![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/tempimageq0g2u755a37175556141c2ad2970fd0e4a9954.webp)
Hobbies and interests
Band
Choir
Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Running
Sports
Athletic Training
Weightlifting
Singing
Music
Music Composition
Music Theory
Spanish
Acting And Theater
Calligraphy
Piano
Flute
Guitar
Electric Guitar
Cello
Dance
Ukulele
Reading
Songwriting
Writing
Babysitting And Childcare
Beach
Bible Study
Theology and Religious Studies
Biking And Cycling
Business And Entrepreneurship
Child Development
Animals
Ceramics And Pottery
Cleaning
Coffee
Collecting
Concerts
Cooking
Crocheting
Embroidery And Cross Stitching
English
Exercise And Fitness
Exercise Science
Exploring Nature And Being Outside
Fitness
Culinary Arts
Food And Eating
Foreign Languages
Gardening
Harmonica
Health Sciences
Human Rights
Journaling
Knitting
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Math
Mathematics
Meditation and Mindfulness
Mental Health
Mentoring
National Honor Society (NHS)
Nutrition and Health
Orchestra
Occupational Therapy
Percussion
Physical Therapy
Pilates
Psychiatry
Saxophone
Scuba Diving
Self Care
Sewing
Spirituality
Snorkeling
Sustainability
Ultimate Frisbee
Upcycling and Recycling
Yoga
Youth Group
Reading
Literary Fiction
I read books daily
Lauren Smith
1855
Bold Points1x
Finalist1x
Winner![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/tempimageq0g2u755a37175556141c2ad2970fd0e4a9954.webp)
Lauren Smith
1855
Bold Points1x
Finalist1x
WinnerBio
I will attend the University of Georgia as a Psychology and Music Therapy major in the fall. After my undergraduate studies, I plan to obtain my board certification in music therapy, attain a doctoral degree in psychology, open a private psychology practice, and incorporate music therapy into my work. Through my career, I hope to revolutionize the stigma surrounding mental health in our society and provide accessible and affordable mental health services to everyone in my path. I'm passionate about music, psychology, Christianity, learning, running, and connecting with people. I'm excited to begin my college journey!
Education
University of Georgia
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Music
- Psychology, General
Minors:
- Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
Saint Pius X Catholic High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Psychology, General
- Music
Career
Dream career field:
Music
Dream career goals:
Private Practice Psychologist, incorporating Music Therapy
Cantor, both Spanish and English
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church2024 – Present6 monthsCantor
Good Shepherd Catholic Church2024 – Present6 monthsVacation Bible School Music Leader
Smoke Rise Baptist Church2020 – 20244 yearsSummer Camp Counselor
Atlanta Young Singers2020 – 20244 years
Sports
Track & Field
Junior Varsity2023 – 20241 year
Cross-Country Running
Varsity2022 – 20242 years
Research
Music
University of Georgia — Participant2024 – 2024
Arts
Church Choir
Music2018 – 2024Church Youth Band
Music2023 – 2024Choir -- Atlanta Young Singers
Music2013 – 2024Choir
Music2020 – 2024Symphonic Band
Music2020 – 2024Marching Band
Music2020 – 2024
Public services
Volunteering
Smoke Rise Baptist Church — Mission trip participant2020 – 2024
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship
As an eighth grader, I wanted to take my own life. This statement holds such unbearable weight as I look back on my young teenage years. Like many other teenagers, I am no stranger to the stigma around mental illness in our society. Even after overcoming my suicidal thoughts, I struggled with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm for several years, and I was terrified of admitting that I needed help. I grieve for our society, that we poison our children with toxic individualism. This rugged refusal to seek help devastates so many families, including my own.
Still struggling with my own mental health at the age of sixteen, I talked one of my closest friends out of committing suicide. I am so grateful that my friend is still alive and thriving today, and this experience made me realize how grateful I am that I did not decide to take my own life at the tender age of thirteen. Both of us have a second chance at living – but, as Jake’s story shows, not everyone is so blessed. After helping my friend out of the same situation I once experienced, I realized that so many others suffer in silence. Roughly one in five teenagers struggle with clinical depression, and nearly a third struggle with anxiety. Even with these crippling statistics, our society still harbors the stigma that people with mental health issues are somehow unusual, pathetic, or asking for attention. So often, teenagers feel like there is no hope for their lives, even though we’ve barely experienced a sliver of truly living. Adolescence brings many difficulties, but it also nurtures the joy of meeting one’s first real friends, of discovering budding gifts and talents, of making one’s first life decisions, and of enjoying one’s last few years of childhood. I hope that through a career in psychology, I can help teenagers discover this joy and realize that there truly is hope for their lives.
