In my life I’ve read hundreds of books and "It’s Kind Of a Funny Story" is one of my favorites of all time. This book is about a gifted student who ended up in a mental hospital, so I’m sure you’re wondering, how is that inspiring? Well for me its a story that I was able to, especially the main character Craig. He is 15 years old who struggles with stress and depression. He feels that if he doesn’t get into a special honors high school then he wouldn't get into college, a job, or even a wife. He would just end up homeless. He knew his feelings weren't normal. He struggled deeply with his negative thoughts and thought the only solution would be to take his life. He just couldn’t do it. He thought about the aftermath so he decided to get help instead. This is where he meets other troubled people who make him feel his problems weren’t something to be afraid of. They made him feel accepted. After having spent his time in the hospital and talking to a doctor he accepted his illness as motivation instead of a limitation. He found his passion and now had a support system. While getting help he finished his application and felt good about his choice to make that change in his life. His story made me feel seen. I myself often put this immense pressure on myself to succeed so I can have a successful future. I often feel alone and embarrassed to speak on my struggles because I feel no one else is having such a hard time. Knowing that other people feel this way and still manage to find success while pursuing something they're passionate about gave me hope for my future.

I learned through my time as a Link Crew Leader that I can make my school a better place through my actions and care for others. Having a father in the military, I moved around a lot and know how hard it is to transition into a new school. So I always make it a point to make everyone I encounter feel welcome wherever they are. I knew being a mentor for incoming freshmen would be the perfect position for me. At the beginning of my senior year, I was assigned a group of 10 freshmen for who I was responsible for. I was to get them accustomed to life as high school students and help them feel welcome at their new school. Instantly, I was able to connect with them and build a relationship with them where I was able to mentor and become a friend to them. I have four loyal freshmen that text me regularly, asking for more resources or how they can become more involved in school activities. Seeing their participation in spirit weeks, football games, or after-school tutorials made me realize that my recommendations and suggestions are being heard. They are taking my advice and are having an easier time adjusting. They often reassure me that if it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t be as involved or feel as comfortable participating in extracurricular activities. I often look back and wish I had that type of support as a freshman. There’s no better feeling than feeling loved. I know if I wasn’t a Link Crew mentor, I wouldn’t have been able to make such an impact on these students. I am glad for the opportunity and hope that I’m able to hold that relationship with them throughout their entire high school journey.

Some people get joy from a new flat screen T.V. or a new pair of sneakers, but that's not what brings joy to my life. As the sun sets and the beautiful shades of pink and white fill the sky, I stop in awe of the simplistic beauty that is mother nature herself. The simple pleasures that bring joy to my heart are anything involving the sky or anything relating to the peaceful sounds of nature. My whole life, I have been one to stop what I am doing to stare as the sun sets and the sky shifts from a beautiful blue to a golden red with specks of pinks and purples. I find peace in the sky, the stillness of the stars, and the consistency that they will always be there. I am not sure why my heart fills with joy and excitement as I watch the sunset, but each time I do, I realize that even if things in the world are looking ugly, at least something in this world will always be beautiful. Sunsets and nature hold a special place in my heart. The sound of rain coming down or waves crashing brings me a sense of contentment that I can't explain. I think my love for the simplistic beauty of nature is because nowadays people live these fake, elaborate lives on social media. When I see the earth doing what it always does no, effort or filter is needed. It quickly brings me back to reality. It helps me see that even if things aren't perfect, they can still be beautiful in this ugly world.

Some people get excited about getting a new flat screen T.V. others about getting a brand new pair of sneakers, but that's not what gets me. As the sun sets and the beautiful shades of pink and white fill the sky, I stop in awe of the simplistic beauty that is mother nature herself. The simple pleasures in my life are anything involving the sky or anything relating to the peaceful sounds of nature. My whole life, I have been one to stop what I am doing to stare as the sun sets and the sky shifts from a beautiful blue to a golden red with specks of pinks and purples. I find peace in the sky, the stillness of the stars, and the consistency that they will always be there. I am not sure why my heart fills with joy and excitement as I watch the sunset, but each time I do, I realize that even if things in the world are looking ugly, at least something in this world will always be beautiful. Sunsets and nature hold a place in my heart. The sound of rain coming down or waves crashing brings me a sense of contentment that I can't explain. I think my love for the simplistic beauty of nature is because nowadays people live these fake, elaborate lives on social media. When I see the earth doing what it always does no, effort or filter is needed. It quickly brings me back to reality. It helps me see that even if things aren't perfect, they can still be beautiful in this ugly world.

