Picture it: It was summertime in 1985, and my then 14-year-old Uncle Jim, armed with the reckless invincibility only adolescence can provide, found himself a visitor in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Cherry family, which then consisted of my uncle, my mother, my Grandpa Steve, and my Grandmother Kazuko, were all there to visit my Grandmother’s family in her birthplace of Fukuoka, Japan. As the day unfolded, Jim befriended a local Japanese boy, and they spent the day riding bikes and exploring the village. Eventually, they came across a fireworks stand and pooled their money together to buy a few bottle rockets. After some searching, they found an open field that they thought would be perfect for setting off fireworks. Little did they know, their chosen playground was a tinderbox of dry grass, primed for combustion. Ignorance was bliss until a firework ignited the dry field, turning into a blazing inferno faster than they could pick their jaws up off the ground. In a panic, the boys sprinted back to the village looking for help. There was no fire department, so villagers rallied together and a makeshift bucket brigade formed. Neighbors began frantically passing buckets of water from hand to hand in a desperate attempt to extinguish the flames. The villagers battled diligently through the evening, dousing the flames with buckets of water until the last ember was extinguished. In the end, laughter, surprisingly, echoed through the weary but relieved crowd. Most of the villagers had a sense of humor about it, chalking it up to the antics of one of their own and the half-American boy. They certainly brought a little chaos into their otherwise tranquil world! Unfortunately, the real reckoning awaited Jim behind closed doors. My very stern, ex-military Grandpa Steve quietly ushered him inside the house for a conversation only the two of them and perhaps the good Lord (or Buddha, depending on who you ask) himself were privy to. However, the following spanking heard ‘round Fukuoka is a different story! Uncle Jim lived to tell the tale and eventually, as an adult, donned the uniform of the US Army National Guard. A wiser man, he learned a valuable lesson that day in Fukuoka - the importance of checking the dryness of the grass before starting any pyrotechnic activities. Today, having just retired, my Uncle Jim still carries the memory of that blazing field, forever mindful of that time he nearly burned a remote Japanese village to the ground. Some days, he says his butt still hurts from that spanking. As I tell this story, I'm reminded of how important meticulous observation and attention to detail will also be in my future career! My goal is to become a Forensic Investigator, and I am beyond excited to study at the Forensic Anthropology Center at UT Knoxville, where I hope to hone my skills in observation and analysis. Your financial support with this scholarship would mean the world to me. Thank you for your consideration!

Hmmm. Your essay question left me a little stumped, but I’ve given it some serious thought and I think I’ve actually come up with a viable answer. As much as I hate to say it, I truly believe that if we want to provide affordable mental healthcare for all, we need to look very deeply into using Artificial Intelligence. Yes, I know that using AI means that we take jobs away from humans, but at some point, we have to realize and accept that there will never be enough healthcare workers or funds available to help everyone who needs help. Imagine the difference we could make if we were to offer AI for free or low-cost virtual medical consultations and mental health support, ensuring that at-risk individuals receive care and medicine in a timely manner. AI could also help cut administrative costs and increase efficiency by being tasked with handling prescription medication requests, as well as insurance processing. AI may never be able to replace the kind, comforting face of one’s favorite doctor or nurse, but for many who are suffering and can’t afford proper care and support, it could end up being the only lifeline they have. So my answer to your question is Artificial Intelligence. While it won’t be everyone’s preference, if we can save just one life by making it an option……well, that’s enough for me.

Hello, my name is Lydia Runions, and I am a determined 19-year-old student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Before I begin, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the chance to win this scholarship. As someone who is trying her best to achieve her dreams against financial odds, winning the Beyond The C.L.O.U.D Scholarship would be an incredible blessing in making my educational dreams come true. As the child of divorced, middle-class parents, I grew up going back and forth between two extremely financially modest households. By the time I was in high school, I understood that higher education was going to be a significant financial challenge for me. My parents are supportive, however, they are not able to contribute financially to my college expenses. I realized that my best chance to afford college would be to excel academically in order to increase my chances of winning scholarships and awards. I pushed myself and graduated with a 3.97 GPA, made a 31 on the ACT, and earned the #1 spot in my high school nursing class. I also took on a part-time job and saved every penny I could for my future college tuition. I am now in my sophomore year, and my ambition is to become a Forensic Investigator. I first realized I had a deep interest in and respect for the field of forensics after watching shows like CSI. I’ve now come to realize that I have a strong desire to contribute to society by solving crimes and seeking justice for the affected. The Forensic Anthropology Center at UT Knoxville, which is renowned for its forensic body farm, attracted me to this amazing campus. Here, I truly believe I can learn from the finest and become the best forensic investigator I can be. I believe my tenacity makes me a great candidate for this scholarship, so I’d also like to take a moment to recount to you a time when I experienced emotional weakness, and how I overcame it. I vividly recall struggling with crippling social anxiety during my middle school years. Even so, I adored theatre productions and musicals and had a secret desire to perform on-stage. My first real opportunity came in the 5th grade when my school held auditions for Aladdin Jr. - The Musical. I went to the audition and immediately became paralyzed with fear when I learned I would have to sing a solo to audition for the part of Jasmine - a part I wanted more than anything. Despite feeling nauseated and fighting to control the trembling in my body, I faced my fears and sang my solo. I barely made it out of the audition and into the parking lot before I succumbed to the panic, but in the end, I won the part, kept control of my fears, and somehow did a good job. After Aladdin Jr., I persevered and gradually conquered my stage fright and (mostly) conquered my social anxiety. By 12th grade, I had grown confident enough to accept a lead role in a musical, where I both sang and danced to an upbeat solo routine. When the show was over, I remember feeling so proud of how far I’d come. The journey was scary and challenging, but it taught me the power of determination and the rewards of pushing beyond one's limitations. Thank you once more for allowing me a chance to win this scholarship. Your support would greatly help ease the financial burden I’m currently carrying and allow me to continue to follow my dreams. Best wishes to all!

Hello Scholarship Committee! My name is Lydia Runions, and I am a determined 19-year-old student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the chance to win this scholarship, which would greatly help me in my educational journey. As someone who is trying her best to achieve her dreams against financial odds, winning the Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation Scholarship would be an incredible blessing in making my educational dreams come true. As the child of divorced, middle-class parents, I grew up going back and forth between two very financially modest households. By the time I was in high school, I understood that higher education was going to be a significant financial challenge for me. My parents are supportive, however, they are not able to contribute financially to my college expenses. I realized that my only real chance to afford college would be to excel academically in order to increase my chances of winning scholarships and awards. I pushed myself and graduated with a 3.97 GPA, made a 31 on the ACT, and earned the #1 spot in my high school nursing class. I also took on a part-time job and saved every penny I could for my future college tuition. I am now in my sophomore year, and my ambition is to become a Forensic Investigator. I first realized I had a deep interest in and respect for the field of forensics after watching shows like CSI. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I have a strong desire to contribute to society by solving crimes and seeking justice for the affected. The Forensic Anthropology Center at UT Knoxville, which is renowned for its forensic body farm, attracted me to this amazing campus. Here, I truly believe I can learn from the finest and become the best forensic investigator I can be. In the second part of this essay, I’d like to recount a time when I experienced emotional weakness, and how I overcame it. I can vividly recall struggling with crippling social anxiety during my elementary and middle school years. Even so, I adored theatre productions and musicals and had a secret desire to perform on-stage. My first real opportunity came in the 5th grade when my school held auditions for Aladdin Jr. - The Musical. I went to the audition and immediately became paralyzed with fear when I learned I would have to sing a solo to audition for the part of Jasmine - a part I wanted more than anything. Despite feeling nauseated and fighting to control the trembling in my body, I faced my fears and sang my solo. I made it out of the audition and into the parking lot before I succumbed to the panic….but you know what? In the end, I won the part and ended up doing a great job! After Aladdin Jr., I persevered and gradually conquered my stage fright and (mostly) conquered my social anxiety. By 12th grade, I had grown confident enough to accept a lead role in a musical, where I both sang and danced to an upbeat solo routine. When the show was over, I remember feeling so proud of how far I’d come. The journey was scary and challenging, but it taught me the power of determination and the rewards of pushing beyond one's fears. Thank you once more for allowing me a chance to win this scholarship. Your support would greatly help ease the financial burden I’m currently carrying and allow me to continue to follow my dreams. Best wishes to all.

