Honestly as I sat at the dinner table with my family, I told my kids how nervous I was when I decided going back to school was something I planned on doing this year. They laughed and told me it would be fine and not to hit on any of there friends who were in college as well. For once at the age of 40, I decided to put my dreams on the front seat and I was going for the ride. As I expected, challenges arose here and there but one thing for sure is I never give up and I always come back stronger. So the balance of life in general and keeping adulting plus school plus the full time job and oh the mother of 4 kids comes into play, I would say scheduling time and making time for everyone would be my greatest challenge. If only there was more time in the day, but taking a marketing class last semester showed me how to prioritize and schedule accordingly. For my future, I plan on using the tools to guide me just like I did first semester so that my future is as successful as I plan on it being. With the right mindset, anything is possible. I just have to have goals that are obtainable and a hard working mind to complete all my goals in my future and achieve the success that I always deserved. Having a great support team at home. As I reflect on my life journey, I am reminded of the experiences that have shaped my values, aspirations, and commitment to service. Growing up in a low-income household, I witnessed firsthand the impact of limited access to resources on individuals and communities. These experiences instilled in me a strong sense of empathy, resilience, and determination to make a difference. Throughout my life, I have been driven by a passion for learning and a desire to create positive change. I have actively sought out opportunities to engage in community service, volunteering at local organizations and participating in initiatives that align with my values. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the complex issues facing our communities and reinforced my commitment to addressing them. Pursuing higher education is a critical step in my journey, enabling me to acquire the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to make a meaningful impact. My career aspirations are centered around Marketing, where I hope to leverage my education to develop innovative solutions and drive progress. This scholarship would be instrumental in helping me achieve my goals, providing the financial support necessary to focus on my studies and community engagement. I am eager to use my education to make a positive impact in my community, and I am confident that this scholarship will empower me to do so.

As I reflect on my life journey, I am reminded of the experiences that have shaped my values, aspirations, and commitment to service. Growing up in a low-income household, I witnessed firsthand the impact of limited access to resources on individuals and communities. These experiences instilled in me a strong sense of empathy, resilience, and determination to make a difference. Throughout my life, I have been driven by a passion for learning and a desire to create positive change. I have actively sought out opportunities to engage in community service, volunteering at local organizations and participating in initiatives that align with my values. Like the boys and girls club and attending meetings.These experiences have deepened my understanding of the complex issues facing our communities and reinforced my commitment to addressing them. Pursuing higher education is a critical step in my journey, enabling me to acquire the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to make a meaningful impact. My career aspirations are centered around Marketing where I hope to leverage my education to develop innovative solutions and drive progress. This scholarship would be instrumental in helping me achieve my goals, providing the financial support necessary to focus on my studies and community engagement. I am eager to use my education to make a positive impact in my community, and I am confident that this scholarship will empower me to do so. At 40 years of age I decided to go back to school and to take time for myself, reflecting on life I made that decision. I hope you consider me as a candidate for this scholarship thank you very much. I have great community support and a great family who even though we struggled growing up, back then I could never tell, as my parents worked hard to give us every opportunity to grow. I actively was involved in sports and my parents were at every game. I realized the importance of support and this is why I volunteered in things involving kids. To be that support if needed and to believe that everyone no matter what deserves to receive that support because it's detrimental sometimes and I do understand this so moving forward I just hope to inspire, create, and be an example to future leaders and generations. I truly appreciate this opportunity that was given as do many. Regardless the outcome I plan to still lead by example and make a difference.

Long ago, when I was in my twenties I took a trip to Mexico. Little did I know that it would change my life forever. When arriving in Mexico, I remember the tourist side as I would call it. Now hear me out, one side of the road had beaches and mailboxes with the names "The Smith's" or " the Wilson's, clearly American names clearly beautiful homes on the beach front. So American, now the other side, let me tell you was desert sand no road only sand and a single cow whose ribs I could count because he was that skinny. That was the Mexican side, and maybe a 6 year old if that selling gum to all us rich Americans. It was sad but pulled at the heart all the Americans bought some gum that day. I asked the hotel man where he lived and so kindly he invited me to his home where for the first time I became very humble as he told of his struggle to earn enough for food. As I walked up to the house I thought wow they was just bricks on top on each other and when I walked in side I was so surprised to see the sand because there was no floors at all. I then seen how even the kids hustle hard for their family and how well they come together as a whole to survive. No one is lazy, they have to eat they have to work and they worked all right. All that work and still they struggled but they were happy. It made me appreciate what I had as I seen this happy loving family have one another's back, when one felt weak the other pushed harder until the end of time. To be honest I was transformed in that moment know why they say Mexicans are hard workers, I can see why now and it humbled me very quickly .No words can express the gratitude I felt as this man gave me a look at his life through his shoes and I became so grateful for the things I had. Never taking for granted the time we have and the loyalty I now live with to family and work . It truly was an eye opening experience.

