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Katie Lipoma

4x

Finalist

General information

Location
Natick, MA
Age
22
Gender
Female

Hobbies & Interests

  • Dance
  • Business And Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Writing
  • Fashion
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Astrology
  • Shopping And Thrifting
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Crafting
  • Spending Time With Friends and Family
  • Interior Design
  • Psychology
  • Reading
  • Marketing
  • Movies And Film
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside
  • Spirituality
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Conservation
  • Forensics
  • Sewing
  • Cleaning
  • Philosophy
  • Mental Health
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Camping
  • Foreign Languages
  • Trivia
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Nutrition and Health
  • Social Justice
  • Gender Studies
  • Real Estate
  • Mentoring
  • Learning
  • Journaling
  • Tutoring

Reading

  • Academic
  • Adult Fiction
  • Mystery
  • Romance
  • Self-Help
  • Spirituality
  • Poetry
  • Biography
  • Psychology
  • Health
  • Social Issues

I read books daily.

Bio

Hello, I’m Katie Lipoma. I'm a junior Dean's List student double majoring in creative writing and psychology, minoring in editing and publishing & business communications, and pursuing a Maine Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community Certificate at the University of Maine at Farmington. I aspire to build a career as an author and editor while also establishing my own mental health practice focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ youth! I want to write and edit books that leave a lasting impact and celebrate human creativity. My experiences and setbacks as a queer woman living with severe anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD have inspired me to help others and reduce mental health stigma. On campus, I'm involved in UMF's Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society Chapter as well as Teen Voices, where I mentor young students facing social and academic barriers through literature. I serve as Secretary of UMF's community service Rotaract Club and as Social Media Manager of Free the Tampons Project, where I provide menstrual products and inclusive education to combat local period poverty. I’m a literary journal editing intern and work several jobs which include co-authoring a book. I also regularly volunteer and was recognized for my leadership, contributions, and impact to my school and community with UMF’s Jill Schwab Underclassman Leadership Award (2024) and UMF’s Dr. John Roman Leadership Award (2025). My work ethic, perseverance, and passion make me the dedicated student and individual I'm proud to be. Thank you for your consideration and for taking the time to learn about me!

Education

University of Maine at Farmington

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Psychology, General
  • Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Minors:
  • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
  • Business/Corporate Communications
GPA3.7 GPA

Natick High

High School

2019 – 2023

GPA3.7 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
University of Southern Maine, Southern New Hampshire University
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Assistant Teacher

    Farming · Natick Community Organic Farm

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Book Co-Author

    Writing and Editing · Self-employed

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Social Media Manager

    Public Relations and Communications · UMF Free the Tampons Project

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Secretary

    Public Relations and Communications · UMF Rotaract Club

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Conferences & Events Special Projects Assistant

    Events Services · University of Maine at Farmington

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Poshmark Small Business Owner

    Apparel & Fashion · Self-employed

    Jan 2020 – Present

  • Young Writers’ Camp Counselor

    Writing and Editing · University of Maine at Farmington

    Jan 2025 – Jan 2025

  • Social Media Content Creator

    Marketing and Advertising · University of Maine at Farmington

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Merchandise Sales Associate

    Retail · T.J. Maxx

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2023

  • Literary Journal Editor Intern

    Writing and Editing · University of Maine at Farmington

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Literacy and Creative Writing Tutor

    Education · Self-employed

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Natick Public Schools Custodian

