Technology has made it easier than ever to reach people, yet somehow many people seem more disconnected than ever. We can text instantly, share our lives online, and interact with hundreds of people in a day without feeling truly known. I do not think the future of human connection is about fighting technology. I think it is about remembering what actually creates connection in the first place. I work with youth, and I see this tension constantly. Young people are growing up in a world where they can be connected all day long while still feeling isolated. They can have hundreds of followers and still feel invisible. They know what is happening in the lives of people across the world but sometimes struggle to feel connected to the people sitting right next to them. I do not think technology created loneliness, but I do think it can create a lot of noise. People need more than communication. We need belonging. We need people who notice when we are struggling, remember things about us, and keep showing up. We need places where we feel known. Something that has really shifted my thinking came through my American Indian Education studies. I learned a lot about connection to place and how identity is not only shaped by people, but also by land, history, and community. Before that, I think I mostly viewed connection as relationships between individuals. I started realizing that where we are matters too. Communities develop because of the land they exist on. Cultures develop because of place. People develop because of connection to both. I live and work in a small rural community, and I see that every day. Connection here is not always polished or convenient. It looks like community members volunteering at events, checking on neighbors, helping after emergencies, and showing up for local kids. It looks like seeing the same faces over and over and building trust slowly. It even looks like people disagreeing with each other and still showing up the next day. I also think we are seeing people become less connected to local spaces and traditions that used to naturally bring people together. Community dinners, local events, volunteering, knowing your neighbors, or even spending time outside have become easier to replace with screens. I do not think people are losing the desire for connection. I think people are still searching for it. I do not think preserving human connection means getting rid of technology. Technology can connect people across distance and help people find support they may not otherwise have. But I do think we have to be careful not to replace real experiences with easier ones. It is easier to react with an emoji than ask someone how they are really doing. It is easier to scroll than sit with discomfort. It is easier to watch life happen than participate in it. I think preserving human connection will take intention. We will have to choose conversations over convenience sometimes. We will have to choose community, choose to show up, and choose to stay connected to the people and places around us. To me, the future of human connection is not really about technology at all. It is about remembering that people matter. Place matters. Belonging matters.

I want to work in the nonprofit sector because I have seen what happens when people and communities show up for someone, and I have seen what happens when they do not. I did not grow up thinking I wanted a career in nonprofits. I got here through life happening fast, through difficult experiences, and through realizing that support systems can completely change the direction of someone’s life. There were periods in my life where I needed help and honestly did not even know where to find it. Resources existed, but sometimes they felt hidden, scattered, or like they were only available if you already knew the right people or already understood the system. I remember thinking there should be someone here. Someone helping connect people. Someone helping families figure things out. Someone helping build community instead of waiting until people reached a breaking point. Eventually I realized I wanted to become that person. The work I do with youth has only reinforced that for me. I have learned that kids do not just need programs, classes, or academics. They need trusted adults. They need connection. They need opportunities to feel successful and seen. Sometimes they just need one person who notices them, remembers something important they said, checks in, and keeps showing up. Small things can matter more than people realize. I care a lot about prevention because I do not want to spend my career only responding after things have already fallen apart. I do not want to live downstream with a bucket waiting for crisis after crisis. I want to help create support systems before crisis becomes someone’s story. I want young people to have support, connection, and opportunities before they reach a point where they feel alone or without options. I live and work in a small rural community where resources can be limited. People wear many hats here. It can be difficult to access services, transportation is not always reliable, and getting support can sometimes be more complicated than it should be. At the same time, I have seen how powerful community can be. I think people underestimate how much place matters. The people around us matter. Feeling connected matters. I hope my work helps create communities where young people and families feel supported long before they are in crisis. I want kids to know there are adults who care about them and families to know where to turn when they need help. To me, nonprofit work is not about saving people. It is about showing up, building relationships, and helping create stronger communities. This one's for my community

