I am a sophomore at Brigham Young University–Idaho studying Business Analytics with a minor in Computer Science. I am someone who loves solving problems, building things, and using data to make better decisions. Finance drew me in because it sits at the intersection of all three. Numbers tell stories, and I want to be someone who knows how to read them — and more importantly, how to act on them in ways that create real value for people. My passion for this field is deeply personal. I grew up watching my father, a decorated Army Chaplain and veteran, navigate life after military service. Watching him transition out of the military and into the world of investing showed me that finance is not just about wealth — it is about strategy, discernment, and believing in something enough to put real resources behind it. He approached investing the way he approached everything in his life: thoughtfully, patiently, and with genuine care for the outcome. That example shaped how I think about money, business, and impact. What I see in the finance world today is a field that is evolving rapidly — but not always equitably. Women remain significantly underrepresented in finance and investment roles, and the communities that most need access to sound financial guidance, including veteran families, low-income households, and underserved populations, are often the ones least likely to receive it. These are gaps I think about often, and they fuel my desire to be part of changing that picture. I believe technology is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve the financial system. With my background in both business analytics and computer science, I am interested in how data-driven tools can democratize access to financial education and services. Too many people make consequential financial decisions without adequate information or support simply because the system was not designed with them in mind. I want to help build solutions that change that — applications, platforms, or organizations that bring financial literacy and opportunity to people who have historically been left out of the conversation. As a woman entering this field, I also feel a responsibility to help shift its culture from the inside. Finance needs more diverse voices at the table — people who bring different lived experiences, different perspectives, and different ideas about what success should look like. I bring the experience of a veteran’s daughter who understands sacrifice, resilience, and the importance of using whatever resources you have wisely. I bring the analytical mindset of someone who genuinely loves working with data. And I bring a clear sense of purpose — to build a career that serves others as much as it succeeds. The system has room to grow. I want to be part of how it does.

My computer science goals extend far beyond simply learning to code. I want to develop a deep, well-rounded technical foundation that allows me to build meaningful things from the ground up. As I progress through my minor in Computer Science at Brigham Young University–Idaho, I am focused on strengthening my skills in programming, data structures, and software development. I am drawn to the problem-solving nature of computer science — the way a complex challenge can be broken down, analyzed, and solved with the right logic and creativity. My goal is to reach a level of technical proficiency where I can not only contribute to existing systems but design and build my own. Beyond computer science, my broader goals are rooted in entrepreneurship, community, and service. I want to launch ventures that create real value for people — particularly for veterans and military families who too often fall through the cracks of existing support systems. My father served as an Army Chaplain, was deployed to Afghanistan, and came home carrying the invisible weight of PTSD. Watching my family navigate that experience gave me a clear sense of what I want to fight for. I want to build organizations and platforms that make mental health resources more accessible to veterans, reduce the stigma surrounding PTSD, and support the families who love and care for those who served. Community is also deeply woven into who I am outside of academics. I am currently organizing a 10-week camp on the BYUI campus through my church — coordinating logistics, people, and programming from scratch. It is my first large-scale leadership experience, and it has taught me more about planning, communication, and servant leadership than any classroom could on its own. My non-computer science goals include continuing to grow as a community builder and leader — someone who brings people together around shared purpose and genuine care for one another. What excites me most is how naturally these goals intersect. The future I envision for myself lives at the crossroads of technology and human impact. I want to use my computer science skills as the engine and my business analytics training as the framework to build ventures that serve real needs. For example, I am passionate about the idea of developing technology-driven solutions for veteran mental health — whether that means data platforms that identify gaps in care, applications that connect veterans to resources, or tools that help military families find support in their communities. The technical skills I am building today are the exact tools I will need to bring those ideas to life. My father inspired both sides of this vision. He holds a degree in Computer Information Systems and showed me from a young age what it looks like to think analytically and solve problems with precision and care. He also showed me, through his military service and his quiet, gentle character, what it means to dedicate your life to others. I want to honor both of those legacies — the technical and the human — by building a career that combines them fully. I do not see computer science and my broader life goals as separate tracks running parallel to each other. I see them as two threads that, woven together, create something stronger than either could be alone. The entrepreneur I want to become will need both — the technical skills to build and the heart to know what is worth building. My education is where those two things are coming together, and I am only getting started

