To say that my life has been changed for the better after working with individuals with special needs would be an understatement. For context, I am a high school senior living in Bismarck, North Dakota. When I was twelve, my family adopted my younger brother, George, from China. George has Down Syndrome, and living with him was the first time I ever got to know an individual who had a disability. Learning more about and growing up around him has shaped my life in many ways. Currently, I plan on attending the University of Mary to study Occupational Therapy. I have shadowed numerous Occupational Therapy sessions, and I have seen their impact on my brother. Seeing individuals learn many of the skills and abilities we take for granted has opened my eyes to how necessary Occupational Therapists are. When my brother came home from China, he was a neglected three-year-old who still ate from bottles and could not bear any weight on his legs. Through much hard work and patience, he is finally starting to eat solid foods and is an active ten-year-old. Without the help of therapists in our community, he would not be anywhere near where he is today. Seeing the way these therapists were able to help my brother inspired me to pursue a career where I can help individuals better their lives. I knew that my skills prove useful in a career working with people, and it was not until I reflected on how my life has been impacted by individuals with different disabilities, I had not considered Occupational Therapy. I plan on completing my doctorate and using my abilities to better the lives of individuals who need assistance. I currently work as a Respite worker both privately and through a non-profit agency. I love the work that I do, and I have learned so much about myself through working with different individuals. Through my work, I mainly work with individuals who are diagnosed with Autism, and they inspire me daily. I have gained so much patience, joy, and gratitude through my work, and I hope to continue learning essential lessons as I work in the Occupational Therapy field in my future career. While I am fortunate to come from a loving family where my parents work and provide for my siblings and me, I will still need financial aid to help throughout both undergraduate and graduate programs. This scholarship would be an outstanding financial opportunity as I begin my studies in Occupational Therapy at a post-secondary level. Thank you for your time and consideration.

If I could leave one impression on the world, it would be that I helped people and created a safe place for them to come when they needed guidance, support, or simply someone to listen and empathize with them. I firmly believe that all people, no matter their situation are worthy of dignity and deserve a place to feel safe. I am actively pursuing my passion to help others by volunteering in my community. I am the president of my school's volunteer club. I spend several hours weekly organizing events at local food pantries, non-profit organizations, and support groups of individuals with special needs. Giving back to the people in my community brings me joy, and I love learning about other people's stories. I've learned that sometimes what people need most is simply a set of ears to listen. I hope to be able to continue working with those less fortunate in the future, whether by volunteering or in my future career. I'm currently planning on attending my local University in the fall of 2025 to earn my undergraduate degree in either Elementary Education or Occupational Performance with hopes to either work in a classroom with young children or work one-on-one with children as an Occupational Therapist. This scholarship would help me achieve my goals of working with and helping children in the future, by aiding me financially as I further my education. This school year, I have had the opportunity to job shadow a first-grade teacher every day at a local elementary school. Being in the classroom has been one of the highlights of my senior year, as I can aid in the formation of the children. I have been able to work with the teacher, creating lesson plans to better the abilities of her students, and I've been able to help students with their assignments as well. This experience has shown me how important the early stages of human development truly are, and why children need such strong support at the beginning of their schooling. I hope that, as I continue my education, I find a way to live out my passion for helping others in my future career. The future of our society is in our children, and all children- no matter where they come from or what they deal with on a daily basis- deserve to learn that they have value and a purpose. I believe, that by creating a safe environment for children, they will be able to grow up with positive influences and be inspired to be the best versions of themselves they can be!

As long as I can remember, my school and personal life have been impacted by my mental health. The first time I truly realized that my brain works differently than others around me was in kindergarten, when all my peers and I took out our mats and laid down for midday naps. While my classmates drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but worry about my family and whether or not they were alright. My first time visiting a therapist was in the second grade, after my grandmother took her own life. I was young, so of course I didn't fully understand the situation, but as I grew older, questions started to form in my mind. Why did she have to go? Was my family not enough? Was it something I did to make her unhappy? Now that I'm older, looking back on that experience still makes my heart hurt for my younger self. It was my first experience losing a loved one. My grandmother and I shared a deep connection for as long as I can remember. I used to love travelling out to her farm to bake cookies or pick fruit and make jellies and jams to eat later in the summer heat. Her death was the first time I really understood how important maintaining good mental health was. Anxiety and depression run in my family, and I vowed to myself that I would take care of my mental health- not just for my family, but for myself as well. Throughout middle school and the first half of high school, I didn't have many problems with my mental health- I had lots of friends, good grades, and positive relationships with my family. However, at the beginning of my junior year of high school, I was diagnosed with ADHD. While this diagnosis helped me understand many things about myself- why I had such trouble focusing, I lost interest in hobbies easily, and why it was so difficult to maintain certain relationships- it also opened a door to new difficulties. I have to remember to take medicine every morning, I've gone through countless methods of organization and studying that never seem to work, and so many other new things to work through. I turned to music as an outlet. I've played the oboe since the sixth grade, the piano since I was four, and I love to sing. Finding something that I am passionate about and love doing has helped me manage my ADHD. Even though school takes the majority of my time, I still love challenging myself to see how much I can accomplish- even in the midst of my diagnosis. This year, I was the top oboe in my state's All-State Music Program. Looking back, it definitely wasn't easy. I often lacked the motivation to practice, and juggling preparing my audition with my schoolwork felt like my brain was constantly working double-overtime. However, now that I am able to look back on that experience, I can see how I grew from pushing myself outside of what is comfortable, not letting my mental health dictate how much I was able to accomplish. Even though I'm still learning to understand my ADHD every day, I am thankful for my diagnosis. Not every day is a good day, but I'm still able to learn something about myself daily. It's still an uphill battle, but all of these experiences have helped me learn that every day is a gift and an opportunity to become better than the last.

