My name is Kayla King and I have graduated from Lincoln College Prep in Kansas City, Missouri, with a 3.4 GPA. I have withheld this GPA while participating in multiple school extracurriculars and outside of school extracurriculars! I have done soccer, cheerleading, and basketball throughout my four years in high school. I have also done dance outside of school since I was 2. Despite having jobs and doing other activities outside of school, I dedicate myself to my studies and ensure I do the best I can to guarantee that I have a successful future. I have had the privilege to volunteer for multiple causes and events. My favorite being a ‘pathfinder’ at Children’s Mercy Hospital! Being able to guide families through the hospital and make their day brighter truly made me feel accomplished. As far as continuing my education journey, I am going to Wichita State University to study nursing. My end goal is to obtain a Bachelors in Science of Nursing. Going to college was always something expected of me by my family. Being pushed to do my best in school created discipline in my character at a young age. Luckily for me, in order to achieve my career goals, I would need to go to college. Therefore, making my family proud and happy. My dream is to heal and help people. I want to fully devote myself to the healthcare industry. But, why do I want to go into the medical field? I grew up as a very happy, outgoing, and avid child. I talked to everyone and made friends everywhere I went. The feeling of needing to help started early on. I remember vividly in elementary school whenever I completed work or a task, I’d go around to see if anyone needed assistance. I also found myself becoming attached to others rather quickly. Which caused me to run that extra mile for them. In short, I started deeply caring for others at a young age. I believe anyone can leave a mark on the world no matter how big or small the action. My plan is to do exactly that. I will be remembered by my eagerness to service people in any way possible, even outside of the medical field. My big personality and bright persona will leave people feeling joyful, and hopefully, if even for a second, will have their personal troubles and hardships in the back of their mind. This scholarship will help me because it will help finance and create less stress on paying for college. My family has always had big expectations of me. That comes from a long line of them not being able to reach their full potential. I will be a first generation college student, and the first to go out of all of my siblings. Not only will attending college affect me, but it also will affect my younger family members. It will inspire them to do the same or hold high standards for themselves. On the subject of family, I live with my auntie. Before 2020, her elderly mother lived with us. She was total care, meaning she had to be fed most of the time, bathed, and she could walk but with assistance, and very slowly. She also had dementia so it was extremely hard for my auntie to take care of her alone. As her condition worsened over the years, I took part in her care plan. I would help feed her, gather supplies for my auntie while she was actively taking care of her, and even help get her off the floor if she were to fall. Learning to care for someone that can’t care for themselves, unlocks something within a person. It gives them a whole new perspective on life. Developing a sense of empathy and compassion, opens up a person’s heart to reveal a part of them they never knew was there. I feel that nurturing is in all of us. It may take a certain incident to bring it out, but I believe everyone has a nurturing side. As for me, I have always been a nurturer, and I always will be one. Caring for others can also provide someone with a deeper purpose in life. Being able to give someone a chance to live their life at the best ability possible, is a wonderful feeling. That’s why I want to take part in that everyday. So, the question still remains. Why do I want to go into the medical field? Well, I was born for it. Helping people is a passion of mine, and being able to do that as a job is a pure blessing. And with this scholarship and college degree, I will be able to successfully do so.

Why do I want to go into the medical field and become a nurse? This is a very complex question that has many answers. I will answer it throughout this essay but I think it’s important to start from the beginning, the very beginning. I grew up as a very happy, outgoing, and avid child. I talked to everyone and made friends everywhere I went. The feeling of needing to help started early on. I remember vividly in elementary school whenever I completed work or a task, I’d go around to see if anyone needed assistance. Even with teachers, I’d see if I can do something for them. I also found myself becoming attached to others rather quickly. Which caused me to run that extra mile for them. For example, if someone didn’t have colored pencils or the right supplies, I would take it upon myself to provide them with that. In short, I started deeply caring for others at a young age. This scholarship will help finance and create less stress on paying for college. My family has always had big expectations of me. That comes from a long line of them not being able to reach their full potential. I will be a first generation college student, and the first to go out of all of my siblings. Not only will attending college affect me, but it also will affect my younger family members. It will inspire them to do the same or hold high standards for themselves. On the subject of family, I live with my auntie. Before 2020, her elderly mother lived with us. She was total care, meaning she had to be fed most of the time, bathed, and she could walk but with assistance, and very slowly. She also had dementia so it was extremely hard for my auntie to take care of her alone. As her condition worsened over the years, I took part in her care plan. I would help feed her, gather supplies for my auntie while she was actively taking care of her, and even help lift her if she were to fall. I believe my family and my endeavors in life have inspired me to pursue my dream in nursing. Having to care for myself, even mentally, produced a resilient trait to my character. If I hadn't gone through half of the things I did, I would not be the strong person I am today. Learning to care for someone that can’t care for themselves, unlocks something within a person. It gives them a whole new perspective on life. Developing a sense of empathy and compassion, opens up a person’s heart to reveal a part of them they never knew was there. I feel that nurturing is in all of us. It may take a certain incident to bring it out, but I believe everyone has a nurturing side. As for me, I have always been a nurturer, and I always will be one. Caring for others can also provide someone with a deeper purpose in life. Being able to give someone a chance to live their life at the best ability possible, is a wonderful feeling. That’s why I want to take part in that everyday. So, the question still remains. Why do I want to go into the medical field? Well, I was born for it. Helping people is a passion of mine, and being able to do that as a job is a pure blessing. And with this scholarship and a college degree, I will be able to successfully do so.