A smile is contagious. Making someone’s day or even just putting a smile on someone’s face is something I truly get satisfaction from. Seeing that I can make a difference with my actions has truly inspired me to serve wherever I can. Most high school students think that having the trendiest items and wearing brand-name clothes will make you better and happier and for a while, I thought that to be true but serving in my community has truly humbled me and made me appreciate each and every little thing I have. It has made me realize those materialistic things don’t make you a better person. In fact, there are many people that I know that have lots of money and are still unhappy. Money can't buy happiness. The only thing that's going to make you happy is how you feel about yourself. It’s you and your actions that can truly make a difference. When I give, I give wholeheartedly and never do it to expect something in return. The greatest return is seeing the joy you can bring to others. This world needs more love and kindness. It doesn't need any more materialistic things. Hopefully one day we can all join together and give back to those who need it and they will in return do the same and the love and kindness will spread to each and every person.

The world as we know it is a dark place filled with cruel people though I do not let the darkness of the world take away my drive and high spirits. I can do this because the thing that fuels my life is to be the light the world needs and spread kindness to those around me in any way I can. I never really realized this was the driving force that kept me going until COVID hit when we were forced into isolation away from the world and the people in it. I saw the world go crazy and had filled with all kinds of social injustice. These things made me realize just how bad this world is and how badly I wanted to be the change. I have always been one to lend a helping hand to those in need. I have been volunteering since I was ten years old and I haven't stopped since. Being able to help others is something that brings me great joy. Making a difference in someone’s life is my biggest passion. Since I was a child I have always found a way to help others. Our world today has become so divided, I have made it a special mission to show people how important it is to come together to help one another. I do this by serving anywhere I can and organizing events helping families in need. Poverty and homelessness are huge areas of concern in my community. Being able to provide food, clothing, and shelter to people is something that I enjoy doing. Things like this help fuel my life and give it purpose.

Some people get excited about getting a new flat screen T.V. others about getting a brand new pair of sneakers, but that's not what gets me. As the sun sets and the beautiful shades of pink and white fill the sky, I stop in awe of the simplistic beauty that is mother nature herself. The simple pleasures in my life are anything involving the sky or anything relating to the peaceful sounds of nature. My whole life, I have been one to stop what I am doing to stare as the sun sets and the sky shifts from a beautiful blue to a golden red with specks of pinks and purples. I find peace in the sky, the stillness of the stars, and the consistency that they will always be there. I am not sure why my heart fills with joy and excitement as I watch the sunset, but each time I do, I realize that even if things in the world are looking ugly, at least something in this world will always be beautiful. Sunsets and nature hold a place in my heart. The sound of rain coming down or waves crashing brings me a sense of contentment that I can't explain. I think my love for the simplistic beauty of nature is because nowadays people live these fake, elaborate lives on social media. When I see the earth doing what it always does no, effort or filter is needed. It quickly brings me back to reality. It helps me see that even if things aren't perfect, they can still be beautiful in this ugly world.

I hope through my time as a Link Crew Leader that I can make my school a better place through my actions and caring for others. Having a father in the military I moved around a lot and know how hard it is transitioning into a new school.I always make it a point to make everyone I encounter feel welcome wherever they are. I knew being a mentor for incoming freshmen would be the perfect position for me. At the beginning of my senior year, I was assigned a group of 10 freshmen who I was responsible for. I was to get them accustomed to life as a high school student and help them feel welcome at their new school. Instantly, I was able to connect with them and build a relationship where I was able to not only mentor them but become a friend to them as well. I currently have 4 loyal freshmen that text me on a regular basis asking for more resources on how they can become more involved in school activities. Seeing their participation in spirit weeks, football games, or at after school tutorials made me realize that my recommendations and suggestions are being heard and they are taking my advice and are having an easier time adjusting. They often reassure me that if it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t be so involved or feel as comfortable participating in extracurricular activities. I often look back and wish I had that type of support as a freshman. There’s no better feeling than feeling accepted. I know if I wasn’t a Link Crew mentor I wouldn’t have been able to make such an impact on those students.