    Facilities Services · Town of Natick

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2025

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Mental Health Care
Dream career goals:
To open a private mental health practice and change lives as well as be an author and have my books featured on the New York Times Bestseller List! I aspire to be a mentor for others in both career fields!
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Justin Burnell Memorial Scholarship
I stare at my mom's glowing text message in the cool safe dark of the dorm bathroom, my vision blurring with tears and my heart pounding. It reads: "Was this week's article meant to appeal to others or are you trying to tell us something?" My latest blog article for my creative writing internship features a book review about a lesbian couple and my excitement about it. I read her words over and over, analyzing them until they no longer make sense. I thought she surely knew from my persistent avoidance of relationship talk as well as my aversion to the many men she deems "perfect" for me. Following numerous teary anxiety-filled nights, on November 8, 2025, I finally came out to my parents. "Yes, I'm bisexual. I like men and women," I reply after hovering over the send button while imagining every possible negative reaction. In short, my mom was confused but positive, and often looks uncomfortable when I talk openly about my sexuality and preference for women. My dad refuses to discuss the topic and I fear his reactions. However, the relief and freedom I experienced upon expressing myself after a lifetime of suppression was overwhelming. Up until now, it's been a difficult journey in overcoming the lack of support, community, and representation in order to fully step into and accept my true self. I've always known that I was different as I never felt the same pull to boys while growing up unlike my friends. Therefore, I often made up crushes and forced myself to like boys while suppressing my draw to girls in order to appear "normal" to others and myself. I never had community or saw LGBTQ+ representation around me and in the media, especially feminine presenting individuals like myself. My friends viewed LGBTQ+ people as outcasts and made fun of them, forcing me deeper into the closet and causing me to end long-term friendships. I also lacked community at home and witnessed nearly all my loved ones criticize and shame LGBTQ+ individuals and media, even those within our own family. At age seven, my religious grandmother told me that her son is going to Hell for being gay. I was constantly reminded that being LGBTQ+ is a Sin and something to be feared. For years I felt deep-rooted shame and this only worsened when my dad became religious and started viewing things the same. Thus, home didn't feel like home and I had to hide who I truly was. I didn't know who I was safe to share my true self with. Furthermore, I've struggled with my mental health for as long as I can remember and the anxiety and fear tied to my sexuality only exacerbated it, causing me to develop depression in high school. That's when my therapist encouraged me to find purpose through my writing. Writing has remained a stable constant throughout all these struggles. It's a source of comfort and therapy when I feel alone and allows me to authentically express myself without fear. Before coming out, I lived vicariously and freely through my fictional queer characters! Also, verbal expression has always been difficult due to my anxiety. Writing helps me to express myself in other ways and turns my challenges into art that I can be proud of. I want to share my passion with the world and inspire others to bloom from their pain. I also want my characters to provide community and make readers feel less alone. Writing is the reason I was able to explore my sexuality and come out...it healed me and saved my life.
Manuela Calles Scholarship for Women
I lead with my values in all my personal and professional pursuits. As a passionate psychology major with a minor in business communications who aspires to open her own mental health practice to help others and reduce stigma, my values are and will continue to be at the forefront of everything I do. From a young age, my family ingrained the importance of treating all people with compassion, empathy, and respect. I continue to embody these foundational values in my daily life through my perception and navigation of the world, interactions with others, and free time spent engaging in community service projects. These values have also inspired a lifelong dedication to helping and caring deeply for others. Additionally, I've experienced mental health struggles firsthand, so I will treat each client as I would like to be treated...with the utmost understanding and respect in order to create a safe space for sharing. My queer identity in which I was only able to explore through mental health counseling also influenced my future application of these values, as I hope that all LGBTQIA+ and marginalized group clients will be able to find community and support within my practice. I also value honesty, responsibility, open communication, and hard work. College encourages me to apply these values every day to my studies, extracurriculars, and relationships of all kinds. They ensure that I'm reaching my fullest potential and provide a stable foundation to build on. Thus, they will also serve as core values for the work culture of my future mental health practice and the positive client-therapist relationships I seek to foster. As a business owner and therapist, it will be vital to be honest about and communicate what is and isn't working regarding workplace evaluations, client-therapist relationships, and care plans in order to remain genuine, trustworthy, helpful, and successful. I must also be honest with myself in recognizing when I need assistance and admitting when I don't know something. Furthermore, responsibility and accountability will be crucial to a healthy and positive workplace environment and client-therapist relationships. Also, open communication will be necessary to ensure that all parties get what they want and need to achieve their goals. Moreover, hard work is essential for getting anywhere in life, including the field of mental health. I will encourage any workers I have to put time and effort into their roles to truly make a difference. The hard work that I pour into my practice and job as a therapist will bolster my impact and make my practice the best it can be. Lastly, I value teamwork. As someone who prioritizes independent work, I've recently learned the importance of working closely with others to achieve a common goal via jobs and community service projects. Teamwork is essential to shared productivity, simplicity, and success. I will apply this value to my future mental health practice and it will be crucial for any workers to put their differences aside and come together, lend a hand, and ensure that duties are equally distributed for the best workplace flow. Additionally, I will encourage all therapists and clients to work closely together to create and manage care plans and therapy goals in order to ensure the best outcomes and success.
Alexandra Rowan Voices of Tomorrow Scholarship
Here are two original poems, "Childhood at 94 Elm St." and "Ballet." Thank you for your time and consideration. Childhood at 94 Elm St. It never rains on summer Saturdays in Massachusetts where the driveway doesn’t cease to end and pitted brick grazes golden sky. It’s morning and the clothesline is full and so are the blackberry bushes, and the usual neighborhood crowd celebrates with popsicles in pine trees, shoes only sometimes, and secrets on the old tire swing out back— long days forged in fern and so little time to make a mess of what we have. Grammie tells us to stay clear of the woods at the first hint of dark, and she says it will swallow us whole. “Enjoy the sun while you can” and we laugh, because we don’t know that we won’t always be eleven and sunburnt and our hands, purple with berry juice. Grammie’s in the kitchen while we run barefoot after dark, footsteps heard only by the night and the rain clouds up ahead. “Come inside and don't look back,” she says. “The coyotes are out and they are hungry.” Ballet The tall, thin woman exuding elegance and experience says “we’re all here to have fun” like it is time for recess and we’re just kids being kids about to jump into one big mud puddle, but my hair is tight and itchy and I am told that baby pink gets dirty fast and in that room—vast and empty— generations of dust cling to aged cedar floorboards, awoken with each little sweep and kick and there’s bows and bows, pliés, applause, and laughter and “let’s watch the older girls now,” with their movements so effortless, joy so transparent until the music fades and there are critiques and tears and the tall, thin woman says “we’re all here to have fun” but her pointy feet do not agree and I am born into ballet complete with cashmere wraps and permanent goosebumps and angry French terminology like chassé pas de bourrée and grand jeté repeated over and over grand jeté grand jeté and again I spin across the floor one by one, two by two, blinded by my own dizziness and the confusing disappointment from the tall, thin woman making comments about my body, and at thirteen, my stomach is too pronounced and nothing I do is right and the girls in class are complaining about the looks of their legs and arms and waists and we soon appear sickly, skin and bones, skeletons of our former selves, and "perfect" ballerinas and the tall, thin, cruel woman is never satisfied and says it’s tough love when she digs her heel hard into my back during our splits, driving me further from the thing I used to love and there’s tears concealed by long sleeves and the lowering of heads and I know that I want to tell her what she told me: that she will never amount to anything and she is stupid and ugly and I want to run far, far away from the studio that I once called home, but I am not cruel and I'm tired and my body aches for who I was before ballet and so, when the final curtain closes so does a decade of experience with memories that settle into a heavy dust and cling to shadows beneath the barre like apparitions of a past life, keeping me forever tethered to the art that birthed and destroyed me.
Therapist Impact Fund: NextGen Scholarship