When I was younger, my mother used to read to me so much at bedtime that I grew to love books. I’ve learned a lot from the stories I’ve read, and one of my favorites was a book that my mother introduced to me at about age 12. She told me that the story had a profound influence on her life growing up, and wanted me to have the same experience. The book is called Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, first published in 1960. As a young girl, I was just as thrilled with this compelling piece of literature as my mother was. This timeless book is not only a page-turner, but it also serves as a powerful inspiration for young girls on how to be strong and self-sufficient when faced with challenging situations. Set on a remote island called San Nicolas, Island of the Blue Dolphins tells the tale of a young American Indian girl named Karana who is left stranded alone on the island after her tribe's sudden departure. The book challenges the conventional stereotypes of gender roles as it shares the story of Karana’s strength, independence, and resilience - traits that have historically been more associated with men. Karana knows that she will not survive alone unless she takes control of her life, so she learns to fish, hunt, build shelter, and find fresh water. During the time she’s stranded, she faces several challenges including a lack of food and water, as well as dangerous encounters with island wildlife, but she refuses to lose hope. For me, the way she persevered and adapted to her environment was incredibly inspiring. Books like Island of the Blue Dolphins also teach young readers the value of empathy. You become so connected to the characters in books that you find yourself grieving when they grieve and rejoicing along with them when they celebrate. In the age of electronics and social media, I fear that empathy is slowly disappearing in favor of bullying, judging, and criticizing others, and I am very grateful to my books for keeping me grounded. Karana's life and story will most likely stay with me throughout the rest of my life, as I often think of her now that I'm in college and face new challenges daily. Writer Carlos Ruiz Zafón once said, “Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you.” I suppose for me, I must have seen a little of myself in Karana. Throughout high school, there were times that I faced challenges and felt like giving up, but I'd remember Karana's strength and resilience and I knew that giving up wasn't an option. Scott O’Dell masterfully and beautifully used his story to teach young girls everywhere that with strength and determination, we can do anything we set our minds to. I truly believe that's something that all young girls need to believe. Thank you, Scott O'Dell, for teaching me that I should never be underestimated. I will forever be grateful to you, Karana, and the Island for reminding me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

When I was younger, my mother used to read books to me at bedtime. One of my favorites was a book that my mother first read when she was 12 years old. She told me that the story had a profound influence on her life growing up, and wanted me to have the same experience. The book was called Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, first published in 1960. As a young girl, I was just as thrilled with this compelling piece of literature as my mother was. This timeless book is not only a page-turner, but it also serves as a powerful inspiration for young girls on how to be strong and self-sufficient when faced with challenging situations. Set on a remote island called San Nicolas, Island of the Blue Dolphins tells the tale of a young American Indian girl named Karana who is left stranded alone on the island after her tribe's departure. The book challenges the conventional stereotypes of gender roles as it shares the story of Karana’s strength, independence, and resilience - traits that have historically been more associated with men. Karana knows that she will not survive alone unless she takes control of her life, so she learns to fish, hunt, build shelter, and find fresh water. During the time she’s stranded, she faces several challenges including a lack of food and water, as well as dangerous encounters with island wildlife, but she refuses to lose hope. For me, the way she persevered and adapted to her environment was incredibly inspiring. As an animal lover, I was also touched by the relationship that Karana eventually forms with a wild island dog that she names Rontu. After being alone for some time, she begins to crave companionship and forms a plan to domesticate a wild dog. Her bond with Rontu is a gentle reminder to young girls that while being self-sufficient is essential, having a connection with another living being is equally as important for human happiness and survival. Karana’s incredible story of strength and resilience has stayed with me my entire life, and I would encourage all young girls to read this book. Scott O’Dell masterfully and beautifully uses Karana’s story to remind young girls everywhere that with strength and determination, we should never be underestimated because we can do anything we set our minds to.

I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen trying to write about my experiences with mental health, and a flood of emotions and memories hit me like a freight train all at once. Mental health issues have affected my life in many so many ways. I’m going to take a deep breath and try to tell you a little about it. Mental health issues have torn my family apart twice. Coincidentally, they are to blame for why I don’t have any college savings and desperately need scholarships to pay for college. My parents were high school sweethearts that got married after 15 years of dating. They were happy, and not long after me my little sister was born. One night when I was 3 and my sister was about 9 months old, I woke up to the sound of my parents fighting in the living room. I went out to see what was going on, but before I could even understand what was happening, my panicked mother picked me up and ran into the bedroom where my sister was sleeping in her crib. Mama was crying and shaking, and she tried to quickly shut and lock the bedroom door but my father angrily stopped her. Out of respect for my parents, I won’t go into great detail about what happened next. Instead, I’ll just say that I witnessed my father have a complete mental breakdown that night. My parents didn’t stay together for much longer after that night. My mother took my sister and me and we moved in with our Grandma, and my father went away to stay in the hospital for a little while. After he got out, we didn’t see him much. He continued to struggle with mental health issues daily, and it began to take a toll on my parents’ business. My parents jointly owned a restaurant, but my father ran it while my mother worked a different full-time job. Eventually, he wasn’t able to effectively run the restaurant, so one night he closed the doors and disappeared from our lives. My mother was left with their joint bills and all of the restaurant debt and she only had two options: file bankruptcy or sell her assets to pay off the debt. She had inherited 180 acres of land from her father, and had always planned on selling it later on to fund my and my sister’s college education. Unfortunately, every bit of the land had to be sold to settle my parent's debts, and nothing was left for college. My mother never financially recovered after that. About a year later, my mother began dating an old childhood friend of about 25 years, and she was blissfully happy with him. A soldier in the Army National Guard, he had just recently come off of deployment in Iraq. The two of them were eventually married, and my sister and I were so excited to have a new stepdad. He was kind to us, played with us, and showed up for every school event and parent-teacher conference. He was invested in our lives and we eventually started to call him Daddy. But after awhile we started to notice that other people didn't like him very much. He argued with people alot, and said things he shouldn't. My mother started to catch him in various lies, and it began to affect their marriage. In the end, he was diagnosed with mental illness and PTSD, and he told my mother that he didn’t want to live the life he’d been living with us anymore. He wanted to move on, so he withdrew all of the money from their bank account and left us. He was our Daddy, and he raised my sister and me for 11 years, but he walked out the door 3 years ago and we haven’t seen him since. Christmases have passed, my 16th birthday, then I graduated high school, and got into college. At each major event, I couldn’t stop my eyes from looking for him in the crowds, but he never showed up. It took a while, but I finally stopped looking. My mother now struggles with anxiety and depression, and she’s always worried about finances and my mental health as well as my sister’s. I guess she’s afraid that trauma from all the dad stuff will eventually rear its ugly head in us one day. My biological father came back into our lives a while back, so that’s made it easier for my sister and me to cope with losing our stepdad. My dad has gotten remarried, has a stable job, and is in a much better mental place than he used to be. Unfortunately, he now has multiple heart conditions, and at 45 years old, has already had two heart attacks. His relationship with us is finally back on track, but now we have to wonder if his time is limited. Taking care of your mental health is SO important. When you’re suffering, you make poor decisions that can destroy those around you. If it's bad enough, it spreads like a disease throughout everyone who loves and cares about you. It can take away happiness, joy, love, opportunities, money, jobs, and even life. Mine probably isn’t the worst experience you’ll read about in these essays, but that’s my personal story and how it affected me. I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology, and I hope to work in the medical field. I hope that, once I enter the workforce, I can help others who are dealing with mental illness because I know what it can do to families. If I can help just one other little girl not have to live without a mother or father in their life, I will consider that a win. Thank you for this opportunity.

