My heart feels like it’s beating out of my chest thump, thump, thump; my breathing is getting heavier and louder as I stare up at the ceiling of a grand piano, replaying the previous conversation with my dad moments before. I realize he is coming towards me and I back up further until I hit the wall. Next thing I know my dad is pulling me across the cold stained hardwood floors and my right arm feels like it’s being popped out of its socket and the next is all a blur. My dad, an alcoholic, had been drinking that night. That moment burned into my memory, took place a decade ago. My parents divorced when I was two and a half years old, and since then, my younger sister and I have lived with my mom. In the early years, my dad lived just a few blocks away. At first, we saw him on Tuesday afternoons, and as we got older, we were allowed to stay the night. Even though this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, something about that night felt different. When my mom picked us up, I decided to tell her everything. We never went back. A dad is a protector, a role model, and a source of love and guidance. He teaches life lessons, leads by example, and ensures his family feels safe and valued. Unfortunately, my experience with my dad did not match this definition. Instead of being a constant presence in my life, his addiction created distance, instability, and pain. While, I dreamt of having a dad who would show up, encourage me, and put my needs before his gin and vodka, it was exactly that, a dream. My mom became the most important person in my life. She always put us first, above everything else. From celebrating the last day of school, creating the best Halloween costumes, planning surprise trips, going to the hospital to visit her at work, going on bike rides, and enjoying Friday night movie nights, she made every moment special. She did everything she could to play the role of both parents, giving us the love and support we deserved. I never understood how much my father had impacted my life emotionally and psychologically until I was in high school. It would hit me all of a sudden in certain circumstances and over time it has been clear that my struggles with trust, anxiety and the way I view relationships are all a consequence of my dads alcoholism. Trusting a parent is a natural instinct and that trust was broken, making it difficult for me to trust others. This questionable trust that I have in others and my anxiety, have deepened my faith in God. I have peace in knowing that, despite life's hardships, there is a greater plan for me. Instead of focusing on the past, I have chosen to find strength in my faith, believing that every challenge has a purpose. I may not always understand why certain things happen, but I trust that they are shaping me into a stronger, wiser person. My faith reassures me that I am never truly alone and that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter future. It has also allowed me to have empathy for others and never to assume what peoples lives are or what they are or have been through. I no longer wish I had a Dad, I love my little family of three. Its safe, predictable and full of love and laughs.

My heart feels like it’s beating out of my chest thump, thump, thump; my breathing is getting heavier and louder as I stare up at the ceiling of a grand piano, replaying the previous conversation with my dad moments before. I realize he is coming towards me and I back up further until I hit the wall. Next thing I know my dad is pulling me across the cold stained hardwood floors and my right arm feels like it’s being popped out of its socket and the next is all a blur. My dad, an alcoholic, had been drinking that night; just like so many nights before. That moment burned into my memory, took place in 2016. My parents divorced when I was 2 and a half years old, and since then, my younger sister and I have lived with my mom. In the early years, my dad lived just a few blocks away. At first, we saw him on Tuesday afternoons, and as we got older, we were allowed to stay the night. Even though this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, something about that night felt different. When my mom picked us up, I decided to tell her everything. We never went back. A dad is a protector, a role model, and a source of love and guidance. He teaches life lessons, leads by example, and ensures his family feels safe and valued. Unfortunately, my experience with my dad did not match this definition. Instead of being a constant presence in my life, his addiction created distance, instability, and pain. While I dreamt of having a dad who would show up, encourage me, and put my needs before his gin and vodka, it was exactly that, a dream. My mom became the most important person in my life. She always put us first, above everything else. From celebrating the last day of school, creating the best Halloween costumes, planning surprise trips, going to the hospital to visit her at work, going on bike rides, and enjoying Friday night movie nights, she made every moment special. She did everything she could to play the role of both parents, giving us the love and support we deserved. I never understood how much my father had impacted my life emotionally and psychologically until I was older. It would hit me all of a sudden in certain circumstances and over time it has been clear my struggles with trust, anxiety and the way I view relationships are all a consequence of my dads alcoholism. Trusting a parent is a natural instinct and that trust was broken, making it difficult to trust others. This questionable trust that I have in others and my anxiety, has ultimately deepened my faith in God. I have peace in knowing that, despite life's hardships, there is a greater plan for me. Instead of focusing on the past, I have chosen to find strength in my faith, believing that every challenge has a purpose. I may not always understand why certain things happen, but I trust that they are shaping me into a stronger, wiser person. My faith reassures me that I am never truly alone and that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter future.

Receiving the Dr. Willam and Jo Sherwood Family Scholarship would mean a great deal. It would assist with paying for my dream college and contribute to the success of my future, a future emergency medicine physician. I have been accepted and planning on attending Hope College, in Holland, Michigan in the fall of 2026 and plan to study pre-medicine. I am grateful for this opportunity, however the financial piece is challenging. Although my mom works hard and make a good income, she is a single parent and does not have the ability to pay the enormous amount that college cost. This scholarship would help support the path to reaching my goals. My desire to pursue medicine is rooted in my love for people and family, and in my faith in God. I view medicine not just as a career, but as a calling to serve others with integrity, empathy, and humility. Growing up in a small close family with a hardworking single mother, taught me resilience, responsibility, and the importance of caring for those around you. These values shape how I approach my future in healthcare; seeing patients as they were my family and treating them with the utmost respect, kindness and care, always remembering that it is a privilege to be apart of their journey. When I was little, I would visit my mom at work where she was a nurse in a large hospital. I loved seeing her in that space and believe that is where my interest in medicine sparked. This spark continued into a larger flame when my grandfather was hit by a car while riding his bike. Watching him lay in the hospital with multiple broken bones, vulnerable, helpless and uncomfortable, while doctors, nurses, aides and staff came in and out of the room was a moment that I knew I wanted to know more and be more. The individuals that lacked empathy, patience, or the ability to talk to us in a manner that we were able to be confident and safe in their care, inspired me to be better than them and to promise that one day I will give the best care that will make patients and families feel safe. I am excited to begin my journey at Hope College; their emphasis on faith, community, and service aligns with who I am and who I want to become. This scholarship would help make it financially possible for me to be part of a community that supports academic excellence and personal formation. In the long term, it would help me continue on the path to a career where I can serve patients and families during their most vulnerable moments.