Hi, my name is Kristy Granger, and I am a student at Linn-Benton Community College. I have been taking courses at LBCC for the past year to apply for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. This last spring, I was accepted and started classes in the fall. My current GPA at LBCC is 4.0, and I have accomplished this considerable feat by utilizing my college's accommodations assistance for my disability of Bipolar One Disorder. Years ago, I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital because I was experiencing my first manic episode. What obstacles I have needed to overcome is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of taking care of myself and advocating for my needs to supportive people around me. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. I hope my journey can inspire others to persevere in the face of adversity. My decision to pursue occupational therapy is deeply rooted in my passion for working with people with developmental disabilities. Over the past eight years, I have found immense joy in assisting and teaching school-aged students/clients with various disabilities. One of my most rewarding experiences was helping a boy with severe autism progress from mimicking sounds to forming complete sentences. The scholarship you provide will significantly reduce my loan burden and pave the way for my success, ensuring a stress-free repayment plan once I graduate. Your contribution will play a significant role in my journey towards becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant. How my disability of bipolar one disorder has shaped my career goals is that it has provided me with understanding and empathy towards the people I work with. Nothing is more reassuring than when I can understand what the client is going through when they have emotional struggles and learning challenges and teaching the tools to succeed in their activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, which are the critical components of occupational therapy. Once I have graduated and am certified as an OTA, I aim to use my degree to help school-aged children further their education by teaching them valuable life skills to recover, maintain, and grow their ability to think, learn, and do. Thank you for your time and consideration in reading my application. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to share my story and aspirations with you. I hope you can see that I will be a well-deserving candidate and can honor Dwight Baldwin's legacy.

"She was always fighting a battle but her smile would never tell you so." -Nikki Rowe. My name is Kristy Granger, and I am applying for the Elizabeth Schalk Memorial Scholarship. I aim to graduate in 2026 with an associate's degree to become an occupational therapy assistant. A little bit about myself is that I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through my late teens and early twenties. When I was 23, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Finally, a series of life events made which made me sleep poorly, and my anxiety skyrocketed through the roof. I did not know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Throughout the years, I have learned how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of caring for myself and advocating for my needs to support people around me. A few years into properly addressing my anxiety and depression symptoms, Mental health professionals diagnosed me with Bipolar 1 Disorder. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my family to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy to better her mental health, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. This connection encourages me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care. In conclusion, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to apply for your scholarship to help fund my education and honor those like Elizabeth Schalk who have struggled with their mental illness.

"Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our internal landscape with compassion and curiosity but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self-care." - Bessel A. van der Kolk. During the winter of 2014 - 2015, I had a series of life events that made me start to sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. After a week of symptoms and my mental health not looking hopeful. I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services. During my week-long stay there, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. How I maintain my mental wellness throughout the years is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. One therapeutic tool I love the most is practicing Mindfulness exercises to help ground me in the present moment and challenge my unhealthy thinking of dwelling on my past or worrying about the future. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of caring for myself and advocating for my needs to support people around me. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times, and some days, it is hard to recover from the highs and lows of my stress levels. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my community to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends who either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

"At the end of the day it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished… it's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back." – Denzel Washington What inspired me to make a positive impact in the world is that I have worked as an Instructional Assistant for my county's school districts, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My current classroom is a specialized program within the community. I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these types of students to help change their life's trajectory and unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals has been a great success of mine. A little bit about myself: eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate to others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. I want to continue positively impacting the world by returning to school to get a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. With a degree, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is not always a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential. When the students I have worked with graduate from my classroom, I am overjoyed with their progress over the years. I always feel a sense of purpose with the positive impact I have given them in maturing and they also positively impact me to become a better teacher. I am so excited to take on this new challenge of earning a specialized degree and give hope to people struggling with their disabilities to overcome them, just as I have done for mine.

"Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our internal landscape with compassion and curiosity but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self-care." - Bessel A. van der Kolk. If I could have everyone read one book, it would be "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel A. van der Kolk. This healing psychology book makes the reader aware of the effect of trauma that is not only on the mind but also on how it is stored deep in our body's memory. The book provides helpful tools that can arise from life's challenges from a traumatic past via resources and skills you can apply to your daily life. These skills include Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, where participants can process traumatic memories, connect to their mind and body via yoga, develop a supportive network of friends and family, and practice living life through their five senses by developing mindfulness skills. I would have everyone read this book because I believe trauma in some form is no stranger to the people of this world. I have found this book enlightening and helpful in processing and growing through my traumatic past. I, with the help of a therapist, have sought treatment via EMDR therapy and have found it beneficial in recalling traumatic memories and processing them with a supportive person. I also regularly participate in at-home yoga to help connect my mind to my body through exercise and meditation. Throughout the years, I have gained many supportive relationships to help support me when the effects of my trauma have impacted my daily living. Finally, I practice mindfulness to ground my senses in the present moment. I have applied the lessons from this book to my life. Everyone would greatly benefit from adding it to their reading list. I've gotten into many conversations with people about their mental health and have recommended "The Body Keeps Score" to them to help process the more profound ways our body holds onto stress. It has been a great eye-opener for everyone, and it continues to be one of the top books therapists recommend for clients struggling with trauma. Trauma can affect everyone in the world, no matter your position in society, and I think if we were to know how to process it, it would leave a lasting impact on the planet.