Why do I want to go into the medical field and become a nurse? This is a very complex question that has many answers. I will answer it throughout this essay but I think it’s important to start from the beginning, the very beginning. I grew up as a very happy, outgoing, and avid child. I talked to everyone and made friends everywhere I went. The feeling of needing to help started early on. I remember vividly in elementary school whenever I completed work or a task, I’d go around to see if anyone needed assistance. Even with teachers, I’d see if I can do something for them. I also found myself becoming attached to others rather quickly. Which caused me to run that extra mile for them. For example, if someone didn’t have colored pencils or the right supplies, I would take it upon myself to provide them with that. In short, I started deeply caring for others at a young age. This scholarship will help me because it will help finance and create less stress on paying for college. My family has always had big expectations of me. That comes from a long line of them not being able to reach their full potential. I will be a first generation college student, and the first to go out of all of my siblings. Not only will attending college affect me, but it also will affect my younger family members. It will inspire them to do the same or hold high standards for themselves. On the subject of family, I live with my auntie. Before 2020, her elderly mother lived with us. She was total care, meaning she had to be fed most of the time, bathed, and she could walk but with assistance, and very slowly. She also had dementia so it was extremely hard for my auntie to take care of her alone. As her condition worsened over the years, I took part in her care plan. I would help feed her, gather supplies for my auntie while she was actively taking care of her, and even help lift her if she were to fall. Learning to care for someone that can’t care for themselves, unlocks something within a person. It gives them a whole new perspective on life. Developing a sense of empathy and compassion, opens up a person’s heart to reveal a part of them they never knew was there. I feel that nurturing is in all of us. It may take a certain incident to bring it out, but I believe everyone has a nurturing side. As for me, I have always been a nurturer, and I always will be one. Caring for others can also provide someone with a deeper purpose in life. Being able to give someone a chance to live their life at the best ability possible, is a wonderful feeling. That’s why I want to take part in that everyday. So, the question still remains. Why do I want to go into the medical field? Well, I was born for it. Helping people is a passion of mine, and being able to do that as a job is a pure blessing. And with this scholarship and a college degree, I will be able to successfully do so.

Why do I want to go into the medical field and become a nurse? This is a very complex question that has many answers. I will answer it throughout this essay but I think it’s important to start from the beginning, the very beginning. I grew up as a very happy, outgoing, and avid child. I talked to everyone and made friends everywhere I went. The feeling of needing to help started early on. I remember vividly in elementary school whenever I completed work or a task, I’d go around to see if anyone needed assistance. Even with teachers, I’d see if I can do something for them. I also found myself becoming attached to others rather quickly. Which caused me to run that extra mile for them. For example, if someone didn’t have colored pencils or the right supplies, I would take it upon myself to provide them with that. In short, I started deeply caring for others at a young age. This scholarship will help me because it will help finance and create less stress on paying for college. My family has always had big expectations of me. That comes from a long line of them not being able to reach their full potential. I will be a first generation college student, and the first to go out of all of my siblings. Not only will attending college affect me, but it also will affect my younger family members. It will inspire them to do the same or hold high standards for themselves. On the subject of family, I live with my auntie. Before 2020, her elderly mother lived with us. She was total care, meaning she had to be fed most of the time, bathed, and she could walk but with assistance, and very slowly. She also had dementia so it was extremely hard for my auntie to take care of her alone. As her condition worsened over the years, I took part in her care plan. I would help feed her, gather supplies for my auntie while she was actively taking care of her, and even help lift her if she were to fall. Learning to care for someone that can’t care for themselves, unlocks something within a person. It gives them a whole new perspective on life. Developing a sense of empathy and compassion, opens up a person’s heart to reveal a part of them they never knew was there. I feel that nurturing is in all of us. It may take a certain incident to bring it out, but I believe everyone has a nurturing side. As for me, I have always been a nurturer, and I always will be one. Caring for others can also provide someone with a deeper purpose in life. Being able to give someone a chance to live their life at the best ability possible, is a wonderful feeling. That’s why I want to take part in that everyday. So, the question still remains. Why do I want to go into the medical field? Well, I was born for it. Helping people is a passion of mine, and being able to do that as a job is a pure blessing. And with this scholarship and college degree, I will be able to successfully do so.

