answers my husband and I went from doctor to doctor, trying to find out why I couldn't sleep, all sorts of tests were run, with all coming back negative. Meanwhile not sleeping sucked the life and energy out of me that I no longer was able to function with life's simplest of tasks. Sleeping pills were prescribed but they eventually quit working. Deep depression set in at that point and I lost all hope. I just wanted to die. It was suggested that I go to counseling. This was a new concept for me and I rejected the idea. but, when the medical field had no more answers for me I decided to give it a shot. I had no other choice since nothing else worked. I went for a year until my allowed insurance visits were used up and I quit. We addressed some issues, and I slowly recovered, but then 6 years later I relapsed. I should not have quit so quickly. This time, I could feel it coming again and I was so scared because I didn't know how to stop it. I had all the same symptoms. After trying doctors once again, one very kind man who was substituting for the Doctor I had made an appointment with sat me down and asked me some questions, and pinpointed that I had conversion disorder. He said my brain was stuck and I needed to go to counseling. I began going and this time, I was determined to do the hard work by addressing many issues and feelings. This counselor was kind and patient with me. He explained many things and helped me understand what was happening to me and why. Life and hope were breathed back into my very soul and I knew then, what I wanted to be once I got better. I wanted to be a mental health counselor. You see, in my youth, mental health was such a stigma, and information on its importance was not emphasized or valued. I honestly believe if my parents had addressed the issues I was going through as a teenager when I was having panic attacks, I could have learned valuable tools at a younger age that would have helped me cope. I also believe that after my mom died, if we would have all gone to counseling, the grief that comes with loss could have been addressed. Instead, hurt and pain came at a significant cost to my body physically, which affected the life of my husband and children as well. Because I had buried so many false beliefs and internalized so many hurts deep within my soul, my body knew it was still there and it manifested through Conversion. My body literally shut down screaming at me to go get help. I was this time bound to a wheelchair, unable to drive, take care of myself, or even eat. When I think back to that place, it brings shame and regret. Now that I have recovered, I understand not only the importance of addressing pain and hurt, but also I understand the depths that a soul can sink when hope is lost. Dealing with depression is scary and when a person is in the middle of it they can only see despair and loss. They don't understand it is temporary and through hard work they can climb out of that hole. Anxiety is another obstacle to deal with when worry and fear overcome a person they don't understand that what they are feeling may not be accurate. They need those false beliefs challenged with facts. I believe that I can offer a unique personal take on comprehending the effects and challenges that one must overcome to climb out of their mental hole. My heart goes out to all who suffer and I want to be a person who now can help bring about change in a person's life. Knowing the importance and difference that a counselor who understands mental health can bring, I believe that giving to others out of the pain I experienced will turn what was meant to be my downfall, into a victory. My story can be their story of hope and recovery. Each person who suffers from mental health issues needs to have skilled and knowledgeable counselors to come alongside them and be the changing inspiration for them to recover as well. I am applying for this scholarship because I want to be one of those who can bring a change in a person's life, not only for that hurting individual but also for those who are affected by their life. We are all connected and when I help one person I help the family and friends who care about the individual. As the one person becomes better so will the lives of those who love them become better as well. What they learn they will be able to impart to others, who may not want to go to counseling but it can become a chain reaction to benefit lives around them. I know from my own experience I have been able to impart what I have learned to others through conversation. Imagine what could happen if the people I am able to help were able to help others. It would bring about change to many and affect those who would not be willing to go to counseling. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and why I am inspired to become a professional counselor.

