For as long as I can remember, I have struggled to decide what to do with my life. Everyone struggles with that decision at some point in their life and I knew that at some point I would figure it out. For years I flipped back and forth between job ideas. When I was in preschool I wanted to be an artist. When I was in the third grade I wanted to be a professional figure skater. When I was in the seventh grade I wanted to open a clothing store. But when you hit High School, people start asking for real answers. Suddenly students are faced with reality and hoards of big decisions. When I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I thought long and hard. Suddenly, the world was full of opportunities and I had to pick one. I didn't know for sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to join a worthy cause. I wanted to make a difference in the world, I just didn't know how. I started where I had the most experience, Childcare. I have been working with children for most of my life whether it be volunteering with Vacation Bible School or coaching cheerleaders. I knew I loved being around kids so I decided to pursue a degree in education. But life did what it does best and threw me a curve ball. I found my excitement dwindling and I started doubting my degree path. I decided at that point to take a break from college and try to find the right path before going back to school. That's when I started in professional childcare. I worked with many different age groups and kids from many different backgrounds. For years I was content with where I was. I loved my classroom and the relationships I had formed with the kids, but then life threw another curve ball. That curve ball's name was Emillia. Emillia was a brand new student in my classroom and she was as cute as can be. She had never been in childcare before and she took a while to warm up to us. I was determined to get her to like me. Eventually, I did just that. It turns out that behind her fear, she was incredibly smart, funny, and had the most adorable laugh in the world. She was so sweet but we could tell that her home life had some issues. She would come to school with matted hair and her clothes would smell and she would be visibly dirty. We brought up our concerns with our director and did a test to see if she was getting bathed. We made a small mark on her back with a marker and took a picture to see if it had been cleaned the next day. It wasn't long after that her mom removed her from the center. We never saw her again. That was when I finally figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be able to stand up for kids like Emillia. The kids that don't have a voice, that are in situations that they have no control over, and kids that need someone to fight for them. I believe that a degree in Child Psychology will best equip me to understand the struggles that these children deal with. Kids are the future of the world. Without them, the world would be lost. Through them, we make the world a better place. Thank you for your consideration.

For as long as I can remember, I have felt drawn to working with kids. I love to build personal connections with the kids and help them grow. I have been blessed to meet some truly wonderful children through various childcare centers where I've worked. I have been working professionally in childcare for almost 4 years now, but my experiences aren't limited to just that. I have worked in child care for most of my life, starting when I was in 6th grade. I started my childcare journey by volunteering at my church in Sunday school classes. I felt so helpful and important when I would get to serve with them. Over the years I have expanded my experiences to teaching Vacation Bible School and coaching cheerleaders for a sports-based ministry. I have loved the opportunities to reach out to so many children and to support them as they grow, but my favorites have always been the kids that have special needs like Autism. There was one little girl in particular that made a huge impact on my life and led me to pursue my child psychology degree. This little girl was a beautiful, kind, loving little girl that struggled with severe Autism. She was non-verbal but so incredibly smart. Every day she would blow me away with her abilities. Her name is Evie. The day I met Evie, I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to help her and give her the level of care that she needed. She couldn't communicate her needs like the other kids so I had to pay close attention to her to watch for her cues. Evie and I bonded quickly and soon we were best of friends. She learned the social cues of the class so quickly and pretty soon she was functioning just as well as the other kids. The only problem we ever had with Evie wasn't even her fault, it was the lack of understanding from the people around her. There were people in that child care center that didn't understand the effects of Autism on a child and they weren't willing to give her grace to function in her own way. It was heartbreaking to watch all of her amazing progress dwindle due to the stubbornness and ignorance of those around her. Evie's story has a happy ending though. It wasn't long before Evie was evaluated for her Autism and started to receive the proper services to help her shine. She is still blowing me away and has been able to soar all thanks to the help of people that were properly educated on how to best help kids like her. My life goal is to be able to make an impact in children's lives like Evie's. My degree in Child Psychology will give me the proper training to provide essential services to kids with special needs or to be an advocate for children as they go through Child Protective Services or the Foster Care System. I believe that pursuing this degree will give me the best training to make the biggest impact on kids. Although this dream of mine only became realized recently, it was through children like Evie that brought me to where I am today. And it is thanks to kids like Evie that push me to be the best I can be. Thank you so much for your consideration of my application.