I didn’t arrive at social work through a neat plan. If I had one, it fell apart pretty early. I arrived through life happening fast, community showing up when it mattered, and education finally giving language to what I was already doing. I started college after having my second child. I was looking for independence and a future that felt solid. Psychology completely changed the way I understood people, myself included. At the same time, I was attending Al-Anon regularly, doing the real work of unpacking addiction, boundaries, and family systems. Learning theory in class while living it in real time was powerful. Turns out textbooks hit differently when you’re also surviving. Social work didn’t feel abstract- it felt necessary. After my third child was born, I moved in with my mom following a traumatic breakup and my children’s father’s rapid decline into substance use. I was parenting three young kids while trying to keep my footing. What stood out most during that time wasn’t just the crisis- it was how hard it was to find help when I needed it. Resources were limited, scattered, or invisible unless you already knew where to look. I kept thinking, there should be someone here. Eventually, I realized I wanted to be that person. A course on children, families, and community made everything click. I saw how much my own community had carried me, and I started thinking about the kids and families around me who didn’t feel that same sense of connection- or didn’t know what support existed. It also gave me encouragement. I knew I was doing right by my kids. I didn’t want to spend my career responding only after things had already fallen apart. I didn’t want to live downstream with a bucket. I became deeply interested in prevention. Learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) sealed that direction. While adults can change- I’m proof of that -prevention matters. Positive Childhood Experiences matter. Trusted adults matter. I want my work to live at that ground level: building relationships, strengthening families, and helping young people feel supported before crisis becomes their story. I live in an extremely rural, low-income community. Resources are scarce. Public transportation is unreliable. Housing is limited. Recruiting professionals is difficult, and building trust takes time. Rural social work requires creativity, persistence, and strong relationships- there is no shortcut, and Google Maps will not save you. I am already here. I am committed to this place and the people in it, and I plan to stay. . I challenge outdated behavioral policies and advocate for whole-person, person-in-environment approaches. I have learned when “no” is not an acceptable answer- and how to keep showing up anyway. I am fresh in my education and grounded in current theory and practice. I help administrators see students differently. I notice patterns. I ask hard questions. I am not afraid to be the respectful squeaky wheel. I care deeply about prevention, dignity, and long-term change. My professional goal is to become a school social worker serving my local high school and, eventually, the broader district. After completing my MSW at Cal Poly Humboldt, I plan to earn my Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. I want to advocate for policy change, expand preventative programming, and help create school environments where students are supported as whole people. My community deserves professionals who are educated, qualified, and deeply committed. My kids are everything to me and have inspired me to be the person we needed during our most difficult times.

I didn’t arrive at social work through a neat plan. If I had one, it fell apart pretty early. I arrived through life happening fast, community showing up when it mattered, and education finally giving language to what I was already doing. I started college after having my second child. I was looking for independence and a future that felt solid. Psychology completely changed the way I understood people, myself included. At the same time, I was attending Al-Anon regularly, doing the real work of unpacking addiction, boundaries, and family systems. Learning theory in class while living it in real time was powerful. Turns out textbooks hit differently when you’re also surviving. Social work didn’t feel abstract- it felt necessary. After my third child was born, I moved in with my mom following a traumatic breakup and my children’s father’s rapid decline into substance use. I was parenting three young kids while trying to keep my footing. What stood out most during that time wasn’t just the crisis- it was how hard it was to find help when I needed it. Resources were limited, scattered, or invisible unless you already knew where to look. I kept thinking, there should be someone here. Eventually, I realized I wanted to be that person. A course on children, families, and community made everything click. I saw how much my own community had carried me, and I started thinking about the kids and families around me who didn’t feel that same sense of connection- or didn’t know what support existed. I didn’t want to spend my career responding only after things had already fallen apart. I didn’t want to live downstream with a bucket. I became deeply interested in prevention. Learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) sealed that direction. While adults can change- I’m proof of