I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen trying to write about my experiences with mental health, and a flood of emotions and memories hit me like a freight train all at once. Mental health issues have affected my life in many so many ways. I’m going to take a deep breath and try to tell you a little about it. Mental health issues have torn my family apart twice. Coincidentally, they are to blame for why I don’t have any college savings and desperately need scholarships to pay for college. My parents were high school sweethearts that got married after 15 years of dating. They were happy, and not long after me my little sister was born. One night when I was 3 and my sister was about 9 months old, I woke up to the sound of my parents fighting in the living room. I went out to see what was going on, but before I could even understand what was happening, my panicked mother picked me up and ran into the bedroom where my sister was sleeping in her crib. Mama was crying and shaking, and she tried to quickly shut and lock the bedroom door but my father angrily stopped her. Out of respect for my parents, I won’t go into great detail about what happened next. Instead, I’ll just say that I witnessed my father have a complete mental breakdown that night. My parents didn’t stay together for much longer after that night. My mother took my sister and me and we moved in with our Grandma, and my father went away to stay in the hospital for a little while. After he got out, we didn’t see him much. He continued to struggle with mental health issues daily, and it began to take a toll on my parents’ business. My parents jointly owned a restaurant, but my father ran it while my mother worked a different full-time job. Eventually, he wasn’t able to effectively run the restaurant, so one night he closed the doors and disappeared from our lives. My mother was left with their joint bills and all of the restaurant debt and she only had two options: file bankruptcy or sell her assets to pay off the debt. She had inherited 180 acres of land from her father, and had always planned on selling it later on to fund my and my sister’s college education. Unfortunately, every bit of the land had to be sold to settle my parent's debts, and nothing was left for college. My mother never financially recovered after that. About a year later, my mother began dating an old childhood friend of about 25 years, and she was blissfully happy with him. A soldier in the Army National Guard, he had just recently come off of deployment in Iraq. The two of them were eventually married, and my sister and I were so excited to have a new stepdad. He was kind to us, played with us, and showed up for every school event and parent-teacher conference. He was invested in our lives and we eventually started to call him Daddy. But every so often, people would make comments about him that confused us. People often thought he wasn’t genuine or that he seemed manipulative and fake. My mother started to catch him in various lies, and it began to affect their marriage. In the end, he was diagnosed with mental illness and PTSD, and he told my mother that he didn’t want to live the life he’d been living with us anymore. He wanted to move on, so he did, and when he left he took all of our money. He was our Daddy, and he raised my sister and me for 11 years, but he walked out the door 3 years ago and we haven’t seen him since. Christmases have passed, I turned 16, then I graduated high school, got into college, and turned 18. At each major event, I couldn’t stop my eyes from looking for him in the crowds, but he never showed up. It took a while, but I finally stopped looking. My mother now struggles with anxiety and depression, and she’s always worried about finances and my mental health as well as my sister’s. I guess she’s afraid that trauma from all the dad stuff will eventually rear its ugly head in the form of “daddy issues”. My biological father came back into our lives a while back, so that’s made it easier for my sister and me to cope with losing our stepdad. My dad has gotten remarried, has a stable job, and is in a much better mental place than he used to be. Unfortunately, he now has multiple heart conditions, and at 45 years old, has already had two heart attacks. His relationship with us is finally back on track, but now we have to wonder if his time is limited. Taking care of your mental health is SO important. When you’re suffering, you make poor decisions that can destroy those around you. If it's bad enough, it spreads like a disease throughout everyone who loves and cares about you. It can take away happiness, joy, love, opportunities, money, jobs, and even life. Mine probably isn’t the worst experience you’ll read about in these essays, but that’s my personal story and how it affected me. I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology, and I hope to work in the medical field. I hope that, once I enter the workforce, I can help others who are dealing with mental illness because I know what it can do to families. If I can help just one other little girl not have to live without a mother or father in their life, I will consider that a win. Thank you for this opportunity.

Most people have at least one pet peeve, right? Well, I’ll be honest, I have several pet peeves. But one of the big ones for me is littering. I feel so disgusted and angry when I see piles of garbage on the side of the roads, clogging up waterways, and scattered about in nature. I don’t understand how people can throw their trash out knowing the negative effect it will have on our environment. Of course, littering isn’t our only environmental issue. Across the globe and in so many ways, humans are causing significant damage to our environment. Our self-serving choices and ways of life have provoked changes to our climate, air, and water pollution, deforestation, excessive waste, and even species extinction. I’m not an environmentalist, but I do care about the future of our planet. Each day I make a conscious choice to try and live more sustainably whenever possible. It’s not always easy, but I’ve often found it to be healthier for my mind and body, and it’s a decision that I can feel good about each day. Since I’m now a college student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, one of the easiest ways I’ve found to reduce my carbon footprint is to simply walk rather than drive whenever possible. By making this choice, I’m reducing the number of emissions going into our environment, and while I’m walking I’m also exercising my body and clearing my mind. Studies show that walking even 30 minutes a day is beneficial to your physical and mental health, both of which, when not cared for, can negatively impact your life. If walking isn’t your thing, consider cycling, carpooling, or public transportation. All of those are also great options if you want to live more sustainably. When you’re at your local grocery or superstore, have you ever noticed that companies often put their products inside of packaging that seems overly large or excessive for what’s inside? I notice it all the time, and when you get home and throw away the packaging it always seems like such an incredible waste! All of that trash creates even more garbage for our landfills, which are already stuffed full of non-biodegradable products. Instead of adding to that problem, I like to look for eco-friendly, biodegradable products that are made from recycled materials. I don’t need big, excessive promotional packaging for my products. I just want the product and to create as little waste and harm to the environment as possible. On a related note, did you know that plastic grocery bags take 1,000 years to decompose, and 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags annually? You can help work towards improving this grim issue by buying yourself some cute, reusable shopping bags to use instead. While I’m out shopping and already thinking about how to live more sustainably, I’ll often stop at local farmer’s markets or even roadside stands for locally-grown and organic products rather than buying pesticide and chemical-filled vegetables at the grocery store. I like to do this for two reasons: I’m supporting local businesses that are trying to offer environmentally-friendly products, and eating organic is better for my health. There are many ways for a person to reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably, and it’s something we all need to take more seriously. Small changes can make a big difference if we all work together! I’d like to thank the scholarship committee for this incredible opportunity. I enjoyed applying and I appreciate your consideration! Lydia Jade Runions, age 18 UT Knoxville