My mother has always been a strong Christian role model for my family. Her life started with so much trauma and so much hurt, but Jesus healed her wounds and walked with her through her life journey. When my mom was just a few weeks old, her mother abandoned her. Her mom was young and afraid to be a mother so early in life, she simply wasn't ready, so she left. My mom's father was in the Marine Corps and was away at boot camp. He had no idea that he would come home to find my mom crying in her crib with no food, no warmth, and no one to dry her tears. He was scared and didn't know how to be a father on his own, so he took her to the one place where he knew she would be safe, his parent's house. My mom was raised by one of the most amazing women in God's kingdom. They guided her in her walk with God and just poured unconditional love into her life. Her Grandmother loved her just like one of her children and was such a light in my mother's life. Her childhood didn't start off the way it should. Children aren't supposed to be left behind to fend for themselves. They are supposed to be loved and nurtured and guided with wisdom to become the best version of themselves possible. Perhaps it is my mother's story that has led me to childcare. From a young age, I have volunteered within my church in many different capacities. From helping with Sunday school classes to Vacation Bible School, and even coaching cheerleaders, I have spent most of my teenage and adult life in some form of childcare. I believe that God's calling on my life is to work with children, to help them and encourage them to overcome their struggles and to realize their remarkable potential to reach for the stars. I am pursuing a Child and Adolescent Psychology Degree so that I can be a better help to children that need it. I hope to one day work one on one with children with special needs to provide them with resources to help overcome their struggles or to become an advocate for children in the Foster Care System or through Child Protective Services. I hope to be ready and prepared for God to use me to lift up children that are hurting and broken and to be a light on their path to Jesus. My mom has been my biggest supporter. She never missed an opportunity to remind me that I can do anything I put my mind to. Every day, no matter how tired or stressed she gets, she sets the example of a Godly mother. Without her influence, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I have been blessed by God to be born to such wonderful parents and to have such an amazing mom as a role model. I hope to make her proud and to give other children support as she has supported me. Thank you so much for your consideration of my application.

My dad is a Marine Corps Veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. For years I have looked up to him. He selflessly risked his life for people he had never even met and he never asks for anything in return. He never seeks out recognition or attention for his service. When he was enlisted, he was an Electro/Optical Space Ordinance Repair Technician on the front lines, and several members of his 6 Marine Battalion didn't make it home. God protected my dad from that battle. My dad was called home for the funeral of my Uncle Chandler who had died suddenly due to an unknown heart condition. If it had not been for the funeral, then my dad would have been on the front lines and may never have come home. My siblings and I would never have been born and so many things would be different. For my whole life, my dad has tried to help others as best he can and in whatever way he can. He has passed these qualities on to my brothers and me. All I want to do in my life is to help impact others and make a change in the world. My way to create change is to help children. So many children don't have strong parental figures or access to the therapies and services they need to be successful. There are so many stories of young kids that have to give up their dreams because they weren't understood or were told they couldn't do it. No child should ever have to face that. My dad laid his life down knowing all of the risks so that people like me would have the freedom to pursue our dreams and live our lives free from the threats of war. I want to dedicate my life to helping children to chase their dreams and be the best people they can be. I am pursuing a Child and Adolescent Psychology Degree so that I can learn the skills to best help children and teenagers not only see their potential but to become the best versions of themselves. I hope to find a career either in behavioral therapies to help children with special needs like Autism and Down Syndrome, or to become a child advocate through child protective services or the foster care systems to ensure that children can find loving families to flourish with. Thank you so much for your consideration of this scholarship.