Hi! I'm Keely Carle from Asheville, North Carolina. I currently attend school at Appalachian State University where I'm majoring in social work and minoring in somatic sustainability. Somatic sustainability focuses on practices like yoga, pilates, and kinesiology and how these practices can encourage us to become more sustainable in our community. The core philosophy is heal yourself, heal the world. Ultimately, I aim to achieve a Doctorate in social work and to use my minor to advance my therapy practice. In my free time I volunteer and study at my local Buddhist temple, journal, write poetry, and practice self care. Growing up I was a precocious child. At a young age, I knew I needed somewhere to put my abundance of empathy. When I learned more about the career and path of being a therapist, I instantly knew it was what I would dedicate my life to. I've always been passionate about helping other people heal themselves at a root level. As taught in somatic sustainability, I believe that healing one person can ripple out to heal the world. My dream is to have an active part in helping other people learn to live to their fullest capacity in their body and mind. What initially captured my interest in healing others was seeing the struggles within my family and within myself. I grew up with my mother who had undiagnosed and untreated bipolar disorder and a disabled grandmother who I had to learn how to take care of from a young age. As a family, we seemed to be unusually prone to adverse events. Before I was eighteen we had survived a house fire that had burnt down ninety percent of our house, a potentially fatal car crash, financial struggles, and particularly for me, mysterious health issues. Since I was nine years old I had nonstop complained to my parents and my doctors about my lightheadedness and widespread pain. This was written off as growing pains and generalized anxiety disorder until I took a turn for the worse at sixteen years old. My health rapidly declined and I was unable to attend school. I demanded a different answer. After seeing about ten different doctors and specialists I was diagnosed with a dysautonomic nervous system disorder known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or POTS. Essentially, my autonomic nervous system doesn't work the way it's supposed to. My body is unable to properly regulate digestion, nerve signals, vascular constriction, blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate. Taking care of my body is a full-time job. I often find it difficult to walk far without having a flare-up, so I often rely on mobility aids to get around or I may have to attend class online. With the fatigue and malaise that come with this disorder, it can be difficult to attend lectures and complete work on the same timeline as able-bodied students. Any flare-up I have has the potential to set me back in my education. Still, I am determined to achieve a doctorate in social work. Above all, I am passionate about helping other people heal and helping others who have disabilities like myself. While my disability does hold me back, it simultaneously inspires me to work hard so I can help the world heal. Thank you for considering helping me fund my future.