"You don't push for the end result, you push for the experience of the entire journey." - Author unknown. Several years ago, I and a few friends decided we wanted to get back into skateboarding to relive the joy we had of it in our youth. I decided to go to a local shop and pick out a brand-new longboard. This purchase sparked my passion to dive into longboarding as a sport and see where it would take me. My friends and I would learn all the internet had to offer on what gear to purchase and how to learn to ride, and it inspired us to dream big when it came to learning new ways to advance our skills in the sport. A few months into longboarding, I found a local instructor and signed up to be taught by him via one-on-one instruction and a summer class he had to offer. Through this relationship, I found other longboarders to learn more advanced techniques in downhill and freeriding styles. Through our common bond with the sport, I have made many friends and pushed myself to become more skilled and go faster. Longboarding has played a vital role in keeping me physically and mentally healthy. It was a critical part of my life when the lockdown for COVID-19 shut everything down. I thankfully had this sport to keep me pressing on within the stressful world around me. I watched hundreds of hours of longboarding videos on YouTube to see places worldwide where people would ride. I found instructional videos to teach me the mechanics of a complicated trick. I learned about the ins and outs of all the gear selling online. I skated with my local friends and found other local longboarders online to discover new skating spots. Longboarding has taught me many things about myself. It showed me how determined I am to go from a beginner to an advanced rider and the hours and hours of practice I had to put into building my experience. My favorite lesson is that you are always young enough to learn a new skill and have exhilarating fun while doing it. Today, I still love going out and skating around my town or down a large hill. I'm still honing those incredible tricks I've rewatched online or talked to my coach about. The feel of the wind in my face and the adrenaline in my blood pumping takes me to another level. I love how much this sport has changed my life and adds a sense of awesomeness to my character.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up and made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington. With the multiple facets of ways I get involved with my community, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. One of my core values is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they face. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society. A few ways inspire me to get involved with my community. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer and holiday gift baskets, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties in working order. It has been a great joy working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the body of people and to build new relationships with those in our city. Another way I get involved with my community is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen-accurate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at events and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. Finally, I have worked with a non-profit called Community-Based Activities Program for the last four summers. This summer day camp provides students with disabilities opportunities to have field trips to parks, the zoo, the coast, etc. The program also helps facilitate community service projects and life skills like safely walking around a city and riding public transportation. It warms my heart to support these children and allow them a fun summer experience in the world around them. With all of my volunteer experience, I want to pursue Occupational Therapy to further my education and abilities to support the people in my community to have the knowledge and tools needed for a healthy and prosperous life. I have a personal connection to Occupational Therapy as it has helped me when I needed it most, and I would like to provide that service to others in my community.

"A doctor may save your life but an Occupational Therapist helps you live it"- Thomas Larch. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled by others as "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way this field has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. I have needed to learn the skills to healthfully live with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my chronic illness, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I am a Pre-Occupational Therapy student taking courses to apply for my college's program in Fall 2024. The Medical Terminology, Health and Fitness, and Interpersonal Relationships courses will help set me up for success in the program. I have a 4.0 GPA as a student and look forward to achieving my academic goals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential.

“I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand." ― Charles de Lint. A few ways inspire me to help others. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer and holiday gift baskets, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties in working order. It has been a great joy working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the body of people and getting to build new relationships with those in our city. Another way I help others is to use my knitting skill for community service. The best way I have found is to make a general-sized beanie for the Free Pantries in my city for those with financial insecurity to keep warm during the cold weather. My favorite part is buying or being gifted various amounts of colorful yarn to make beautiful solid or multi-colored beanies perfect for anyone's needs. It has been magical each week seeing my beanies find a new home for someone. I take great pride in using my knitting skills to support the greater good. The third way I help others is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen acuate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at different events and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. With the multiple facets of ways I help others, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. Whether volunteering with my church, supplying Free Pantries, or fundraising, I always walk away feeling like I have made a difference in my community. Throughout my time of service, I have learned that one of my core values is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they face. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society.

“Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our internal landscape with compassion and curiosity but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self-care.” - Bessel A. van der Kolk. If I could have everyone read one book, it would be "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel A. van der Kolk. This healing psychology book makes the reader aware of the effect of trauma that is not only on just the mind but also on how it is stored deep in our body's memory. The book provides helpful tools that can arise from life's challenges from a traumatic past via resources and skills you can apply to your daily life. These skills include Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, where participants can process traumatic memories—also, connect to their mind and body via yoga, develop a supportive network of friends and family, and practice living life through their five senses by developing mindfulness skills. I would have everyone read this book because I believe trauma in some form is no stranger to the people of this world. I have found this book enlightening and helpful in processing and growing through my traumatic past. I, with the help of a therapist, have sought treatment via EMDR therapy and have found it beneficial in recalling traumatic memories and processing them with a supportive person. I also regularly participate in at-home yoga to help connect my mind to my body through exercise and meditation. Throughout the years, I have gained many supportive relationships to help support me when the effects of my trauma have impacted my daily living. Finally, I practice mindfulness to ground my senses in the present moment. I have applied the lessons from this book to my life. I think everyone would greatly benefit from adding it to their reading list. What inspired me for the last six years is I have worked as an Instructional Assistant supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Working with my students to help change their life's trajectory and unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals has been a great success of mine. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I have set new goals to further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential.

“I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand." ― Charles de Lint. A few ways inspire me to help others. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer and holiday gift baskets, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties in working order. It has been a great joy working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the body of people and getting to build new relationships with those in our city. Another way I help others is to use my knitting skill for community service. The best way I have found is to make a general-sized beanie for the Free Pantries in my city for those with financial insecurity to keep warm during the cold weather. My favorite part is buying or being gifted various amounts of colorful yarn to make beautiful solid or multi-colored beanies perfect for anyone's needs. It has been magical each week seeing my beanies find a new home for someone. I take great pride in using my knitting skills to support the greater good. The third way I help others is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen acuate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at different events and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. With the multiple facets of ways I help others, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. Whether volunteering with my church, supplying Free Pantries, or fundraising, I always walk away feeling like I have made a difference in my community. Throughout my time of service, I have learned that one of my core values is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they face. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society.

“Mindfulness not only makes it possible to survey our internal landscape with compassion and curiosity but can also actively steer us in the right direction for self-care.” - Bessel A. van der Kolk. If I could have everyone read one book, it would be "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel A. van der Kolk. This healing psychology book makes the reader aware of the effect of trauma that is not only on just the mind but also on how it is stored deep in our body's memory. The book provides helpful tools that can arise from life's challenges from a traumatic past via resources and skills you can apply to your daily life. These skills include Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, where participants can process traumatic memories—also, connect to their mind and body via yoga, develop a supportive network of friends and family, and practice living life through their five senses by developing mindfulness skills. I would have everyone read this book because I believe trauma in some form is no stranger to the people of this world. I have found this book enlightening and helpful in processing and growing through my traumatic past. I, with the help of a therapist, have sought treatment via EMDR therapy and have found it beneficial in recalling traumatic memories and processing them with a supportive person. I also regularly participate in at-home yoga to help connect my mind to my body through exercise and meditation. Throughout the years, I have gained many supportive relationships to help support me when the effects of my trauma have impacted my daily living. Finally, I practice mindfulness to ground my senses in the present moment. I have applied the lessons from this book to my life. I think everyone would greatly benefit from adding it to their reading list. What inspired me for the last six years is I have worked as an Instructional Assistant supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Working with my students to help change their life's trajectory and unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals has been a great success. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I have set new goals to further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential.

"A doctor may save your life but an Occupational Therapist helps you live it"- Thomas Larch. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled by others as "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way this field has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. I have needed to learn the skills to healthfully live with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my chronic illness, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I am a Pre-Occupational Therapy student taking courses to apply for my college's program in Fall 2024. The Medical Terminology, Health and Fitness, and Interpersonal Relationships courses will help set me up for success in the program. I have a 4.0 GPA as a student and look forward to achieving my academic goals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential.

"A doctor may save your life but an Occupational Therapist helps you live it"- Thomas Larch. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way the healthcare field has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. I have needed to learn the skills to healthfully live with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my chronic illness, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I am a Pre-Occupational Therapy student now taking courses to apply for my college's program in Fall 2024. The Medical Terminology, Health and Fitness, and Interpersonal Relationships courses will help set me up for success in the program. I have a 4.0 GPA as a student and look forward to achieving my academic goals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential.

