My desired career path would be in the psychology/business/ wellness world. I would love to open a facility that combines human connection with mindfulness. I want to create a hybrid center. This would be a place where people can come to relax in rooms such as salt rooms, saunas, sound baths, etc. Also there would be light therapy rooms and study rooms. But also the members can enjoy rooms that cultivate human connection with others. I know the idea is quite vague right now and so I have been working on making it a bit more niche. For now, I can continue to study psychology and learn all about human mind and behaviors to see what would be beneficial to people in a place like this. The reason I am so passionate about this idea, is because I know it is something that I would most definitely be a part of if it existed. And so instead of waiting for it to exist, I am just going to create it myself. I need this scholarship money in order to pay for my study abroad to Italy. I know going abroad will help me see new perspectives. I will grow as a person and also expand my knowledge. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and know it will drastically change my life. I hope I can be a positive impact to others while I am studying abroad as well. I am excited to meet people from all over the world and build strong connections. Also I will be studying Italian while I am there and I believe this will benefit me in giving me opportunities being bilingual. I can't wait to immerse myself in the beautiful Italian culture. I know this experience will be positive and good for my character. I am passionate about traveling and this also will help me dive deeper into human behaviors. Through my travel experience I have had the opportunity to meet all sorts of different kinds of people. I feel so lucky to learn and grow from others words and examples. Not only do theses experiences benefit my soul and character development, but they also aid in helping me become successful in my career path. Many connections with people have led to good things for my future career. I welcome new experiences and connections with open arms. I am living in the present but I am excited for my future career and the things I will be able to offer to this world.

The lyrics "now you are just a stranger, I know everything about" cuts deep every time I hear it. I had a boyfriend for all 4 years of my high school experience. Sometimes I run into him out and about. When we talk it feels like I am talking to a stranger. Yet I really do know everything about him. It is an odd phenomenon really. The next line that stands out to me is "I was half myself without you and now I feel so complete". Since this boy and I were together for so many years, when we broke up I did feel like half myself. I thought this person "completed" me. This is not the case. No one can complete you, they can only add to your already completed self. In the teen years it is easy to feel as though someone is "completing you". I am so grateful for my new perspective of seeing myself as a whole person. This knowledge gives me the reassurance that if I am going to be with someone in the future, it will be two whole people coming together to form a beautiful connection. Rather than two half people "completing each other. Another line in that same song says "you are the best thing that I'll ever keep so far out of my life". This hits home for me because this person shaped who I am drastically. Being together in such pivotal growth years of our adolescence was both beautiful and harmful. I am always grateful for our time together, but I now want to keep him far out of my life. I have grown so much as a person and fear if we ever rekindled our relationship I may fall back into who I used to be. And I don't want that at all, I love who I am and do not want to return to that past life. The final line that I always held onto during my breakup was, "everybody told me it would happen in time". When I was heartbroken my friends and family would reassure me that time heals all wounds. In the moment it was so hard to believe that. I thought I would be sad forever. But sure enough, as time went on my broken heart was healed. I look back now and can't even comprehend why I felt sad ever. Olivia also says a line that resonates with that feeling of hopelessness, "I can't even remember what made me lose all that sleep". This song truly wrote out my soul crushing thoughts I had during my breakup. I bought tickets to one her first ever "Guts" album tours and I swear it healed my broken heart. I love miss Olivia Rodrigo and the lyrical genius she is.

To me success is living a fulfilled life. My idea of "rich" is not defined by the number in my bank account. Because if it were the case I would be classified as broke. No, my idea of "rich" is a life full of experiences. A life centered around making connections with humans. Making "rich connections" that mean way more than money could. A life where character growth is present after a hard time. A life where people feel your support and kindness in their heart. My idea of "rich" is to look back with pride, and say "I did that". My goal is to have a content soul in the present moment, and a brave heart for what is to come. When I am 85 I want to be able to look back on my life and say "I accomplished the goals I had, strengthened the connections I made, and saw the world with my own eyes. Last year I was an Aupair in Northern Italy for a family in a small town. This experience was pivotal in my perspective on success. I did not make money from this experience. Instead I traded my time for a place to stay as well as food. I was able to create deep bonds with the family and form a love for this country. I sit here in that very same town writing this essay. Because of those connections made here in Italy, I was motivated to work hard this summer and take a trip back. This has been another feeling of "success". Hugging the sweet children I was a nanny for last year was reward enough. I know that human connection and experiences are the most valuable things we can gain in this life. Now that being said, money does aid in creating these rich experiences. This opportunity will help me achieve my dream of "success". I have the privilege of going back to Italy to further my education in a study abroad in Florence, Italy starting January 2025. I am paying for this experience on my own with my hard earned money. I am excited to pay for it with my own money since I think it will make the experience that much more meaningful. Of course having financial help would of course be appreciated and that is why I am applying for this scholarship. I can't wait to feel that sweet feeling of "success" being in Florence knowing I made it. I know when I make connections across the world, my heart will soften with love for people I would not have met if I did not challenge myself to move across the world. I am already proud of myself for the money I have earned to put towards this cause. I am grateful I will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude learning in another country. I understand how lucky I am for this opportunity and so everyday I will remember to have a grateful heart.