Most people have at least one pet peeve, right? Well, I’ll be honest, I have several pet peeves. But one of the big ones for me is littering. I feel so disgusted and angry when I see piles of garbage on the side of the roads, clogging up waterways, and scattered about in nature. I don’t understand how people can throw their trash out knowing the negative effect it will have on our environment. Of course, littering isn’t our only environmental issue. Across the globe and in so many ways, humans are causing significant damage to our environment. Our self-serving choices and ways of life have provoked changes to our climate, air, and water pollution, deforestation, excessive waste, and even species extinction. I’m not an environmentalist, but I do care about the future of our planet. Each day I make a conscious choice to try and live more sustainably whenever possible. It’s not always easy, but I’ve often found it to be healthier for my mind and body, and it’s a decision that I can feel good about each day. Since I’m now a college student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, one of the easiest ways I’ve found to reduce my carbon footprint is to simply walk rather than drive whenever possible. By making this choice, I’m reducing the amount of emissions going into our environment, and while I’m walking I’m also exercising my body and clearing my mind. Studies show that walking even 30 minutes a day is beneficial to your physical and mental health, both of which, when not cared for, can negatively impact your life. If walking isn’t your thing, consider cycling, carpooling, or public transportation. All of those are also great options if you want to live more sustainably. When you’re at your local grocery or superstore, have you ever noticed that companies often put their products inside of packaging that seems overly large or excessive for what’s inside? I notice it all the time, and when you get home and throw away the packaging it always seems like such an incredible waste! All of that trash creates even more garbage for our landfills, which are already stuffed full of non-bio-degradable products. Instead of adding to that problem, I like to look for eco-friendly, biodegradable products that are made from recycled materials. I don’t need big, excessive promotional packaging for my products. I just want the product and to create as little waste and harm to the environment as possible. While I’m out shopping and already thinking about how to live more sustainably, I’ll often stop at local farmer’s markets or even roadside stands for locally-grown and organic products rather than buying pesticide and chemical-filled vegetables at the grocery store. I like to do this for two reasons: I’m supporting local businesses that are trying to offer environmentally-friendly products, and eating organic is better for my health. On a related note, did you know that plastic grocery bags take 1,000 years to decompose, and 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags annually? You can help work towards improving this grim issue by buying yourself some cute, reusable grocery bags to use instead. There are many ways for a person to reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably, and it’s something we all need to take more seriously. Small changes can make a big difference if we all work together! I’d like to thank the scholarship committee for this incredible opportunity. I enjoyed applying and I appreciate your consideration! Lydia Jade Runions, age 18 UT Knoxville

Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother. From the time I was born until I was about 10, my grandmother was always there helping my mom take care of us. My parents were divorced and my baby sister and I lived with my mom. Our grandmother would often move in and stay with us for weeks to months at a time to help out. She was single but struggled with depression after my grandfather left her just before I was born. I always loved when Grandma came to stay with us because she was probably my favorite person in the whole world. She was my best friend and we adored each other. My memory is a little foggy, but I first remember hearing my mom yelling at Grandma when I was about 6 years old. My mother had come home from work and pulled into the driveway to find my 3-year-old sister and me (I was 6) playing in the road in our underwear. She was in such a panic when she saw us. We’d been playing outside by the road for most of the day because Grandma, who was babysitting us, had taken a lot of pills and had been asleep for hours. After a few hours, we got hungry, so we got a chair to stand in and cooked our own meal on the stove that day. Afterward, we got bored and went outside. Once we told our mom all of that, she got even more upset and cried. Things just kept slowly going downhill for Grandma after that. She had mostly hidden her depression from the world for 10 years, but eventually, it all came crashing down. By the time I was 10, my mother forbade her from driving with us in the car. She couldn’t pick us up from school, take us for ice cream or to the movies, or help take us to doctor’s appointments anymore. I remember being angry and demanding to know why I couldn’t ride in the car with Grandma anymore. My mother quietly told me that the police department had called her earlier that week to tell her that Grandma had been involved in 3 minor auto wrecks in the same day, and the police suspected that she was abusing prescription medications and driving impaired. The month before, she had apparently run off the road several times and hit a stop sign. She said it just wasn’t safe anymore, and my anger turned to fear. My grandma was an addict? In the end, it turned out she’d been doctor-hopping and getting multiple prescriptions for painkillers to drown out her sadness, and became addicted. The pills took control of her life. It took her years to recover, and she missed out on so much of our lives while she was addicted. We missed our grandma, and my mom’s life got harder because she didn’t have her to help take care of us anymore. Addiction hurts more than just the addicted. It hurts everyone who loves, cares about, and needs them too. Now that I’m 18, I don’t even like to take prescription pills. I often turn down painkillers because I know what they can do. As far as relationships, I’m wary of anyone who takes a lot of medication or expresses an interest in drugs. It’s too heartbreaking; I don’t want to go down that road. My career goal is to be a Physician’s Assistant, and if I can help someone struggling with addiction I will always do my best. I understand how much it hurts people.

Hi, my name is Lydia Runions, and I am a freshman at UT Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate in 2026 and move forward into a Physician's Assistant Program. The tech that inspires me and the reason I chose my major are actually sort of tied together I’m part-Japanese and come from a small, rural town in NorthwestTennessee. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She lives near us and always had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her or made rude comments when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I made sure to pay attention to every detail at each appointment, and taking care of my grandmother became my top priority besides school. By the time I was in high school I had come to realize that I felt a lot of compassion for foreigners in our country who were just trying to survive, and I also knew that I had a serious interest in being a medical provider. I realized the potential for me to make a difference as a P.A. My favorite tech invention in the last 10 years has to be language translator earbuds. I think it is incredible that we now have the ability to speak in real-time to someone who speaks a completely different language, and still be able to understand each other. There are also handheld instant translator devices available, which are also amazing. Either of those devices could do wonders for hospital staff or anyone working in the medical field. America is such a melting pot of diverse cultures and nationalities, yet you never see anyone with an electronic translator on hand! When I enter the workforce as a P.A., there is no doubt that tech will have a huge place in my life and in the care of my patients. I look forward to learning about each piece of machinery and every program and seeing all the ways in which they improve our lives. Thank you for offering this scholarship, and I appreciate your consideration!

There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet and suffered from social anxiety. She put her heart and soul into academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. A few times, she tried to step out of her comfort zone and talk to her classmates, but after being nearly invisible for so long they had become accustomed to ignoring her. By her sophomore year, she was taking medication to tame her crippling anxiety. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had social anxiety, but she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The role required her to sing one solo, and she almost had a panic attack and chickened out of the audition. Ultimately, she forced herself to go through with it, and to her complete and utter shock, she won the part. In the months leading up to the performance, she had several anxiety attacks and tried hard to hide them from everyone. There were several times when she thought she would have to drop out of the play, but she wanted more than anything to find it inside of herself to overcome her fears. On the day of the play she felt like she could barely breathe and her whole body was shaking, but she did it. She didn’t forget any lines and she nailed her solo. Winning that role and successfully portraying Jasmine gave her the confidence to try out for other plays, but each time she auditioned she was overcome with paralyzing stage fright again. Through many tears, she kept trying. She never gave up, and with each audition, she became a little braver. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. She took voice lessons and eventually starred in musicals, confidently singing solos in front of hundreds of people. When she was up on stage she became a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. Theater changed her life. She had always been someone who was overlooked, but suddenly people became interested in knowing her and started talking to her more. By her senior year, the girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior” in her class. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that the girl was me. I’m now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and, since being here, I have found myself noticing and gravitating toward individuals that seem to be struggling. I recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel alone. Through my own experiences, I’ve learned that there could be an incredible person hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. I hope one day to be involved in theater again, not just as an actress but as a mentor. I want to help other kids, like myself, who just need someone to believe in them. In theatre and every aspect of my life, I want to be a supportive friend to anyone who needs it. That’s how I want to make a positive impact on the world. Thank you for your consideration and for this amazing opportunity.