"A doctor may save your life but an Occupational Therapist helps you live it"- Thomas Larch. What inspired me for the last six years is I have worked as an Instructional Assistant supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. While working for multiple years with students with different levels of special needs, my coworkers regard me as a talented instructional assistant. Teachers have specifically requested that I work in their classrooms to provide for students needing one-on-one support. Working with these types of students to help change their life's trajectory and unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals has been a great success of mine. Another way Occupational Therapy has inspired me in my journey is I have sought the help of therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate to others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and the use of this scholarship, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. My dream job as an OTA would be to serve children or adults who need mental and behavioral services. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is only sometimes a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to success, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential. I take great pride in how Occupational Therapy has improved my quality of life and hope to instill a better life for others.

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." -Teddy Roosevelt. I want to share a story of my greatest achievement: maintaining a healthy body. As a young adult, I developed poor eating habits, and I would say I was on a "convenience diet" for many years. This type of diet meant that if a meal was inconvenient, I didn't eat it. Therefore, many of my meals were single-serving microwave dinners and fast food orders. I tried to get enough exercise to burn off the high calories I was eating, but this lifestyle was not healthy. What dramatically made me realize that I was not properly taking care of myself was a year ago when I visited my doctor's office. Their weight scale notified me that I was now 300 lbs. From then on, I knew I needed to transform my diet and choose healthier options to feed myself. Thankfully, soon after that appointment, I talked with a friend about my struggle to eat healthfully. She recommended I try the low-glycemic diet she had been following and shared her story of how much it has helped her. If I were to try this lifestyle change, I would have to be 100% committed and disciplined not to give up. I decided that even though I would need to give up my "convenience diet," it was what my physical and mental health required. The process was pretty simple once I got the fundamentals of this new low-glycemic diet as a new habit to eating healthy. The diet consisted of eating lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, and eating small portioned controlled meals throughout the day. I also had to increase how much water I drank throughout the day. Previously, I was addicted to soda, coffee, and high-sugar drinks, and I decided to moderate these fluids significantly and always carry a reusable water bottle. Because this was such a turnaround from my previous diet, the signs of me becoming a healthier version of myself came quickly. I was burning off excess fat, I had more energy throughout the day, and my mental health/mood had greatly improved. After a year of hard work and dedication to taking control of my health, I lost 100 lbs. One challenge I face while in school is maintaining my health while achieving my goals. College can be a high-stress environment, and it is common for students to make poor health decisions physically and mentally. I plan to use the skills I have learned by caring for my well-being and graduate as healthfully well-rounded as ever.

“The experience I have had is that once you start talking about [experiencing a mental health struggle], you realize that actually you’re part of quite a big club.” — Prince Harry I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school, Oak Grove Academy, is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my community to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

“The experience I have had is that once you start talking about [experiencing a mental health struggle], you realize that actually you’re part of quite a big club.” — Prince Harry I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school, Oak Grove Academy, is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my community to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

What excites me about college the most is the opportunity it provides for me to achieve my career goal of becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant. I have long dreamed of allowing members of my community to learn adaptive skills to have a better quality of life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I want to share a story of how I maintain a healthy body. As a young adult, I developed poor eating habits, and I would say I was on a "convenience diet" for many years. This type of diet meant that if a meal was inconvenient, I didn't eat it. Therefore, many of my meals were single-serving microwave dinners and fast food orders. I tried to get enough exercise to burn off the high calories I was eating, but this lifestyle was not healthy. What dramatically made me realize that I was not properly taking care of myself was a year ago when I visited my doctor's office. Their weight scale notified me that I was now 300 lbs. From then on, I knew I needed to transform my diet and choose healthier options to feed myself. Thankfully, soon after that appointment, I talked with a friend about my struggle to eat healthfully. She recommended I try the low-glycemic diet she had been following and shared her story of how much it has helped her. If I were to try this lifestyle change, I would have to be 100% committed and disciplined not to give up. I decided that even though I would need to give up my "convenience diet," it was what my physical and mental health required. The process was pretty simple once I got the fundamentals of this new low-glycemic diet as a new habit to eating healthy. The diet consisted of eating lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, and eating small portioned controlled meals throughout the day. I also had to increase how much water I drank throughout the day. Previously, I was addicted to soda, coffee, and high-sugar drinks, and I decided to moderate these fluids significantly and always carry a reusable water bottle. Because this was such a turnaround from my previous diet, the signs of me becoming a healthier version of myself came quickly. I was burning off excess fat, I had more energy throughout the day, and my mental health/mood had greatly improved. One challenge I face while in school is maintaining my health while achieving my goals. College can be a high-stress environment, and it is common for students to make poor health decisions physically and mentally. I plan to use the skills I have learned by caring for my well-being and graduate as healthfully well-rounded as ever.