My community often overlooks mental health as a crucial aspect of health...until a crisis occurs and another human is labeled as “crazy.” I’ve always struggled with intense anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it impacts every aspect of my life. I’ve learned to embrace what makes me different and navigate challenges, making me stronger and more resilient. However, I didn’t ask for help due to fear, shame, and overwhelm until my mental health was unbearable and I was severely depressed in high school. I was too embarrassed to tell my parents about what I was experiencing as their understanding of mental health challenges was limited and reflected stereotypes. A school staff member connected me to my first therapist. Teletherapy pulled me from my depression and helped me to step into myself again. I suddenly had a purpose and discovered what I wanted to do with my life…to be a therapist who helps people like myself and works to reduce mental health stigma! While studying psychology at the start of college, I started experiencing panic attacks and was diagnosed with panic disorder. I remained in therapy and was encouraged to try mental health medication. My parents were not very supportive as mental health medication is still so stigmatized today. Through years of therapy, medication, and healing, I recently came out to my loved ones as bisexual. Without my therapist, I would have lacked the community to be able to talk openly about who I am. Due to my firsthand experiences, I plan to approach all clients with kindness, empathy, and understanding. I aspire to be someone who everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ folks, feel safe to open up to. I hope to have my own practice that supports underrepresented communities and incorporates my passion for holistic health! Accessible and inclusive quality mental health care is crucial to the well-being of generations today and future generations. To make one change to today’s mental healthcare system, I would provide opportunities for mental health care and connection in spaces away from home like schools and community centers. Therefore, those without access to care at home for any reason can receive support elsewhere. These opportunities would provide education that normalizes talking about mental health and challenges to foster future informed and empathetic generations that fight stereotypes and stigma, while encouraging people to seek help and enter the field. Inclusive language and examples of various challenges experienced by various people would be included. To promote equity and inclusion, more opportunities in low income areas and addressing diverse populations would be provided. Teletherapy could be offered at reduced rates for identifying individuals (first five sessions could be free, especially in areas of conflict). Based on my experiences, teletherapy is innovative but has room for improvement. Teletherapy provides increased global access to mental health care. Those with busy schedules can connect from anywhere at any time, offering comfort and privacy. However, the virtual aspect of teletherapy can be a barrier to authentic human connection and prevents body language from being seen. It can also reduce in-person connection, especially for teenagers who use technology more than most. Teletherapy could also be more affordable, especially for those without insurance and in low income areas. Also, there could be more therapists that come from diverse backgrounds to better connect with clients like them. Furthermore, individuals might not have access to technology regularly or at all as well as wifi and a stable connection. Additionally, some people, particularly older adults, may not know teletherapy is an option or how to navigate it. Perhaps teletherapy could be advertised more on different platforms and in physical media.
Redefining Victory Scholarship
James T. Godwin Memorial Scholarship
My dad, Victor, is more than just a father. He embodies all that he was and is, reflected through his many facets and admirable qualities, which I've had the privilege of seeing as his daughter. He served in the U.S. Military as a Marine for four years following high school. The stories he's shared with me involve his time in Somalia and Iraq during the collapse of the Somali Government, and the impactful relationships he made with local children and his fellow Marines. He also operated cranes for ten years in Boston, MA and helped construct tunnels during The Big Dig. He created a successful tiling business, combining his love for hands-on work with his drive to help others, often completing jobs free of charge for those in need. He worked his way up the ranks of the Natick, MA fire department for years. He's now the Deputy Chief! Among others, he's generous, hardworking, selfless, strong (physically and mentally), and respected by all in our community. He's the first to give to someone in need, lend a hand without question, and give the shirt off his back. I grew up watching him aid strangers in car accidents on the side of the road until paramedics arrived, reaching for the nitrile gloves kept in his car. Every year, I see him mow the lawns and shovel the snow-covered driveways belonging to our neighbors. He's sacrificed so much for his family and has worked hard to afford necessities, while also making time for his loved ones. He strives to put smiles on our faces and make us laugh, claiming that it makes him happy to see us happy. I have a lot of fond memories with my dad. However, this is my favorite. My dad has never been much of a singer but hums old tunes around the house, sometimes bursting sporadically into song with ballet spins and high kicks if I'm nearby, making me laugh until my stomach hurts. I had trouble falling asleep as a kid and was plagued by nightmares. My dad struggled similarly growing up so he decided to put his singing to good use. Through ages five and six, he would sit on the edge of my bed and sing a song that he created using our family members to the tune of "Rock-A-Bye Baby" with added twists to make it longer and more interesting. The scenarios would be so funny that I ended up laughing instead of falling asleep, but it worked because I rarely got nightmares. I learned a lot about him and his family through this song involving his mother, father, brothers, sister, and pets. The song featured my grandmother's famous salami sandwiches, my mom's paintings, my uncle buying me a tricycle, and other lines that made me smile and laugh. I begged him to sing me the song three times each night and it became a beloved routine that brought us together. He'd huff in mock annoyance but it was clear by his smile that he enjoyed it just as much as I did. I remember hearing my sister call for him from her bedroom to sing to her too. My dad is someone I look up to and admire...not just because he's my dad but because I see the person I want to be in him. This song tradition was the foundation for our relationship and the reason why we're so connected today. It helped me during my childhood but helped him reconnect with a more playful version of himself too, after years of hard, serious work in the Marines and beyond.
Devin Chase Vancil Art and Music Scholarship
Hello, my name is Katie Lipoma. I’m a sophomore student double majoring in creative writing and psychology at the University of Maine at Farmington. Although psychology is a huge interest of mine, writing is and always has been my true passion. My love for the art of writing began very early. I was an avid reader and wrote above grade level throughout elementary school, making me a frequent guest reader in classrooms across the school as my teachers took notice of my abilities and passion. As I read more, I wrote more and my love for writing remained a stable constant even when life was unpredictable and harsh. I had severe social anxiety growing up and had a difficult time making friends and expressing myself orally in and out of class. Consequently, high school was especially tough for me in combination with mental health challenges I faced. Writing allowed me to put my feelings into words and acted as a source of comfort that could transform my hardship and pain into art I could be proud of. Writing has pushed me to share my voice and has helped me to fully step into myself in spite of fear, especially in college where oral participation is necessary for success. Writing has truly made me who I am today and means everything to me. Hence, I take great pleasure in extending my love for writing outside of the classroom. Along with several additional campus organizations, I’m a member of Writers’ Guild—a community of student writers that explore and discuss ideas, works, and literature. I was also proud to be a mentor for the 2023-2024 UMF and Mt. Blue Middle School Book Club Mentorship Program, allowing me to connect one-on-one with younger disadvantaged students through literature in hopes of fostering a love for reading that spans generations. I have a lot of writing aspirations! I recently challenged my fears by submitting my work, “Ballet”, to a local poetry contest in which I must read aloud if I win. My long-term goals are: finish writing my mystery novel by graduation, volunteer at my local Literacy Volunteers organization, start a reading club, self-publish or self-market my novels, and explore publishing, editing, and professional writing opportunities. My ultimate dream is to become a best-selling novelist and have my books featured on the New York Times Bestseller List. Most importantly, I want to inspire through my work and leave a lasting impression, as well as be someone who people can look up to. The art of writing is imperative to society. As in my case, writing can act as an indispensable outlet for self-expression, discovery, and well-being. Writing provided purpose and fuel to keep me going. Writing is for everyone and takes so many forms. It can temporarily remove one from their present reality to explore new worlds and ideas. Without creative writing, the ability to use one’s imagination and creativity abilities would be diminished. It helps one to communicate feelings, ideas, and concepts that may not be able to be put into words or conversation by other means. Writing also allows one to challenge oneself and perceptions, and can even change the way one views others and the world. With the recent influx of Artificial Intelligence, it’s especially important to emphasize and preserve authentic human writing and voice to prevent creative writing material from losing life, meaning, and originality. Writing isn’t just a passion, it's a way of life.
NYT Connections Fan Scholarship