When I was a child I struggled with shyness and anxiety, but I never knew I was struggling with GAD. My parents never thought to find out why I would have episodes of extreme fear, which I later learned were panic attacks. My mom passed away when I was 19 years old and my dad kind of went off the deep end after that. I later married and had 4 wonderful children. I dedicated my life to being the best wife and mom I knew how to be. I put high expectations upon myself and my family. I had two fallouts in my life when my children were under 10 and then when they were in their teens. I suffered from chronic fatigue for a total of 8 years and what came along with it was anxiety and depression. I was unable to work or function. My husband was my support but it took such a toll on him, worrying about me when he was gone working during the day and then when he returned home from work he had to take care of the cooking and the children. I would sit there helplessly unable to move or function because I was so exhausted I couldn't crawl from one room to the next. The fatigue was so extreme at times, I couldn't even lift the spoon to my mouth to feed myself. I had to depend on my family. When I had my second round of chronic fatigue, we finally found a doctor who diagnosed me with conversion disorder. My poor family, had to go through the strain of taking care of me again while I helplessly tried to recover but didn't know what to do. They watched me struggle with episodes of crying, hiding in my closet to keep others from seeing me in this poor mental state because I was so embarrassed. It was tough on my family, causing stress on each member. I in turn felt so guilty for putting them through this struggle once again and thought, what is my problem? Through the help of a kind and compassionate counselor, we worked hard at addressing the hurts and regrets I had in my life and I began to slowly recover. My counselor diagnosed me with GAD and has helped me to not only understand how it works but has given me tools to keep it manageable. I am so grateful for the understanding and patience he has given me. His calling is now my calling and has put a burning desire inside of me to want to help others who are suffering from anxiety and depression. I am working towards getting my master's in counseling because I desire to see others whole and not have to suffer as I did. I want the suffering I went through to be a victory not only for myself but for those whose lives I will be honored to impart life skills into. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story and earn a scholarship.

I was diagnosed with conversion disorder in 2017. My life had fallen apart while suffering from chronic fatigue without finding any answers from the medical field until one doctor took the time to ask me deeper questions. He told me to get out of my wheelchair and fight to get my life back. This was extremely hard for me as I had lost the desire to keep going in life. I had to muster all that I had left within me to change the course of my life. I am a wife with 4 kids and they were all suffering with me, wondering if they would ever get their mom back and if life would ever return to normal. I had to make a decision, to seek professional counseling or continue in my downward spiral. I chose to make the phone call and set up that appointment to get on the road to recovery. The stigma that comes from having a mental illness is embarrassing in today's society. The work required to change the false beliefs and confrontation of them was and is a hard road. Going to a counselor is not something one advertises or is proud of, but now that I look back it was the best choice I ever made to become a better, stronger and healthier person. I persevered through the long slow road of recovery by allowing hope to come back into my life that there would be an end to the madness I was feeling inside of me. Facing fears and hurts was tough but learning how to rethink past traumas and mistakes helped me to rise above them and I climbed out of my pit of despair, and I eventually regained my strength and energy. It was so worth it. Through this experience, I learned the value of allowing others to come into my life instead of going at things alone. There is strength that can be given from others and people have good they can offer but I must be willing to allow them into my circle and trust. I learned that there is a shortage of healthcare professionals in the mental health industry and I can contribute to the solution now that I understand how a person feels through the process. I have learned to live in the moment and be grateful for the little things in life because we can so easily take them for granted. Although I have no desire to ever repeat this experience, the lessons I learned through the process have changed my life and given me a calling to help others by becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor.

I used to think that mental health was for the weak of mind and for those who were mentally unstable, but I have become a strong believer in the change that comes through professional counseling. Having dealt with anxiety and depression after going through some tough life circumstances, I was forced to go to a counselor to get emotional help. Where I was once a nonbeliever and critical, I have now become a believer in the mental healthcare system. It is vital that those who are suffering seek out a professional to help them get back on track. As society understands this is an issue that is not a respecter of persons, I believe more will be willing to seek out help when they are unable to cope with life challenges. I am currently enrolled in graduate school to attain my degree in Counseling. This field of healthcare is vital to helping all who are struggling with mental health issues from the least to the greatest. We must reach out to those who are hurting in a world that is filled with unwelcomed circumstances. After having dealt with mental health issues myself, my heart goes out to those who are suffering alone and not knowing what to do to find help. My first action was to pursue completing my bachelor's degree in 2023 and now going for my master's. The topic of my going back to college at a later age in my life has brought up the subject of mental awareness to those I talk to. This allows me the opportunity to speak to those around me when I hear of their struggles. I actively encourage those who are struggling to go and seek out professional counseling. I bring up the subject with no shame so they will not be embarrassed or ashamed of the need to seek out counseling. It is important to keep a dialogue open to people so they understand the impact that professional counseling can make in a person's life. I believe through understanding and compassion when hearing about mental illness in a person, encouragement with a positive attitude, will be a positive direction for people to know that it works and changes people's lives for the better. The more I speak up for the need to get help and the more that others do the same I believe the stigma will go and many will be helped. I desire to be one of those privileged persons who can offer hope and healing through change.

