The change I most want to see in the world is simple to say but difficult to achieve: I want to see a world where queer people are not forced to shrink themselves in order to be safe, accepted, or respected. Too often, LGBTQ+ people are expected to compromise—whether in family, in school, in workplaces, or even in our own communities—in order to survive. I want to be part of building a future where we do more than survive. I want to help create a world where we thrive. Growing up queer, I quickly learned what it meant to live in between. On the surface, I worked hard to fit into expectations, but inside, I knew that pieces of me would not be accepted everywhere I went. At school, I felt the sting of slurs and judgment. In public, I learned the small calculations of safety—when to hold back, when to stay quiet, when not to show too much of myself. These aren’t abstract struggles; they are daily negotiations that queer students like me know all too well. Yet, in those challenges, I also learned resilience and courage. Being forced to navigate the world as “different” has given me not just empathy, but a determination to change things for those who will come after me. I believe that education is one of the strongest tools for creating this change. I am currently pursuing a degree in Applied Humanities, where I focus on history, culture, and systems of inequality. These studies don’t exist only in books for me—they connect directly to the lived experiences of people I know, including myself. My coursework has taught me how deeply racism, sexism, and homophobia are embedded in our institutions. But it has also shown me the power of communities and movements that push back, that demand justice, and that create new possibilities. The change I want to see—the freedom for queer people to live openly and fully—requires both structural shifts and personal ones. Structurally, we need stronger protections in education, healthcare, and housing to ensure LGBTQ+ people are not discriminated against. Personally, we need to continue reshaping culture, one conversation at a time, so that young people don’t grow up ashamed of who they are. I want to be part of both levels of change. My long-term aspiration is to work in family law mediation. Families often come to mediation in moments of fracture—divorce, custody disputes, and painful transitions. These situations require someone who can listen, empathize, and hold space for people at their most vulnerable. As a queer person, I know what it means to feel unheard or unseen, and I want to use my education and career to ensure others do not feel that way. My identity does not limit me; it motivates me to build spaces where everyone has the chance to be respected and valued. This scholarship would help me continue my education without the constant weight of financial strain. But more than that, it would affirm that my queer identity is not just something to survive—it is something to honor and uplift. Greg Lockwood’s legacy reminds me that change begins when people live authentically and support one another in that journey. The change I most want to see in the world is one where LGBTQ+ students like me are free to pursue education, careers, and futures without shame or barriers. I am committed to being part of that change, both through my studies and through the life I live every day.

I grew up in a single-parent household with my mom, who worked tirelessly to keep us afloat. We relied on HUD housing assistance, and there were many nights when our meals came from canned goods donated through food drives. I remember standing in those lines as a child, knowing that without that help, we would have gone hungry. Those experiences shaped my understanding of struggle and survival at an early age. Because money was always tight, I started working at fifteen and have never stopped. For years, I worked just enough to cover the basics—rent, bills, food—always on the edge of making it, but never more. There was no safety net, no cushion. Every paycheck was survival, and every step forward came with hard work and sacrifice. Living this way taught me resilience, but it also instilled in me the determination to build something more stable for myself and to eventually help others who find themselves in the same position. My nonna’s story has also been a guiding force in my life. She was born to Italian immigrants from Lucca and Genoa and grew up in San Francisco navigating the challenges of being first-generation. Now at ninety-two, she still tells me stories about how her family persevered through hardship. Even though I wasn’t raised with financial privilege, I inherited her values of persistence, love, and community. I carry them with me as I work toward a future that looks different from the struggles of my past. Working as a hairstylist while putting myself through school has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. Behind the chair, I’ve learned patience, compassion, and the power of listening. Many of my clients have shared their own stories of hardship, and I’ve realized how much it matters for people to feel seen and supported. At the same time, I’ve pushed forward in my academic journey, pursuing a degree in Applied Humanities at Oregon State University. My studies have given me the critical tools to better understand people, culture, and the systems that shape our lives. My long-term goal is to become a family law mediator. Families often come to mediation during painful transitions—divorce, custody disputes, or conflict—and those moments require fairness, empathy, and structure. I believe my background uniquely prepares me for this work. I know what it feels like to grow up with instability, to watch a parent struggle, and to carry the weight of survival from a young age. I want to use those experiences, alongside my education, to help families navigate conflict with dignity and respect. This scholarship would make a meaningful difference in my life. It would ease the financial burden of finishing my degree, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and preparation for law school. Beyond financial relief, it would also affirm that the hardships I’ve endured matter—that they can be transformed into strength, purpose, and service to others. Education is my way of breaking the cycle of survival. With this scholarship, I will continue moving toward a future where I can create stability for myself and use my experiences to uplift others in my community.

When I was young, my nonna told me stories about her parents immigrating from Lucca and Genoa to San Francisco. She would switch between Italian and English, teaching me that our history matters because it shapes who we become. Her stories of perseverance and community became the foundation of my own values, and they continue to guide me as I pursue my degree in Applied Humanities. Resilience has been a constant in my life. I became a hairstylist at a young age, not only to support myself, but also to create a career built on creativity and connection. Working behind the chair, I discovered that hairstyling is far more than shaping hair—it is about listening, encouraging, and helping people feel seen. Clients often sit down with the weight of the world on their shoulders and leave standing taller. I learned patience, empathy, and the importance of building trust, lessons that have carried into every part of my life. While working full-time, I committed myself to higher education. I chose Applied Humanities because it allows me to weave together my interests in history, philosophy, and culture while staying centered on people and community. My courses have sharpened my ability to think critically about the structures that shape our world, deepened my understanding of human connection, and reinforced my desire to serve others in meaningful ways. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in family law mediation. Families often turn to mediation during painful transitions, and these moments require a careful balance of professionalism, empathy, and clarity. I believe my combined experiences—working with people daily in hairstyling, persevering through the challenges of supporting myself while in school, and immersing myself in humanities studies—have prepared me for that path. I have learned how to listen without judgment, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to approach problems with both compassion and practicality. The journey has not been without obstacles. Balancing work, school, and life has tested my endurance, but each challenge has reinforced my determination. My nonna, now ninety-two, still asks me to practice Italian with her. Those moments remind me why I am committed to education: to honor the sacrifices of those before me, to build stability, and to create a future where I can use my skills to help others. This scholarship would ease the financial pressures of completing my degree, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies and preparation for law school. But beyond the financial relief, it would also affirm the path I have chosen: one rooted in resilience, shaped by family, and driven by a commitment to serve. Education, for me, is not just about personal success—it is about what I can give back. With the support of this scholarship, I will continue to carry forward the values my nonna instilled: perseverance, community, and love. My goal is to weave these values into a career dedicated to helping families navigate some of life’s hardest moments with dignity, fairness, and hope.