My journey into Computer Science did not begin in a classroom — it began at home, watching my father. He holds a degree in Computer Information Systems, and growing up I watched him think analytically, solve problems with patience, and approach the world with a technical mind I quietly admired. He was my first example of what it looked like to be both skilled and purposeful. As I got older, I discovered that coding came naturally to me as well. Programming feels less like a subject and more like a language I was always meant to speak. I love the process of sitting with a complex problem and working through it until a solution emerges. That genuine passion, sparked by my father’s example, is what led me to pursue a minor in Computer Science alongside my Business Analytics degree at Brigham Young University–Idaho. My dream after graduation is to become an entrepreneur. I want to build technology-driven ventures that solve real problems for real people — particularly for veterans and military families. My father served as a Chaplain in the United States Army, was deployed to Afghanistan, and medically retired with PTSD. Watching our family navigate the far-reaching effects of that experience gave me a deep sense of purpose. I want to use my skills in business and technology to one day create platforms, resources, or organizations that better support those who have sacrificed so much. My goal is not simply to build a successful company — it is to build something that matters. I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because my commitment to my education goes beyond ambition — it is something I fight for every single day. I currently work two jobs to support myself through school, and despite that effort, I still struggle to afford the cost of my education. I show up to class, complete my coursework, and pursue leadership opportunities — including organizing a 10-week camp on the BYUI campus — all while managing the financial and personal weight that comes with being a working student. I do not say this for sympathy. I say it because I want you to know that this scholarship would not just help me — it would free me. It would allow me to invest more of my time and energy into becoming the student, leader, and entrepreneur I know I am capable of being. I am a veteran’s daughter who understands sacrifice. I am a student who shows up even when it is hard. And I am a young woman with a clear vision for how I want to use my education to serve others. I will make the most of every opportunity this scholarship provides

My interest in Computer Science did not begin in a classroom — it began at home, watching my father. He holds a degree in Computer Information Systems, and growing up I watched him think analytically, solve problems methodically, and navigate the world with a technical mind that I quietly admired. Without fully realizing it, he was showing me what it looked like to be both technically skilled and purposeful, and something about that combination stuck with me. As I got older, I discovered that coding came naturally to me. There is something deeply satisfying about sitting down with a problem and working through it logically until a solution emerges. Programming feels less like a subject and more like a language I was always meant to speak. I genuinely enjoy learning new concepts, building things from scratch, and finding elegant solutions to complex challenges. That enjoyment has only grown the further I have gone in my studies, and it is a large part of why I chose to pursue a minor in Computer Science alongside my Business Analytics degree at Brigham Young University–Idaho. The combination of business and technology feels like the exact intersection where I can do the most good. I am drawn to entrepreneurship not just for the sake of building companies, but because I believe technology-driven solutions have the power to solve real problems for real people — including veterans and military families like my own. My connection to the military is personal and deeply formative. My father served as a Chaplain in the United States Army and was deployed to Afghanistan. He gave years of his life in service to others, caring for soldiers in some of their most difficult moments. He eventually medically retired with PTSD, and our family experienced firsthand how far-reaching the effects of that invisible wound can be. Growing up as his daughter taught me empathy, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. In many ways, my academic path is a tribute to both sides of who he is — the technically minded professional who inspired my love of computer science, and the devoted veteran whose service and sacrifice inspire me to use my skills for something meaningful. I want to build a career at the crossroads of technology and impact, creating solutions that serve communities and honor the kind of dedication my father showed throughout his life. He gave me the blueprint. My education is how I am learning to build from it.

When my father came home from Afghanistan, he was physically present but emotionally somewhere far away. The man who had always been gentle and kind was still there — but reaching him felt different. PTSD has a way of building invisible walls, and as a daughter, you spend a lot of time learning how to love someone through walls you cannot see. That experience changed me in ways I am still discovering. What I learned about myself through those years is that I have a deep capacity for patience and empathy. When you grow up in a home touched by PTSD, you become fluent in unspoken pain. You learn to read a room, to give grace generously, and to never assume you know what someone else is carrying. I became a person who looks a little closer at the people around me — because I know firsthand that the people who seem the most distant are often the ones who need connection the most. What I learned about the world is that we do not take care of our veterans nearly enough. My father gave years of his life serving others as an Army Chaplain, walking alongside soldiers through their hardest moments — and then came home to fight his own silent battle largely alone. PTSD does not just affect the veteran. It ripples outward, touching spouses, children, and entire families who love someone who is struggling to find their way back. The effects are far-reaching and deeply personal, and yet the stigma and lack of resources surrounding mental health in the veteran community remain significant barriers to healing. That reality drives me. As I pursue my degree in Business Analytics with a minor in Computer Science, I am constantly thinking about how my skills can be used for something that truly matters. I do not yet have all the answers, but I know that I want to direct my entrepreneurial ambitions toward creating solutions that serve veterans and their families — whether that means building platforms that connect veterans to mental health resources, founding organizations that reduce financial barriers to care, or using data to identify gaps in veteran support systems and advocate for change. My father sacrificed so much in service to others. I watched PTSD take pieces of him that he has had to fight hard to reclaim. That fight — his resilience through it — is one of the most courageous things I have ever witnessed. I want to spend my career making sure that veterans like him have more support, more resources, and more people in their corner who refuse to look away. He showed up for others his entire career. It is my turn to show up for people like him.