Unknown as a child, I battled anxiety with its fears and complexities to cope with difficult situations. As life threw many curveballs, death of a parent, the abandonment of a father, and then family challenges with children, I went into a physical tailspin in my adult life. Unable to cope and process the hurt and pain I internalized my thoughts and it manifested through physical symptoms. Debilitating Chronic fatigue set in with no answers as to why as I went from doctor to doctor trying to find the answer but only facing dead ends. Finally, it was suggested that I go to counseling. The first episode came in 2007-2010 but I pulled out of it through a year of counseling but I didn't go long enough. The second time it came back with a vengeance in 2016-2020 but this time I received greater and longer help through my licensed professional counselor and we were able to address many things and worked out resolutions. The counselor took the time to help me understand how to process painful experiences and to be grateful for the blessings I could see in my life. Before these events, I was unaware that I suffered from GAD and when my counselor explained to me how it worked, suddenly many reactions I had to life challenges throughout my life made sense to me as to why I did what I did. My eyes were opened to understanding and I felt hope breathed back into my life allowing me to engage with my family once again. From that point, I felt a stirring inside of me from this life experience and then set my eyes on the goal to help others who were stuck in the same internal prison that I once was. This life experience birthed a determination to complete a long time set aside bachelor's degree knowing if that was completed that I could then pursue a Master's in Counseling. To be able to assist others who are battling the war of mental illness I must be educated! I must be equipped with the tools necessary to aid those who are struggling with their own inner turmoil. Helping those who are suffering from anxiety and depression is my end goal because I understand the pits and challenges it requires overcoming this debilitating mindset. It robs individuals of the joy of life experiences. They are then sentenced to their own internal prison where hope is stripped from their life and they see no way out. Knowing firsthand the importance of having a skilled person come alongside the hurting individual impels me to reach for this goal of helping others. That season in my life changed who I was as a person and inspired me to become more than the person I was. Aware of the impact it makes upon the individual it also has a domino effect upon those who care for the suffering person. They are able to see the suffering person become whole and healthy on the inside and this too gives them peace of mind. Now that I am currently enrolled to begin a master's degree this fall in counseling it is important as it will lay the foundation necessary to understand how to help others. The skills acquired will allow me to work towards becoming a licensed professional counselor and then offering therapy to others will finally become a reality. I respect the strict standards needed to qualify for licensure knowing each individual is unique and must be approached with the utmost care. I was once a person trapped in my own prison who didn't believe that counseling could make a difference in a person's life. How could talking to a stranger help me when I could talk to friends or family? Before counseling this was my belief system, I was skeptical and unbelieving, but now that I have walked through this experience myself I am a different person. I see things through a different lens as life experiences were acknowledged but false beliefs were challenged. The value of having an impartial trained counselor coming alongside me to help me see things more clearly is life-changing. The desire to return this kindness by giving this same gift to others is my goal and allowing me to complete my master's degree gets me one step closer to my goal. Thank you for the chance of offering me this opportunity.