1. BANANAGRAMS TERMS: BANANAS, DUMP, PEEL, SPLIT Reasoning: I recently learned how to play Bananagrams! After teaching the game to my family, they now want to play every night! Although similar to Scrabble, I really appreciate how this game allows for social connection and whole group play with fun terminology while also incorporating words, creativity, and fast critical thinking like the NYT Connections puzzles. This grouping includes words like "SPLIT" and "DUMP" that are generic and can be tricky to figure out where they fit in the puzzle. Unless one is familiar with Bananagrams and its terminology, one likely won't associate a food-like item with the rest of these words, making for a fun and informative game. 2. EARLY 2000S TECHNOLOGY: CAMERA, DVD, IPOD, WII Reasoning: With the rapid advancement of modern technology, I often find myself wanting to slow down and revisit the basics. Digital cameras/camcorders, DVDs, iPods, and Wii games were the nostalgic Y2K gadgets of my childhood. These older technologies remind me of a time of less distractions and more fun, productivity, and memories, specifically when technology advanced relationships in a positive way. This grouping was chosen because it targets a specific age group and might be challenging for other generations who are unfamiliar with some of the classic gadgets. 3. OLD, AS AN OBJECT: ANTIQUE, ARCHAIC, HISTORIC, VINTAGE Reasoning: Every Sunday, my grandfather and I visit a new flea market. We are always on the lookout for unique vintage items that we can learn more about and bond over. My grandfather inspired my early passion for old films, fashion, and home furnishings, an integral part of my identity. This category is a tribute to our memories together as his health is declining and it's uncertain how many more Sundays we will have together. Also, I grouped these words together because they are very similar but are usually specific to an item (i.e. "HISTORIC" and "ANTIQUE" imply history and calculated age which are typically associated with more valuable items in regards to rarity and expense). This grouping can make the puzzle challenging because people may not be as familiar with some of these words, with the exception of the popular "VINTAGE", used to describe anything that is old or has age. 4. WOODLAND ANIMALS: BUTTERFLY, DEER, RABBIT, SNAKE Reasoning: This summer, I've started taking walks in the woods for my physical and mental health where I've spotted so much beautiful wildlife that I wouldn't be able to see elsewhere. My favorite sightings thus far have been deer with their fawns, rabbits running together, snakes, butterflies, dragonflies, an owl, and even a turtle laying eggs by a pond! I'm so thankful to be present in nature and witness the wonder, joy, and serenity that accompanies it. Aside from being relevant to my daily life, I grouped these words together because they can easily be associated with one another, and act as the one "easy" category that each NYT Connections puzzle seems to have.
Combined Worlds Scholarship
Often, we become so engrossed in our daily lives that we forget about the world that lies beyond our own. However, the experience that travel provides along with its transformative qualities is not easily forgotten. Travel has countless benefits on well-being: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual to name a few. I would even consider it imperative for personal growth, discovery and the expansion of the mind, happiness, and what is needed to keep one's childlike sense of awe and wonder intact. Depending on the motive to travel, there may be different outcomes and rewards of the experience. There are those who wish for a change of scenery/lifestyle, thus gaining new cultural insights and a newfound appreciation for the world around them. The exposure to cultures and environments unlike one's own is beneficial as it allows for outdated thinking patterns/biases to disperse and for understanding, curiosity, and respect to consume one's thoughts and heart instead. Then there are those who travel due to recent hardship, the experience providing them with inner peace, new fulfilling relationships, and an improved mindset. This new exposure reminds of the beauty of life and the wonderful people that make it up (most of which we have yet to meet), even amidst life's lows. Travel allows us to zoom out on our lives in order to see the bigger picture and feel grateful for even the smallest of things. Personally, the beauty of nature always inspires feelings of gratitude in me when I visit new places. Also, there are those who seek out a specific destination to explore more about themselves or roots. This immersion in culture can really transform one's inner being, fostering a feeling of community and belonging. As humans, it's only natural to want to be part of something bigger than ourselves: to be a team, to be loved, and to be one. Travel provides endless opportunities for discovery via reconnecting with loved ones, meeting new family/friends, and learning new things about ourselves and others that foster our mental wellness, thus bolstering the connection and clarity that we're all in search of. For instance, despite expenses, I dream of visiting Chieti, Italy, the birthplace of my late grandmother. Although I'm also Italian, she was the last to integrate her culture into our family practices and traditions, thus I wasn't able to learn as much as I hoped. My wish to travel to Chieti is fueled by my desire to connect with my grandmother's world and to learn more about myself and my family's roots through the immersion of culture and language. Specifically, it would be a life-altering experience to learn about traditional Italian cuisine and to speak Italian with locals, as my grandmother valued food that I couldn't cook and spoke Italian in which I couldn't understand, making it difficult to connect with my culture. Travel is priceless as it prompts us to nurture the truly human parts of ourselves and to expand our consciousness, allowing for lifelong memories and profound transformation.
Barbara Cain Literary Scholarship
The two biggest things that the books I've read over the years have taught me are how to find myself again through literature and how to be a good writer, my own writer. I'm grateful for these lessons and each book that has pushed me closer, and has given me the confidence, to work toward my lifelong goal of becoming a best-selling novelist. I grew up with my nose in every book I could find. I was a very shy child and had a hard time making friends. Books were my sanctuary and kept me company when I had nobody else. In first grade, I told my family that I was going to write a book someday and I planned my life around this. Up until high school, I read nearly every day. But when my life as a teenager grew increasingly busier with no time for anything other than schoolwork and extracurriculars, and my motivation to read, along with my mental health, dwindled until I was amidst a four year reading slump and depression. I found that the required books for my classes weren't compelling and I found little happiness in anything. As cheesy as it might sound, I felt like a part of me was missing when I was no longer interested in reading. However, I can attribute my falling in love with books again to a single required summer reading title, my all-time favorite book: "Truly Devious" by Maureen Johnson. The missing puzzle piece was discovering the genre of mystery! Johnson's creative plot, exciting atmosphere, and little twists kept me hooked and wanting to read more of her work. I finished the series and read more mystery books! Firstly, I have come to appreciate the meticulous planning and execution that goes into every book. I have a deep respect for anyone who shares their work with the world. I also relearned the importance of finding the right books and genres, as well as slowing down and really listening to what each author has to say. I started taking notes and analyzing each author's writing techniques such as starting and ending a chapter with different emotions, how certain characters are developed to best connect with readers, and even little punctuation choices. I recognize that each book is inspiration and something to learn from. The "good" things that I admire become additions to my techniques and plans as a writer. The "bad" things that aren't my cup of tea allow me to reflect on what I could do better in my own writing and help me to further develop my writing style. I admire the individuality in every piece of literature! Something that also helped me to discover new writing is by volunteering at my local library! Another book that has shaped my writing style and path is Brian Turner's "The Wild Delight of Wild Things". He visited my college to talk about his work and mentioned how his shy nature held him back from opportunities. I realized that to achieve my goal of publishing a book, I needed to get out of my comfort zone. I did just that by sharing my work at a public reading! It was terrifying but also helped me to push past my fears to get where I want to be. His writing also features lots of childhood reflection. This is something I have started to do and I find it healing. I look up to writers as artists and people. I would not be who I am or where I am if it were not for books and those who write them.
Live Music Lover Scholarship
I'm proud to say that my first ever concert was filmed on an iPhone 5s in 2017. Like any middle school girl at the time, I was obsessed with Shawn Mendes and his song "Stitches" quickly became the first and only song I purchased on iTunes, and of course, I listened to it on repeat for months on end. So you can only imagine how over the moon I was when my mom surprised me with three The Illuminate World Tour tickets to see Shawn Mendes in concert for my twelfth birthday. Now, as I scroll through endless photos and videos from that night, most of which are hilariously blurry, I feel grateful for having been able to experience the sheer childlike excitement, happiness, and awe that accompanied my first concert. Looking back, this concert was truly a coming-of-age experience for me as it introduced me to the world of live music and entertainment, kick-started my passion for certain music genres and helped me to discover my musical preferences, as well as aided me in creating lifelong memories that would propel me to enjoy future concerts. I went to see Shawn Mendes with my best friend at the time. We thought we looked so mature and cool in our black chokers, ripped skinny jeans, and smokey eye makeup that we applied while fully convinced that Shawn Mendes was going to fall in love with us. Our seats were in the nosebleeds of TD Garden but that didn't stop us from having the time of our lives. I just remember being in awe of the magnitude of concert sound and how raw and real Shawn Mendes' voice was in person. I also just couldn't believe that he was in the same room as us! The props and digital effects were breathtaking and made the experience that much more unforgettable (the giant moon was my favorite). My friend and I stood and danced together while belting out the lyrics to every single song until our throats grew raw. I noticed how everyone (mostly teen girls) came together in celebration over a common interest and the room turned into a fun-loving community that allowed us to live in the moment and just have fun without worrying about what we looked or sounded like. It was incredible! My first concert experience was my motivation to explore my music taste and attend more concerts to create more memories with my loved ones. My favorite (and most unexpected) memory from a concert is swaying to "Tequila" with my mom and sister at a Dan + Shay concert in 2021. We tried to dress as "country" as possible to match the music by wearing bootcut jeans, belts, and denim jackets. I've never been a huge fan of country music but my family convinced me to join them, and I'm glad I did. I quickly noticed that the crowd dynamic was very different than that of the Shawn Mendes concert. Everyone was so relaxed and wholesome, and it was clear that they were there to really soak in the experience. This helped me to fully enjoy my time at the concert as I was with like-minded people. Thanks to this lovely concert memory, I have expanded my music taste and now have several favorite country songs, many of which I wouldn't have been introduced to if not for this experience. Country music is now a favorite genre between my friends and I!