My first educational goal at Linn-Benton Community College is to complete the prerequisites to apply for LBCC's Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Once I have passed the prerequisite courses by spring 2024, I will apply for the OTA program for the following Fall term. This degree will take two years to complete. What inspired me to choose this educational and career path is that I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District for the last six years. In this position, I support students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. It has been inspiring to see my students thrive from being once labeled "the bad kid" into healthy, well-rounded individuals. Another way this field has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I worked with Occupational Therapists to instill hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder, as well as helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. My dream job as an OTA would be to serve children or adults who need mental and behavioral services. I am excited to work with Linn-Benton to complete my educational and career goals and accomplish my dream of becoming an OTA. My current financial need is a unique situation. I have already earned a Bachelor's degree to qualify for an instructional assistant. I only qualify for a little financial aid because the OTA program is an Associate's degree. Also, to support myself financially during this coming year of taking prerequisites, I need to work full-time and only take three credits at a time. This situation also disqualifies me from any at least part-time financial aid opportunities. I have saved a small amount of money for the classes for the following year, but it will not be enough to cover all of the costs. This scholarship will greatly help me achieve my academic and career goals, and I look forward to a brighter future by being awarded it.

If I could have everyone read one book, it would be "The Body Keeps Score" by Bessel van der Kolk. This healing psychology book makes the reader aware of the effect of trauma that is not only on just the mind but also on how it is stored deep in our body's memory. The book provides helpful tools that can arise from life's challenges from a traumatic past via resources and skills you can apply to your daily life. These skills include Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, where participants can process traumatic memories—also, connect to their mind and body via yoga, develop a supportive network of friends and family, and practice living life through their five senses by developing mindfulness skills. I would have everyone read this book because I believe trauma in some form is no stranger to the people of this world. I have found this book enlightening and helpful in processing and growing through my traumatic past. I, with the help of a therapist, have sought treatment via EMDR therapy and have found it beneficial in recalling traumatic memories and processing them with a supportive person. I also regularly participate in at-home yoga to help connect my mind to my body through exercise and meditation. Throughout the years, I have gained many supportive relationships to help support me when the effects of my trauma have impacted my daily living. Finally, I practice mindfulness to ground my senses in the present moment. I have applied the lessons from this book to my life. I think everyone would greatly benefit from adding it to their reading list.

In pursuit of overcoming my mental, academic, and financial challenges, the dream version of myself would be to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant to serve enrichment opportunities to my community via adaptive treatment applications to their daily living.

I would like to share a personal accomplishment: I have been diagnosed with a mental illness for eight years. As a young adult, I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital because I was experiencing my first manic episode. I have needed to learn the skills to healthfully live with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in being able to overcome my symptoms and overcome a lot of challenges. My first educational goal at Linn-Benton Community College is to complete the prerequisites to apply for LBCC's Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Once I have passed the prerequisite courses by spring 2024, I will apply for the OTA program for the following Fall term. This degree will take two years to complete. What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school, Oak Grove Academy, is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these types of students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. My dream job as an OTA would be to serve children or adults who need mental and behavioral services. I am excited to work with Linn-Benton to complete my educational and career goals and accomplish my dream of becoming an OTA.

A few ways inspire me to get involved with my community. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer, putting together holiday gift baskets, serving food year-round to low-income families, volunteering overnight at the severe weather shelter, providing additional support to other local churches citywide service projects, donating our time and resources to our local schools, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties working order. It has been a great joy to me working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the members of our city and build new relationships with those community members. Another way I serve my community is to use my skills of knitting for community service. The best way I have found is to make a general-sized beanie for the Free Pantries in my city for those with financial insecurity to keep warm during the cold weather. It has been magical each week seeing my beanies find a new home for someone in need. I take great pride in using my knitting skills to support the greater good. The third way I get involved with my community is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen acuate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at events, children's hospitals, and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. With the multiple facets of ways I get involved with my community, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. Whether volunteering with my church, supplying Free Pantries, or fundraising for children in need, I always walk away feeling like I have made a difference in my community. I have learned throughout my time of service that one of my core values in life is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they are facing. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society.

