My name is Lucy, and I was in the foster care system from the age of 5 till the age of 9 along with my twin sister. But something else about me is that I am also an aspiring occupational therapist with a deep passion for helping others regain their independence and improve their quality of life. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but my heart led me to occupational therapy because of its emphasis on personal connection, problem-solving, and holistic care. My journey toward this goal has been shaped by my faith, my family, and the challenges I have faced along the way. I plan to make a difference in the world through my career by focusing on patient-centered care that goes beyond just physical rehabilitation. I believe that true healing involves emotional and mental well-being as well. As an occupational therapist, I will strive to create personalized therapy plans that recognize each patient's unique needs, goals, and backgrounds. One area I am particularly passionate about is working with children with disabilities, helping them develop the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives. Additionally, I want to advocate for increased accessibility in schools and workplaces, ensuring that people with disabilities are given the tools and opportunities they deserve to thrive. My long-term vision is to work in both clinical and community settings, bridging the gap between medical care and real-world application. One of the biggest adversities in my life but is now more prominent than ever for me is financial uncertainty. Higher education is a significant investment, and I want to ensure that I make a choice that allows me to pursue my passion without putting an overwhelming financial burden on myself or my family. I am actively seeking scholarships and financial aid to make my dream of becoming an occupational therapist a reality. While my journey has not been easy, I believe that the challenges I have faced have strengthened my resilience and determination. Through my education and career, I am committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I want to help people regain independence, advocate for inclusivity, and provide compassionate care to those in need. The road ahead may be challenging, but I am ready to face it with determination, faith, and a deep commitment to helping others. I hope this scholarship will help me take the next step toward achieving my dreams and becoming a skilled, compassionate occupational therapist who truly makes a difference in the world.

Softball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my first memories are of me, my uncles and my grandpa at our local baseball field and all of them trying to show me how to swing a bat. As I've continued to grow up softball has been a cornerstone in my life. I would spend every weekend with my uncles trying to learn how to play all of the different positions and watching every game as they tried to break down every game. When I got into middle school, I remember being so excited to play for my school and being able to contribute my skills to team. As I sat on the bench putting on my cleats for the first day of try outs listen to the coaching explaining what we would do today. "Go to your position" he yelled out. I remembered being so confused, did he mean positions? The voice of my uncle played in the back of my head as I headed out to the field " you don't have a position; you go where the coach needs you" but as all the girls ran to "their" positions I ran to the coach. As I ran up to the coach I asked very timidly "so where should I go?" he looked at me in the same confused face I had. "Well, what do you play?" he responded, "I'll play anywhere" I said as confidently as I could. He thought for a second and said "Go stand behind home" so I smiled and ran to home plate. That was start of my love for catching, I would have never been able to guess what I would continue to play as a catcher even to this day. I think that I love it so much simply because I get to run the field. I can see what is happening at any spot on the field at any point in a playa and I get to be a part of any play. I've seen my growth on the field translate to my growth as a person and my growth as a student. As I've become more confident calling plays and pitches, I've also become more confident presenting in front of classes and being a leader in groups. I think softball is more than just a sport, I've seen it effect every part of my life, and I believe that softball can do that for another generation of young girls. I hope to one day do the same things my uncles did for me and be a mentor and coach for a young girl who just wants a feeling of belongingness.

My favorite book is The Giver by Lois Lowry, I was introduced to this book by my great grandma about 4 years ago. This book is about a dystopian reality where everyones life is the same and there is no difference in the societys schedules, they all see in black and white and they are all unable to feel anything other then happiness. After my first time reading The Giver I said that I was glad my life would never be like this but after my second time reading the book I realize that it was likely that my life could end up in a similar fashion to the shown in the book and that is one of my favorite parts about it. The giver makes you think about how you live your life on a day to day basis and in many cases it makes you want to never have a life similar to the one shown. The great part about this book is that it gives you a solution to not having a life similar to this one. The main character Jonah is given a different role upon the career assignment day then the rest of his peers, this new role would give Jonah a new perspective to his society by inheriting everyones memories from the past and presents and as he learns these memories he is able to see color and experience feelings other then happiness. At the end of the book Jonah realizes that there is more to life then just what he was taught and raised with and Jonah decided to leave his community to find a better life for him and his little brother Gabriel.

My battle with mental health started young. I vividly remember the first time I had a thought of harming myself and that was in 5th. I have struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts/ suicidal ideation, anxiety and eating disorders just in the past few years and i have problems with my mental health to this day. My journey has always been peaks and valleys ever from that start and I want to let other people know that experiencing the ups and downs is perfectly normal. I used to believe that depression and mental health in general was just something that people got over quickly and when that didn’t happen with me I felt like there was something wrong with me and made me feel isolated, I never want a some one of any age or background to feel like that. I am constantly trying to break the stigma and connotations around mental health daily by being open with my experiences and my journey with my mental illness. I make it a habit to be open with friends, people at school and sometimes even strangers to talk about mental health when needed so that they don’t feel alone in there experiences. A majority and most likely all people struggle with mental health problems/ issues at some point in there life’s and if me being open with my experiences will change someone’s perspective on mental illness and mental health I feel like I have made a change for the good even if I only affect one person.