Anxiety and depression have been a part of my life since I was very young. At age 3, I watched my mom stab my dad in the stomach with a pen. The events that unfolded thereafter contributed to a very heavy case of anxiety at age 5. By age 12, I had experienced more trauma and emotional abuse than a child should, and suicidal ideation along with self-harm began to take over my growing mind. My mom was too wrapped up with her issues of substance abuse and Borderline Personality Disorder to even notice or care what was going on with me. I suffered silently because the church we went to considered this a shortcoming on my part, the result of some unconfessed transgressions. I have struggled with my mental health my entire life. I have seen countless therapists, been prescribed a myriad of medications that simply did not work for me, and suffered in silence. This past May, I had a failed suicide attempt and ended up in the hospital. There, I received a diagnosis that I had needed for many years. The right medication was finally prescribed and the angry voices that were feeding suicidal ideations into my brain were quieted. It was disappointing for so many years to feel so brushed off, pushed aside, and medicated just for the sake of medicating. I felt for so long that no one was listening to me and the symptoms that I was presenting. It was isolating and lonely to hold all of that pain and trauma inside. All I wanted for so long was for someone to listen to me, help me find what was wrong, and help me find a solution. Not only was it extremely painful to live that way, it was also very isolating. I was called all sorts of things beginning with "crazy" and ending with very inappropriate and cruel terms. I was told in jest to "take [my] meds" and "stop being nuts." I just wanted a friend, someone to listen, to understand, to not judge, and to simply help. Due to the experiences that I have had, I am empathetic toward those who struggle. I am there to listen, no matter what, without judgment. I also advocate for others who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. For myself, I often found that resources were not very easy to find, even in the digital world that we live in. When I find something that works or an affordable resource, I share it gladly. Unfortunately, the world we live in does not make mental health more of a priority and many health insurances do not consider mental health very important. While I am just one small voice, I have also sent emails to various Congressional representatives to help push mental health to the forefront. I have spent years battling suicidal ideation until a recent diagnosis and new medication. I have also lost a few friends to suicide. I do not want to see others suffer needlessly. I plan to continue using my experiences and my voice to point others in the direction of adequate help, provide empathy and understanding through my own experiences, and advocate for better resources and mental health care in our country. No one deserves to suffer in silence.

As a young child, we grew up in poverty in Queens, NY. I often noticed many homeless people on various street corners and at the many bus stops we had to get to. Some were mumbling incoherent statements at me while others just looked miserable and oppressed. Even as a 5-year-old child in poverty, I knew that I had to help. We didn't have much or anything that could even be considered "extra," but even still, I knew then that I had more than they did and should give from that. My mom never let me give them the little bits of food or occasional treats (like a happy meal) we saved for, but I knew deep inside that I had to help. This desire has only grown as I have moved into adulthood. As a parent who has also experienced poverty, I felt a desire to help others out of what I had that they did not. I never had extra to give, but I knew I had more than others and ought to give from that place. I have always had a strong conviction regarding helping others. Through the use of Google, I was led to the field of social work and began to realize that it was not a lofty pipe dream, but that I could in fact help others who face poverty and systemic challenges, and advocate for child welfare. Currently, I am a senior in a social work program. My focus is child advocacy as well as providing accessible resources for those in need. I have a strong want and desire to see the poverty guidelines challenged as they have not been consistent with the rise of inflation and cost of living. I want to see child welfare taken more seriously as child abuse and neglect come in more forms than just the obvious marks and bruises. It is important to help others. Many do not have the voice to be heard or the resources to access. As a social worker, I will be in a unique position to give people resources and a voice as well as advocate for them with my own voice. The world we live in has gotten more cold and mean as the years have gone on. Everyone is out for themselves, their clout, their moment to shine, with little regard for those it may hurt and those in the aftermath of their choices. Not everyone has the platform to be heard, seen, or advocated for. Just because their voice isn't loud enough doesn't mean they should have to suffer. As a social worker, I plan to carry out the desires I had as a young child to help those in need with the platform I have worked to stand on, to speak up for those who are simply not listened to.

Adverse mental health situations have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a parent now, it is even more prominent than ever. While having to learn to manage my anxiety, depression, OCD, and ADHD, I also have a stepson and daughter struggling with the same things. The one aspect of mental health that stands out the most, is that it is so very common and so very unique to the person experiencing it. Symptoms and remedies may overlap, but each person's experience is uniquely theirs. This understanding has given me compassion and patience while I listen or try to help. It has given me a desire to be an extension of kindness and patience wherever I go, because you truly don't know what someone else is dealing with. Gaining a more personalized understanding of mental health has also shaped my goals for social work. While it is important to ensure people get the medical help that they need, it is also essential to give people information in a manner that they will be willing to receive. The delivery of the message and the way the message is fine-tuned for the individual audience is imperative. Having had a life filled with trauma, OCD, depression, suicide attempts, and panic attacks, I feel that I am in a unique position to understand what people are going through and provide the patience and empathetic ear that is essential for growth and acceptance in a person's journey.

It is easy to look past those who are in need. I grew up with divorced parents, in poverty, in Queens, New York. I have lived in poverty at various points in my adult life after experiencing it for my entire childhood. I could be bitter, but something happened when I was 5 years old that shaped the way I see the community around me. Growing up, I knew we didn't have very much and that any time my mom got us McDonalds or Burger King that it was a very big deal. One day my sister and I were drooling from the smell that was seeping from the Burger King bags in my mom's hand on the N24 bus, waiting for our stop to dive in to fried food heaven. As we were exiting the bus and walking toward the corner to cross the busy street, I saw a homeless man, mumbling to himself about something, cold, and hungry. Without concern for myself, I asked my mom if we could give the man our food. My mom said no and we walked past him, without so much as a glance in his direction. That moment has stuck with me throughout my entire life. It created a distinct compassion for others that I teach my kids to live by as well. Even though we were very poor and getting Burger King was a saved-for expense and a treat, I knew we had a home to go to and something else to eat there. Granted, it wasn't a hamburger kid's meal, but it was food. The man on the street had nothing. My mom, sister, and I had very little, but we had more than the man with nothing. It felt like my duty to give out of my excess as this man had absolutely nothing. That memory and that empathy has propelled me into the field of social work. I have a passion for helping children in need, especially those in situations of abuse and poverty. I am planning to use my degree to be an advocate for those who do not have a voice. I have already begun doing so by reaching out to my state representatives regarding poverty guidelines that deny many needy families based on an arbitrary figure that has not been recalculated in decades. I plan to work with children in a school setting or through CPS to give families the resources that they need. A community thrives when all of its members have what they need. With a degree in social work, I will be able to assist those who need so that they may have what they need to alleviate further stress in their lives.

I have always had a big heart. Growing up, that is one thing that I was always complimented on. When it came time to choose a college and find a career path to venture down, I was called a dreamer, someone living in a fantasy cartoonish land. Until age 35, I had no idea that my passion for advocacy was summed up in social work. There was a place in the world for someone like me, who wanted all people to be treated with respect and dignity; others like me who believed children shouldn't be mistreated and that poverty was unacceptable in our developed country. While I am still in college, I am a loud and active advocate for children's rights and needs. I use any opportunity I can to speak truth to power and inform legislators what things are really like for children in need. After college, I fully plan to work with children to continue on a path of advocacy as well as help children with social and emotional regulation. The adults that have jobs in congress and state legislation will one day be retired. Those in power will one day have to step down and step aside for a younger generation to advance society forward. Consider how children are treated today. Children's education is minimal, often neglecting many important literary works due to political ideology. Children go hungry, impacting their growth and development. Many children are abused both sexually, and physically. Children are witnesses to anger and violence on so many scales. The world we live in can be so cruel and unkind to the smallest of its members. With all of that information, how hopeful can someone be that the future generations will be equipped to step into roles of leadership? Those children who have been abused and malnourished and cast aside as a burden, what kind of leaders will those children be? Will they help make the world a better place for those who live in it or will they treat others the way they have been treated? There is a cycle that needs to be broken. With proper policies, I truly believe that we can forge a path forward where respect and dignity can be extended to all people, children included. I plan to continue to speak up for children and provide them with counseling and education. These are our future leaders. These children deserve someone to value them and the potential that they have and I plan to be hopefully one of many.

Having not only felt the sting of poverty growing up, but also in adulthood, I have made it my life's mission to advocate for those in poverty, especially children. Poverty often impacts children the hardest. They are at the mercy of not only their parents' budgeted income for food, they are also at the mercy of the government that allocates food stamps and emergency assistance. As a child, I didn't know that there were guidelines that specified how much help a family could receive. All I knew was that when my mom got name brand cereal, our SNAP benefits were in. When we had to split a can of minestrone soup and a can of tuna for dinner, that meant we were going to have a rough week. I never found this fair as a child. The people making the rules weren't considering how it impacted me and my sister. They didn't deal with the physical and emotional abuse from my mom because she was so stressed out. I didn't want any other child to experience that and still don't. As I got older, I myself became a single parent. With no child support in sight, I was on food stamps, struggling to keep my apartment and my car. When I sought rental assistance or an increase in food stamps, I was told that I made too much money per hour. The 15 cents I made per hour over their federal poverty guidelines disqualified me and my child from adequate nutrition and peace of mind about choosing between housing or food. After experiencing that in adulthood with a child of my own, I knew I had to set out to do something. I began my career in social work to advocate for children. The biggest issue I have spoken out about is poverty. If you look to the news, various states are discussing the idea of free lunch and breakfast for all students, K-12, regardless of income. This idea came about after the COVID pandemic. So many children benefited from free lunch and breakfast, that it became pertinent to look at poverty from a different angle. While in my state of Minnesota, our governor believes that children need to be spoken up for, other states are treating children like mini adults, preparing them to set out on a path of hunger and struggle. Again, while Minnesota makes lunch and breakfast free to all students, North Dakota questions a child's hunger and looks to the parents to place blame. Hunger and poverty are much larger than a personal shortcoming. It is a systemic issue that is desperate for a solution. I speak up to legislators from states where childhood hunger is being ignored. I was a child of poverty and an adult with a child in poverty. I know the stress, the panic, and the hunger pains. I am also now 40 years old. This problem has gone on too long. Systemic issues need to be addressed and it is going to take loud voices like mine to continue to push the issue until there is a resolution. I am also planning to utilize my education and degree in social work to continue to advocate for children and the needs they have that so often get overlooked since they are not legally allowed to speak up and be heard.