Lydia Runions, age 18, University of Tennessee - Knoxville When my little sister Maya and I were very young, we were always confused when someone referred to our Grandma because we had two of them. Neither one of them wanted to be called anything but “Grandma”, so at the ages of 2 and 4 my sister and I decided to call them by their hair color to differentiate between the two. We named them "White-Hair Grandma" and "Black-Hair Grandma". Despite the complete and utter silliness of it, everyone laughed and said it made sense, so the names stuck. Every other Saturday morning while we were growing up, White-Hair Grandma and Papaw would drive an hour to our house to take us to McDonald’s for breakfast. Papaw would write knock-knock jokes on napkins and pass them to us, making us giggle. Afterward, we would go to the Dollar Tree and they’d let us pick out 3 things each. We always knew that this was a big deal because, like my parents, White-Hair Grandma and Papaw were not rich. They lived paycheck to paycheck and worried about money all the time. Despite that, they always put aside enough money to take us to McDonald’s and Dollar Tree when they visited. If you ever asked White-Hair Grandma and Papaw what their favorite things in the world were, they’d tell you without hesitation, “Our grandbabies and the Tennessee Vols!” If there was ever a Vols game on, we knew that White-Hair Grandma and Papaw would be in front of the TV cheering them on. Their entire apartment was decorated in the Vols orange and white school colors, and I knew all the words to “Rocky Top” by the time I was 5. Papaw was a superfan, so whenever the Vols were losing we’d learn a couple of new creative curse words from him. When they won, we’d have a big celebration. They didn’t know it, but I had decided long before I graduated that I would do whatever it took to get into UT. I never spoke the words out loud because, looking at the cost of tuition, it seemed financially impossible for us. But every time I saw their passion and enthusiasm for the Vols, I knew I had to find a way. During my senior year, I decided to forego parties and social events so that I could buckle down and study. I knew that unless I received scholarships, I would never be able to afford to go there. So, I fought for it. I joined clubs that would look good on my college application, made a 31 on the ACT, graduated with a 3.9 GPA, and was #1 in my nursing class. I applied for every scholarship I was eligible for and saved every dollar I could for my college fund. Each night, I prayed. Last year, just after I graduated high school, cancer took White-Hair Grandma from us. Immediately after her death, we lost Papaw too. Not because he passed, but because her death somehow triggered dementia in him. He no longer remembers who we are. I lost them both and I never got to tell them my big news that would have made them SO proud: I had been accepted to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The letter came just after White-Hair Grandma passed. “Congratulations Lydia! You’re a Tennessee Vol!” Then, enough scholarships came through to put UT within my reach. I still needed student loans but I had done it! I tried to tell Papaw, but he doesn’t know who I am anymore. I feel so heartbroken and cheated. More than anything in the world, I wanted to see their faces when I told them. I wanted us to dress up in those goofy orange and white checkerboard overalls and take them to a real live Vols game at Neyland Stadium. I just wanted to share this experience with them. I wish I could say that my losses from Alzheimer's and dementia ended there, but later that same year, my Black-Hair Grandma was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's after a near-death bout with COVID-19. Now that I know what Alzheimer's does and what to expect, I am dreading the day when she can no longer remember who I am. What I learned from my experience losing Papaw to dementia is this: spend time with your loved ones when you can. Talk to them now, tell them NOW how much they mean to you. Cherish every moment you have with them, because one day those memories will be all you have. It took time to overcome the grief of all that's happened to my grandparents, but I’ve decided that I will continue to push forward to get my college degree because I know that's what they all wanted for me. Especially Papaw, who might actually be Tennessee's biggest and most faithful fan. He can't remember most things anymore but whenever we visit him, he still talks about his Tennessee Vols and asks to watch them on TV. In the meantime, I keep hoping for a moment when his mind is a little more clear, so maybe....just maybe....I can tell him that we're official now. We're a real Vols family, just like he always dreamed.

Hello, my name is Lydia Jade Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate and move forward into a P.A. Program. My goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I want to provide compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, and genders. I’m part-Japanese and I come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her or made rude comments when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I was fascinated with the puzzle of trying to figure out what different symptoms meant and how they led to each diagnosis. Over time I started to notice that the doctor's offices often had a lot of other patients who were also from another country. I took note that some of them didn't speak English well. By the time I was in high school, after everything I'd seen, I realized that I had developed a deep compassion for people like my grandma, for whom English was not their first language. I also had a serious interest in medicine. I realized that with those two traits, I could make a difference as a medical care provider. There is a second reason that I chose a career as a P.A., but it's more practical. My parents are divorced and my father isn’t able to help with my college tuition or expenses and my mother works two jobs to keep up. In my senior year of high school, I gave up going to parties and social events so I could focus on my academics. I knew if I didn’t get scholarships I would never be able to afford to attend UT (my dream school). I graduated #1 in my nursing class with a 3.9 GPA, and I received a 31 on the ACT. I got into UT with my grades, but financially, I’m here by the skin of my teeth. I've learned since entering college that I'm somehow in that frustrating gap where FAFSA believes my parents can afford to contribute several thousand to my college education, but in reality, they can’t. So I started out with aspirations of going pre-med, but after taking a realistic look at the numbers, the cost of medical school will be out of my reach. Becoming a P.A. is the closest I can get to my original goal, and I can always continue my education later if life allows. I’m applying for this scholarship to help me with my sophomore year at college, as most of my awards expire after my freshman year. I believe I am meant to help people, and with my unique background I really feel that I can make a difference for some. America is and always will be a melting pot of diversity! I know that there are going to be so many worthy applicants, but if I am chosen I promise I won't let you down. I want this more than anything. Thank you so much for the opportunity and for your consideration.

A wise man once said, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems” (R.I.P. Notorious B.I.G.). So, so true, right? I'm not saying that's the best piece of financial advice I ever got, I just wanted to start this essay with a good, strong, well-known quote about money that we can all relate to. I'm just kidding, of course. Ha! Got you! I think most of us would take the problems of the wealthy over our own in a heartbeat, right? No, I think the best financial advice I ever got actually came from my mom. The last time I was at home she was complaining about needing a vacation, which led to a discussion about retirement. She was pretty deflated because she has barely put away any money for retirement and she's already 45 years old. I mean 29 years old!!! (Sorry, mom!). We talked about it in depth, and she told me that I needed to start saving for retirement like, YESTERDAY. She might have gotten a little dramatic about it, so I decided to look into it further. According to the Investment Company Institute in 2020, 43% of American households do not have some type of retirement savings. Data from the American Bankruptcy Institute shows that approximately 752,160 Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2021. I read through a few more articles, crunched some numbers in my head, and quickly made one scary realization: every American should have a plan for their finances and for building a retirement fund, and every plan should be implemented AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It really is NEVER too soon to start saving for retirement. Honestly, as expensive as it is to live these days, the sooner you get started the better off you’ll be in the end. I’m no psychic but I’m pretty sure it’s only going to get worse. My mom gets the credit for putting the idea in my head, but I had to do more research to find out what to do next. Here's what I've learned: The first thing you want to do is create a budget for yourself. Write down all of your monthly expenses and your monthly income, and compare the two. Visually seeing where your money is going will help you to pinpoint areas you can cut back on to potentially save money. You may also discover and eliminate unnecessary expenses, such as subscription plans that you no longer use or expensive frivolous purchases - the kind you realize in hindsight were kind of stupid to buy, and you didn’t actually need that thing at all. The money you save from making those adjustments can be used to pay off debt or add to your retirement fund. If you have debt, you’ll want to focus on reducing it. If you have credit card debt or loans with a high-interest rate, start by paying those off first. It may not seem like it matters which debt gets paid off first, but eliminating this particular type of debt first will ultimately free up more money for you in the long run. It’s a lot to explain but the math really checks out on this one, look it up! And once again, more money saved is more money you can put in your retirement fund. If you haven’t already, you should consider investing. A good financial advisor can help you invest your retirement savings in stocks, bonds, and other investments so that they can grow over time. Also, stay informed! I think it’s fair to say that you can’t make great financial decisions if you’re working off outdated information. Ensure your advisor keeps you updated and informed on new investment opportunities and any changes that could impact your retirement savings. Here's another one: how about finding ways to bring in more income? Someone once told me that the key to success was to always be making money while you’re making money. I had to think about what that meant for a minute, but then it made sense. This is also my runner up for the best piece of financial advice, just FYI. If you can find different ways to bring in a second stream of income in addition to your main source, that extra income can go towards paying off debt or building a retirement fund. Think about any talents you have that could be used to make you extra money. If you enjoy making jewelry, you could set up an Etsy store online to sell your products. If you’re a talented musician, you could offer music lessons to area students. You could even sell unwanted items for extra money. With some thought and effort, almost everyone can find some way to create a second stream of income. Finally, if you accomplish any of those and reach the point where you can increase your retirement contributions, you should definitely finish strong by doing that. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan that matches your contributions, even better! If your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) or you don’t have access to one, don't worry; just talk to a financial advisor about opening an IRA or Roth IRA. An IRA is an individual retirement account that allows you to save and invest for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis, outside of an employer-sponsored retirement plan. A financial advisor can explain your options to you and help you choose the best plan for your needs. So, in addition to not being psychic, I’m also not a financial advisor. Even so, I’m confident that saving for retirement ASAP is good advice because......well, my mom insists she's right. Also, my research on the topic backs her up. It may not seem like it when you’re young, but I have to agree - being comfortable during your retirement years is SO important. Planning for retirement is something that we need to be proactive about, not reactive, because when it comes to building a retirement fund, later may be too late.