TEAM ROX Scholarship
I'm grateful to have grown up in a service-oriented family, for which I can pinpoint my early passion for helping others. I loved listening to their stories and learning how their efforts changed lives. I remember how their eyes lit up as they spoke about impacts of their work, and I knew that I wanted that same passion to fuel me in helping others as well. My mother has worked as a teacher her whole life and my father, a firefighter and devoted philanthropist. However, my grandmother and grandfather were my main mentors as they dedicated their lives to helping children with terminal illnesses, deformities, and developmental needs in hospitals, schools, and through Shriners Children's. They fostered my love for life and showed me that it isn't about what one can gain, but rather what one can do to support others. But their emphasis on gratitude is my biggest influence and motivator. I appreciate everything in life as some might not have the same privileges. In middle school, I joined a volunteer choir program that sang to residents at nursing homes. I was emotional that the residents were so overcome with gratitude, and this became the moment that I knew I wanted to support older people through volunteering. I later worked a fast-paced customer service job and had several older coworkers with dementia and health problems. We grew close and they thanked me for listening to their stories and helping them through each day. My passion only blossomed from there. I am now in charge of connecting my school's community service Rotaract Club with nursing homes for visits! I loved books growing up. As a fourth grader, my first grade teacher had me read to her students. I enjoyed helping younger students discover a love for reading/knowledge. This passion for helping children and encouraging reading led me to join my college's Teen Voices program where I volunteer by building relationships with underprivileged middle schoolers through reading/discussing literature. I then encountered another turning point in my journey when I suggested that a student I was working with should pursue English in college because of her reading and writing talents. Her eyes lit up when I said this as I learned that she struggled with self-esteem and had no hopes of attending college. This moment furthered my passion and seeming life purpose for nurturing the emotions and well-being of others. Since childhood, I've had anxiety and OCD. There is so much stigma surrounding mental health disorders in the U.S., making those suffering labelled as "crazy" and treated inhumanely. Access to healthcare and support is also lacking. I received little sympathy and support growing up with mental illness and I never want anyone to feel like they're not supported, loved, and validated because of a condition(s) they cannot control. My overall volunteer work has inspired me to dedicate my career to improving the lives of others through mental health support/counseling. I want to be someone that people feel comfortable sharing their struggles with. I recently read Deepak Chopra's "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success...". One of these laws is The Law of Giving! This book emphasizes that giving back is how one shows up as the highest version of oneself. Chopra says that to find one's life purpose, one must uncover what speaks to one's soul and combine it with giving back. This insight bolstered the importance of volunteering and mental health advocacy. It reminds me of my grandparents' teachings, and that we are all humans in this experience called life. Thus, we should support one another and lend a hand whenever possible.
Jeannine Schroeder Women in Public Service Memorial Scholarship
I'm convinced that everyone has "that moment" when something clicks and you realize that you're meant to be apart of something bigger than yourself. That moment for me was in sixth grade when a girl seated in front of me stood up and it was clear that she had bled through her pants. After she ran to the restroom and the class finished laughing at her, she later raced back into the classroom panicking and crying as she told our teacher that she didn't have any menstrual products. My heart broke for her as I watched her sit back down without getting what she needed. I hadn't gotten my first period at the time, but I immediately decided that advocating for the access to menstrual products, women's health, and period education was something that I wanted and needed to do. During my senior year of high school, I joined my school's Girl Up Club, an organization dedicated to advocating for and empowering women. Among other projects, we distributed a range of menstrual products to all of the restrooms on campus to provide for those who didn't have access due to location or financial situation or just didn't have a product available when needed. This club project healed sixth grade me as I felt good about hopefully improving people's health as nobody should be left without products—bleeding is natural and nearly all of us get periods. This year, as a college freshman, I came across the Free the Tampons Project Volunteer Club. To my surprise, the club also distributed tampons across campus and provided resources to educate students about their bodies and cycles, as well as to end the stigma and shame associated with periods. This was perfect as I would have created a similar club if it didn't already exist. The club was in need of people to step up and run it as all the members were approaching graduation. For the past two semesters, two of my friends and I have been fully in charge of club organization, club promotion and advertising, and of course, tampon distribution. Every Monday, we walk to all the buildings and dorms on campus to fill or refill our tampon bins in the bathrooms. We track how many tampons we add to each bin as we go as we only have a limited stock of tampons left from a donation from years ago. Our goal is to reduce period poverty in our community as Farmington, Maine is home to a lot of people who are struggling financially. Not having the funds to taking care of your body and period should never be a worry! Students across campus have even begun helping each other out by adding tampons and pads of their own to the bins to help out our community! For next year, we are currently looking for grants to purchase more tampons as we are running out. The future of our club depends on this donation! If all goes well, we are also hoping to add pads to the bins (for those who don't like tampons or can't use them), continue our Instagram (@umffreethet) to continue providing resources and education, and I also plan to make our tampon tracking sheets more straight forward and easy to use. Another goal is to motivate other students to join our cause as it is only three of us running the club at the moment! I've always been passionate about women empowerment and period advocation, and I hope to see a huge difference on campus by the time I'm a college senior!
Student Life Photography Scholarship
Bold.org x Forever 21 Scholarship + Giveaway
katielipoma
I Can Do Anything Scholarship
I effortlessly attract abundance in my personal & professional life, am at peace of mind, overflowing with gratitude, nourishing meaningful relationships and learning from others, satisfied with my growth, connected to nature, and prioritizing hobbies & health.
Future Is Female Inc. Scholarship
"Since when are you such a feminist?" my mom interrogates. "What do you mean? I've always been a feminist!" I respond. I guessed that she'd known all along but was waiting for an opportunity to comment. Two weeks ago, I toured a college and expressed that the community would feel tight-knit and welcoming if it were all women. I value female empowerment, thus I've applied to 3 all-women's schools out of 5 colleges. If asked three years ago, I'm ashamed that I would've said feminism was women protesting for change with signs. It wasn't until grade twelve (this year), that I grasped the true meaning behind the movement. Unsurprisingly, feminism is so much more than what I first believed. It only took growing up and maturing to discover. Feminism to me is more than a movement. It's choosing to incorporate values and embrace an empowering lifestyle—encompassing all that is your power as a woman. I believe that every woman has access to this power if they only choose. Feminism is important as it teaches women that they have a voice that matters. It represents women fighting for their right to be seen and heard in a male-dominated society. It's crucial to continue breaking down gender norms and inequities for the women of now and the future. I was drawn to this scholarship as I'm passionate about feminism and it pertains to my life. From a young age, I've been committed to the feminist lifestyle. My family recognized early on that my values strayed from their traditional generational beliefs regarding women and their place in society. I truly believe I was born a feminist! My childhood consisted of correcting the wrongs thrust upon women in my life. When my family was misogynistic, I was and am the first and only one to speak up. One time stands out to me. My family was shocked when I spoke against