When I was 4 days old my parents,who had been waiting 13 years on an adoption list, finally brought their first born home, me. Growing up with all the love in the world, the one thing that I wanted more than anything was a brother. Well instead I got 2 sisters but my parents couldn't wait 13 more years on a list so they became foster parents and we were able to adopt both of my foster sisters who had went through so much in their young lives. My baby sister was thrown on her head as an infant. She had 12 fractures to the brain and seizures. She was also a Crack baby. She didn't have a good start in life. As she grew up we all noticed she was different than other kids. In fact she had no friends at school . One year we even planned a party and not one person came from her class and that completely broke my heart in two. Then the voices came and told her to hurt herself so my baby sister spent most of her high school years in mental institutions that only fed her medication that made her a zombie so after the craziness of her getting through high school, I felt as if my Lil sister needed shown how to live and how to survive on her own . Because she needed cared for I would volunteer on my days off work to hang out with the sister who became my best friend. Like I said sis was different we later found that was because she was autistic with extreme bi polar disorder but even at that, I swear she is the smartest person I know to this day. Telling you how mental illness affected me and my family is easy, it almost destroyed us . I almost killed my sister and it has taken a toll on me as well. Today my sister is functioning well on her own and thriving to be successful herself. When I say she is smart , she gave me the best advise anyone could give a person. She said "sis, everyday for supper u make mashed potatoes and you put a whole cup of salt in the potatoes. Then every night we eat them , you complain how salty they are." Then she said "sister, don't you think it's time to change the recipe ". In life , sometimes we need to recognize when it's time to change the recipe, because what we been doing just ain't working it's to salty. So when we change one thing it can really make a detrimental impact on us that it may just be the right fit. So instead of complaining about our lives and how things ended up for us? How we got delt bad cards. We need to have the knowledge and the power to get up and change the recipe. Because we're all capable of change, just like my sister was able to turn around her life. Given all the worst cards in life, she was able to get to the recipe and make it hers and it worked. She's the most beautiful kind-hearted giving person. I will never forget the lessons in life that she's taught me. Mental illness affected my sister, but it also affected me to.How I see people how I have a different mindset because of my sister. She told me go back to school. I owe a lot to my sister because she helps me through so many obstacles in my life. I am truly blessed.

What do you plan to do in your life to raise awareness for domestic violence? Simple....Tell them my story Backed into a corner, covering my head with my arms to protect my head from another blow, scared this time was going to be it, gasping for air he released his hands from around my neck, I collapsed. That night he finally fell asleep as I looked up from the floor where he left me, I thought to myself... How did I let it get this bad, how could I stay for this long, why did I allow any person this evil in my life. As I crawled away making sure not to make a sound, the floor creeked he lifted his head and I simply asked for permission to use the bathroom where I sat with my head in my hands knowing another day with him could be my last now how am I going to get out of this mess. Well today as I'm going to collage and finally free of those nights I'm so greatful for the people in my life. How can my actions impact someone else is simple, I need to lead by example. I cannot stress this enough. I remember never wanting to give up on him, I remember wanting so bad for him to love me like I loved him so bad that I stayed in the most toxic relationship possible, I endured torturous evenings, frightening days not knowing if I would make it out. I remember cops and how I was instructed to never say a word so when they ask me what happened all I could do is say nothing and hope when they left I wouldn't get it even worse and I remember thinking that that was normal. The way I would chase after him when he would leave me after everything he did how could I ever want him ...but I did and I stayed and friend after friend had to rescue me at some point because it always got bad and always went to far. I'm here today my the grace of God and because finally enough was enough. I can't prevent my kids from loving who they love and fighting for what they want so how could I convince you ? I can tell you this, just be a good person. Don't give up on people and when they call help everytime because the one time you choose to not help because they always go back anyway, could be the one time they needed you the most . I remember several occasions where I called people because it was starting to get bad the punching me in my head the belittling screaming in my face, I remember pissing my pants because I was so terrified, calling my friends so they can hear every word hear every smack until someone would come save me, I also remember getting stabbed in the back with a knife because no one wanted to come that night because why should they, I was just going to go right back right? The good news is that finally I broke free of him, I felt brainwashed,I felt defeated and stupid and I felt like no one would ever love me because that's what I was told. I have a few good friends left in my life who stood by my side every part of the way and with counseling and a good support team I'm getting my abandonment issues worked out and regained my life today where I'm presently in college be a good friend.

Music speaks to me bur also touches my soul. The song that means the most to me is by a man named Ollie and the song is so deep I felt it in heart. It say I just need someone to love me love me ,I just need someone to care , I just need someone to trust me and tell me that they are scared, I just need someone to touch me like I'm the only one, I just need someone to love me love me ,I just need someone to care. I just felt this hard I was going through some things in life feeling very much alone and the words comforted me. All I really wanted was a life partner to enjoy life with ya know do that meant the most.

It's been 2 years now and nothing has been the same.My mother and gather waited 13 years on a adoption list to get me back 8n 1982 I arrived home 3 days after being born. A wonderful family I soon learned would love and support me forever. Growing up it was apparent I was daddy's girl,going to father daughter dances to shooting hoops,to dad showing me how to hit a line drive down first base, he was my daddy and when copd and lung failure took his life,I did what I do best and ran as far as I could. I landed in Florida unable to accept what was soul searching for a answer and looking for a way to mask my pain. My daddy showed up to everything I was Involved in even helped coach softball a couple years one thing he would always say is Kristen don't forget who you are fight to win and never give up. As I stand with the sand in my feet looking out to the ocean,those words gave me strength to fight for my dreams and to go after each one,I swear I here his voice saying don't quit remember who you are,never give up.

My parents became foster parents when I was 10 years old, mostly because I begged for a brother but at any rate my sister came Into our lives as a beautiful baby who by her birth mother was thrown around causing seizure and head trauma, my sister was but 6 months old. As she grew up I remember her hating to go to school, how birthdays came and not one friend came to her parties and how it broke my hear completely . I'm super sensitive to people like my sister who years later told us how recess was the part of school she hated most because there kids would be so cruel. With marketing as my degree I would like to learn how to advertise positive messages and words to keep the youth positive. My grandpa used to tell me show me your friends and I will show you who you are. With that I want to lead by example in all ways in life , building up,encouraging, and uplifting every incounter making this world a better place.