I try and have a positive outlook on being a first generation student. I am very proud to be the first of my family to get a degree, however it does come with some challenges. I would say the biggest challenge that I've faced being a first gen student is not knowing what to do when it comes to college. When applying for colleges my parents tried their hardest to help me, and they did a great job, however not knowing what to do certainly causes a lot of anxiety and worry. I desperately wanted to get into my number one school, Colorado Mesa University, and when I was building my application there were certain things that my mom and I didn't know how to do or what to put down. My mom and I struggled through many college and scholarship applications my senior year. However, slowly but surely, we figured it out together and I was able to breeze through numerous applications in one night. We learned to ask for help and that curiosity was key to knowledge. I was accepted into CMU and received many scholarships for "excellent and professional applications". This resilience against the unknown has already carried me through many struggles I faced my freshman year of college. On top of a fully loaded course schedule I also chose to continue my rodeo career into college, and that was a whole new world for me. Throughout high school rodeo I always had my parents there to help me and support me, but now that I live and rodeo 800 plus miles away I've had to learn how to do things on my own. I would say that my immense inner drive to succeed and make my family proud has carried me through every challenge I've faced throughout my whole life. I learned a lot my first season of rodeo and even though I faced adversity, by the end of it I am now fully confident in my own abilities and trust myself that I can do things even if it scares me. This scholarship would immensely help me continue my goal of attaining my business management degree and then go home and take over the family owned feed and hay business after I graduate. When I went to college I told my parents that I wanted to be responsible for all my own college expenses to ease the burden off of them. The funds from this scholarship would certainly help ease the financial strain of out of state tuition and other college expenses that I have to pay. Thank you for your careful consideration of my application.

Mental illness is one of the most prevalent disorders in the United States today, and it is something that has personally affected my life. Although I struggled, I was able to overcome it—and in the process, I learned lessons that shaped who I am today. I have been an athlete my entire life and have participated in many different sports. In eighth grade, I had the opportunity to begin high school rodeo. Rodeo has always been a part of my life; I come from a rodeo family and am a third-generation team roper. I have been riding and roping alongside my grandparents and parents for as long as I can remember. Getting involved in rodeo was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and it ultimately changed my future for the better. My very first year of rodeoing, I qualified for the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo in goat tying. I went on to qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. My junior year was my best year. I won my first state championship title, served as the state public relations officer, worked a full-time job, and maintained a 4.0 GPA. I felt like I was on top of the world. However, when my senior year began, everything changed. After winning state the year before—and knowing it was my final year of high school rodeo—I placed an immense amount of pressure on myself to win a second state title. That pressure quickly became overwhelming. I began to struggle both inside and outside of the rodeo arena. Anxiety took over, and the stress made even simple tasks feel impossible. I took on extra hours at work to start saving for college, which caused me to fall behind in school. My grades dropped, and my 4.0 GPA fell below a 3.0, affecting scholarships I had worked hard to earn. At the same time, my performance at rodeos suffered. The year before, I had won nearly every rodeo I entered; during the first half of my senior year, I hadn’t won a single one. Everything piled up, and I felt completely overwhelmed. Nothing brought me joy anymore—I felt numb and was simply going through the motions of each day. I was so stressed out and I didn't know how to overcome it. Eventually, I reached my breaking point. One night, I cried out to God, asking Him to help me and heal my troubled soul. I gave every difficulty I was facing to Him. The next morning, I woke up with a new mindset. I decided I was no longer going to live numb—I was going to live fully. I chose to take control of my life and pursue happiness, no matter the cost. I started with my academics. Within a few weeks, I caught up on my schoolwork and maintained a 4.0 GPA for the remainder of the year. I also changed my perspective. Gratitude became my attitude. Instead of saying, “I HAVE to go practice,” I began saying, “I GET to go practice.” That shift changed everything. I went on to win my second Goat Tying State Champion title, graduated high school, earned multiple scholarships, attended the college of my dreams, and began competing in college rodeo. Although my senior year was one of the hardest seasons of my life, I am grateful for the struggle. It taught me resilience, gratitude, and faith. Most importantly, it showed me that even in the darkest moments, growth and purpose can emerge.