Since I was a child, I have always had the heart to help others. I found that regardless of how little I had or what troubles I had in my own life, I yearned to be an extended arm of help, compassion, and simply acceptance. As I grew older, I found that more of the positions that I took were in the areas of healthcare that involved direct patient-to-patient care. What impacted me most was working with ACR Homes, caring for persons with physical and developmental disabilities. It was through this position that I truly gained so much. I was gifted the ability to open my mind and heart to understanding the dignity and value that these persons deserve and are exerting in their way. Daily tasks and cares were met with joy and encouragement on my end. I was able to see the impact that my warmth and excitement gave them. 10 years ago, I met my husband who has an autistic son. I have had the opportunity to be a part of his life in many areas of growth and development. I taught him to tie his shoes, ride a bicycle, and manage his homework assignments, and have taken time to work with him on socialization as well. Through being a social work student, I was able to truly be a better advocate for him and my daughter who has learning disabilities. It was here that I looked more into what the schools could do to help them, and what we could afford to do on our own at home as rural areas lack the necessary resources in regard to therapy programs. While I have a lot of experience working with individuals that have learning and developmental disabilities, I have a strong desire to advocate for children in this position. I plan to use my education as a social worker to work in schools. Living in a rural area, I have seen a lot of children that need services and help who are either brushed over or not given the true time and care that they need. I desire to utilize this scholarship to continue my education to be a voice for those who often get looked over and ignored. All persons with disabilities and different abilities deserve dignity, respect, and the ability to live their life with all of the advantages that non-disabled persons are privileged to. With this scholarship, I will be able to not only be a voice but be an example of how individuals with developmental disabilities deserve to be advocated for.

I have always wanted a dog since I was a little girl. I had no friends and thought a dog would be a great companion. We were really poor though, so I never got to have a dog. I did have an imaginary dog that would walk with me to school all throughout elementary school. As I got older, the tiny apartments I could afford were no place for a dog to have a good life, so I ended up with a cat who oddly enough, at 15, is as healthy and spry as when she was a kitten. I tried adopting a dog a few years ago and after he nearly mauled my family, I was done....until we met Olive. Olive came to us named as Jesus from a coworker of my husband's. She's a black staffy/lab mix and has a giant white cross on her chest. She was the tiniest, most runty puppy of the litter, but we knew she was for us. Getting her home was almost like having a newborn baby and being a first time parent. We were so confused with what to do as my husband had never had a dog so tiny and young before. Olive is now 4 1/2 years old. She is the goofiest girl and such a solid member of our family. I don't think I've ever had such unconditional love and support from anyone, let alone an animal before. If I am stressed or crying, her thick skull will find a way to nuzzle itself to my cheek. If I sneeze too loudly, she comes over to check that I'm okay. Olive has the best smile I have ever seen on an animal. We don't live in an area where she can really be off leash very often, but recently I trained her to come back when called and let her run free in a field across the street from our home. The first time she was able to run at top speed as far as she wanted, she came back with just the biggest smile. It was infectious and contagious. Another amazing thing about Olive is her joy in such small things. Olive likes to chase lawn moths that are in the field by our home and I suppose watching her have fun helps me remember to slow down and enjoy myself too. I was never able to have a dog growing up, but I am eternally grateful Olive came to us when she did. I had recently gone through my third miscarriage, had to rehome a very aggressive dog, and was sad and dejected. Olive brought love and laughter to our home and healing to me. She is the most amazing gift our family and myself have ever received.

I have the unique experience of being both raised by a single mother and being a single mother during my daughter's infancy and toddler years as well. I have to say that the inspiration that came from my mother was to be the exact opposite of her and doing everything differently. That may come across sounding morose, however, that is the reality that I lived in and experienced. Growing up, my mother left my sister and I home alone a lot while she pursued her job as a receptionist, her social life in the church, and various relationships. We were not her focus and priority. Child support went to support her vanity while we shopped for clothes and gifts from the church donation bins. It was embarrassing and lonely. It got even worse when she tried to hide a pain pill addiction that consumed her life and has kept us apart for the last 8 years. When the situation arose where I found myself a single mom, I vowed to be nothing like my own mother. I would be present for my daughter and give her the love and support I only wished I had. While I am no longer a single mom, my daughter is my whole focus. I want her to see that regardless of age, it is ok to pursue a higher education and change your mind about your career path. I want her to know that if your passion is empathy for others, there are in fact careers that allow you to utilize that aspect of your emotional abilities - something that was never told to me that I found out far too late in life. My mother herself never got a higher education. She dropped out in 10th grade and never graduated high school. Growing up, she was absent when I had school projects, when I didn't understand something, and with any support in dreaming big for my life goals. She was left to secretary work that left her unsatisfied and underpaid. Again, she was the example for everything not to be and everything not to do. While I may be 39 years old and no longer a single parent, having the experience that I did growing up with a mom who dropped out of high school and never thought that she could do much with her life, resulted in me never believing that I could do much with my life. My daughter changed that all for me. She is 12 now and the most empathetic and generous girl I have ever known. Understanding my role in that is encouraging, but knowing that she has my example to keep following your gut and moving forward is even more rewarding. I understand that by pursuing social work, I am going to help change things for the better for parents and kids alike, but knowing that my daughter has this example gives me immense hope for her and for the future she will exist in.

Growing up as a child, I was extremely shy. I followed the example of my mother who just let people bulldoze her. I watched her crumble and never stand up for herself and her wants and needs. I followed her lead as that is what I grew up seeing. I saw a woman who had no voice and no power. I began to live this way until I was a single mom, freshly graduated with a degree in medical assisting, working really hard, only to be passed over for opportunities, raises, and recognition. I quit that job and began the long road of finding my voice. I think what inspired that journey was knowing I have a daughter that I don't want growing up meek and mousey, afraid to speak her truth. Slowly, I began to make my wants and needs known verbally, rather than suffocating on my frustration. I speak up now for all things, not just myself. Finding my voice to advocate for my own self helped push me to speak up on behalf of others. I don't let people talk down to me or take advantage of me. I speak up when someone is being treated unfairly. I do what I can to help others get their needs met. I advocate so that my own needs are met. I'm still very much that anxious, shy child from my youth, however, that conviction that wrongs need to be righted, is what gives me the strength and courage to speak up and out when things are not as they should be for myself or for others. The best part of finally living in that boldness, is that my daughter is living in that same bravery as well.

I have always wanted a dog ever since I was a little kid. Being poor and moving from apartment to apartment growing up left no room for a dog. As I got older, I toyed with the idea, but I was always working as a single mom and again, had no time or room for a dog. After getting married and moving out to the country for my husband's job, a co-worker of his approached us with a puppy. We couldn't say no to her sweet face and floppy ears. Olive then became part of our family. Having raised a toddler on my own and being home to work on school while raising a puppy was kind of the best and worst experience of my life. There were times I wanted to throw in the towel and quit, but I am so glad I didnt. Olive is my favorite child. She is my best friend. I have never known such unconditional love and comfort before. She picks me up from my bad moods and knows when I just need someone to keep me company. Olive has the best smile and such an infectious joy that spreads to every member of my family. Her boundless energy and slobbery kisses are what make her so special to my family and I. I couldn't imagine a day without her in it.

I never grew up with pets. I was always very jealous of friends that owned dogs. Dogs seemed to be the best companion and friend to have for a pet. Unfortunately, I grew up very poor and a dog was not something my mom could afford. When I got my first apartment on my own, it was eerily quiet. Although it was simply a studio with less than 600 square feet to brag about, it still felt empty. It was then that I got my first pet. Although I had always wanted a dog, I worked a lot trying to survive on my own in this new realm of adulthood, so I opted for a kitten. I went to the humane society and picked out the most perfect little girl. Her name then was Esther, and of all the kittens, she was the only one to put a paw out to me. Esther soon became Pickle, an homage to my favorite food. She was good at hiding and moved with me to many new homes and apartments over the years. When I became pregnant, she guarded my belly as if it were her own. When my daughter was born, Pickle would leave gifts of dead birds and mice underneath my daughter's swing in our yard. 15 years later, Pickle is still here. She is such a protective momma cat to my daughter and stepson. She helped me weed out some potentially bad partners by running away from those who were not trustworthy and wrong for my family. Pickle helped me open my heart to more creatures. Her best friend Pepper, our second adopted cat, developed blood cancer at 4 years old and recently passed away. I think without having Pickle, I would not have been able to give love so openly and would not have been able to understand loss so deeply. I couldn't imagine my life without our pets. They're an extension of ourselves and bring completion to our family unit.