I’ve always been passionate about psychology, but my own mental health struggles and my motivation to help others intensify this passion. I’ve also discovered a passion for Music Therapy. I am double-majoring in Psychology and Music Therapy in the fall, eventually hoping to open a private therapy practice and earn my Board Certification in Music Therapy. I hope to specialize in teenagers' mental health because the suicide rate for teenagers has drastically increased over the past decade. Through my work, I hope to create a welcoming and non-judgemental platform for teenagers to feel safe and supported in asking for help. Once I've established a private practice, I hope to offer free counseling services to my community for lower-income families who might not be able (or willing) to provide mental health services for their children. I’ve seen the tragic effects suicide and mental illnesses have on my family and the families of my close friends. However, these experiences have inspired me to create real change, and I hope to help teenagers find joy in their adolescence, all while raising awareness for suicide prevention. I am honored simply to apply for this scholarship and to know about Jake's story, and if I receive the scholarship, I hope to use it to achieve the most possible good for other teenagers like him.
Mattie's Way Memorial Scholarship
WinnerAs an eighth grader, I wanted to take my own life.
This statement holds such unbearable weight as I look back on my young teenage years. Like many other teenagers, I am no stranger to the stigma around mental illness in our society. Even after overcoming my suicidal thoughts, I struggled with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and self-harm for several years, and I was terrified of admitting that I needed help. I grieve for our society, that we poison our children with toxic individualism. This rugged refusal to seek help devastates so many families, including my own.
Still struggling with my own mental health at the age of sixteen, I talked one of my closest friends out of committing suicide. He was the same age that Mattie Wilmoth was when he died. I am so grateful that my friend is still alive and thriving today, and this experience made me realize how grateful I am that I did not decide to take my own life at the tender age of thirteen. Both of us have a second chance at living – but, as Mattie’s story shows, not everyone is so blessed.
After helping my friend out of the same situation I once experienced, I realized that so many others suffer in silence. Roughly one in five teenagers struggle with clinical depression, and nearly a third struggle with anxiety. Even with these crippling statistics, our society still harbors the stigma that people with mental health issues are somehow unusual, pathetic, or asking for attention. So often, teenagers feel like there is no hope for their lives, even though we’ve barely experienced a sliver of truly living. Adolescence brings many difficulties, but it also nurtures the joy of meeting one’s first real friends, of discovering budding gifts and talents, of making one’s first life decisions, and of enjoying one’s last few years of childhood. I hope that through a career in psychology, I can help teenagers discover this joy and realize that there truly is hope for their lives.
I’ve always been passionate about psychology, but my own mental health struggles and my motivation to help others intensify this passion. I’ve also discovered a passion for Music Therapy. I am double-majoring in Psychology and Music Therapy in the fall, eventually opening a private therapy practice and earning my Board Certification in Music Therapy. I hope to specialize in teenagers so that I can bring more awareness to their mental health and help break down the stigma surrounding it. Through my work, I hope to create a welcoming and non-judgemental platform for teenagers to feel safe and supported in asking for help.
I’ve seen the tragic effects suicide and mental illnesses have on my family and the families of my close friends. However, I am amazed by how Mattie’s family has carried on his legacy, creating beautiful opportunities and championing mental health advocacy with the Mattie’s Way Memorial Scholarship. While their wounds and the wounds caused by mental health issues around our world will never fully heal, the beauty and real change that they’ve created from the worst of circumstances inspires me to do the same. I hope to help teenagers create beauty from their suffering, learn to embrace their emotional scars, and find joy in their adolescence, all while raising awareness for mental health issues through my career. I am honored simply to apply for this scholarship and to know about Mattie’s story, and if I receive the scholarship, I hope to use it to achieve the most possible good for other teenagers like him.