Growing up as the daughter of a veteran means you learn certain things without ever being taught them directly. You learn that commitment is not conditional. You learn that service is not a sacrifice — it is a calling. And you learn that the most powerful thing a person can do is show up fully for others, even when it costs them something. These are not lessons I read in a textbook. They are lessons I watched my father live every single day. My father served as a Chaplain in the United States Army, a role that sits at the unique intersection of faith, leadership, and human connection. He was not there to command — he was there to care. He walked alongside soldiers in their most vulnerable moments and chose kindness when the world around him was anything but gentle. That example planted something deep in me: the belief that you can be both strong and soft, both driven and compassionate, and that the best leaders are the ones who genuinely care about the people they serve. That belief is at the core of my career aspirations. I am pursuing a degree in Business Analytics with a minor in Computer Science at Brigham Young University–Idaho because I want to build things — companies, solutions, opportunities. But the kind of entrepreneur I want to be was shaped long before I ever stepped into a college classroom. I want to build ventures where people feel valued. Where a team member is never just a resource. Where success is measured not only in revenue, but in the lives positively impacted along the way. My father transitioned from military service into the world of investing, carefully and thoughtfully putting his support behind companies he believed in. Watching that transition showed me that the values forged in service do not retire when the uniform comes off. They follow you, guide you, and if you let them, they make you a better businessperson. His discernment, patience, and people-first mindset are qualities I actively work to develop in myself as I grow in my education and leadership experiences. Being a veteran’s daughter has given me a perspective that I think is rare in entrepreneurship — the understanding that the mission is always bigger than yourself. I do not want to build a business just to build wealth. I want to build something that serves people, solves real problems, and reflects the values my father demonstrated in uniform and beyond. He showed me what it looks like to lead with purpose. My career will be my answer to that example

Growing up as the daughter of an Army Chaplain taught me that true strength is not loud — it is quiet, steady, and kind. My father served those around him not with weapons, but with compassion, showing up for soldiers in their darkest moments with gentleness and grace. That image of leadership shaped everything about how I see the world and what I want to build in it. His military service instilled in our home a sense of discipline and purpose, but what stood out most to me was never the uniform — it was his character. He had a saying that has followed me into every classroom, every project, and every interaction: be kind always, even when it’s hard. Those words have become my compass. In a world that often rewards cutthroat competition, I want to be the kind of entrepreneur who leads with integrity and treats people as people — not just as stepping stones to success. After his service, my father channeled that same intentional spirit into the business world, investing in companies and evaluating opportunities with careful, thoughtful judgment. Watching him transition from military service to entrepreneurship showed me that the skills honed in service — discipline, discernment, and a commitment to something greater than yourself — translate powerfully into business. He never chased wealth for its own sake. He invested in things he believed in, and he did it with the same quiet confidence he carried in the Army. That is the entrepreneur I want to become. As a sophomore studying Business Analytics with a minor in Computer Science at Brigham Young University–Idaho, I am building the technical and analytical tools to one day launch ventures of my own. Already, I am stepping into leadership outside the classroom — organizing a 10-week camp on the BYUI campus through my church, coordinating logistics, people, and purpose all at once. It is my first real taste of building something from nothing, and it has only deepened my hunger to do more. But more than any skill set or achievement, I carry my father’s example with me every day — that how you treat people along the way matters just as much as what you build. Every interaction is an opportunity to reflect the kindness he modeled so consistently, whether that is encouraging a fellow student, serving my community, or one day leading a team in a company of my own. His service gave me a blueprint for a life well-lived: show up, be kind, and leave things better than you found them. I intend to honor that in everything I do.