I deserve this scholarship because I am paying for college out of pocket. To do this, I have sold my beanie babies and have not gotten the millions of dollars that I was promised for saving them in the plastic all of these years. My academic goal is to be the smartest person. I plan to try out for Jeopardy, however, I get migraines from bright lights and don't know if I will be able to last on the stage which is why I am applying for this scholarship instead. If I do not win it, I may have to have a migraine on live TV which may be a bit embarrassing. My career goal is to become the heiress to the Play Doh fortune. I have a plan, but if I share it, you may copy it and then where would I be? I overcome obstacles every day. I live in a junk yard and often have large items to crawl over just to get to the bathroom. The largest obstacle is a turned over refrigerator. It doesn't work any more, but I do use it as a makeshift bobsled when I feel bored. Sometimes I eat dinner in there.

Growing up, I came from a poor family. It was my mother, my older sister, and myself. My sister had all the brains in the family and was often rewarded and praised for her successes. I on the other hand, I went through my school years with undiagnosed ADHD. I was never the star pupil and my guidance counselors did little to help guide. My grades were not great. I was incredibly shy. I didn't have any hopes or dreams for my future other than wanting to help people and had no idea how to voice this to someone who looked at me bored and not invested. With poor grades due to ADHD and no extra curricular activities to mention due to crippling anxiety, I went overlooked. Now, at 38, I am working toward my Bachelor's degree in Social Work. In my early 20's I received a proper diagnosis for ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder. Since then, I have been able to get medication for my anxiety and ADHD. With a learning disability though, medication only goes so far. I have had to work extra hard to create study habits and other methods to ensure that I am doing a complete, thorough job on every assignment. I often have to take extra steps to study or write a paper, but all of my hard work and extra efforts have paid off and continue to pay off. Last month, I was inducted into Phi Delta, a chapter of the International Honor Society for Social Work. Social Work is a very large field. For the longest time, until I did a Google search, I didn't even know that what I wanted to do in my life was even considered Social Work. I am grateful for my spirit of curiosity however, because without it, I may still be wandering around trying to find my purpose in life. Once I get my degree , the next step is to obtain licensure after graduation. Ultimately, my goal is to work with school aged children. I have always had a passion to help children. Knowing so many are living in poverty, are abused or neglected, are homeless, or like me, are struggling in school with no one who cares to help, has given me a drive that can't be matched. I have a personality that generally just meshes well with children and I have a face and demeanor that comes across as very safe and trusting. I do not take these for granted. I appreciate my gentle spirit and how well I can listen and speak to children in a way that is mutually understood. I am grateful that I have a presence that they feel comfortable in. Ultimately, I am unhappy with how this country handles so many issues that impact children who are vulnerable and voiceless. My life goal is to meet with Congress so that laws may be passed to do more to give children from all walks of life a fair chance, a life of dignity, and safety that they deserve. In order to get to this place, I plan to network with the right organizations, continue to write my Congressmen and women, and apply myself in classes that go over child advocacy. To reach these goals, I know and understand that there is also a lot of work to be done on my end as well. I know that I need to continue to learn and read up on various laws that impact children indirectly as well as directly. I am going to have to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to more organizations for information as well as opportunities for myself to get involved. This requires an effort on my part to fully tackle my shyness and anxiety. This also will require a trust in myself, my knowledge, and my skill set. I get upset because I feel like I wasted so much time, but am understanding that right now I am where I need to be and plan to continue to follow the path in front of me. I have not had an easy life at all. I have had to work very hard through poverty, anxiety, and a learning disability. I was a single parent for 6 years, struggling and in a tough place. Today, I am 38 years old and finally where I am meant to be right now. I know that I am on a path that will lead me to the place I have always meant to be to help children in need. I do not plan to waste this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those whose voices are often ignored.

In 2018, I underwent a second menistectomy on my left knee. At this point, I was the second heaviest weight I had been since I was pregnant with my daughter. In 2019, I finally decided to make a change for the better. I began to workout and eat better, but that slowly began to turn toxic. I learned about some new food allergies and used those to further restrict my diet. I began to exercise obsessively and only eat when I had burned off enough calories. I began to omit food groups to avoid weight gain. I was cold, cranky, and constipated. My daughter was 10 at the time and already began to hear some of the boys in her class comment about her being too thin or that she was fat for eating an extra snack. This brought my entire childhood back to me. At 8 years old I gained a lot of weight. My family would constantly comment on my food choices and shame my body size for the way it was. My mother pushed her diet food on me and I would binge in secret. At 15 I developed anorexia but rather than concern, everyone was proud of me. Hearing my daughter's struggle with body image and peoples' comments struck a nerve inside of me. For her, I needed to get healthy. I am 38 years old and finally getting healthy. Now I eat to nourish my body and give it energy. I don't label foods as good or bad, clean or unclean, safe, or unsafe. It's still a struggle sometimes though to feel ok eating rice or bread until I look at her. She is my motivation for change and sustaining this change.

I grew up in a very angry household. Everyone always seemed to be yelling a lot. They yelled about everything from mismatched socks to dishes left in the sink. I remember hearing the words "hurry up" very often. I can recall the face that accompanied this. It was red and it looked like my sibling or parent had a mouth filled with sour candies. I don't remember this causing a good feeling in me. So that is something I vowed to change. As a parent myself now, I don't want memories like that for my daughter and stepson. When I feel impatience bubbling up inside of me, I take a big breath. Sometimes I excuse myself too. I never say "hurry up" or give them the face of sour candies. I do this also so that they will treat others with respect and patience as well. There may be an elderly person in front of them at the store one day trying their best to continue to live their life as normally as possible. It is important to me that they exercise patience because with that comes kindness and the world could use a lot more of that these days.

Growing up as a female, I have experienced a lot of mixed messages on how to view other females. A lot of what has been learned has been that other women are my competition and that I need to out-do and be better than everyone. As I got older, I met some amazing women that I was so glad to have met. They were strong and funny and courageous. I began to admire the women around me and those in leadership positions. The more I have paid attention to politics, the more I have seen strong women speaking up and taking their seat at the table, making their voices heard. One representative I admire as a female leader is Representative Katie Porter of California. She is a no nonsense woman who doesn't back down from the truth. With her trusty white board, she has made grown men, executives of banks and companies, look so small and ill informed. She has used the truth to cut through lies and fluff. She stands with and behind the truth to ensure that life gets better for all people, not just the wealthy. She is a single mom who was a teacher and a lawyer. Her life is an example of perseverance, tenacity, and leadership. It would seem a little silly to some to view social work as a field where one can shine as a leader, but that is what I intend to do. Like Katie Porter, I am a very tenacious woman who is grounded in truth. Like Katie Porter, I do not back down when I have the facts on my side. I too seek to better the world around me for those in it. I too do not stand for the ultra rich taking advantage of hard working people. In the field of social work, I plan to be a leader. I will speak up for those that are without a voice and work to change things for the better of mankind. I plan to use my position and my field to better things for children. They are often left out of the decision making of those in leadership, yet all of the consequences seem to fall on their shoulders. No one asks them what they think or how they feel. No one listens to what they need. I desire to make the world safer for those most vulnerable. Like Katie Porter, I plan to speak truth to power and dismantle the system that has ignored them for so long.

I am not your traditional student. I have an Associates degree and had a profession in the medical field. When my life came to a crossroads, I was forced to make the decision to leave my job and help care for my family at home. It was during this time that I began to evaluate what it is I really want to do. Child advocacy has always been and is still my passion. Not knowing where to start, I turned to Google to figure out what degree to pursue to advocate for children. I learned that what I have always been passionate about fell under the umbrella of social work. Initially I was angry that no one pointed me in this direction sooner. After that anger subsided, I realized that my path traveled was all for a reason. The experiences I have had in poverty, as a single mother, trying to navigate a system that is set up in a way that offers more frustration and difficulty than help, were all for a reason. I have a unique understanding that puts me in a position of trust so that I can help. My overall career goal is to work to change the laws that impact the most vulnerable people- children. Adults in political positions constantly bicker and fight. Some political sides take great joy in removing safety nets set up to help and protect. This isn't right or fair. The generation that will replace those currently in office or in power are being subjected to cruelty, abuse, and trauma at the hands of people that were elected to protect them. I believe that future generations can make a difference, but if we wound those who come after us, how will they be any better or create any positive change? This scholarship would be a life changer for myself and my family. Currently, I am at home working on my degree, taking care of our home and children and pets. I rarely sit down and do everything I can to make things easier on my husband who works extra hours just to help me pay my tuition to get my degree and license. He believes in me enough to sacrifice his time and energy for myself and our family. He is supportive and knows that I am driven and passionate about creating lasting, positive change in children and the world they are growing up in. With this scholarship, he can have the chance to breathe and I can further my ability to make a lasting impact on our future leaders and creators.

Education should be structured in a way that is not a "one size fits all" type of format. I have a learning disability which was not diagnosed until adulthood. This made school extremely challenging for me. I did not grasp "simple" instructions or multi question paragraphs for essays. I was deemed stupid and not worthy of help by my instructors. I was called lazy and an idiot by my family. After being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I was able to understand why certain aspects of education were hard for me. Along with medication, I had instructors help break things down in a way that I could comprehend. This encouraged me that I wasn't stupid or an idiot, but I just needed to take a few extra steps in understanding assignments and tests. Being a mother to a stepson who has autism and ADHD as well as a daughter with ADHD has exposed the challenges of the education system. It is unfortunate that there are not more resources available for kids that think and understand differently. My stepson and daughter have struggled in certain areas with the way that materials are presented to them. Future generations could be spared the mental struggle of not grasping information or directions immediately. They could be spared being called stupid and mocked by their peers. I believe that harnessing the value of those that think and understand differently would in turn make the world better. For example, my high school guidance counselor did not guide or counsel me based on my grades. Had they done so, I would have been a social worker a long time ago. By forcing a dictated form of understanding and grasping information, we are boxing children in mentally and not encouraging them to be their best selves. In that type of restriction, they are taught that they are abnormal and stupid. Future generations are the ones that are going to create laws that everyone follows, discover treatments for diseases, and be diplomatic in world affairs. Stifling children into a "one size fits all" way of thinking and behaving is potentially destroying future generations of world changers.