My name is Lydia Jade Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate in 2026 and move forward into a P.A. Program. My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I want to provide compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, and genders. I’m part-Japanese and I come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. There weren’t any other kids with a similar background to mine, so I often felt as though I didn’t really belong anywhere. Sometimes I’d hear my classmates making anti-Asian statements or Asian jokes, and I’d wish I could just melt into the floor or disappear. In the 5th grade, I started to develop social anxiety and always tried my best to avoid social interactions. High school was really tough for me, but what bothered me even more was how my grandmother was sometimes treated. She's full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her or made rude comments when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could help make sure she and her medical providers understood each other. By the time I was in the 9th grade, I realized that I had a deep compassion for people like my grandmother, for whom English wasn't their first language. I also discovered that I had a serious interest in working in medicine. I realized that, as a P.A., I could actually make a difference to people like my grandma. I also realized that, in order to stand up for people like my grandma, I was going to have to learn to stand up for myself first. It's been a process, but I am much more comfortable in my own skin now than I've ever been. I'm gaining confidence and learning to appreciate my uniqueness. I no longer avoid social situations - even if I'm feeling a little pensive, I understand now how important it is to network and I've found that I'm starting to enjoy meeting new people. Every step I take in this journey is a step closer to my goal of helping people like my grandma. My family isn’t rich. If I’m honest, we’re the sort of family that lives paycheck to paycheck. My parents are divorced and my father isn’t able to help with my college tuition or expenses, and FAFSA is unbelieveably frustrating for me. My assistance is limited because the government thinks my parents should be able to pay more, when in reality, they can't. My mother works two jobs to try and help, but I absolutely hate that she has to do that. In my senior year of high school, I gave up going to parties and a lot of social events so I could focus on my academics. I knew if I didn’t get scholarships I would never be able to afford to attend UT (my dream school). I graduated #1 in my nursing class with a 3.9 GPA, and I received a 31 on the ACT. I got into UT with my grades, but financially, I’m here by the skin of my teeth. This scholarship would mean the world to me, as most of my scholarships expire after this semester. Thank you so much for the opportunity and for your consideration.

I'll be the first to tell you that I wasn't born a leader. Growing up, I was shy, timid and suffered from social anxiety. I put my heart and soul into my academics but I struggled to fit in at school. I think I lacked confidence because I was always a little different from the other kids in my school. I am 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in my small Southern hometown. I grew up listening to classmates make anti-Asian remarks and Asian jokes, and it made me feel like I didn't belong. Most of my classmates were well-off financially, but my parents divorced when I was 4 years old and my mother struggled financially. I had no interest in leading anything or talking to anyone. Most of the time I just wanted to be invisible. I did, however, have a little secret that I kept to myself: I absolutely loved musicals and the theatre. Despite my social anxiety, I wanted to be a performer. I loved to sing and act, and I desperately wished I could overcome my insecurities to be brave enough to perform on-stage. In the 5th grade, I finally mustered every bit of courage I could and auditioned for the part of Princess Jasmine in the musical production of Aladdin Jr. At the audition I looked around and saw how many of my pretty, popular and extroverted classmates were auditioning for the same part, and I felt sick. Girls like me never won the best parts; I knew there was no way I'd be chosen. But when the cast was announced, to my complete and utter shock, I had won the part of Jasmine. In the weeks leading up to the play, I spent a lot of time with my cast-mates at the theatre and I started to notice how welcoming and friendly they all were. Theatre kids are just different. They were all interested in getting to know me, and for the first time I started to feel like I belonged. On opening night, I walked on-stage, legs shaking, and just focused on getting through my performance without throwing up. I survived and we received a standing ovation! As I listened to the audience clap, the feeling was indescribable. After that, I was hooked. With encouragement from my theatre friends, I went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school, and even won starring roles by the time I got to high school. When I was up on stage, I became a completely different person. Slowly, my confidence started to build. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed my life. In fact, as proof of how much it changed me, when my senior class voted on "Who's Who?", I won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. That's a huge change from being the girl who wanted to be invisible! I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee and, since being in college, I have found myself gravitating toward those who seem timid, unsure, and alone. Instead of ignoring them, I befriended them and hyped them up about their dreams. I've offered friendship and support, and I've celebrated with them when they achieve their goals. I think that's what being a leader is all about. Every single person is capable of doing something great; some of us just need a little encouragement sometimes. I'm living proof of that, and now I just want to pay it forward. No, I wasn't born a leader. But I got here nevertheless.

My name is Lydia Jade Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and after graduation, I hope to move forward into a P.A. Program. My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I want to provide compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, and genders. I’m part-Japanese and I come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. There weren’t any other kids with a similar background to mine, so I often felt as though I didn’t really fit in anywhere in school. Sometimes I’d hear my classmates making anti-Asian statements or Asian jokes, and I’d wish I could just melt into the floor. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I didn’t mind helping because I was always fascinated with the puzzle of trying to figure out what different symptoms meant, and how they related to each diagnosis, so I made sure to pay attention to every detail at each appointment. By the time I was in 9th grade, I realized I was especially compassionate towards foreigners and people for whom English was their second language, and I also had a lot of interest in being a medical provider. I realized I could make a difference as a P.A. Unfortunately things took a wrong turn for our family, financially, and my dreams of attending UT Knoxville started to slip away from me. I knew that I couldn’t afford to go there anymore, but no matter how much I tried, something inside of me wouldn't let go of the dream of becoming a Tennessee Vol. My parents are divorced and my father isn’t able to help with my college tuition or expenses. My mother works two jobs to keep up, but I absolutely hate that she is doing that. So, in my senior year of high school, I gave up going to parties and social events so I could focus on my academics. I knew if I didn’t get scholarships I would never be able to afford to attend UT. I graduated #1 in my nursing class with a 3.9 GPA, and I received a 31 on the ACT. I got into UT with my grades, but financially, I’m here by the skin of my teeth. I’m applying for this scholarship to help me with my sophomore year at college, as most of my awards expire after my freshman year. I am also somehow in that frustrating gap where, with FAFSA, the government believes my parents can afford to contribute several thousand to my college education, but in reality they can't. For the most part, I’m on my own, but you know what? I made it here to UT Knoxville and I’m not giving it up without a fight. I am passionate about my career choice and I know that I am supposed to do this with my life. I will continue to keep trying and I have faith that it will work out somehow. I know there are many worthy applicants, but if I am chosen I swear I won’t let you down. Thank you so much for your consideration.

