I grew up in a low-income household where emotional safety was rarely guaranteed. As a first-generation student returning to college in my 30s, I carry both the scars and the strengths of that upbringing. Years spent working in human-centered customer support frequently coaching frantic pet owners through emergencies, calling upset clients personally instead of hiding behind scripts showed me how powerful it is when someone feels seen, heard, and helped with dignity. I’m now studying psychology with the long-term goal of becoming a licensed therapist and eventually expanding access to trauma-informed care for people who can’t easily afford or find it. I want my office (virtual or in person) to be a place where survivors, first-gen students, and working-class families feel welcome. Scholarship support will directly fund tuition and reduce the need for additional debt while I work and study toward this calling. Every scholarship dollar shortens the distance between lived pain and professional healing.