that -prevention matters. Positive Childhood Experiences matter. Trusted adults matter. I want my work to live at that ground level: building relationships, strengthening families, and helping young people feel supported before crisis becomes their story. I live in an extremely rural, low-income community. Resources are scarce. Public transportation is unreliable. Housing is limited. Recruiting professionals is difficult, and building trust takes time. Rural social work requires creativity, persistence, and strong relationships- there is no shortcut. I am already here. I am committed to this place and the people in it, and I plan to stay. I bring an awareness of my privilege into this work. I am a white, middle-class woman and an educator. That comes with access and power. I take that responsibility seriously. I engage in constant self-reflection, examine my biases, and work to center the voices of students and families whose experiences differ from my own. Knowing when to step forward and when to step back matters. My advocacy work has been grounded and practical. I collaborated with a reproductive health organization to establish an on-campus Teen Clinic. I challenge outdated behavioral policies and advocate for whole-person, person-in-environment approaches. I have learned when “no” is not an acceptable answer- and how to keep showing up anyway. I am fresh in my education and grounded in current theory and practice. I help administrators see students differently. I notice patterns. I ask hard questions. I am not afraid to be the respectful squeaky wheel. I care deeply about prevention, dignity, and long-term change. My professional goal is to become a school social worker serving my local high school and, eventually, the broader district. I want to advocate for policy change, expand preventative programming, and help create school environments where students are supported as whole people

I didn’t arrive at social work through a neat plan. If I had one, it fell apart pretty early. I arrived through life happening fast, community showing up when it mattered, and education finally giving language to what I was already doing. I started college after having my second child. I was looking for independence and a future that felt solid. Psychology completely changed the way I understood people, myself included. At the same time, I was attending Al-Anon regularly, doing the real work of unpacking addiction, boundaries, and family systems. Learning theory in class while living it in real time was powerful. Turns out textbooks hit differently when you’re also surviving. Social work didn’t feel abstract- it felt necessary. After my third child was born, I moved in with my mom following a traumatic breakup and my children’s father’s rapid decline into substance use. I was parenting three young kids while trying to keep my footing. What stood out most during that time wasn’t just the crisis- it was how hard it was to find help when I needed it. Resources were limited, scattered, or invisible unless you already knew where to look. I kept thinking, there should be someone here. Eventually, I realized I wanted to be that person. A course on children, families, and community made everything click. I saw how much my own community had carried me, and I started thinking about the kids and families around me who didn’t feel that same sense of connection- or didn’t know what support existed. I became deeply interested in prevention. Learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) sealed that direction. While adults can change- I’m proof of that -prevention matters. Positive Childhood Experiences matter. Trusted adults matter. I want my work to live at that ground level: building relationships, strengthening families, and helping young people feel supported before crisis becomes their story. I live in an extremely rural, low-income community. Resources are scarce. Public transportation is unreliable. Housing is limited. Recruiting professionals is difficult, and building trust takes time. Rural social work requires creativity, persistence, and strong relationships- there is no shortcut, and Google Maps will not save you. I am already here. I am committed to this place and the people in it, and I plan to stay. I bring an awareness of my privilege into this work. I am a white, middle-class woman and an educator. That comes with access and power. I take that responsibility seriously. I engage in constant self-reflection, examine my biases, and work to center the voices of students and families whose experiences differ from my own. Knowing when to step forward and when to step back matters. My advocacy work has been grounded and practical. I collaborated with a reproductive health organization to establish an on-campus Teen Clinic, expanding access to confidential care. I integrate intersectionality into my health curriculum. . I challenge outdated behavioral policies and advocate for whole-person, person-in-environment approaches. I have learned when “no” is not an acceptable answer- and how to keep showing up anyway. I am fresh in my education and grounded in current theory and practice. I help administrators see students differently. I notice patterns. I ask hard questions. I am not afraid to be the respectful squeaky wheel. I care deeply about prevention, dignity, and long-term change. I want to advocate for policy change, expand preventative programming, and help create school environments where students are supported as whole people. My community deserves professionals who are educated, qualified, and deeply committed.

