The most difficult year I have experienced has been this year, my senior year of high school. I was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and with that, there has been physical pain as well as many unknowns. I have had many medical tests and procedures, missed school, and have suffered from the effects of new medications. What I thought was a gluten allergy turned into something I never thought possible. I’ve had to completely change my diet, abide by many food restrictions and begin biologic injections. Regardless of my hardships this year, I have continued to push through the crippling fear and pain. From all of the challenges, I have tried to shift my mindset into finding positive outcomes for every situation instead of thinking of all the negatives. Recently, I had a hospital procedure due to Crohn’s disease, and I was assigned my own Child Life Specialist. I was able to experience the techniques and care delivered firsthand from a patient perspective. Through the process, I felt less anxious and more involved in my care. I also asked questions, and a common theme my Child Life Specialist reiterated is the rewarding nature of this career. As a result of my physical and emotional challenges throughout life, I am preparing to become a Child Life Specialist myself at Ohio University. My goal is to work in the Child Life department in a hospital setting, participate in activities where I can interact with children and youth at local schools, as well as identify other opportunities where I can gain more understanding of child development and well-being. Going through these physical and emotional experiences has helped me understand what other families, particularly children and youth, are going through. I am committed to doing anything I can to help others in need and have so much empathy for those going through life-changing medical situations. My personal perspective will be invaluable in my career. Ohio University is one of the few schools that offer a concentration in Child Life, and earning my degree there is essential to become certified as a Child Life Specialist and achieve my dreams. I had the opportunity to meet with the department faculty there, and they engage students at the very outset. I will have the opportunity to volunteer at Paul Newman's Barretstown residential camp for children with serious illnesses, the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, OH, a week-long wish-granting trip for terminally ill children in Florida, and even a month-long trip to Ireland to work with pediatric patients. None of this would be possible without attending Ohio University. My educational experience there will open so many doors to a future working with families and children. I do understand that not all patient outcomes will be happy ones, but I look forward to the training I will receive to help families navigate through some of the worst moments of their lives. Thank you for considering me for this wonderful scholarship!

Mental health is healthcare. It’s unfortunate that mental health is not prioritized in our society. You can see broken bones, injuries and scars, but mental health is invisible for many. One of those people was my grandmother. I never knew her because of estrangement due to her mental illness, but my mother shared many stories of the horrors she endured before she left home. My grandmother was one of four children: One brother worked at NASA in the 1960s, but he was so affected by moments of psychosis and addicted to alcohol that he choked on his own vomit and died when my mother was around five years old. He abused his four children and never sought or received the help he needed. One sister proactively checked herself in and out of mental institutions—she survived a brutal rape and was left for dead, but she knew she could not navigate life without help. Another brother was addicted to spending and went bankrupt. It was believed that my grandmother suffered abuse at the hands of her own father, who would chase them all with knives. Whatever she endured, she carried with her without medical intervention and destroyed other lives in the process. Fast forward to the present where both of my parents, my sibling and myself suffer from anxiety. We have all chosen to take a proactive approach and seek medical care to ensure the cycle doesn’t continue and to be our best selves. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I began working with The NC Division of Child and Family Wellbeing as a Youth Health Advisor along with other high schoolers in North Carolina who shared an interest in the health and well-being of our state’s young population. In February 2021, we distributed a statewide survey to our peers in an effort to understand how the pandemic impacted their lives. Not surprisingly, the results revealed worsened mental health and struggles with academics due to virtual learning and isolation. To address mental health and well-being at my own school, I co-founded and am currently president of our Wellness Club, which focuses on promoting positive mental health through activities and lessons. This club has helped me take a breath during the school day and participate in a fun activity with others my age who share similar challenges. As someone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, school can become a stressful environment whether virtual or in person. Throughout my educational experience, I have learned to develop various techniques to reduce stress. I discovered that exercise and my love of singing were therapeutic, so I joined my high school’s JV women’s basketball team and became involved in our fine arts programs: chorus and theater. Being a part of these programs redirected anxious thoughts into performance and competitive/confidence driven strategies. I found success in both endeavors because I was able to improve individually but also help others as part of a team. I also worked with my counselors to tailor a 504 accommodation plan to help me succeed academically. The most difficult year I have experienced has been this year, my senior year of high school. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the beginning of the school year, and with that, there has been physical pain as well as many unknowns. I have had many medical tests and procedures, missed school, and have suffered from the effects of new medications. What I thought was a gluten allergy turned into something I never thought possible. I’ve had to completely change my diet, abide by many food restrictions and begin biologic injections. Regardless of my hardships this year, I have continued to push through the crippling fear and pain. From all of the challenges, I have tried to shift my mindset into finding positive outcomes for every situation instead of thinking of all the negatives. Recently, I had a hospital procedure due to Crohn’s disease, and I was assigned my own Child Life Specialist. I was able to experience the techniques and care delivered firsthand from a patient perspective. Through the process, I felt less anxious and more involved in my care. I also asked questions, and a common theme my Child Life Specialist reiterated is the rewarding nature of this career. As a result of my physical and emotional challenges throughout life, I am preparing to become a Child Life Specialist myself at Ohio University. My goal is to work in the Child Life department in a hospital setting, participate in activities where I can interact with children and youth at local schools, as well as other opportunities where I can gain more understanding of child development and well-being. In looking at my grades and my GPA, you would not be able to point out all of the difficulties I have gone through and the perseverance I have shown throughout my educational journey. It goes to show that many people experience their own personal challenges that many don’t know about, and it’s crucial to support and help those who are going through difficult times. It meant a lot to have friends who checked in on me and made sure I had emotional support. Going through the experiences of mental, physical and learning challenges—and the personal connection I have to mental illness--has helped me understand what other families, particularly children and youth, are going through. I am committed to doing anything I can to help others in need and have so much empathy for those going through life-changing situations. My personal perspective will be invaluable in my career. This scholarship would greatly help me and my family in supporting the financial burden of college tuition and fees. Ohio University is one of the few schools that offer a concentration in Child Life, and earning my degree there is essential to become certified as a Child Life Specialist and achieve my dreams. Thank you for considering me for this wonderful scholarship!