Since I was a small child, I have felt sorrow and pain for others in a very intense way. Even though I was very poor growing up, I knew I had more than others and that it wasn't fair. As I got older, knowing that children were suffering at the hands of adults physically, emotionally, or through neglect cut me to my core. While it wasn't until age 36 that I discovered my passions for humanity fell under the umbrella of social work, that is the path I am on now. I aspire to complete my Bachelor's degree in Social Work to be a guardian ad litem or a child social worker. Since I am a big kid at heart, children trust me and tell me everything they can when I am around. I appreciate how trusting they are of me and and that I give off that comfortability. I desire to use this in the future to help children that are in an abusive home, need medical care, whose parents need resources or food, or who are struggling with learning disabilities and emotional trauma like I did as a child. Having passion with experience puts me in an advantageous position to make positive change in those who are the most ignored. Throughout my education so far, I have gravitated toward learning about child welfare. Listening to legislators speak about taking away free lunches, cutting food stamps, and underfunding inner city schools infuriates me. It isn't right or fair that children grow up in abusive homes, in poverty, neglected, traumatized, or in need. These children are going to grow up and replace the current adults in their positions. Children of all ages need proper care and support. They are going to grow up into adults that will run things for future generations. In order to have the world be a safer and kinder place, it starts with them. While I still have some time before I get my degree, I use every opportunity in my classes to learn about the ways that children are impacted through laws, guidelines, policy, and poverty. I take the time to study what can be done and ways to intervene. As a mother myself, I care about what happens to the younger generations. I care about who they will grow up into and plan to be a positive impact on the possibilities for their outcome. My ultimate desire is to obtain my Master's degree in social work and speak in front of Congress. I really hope to speak in front of Congress before then. There needs to be drastic change implimented and it is more than time for Congress to put a seat at the table for a social worker and actually act on the information presented. Children are our future and it is extremely important to ensure they are mentally and emotionally whole which comes about through taking care of their upbringing. I want to make sure all children are given a fair chance and a safe start at life.

Since I was a small child, I have felt sorrow and pain for others in a very intense way. Even though I was very poor growing up, I knew I had more than others and that it wasn't fair. As I got older, knowing that children were suffering at the hands of adults physically, emotionally, or through neglect cut me to my core. While it wasn't until age 36 that I discovered my passions for humanity fell under the umbrella of social work, that is the path I am on now. I aspire to complete my Bachelor's degree in Social Work to be a guardian ad litem or a child social worker. Adults that make laws, create tax brackets, and review poverty guidelines and manage stipulations for aid often don't take into account how their ideas and proposals impact the most vulnerable population. I can't stand for that. It isn't right or fair that children grow up in abusive homes, in poverty, neglected, traumatized, or in need. I plan to use my education and my passion to speak up for the most ignored population in our country. These children are going to grow up and replace the current adults in their positions. If we have traumatized and scarred children that grew up in so much need, their impact on the world will be full of the repercussions from those emotions. Children of all ages need proper care and support. They are going to grow up into adults that will run things for future generations. In order to have the world be a safer and kinder place, it starts with them. I have a few years left until I get my degree, but even with the finish line still in the distance, I don't plan on being complacent or silent. I use every opportunity in my classes to learn about the ways that children are impacted through laws, guidelines, policy, and poverty. I take the time to study what can be done and ways to intervene. As a mother myself, I care about what happens to the younger generations. I care about who they will grow up into and plan to be a positive impact on the possibilities for their outcome.

My life is all about simplicity. Ella Fitzgerald sang "Give me the simple life" and nothing could resonate more with me. I am not an extrovert, so I am fueled by more quiet activities. Some things that bring me joy are sitting on the porch swing outside and reading a book while the sun warms my bare feet. I enjoy taking my dog for a walk while blasting punk music from the late 1990's, bopping around to the beat. A morning coffee when the house is quiet because I am the only one awake is the most joyous feeling some weekends. When I do venture out and about, I am most happy when spending time with my husband and kids. My husband is just as big a kid and introvert as I am. We have fun going to the arcade, people watching, hiking, and thrifting. He makes me laugh and appreciate things more. Our kids are goofy and I love spending time with them because now that they're teenagers, they can take part in some of our adventures as well. I just love being around the people that make me happy and the small pleasures in life. They give me energy and life to be the person the world needs me to be.

Having ADHD as an adult student is hard. Medication only goes so far in managing my disorder. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was an adult and struggled all during middle school and high school with my grades, retaining information and being successful. Being an adult student with ADHD has forced me to get creative in figuring out ways to limit the impact of my disorder on my learning. One way that I manage this is with lots of notebooks. I take notes on everything I read. It may seem redundant to write things down that are already on my computer, however, this is one way that I retain information better. Another way that I have found success academically is by breaking down my assignments into smaller steps so that I can pay attention to detail better. When an instructor gives a full paragraph to be answered in a paper or assignment, I break it down into smaller questions to be answered so that I don't miss anything and so that I have a way to slow down and ensure my best work is submitted. Lastly, I utilize a calendar and a whiteboard along with a notebook to display the assignments due for the week. Again, while redundant, having a visual of what is due when and what is coming up due helps me to balance my time and put my best into what I am submitting. ADHD can be a hinderance to learning and being successful, but it doesn't have to be. By creating a system that works for me with visual reminders and ways to slow down to complete my assignments in full, I have taken control of my education in order to be successful in my academic endeavors.

Ever since I was a child, I never understood why all people weren't treated with respect and dignity. It never made sense to me how people were looked down on due to skin color and ethnicity. I grew up in Queens, NY and diversity was just a normal part of my life. We had ethnic celebrations in elementary school and my best friends had family in other countries. It was magical and fascinating to me. As I have gotten older, I am enraged with the way people are treated. I do my best to speak up when I see wrongdoing, to be inclusive when I am in public, and most importantly, I encourage and teach my children to put into practice treating others with respect and dignity. They know to stand up for others of color or those who are trans/gay/bi. My daughter befriended the one girl who is of color in her grade because she noticed someone was being racist toward her and making derogatory comments. I can't change the entire world. I can't make people act in compassion and kindness toward others. I can however, set an example for my children, encourage them to do the same, and live the way I want others to be treated. All people deserve to be treated fairly and equally regardless of what they look like or their station in life. Going to school for social work as well is another avenue I am pursuing to make these hopes a reality.

I am like your favorite old t-shirt that's comfortable, worn in, stands out, holds memories, and is your most prized article of clothing. I am a living and breathing source of comfort, joy, and happiness. While my entire life hasn't been filled with such emotions, memories, or people, I strive to bring that to others. I am strong, resilient, and resourceful. When presented with challenges or problems, I find the solution that situation needs. I am a fixer and a helper. I am a mother and I am so much more.

This playlist describes my brain when I am trying to get to sleep but am focused on all of the things I want to change but cant, getting out of bed and focusing on an assignment for school, drinking a lot of coffee, and finding relief and sleep eventually. 2 AM and the Fight for Sleep: POWER- Kanye West My Sanity- Bad Religion Where Is My Mind?- Pixies Coffee Mug - Descendents Black Coffee- Peggy Lee Get Happy- Ella Fitzgerald Ghostwriter- RJD2

I value my resiliency above anything else. In a world where the expected is instantaneous and immediate, fostering a resilient spirit can be difficult. I am grateful for my past, its heartache, its times of struggle, and its times of loneliness and silence because it is through those times where I gained something that can’t be taught or purchased. It isn’t immediate and only comes from a place of absolute nothingness. I think about how many times I have been in extremely tough situations and how many times I could have given up and am frankly amazed that I haven’t yet. I grew up poor with little to no direction for my future. I was a single mother who worked and went to school while taking care of my daughter with no child support or family help. I was extremely poor, facing homelessness with my daughter. I was married and facing homelessness with my new family. I had a small business that failed. I changed career paths more than twice. Growing up, we were very poor and I saw my mother time and again, shrivel up and quit. I knew that whatever my lot in life ended up being, I had to be stronger and better than the example she showed me. There were so many times in my life where I could have just thrown in the towel, but deep down I knew I couldn't. I knew that I would figure it out and everything was going to work out however it would. I had to get creative and I had to grit my teeth, put my head down, and keep going. Especially as a single mother and then as a wife and mom, there was no other option for me. I had to fight, to get creative, and simply, just keep going. In order to see the change I want in the world, it is going to take speaking up, facing much bureaucratic red tape, and pushing through to advocate for those in need. I don't know the right people and never seem to find myself in the right place at the right time for magical opportunities to shine down on me. I know that my resiliency and tenacity will get me to where I want to be- a social worker that uses her voice loudly to make changes for children and impoverished people. Being resilient is key in creating lasting change. I am grateful that I know where my life is going and for the path that I am on.

This is my baby boy, Pepper. He is 4 years old and for the last year he has had some extremely challenging medical issues. We nearly lost him twice. I nursed him back to health by syringe feeding him. Pepper holds a special place in my heart. After I had my third miscarriage, we got Pepper. He was 6 months old and all he wanted to do was be held like a baby. It was perfect as I was trying to heal from losing another baby. He will always be my special baby boy.