A few ways inspire me to get involved with my community. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer and holiday gift baskets, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties in working order. It has been a great joy working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the body of people and getting to build new relationships with those in our city. Another way I serve my community is to use my knitting skill for community service. The best way I have found is to make a general-sized beanie for the Free Pantries in my city for those with financial insecurity to keep warm during the cold weather. It has been magical each week seeing my beanies find a new home for someone in need. I take great pride in using my knitting skills to support the greater good. The third way I get involved with my community is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen acuate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at different events and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. Finally, I have worked with a non-profit called Community-Based Activities Program for the last four summers. This summer day camp provides students with disabilities opportunities to have field trips to parks, the zoo, the coast, etc. The program also helps facilitate community service projects and life skills like safely walking around a city and riding public transportation. It warms my heart to support these children and allow them a fun summer experience in the world around them. With the multiple facets of ways I get involved with my community, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. One of my core values in life is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they are facing. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society.

Mental health has impacted me for the last six years as I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational and Mental Health Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Another way mental health has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational and Mental Health Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate others how therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. The final way mental health has affected me is by supporting my friends and family to address their mental health needs. My family has a significant stigma toward seeking mental health services. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

Mental health has impacted me for the last six years as I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational and Mental Health Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Another way mental health has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational and Mental Health Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate others how therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. The final way mental health has affected me is by supporting my friends and family to address their mental health needs. My family has a significant stigma toward seeking mental health services. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. How I maintain my mental wellness throughout the years is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of caring for myself and advocating for my needs to support people around me. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my community to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

I believe mental health is important because I grew up in the 1990s when mental health was never a topic of conversation in my household. As far back as the third grade, I struggled with anxiety. Of course, my family and I thought nothing was wrong with me, so I kept living with anxiety and depression through college. In college, my friends and I noticed something was wrong with how high my mood would get with stress and how low it would get with my depression. From my perspective, I was in denial that I had anything seriously wrong with me and never thought to ask for professional help. Two years after I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, I had a series of life events that made me sleep poorly. My anxiety was through the roof, and I didn't know at the time that I was experiencing my first episode of mania. As I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital for mental health services, I received the support of Mental and Occupational Therapy practitioners to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. How I maintain my mental wellness throughout the years is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of caring for myself and advocating for my needs to support people around me. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. Today, I proudly advocate to others how mental health services can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members of my community to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way this field has inspired me is that within my journey, I have sought the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending Therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in being able to overcome my symptoms and overcome a lot of challenges. Today, I proudly advocate others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. My dream job as an Occupational Therapy Assistant would be to serve children or adults who need mental and behavioral services. I am excited to work with my school to complete my educational and career goals and accomplish my dream.

What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. As a young adult, I developed poor eating habits, and I would say I was on a "convenience diet" for many years. This type of diet meant that if a meal was inconvenient, I didn't eat it. Therefore, many of my meals were single-serving microwave dinners and fast food orders. I tried to get enough exercise to burn off the high calories I was eating, but this lifestyle was not healthy. What dramatically made me realize that I was not properly taking care of myself was a year ago when I visited my doctor's office. Their weight scale notified me that I was now 300 lbs. From then on, I knew I needed to transform my diet and choose healthier options to feed myself. Thankfully, soon after that appointment, I talked with a friend about my struggle to eat healthfully. She recommended I try the low-glycemic diet she had been following and shared her story of how much it has helped her. If I were to try this lifestyle change, I would have to be 100% committed and disciplined not to give up. I decided that even though I would need to give up my "convenience diet," it was what my physical and mental health required. Once I got the fundamentals of this new low-glycemic diet as a new habit to eating healthy, the process was pretty simple. The diet consisted of eating lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and small portion-controlled meals throughout the day. I also had to increase how much water I drank throughout the day. Previously, I was addicted to soda, coffee, and high-sugar drinks, and I decided to moderate these fluids significantly and always carry a reusable water bottle. Because this was such a turnaround from my previous diet, the signs of me becoming a healthier version of myself came quickly. I was burning off excess fat, I had more energy throughout the day, and my mental health/mood had greatly improved. After still being on this diet a year later, I am physically and mentally at the healthiest I have been in my entire life. My goal is to continue eating a nutritious diet and not slip back into old bad habits of unhealthiness. Not only has my accomplishment of eating healthier affected me, but it has also inspired others around me to reconsider their eating habits. I am delighted to share the information I have learned about being physically and mentally fit and encouraging others.