Unknown as a child, I battled anxiety with its fears and complexities to cope with difficult situations. As life threw many curveballs, death of a parent, the abandonment of a father, and then family challenges with children, I went into a physical tailspin in my adult life. Unable to cope and process the hurt and pain I internalized my thoughts and it manifested through physical symptoms. Debilitating Chronic fatigue set in with no answers as to why as I went from doctor to doctor trying to find the answer but only facing dead ends. Finally, it was suggested that I go to counseling. The first episode came in 2007-2010 but I pulled out of it through a year of counseling but I didn't go long enough. The second time it came back with a vengeance in 2016-2020 but this time I received greater and longer help through my licensed professional counselor and we were able to address many things and worked out resolutions. The counselor took the time to help me understand how to process painful experiences and to be grateful for the blessings I could see in my life. Before these events, I was unaware that I suffered from GAD and when my counselor explained to me how it worked, suddenly many reactions I had to life challenges throughout my life made sense to me as to why I did what I did. My eyes were opened to understanding and I felt hope breathed back into my life allowing me to engage with my family once again. From that point, I felt a stirring inside of me from this life experience and then set my eyes on the goal to help others who were stuck in the same internal prison that I once was. This life experience birthed a determination to complete a long time set aside bachelor's degree knowing if that was completed that I could then pursue a Master in Counseling. In order to be able to assist others who are battling the war of mental illness I must be educated! I must be equipped with the tools necessary to aid those who are struggling with their own inner turmoil. Helping those who are suffering from anxiety and depression is my end goal because I understand the pits and challenges in requires overcoming this debilitating mind set. It robs individuals from the joy of life experiences. They are then sentenced to their own internal prison where hope is stripped from their life and they see no way out. Knowing firsthand the importance of having a skilled person come alongside of the hurting individual impels me to reach for this goal of helping others. That season in my life changed who I was as a person and inspired me to become more than the person I was. Aware of the impact it makes upon the individual it also has a domino effect upon those who care for the suffering person. They are able to see the suffering person become whole and healthy on the inside and this too gives them peace of mind. Now that I am currently enrolled to begin a master's degree this fall in counseling it is important as it will lay the foundation necessary to understand how to help others. The skills acquired will allow me to work towards becoming a licensed professional counselor and then offering therapy to others will finally become a reality.

I have lived in the deepest place of despair, unable to cope with the simplest of life's challenges. Chronically fatigued, unable to walk from one room to another, I was a prisoner in my own home. I believed I would never regain my life back and would forever live a life of seclusion and despair. I needed someone to come alongside me and help me come out of my pit. My prison has now become my calling in life. Mental health affects every area of a person's life. It affects the mind, body, soul and spirit of each individual on this earth. I believe if we learn to have the tools and abilities to see the world through a lens of hope and if we are given the tools to empower ourselves to overcome life challenges by the way we think about things we can maintain mental wellness. Mental health keeps us on the path of wholeness and gives us strength, guarding ourselves against the lies we tell ourselves. We then become the person we were created to be. After overcoming the mental challenges that affected my body, soul and spirit, I yearn to impart the same help to others who suffer. I have successfully raised my 4 children, pouring my life into them. Now I am opening a new chapter in my life, my attention is focused on extending hope and healing to hurting people who suffer from their unique mental challenges. The funds from this scholarship will help me pay tuition toward a master's degree in counseling at Oral Roberts University. The whole philosophy of this university is "To develop Holy Spirit-empowered leaders through whole-person education to impact the world." I believe it is important to address each of these areas in a person's life because they truly are connected. I believe in addressing the physical world around a person, by understanding what is happening in their world. This affects the way they think and process life challenges affecting their mind and soul. I believe if this goes untreated for too long the spirit within a person loses hope and gives up. Once the spirit gives up within a person, the body, mind and soul will not be able to recover until the spirit issue is addressed. I understand the spirit within me had given up thus the other three aspects of my life suffered. Addressing the mind is important by practicing "mindfulness" A practice that could also be labeled as meditation. The physical needs to be addressed by taking care of the body through exercise and eating healthy. The soul needs to be addressed by understanding what thoughts are coming in and how are they being processed through the grid of reasoning. The spirit must have hope breathed back into it which gives the sustaining strength to work on the physical, mental and emotional. I would integrate all four aspects as it is vital for wholeness, and each part must be introduced while counseling an individual. They must understand how they are connected and if one is suffering it affects the other areas. Recovery happens when a caring, compassionate, trained individual reaches into the life of a wounded person and gives them love and understanding as well as life skills to overcome. I ask you to invest in me to be one of these privileged people to help them.