Being a parent to two teenagers as well as being a wife are never-ending opportunities to practice active listening. Without active listening, my home would be what I grew up in- slamming doors and a whole lot of yelling and arguing. To me, listening means putting aside my judgements and opinions and trying to not only really hear what someone is saying, but to understand things from their perspective. It is extremely challenging to separate yourself from your desire to share your input, but without actively listening to what someone else is saying, you not only miss out on what they are trying to share, but belittle and degrade them as well. In my personal life, active listening takes a key role in the interactions I have with others, especially my family. Active listening is silencing the voice that wants to add and interrupt, and being truly present. It is embracing someone in their situation or story to truly be there with them in that moment. Active listening has taught me so much about others and myself. It has given me the opportunity to find my shortcomings, learn new things, and see a broader scope of life outside of my own little bubble.

Some people unfortunately come into your life and ruin it. Master manipulators, they isolate you from your friends, your job, your family, and especially yourself. With clever verbiage, they overpower rational thought and there you are one day, standing over the kitchen sink, staring out the window, wondering how you got to this place of loneliness and sadness. In 2010, my daughter was born to myself and a master abuser. By mid 2011 I could take no more. I suddenly found myself with no hobbies of my own, no friends of my own, no family of my own, and no interests of my own. I was 27 years old and a fragile shell of the woman I was becoming before I met the monster that tore me away from all that I loved. A long and tumultuous journey lay ahead of me, but I was determined to conquer the unknown realms to get to the other side where the girl I once was hopefully still remained. I did that and then some. I obtained an Associates Degree, while working, and taking care of my daughter. I found passion in hobbies like baking and playing guitar that I had long since lost and abandoned. For the first time in years, I wore clothes that I liked, did my hair, wore makeup, and laughed. I smiled bright because I was whole once again. I am the best version of myself today for having the courage to walk away and leave the mental abuse and manipulation that had destroyed me for years. It was scary and full of so many unknowns, but the courage to take the first step, to put myself first again and find the voice that had been silenced set me on the path to where I am today.

Unfortunately for my children, the world they are growing up in and experiencing is mean, cruel, and cold. It is filled with greed, selfishness, and struggle. This type of attitude has never sat well with me as a lot of this was the world I grew up in as well, except not readily available at my fingertips via social media. My kindness and helper spirit often gets abused and trampled on. I have gotten taken advantage of more times than I care to admit. In spite of all of that however, it has never hardened my heart to stop me from wanting to see positive change. I hope one day to leave the world better than it was while I grew up in it. Since I was a child, I have always desired for people to live in peace with one another, accepting others for who they are. I do my best to exemplify this and encourage others to behave in the same manner. When it is my time to exit this earthly realm, I hope the one thing I am remembered for is kindness. I hope that my example of giving, loving, and befriending spreads with others paying it forward. Sometimes, it all simply starts with a smile or a thank you. It seems rather small, to hope that the impact I leave on the world is an abundance of love and kindness, but the world would be a much better place for my children and their children if only others followed suit. I hope to inspire others to bring kindness and joy so my lasting legacy is that of generosity and love.

Growing up, I was very quiet and observant. I had experienced a lot of hardship and trauma as a child with abuse, divorce, poverty, and bullying. Looking around at others however, I knew that although I was not in a happy situation, others had it much worse. That ability to look beyond my own struggles instilled in me a passion to help others. Providing a voice to children and relief for the poor are two areas that I am passionate about making a difference in. I am attending school to get a Bachelor's degree in Social Work at 38 years old because my life experiences and the never changing and always escalating political climate, demanded that I do something. I have experience and knowledge. I have education and have seen a lot. Children are the most vulnerable and often the most overlooked. The poor have little say in the policies that impact them the most. I am passionate to see a world that treats the least of these as if they mattered the most and to do the work to make that a reality.

Ever since I was young, I have had a place in my heart for those that are homeless and hungry, for children who are mistreated, and for those in need. I grew up poor as well, but I was aware that even in my own place of need, I still had more than some others. I am pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Social Work because I believe that children and the poor need a voice that will advocate for them and utilize research and data to ensure that they are treated with respect and able to live a life of dignity. My goals are to pursue child advocacy through being a guardian ad litem or through the county family services office. I believe that children often are overlooked and deserve to have their voices heard. I also do not agree with how high the poverty line is and understand the difficulty in navigating the system and getting aid that will truly help. My desire is to gather research and data to present to elected officials and encourage and urge them to act in a way that treats all people with respect and dignity by enabling people to have their basic needs (like food, shelter, clothing, and medical care) met, regardless of economic status. I aim to create policy so that the world we live in treats all people equally and does not favor the wealthy and reward greed. There is so much work ahead but I believe my life experiences, my passion, and my voice will make a difference in the lives of those who are often trampled on and overlooked.

I have been poor my entire life. I didn't grow up with nice clothes or shoes. If my backpack broke mid year from too many books, I had to use a duffel bag or suitcase because we couldn't afford another backpack. I remember not having a lot to eat or being able to go on field trips because we couldn't afford it. Unfortunately this abject poverty extended into my adult life. The downside to growing up poor is that it's hard to escape. By lots of hard work and creativity, my family is no longer in a situation of needing the food shelf. We have food and although nothing fancy, the clothes and things we need. Understanding the stress of being poor, I make it my mission to give as much as I can to families in need. We work together as a family to donate food to the local food shelf having had to visit there before. When we can afford to, we give funds to those in need. It is important that our children are aware of where we came from because they were so young during that time. I can only hope that our example of giving as a family and reminding the children of where we came from encourages them to carry on with a lifestyle of generosity and looking out for others. Also having been poor so often, I understand how challenging the system can be to navigate and receive government aid. I am in school for social work because I believe that the poverty line is too high and that our officials can and should do more to alleviate this unnecessary burden on struggling families so that they may live a life of dignity and peace.

Growing up and through scattered areas in my adulthood, I was never happy. I was anxious and angry and always stressed out. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought something to my life that I didn't assume would be a result of a deadly, widespread illness. Rather than have uncertainty bring anger and more stress, it gave me a peace and a calm. Suddenly, the unknown pulled back the curtains that had been covering my eyes with my OCD and anxiety. The kids were home all of the time and the house was messy and full. Within that, I found peace. I had time to spend with my family. I found solace in books and playing music again. My daughter and I discovered that we both liked playing with makeup and making donuts from scratch. Now, I find myself putting my headphones on and listening to music while walking my dog through the woods. My morning coffee is no longer an urgent guzzling to find energy and alertness, but a few moments where I can slowly wake up and savor flavor and quiet. While the COVID pandemic brought a lot of turmoil and hardship to many, it gave me the ability to find pleasure in the small things, to savor the time I have with my family, and to engage in activities that bring me peace when stress and anxiety try to resurface and bring about negativity.

I have been poor my entire life. Everything I have, I've either crafted, saved up for, or found while out thrifting. Especially being a parent, everything I have goes to my children. I made the "selfish" choice to go back to school to better my family's life. Unfortunately, I am out of financial aid and my husband works extra to help pay for my tuition. Financial freedom would mean more quality time with my husband and children. It would provide the opportunity to use whatever extra we may have to visit our family members who live in other states that have yet to meet our children. Financial freedom would give me the opportunity to give back to my community the way I want to through donating food and toys to families in need. Financial freedom has always been a dream of mine since I was younger. I believe that I can get there when I complete my Bachelor's degree in Social Work. At that point, we will have two incomes in our home and have the ability to save extra. I work hard to budget what we have but we are unable to give back in the ways that I would like to. I do believe that it is possible. I have come very far since my childhood and have learned how to get by without excess. Once I am done with my degree, we will be more financially set with the ability to give back to our community and the families we know that are in need. Financial freedom really is nothing more than an ability to give to those who have less and have the opportunity to spend quality time as a family which is not feasible due to our current financial situation.

My daughter came out to me a year ago. Ever since she was younger, I have always taught her that it doesn't matter who someone loves, it just matters how they treat others. After she told us, we encouraged her to be proud of who she is. She is 11 and went all out with PRIDE and rainbow everything. Unfortunately, we live in a very small rural town that is packed to the brim with homophobic racists. It is really unfortunate how many parents teach this hatred to their kids and what comes out of the mouth of the next generation. My daughter, who is 11, a kind and sweet soul, just happens to be gay in an area that teases and bullies her. She has been called names more often than I can recall, gets bullied on the school bus, and has gotten shoved and tripped. It breaks my heart that other kids go through this without the support of their parents. Fortunately for our daughter, she has a fiery mom that will have her back unless she's done something horrible. I made enough of a fuss that the bus supervisor went to replay the video and audio of the day in question when she was being called some really vile slurs to find the culprits. My daughter knows that she is safe in our home. She can be her authentic self with no fear of mockery and ridicule. She can unburden the weight from all of the ridicule on us and be met with love and acceptance. She has gone so far as to share what a safe space our home is that a few of her friends have come out to us instead of their own parents. I was bullied relentlessly for being overweight as a child and am still healing from the backlash of those unkind words and actions. I am grateful that I can provide a safe space full of love, warmth, and acceptance for other kids just like my daughter. I am proud that she knows she is loved for who she is, not who she loves, and is able to extend that same love unto others. I may never know what it is like to be bullied, ridiculed, and shamed for who I love, but I do remember being shamed, bullied, and ridiculed for my size. My goal is to insure that no other child has to face that anger and cruelty and unfortunately in the town we live in that is full of religious zealotry, it is far too common for those who are gay. Being able to provide a safe space to other kids encourages me as my goal is to work in child advocacy as a social worker. While things with my daughter aren't perfect and she still has days where the bullying is relentless, I feel passionate to fight for kids just like her to be able to simply exist as their authentic selves in a world that wants them to put on a costume of "normalcy."