As a young adult, I developed poor eating habits, and I would say I was on a "convenience diet" for many years. This type of diet meant that if a meal was inconvenient, I didn't eat it. Therefore, many of my meals were single-serving microwave dinners and fast food orders. I tried to get enough exercise to burn off the high calories I was eating, but this lifestyle was not healthy. What dramatically made me realize that I was not properly taking care of myself was a year ago when I visited my doctor's office. Their weight scale notified me that I was now 300 lbs. Shocked by these results, I knew I needed to transform my diet and choose healthier options to feed myself. Thankfully, soon after that appointment, I talked with a friend about my struggle to eat healthfully. She recommended I try the low-glycemic diet she had been following and shared her story of how much it has helped her. If I were to try this lifestyle change, I would have to be 100% committed and disciplined not to give up. I decided that even though I would need to give up my "convenience diet," it was what my physical and mental health required. Once I got the fundamentals of this new low-glycemic diet as a new habit to eating healthy, the process was pretty simple. The diet consisted of eating lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, and eating small portioned controlled meals throughout the day. I also had to increase how much water I drank throughout the day. Previously, I was addicted to soda, coffee, and high-sugar drinks, and I decided to moderate these fluids significantly and always carry a reusable water bottle. Because this was such a turnaround from my previous diet, the signs of me becoming a healthier version of myself came quickly. I was burning off excess fat, I had more energy throughout the day, and my mental health/mood had greatly improved. After still being on this diet a year later, I am physically and mentally at the healthiest I have been in my entire life. My goal is to continue eating a nutritious diet and not slip back into old bad habits of unhealthiness. Not only has my accomplishment of eating healthier affected me, but it has also inspired others around me to reconsider their eating habits. I take a lot of joy in sharing the information I have learned about being physically and mentally fit and encouraging others too.

As a young adult, I developed poor eating habits, and I would say I was on a "convenience diet" for many years. This type of diet meant that if a meal was inconvenient, I didn't eat it. Therefore, many of my meals were single-serving microwave dinners and fast food orders. I tried to get enough exercise to burn off the high calories I was eating, but this lifestyle was not healthy. What dramatically made me realize that I was not properly taking care of myself was a year ago when I visited my doctor's office. Their weight scale notified me that I was now 300 lbs. From then on, I knew I needed to transform my diet and choose healthier options to feed myself. Thankfully, soon after that appointment, I talked with a friend about my struggle to eat healthfully. She recommended I try the low-glycemic diet she had been following and shared her story of how much it has helped her. If I were to try this lifestyle change, I would have to be 100% committed and disciplined not to give up. I decided that even though I would need to give up my "convenience diet," it was what my physical and mental health required. Once I got the fundamentals of this new low-glycemic diet as a new habit to eating healthy, the process was pretty simple. The diet consisted of eating lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, and eating small portioned controlled meals throughout the day. Because this was such a turnaround from my previous diet, the signs of me becoming a healthier version of myself came quickly. I was burning off excess fat, I had more energy throughout the day, and my mental health/mood had greatly improved. One area I would like to share about myself is I have been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. Years ago, I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital because I was experiencing my first manic episode. What obstacles I have needed to overcome is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of taking care of myself and advocating for my needs to supportive people around me. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. After still being on this diet a year later, I am physically and mentally at the healthiest I have been in my entire life. My goal is to continue eating a nutritious diet and not slip back into old bad habits of unhealthiness. Not only has my accomplishment of eating healthier affected me, but it has also inspired others around me to reconsider their eating habits. I am delighted to share the information I have learned about being physically and mentally fit and encouraging others.

Mental health has impacted me for the last six years as I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational and Mental Health Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way mental health has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational and Mental Health Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate others how therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. The final way mental health has affected me is by supporting my friends and family to address their mental health needs. My family has a significant stigma toward seeking mental health services. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

What inspired me to choose a career path of an Occupational Therapy Assistant is for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these types of students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is not always a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to being successful, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential. Another way this field has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. The final way healthcare has affected me is by supporting my friends and family to address their mental health needs. My family has a significant stigma toward seeking mental health services. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us.

A few ways inspire me to get involved with my community. First, I have been a part of my church for ten years. We are a house church with six houses in the city. I regularly volunteer my time each week to serve with our neighborhood outreach via weekly BBQs in the summer and holiday gift baskets, senior caregiving by providing home care for our elders, and household maintenance to keep the properties in working order. It has been a great joy working alongside my fellow church members to serve the needs of the body of people and getting to build new relationships with those in our city. Another way I serve my community is to use my knitting skill for community service. The best way I have found is to make a general-sized beanie for the Free Pantries in my city for those with financial insecurity to keep warm during the cold weather. It has been magical each week seeing my beanies find a new home for someone in need. I take great pride in using my knitting skills to support the greater good. The third way I get involved with my community is by volunteering for a not-for-profit organization to fundraise for children's health charities. We raise money by performing screen acuate Star Wars costuming and choreography performances at different events and pop culture conventions around the Pacific Northwest. It has been a wonderful experience seeing the joy of children and adults as we provide the entertainment of many community members' favorite science fiction media. Finally, I have worked with a non-profit called Community-Based Activities Program for the last four summers. This summer day camp provides students with disabilities opportunities to have field trips to parks, the zoo, the coast, etc. The program also helps facilitate community service projects and life skills like safely walking around a city and riding public transportation. It warms my heart to support these children and allow them a fun summer experience in the world around them. With the multiple facets of ways I get involved with my community, I always enjoy the positive impact I can have on the people I interact with daily. One of my core values in life is to come alongside someone to have a friendship with them, support them in any way they need, and encourage them in any struggle they are facing. This philosophy helps provide a healthy community and a better society.