When I was 15 years old I had to get brain surgery to remove the brain tumor on my fifth cranial nerve. No fifteen year old should have to go through something as traumatizing as that. I felt lost and hopeless throughout this time. After the surgery removed my tumor, it also affected who I was. I got diagnosed with clinical depression and started a long hard path of recovery. In high school there were some days when I did not see a future. At all. I wanted to disappear multiple times. My depression was so excruciating I saw no hope. I finally told my parents and they of course were there to support me. I was privileged enough to see both a psychiatrist and a counselor. These two incredible humans helped me find the light. With the support of friends and family I was able to start a journey of recovery. I took anti-depressant medication for about the next 5 years. Because of my experiences with depression and anxiety, my heart and mind have been opened to others who are also faced with these challenges. I have been able to be a friend to other people who experience these trials. And even though I wish they did not have to go through this, it has helped me so much. Knowing you are not alone in these hardships is the best medicine. Supporting yourself with like-minding people who love you and want to watch you succeed is imperative for your mental health. Even though my depression was under control, unfortunately in college I gained a new challenge. I began to practice bulimia. I am not sure what brought this habit on, but it was yet again another burden to carry. I have since recovered from it and yet again get to be a support to other women who have been faced with such a thing. Now as a 20 year old I have a new found passion of meditation and mindfulness. And although you cannot breathe your mental illnesses away, it does bring me comfort and relief. Everyday I get to learn new things about myself and have grace and patience with my mind. Because of my experiences with clinical depression I am now studying psychology. Understanding the science behind such illnesses has always been intriguing to me. I want to make a difference in the world of mental health by being a support to anyone who is suffering. I know with my heart and my experiences, I will be able to find a career in the psychology world that can hopefully bring peace to some. I am passionate about life and all the challenges that come with it. I can't wait to continue my career and expand my mind and heart.

When I was 15 years old I found out I had a brain tumor on my fifth cranial nerve. This was of course very hard to hear. It altered my life dramatically. I had terrible hedaaches that caused me to be bed-ridden for 2 months. The tumor I had was a kind that only 1 in a million kids are faced with. My options were limited because of the rareness of my case. I needed surgery as soon as possible. There was only 1 doctor in America that could perform this surgery. Luckily I was able to get into his office within a month. That summer was filled with a lot of head pain and emotional turmoil. Knowing my life could be permanently altered by this procedure I faced a lot of anxiety. After the surgery was performed successfully, my perspective shifted dramatically. I woke up with gratitude and relief. Not everyone is as lucky as I am. I think about this fact everyday. I now have a new perspective on the fragility of life. I strive to never take life for granted. This life is not guaranteed and I am lucky to be here. Since the day I woke up from surgery, I have made it my goal to cherish the experiences I have been given. As well as the people in it. I have since travelled much of the world in hopes to find passion and lessons through the beautiful diverseness of this planet. We have much to learn from other humans. It is the best kind of experience and knowledge we can gain. This scholarship will help me with my study abroad payment. I am going to Florence, Italy for the spring. I am paying for the tuition on my own and so this scholarship would mean the world to me. I am excited for my study abroad because it will allow me to expand my knowledge and connect with many different kinds of people. I also plan on starting a YouTube channel while I am out there. I will be interviewing people that are my elders. I hope that through my video editing and people skills, I will be able to show my generation what great knowledge we can gain from people. Specifically those that are older and wiser from us. This will be my gift to young adults like me. An outlet for them to learn and be inspired by people from across the world.