I always remember being poor. I thought it would change when I became an adult, that I would be confident and successful in whatever I did and would never experience poverty again. I don't think teenage me would have pictured adult me as a single parent, with a home in foreclosure, trying to juggle an infant, school, and work on my own with no help or family. I don't think teenage me would have pictured adult me wondering why I made $10 too much per month to get food stamps, trying to figure out how to simultaneously feed myself and a toddler with rice and beans for a whole week. While I didn't imagine my life going that way, I'm almost glad it did. I have learned the value of hard work and what it means to truly struggle. I have almost been homeless on more than one occasion with a child while holding a job. Through these struggles, I have learned I am resilient and creative. I also have seen what I want to do with my life in an eye opening way. My adversities have shown me the injustices that exist in this world. I have been able to experience firsthand antiquated policies and guidelines for poverty and acceptance to social programs. While I was able to come out of those hard times, many are still going through it. Based on my experiences a child and a working single mother, I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Social Work. I plan to continue on to obtain a Master's degree to pursue Macro Social Work so that I may use applied research to hopefully help change a lot of these outdated guidelines and programs and to encourage lawmakers to truly provide social outreach and programs to those in need. I also am looking into being a guardian ad litem while I pursue my Master's degree. I have always been able to make friends with children no matter where I am. Through this, I have been able to advocate for some children with various needs. This has invigorated a passion for child advocacy. I firmly believe that a lot of policies and procedures do not speak up or consider the rights and feelings of children. I want to be their voice and their advocate in their time of need. I have struggled with poverty as a child and as an adult. It has been frustrating and emotionally taxing, yet I wouldn't trade it for anything. Those experiences have shown me that children need a voice to speak up for them and that the methods of help in this country are not only inadequate, but outdated in terms of guidelines, while carrying an unnecessary stigma. The adversity I have overcome has fueled a desire in me to help those in need and the fundamental flaws in our system based on my personal experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a very abrupt shift and change in how life operated. As a mom in school with OCD, I was suddenly met with homeschooling a child with ADHD as well as having to learn to manage my struggles with a change in my routine as well as a more cluttered home. These challenges seem rather small and honestly, all it did was make me appreciate my family more and stress out a little bit less. On a larger scale however, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic opened my eyes to various levels of wealth inequality, homelessness, and poverty in our country. Most other countries had safety nets set up for their citizens so that they wouldn't go hungry, have nowhere to live, or suffer economic repercussions due to lost wages. Our country seemed to be the only place where people in Congress were fighting over whether or not the people they were elected to represent deserved help. Knowing how many children were going without food, how many homes were struggling due to unemployment, still the battle went on for months on whether or not to distribute a small amount of money to people in need. This mind boggling debate opened my eyes to how much change this country needs in the area of social services. I am in school for social work and all COVID showed me was that our country is in desperate need of universal healthcare, elected officials that want to help their constituents, and an economic safety net that keeps children out of poverty. This pandemic has only further inspired me to work hard to pursue this career path. It has shown me that I am in the right field and what needs to be done to right the very many wrongs that keep people oppressed when they are just trying to live.

Society needs to treat women as equals. The fact that it's 2021 and there is still a pay gap, there is still inequality when it comes to giving women positions of leadership and authority, and women are still held to standards of unattainable physical attributes. Women are made to feel as if they simultaneously work too hard outside the home and yet also not enough. Women are shamed for weight gain, shamed for not wanting a family, shamed for wanting a family, shamed for pursuing a career, shamed for being imperfect. Women should simply be treated as equals and given the respect and opportunities that are given to men. This could be achieved by legislation aimed at penalizing companies for unfair wages and hiring or advancing underqualified men over qualified women. While there have been steps made (female VP, more female representation in Congress and as leaders in business), it simply isn't enough. Some companies are finally accepting all bodies and sizes in their marketing and showcasing women of different colors and abilities, but more needs to be done. Congress needs to ensure that companies cannot discriminate or underpay female employees. Companies need to be held accountable with marketing and advertisements that are aimed toward boxing women into unrealistic beauty standards. The FDA and Department of Health need to ensure that toxic diet culture is no longer emboldened by placing a ban on various shakes, supplements, and cleanses aimed toward women that only further mental health issues regarding size and weight. Women are strong, capable, and powerful. It's almost as if that a fear of that power and strength has kept them under the heel of men for centuries. It is time for that strength to be recognized, highlighted, and rewarded. It has been done in miniscule baby steps, but it is beyond time for bold and drastic changes to be made.

There was not much encouragement as far as academics went in my home growing up. The only praise came from straight A's which my report card always seemed to lack. School was just difficult for me. I had undiagnosed ADHD (I learned later on in adulthood that I had it which helped a lot of things click into place), was a bad test taker, and didn't understand math quite like my older sister. One class though that sparked my interest was Creative Writing. Mr. Corvino was one of those high school teachers that didn't follow all of the strict guidelines that other teachers seemed to. He let us sit in a circle and actually discuss what we felt and thought. He always kept one hand in his pocket because he was missing some fingers and didn't want to draw attention to it. He made jokes out of anything and everything and always tried to keep the mood lighthearted. I was the chubby, quiet girl that was always getting picked on no matter how hard I tried to hide. I didn't think I was good at much academically and hiding was the best thing someone like me could do. Mr. Corvino didn't allow that. He loved my writing. He made me read essays and poetry in front of the class. He helped me with structure and vocabulary. He believed in me, supported me, and encouraged me. I am a 37 year old mom returning to school to pursue a degree in social work. This is something I believe strongly in and something I am working hard to achieve. Whenever I feel discouraged or inadequate, I think about Mr. Corvino. Whenever I have to submit a paper and am second guessing myself, wondering if I sound stupid, I think about Mr. Corvino. He is one teacher that made such a lasting impression on my life. No teacher before him or since him has provided that support and shown that much belief in my abilities and skill. While I haven't seen Mr. Corvino in over 20 years, he is someone that has left a lasting imprint in my life. I am grateful for the lessons he taught me, the humor he provided during some turbulent teen years, and for the encouragement and belief in not only my writing, but me as a person. Though I may experience doubt and discouragement at a grade, or second guess my abilities, I can always think back to that classroom on Long Island where a high school English teacher changed my life for the better.

I have tried many times to share content online, but in a space where you need to pay to be heard, know the right people to be seen, or provide Photoshopped content that looks professionally done, I have been more than a mute outcast. I can never seem to get the right hashtags, tag the right people, or be witty enough to make my mark. While this can sound depressing and morose, it isn't meant to. I continue to share. The best content is relatable, raw, and real. What I gravitate toward is honesty, transparency, and fact. I find that what I am drawn to are personal stories about overcoming mental health/eating disorder struggles. I am a 37 year old mom, back in school for Child Advocacy in Social Work, and finally coming to terms with my atypical eating disorder. Reading stories from people I knew and didn't know inspired me to get to a place of honesty with my own self and begin my journey of recovery. Again, I am not some influencer or popular person. I don't wear make up or follow trends. I'm honest, truthful, and don't sugar coat the difficult information. While my sphere of influence is rather small, I have begun to share my journey through video and typed out posts (which I find to be much easier as typing is more comfortable than come up with a script on the spot). Coming to terms with my behaviors that were abusive, cruel, and unhealthy, has inspired some to reach out to me with their own stories. It turns out, by sharing my successes, failures, and bad habits, they were encouraged to do the same and in turn, begin their journey towards being healthy themselves. I may never have a large "following" and post the right content at the right time. I may never know the right people and use the right hashtags to have a greater online presence. My words may be passed over by multitudes, but that doesn't stop me from sharing. When I believe in something, I need to share it, regardless of how large or small the audience may be. For now, sharing my recovery from an eating disorder at 37 years old with men and women of various sizes, ages, and walks of life is priority. Community support is vital in recovery. While I may only reach a handful with what I share, it's something I am glad to do.

I like to consider myself a cinephile. Most of my free time is spent watching movies with my husband. In fact, most of our conversations involve bits or quotes from various movies we have seen. My all-time favorite film isn't a cinematic masterpiece. It's a mockumentary called, "Waiting for Guffman." This movie follows people in a small town called Blaine that are putting on a play for their town's celebration. It is a total low budget mess and these small town actors think that they are going to perform their show on Broadway. This mockumentary is filled with outstanding actors that emphasize their characters' oddities and personalities in such an outstanding way. "Waiting for Guffman" stars some iconic comedic actors like Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, and Parker Posey (to name a few). This movie isn't deep or elaborate. It doesn't have a hidden message buried in intricate artistic symbols. "Waiting for Guffman" is campy, bizarre, and hilarious. Whenever I am having a bad day, this movie puts me in a better mood. It is a movie that I can watch over and over without getting bored. The reason this movie can be watched over and over I believe is due to the comedic timing and ridiculous script. It isn't a knee slapper as far as comedies go, but rather creates an urge to cringe and uncomfortably laugh at the same time. I'm grateful that I own this movie and can watch it any time I wish.

2020 did a lot to shake up my OCD and anxiety. I have a family of 4 that I manage. I am the organized one. I plan ahead. I prepare. I have a schedule and a routine that I stick to so that nothing gets overlooked or forgotten. With COVID, my entire year was thrown in directions I wasn't ready for. 2020 was filled with so many unknowns and questions. Appointments were scheduled and rescheduled based on guidelines and shutdowns. School was cancelled and done at home. Our neighborhood was no longer filled with screaming children on bikes, but rather it was a desolate, barren, and cold. I had two kids home for summer that couldn't go to the beach, to summer camp, or on any outings where there were people. Birthdays were cancelled, we weren't able to see family, and overall, it ruined my plans. 2020 gave me the ability to learn not only flexibility, but creativity. While I still try to plan ahead so we are prepared, I no longer panic and stress at the unknown details that may need to be hammered out last minute. When we couldn't go to the lake for beach days, we found a quiet spot at a nearby river to play in and stay cool. We purchased a slip and slide and water guns to make our own fun at home. Creative time was encouraged with outdoor fort building. Rigid plans were foiled by having ice cream sundaes for lunch and creating a notebook with games we invented. Overall, 2020 and the chaos that COVID brought gave me a deeper love and appreciation for my family. My kids are creative and flexible. They handled disappointment and cancelled plans with such maturity. My husband worked as an essential employee without complaint or fear. We came together as a whole and supported one another. Throughout the chaos that was and still is, our family grew closer and I learned a level of flexibility that I don't think I could have otherwise.