The sun rises in the morning and the long sleepless night is finally over only to be forced to face the struggle of the day dealing with the effects of a sleepless night leaving you feeling vulnerable and mentally weak. You struggle through the day with tears and sadness worried about sleeping that night. Will the cycle repeat itself over once again? The anxiety of fearing you won't sleep causes you not to sleep. Your brain tells you "sleeping is dangerous" and it turns into a vicious cycle repeating itself over and over again until your body is sapped of life mentally and physically. Depression sets in and despair becomes an unwelcome companion. You can't eat or sleep and chronic fatigue sets in for years and you want to just end it all because life isn't worth living like this. It's a horrible place to be and how does a person climb out of this nightmare of reality? I was this person and I know how it feels to be in the deepest place of despair. I was in denial that I needed mental help. I thought there was something physically wrong with me but all the tests taken came back negative and doctors suggested going to counseling. Me go to a counselor? What would talking to a counselor do that would be different compared to talking to my husband or friends? But out of desperation I went and I am so glad I did because it changed my life! I understand now what a difference it makes to have a trained professional counselor speak into your life helping you become unstuck mentally. This man patiently listened to me while building trust and imparting hope and healing into my life so that I was able to recover and learn skills to overcome difficult situations. The skills imparted to me, and the hope breathed into me have opened my eyes to see a world out there that is hurting just like I was from mental illness. I understand the darkness that comes from anxiety and depression. I know what it feels like and the thought of anyone else suffering as I did, knowing I can make a difference in someone else's life inspires me. Giving to others what I received, causes me to passionately pursue a career for mental wholeness. This world can take away from us our dignity and happiness, but if I can help others who are in the same boat I was, all the pain and suffering I went through will be worth it, knowing I can turn my pain into triumph by helping others to overcome their mental illness as well. I want to help others get their life back one person at a time by extending hope and healing and extending love and compassion to a hurting soul who is stuck and doesn't know how to get out of their nightmare. Through skills learned they too can become whole and have a full life once again. They too can get their life back for their own sake and for the sake of their loved ones. My joy will be seeing others overcome their struggles and that is the reason for my passion in becoming a licensed therapist.

As a child, I struggled with being shy and sensitive experiencing episodes of fear. Unknown to me at that time until I was diagnosed with GAD, I had lived with this sometimes debilitating illness all my childhood and adult life. With the anxiety came depression and I was unable to cope with life and my family suffered because of my mental health. Passed off from one counselor who did not know what to do with me to one I did not connect with I felt hopeless. This was a negative experience for me. I was eventually diagnosed with conversion disorder/ chronic fatigue by a caring doctor. I had lost all hope to get my life back. I didn't think anyone could help me. But, I decided to try going to a counselor one more time and I encountered a brave LPC/LMFT who was not afraid to address my issues and tackle my anxiety and depression. Through his patience and understanding, knowing how to connect with me, we began to make slow progress toward getting my life back. His influence upon my life has influenced me to do the same for others. Mental health has become an experience that has changed my life. Within myself, understanding the process of how my thoughts can determine my emotions gave me the tools and skills I needed to tackle false beliefs and face my fears to build courage so that I could get better and not stay stuck in my illness. I have been to the lowest of pits in my life looking up from the very bottom and wondering if I could ever climb out of the hole I was in. Relationships have improved within my family as I learned to think differently, for example, not everything is 'black and white", or "all or nothing". Putting those expectations on others caused harm between me and those I loved and put a strain on those who were closest to me. Again, through the patience of my counselor, we worked through many thoughts and ideas and we were able to tackle areas in my life that needed improvement so I could maintain mental wholeness. After recovering it was like a light bulb was turned on within me, a stirring within my very soul to give to others the tools I had never learned growing up. Knowing the pain and suffering that comes from mental illness, has aspired me to be a counselor myself. The golden rule: "Do unto others, as you would have them do to you" has birthed within me a desire to give back to those who are hurting and struggling the same way that I have. I understand the need for skilled counselors to connect with their clients by building trust and by speaking life and wholeness into another person, they no longer need to suffer under the weight of feeling alone and misunderstood. I believe the experiences I have had both positive and negative through the mental health industry will help me to be a better counselor, as I have experienced both. My desire now is to become a licensed therapist. I have become a true believer in counseling and the power that can be imparted into another person who is willing to recieve healingand change.