Children are the most vulnerable members of our society. I believe that we must protect them and, in a way, be a voice for the voiceless. In the future, I plan to get a degree in both Elementary and Special education, and I hope to become a special education teacher. I have had the opportunity to work hands-on with a special education teacher in my town, and working with those students sparked a passion inside of me like one I had never felt before. I have always believed that those working in public services need more recognition for the things that they do. Over the last couple of years, my family has had the opportunity to house multiple kids in our town's foster care system. I have seen firsthand the amount of work that social workers need to do in order to help the kids in the foster care system. In order to improve this system, social workers and the families that provide services for these children must be advocated for. My town doesn't have anywhere near enough families that foster, and the number of children in our system is only growing. I believe that if the state wants this issue to change, then the rights of social workers and these families must be advocated for, and they must be respected more. Currently, I do respite work for kids through a non-profit organization in my community. When I am working, I get a sense of fulfillment in seeing the individuals I am working with thrive. By becoming a Special education teacher in an elementary setting, I will help students learn the skills that are necessary for their growth and help them live their lives to the best of their abilities. In order to reach my personal goals, I have spent lots of time working with and volunteering for people in my community with disabilities. In 2015, my family adopted my brother from China. He has Down Syndrome, and I have been able to work with him and help him develop skills. When my brother came to America, he wasn't able to bear any weight on his legs, but now, through the help of occupational therapy and lots of work at home, he is able to walk, run, and do the same things that his peers can do. In school, I spend lots of time working on classes that align with my future career. I am taking basic generals and APs that will give me credit for classes that I will have to take in college. I have also spent lots of time researching Special Education programs around the country and weighing the pros and cons of each to determine which school will allow me to teach to the best of my ability. By attending the best program, I will be able to teach and help those in my community and advocate on their behalf so that their voices never go unheard.

Inclusion is something that has always been important to me. I have seen firsthand the hardships that those with disabilities go through on a daily basis. When I was eleven, my family adopted my brother, George, from China. George has Down Syndrome, which means he has an extra copy of his 21st chromosome. I didn't know it at the time, but my brother would soon have an extreme impact on the course of my life and future career. Since my brother came home, I have been volunteering with a non-profit organization called 'Designer Genes', which advocates for the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in our community. Volunteering for this organization has changed my life in many ways, and has helped me find resources in our community to learn more about inclusion and diversity. Volunteering with this organization has inspired me to pursue a degree in special education. Today, I am a junior in high school. I pride myself on my high marks and honors classes, but what really matters to me is the work that I do outside of school. I currently work at a non-profit organization that offers respite to children around my community. Every shift I work, my eyes are opened and my perception of the world around me is changed. Looking through the eyes of someone who has a disability is inspiring. No matter how difficult the disability can be at times, these kids are always full of joy. They push past barriers set in place by those society has deemed "normal" and they go beyond what is expected of them. I have seen my brother, who couldn't even bear weight on his legs when he came to America, take his first steps. I have watched my brother play with his friends at school who look past his diagnosis and see him as a peer. I've watched numerous Speech-Language pathologists, Occupational therapists, and behavior specialists work with my brother and others with disabilities, and I have always been fascinated by the way they interact with these children and change their lives. I will graduate High School in the spring of 2025 and plan on going to my local University to receive a degree in both Elementary and Special Education so that I too can make a difference in people's lives. I want to be the teacher that gives kids the tools they need to succeed. I desire to fight for inclusion in my town's community, and not rest until all kids with disabilities feel seen and included. I believe that all people have a right to equality and an improved quality of life no matter their race, gender, or diagnosis. All of these are values that I hold very close to my heart, and I am not afraid to speak up for those who can't be heard or fear they won't be listened to.

Many men that I look up to in my life have been members of the United States military. My grandfather and uncle spent many years in Vietnam serving in the Navy. Since I was young, I have heard stories about their time in the Navy. A special story that I like to tell is about my Great-Grandpa, Michael Marback Jr. When he was serving in the Navy, he and a few men he was with were stranded on a lifeboat, and all they had to eat was a meager chocolate bar. The men lived for days off of three ounces of chocolate each day. I look up to these men and their dedication to our country. I have also been influenced by a teacher that I had in middle school. He is currently serving in North Dakota's National Guard, and he was very open to us students about his experiences during basic training and while being deployed. He inspired all of us students to fight for our country, and he instilled in us loyalty to the United States. Personally, I do not think that I am meant to serve in our country's militia, but I still want to do everything that I can to make our country a better place. I believe that there are many occupations and people in our country that we can all look to as heroes. I believe that along with those on the front line, there are people in our community such as nurses and teachers who are fighting to keep our community safe and are educating the future generation of the United States. I plan to go to University and double major in Elementary Education and Special Education. I hope to become a special education teacher in the future so that I can offer extra help and change the lives of those who need it. Pew Research Center estimated that approximately 7.3 million students, making up 15 percent of all children enrolled in public schools in the United States, are receiving special education services. Because these children have special needs and disabilities, they require extra help and support during their school years. If they are given the right support, they can go on to work everyday jobs and even support our country. The United States is changing its policies surrounding those with special needs and disabilities, and their ability to serve. Today, it is required that 10 percent of all military base's civilian workforce be made up of people with disabilities. This is a great advancement for the people that I hope to work with in the future. I believe that if these kids are given the right help, they will have a higher chance at a successful future, and they will be able to help serve our country for the better. The work that I will do for these kids in my future will help the future of the United States.