I grew up very ostracized for being different and weird. I was poor, had hand me down clothes that were ill fitting, was overweight, and generally was a social outcast. This led to being bullied which in turn led to a long bout of depression during my teenage years. I was forced to be a part of a church youth group where I was equally as unpopular. I did attend church functions and tried my best to swallow my social anxiety and fit in. I tried. After a church function one night, I found myself without a ride home. One of the more popular boys in the church youth group who was nice to me offered to give me a ride home since he lived in the same town as I did. When we pulled up to the driveway of my run-down two family house, I found myself confessing that I wanted to die. I'm not sure why I told him because deep down I was sure it would fall on deaf ears. I assumed that he wouldn't care, would brush it off, and we would go our separate ways. What happened next has stuck with me for the last 20 years. He didn't say a word. He just gave me the biggest hug. It wasn't just like a pat on the back, "see you later" type of hug. It was one of those hugs that said, "it's going to be ok. You matter." I remember going inside my house with a bit of a weight lifted off of my shoulders. While I still battled with depression and suicidal ideation for the next decade, that hug, that act of kindness to a social outcast with few friends in the world, in a pit of despair and isolation, kept me going. I will never forget that hug as long as I live. While this act of kindness may seem small and rather insignificant to many, it saved my life and left a lasting impact on me. It has also taught me to not diminish any act of kindness I can give to others, no matter how small.

Mental health has always been a taboo subject. Growing up with anxiety and depression and not knowing those were valid health issues that didn't have to run my life made it very challenging. I missed out on a lot of opportunities and didn't take chances and become the person I am now until much later on in life. In order to not foster regret, I am very open about mental health in my family and teach my children that mental health issues are legitimate and real and have solutions. I also exemplify what I preach to them as well. I am 37 years old and work extremely hard helping them while going to school myself. They watched me try and fail with a baking business, tackle extreme social anxiety that kept me from doing things like going shopping and taking them to the beach in the summer. They have been a part of my journey as I tackle body dysmorphia and an eating disorder as well. Talk therapy and medication is normalized in my home in the same way that my husband's blood pressure and headache medications are normalized. There have been times where I have given the kids a mental health day when they seem overwhelmed by everything. I grew up where you were to not talk about your feelings and I had suicidal thoughts from age 10 until age 30. Knowing what that did to me, I want to make sure that my family understands the normalcy of mental health, feels open to talk about it, and uses that freedom and knowledge to help others as well. I hope that by being open with them, they can use that knowledge and have that empathy to make the world a more accepting and welcoming place for those with mental health issues. I hope that they will normalize talking about things like depression and anxiety with their friends so hopefully the stigma surrounding that will end.

I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and OCD since childhood. Feelings and mental health were not normalized things to talk about and I did not receive diagnoses or help until I was in my early adult years. Having that lack of support and encouragement from those closest to me and having to basically bury my struggles and challenges down deep, has given me a unique ability to advocate and empathize with others. I have tried to navigate through life, treading water and choking my way to safety. I have tried to function as an adult, having panic attacks in my car before work or entering a store to get groceries. I have tried to navigate a system that is so complex with so much red tape that I was often left alone and unheard. These challenges and memories that remind me of how much I tried and failed, succeeded and overcame, have enabled me to be a giver. As a parent to children with depression and OCD, I am able to normalize those feelings for them and provide them not only with an outlet to process their emotions, but coping mechanisms and medical care as well. Mental health is normalized in our family due to growing up being told to swallow my feelings and survive on my own. There should be no stigmas surrounding mental health care. I remember after a suicide attempt, that was the first time my dad actually gave me a hug and realized the mistake he made in letting me sink or swim on my own for 20 years. That moment still stands out and is why my children know that no matter what, their feelings and thoughts are valid, heard, and normal. Knowing how difficult the system is to navigate, how challenging it can be to find aid and relief, has made me want to be a champion for others in this situation. It shouldn't be so hard to find and get help for something like mental health. Mental health shouldn't be viewed as separate from physical health. Programs and aid shouldn't have so much red tape that it is impossible to get the help needed. I made a choice to go back to school for social work because I believe so strongly in this. Going forward, my goal is to work in social work on a macro level to help change policies surrounding aid and medical care. I would love for programs and aid to be more readily available and accessible without there being a long list of criteria before help is provided. Mental health is physical help and it is about time that it was treated as such.

I have struggled with mental health my whole life, with diagnoses only coming in my early adulthood. I was raised Christian, but ostracized for struggling with things like depression, suicide, and anxiety. Growing up in a home where mental health was never talked about and being an adult with no health insurance or understanding of available resources, I struggled far more than I needed to. Wearily overcoming these hurdles on my own has given me a greater insight into the challenges and uniqueness of mental health situations. It has given me a deeper understanding of the needs for community, compassion, and normalization. I am a parent now to a child with depression and ADHD. We encourage in our home the voicing of our feelings, understanding those feelings, and learning ways to manage and come through those depressive episodes or challenging times. Having been one of many people in need of mental health resources and do to my occupation or financial situation, not finding them available, I do what I can to help those that are in need and am working on becoming a social worker as well. I feel that resources need to be made more accessible to all people regardless of their status in life. Programs shouldn't be available only with the determination of locating treasures on a scavenger hunt. Mental health impacts people of all races, religions, genders, and economic statuses. Mental health has had a significant impact on my life. Struggling so much growing up has given me a greater ability to be empathetic as well as a tenacious advocate, not only for myself and my family, but for all those who struggle and are in need.

While all of the pets in our home are equal members of the family, there is one that I love most. This is Pepper. We adopted Pepper when he was 6 months old shortly after I had a miscarriage. He wanted to be held like a baby when we brought him home. Adopting him filled the hole in my heart from miscarrying. 4 years later, I am still his favorite human. He waits on my half of the bed every night and snuggles with me while I watch TV. He is our goofy boy.

When I think of the word "legacy," I picture a heroic story being told. I imagine the person who has left such a legacy is being admired or praised for what they have done and that their story is a shining example of persistence, drive, and championing difficulties. Leaving a legacy is almost like leaving a part of yourself behind. It's making a profound impact and mark on the world that can't be ignored. These impacts can be in tangible and intangible ways. Making your mark on the world can be something public or somewhat private. Where many get lost in regards to leave a legacy is wanting praise, recognition, and admiration. To leave a valuable legacy behind shouldn't be met with a desire for your name to be known, but should be motivated with purity and good intentions. Evaluating a legacy can be difficult. It can be situational. For example, when I am going through a challenging time, hearing of someone's tenacity and drive to not give up, at that moment in my own life, is what I would consider a valuable legacy. When seeing injustice go on in the world, hearing of someone's persistence to do what is right in the face of adversity is a valuable legacy. I often stop and wonder what people will think of when they hear my name. I hope that my name can be associated with a legacy of strength and bravery. I hope people remember that I never gave up even when things got tough. I also hope people think of kindness and empathy when they hear my name. My desire is to always make sure everyone's needs are met, that children are taken care of and are advocated for, and that injustices are made right. I hope that the legacy I leave behind is a shining example of goodness and perseverance to not only help others get through tough times, but to inspire others to be the light and empathy that the world so desperately needs.

While I was once a single mom in school, trying to do it all, I'm no longer a single parent. I was however, one of two children to a single mother. I would love for this essay to be full of inspiration that I received seeing my mother's example and drive. Unfortunately, it's the opposite, but with a happy ending. ' I no longer have a relationship with my own mother. That decision was not reached quickly. It took me a long time as a single mother myself, to realize that my example in this difficult situation was never what I needed and nothing of what I wanted my daughter to know and aspire to. My mother is toxic and lives in victimhood. I strive to be everything my mother never was for me growing up. Where she collapsed under pressure and in hardship, I strive and persevere. Where she took the easy way out, I work my fingers to the bone. Where she relied on everyone else to fix what was wrong, I am persistent and tenacious. My mother never graduated high school. She took low paying secretarial jobs and never tried anything that required effort and real work. She filled her life with people and often took my sister and I for granted. There was no sacrifice, no interest in who we were as individuals, and no comfort or care. I knew once my daughter was born, everything she was, I would be the opposite. My daughter and I have a great relationship. She is 11 now. She has seen me sacrifice. She has seen me try and fail and get back up again. She has seen me work hard, put her needs first, and never stay down when I was knocked down. I encourage my daughter to be herself. I take time to make sure that she feels loved, supported, and heard. I teach her to be the person that the world needs, full of love, empathy, compassion, and strength. Currently, I am in school for my Bachelor's in Social Work. I desire to help change the system that is in place that often overlooks children. Children need to be heard and yet every decision that the adults make, the children are the ones who get the short end of the stick. We have a level of poverty and medical need for children that far surpasses most developed countries. Having tried to navigate the system for myself and others in times of need, I am fully aware that programs are often hard to find and have guidelines to obtain aid that are ludicrous. I remember at one point I needed food stamps and was working. I did not make enough to pay my bills yet somehow made too much to get help to feed myself and my child. No parent should have to go through that stress and worry. No parent should have to not eat so that their child doesn't go to bed hungry. There are also children with behavioral issues that need medical care and often times are unable to find the care they need, unaware that there are assistance programs, or simply don't know where to start. My dream job is to work at a school or for the county so that I can help parents and children get the help that they need. I am also hoping to be able to be a better voice for children. I get along better with children than most adults. There's just something about my personality and demeanor that makes children feel safe to open up and talk. It would be a privilege to be able to work in a school and provide care for children and be that safe adult and that safe space that many of them need and want. While I am over half done with my Social Work program, I continue to seek out ways to help make change. I contact my state representatives regarding policies I do not agree with and issues that I think are in high need of evaluation and change. I also provide a safe space in our home for my daughter and her friends. There are many that are scared to come out to their parents as bisexual or gay and I am proud to be able to provide the care, love, and safety that they are needing. This scholarship would help me to continue to not only set a great example for my daughter of hard work and persistence, but it would provide me the opportunity to be everything my own mother wasn't. While I would love to say that my single mother raised me and I saw her persevere through adversity, she didn't. Her example of how I never wanted to be though, has helped shape me into the person I am today. Due to her victimhood and comfort in falling down, I am now a strong, tenacious, and determined woman, set on providing care to those in need, and a voice to the children who are often left unheard.