Title: The Battle Within: My Journey Towards Self-Acceptance and Mental Well-being My name is Kayla King, an incoming freshman at Wichita State University. I am a woman of color, an aspiring nurse, and a survivor. I am also a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, a fact I have had to hide most of my life. This essay is an account of my journey through mental health struggles, suicide attempts, and hidden sexuality, and how these experiences have shaped me. Growing up in a religious family, I was taught to conform to traditional norms. This was a challenge for me because I was different; I was attracted to the same sex. I felt the need to suppress my feelings to avoid disappointing my family. This internal struggle, coupled with the pressures of adolescence, led to a profound impact on my mental health. I was always a high achiever in school, maintaining a GPA of 3.4 throughout high school. However, the facade of success hid a turbulent emotional world. The constant fear of my secret being discovered, the guilt of not meeting my family’s expectations, and the loneliness of hiding my true self led to a downward spiral into depression. There were times when the pain was so unbearable that I attempted suicide, ending up in a hospital bed, grappling with my existence. These experiences, though harrowing, did not break me. Instead, they made me resilient. They taught me the importance of mental health and self-acceptance. I realized that I needed to accept myself before expecting others to do so. I also understood that my mental health was as important as my physical health, and I needed professional help to navigate through my depression. My journey towards mental well-being made me realize the power of empathy and compassion, which led me to choose nursing as my major. I wanted to use my experiences to help others who might be going through similar struggles. I wanted to be the person I needed when I was at my lowest. My experiences have also made me a staunch advocate for mental health awareness and LGBTQIA+ rights. I believe that no one should have to hide their sexuality or suffer in silence. I want to use my voice to bring about change, to create a world where everyone is accepted for who they are, and mental health is not a taboo subject. Applying for the Elijah's Helping Hand Scholarship is another step in my journey. This scholarship will not only help me financially but also provide a platform to share my story and inspire others. It will enable me to pursue my studies without the constant worry of finances, allowing me to focus on my goal of becoming a nurse and an advocate for mental health and LGBTQIA+ rights. In conclusion, my journey has been challenging, but it has shaped me into a strong, compassionate, and resilient individual. I am not a victim of my circumstances, but a survivor, ready to use my experiences to make a difference. I am Kayla King, a woman of color, an aspiring nurse, a mental health advocate, and proudly a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Going to college was always something expected by my family. Luckily for me, I had a dream and in order to reach that dream I would have to obtain a bachelor's degree. My dream is to heal and help people. I want to fully devote myself to the healthcare industry. But, why do I want to go into the medical field? I grew up as a very happy, outgoing, and avid child. I talked to everyone and made friends everywhere I went. The feeling of needing to help started early on. I remember vividly in elementary school whenever I completed work or a task, I’d go around to see if anyone needed assistance. I also found myself becoming attached to others rather quickly. Which caused me to run that extra mile for them. In short, I started deeply caring for others at a young age. This scholarship will help me because it will help finance and create less stress on paying for college. My family has always had big expectations of me. That comes from a long line of them not being able to reach their full potential. I will be a first generation college student, and the first to go out of all of my siblings. Not only will attending college affect me, but it also will affect my younger family members. It will inspire them to do the same or hold high standards for themselves. On the subject of family, I live with my auntie. Before 2020, her elderly mother lived with us. She was total care, meaning she had to be fed most of the time, bathed, and she could walk but with assistance, and very slowly. She also had dementia so it was extremely hard for my auntie to take care of her alone. As her condition worsened over the years, I took part in her care plan. I would help feed her, gather supplies for my auntie while she was actively taking care of her, and even help lift her if she were to fall. Learning to care for someone that can’t care for themselves, unlocks something within a person. It gives them a whole new perspective on life. Developing a sense of empathy and compassion, opens up a person’s heart to reveal a part of them they never knew was there. I feel that nurturing is in all of us. It may take a certain incident to bring it out, but I believe everyone has a nurturing side. As for me, I have always been a nurturer, and I always will be one. Caring for others can also provide someone with a deeper purpose in life. Being able to give someone a chance to live their life at the best ability possible, is a wonderful feeling. That’s why I want to take part in that everyday. So, the question still remains. Why do I want to go into the medical field? Well, I was born for it. Helping people is a passion of mine, and being able to do that as a job is a pure blessing. And with this scholarship and college degree, I will be able to successfully do so.