My pursuit to attend college has ended a very important relationship in my life. Having a parent that doesn’t support your dreams and aspirations is quite discouraging and can often kill a child’s dream. It almost killed mine. It’s hard to believe in yourself, when your own father doesn’t even believe in you. I know a lot of girls with similar backgrounds that get the same type of treatment. Some families are stuck in old tradition, they don’t see anything past their daughters being stay at home moms. They think women shouldn’t pursue a higher education and have a career of their own. Most come to America for freedom and a better life, so why wouldn’t they want the American Dream for their own? This way of thinking is part of the past. It is time to show other girls and their families that the American Dream is possible for “girls like me”. Here, you can be anything you want to be, if you really want it, and work hard for it. I’ve learned that there are going to be people that are going to doubt you and try to tear you down but you can’t let that get in the way of your dreams. Even if that means going against what your own family believes. That is why it's important to me to encourage and show others that no matter your background, no matter your circumstance, you can be anything you want to be.Not having my father’s support has ignited a fire in me and I am now working twice as hard to be who I want to be. It may take a little more work but nothing worth having comes easy and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.

If I was a highly influential figure I will use this opportunity to empower others by using my voice to advocate for mental health services and help other young adults learn to put their mental health as a priority. Mental health is something that isn’t properly handled in young adults, most times it is brushed off due to their age because since they are so young they shouldn’t have anxiety or be stressed which isn’t true at all. I like most teens have suffered from depression and other mental health disorders but felt to embarrassed to speak on the things I went through because I felt my feelings would not be seen as valid because I did not have it as bad as others. After finally speaking to someone about it I was reassured that my feelings were valid because everyone goes through different situations. In this day and age with social media playing a big part on the way young adults view themselves I think using my platform to speak on mental health will help others who are going through that not feel so alone in their battle and see that things do get better. This opportunity will help me help other kids my age learn more about openly communicating how they feel and how to properly deal with their emotions.

Every year as part of my AVID Class, I participate in the annual Adopt a Family project. Every Christmas, we find needy families in our community that don’t have the means to celebrate Christmas, like many of us do and we find ways to help them as much as we can.We start by collecting items for the families, we gather items such as toiletries, food, clothing and of course special gifts for each family member. Once we have all the items, we make each family a food basket filled with treats, prepare a special home cooked meal, and wrap each and every present. We then deliver these items to each family at their home. Last year, there was one family in particular that stood out to me and really inspired me to do more. We learned that a family of 8 had just lost their home because their father, their sole provider, had gotten hurt and could no longer work. They were staying at a local motel. As we entered the room, my heart broke. Their hotel room was the size of my bedroom. It was cold and had no heat and only had one bed for all 8 members to share. At the entrance, I remember looking to the right and seeing the mom was sitting on the floor making tortillas for her hungry children on a small flat griddle. They had no kitchen, no food, and very little warm clothes. I couldn’t believe their living situation and was so overwhelmed with many emotions. But despite all their struggles not one of them had a frown on their face. They were all in positive spirits and didn’t let their living situation bring down their mood. Once we brought in the items we had gathered for them, the children became very ecstatic and were jumping with joy, the parents were shocked and tears began rolling down their eyes. They were so thankful for all that we had done. Seeing their appreciation and gratitude was a true inspiration for me. It made me appreciate all the little things I had and made me want to give back more. I then went home and thought of ways I could help more families. We just moved into a new neighborhood and I thought it would be a wonderful idea if we would unite our new neighbors and adopt a family together. It turned out better than I expected, our neighbors were so generous, we were able to bless 3 families, with food, clothing and bicycles for their children. There is no greater gift than to give. The feeling I get from making people smile is undeniably the best feeling I’ve ever had and I get that each and every time I serve. I know that my drive to help others will never end and I look forward to giving back to many needy families wherever I end up. Each time is a new experience and a new inspiration.

My great-grandmother just turned 76 this year. Although she has fairly maintained good health, she suffers from chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, and more recently pulmonary fibrous. She is now on an oxygen tank and has very limited activity. This has certainly taken a toll on her health. After she retired, both she and my late great-grandfather moved in with us. My dad was in the military and was deployed most of my life. She helped my mom take care of me. I was lucky to have had the chance to develop a great relationship with her but once my great-grandfather became ill, she decided to move back home and take care of him. After his passing, she became very sad and didn’t want to leave the house that she and her “honey” built. That’s when I decided that it was my time to repay her for all the things she did for me. I began to be her caregiver. I run her errands and ensure that all her medications are always filled. I encourage her to keep active physically and mentally by bringing her crosswords and adult coloring books. I think the most significant contribution to her was introducing her to a Smart Phone. She is now very tech-savvy and is able to communicate on her phone through Social Media Apps, Text Messages, and Video Chats. She loves to FaceTime when I’m not there and I enjoy listening to all her crazy stories and often ask her for advice. She is brutally honest so I know her answer will always be the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear.