There's a picture of me from the day I got my seventh grade shots. I'm showing off the band-aids I got after my vaccinations and I'm wearing an orange University of Tennessee Vols shirt, grinning from ear to ear. Even then, I was excited because I was another step closer to going to the University of Tennessee, my favorite college. Everything I did in school was with the hope of eventually being accepted to UT. I couldn't wait for the day to finally come. And then my family fell apart. My step-father took all of my mom's money and ran off with his girlfriend. My biological father doesn't make enough to help out. My mother, sister and I were broke and lost our house, and with that, my dreams of becoming a Tennessee Vol slipped away from me. Everyone told me not to worry, Dyersburg State Community College was a great school! I could go there and everything would be fine. And while I'm sure it is a great school, UT was the school of my dreams and I was crushed. No matter how much I tried, something inside of me wouldn't let go of the dream of going to UT. In high school, I decided I was going to throw everything I had at it. I knew that if I didn’t get scholarships, I would never be able to afford to go to UT Knoxville, so I decided to skip parties and social events and focus solely on my academics. I spent almost every spare moment studying, and it paid off. At the end of my senior year, I graduated #1 in my nursing class, got a 31 on the ACT, and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I couldn't believe it when I received my acceptance letter from UT Knoxville, followed by enough scholarships to help me get through the first year. I had persevered and made it happen. I am applying for this scholarship to help me through my next semester of college because most of my scholarships aren't renewable for next year. I’m one of those students that’s in that frustrating gap where the government thinks my parents make enough money to pay for my tuition, but in reality, they’re drowning in debt and can’t. I don’t know how to overcome that unfair assessment except apply for scholarships and hope. My father doesn’t contribute, and my mother is working two jobs just to get by. I work through the Federal Work-Study program and also work part-time jobs when I return home to visit my parents, but it isn’t enough. I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything, so once again I'm out here shooting my shot. I'll continue to do this until I make it through college. I know there are a lot of talented writers out there, and a ton of deserving students. If I'm somehow chosen, I promise I will persevere like I always have and I won't let you down. Thank you for your consideration.

My name is Lydia Jade Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate in 2026 and move forward into a P.A. Program. My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I hope to positively impact the world by providing compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, and genders. I’m part-Japanese and I come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. There weren’t any other kids with a similar background to mine, so I often felt as though I didn’t really fit in anywhere in school. Sometimes I’d hear my classmates making anti-Asian statements or Asian jokes, and I’d wish I could just melt into the floor. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I didn't mind it because I was also always fascinated with the puzzle of trying to figure out what different symptoms meant, and how they related to each diagnosis. I made sure to pay attention to every detail at each appointment, and made caring for my grandma my top priority along with school. By the time I was in the 9th grade, I realized that I was deeply compassionate to foreigners and for those which English was their second language, and in addition, I had a lot of interest in being a medical provider. I realized I could make a difference as a P.A. My family isn’t rich. If I’m honest, we’re the sort of family that lives paycheck to paycheck. My parents are divorced and my father isn’t able to help with my college tuition or expenses. My mother works two jobs to try and help, but I absolutely hate that she is doing that and I'm always trying to find another way. In my senior year of high school, I gave up going to parties and social events so I could focus on my academics. I knew if I didn’t get scholarships I would never be able to afford to attend UT (my dream school). I graduated #1 in my nursing class with a 3.9 GPA, and I received a 31 on the ACT. I got into UT with my grades, but financially, I’m here by the skin of my teeth. If I can get enough scholarships to cover what I can’t again next semester, it will be the biggest blessing of my life. I’m applying for this scholarship to help me with my sophomore year at college, as most of my awards expire after my freshman year. I am also somehow in that frustrating gap where, on FAFSA, the government believes my parents can afford to contribute several thousand to my college education, but in reality, they can’t. For the most part, I’m on my own, but you know what? I made it here to UT Knoxville and I’m not giving it up without a fight. I am supposed to do this with my life, and I'm determined to see it through. I have to believe it will work out because I truly believe I can do good in this world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

If I think back all the way to the beginning, as far back as my mind goes, my mom is always there in my memories. There's no time when she wasn't there by my side, or at the very least, in the background. We were always close as I was growing up, and today she's one of my best friends. She hates when I make this joke (don't kill me mom!), but I've had three dads but only one mama. And I wouldn't trade her for the world. My mother works two jobs to try and help me pay for college, and even though I don't want her to work two jobs she refuses to give one up. There’s a reason she feels the way she feels, and it has actually made a huge impact on my life and my plans for the future. My parents are divorced and my mother raised my little sister and me. I remember the years after my parents split up when my mother was single, and how much she worried every single day about how she was going to pay our bills. At times we went without heat, and I’d hear her crying at night trying to figure out what to do. It was really tough when it was just the three of us. When I was 6 my mom remarried, but my step-father turned out to be a dishonest man who stole her money and ran off with another woman. I was 15 years old by the time this happened, so I saw the whole thing happen through a more mature set of eyes. I watched my mother's heart shatter into a million pieces when she found out about his affair and the fact that he'd left us in financial ruin, and it was devastating to witness. Once again we had to move in to a cold house and try to start over. Both times it happened, she’d always say the same thing to me, over and over. She would say, “Lydia, you have to get a college education and a good job so you NEVER have to go through this. I never want you to be dependent on a husband or ANYONE for the well-being of yourself and your kids.” The first time I heard these words from her, I was a small child and they were just words. When I was 15 and saw what my step-father did, I truly understood what she meant. My mother just wants us to have a better life, so just like always, she's fighting with every breath in her body to help us achieve it. She's re-married but times are still tough, so she's working two jobs so that I can earn my degree, get a good job and be financially independent. It means that much to her. I mean that much to her. I owe her so much, and if you choose me as the winner I promise not to let any of you down. Thank you for your consideration.

To tell you who in my life embodies success, as I define it, I really need to take you back to Fukuoka, Japan, in the year 1971. In a time when there were still significant issues with discrimination and prejudice against the Japanese, my grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida, met my grandfather, Stephen Cherry, while he was stationed in Fukuoka with the United States Army. The two of them fell in love, and after several months of dating, they were married and began making plans to move to the U.S. When the time came to leave Japan, my grandmother was excited but also very nervous. She was a new mother and had never visited the United States before, so she had no way to prepare herself or her baby for what was to come. When my grandparents arrived in Tennessee with their infant son, they immediately began to get strange looks from other townsfolk. My grandmother soon found out that many Americans didn't particularly care for the Japanese, and weren't shy about letting her know of their disdain. She quickly realized she had left her family and friends behind for love, but was now a Japanese woman living in rural Tennessee without a friend in the world. Despite not always being accepted, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated all of the unkindness with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. Instead of focusing on the negative, she decided to try her best to acclimate to her new world. She studied for and passed the American citizenship test with flying colors, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s. Then she learned to speak English so well that people began to compliment her on her fluency. She was a hard worker and became known at any job she worked as the most reliable and trustworthy employee. She also raised two children, her son, and a daughter. Both of them are kind, generous, upstanding members of their communities, and all of her grandchildren plan to attend college. Today, she is loved and respected by many people. To me, my grandmother embodies success. Not in the sense that she is financially wealthy or had some sort of impressive career. Neither of those things happened to her, but it doesn’t matter. I am in awe of her because she faced a massive challenge and she persevered until she overcame it. I am proud of her for putting in the effort and work and for never giving in to the negativity and hate. She faced every bit of adversity with bravery and grace, and I can only hope to find that same strength in any trials I face in my life. I am now at an amazing college in Tennessee, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the sacrifices she made. Thank you to my amazing grandma, Kazuko Cherry, for getting me here. And thank you to the scholarship committee, for your consideration in helping me to continue my education.