The most difficult year I have experienced has been this year, my senior year of high school. I was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and with that, there has been physical pain as well as many unknowns. I have had many medical tests and procedures, missed school, and have suffered from the effects of new medications. What I thought was a gluten allergy turned into something I never thought possible. I’ve had to completely change my diet, abide by many food restrictions and begin injections. Regardless of my hardships this year, I have continued to push through the fear and pain. From all of the challenges, I have tried to shift my mindset into finding positive outcomes for every situation instead of thinking of all the negatives. Going through this experience has helped me understand what other patients, particularly children, are going through with their own health issues, and I have so much empathy for them. Recently, I had a hospital procedure due to my Crohn’s disease, and I was assigned my own Child Life Specialist. I was able to experience the techniques and care delivered firsthand from a patient perspective. Through the process, I felt less anxious and more involved in my care. I also asked questions, and a common theme my Child Life Specialist reiterated is the rewarding nature of this career. As I prepare to become a Child Life Specialist myself, my goal is to intern in the Child Life department in a hospital setting, participate in activities where I can interact with children at local schools, as well as other opportunities where I can gain more understanding of child development. As someone who suffers from anxiety, school can become a stressful environment. Throughout my educational experience, I have learned to develop various techniques to reduce stress. I discovered that exercise and my love of singing were therapeutic, so I joined my high school’s JV women’s basketball team and became involved in our fine arts programs: chorus and theater. Being a part of these programs redirected anxious thoughts into performance and competitive/confidence driven strategies. I found success in both endeavors because I was able to improve individually but also help others as part of a team. Stress doesn’t magically disappear, but for me, finding an activity I am passionate about helps to lessen stress levels. My sophomore year of high school, I co-founded and am currently president of our Wellness Club, which focuses on promoting positive mental health through activities and lessons. In looking at my grades and my GPA, you would not be able to point out all of the difficulties I have gone through and the perseverance I have shown throughout my educational journey. It just goes to show that many people experience their own personal challenges that many don’t know about, and it’s crucial to support and help those who are going through difficult times. It meant a lot to have friends who checked in on me and made sure I had emotional support. This scholarship would greatly help me and my family in supporting the financial burden of college tuition and fees. Ohio University is one of the few schools that offer a concentration in Child Life, and earning my degree there is essential to become certified as a Child Life Specialist and achieve my dreams. I am committed to doing anything I can to help others in need and have so much empathy for others going through life-changing medical situations. My personal perspective will be invaluable in my career working with children. Thank you for considering me for this wonderful scholarship!

As long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed caring for children. This love evolved into an interest in child development. Working with children has helped me develop a better understanding of their behaviors, especially among different pediatric age groups. Working as a summer camp counselor at ClubWorx has also increased my desire to identify other opportunities to work with children through volunteering in the community or through church. In my search for possible professions, the field of Child Life matched well with my interests. I love the thought of being able to make a hospital stay for a pediatric patient less traumatic. Recently, I had a hospital procedure due to Crohn’s disease, and I was assigned my own Child Life Specialist. I was able to experience the techniques and care delivered firsthand from a patient perspective. Through the process, I felt less anxious and more involved in my care. I also asked questions, and a common theme my Child Life Specialist reiterated is the rewarding nature of this career. Some days can be more difficult than others, but you end each day knowing that you helped make a positive difference. As I prepare to become a Child Life Specialist, my goal is to intern in the Child Life department at hospitals either during the school year or during the summer, participate in activities where I can interact with children at local schools, as well as other opportunities where I can gain more understanding of child development. The most difficult year I have experienced has been this year, my senior year of high school. With my Crohn’s Disease diagnosis, there has been physical pain as well as many unknowns. I have had many medical tests and procedures, missed school, and have suffered from the effects of new medications. What I thought was a gluten allergy turned into something I never thought possible. I’ve had to completely change my diet, abide by many food restrictions and begin injections. Regardless of my hardships this year, I have continued to push through the fear and pain. From all of the challenges, I have tried to shift my mindset into finding positive outcomes for every situation instead of thinking of all the negatives. In looking at my grades and my GPA, you would not be able to point out all of the difficulties I have gone through and the perseverance I have shown throughout my educational journey. I even have a 504 accommodation plan to help me through anxiety. It just goes to show that many people experience their own personal challenges that many don’t know about, and it’s crucial to support and help those who are going through difficult times. It meant a lot to have friends who checked in on me and made sure I had emotional support. Going through this experience has helped me understand what other patients, particularly children, are going through with their own health issues, and I have so much empathy for them. This scholarship would greatly help me and my family in supporting the financial burden of college tuition and fees. Ohio University is one of the few schools that offer a concentration in Child Life, and earning my degree there is essential to become certified as a Child Life Specialist and achieve my dreams. I am committed to doing anything I can to help others in need and have so much empathy for others going through life-changing medical situations. My personal perspective will be invaluable in my career working with children. Thank you for considering me for this wonderful scholarship!