my grandfather who believed women belonged in the kitchen. He treated my grandmother horribly at dinner, shouting orders to make him food and saying he didn't like her cooking. She complied, too nervous to object. I told him off every time. Eventually, my comments wore him down. I've gotten better at this as a teenager. This confidence helps me to continue speaking out about injustices in my school and community. Without familial support, I forged my path in feminism. Fast forward to this year, I joined my school's Girl Up Club. It advocates for women’s rights and underprivileged women with United Nations. I'm directing advertising and fundraising for women in Iran facing hijab injustice and menstrual products to end period poverty! Additionally, my friends and I realized that the women's basketball games were seen as a joke and only attended to laugh and boo. My dance team performed during these games to boost their engagement and reputation. Now they're a hit! I continue to share my voice and contribute to the movement every way I can. A woman who inspires me in more ways than one is my math tutor. She teaches all subjects plus four languages. She's a dedicated STEM student at Harvard and MIT. She's an engineer, designs for Apple and NASA, and motivates with each accomplishment. She's also a beautiful human with a pure heart. I admire how she seeks to better herself and others through her work in male-dominated fields. She hasn't let prejudice or gender-based hardships affect her as she uses these experiences to excel. I'm grateful for her influence on me. She's an exceptional woman that's helped shape my ever-growing views on feminism in today's world.
Catherine (Kay) Williams Memorial Arts Scholarship
My inspiration is no longer physically with me. My portrait painting highlights my grandfather. He passed away in 2016 but has remained a consistent source of inspiration. My Papa Joe is hard to forget. Lung cancer took him too soon, transforming his appearance into one I was unfamiliar with. He grew thin, withered, and weak, a contrasting image to his usual jolly well-fed self. I strived to capture the healthy version of Papa that I want to remember. When I look at this painting, I see him giving us gum packs for the ride home from his house, his clothes that smelled of mints and cigarette smoke (a now nostalgic scent I used to hate), "his" chair at the head of the dinner table, him taking us on tractor rides around his yard and lifting us in the scoop, eating everything we made for him, cooking fried dough for us the morning of sleepovers, and loudly telling jokes in the middle of restaurants. The photo I chose as a reference is one of my favorite photos. It's a photo of little me and Papa Joe. There are stickers all over his face and shirt, little mementos of our weekends together. He's laughing and smiling like he's remembered for doing by all his loved ones. Every time I look back at this memory, I smile because he looks so genuine as opposed to his usual serious photos (he was a tough guy in general but had a soft spot for his granddaughters). I decided not to include me or the stickers in the painting to highlight Papa Joe and all that he means to me. The purpose of this is to simply convey his character without distractions. His smile and eyes were some of the best parts about him, and I did my best to depict these features with love as I see them. Although I'm no professional and am still developing my artistic style, I'm proud of the quality of this painting especially since it was my first time painting a person. When I showed this work to my dad, he immediately got emotional as he couldn't believe the resemblance and began thinking about his father. My goal was to leave viewers with a good image of Papa Joe and the sweet man that he was, a moment preserved in time with his glassy eyes and sun-glazed wrinkles. This special piece as well as my love for painting and art has motivated me to start a mural of my own at my high school. I hope to continue to create work I'm proud of and that impact other people and prompt reflection. I'm happy that I found a creative way to honor my grandfather and show a side of him that many people might not have seen. I miss my Papa Joe so much. He was truly a special man.
Literature Lover Scholarship
Books literally changed my life. Passionate is an understatement when it comes to my love for English composition and literature. My interest goes way back to the start of my childhood where I was naturally drawn to the world of English and everything it has to offer. Like most parents, my mom and dad used to read to me as a young child. My favorite was "A Bad Case of Stripes" by David Shannon. My dad read it to me every single night without failure. I guess I could say that my obsession with reading and English started here. It's funny to say that a girl with stripes who eats lima beans changed my life for the better. Further down the line of childhood, I was extremely shy and had a hard time making friends. I'd get picked on a lot because I didn't stick up for myself. Books acted as a source of comfort and took the spot of loneliness in my life. The more I read, the more I grew to love reading. I could read a whole chapter book in a day if I really put my mind to it. I'd get lost in the words and escaped into my fictional world of choice for hours on end. It was my way of coping and doing what I loved at the same time. All through my schooling, I've excelled in both reading and writing. I've exceeded expectations on the English MCAS test and have been complimented by nearly all of my teachers on my writing assignments. This outward support from others has fueled my motivation and passion for everything English. As the years went on, I developed several mental disorders that hindered my social development even more. English class and reading continues to be of interest and have helped me to work through my fear of public speaking and verbally expressing my ideas. Currently, it's hard to find time in a given day for independent reading but my honors level English class satisfies my love for knowledge and curiosity. I continue to stay invested as I love to discover new authors and works through social media as well. My plan for college is to major in English and give back. I've gained so much from English over the years, it's only right that I contribute some of my own work for the world to see. I hope that my passion for English lives on for the rest of my life, and that when I'm old and gray, I am able to look back and see the impact that my own books have had on readers.
Learner Higher Education Scholarship
Some choose to value learning while others are born into it. I was born expected to value and continue learning. My family ingrained in me the importance of lifelong learning and higher education that I couldn't be more thankful for. My mom is a school teacher so academics and learning are extremely important to her. My childhood summers consisted of MathXL sessions and flashcards. What I didn't know at the time was that she was setting me up for academic success. She is planning to put her life savings towards my higher education (she started a college fund for me right after I was born). She has been the driving force behind my love for learning and desire to learn in college and beyond. In contrast, my grandmother never went to college—in fact, she never finished middle school. I hope to go to college and continue to learn for myself and the little girl inside my Gram. She always motivated me to pursue a higher education and supported me every step of the way in my academic endeavors. Similarly, my grandfather was extremely poor growing up and didn't have the financial means to go to college. Despite this, I look up to him and consider him to be one of the smartest, well-read, and knowledgable people I have ever met. He learns most from talking with others—especially strangers. He is the perfect example of a lifelong learner, one of many who has motivated me to want to go to college and has taught me so much. These special people have pushed and motivated me to value learning both in the classroom and out. I don't believe I'd have the same passion for learning if it were not for their guidance. A higher education is important to me because I strive to continue learning, and make myself and my family proud. I work very hard in school and out of school. I have decided to challenge myself this year after my past of high school burnout. I am currently taking three honors classes amongst other things. Most nights I end up working on homework until 2am. I'm involved in three clubs, am part of the Harvard Young Achievers Program, and am in the process of constructing a wide scale mural at my school. In addition, I'm still in the process of applying to colleges which is stressful but will be rewarding down the line. My mental health challenges throughout the years have made it even more difficult for me to work in comparison with my peers without mental health disorders. Most days I feel drained with the smallest of tasks but am able to motivate myself and work to achieve my goal of obtaining a college degree in English or writing. This has been my dream since I was a child, making it the driving force behind each and every one of my homework assignments. I'm extremely privileged to have the support system, internal motivation, and drive to pursue higher education. Learning has so many benefits and it's up to us to take advantage of them.
Lifelong Learning Scholarship