It’s senior year. I should be like most teens, excited for college, right? Wrong. It started off exciting but recently it has taken a side turn. In fact, it has turned my world upside down. My pursuit to attend college has ended a very important relationship in my life. I come from a split house-hold and live primarily with my mom. My birth father was in the military and was deployed most of my life. When he fully returned, he was diagnosed with PTSD, which has made it quite difficult to have a relationship with him. Last week, I received a phone call from him. He asked what I was doing and I explained to him that I was preparing for a college interview I had the following day. He laughed at me and told me, “Girls like you don’t go to college...you just need to stay at home and take care of the house.” I then asked, “What do you mean by girls like me?” He said, “Mexican girls like you, they stay here in the Valley for a reason. You’re a small fish trying to go to a big pond. You won’t make it and I’m not going to support it. College costs a lot of money and I’m not going to waste my money.” I couldn’t believe those things he said but most importantly, I chose not to believe it. That day, I decided that my future and my pursuit to a higher education was more important than the relationship I had with him. I wasn’t going to let anyone, including my father, get in the way of my dreams. Having a parent that doesn’t support your dreams and aspirations is quite discouraging and can often kill a child’s dream. It almost killed mine. It’s hard to believe in yourself, when your own father doesn’t even believe in you. I know a lot of girls with similar backgrounds that get the same type of treatment. This is not right. Some families are so stuck in old tradition, they don’t see anything past their daughters being stay at home moms. They think women shouldn’t pursue a higher education and have a career of their own, which is something I don’t understand. Most come to America for freedom and a better life, so why wouldn’t they want the American Dream for their own? Why wouldn't they want their daughters to be educated and have a chance to live a better life? I’m here to show those girls and their families that the American Dream is possible for “girls like me”. Here, you can be anything you want to be, if you really want it, and work hard for it. I’ve learned that there are going to be people that are going to doubt you and try to tear you down but you can’t let that get in the way of your dreams. Even if that means going against what your own family believes. Your dreams are your dreams, not theirs. I never want anyone to feel the way I did when my father said what he said. That is why it is important to me to encourage and show others that no matter your background, no matter your circumstance, you can be anything you want to be. I want to be a role-model for those girls that don’t have their support from their families and show them that they can have a better life by pursuing their dreams, just as I am. He may not believe in me, but I believe in me and that’s all that matters.

My faith has played an integral role in the way I view and live my life. Before I understood God’s purpose for my life, I found myself trying to conform to the world around me. I felt that having a big heart and wanting to help others made me weak because when I tried to befriend people, my kindness was often mistaken for weakness and I often got taken advantage of. Although, this could be discouraging, I haven’t let my struggles define who I am or take away my shine. I know God has put me on this earth to be a light in this dark world. He has instilled a passion in me to help those around me and help them rise above their bad situations. After being saved, I no longer try to conform to this world by trying to fit in with what is popular. I do what I feel is right, and encourage others to do so as well. I no longer see being kind as being weak and have embraced my passion to love others. I want to show people, who feel hopeless and discouraged, they will get past their tough season and will overcome anything thrown their way, with God by their side. Life situations don’t define who you are or make you any less of who you were made to be. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't experienced the hardships that were thrown my way. I couldn't see it at the time, but I see it now and wouldn't have it any other way. I am happy with the person I have transitioned to be and hope to continuously grow into the person God has intended me to be.