I see myself, extending hope and healing to those who struggle with anxiety and depression, by imparting love, joy and compassion to others so they can rise above their life challenges just as I have by becoming a licensed counselor, making the world a better place one person at a time.

I have lived in the deepest place of despair, unable to cope with the simplest of life's challenges. Chronically fatigued, unable to walk from one room to another, I was a prisoner in my own home. I believed I would never regain my life back and would forever live a life of seclusion and despair. I needed someone to come alongside me and help me come out of my pit. My prison has now become my calling in life. Mental health affects every area of a person's life. It affects the body, soul and spirit of each individual on this earth. I believe if we learn to have the tools and abilities to see the world through a lens of hope, if we are given the tools to empower ourselves to overcome life challenges by the way we think about things we can maintain mental wellness. Mental health keeps us on the path of strength and guards are minds against lies that we tell ourselves that just aren't true. It will allow us to become the person we are created to be and in turn, we will be able to influence others to become healthy in mind as well. I have learned that mental wellness for myself involves some key components: exercise, meditation and controlling my thought life. I exercise 5 days a week for 35 minutes by biking 8 miles. This allows me to release excessive anxiety that seems to build up within me when I worry about the future or the day's events in front of me. I notice that it decreases restlessness that builds up within my body and is a great source of release. Meditation/ slow breathing is the single most effective way to tell your brain and body that everything is okay and it forces your brain to get the message that everything is okay and there is no danger present. When my brain gets that message through deep breathing, my nervous system calms down and I begin to relax through meditating on keeping my mind peaceful, I can maintain a calmness that would not normally be there if I had not practiced this technique. Lastly, I am practicing controlling my thoughts. What I think about will affect my mood and how I feel about something. When an anxious thought pops into my mind telling me that something is scary or dangerous, I must examine that thought and say to myself, " Is this true?" and "What evidence do I have to support this thought?" When I confront these false beliefs and insert truth and evidence that is contrary to that false belief I can logically assess my thought life. These three areas have helped me maintain mental wellness. I have found as I practice all three of these key areas the anxiety I am challenged with in my life decreases and I can function and live a normal and happy life.