I am a stay at home mom currently working on my Bachelor's in Social Work. I have a stepson who has autism and ADHD and is doing remote learning while my daughter who has anxiety and ADHD is back at school. I was never a good student in high school and was a single mom during my college endeavors prior to now. I never got the support or encouragement before to try and to do and be. Now, I am a wife to a supportive partner, and I have two odd kids that are learning how to navigate their learning while growing up the odd ones out in a very rural town. Having their support means everything to me. I finally believe what I can and will be. I have a desire to advocate for children. Often times laws are made and policies are enacted that do little to actually help children. Many laws and policies attempt to punish low income parents and in the long run, harm and destroy innocent children. Children need someone to listen to them and speak up for them. Often, the system in place is impossible to navigate to get help for children or criteria are impossible to meet. While attempting to get custody of my stepson, my husband and I found that there was so much red tape simply to advocate for his safety and well-being. In the past, we were also in need of rental and food assistance. Trying to get help was next to impossible because we "made too much" or "had too high of rent to warrant any help." This should not be. Children deserve to have adults behind them and in front of them, supporting them and helping them. I do what I can as a student and parent. I have provided a safe space in our home for children who are afraid to come out to their parents. I speak up at my daughter's school to make sure that children's needs are being met and heard. I write to my congressmen and congresswomen to help advocate for the needs of children in my state as well. Through this journey of finding my place in life and getting the education to have the career where I can truly be a voice for the muffled, I have discovered outlets and avenues to begin before I get my degree. I will continue to seek out those platforms and continue to strive to make sure the voices and needs of children are heard and met.

In 2008, I went to the American National Jiu Jitsu Championships to compete in the Women's White Belt category for my weight class. I trained hard, determined to do my best, but no one, not even my instructor had faith that I would win. I won my first match but was stuck in a choke hold near the end of my second match. I heard the ref yell, "TEN SECONDS LEFT." and knew I couldn't quit. I held on and won first place. Against all the odds, lack of encouragement, support, and potential defeat that entangled my throat, I won.

COVID-19 has changed a lot of things for me. My husband works in a prison doing vocational training. He is constantly in fear of bringing it home or contracting it as it has spread through the prison and shut down the program he works in on more than one occasion. I am an online student and suddenly I not only had to take care of my own education, but I had to help two kids, both with ADHD and one with autism as well, navigate distance learning and remain accountable to caring about their education. I also am a person that lives with OCD and anxiety. COVID-19 has thrown my daily routine into a tailspin, exacerbating my symptoms. With so many unknowns, it is hard sometimes to feel on top of it all. I have learned however that I am resilient. I work hard, and am very determined and focused. I have become a lot more flexible as well. My daily routine is subject to whatever happens that day and if I don't complete everything I wanted to, it is no indication of my worth and value as a person. I have learned how much I love my family as well. It has made me much more aware of how precious the moments I get to spend with them are and making sure they feel loved and valued is high on my list of priorities. I have a lot more patience for my kids as well. They have had to deal with so many changes and disruptions and have done it with more grace than most adults. Sadly, COVID-19 has exposed the ugly in a lot of people as well. Many adults really could care less about their fellow man which is highly disappointing. I have seen grown adults throw childish temper tantrums over putting a piece of cloth over their face for a 20 minute shopping trip. I have read comments on Facebook where grown adults are more concerned about their ability to go to a restaurant than caring about keeping others safe. Regardless of what others are doing, I will continue to live in a way that shows compassion and kindness to others because the world has been disrupted and shaken in a way that is hard for many to deal with.

I am a wife and a mother. I have learned to navigate life with OCD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. It hasn't been easy. There were times when I was unable to hold a job due to panic attacks, had difficulty learning due to undiagnosed ADHD, couldn't stop cleaning to spend time with my family because of OCD and had trouble getting motivated to do anything more than shower because of depression. These various mental illnesses have not been given the ability to take over my life. As I stated previously, I am a wife and a mom. My husband has Asperger's, anxiety, and depression. My stepson has autism and ADHD. My daughter has depression and ADHD. While it can be challenging for everyone to be compassionate, understanding, and aware that each person in our family has different emotional patterns and needs, it's almost given us as a family a small superpower. It keeps us aware. It keeps us compassionate. It keeps us loving and supportive and generous. It encourages me to be able to help my daughter and stepson with things they are navigating mentally and emotionally. Having ADHD diagnosed only in adulthood, I struggled very much in school with learning and keeping on task. With what I have learned as an adult in school, I have been able to set them up for success as well as give them the tools they need to express themselves and advocate for themselves as well. Having mental illness in a family of 4 has strengthened my marriage and our family bond. It has also helped us extend that kindness to others around us as well. Having such a busy mind and fluctuating emotions can be a challenge, but also a great blessing in helping shape a more compassionate view of those that may be around you.

I am currently working on obtaining my Bachelor's of Social Work. I am a student who is 37. I have an AAS in Medical Assisting but realized working in that field, it was not how I wanted to help children and families in need. I sat down one day and began to use Google to see if what I wanted to do was in fact a real job. I stumbled upon Macro-Social Work. What Macro-Social Work requires a Master's Degree to do the research that I want to do in order to help create and adjust policies and procedures that are outdated and do more harm than good. With what I am learning, my long term goal is to help families in need. I am a big proponent of child advocacy and the systems in place often ignore the voices of children, have far too much red tape for working families to get help, and often times resources are buried under so much else that it can be hard to navigate in a timely manner. I would like to work in a school or with the county helping children get the medical resources they need as well as food and housing. I know far too many children that suffer and struggle and it breaks my heart. I hope to be able to provide the voice that I wished I had advocating for me when I was hopelessly trying to get help for myself and my daughter years ago.

I have a really hard time with self-love. I struggle to say positive things about myself having grown up hardly encouraged, supported, or complimented. All that has done is inspire me to be for others what I wish was there for me. Growing up with a self-critical mindset and having it too far into adulthood has actually helped me see the best in people. I try not to critique and criticize. I often look to find ways to compliment and bring about a smile. As a wife, it has helped me to take a step back and be more appreciative of my husband. He works in a vocational training program at a federal correctional institute. Wanting to help rehabilitate and reform can be a very thankless, draining profession. I try to picture how empty his cup is at the end of the day and do what I can to support and encourage him after a long day. I am also a mother and stepmother. Being the mother I wish I had growing up can sometimes annoy my kids. I am a bit too in their face and redundant, but providing an outlet for them to feel safe sharing their emotions, feeling supported and encouraged to try and to do their best and be their best is everything I know I needed and wanted. I do my best to provide them with it. Struggling with self-love can be hard, especially as an adult. I make it a point every day to take a few extra minutes to be nice to myself and try once a day to give myself a compliment. It's not always easy, but if everyone else is worth kind words, I am too. I also understand that I won't be at my best to give the love and kindness that I believe others need if my own cup is empty. It's a delicate balance, and although met with a struggle, I love how this ongoing struggle has inspired a mindset that is productive and generous.

There came a time when I was a single mom, trying to help my daughter and I survive on a bag of rice and a can of beans for a week while scraping change together to get gas so I could get to work. I had no idea how to navigate the system to get the help I need and when I finally did, I was told I made too much money for help. It was in this moment, staring at my rejection letter, trying to figure out what possessions to sell, that I knew, the system set up to "help" was inherently broken and I wanted to change it. There began my desire to get an education in social work. For starters, the system set up to help is beyond difficult to navigate. Programs intended to give aid are hidden, applications are lengthy and bottlenecked, and the requirements are impossibly unrealistic. The ones that get hurt the worst are the children in all of this. They go to bed hungry, they are cold, they are homeless, and they remain voiceless. Staring at that rejection letter, doing my very best and having it not be enough, lit a fire in my belly that still carries on today. I am in school for social work now and am over halfway complete with my program. I contact legislators regarding unfair policies that seek to pull food stamps away from families, shame children that can't pay their lunch accounts, stop giving free meals to hungry children in need, and do what I can in my own community to help the families in need that may even be too proud to seek out help. I desire to live in a world that provides help to those in need- medical need (mental and physical help), food, housing, clothing, protection, and many other needs. Staring in the face of my own need, panicked by uncertainty gave me purpose to help others. I'm halfway to being able to pursue my goal of child advocacy so no more children have to suffer at the hands of unfair rules that ignore their needs. From my rejection, panic, and worry, I continue to strive to give a voice to the voiceless, help to the helpless, food to the hungry, housing to the homeless, and protection to the unsafe. Every human being deserves a life of dignity and that from that moment where I was left undignified and scrambling, I realized that my life's purpose is to make sure that no person ever has to feel that ever again.