Some choose to value learning while others are born into it. I was born expected to value and continue learning. My family ingrained in me the importance of lifelong learning that I couldn't be more thankful for. My mom is a school teacher so academics and learning are extremely important to her. My childhood summers consisted of MathXL sessions and flashcards. What I didn't know at the time was that she was setting me up for academic success. She has been the driving force behind my love for learning and desire to learn in college and beyond. In contrast, my grandmother never went to college—in fact, she never finished middle school. I hope to go to college and continue to learn for myself and the little girl inside my Gram. She always motivated me to pursue a higher education and supported me every step of the way in my academic endeavors. Lastly, my grandfather was extremely poor growing up and didn't have the financial means to go to college. Despite this, I consider him to be one of the smartest, well-read, and knowledgable people I have ever met. He learns most from talking with others—especially strangers. He says that one can learn more from connecting with others than in the classroom, although he believes school is essential. He is the perfect example of a lifelong learner, someone I look up to and have learned so much from. These special people have pushed and motivated me to value learning both in the classroom and out. I don't believe I'd have the same passion for learning if it were not for their guidance. Learning is important to me because I strive to make myself and my family proud. I plan to continue learning throughout my life by obtaining a college degree in English or writing. I've been working towards going to college my entire life and my family is planning to put their life savings towards my higher education (my mom started saving for my sister and I's college fund right when we were born). I also plan on talking to more people. I can be very shy so it doesn't come easy but I would love to strike up some more conversations to learn more about different people and the world, as well as to make some new friends. I'm a naturally curious person and am interested in hearing new perspectives and ideas. Additionally, traveling after college is a great way to learn more about different areas of the world and gain new knowledge that cannot be discovered in a textbook. If possible, I hope to go to Italy and discover more about where my grandmother grew up and her background, as I don't know much about her past in Italy and am very interested in learning more about it and her as a whole. I'm extremely privileged to have the support system, internal motivation, and drive to continue learning. Learning has so many benefits and it's up to us to take advantage of them.
Your Dream Music Scholarship
This scholarship was fate. Today in class, I came across a song that really stuck with me. I had heard it many times before but was captivated by the "catchiness" of the song, rather than the words. When it played over my earbuds in forensics, I was actually able to take in and understand the message behind the beautiful lyrics. "Vienna" by Billy Joel encompasses the most important message to me, one that I feel every teenager should reflect on before adulthood and beyond. I interpreted Billy Joel's "Vienna" as revolving around growing up, navigating life, and eventually growing old. I view "Vienna" as the end point in life, a mysterious nameless goal that everyone works toward. The song proposes that maybe "Vienna" isn't what one should solely be focused on or looking forward to, but that the process of getting there will be more rewarding in the long run—one will miss out on the journey of life if they don't "slow down" in getting to the final destination. The song also proposes that it's okay to sit with oneself in the present moment and be satisfied with themself here and now. It emphasizes that constantly looking ahead makes it hard for one to accept themself as they are, and not how they could be, and to recognize that they are only doing their best. At this uncertain stage of my life before college, my future remains a mystery and I find myself feeling lost most times. This song's message actually changed my perspective on work and stress in life. I actually get a little emotional as the line "if you're so smart / why are you still so afraid?" makes me think about how I may be sabotaging my own success out of fear of failure.
Living Well Scholarship
Clean living is extremely important, especially in today's fast-paced world. We are so used to fast fashion, fast food, and even fast shipping where we are compromising clean living habits for the sake of convenience without any regard to ourselves or the planet. This is incredibly harmful. I believe that clean living is important because it balances the unclean living practices of our current world. Committing to implementing clean living practices may take more time, energy, and effort but they are vital for keeping yourself and the planet healthy for years to come. My day-to-day clean living practices consist of self-control and research before buying new clothing. I value sustainability and ethical practices, meaning that I will never buy a piece that is considered fast fashion or is sweat shop based where people are laboring in inhumane conditions. Although not ethical, I work at TJ Maxx (at the time the job made sense) and almost every garment is poorly crafted to keep up with demand, fueling the company and the fast fashion industry along with all of its flaws. Whenever I'm considering a TJ Maxx purchase, I always research the brand and materials to make sure that I'm investing in something that does good for me and the world. One of the websites I use is Good On You. Their rating system covers all the bases in terms of what humans should be looking for and valuing in purchases (people, planet, animals). Additionally, I try my very best to fuel my body with healthy, enriching foods. My family and I started a backyard garden when I was young and most of the produce has lived on! We grow tomatoes, basil, mint, and chives. I'm human, so of course I eat some junk food and things that aren't the best for me. But I go food shopping with my mom and we only shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods (we bring our reusable shopping bags!). The food is expensive but we know we are buying healthy produce that is less tampered with in terms of pesticides and harmful chemicals. I refuse to eat at McDonald's because of their unhealthy food and how little they pay their workers. My family has a history of cancer. I figure that if I want to keep my body healthy and cancer-free, that it's good that I'm implementing healthy practices sooner than later. However, eating the right foods is only one component of clean living. I make sure to recycle cardboard and paper. I cut up trash that an animal could get stuck in or injured from. This includes toilet paper rolls and tissue boxes so that if the trash ends up in the ocean or elsewhere, nothing is harmed (did a school project about this, so I'm more aware now!). My family has a compost bin that we use to compost food, which we then use to fuel our garden. It's the circle of life! Moreover, my family uses dryer balls instead of single use dryer sheets. We use a Water Pik instead of dental floss, we buy bamboo hair brushes instead of plastic ones, my car has an eco button which saves gas and power, along with many other practices that I don't have room to list here. It's the small things that make a difference in this huge capitalistic, convenience-driven world! I choose to take steps toward cleaner living and to shape my conscious habits to reflect the life that I want to lead. My goal is to continue these clean living practices in college and beyond!
Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship
"Ciao bella" my grandmother would murmur to me in her thick Italian accent. Those simple phrases that I didn't understand at the time are just one of the many things I miss about my Gram. What now seems like the good old days were just a mere three months ago. It was stomach cancer—the same cancer that took my grandfather and my Grammie's husband six years prior. The first time I saw her since her diagnosis was absolutely heartbreaking. It seemed as though her hair had gotten more gray, her skin more pale, her frame more weak. It seemed all too familiar to watching my grandfather (a weakened, fragile man struggling to eat chocolate yogurt from the spoon I fed him with). I tried to stay strong for her but seeing Gram so withered took its toll on me in a matter of minutes. Gram tried to keep the conversation positive but I knew she was dancing around the point—how much time she had left. "You're going to do great things in college" she suddenly said. I burst into tears. I knew what she was saying...that she wouldn't get a chance to see me graduate and go to college. Unfortunately, this was true as Gram passed away a day after my birthday on August 28, 2022. I think death is a funny thing. Well, not funny, but ironic because it makes you value the things you didn't value at the time. The smallest moments that seemed so insignificant are now the fondest. My grandmother was extremely religious and she made it her purpose in life to "save" others so that they could make it to heaven. I was brought up Catholic and was always taught that Christianity was the only way to happiness and spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes I despised going to her house, listening to her preach about a religion I so grew to hate. Most afternoons at her place would be sitting around a Bible or listening to her words of wisdom. Looking back, I am able to see that she only wanted the best for me. I have made some sense of where her heart lied in the process. She did everything out of love, so I know this was no different. And so sitting here and reminiscing and crying my eyes out, I am thinking about my Gram and how has made me think about how grateful I was to have her in my life, to gain new perspectives about things I wouldn't have known otherwise, and I hope that she is now watching from heaven proud of me for deciding to pursue my dreams of higher education and a degree in writing. So no Gram, I will not be writing the second Bible, but I hope you will be proud of me regardless. My grandmother was only a young girl when she moved to the United States from Italy by herself. The times made her a woman who could not get a job or pursue a higher degree as she was expected to stay home to cook, clean, and care for her children. Gram’s past has motivated me to do what she couldn’t do for the both of us. She remains an inspiration for myself and for my family who admire her for her strength and perseverance amidst such hardship. My Grammie was the most talented woman I have ever met, and I’m not just saying that because she was my grandmother. She could cook anything, memorize any recipe, and sew any garment within minutes. I looked up to her (well, down, since she was 4 foot 11 inches haha), because of her immense strength that came from this little Italian lady. She often expressed how she had no doubt I’d do great things some day and how she was excited to see me succeed in life. Unbeknownst to me, Grammie had been one of my biggest supporters and motivators all my life, and yet, I looked past this because of her unbreakable devotion to her religion and her mission to convert me. However, I believe that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Gram. She was the one person who I wish I expressed my love to a little more, and I hope that following my dreams of going to college and becoming a writer will make her proud of me. I can see myself in four years, graduating college with a degree in hand, and she’s asking me to bend down so she can kiss me on the forehead, her clothes and hair smelling of kitchen soap and mud in the best way. Just like Grammie fought and battled cancer, I will fight to earn my college degree to make both of us proud.