As a child, I struggled with being shy and sensitive experiencing episodes of fear. Unknown to me at that time until I was diagnosed with GAD, I had lived with this sometimes debilitating illness all my childhood and adult life. Passed off from one counselor who did not know what to do with me to one I did not connect with I felt hopeless. This was a negative experience for me. I was eventually diagnosed with conversion disorder/ chronic fatigue by a caring doctor. I had lost all hope to get my life back. But, I decided to try one more time and I encountered a brave LPC/LMFT who was not afraid to address my issues and tackle my anxiety and depression. Through his patience and understanding, knowing how to connect with me, we began to make slow progress toward getting my life back. Mental health has become an experience that has changed my life. Within myself, understanding the process of how my thoughts can determine my emotions gave me the tools and skills I needed to tackle false beliefs and face my fears to build courage that I could get better and not stay stuck in my illness. I have been to the lowest of pits in my life looking up from the very bottom and wondering if I could ever climb out of the hole I was in. Relationships have improved within my family as I learned to think differently, for example, not everything is 'black and white", or "all or nothing". Putting those expectations on others caused harm between me and those I loved and put a strain on those who were closest to me. Again, through the patience of my counselor, we worked through many thoughts and ideas and we were able to tackle areas in my life that needed improvement so I could maintain mental wholeness. After recovering it was like a light bulb was turned on within me, a stirring within my very soul to give to others the tools I had never learned growing up. Knowing the pain and suffering that comes from mental illness, has aspired me to be a counselor myself. The golden rule: "Do unto others, as you would have them do to you" has birthed within me a desire to give back to those who are hurting and struggling the same way that I have. I understand the need for skilled counselors to connect with their clients by building trust and by speaking life and wholeness into another person, they no longer need to suffer under the weight of feeling alone and misunderstood. I believe the experiences I have had both positive and negative through the mental health industry will help me to be a better counselor. My desire now is to become a licensed therapist and the funds awarded from scholarships will allow me to obtain a master's degree in counseling so I can help those who need hope and healing.

The number one all-time best-seller book throughout all the ages is the Bible. It transcends time, culture and history. This book is written by multiple authors but collected into one ultimate book, capturing the attention of people from all walks of life from the least to the greatest. The Bible tells stories of love and hatred, triumph over foes, it gives hope in the midst of man's deepest despair. The Bible digs into the heart of man's deepest thoughts, weighs out motives and gives life stories of how choices affect the lives of those around them. Wisdom is supreme it states, and love never fails. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It applies moral codes to mankind giving him a guideline to live a blessed and harmonious life while loving his fellow brothers and sisters. Poetry is written throughout the pages of this book including songs of love and sadness. Tall tales of unbelievable adventures from a declaration of a worldwide flood to a man being swallowed by a whale and living to tell of it. It includes Giants, talking animals, and the creation of the earth by a divine, all-knowing God who is the supreme one who knows all things. The separate authors in this book when looked at together weave a thread of an ultimate story of redemption for mankind. A story of how a loving creator has formed man in his image but to his grief the children turned their backs on him and rejected him. This God motivated by love then turns and gives the ultimate sacrifice by sending his Son from heaven to earth to save and restore mankind so they can once again be his children by knowing who he is through the message and example of his son. This book continues to forever inspire me to be a person like the God who made us.

College is a dream for many but not attainable. I never thought I could go and get a degree being a small-town farm girl who was never given guidance in her life to dream big. But I am dreaming now! Sometimes it takes years to know what you are made of and what you feel deep down inside is your purpose. After going through many difficult circumstances in my life from the death of a mom, rejection of a dad and some major health issues, life kind of births a passion within your heart. This is what has happened to me. I was at a place in my life where I could no longer cope with the pain of my past hurts and was forced to get help. This opened my eyes to see the importance of the role of therapy and how it can change a person's life. I now desire to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and receiving this scholarship will aid me to attain this dream. I am the first in my immediate family out of my siblings and parents to attend college. I have struggled with difficult circumstances in my life and have learned the importance of having a counselor come alongside me to pull me out of my pit. It took time and hard work but the rewards are multiple. The help I received from him has not only given me a better life for my family but now, I desire to make other people's lives better by helping them overcome difficult issues in their life as they struggle with mental health. You see when someone becomes healthy and whole after life has pushed them down, it not only affects that one person but also affects the family and friends around them. Given the opportunity to attend college and get my master's degree will create a life of purpose and meaning. Having received kindness and patience from my counselor, I believe the best way to honor him is to give to others, by showing them the same care I was given. When a person is in a place of brokenness they need to have that caring heart to come alongside them and set their life back on course. Knowing I can be a part of someone else's recovery will create a better life for me. The reward is great knowing I am investing in the lives of others and giving of one's self to restore hope and healing to those who can't see that it is possible. Not only does it create a better life for me, or a better life for the one I will be privileged to counsel but also for the friends and family that particular individual comes in contact with.