It’s senior year. I should be like most teens, excited for college, right? Wrong. It started off exciting but recently it has taken a side turn. In fact, it has turned my world upside down. My pursuit to attend college has ended a very important relationship in my life. I come from a split house-hold and live primarily with my mom. My birth father was in the military and was deployed most of my life. When he fully returned, he was diagnosed with PTSD, which has made it quite difficult to have a relationship with him. Last week, I received a phone call from him. He asked what I was doing and I explained to him that I was preparing for a college interview I had the following day. He laughed at me and told me, “Girls like you don’t go to college...you just need to stay at home and take care of the house.” I then asked, “What do you mean...girls like me?” He said, “Mexican girls like you, they stay here in the Valley for a reason. You’re a small fish trying to go to a big pond. You won’t make it and I’m not going to support it. College costs a lot of money and I’m not going to waste my money.” I couldn’t believe those things he said but most importantly, I chose not to believe it. That day, I decided that my future and my pursuit to a higher education was more important than the relationship I had with him. I wasn’t going to let anyone, including my father, get in the way of my dreams. Having a parent that doesn’t support your dreams and aspirations is quite discouraging and can often kill a child’s dream. It almost killed mine. It’s hard to believe in yourself, when your own father doesn’t even believe in you. I know a lot of girls with similar backgrounds that get the same type of treatment. Some families are so stuck in old tradition, they don’t see anything past their daughters being stay at home moms. They think women shouldn’t pursue a higher education and have a career of their own, which is something I don’t understand. Most come to America for freedom and a better life, so why wouldn’t they want the American Dream for their own? Why wouldn't they want their daughters to be educated and have a chance to live a better life? I’m here to be a voice and show those girls and their families that the American Dream is possible for “girls like me”. Here, you can be anything you want to be, if you really want it, and work hard for it. I’ve learned that there are going to be people that are going to doubt you and try to tear you down but you can’t let that get in the way of your dreams. Even if that means going against what your own family believes. Your dreams are your dreams, not theirs. I never want anyone to feel the way I did when my father said what he said. That is why it is important to me to encourage and show others that no matter your background, no matter your circumstance, you can be anything you want to be. I want to be a role-model for those girls that don’t have their support from their families and show them that they can have a better life by pursuing their dreams, just as I am. He may not believe in me, but I believe in me and that’s all that matters.

My name is Kayleigh. I am a senior in high school looking to break my family’s generation curse and become the first college graduate in my family. I have faced many obstacles growing up, but I’m determined not to let anything get in the way of my dreams. I was raised by a single mom practically my whole life, and I have never had the opportunity to have a relationship with my birth father, as he was in the Military and was deployed most of the time. Once he returned, he was diagnosed with PTSD and is now 100% disabled. My goal in life is to inspire young Mexican American girls just like me. I would like to show them that no matter your situation, no matter your background, no matter what is thrown your way, if you work hard, you can be anything you want to be. I take pride in bringing joy to others and have been volunteering since I was ten years old. I am currently involved in numerous clubs, work a part-time job, and maintain a 3.9 GPA. I know it takes hard work and dedication to succeed, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make my dreams a reality. My hope is to attend a private Christian college where I am able to strengthen my relationship with Christ and obtain a good education at the same time. I plan on majoring in Business (Law) so I am able to help the unrepresented and oppressed become aware of their rights as working Americans. I want to make a difference in this world by helping those who cannot help themselves or that are too afraid to do it for themselves. I want to bring light to all those around me and help in any way I can. Private colleges are quite expensive and I know my attendance will put a financial burden on my family. Winning this scholarship will help eliminate that stress and will get me one step closer to accomplishing my dreams. Thank you for your consideration.

My name is Kayleigh. I am a senior in high school looking to break my family’s generation curse and become the first college graduate in my family. I have faced many obstacles growing up, but I’m determined not to let anything get in the way of my dreams. I was raised by a single mom practically my whole life, and I have never had the opportunity to have a relationship with my birth father, as he was in the Military and was deployed most of the time. Once he returned, he was diagnosed with PTSD and is now 100% disabled. My goal in life is to inspire young Mexican American girls just like me. I would like to show them that no matter your situation, no matter your background, no matter what is thrown your way, if you work hard, you can be anything you want to be. I take pride in bringing joy to others and have been volunteering since I was ten years old. I am currently involved in numerous clubs, work a part-time job, and maintain a 3.9 GPA. I know it takes hard work and dedication to succeed, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make my dreams a reality. My hope is to attend a private Christian college where I am able to strengthen my relationship with Christ and obtain a good education at the same time. I plan on majoring in Business (Law) so I am able to help the unrepresented and oppressed become aware of their rights as working Americans. I want to make a difference in this world by helping those who cannot help themselves or that are too afraid to do it for themselves. I want to bring light to all those around me and help in any way I can. Private colleges are quite expensive and I know my attendance will put a financial burden on my family. Winning this scholarship will help eliminate that stress and will get me one step closer to accomplishing my dreams. Thank you for your consideration.