Mind, Body, & Soul Scholarship
When I hear the word "college", I feel both nervous and excited...but mostly excited! Knowing that I'll be flipping the page to the next chapter of my life in a matter of months is incredibly freeing to think about. I'm looking forward to exploring my independence and taking advantage of the freedom to make more of my own choices. I'm also excited to make new friends and get involved in the community! I've had severe anxiety and OCD for all of my life, making it hard to maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul during the school year. High school has been challenging as mental health conditions affect every aspect of daily life—interacting with others/communication, work completion, extracurricular involvement, etc. Despite lifelong challenges, I make attempts each year to improve my health. This year, I signed up for a yoga pilates and mindfulness class at my school which has drastically helped me to get exercise and stay active, center myself and calm my mind before returning to academic classes, reflect on my habits, and make friends. I can tell that my anxiety and OCD have improved and I'm so grateful for this. My mom has turned me onto all the yummy snacks at Trader Joe's. The baby carrots are so good! As soon as I come home from school, I eat some carrots or mini cucumbers (also from Trader Joe's) to start off my afternoon. They taste great and give me lots of energy to do homework! I feel like getting caught up in schoolwork and school-related stress is super easy to do. Without an outlet, all that pent up stress and anxiety can backfire and make the situation worse. I've been trying to spend more time with family and friends this school year and it's helped tremendously! For example, every Sunday I go to a new flea market with my grandfather. We spend the whole day together looking for vintage treasures, it's great! This has been a helpful strategy for me in restoring balance in my life. Another thing I've been doing senior year of high school is spreading out my time. In years past, I used to dramatically procrastinate assignments to the point that I physically couldn't get them done. Recently, I've been able to better manage my time, leaving me to do other fun things that I enjoy like art and reading. My grades are looking better, and I'm feeling better! Overall, there's no single "right" way to live and maintain a healthy life. With some self reflection, time management, and nutritious food, I have grown into a person I am proud of, one that is finally healthy!
Affordable College Prep's First Time Winners Scholarship
Getting discouraged from time to time is a normal part of life. But this high school senior's life was about to change when she entered the scholarship of her dreams (oh yeah, this one!), that would be the end all of the scholarship blues. The scholarship application process has provided me with many valuable lessons (*groans ensue from the reader*). I know it sounds cliché but I'm being totally serious. Amongst many, I've learned how to practice patience and resilience, as well as to not get discouraged when my progress and hard work don't pay off at the same time as others'. The experience thus far has been humbling, and has taught me how to better bounce back from a challenge. I've learned more about myself. I have a lot to offer as a person, college-bound student, and scholarship applicant. My diverse interests work to my advantage for the creation of scholarship entries (writing especially, I love a strong voice in written pieces as I'm sure you can tell). I have gained more self-confidence knowing that I'm worthy of a scholarship and an opportunity to further my education, myself, and my work. I now have a habit of reminding myself that approval from others does not matter, and that the approval that matters most comes from me. As someone with a lot of self doubt, I have learned to believe that my work and scholarship entries are good enough and do deserve recognition. My achievements will come into fruition at some point and that being proud of them and myself is already enough. I've also learned to be present in the current moment and to be happy with where I'm at instead of looking ahead to the future and spoiling today's good. I've learned to frequently give thanks. I now have a grateful mindset and am thankful for all the past opportunities I've been apart of and all of my hard-earned achievements. I now know it's not the end of the world not to win a scholarship. In a short time, I've become happier for others instead of focusing on my own emotions and needs for a bit. I love to congratulate those who succeed because they deserve just as much opportunity as me and everyone else. We all ultimately want to be successful and obtain similar opportunities and experiences through scholarships and in life. I've learned to stay determined and to not back off from a challenge that might seem daunting at first glance (most scholarships require essays which take time and effort). As the saying goes, "if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you" (Fred DeVito). As it applies to scholarships, if I don't win, I still gain valuable life skills and experience. For example, knowing that always winning in the real world is not realistic. Instead, I'm willing to go within to reflect and make changes where needed. Plus, I'm practicing writing essays to help the future Katie! On a more personal level, OCD and anxiety have been present in my life for as long as I can remember. This keeps me in a perpetual loop that makes it hard for me not to over control everything so it's "perfect". The scholarship application process has given me an opportunity to release control of overly harsh self-expectations and of fears for the future. I can actually thank the scholarship process because being a loser has made me a winner. I'm confident all of my takeaways will prove helpful for college and beyond. I'll close with a relevant affirmation: I will win, I will win, I will win.
Lisa Seidman Excellence in Writing Scholarship
It might sound cliché but writing has always been my passion. My talent and interest in writing emerged in first grade when my teacher recognized the difference in my writing compared to other students. She called up my parents to share the news! I was definitely a book worm in my childhood and I was never seen without a book in my hands. I remember I went on a four hour drive to New Hampshire one time and I got so carsick from looking down the entire time reading. I don't think I looked up once! I've always had a talent for taking in my surroundings and developing a story in my head within seconds. I have a very vivid imagination which I know will work to my advantage. Not to mention, I genuinely enjoy writing and it's something I do to cope with issues or just to pass the time. I also want to pursue writing because every time I mention to another person that I want to pursue this career field, I get the same reaction every time. It's a genuine look of shock and confusion and I've heard time and time again that today's world doesn't want or need another writer. I've listened to countless people tell me that I should choose a different career path like an in demand one such as psychology or nursing, something that will "make me money" and "be worth tuition". Now more than ever, my goal is to prove those people wrong. I'm not choosing to make this a side hustle or a hobby, I want to write for the rest of my life.
#Back2SchoolBold Scholarship
It might seem obvious, but from experience, the tip I'm about to share doesn't seem to be common practice for every student. That is to prepare and prep for the new school year long before the first day. It doesn't matter what grade you're going into, I'd recommend getting situated in all aspects of your academic and personal life before the school stress hits and life gets messy. Buy school supplies, organize your email, create a life calendar and homework tracker to manage your time, clean your room, and don't forget to schedule time for yourself. Wasn't until this year (senior year of high school) that I started planning for school months beforehand. This has drastically helped me perform better because I felt confident, prepared, and in control of my life before I underwent a lifestyle change. I don't handle change well so this made the process manageable. I was even complimented on the first day of school by a student who said "you look so confident and put together". I promise, being prepared ahead of time is beneficial for your personal and mental wellbeing, and you're not rushing to get everything done a day before school! Instagram handle: katielipoma
Ms. Susy’s Disney Character Scholarship
"Well hiya, pal!" This famous greeting from the one and only Mickey Mouse sculpted me into the Disney lover I am today. I'm proud to say that the good old-fashioned Mickey Mouse Clubhouse television series was a beloved childhood pastime of mine. I clearly remember my grandmother and I watching together, juice boxes in hand, during my preschool days. Then at four years old, a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal was placed in my unsuspecting hands before I embarked on my very first trip to Disney World. Little did I know that this trip would speak to me as much as it did, literally. As I approached Cinderella's Castle in my own little stroller of a carriage, my Mickey plush began to speak aloud! "Welcome to Cinderella's Castle!" it cheerfully announced along with a few other one-liners. My mother was shocked as she didn't think it had the ability to talk - she denies this ever happened to this day. This memory feels like a hazy dream but was my first real introduction to the magical world of Disney and all that Mickey Mouse represents. Mickey Mouse will forever be a symbol of happy childhood memories for me as well as many others. This classic and lovable character embodies the true meaning of "A Whole New World" of Disney magic. As the first-ever Disney character, Mickey's reliability and memorability make him my favorite. While Disney continues to introduce new characters, none have been a similar source of comfort and nostalgia as Mickey. I have yet to visit Disney again, and thus the Mickey plush magic remains a mystery. However, my love for Mickey lives on along with my newfound appreciation for everything Disney. Mickey will forever serve as a reminder of the simpler times of childhood that I long for as a now teenager.
Katie Lipoma Student Profile | Bold.org