I didn’t arrive at social work through a neat plan. If I had one, it fell apart pretty early. I arrived through life happening fast, community showing up when it mattered, and education finally giving language to what I was already doing. I started college after having my second child. I was looking for independence and a future that felt solid. Psychology completely changed the way I understood people, myself included. At the same time, I was attending Al-Anon regularly, doing the real work of unpacking addiction, boundaries, and family systems. Learning theory in class while living it in real time was powerful. Turns out textbooks hit differently when you’re also surviving. Social work didn’t feel abstract- it felt necessary. After my third child was born, I moved in with my mom following a traumatic breakup and my children’s father’s rapid decline into substance use. I was parenting three young kids while trying to keep my footing. What stood out most during that time wasn’t just the crisis- it was how hard it was to find help when I needed it. Resources were limited, scattered, or invisible unless you already knew where to look. I kept thinking, there should be someone here. Eventually, I realized I wanted to be that person. A course on children, families, and community made everything click. I saw how much my own community had carried me, and I started thinking about the kids and families around me who didn’t feel that same sense of connection- or didn’t know what support existed. I didn’t want to spend my career responding only after things had already fallen apart. I didn’t want to live downstream with a bucket. I became deeply interested in prevention. .I live in an extremely rural, low-income community. Resources are scarce. Public transportation is unreliable. Housing is limited. Recruiting professionals is difficult, and building trust takes time. Rural social work requires creativity, persistence, and strong relationships- there is no shortcut, and Google Maps will not save you. I am already here. I am committed to this place and the people in it, and I plan to stay. My advocacy work has been grounded and practical. I collaborated with a reproductive health organization to establish an on-campus Teen Clinic, expanding access to confidential care. I integrate intersectionality into my health curriculum and have shared Native-informed curriculum across local schools, two of which now use these lessons regularly. I challenge outdated behavioral policies and advocate for whole-person, person-in-environment approaches. I have learned when “no” is not an acceptable answer- and how to keep showing up anyway. I am fresh in my education and grounded in current theory and practice. I help administrators see students differently. I notice patterns. I ask hard questions. I am not afraid to be the respectful squeaky wheel. I care deeply about prevention, dignity, and long-term change. My professional goal is to become a school social worker serving my local high school and, eventually, the broader district. After completing my MSW at Cal Poly Humboldt, I plan to earn my Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. I want to advocate for policy change, expand preventative programming, and help create school environments where students are supported as whole people. My community deserves professionals who are educated, qualified, and deeply committed. Cal Poly Humboldt’s MSW program will prepare me to do this work well.

I didn’t arrive at social work through a neat plan. If I had one, it fell apart pretty early. I arrived through life happening fast, community showing up when it mattered, and education finally giving language to what I was already doing. I live in an extremely rural, low-income community. Resources are scarce. Public transportation is unreliable. Housing is limited. Recruiting professionals is difficult, and building trust takes time. Rural social work requires creativity, persistence, and strong relationships- there is no shortcut, and Google Maps will not save you. I am already here. I am committed to this place and the people in it, and I plan to stay. My advocacy work has been grounded and practical. I collaborated with a reproductive health organization to establish an on-campus Teen Clinic, expanding access to confidential care. I integrate intersectionality into my health curriculum and have shared Native-informed curriculum across local schools, two of which now use these lessons regularly. I challenge outdated behavioral policies and advocate for whole-person, person-in-environment approaches. I have learned when “no” is not an acceptable answer- and how to keep showing up anyway. I bring an awareness of my privilege into this work. I am a white, middle-class woman and an educator. That comes with access and power. I take that responsibility seriously. I engage in constant self-reflection, examine my biases, and work to center the voices of students and families whose experiences differ from my own. Knowing when to step forward and when to step back matters. Learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) sealed that direction. While adults can change- I’m proof of that -prevention matters. Positive Childhood Experiences matter. Trusted adults matter. I want my work to live at that ground level: building relationships, strengthening families, and helping young people feel supported before crisis becomes their story. I am fresh in my education and grounded in current theory and practice. I help administrators see students differently. I notice patterns. I ask hard questions. I am not afraid to be the respectful squeaky wheel. I care deeply about prevention, dignity, and long-term change. My professional goal is to become a school social worker serving my local high school and, eventually, the broader district. After completing my MSW at Cal Poly Humboldt, I plan to earn my Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. I want to advocate for policy change, expand preventative programming, and help create school environments where students are supported as whole people. My community deserves professionals who are educated, qualified, and deeply committed. Cal Poly Humboldt’s MSW program will prepare me to do this work well.