Mental health has impacted me for the last six years as I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational and Mental Health Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way mental health has inspired me is within my journey, I have sought out the help of Occupational and Mental Health Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder and helping me build resilience when my mental health becomes a struggle. Today, I proudly advocate to others how therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us. The final way mental health has affected me is by supporting my friends and family to address their mental health needs. My family has a significant stigma toward seeking mental health services. Through my courage to start getting help for my mental health and seeing the long-lasting benefits of it, I have begun to advocate for other members to seek out services as well. It has been very encouraging that my sister is starting to come around to the idea of going to therapy, and I am looking forward to being with her through that journey. Through friendships, I have several friends that either already get support for their mental health or who I have inspired to start taking care of themselves. These connections encourage me to continue becoming mentally healthy and advocate for its importance in holistic care.

What I would like to share about myself is I have been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder. As a young adult, I voluntarily checked myself into a hospital because I was experiencing my first manic episode. What obstacles I have needed to overcome is how to live healthfully with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending therapy, and taking medication. I have grown in my ability to persevere through stressful seasons, developing self-awareness of taking care of myself and advocating for my needs from supportive people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in overcoming my symptoms and being resilient through many challenges. How my diagnosis has affected my family is starting the conversation about mental health. In my family's history, we have had several members unhealthfully struggling to manage their unstable mental health symptoms. I am proud to be a leader in my family to get the support for healthfully living with my diagnosis and advocate for other members of my family to seek treatment as well. What inspired me to choose occupational therapy as a career path is that I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in my city's school district for the last six years. In this position, I support students who qualify for Special Education. My school is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational and Mental Health Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. It has been inspiring to see my students thrive from being once labeled "the bad kid" into healthy, well-rounded individuals. It has been a great pleasure to be able to relate to my own students who struggle with their mental health and to be able to teach them skills that I personally use to improve my mental health. With this experience, I want to pursue occupational therapy to further my education and abilities to support the people in my community to have the knowledge and tools needed for a healthy and prosperous life. Once I have my Occupational Therapy Assistant certification, I plan to use it to serve children or adults who need mental and behavioral services.

What attributes about myself that make me unique are for the last six years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in the Forest Grove School District, supporting students who qualify for Special Education. My school, Oak Grove Academy, is a specialized Therapeutic Day Treatment program within the district. In my current position, I work alongside Occupational Therapists, teaching my students social, emotional, and life skills that they will use to recover, maintain, and grow throughout their lives. Many of my students have been once labeled "the bad kid" and passed on to be some other teacher's problem. Working with these types of students is a creative challenge to unlock their full potential to become healthy, well-rounded individuals. While working for multiple years with students with different levels of special needs, my coworkers regard me as a talented instructional assistant. Teachers have specifically requested that I work in their classrooms to provide for students needing one-on-one support. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become vibrant members of their community. Another way my journey is special is I have sought out the help of Occupational Therapists for physical and mental health services. Eight years ago, I went to the hospital for my first episode of mania. During my stay, I received the support of Occupational Therapists to help me by instilling hope, motivation, and empowerment in living with my Bipolar 1 disorder. I have needed to learn the skills to healthfully live with my mental illness by managing my mood and stress levels. I do this by eating healthy, exercising, attending Therapy, and taking medication. What strengths I have grown in are my ability to overcome stressful seasons of my life, develop self-awareness of how to take care of myself, and advocate for my needs to support people around me. What I have learned about myself through this experience is how resilient I can be. Struggling with my mental health can be defeating at times. However, as I have progressed with living with my disorder, I have grown in being able to overcome my symptoms and overcome a lot of challenges. With a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I will further my education and skills to provide support for people with disabilities to enhance their lives further to become exceptional members of their community. Obstacles I will encounter along the way is providing a therapeutic service is not always a straight line to accomplishing their goals. Each person has a different journey to being successful, and it takes a lot of creative problem-solving to help them achieve their full potential. Today, I proudly advocate others how Occupational Therapy can benefit personal growth and a better quality of life. I love being a leader in sharing the personal and professional opportunities I have had to increase my fellow community member's awareness of the world around us.