I moved to Point Arena as a kid. I continue to reside here enjoying all it has to offer. I am a mother of three and a great one at that, as well as partner. I’ve always been eager to work. It took about 3 months before knowing that being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t for me, and began working again, balancing work and parenting. I love working with a team. I worked successfully in the cannabis industry for many years, enjoyed doing all the jobs, management being my favorite. I’ve spent time on the fire department as an EMT. I briefly opened a massage studio on Main St. I’ve done plenty of traveling round the globe and looking forward to doing more of that. I’ve been lucky enough to design and oversee construction on my home start to finish and just had the opportunity to design another home. I joined the local group Al-Anon about 9 years ago. I like to say they saved my life. I learned so much there and evolved into a completely different person whom I am very proud of. I held a group at the High School called Alateen that went well, up until covid. I’ve been sober for 5 years. After my second child I decided to go to college and became interested in psychology, making it my major. I recently obtained my AA in Psychology. I now attend Humboldt State's Social Work Program. Currently I am also working on my second AA from Mendocino College in Child Development and Family Relations. I find child development most fascinating. I have made my way back to the fire dept by accepting the VP position on their Association Board. I began working with the Action Network Team a year ago, working with our local youth. At Action Network I’ve had multiple jobs, and my current favorite is working with Ms. Ashton’s 3rd grade class. I’m live for my experiences and am loving working with youth, applying all that I learn. I’ve recently started a Family Al-anon meeting in Point Arena. I’m a down girl, empathetic super capable, overachieving, efficient, eager to learn, lover of life human Goals I have for myself are obtaining a Masters in Social Work, being a loving supportive mom, running for my districts school board, starting a non profit that connect youth to their community . I know that I can achieve all of these things. Scholarships allow my to have more time with my kids, as I am a full time student and work full time. Thank you of your time.

I love giving 100% into everything I do. This includes volunteers and providing services in my community. Bringing other people joy, security, and love- brings me joy. I first starting volunteering when I was only 10 years old. I enjoyed being part of a team that was giving back to their community. It felt right. Fast forward to now- I am now the vice president of the non profit and gave me my first volunteer position, with the Redwood Coast Fire Association. I love brainstorming what to better support our local fire dept., raising funds, and following through. Our events are community traditions that the locals love. I understand the importance to keep such things alive to a community- especially the rural kind. I love volunteering at community events, whether it's faceprinting and clean up, I love to help. Currently I do a lot of work in the community garden in my town. This is something I can see doing for a long time. Every year it gets better and better. Recently I joined the Governance council that helps to run the local charter schools. Currently 2 of my 3 kids are enrolled there. I will do this for 2 years. I look at it as a jumping off point, as I intend to run for a school board position in my district. I think I have a lot to offer. This year I went on a college field trip. I am in the social work program at Cal Poly Humboldt. During spring semester we attended "lobby days". It was there that got me interested in policy. I'm ready to up my volunteer game. I don't want to just help out, I want to my serious change. Slow and steady is my plan. I am learning so much through my education, and job. I work in youth services at a family resource center. I know that with my knowledge, experience, passion and love for my community, Id be an asset to the District. Next, maybe city council, who knows. This scholarship will help be by allowing me to spend more time with my children. I am a full time student and work full time. It doesn't leave much time to be with my little ones. They are missing out. My job is important to my career path. I would love to work less hours to be with my kids, and this scholarship would do that for me. Thank you for your time.