My favorite tech invention and what I hope to contribute are actually tied together in a way. I’ll tell you what they are, but I think it will make more sense once you get to know me a little. So hi, my name is Lydia Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate in 2026 and move forward into a P.A. Program. My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I want to provide compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, and nationalities. I’m part-Japanese and come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She lives near us and always had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I was also always fascinated with the puzzle of trying to figure out what different symptoms meant, and how they related to each diagnosis. I made sure to pay attention to every detail at each appointment, and I made taking care of my grandmother my top priority besides school. By the time I was in high school I had realized that, through my own life experiences, I had a deep understanding of many of the hardships that people like my grandmother faced, especially the language barrier. I also knew that I had a serious interest in being a medical provider. I realized I could really make a difference as a P.A., and I want to go above and beyond for my future patients. That is why my favorite tech invention in the last 10 years has to be language translator earbuds. While I don’t yet have a pair myself, they’re on my bucket list! I think it is incredible that we now have the ability to speak in real-time to someone who speaks a completely different language, and still be able to understand each other. There are also handheld instant translator devices available, which are almost equally as amazing. Either of those devices could do wonders for hospital staff or anyone working in the medical field. America is such a melting pot of diverse cultures and nationalities, yet you never see anyone with an electronic translator on hand. Maybe someday I can do something about that! When I enter the workforce as a P.A., there is no doubt that tech will have a huge place in my life and in the care of my patients. I look forward to learning about each piece of machinery and every program and seeing all the ways in which they improve our lives. Thank you for your consideration!

My name is Lydia Jade Runions, and I am a freshman at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I hope to graduate in 2026 and move forward into a P.A. Program. My career goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant, and I want to provide compassionate, quality medical care to people of all colors, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, and genders. I’m part-Japanese and I come from a small, rural town in Northwest Tennessee. There weren’t any other kids with a similar background to mine, so I often felt as though I didn’t really fit in anywhere in school. Sometimes I’d hear my classmates making anti-Asian statements or Asian jokes, and I’d wish I could just melt into the floor. My grandmother is full-Japanese, and although she speaks English well, it isn’t perfect. She had a hard time finding a medical care provider that she felt comfortable around, as doctors and nurses occasionally lost patience with her when she struggled to communicate. At about age 12, I started to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments so that I could act as a sort of “translator” and make sure both sides understood the other. I was always fascinated with the puzzle of trying to figure out what different symptoms meant, and how they related to each diagnosis, so I made sure to pay attention to every detail at each appointment. By the time I was in high school, I realized that I had a deep understanding of the hardships of people like my grandmother, along with a great interest in being a medical provider. I realized I could make a difference as a P.A. My family isn’t rich. If I’m honest, we’re the sort of family that lives paycheck to paycheck. My parents are divorced and my father isn’t able to help with my college tuition or expenses. My mother works two jobs to try and help, but I absolutely hate that she is doing that and I'm always trying to find another way. In my senior year of high school, I gave up going to parties and social events so I could focus on my academics. I knew if I didn’t get scholarships I would never be able to afford to attend UT (my dream school). I graduated #1 in my nursing class with a 3.9 GPA, and I received a 31 on the ACT. I got into UT with my grades, but financially, I’m here by the skin of my teeth. If I can get enough scholarships to cover what I can’t again next semester, it will be the biggest blessing of my life. I’m applying for this scholarship to help me with my sophomore year at college, as most of my awards expire after my freshman year. I am also somehow in that frustrating gap where, on FAFSA, the government believes my parents can afford to contribute several thousand to my college education, but in reality, they can’t. For the most part, I’m on my own, but you know what? I made it here to UT Knoxville and I’m not giving it up without a fight. I am supposed to do this with my life, and I have to believe it will work out. Thank you so much for your consideration.

To explain who inspired me to choose my major and give my explanation the justice it deserves, I need to take you back to 1971. Yes, I know I wasn't born until 2004, but hang in there with me. I promise it will all make sense in the end! In 1971, when there were still significant issues with discrimination and prejudice against the Japanese, my grandmother Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry moved from Fukuoka, Japan to the United States with her American husband and infant son. My grandparents met while my grandfather was stationed in Fukuoka with the United States Army. The two of them fell in love, and after several months of dating, they were married on the American Army base and began making plans to move to the U.S. once his time in the Army was done. Once my grandmother moved to the U.S., she soon found out that many Americans didn't particularly care for the Japanese and weren't shy about letting her know. Moving to the United States proved to be more difficult than she ever anticipated. Not being accepted was difficult, but she persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son (my uncle) and later gave birth to a daughter (my mother). Instead of focusing on the negative, she decided to try her best to acclimate to her new world. My grandmother studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so well that she received many compliments on her fluency. She was recently diagnosed with early dementia, along with many other medical issues that plague her daily. I was 9 when I started to help care for her, and I was 16 when I started to drive her to her doctor's appointments. Once there, I would help her to communicate with her doctors and nurses since she was starting to have trouble recalling her English words. At times I was disheartened to see a doctor or nurse lose their patience with her or make a borderline racist comment as she struggled to communicate or remember her medications. One day, after I'd taken her to the doctor, taken notes on her medications, and created a dosage schedule, she asked me to consider a career in the medical field. She said that if I was half as compassionate to others as I was towards her, I would make a great medical provider. I am now a biology major at UT Knoxville and my goal is to become a Physician's Assistant. My grandmother faced adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it has improved, racism still exists in America. Once I become a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced racial or any other type of discrimination in health care. I want to help people, especially ones like my grandmother, who may not be from America but are just as deserving of compassion and care as anyone else. As for my motivation to particpate in speech and debate, in high school I was part of the Ethics Club. I am naturally a quiet person, so I thought it would help me learn to be more vocal and confident by participating in the Ethics Bowl, which is similar to a debate team. I am proud to say that during my senior year, our team placed first against other teams in competition, and it did help me to find my voice.

In 1971, my grandmother moved from Fukuoka, Japan, to the U.S. with my grandfather, whom she met while he was stationed in Japan with the Army. She had never visited the United States before, so she had no way to prepare for what was coming. They arrived at the Memphis airport with my uncle, who was just a baby at the time and immediately began to get strange looks from other travelers at the airport. My grandmother soon found out that many Americans didn't particularly care for the Japanese, and weren't shy about letting her know. Moving to the United States proved to be more difficult than she ever anticipated. Living life as an outsider became her new reality, but she persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son (my uncle) and later gave birth to a daughter (my mother). Instead of focusing on the negative, she decided to try her best to acclimate to her new world. My grandmother studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so well that she received many compliments on her fluency. Despite not always being accepted, she tolerated any unkindness with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. When my grandmother was in her 50s, my grandfather met another woman on a business trip and left his entire Tennessee family to start a new life in Louisiana. She had given up her own family and Japanese citizenship for a man who left her for another woman. Despite the pain and heartache she experienced from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. My grandmother was recently diagnosed with early dementia and many other medical issues that plague her daily. I was 9 years old when I started to help care for my grandmother, and I was 16 when I started to drive her to her doctor's appointments. At times I was disheartened to see a doctor or nurse lose their patience with her as she struggled to communicate or remember her medications. Occasionally, someone would make a comment to her that was borderline racist. One day, after I'd taken her to the doctor, taken notes on her medications, and created a dosage schedule, she asked me to consider a career in the medical field. She said that if I was half as compassionate to others as I was towards her, it would be a gift to the world. I am now a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant), and I am minoring in Japanese. It’s evident to anyone who knows me exactly why I chose both my major and my minor. My grandmother came to this country and faced so much adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it has improved, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced racial or any other type of discrimination in health care. I hope my grandmother lives to see me graduate because I want her to know that her legacy of kindness and compassion will live on through me. I want to help people, especially ones like my grandmother, who may not be from America but are just as deserving of compassion and care as anyone else. Thank you for this opportunity.

In 1971, when there were still significant issues with discrimination and prejudice against the Japanese, my grandmother moved from Fukuoka, Japan to the United States with her new American husband and infant son. My grandparents met while he was stationed in Fukuoka with the United States Army. The two of them fell in love, and after several months of dating they were married, and soon after, my grandmother gave birth to a son (my uncle). Several months later, my grandfather brought his new wife and child home to Tennessee. My grandmother quickly discovered that many Americans didn't particularly like or care for the Japanese, and this knowledge hurt her deeply. She never made many friends, but she persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son and later, her daughter (my mother). Instead of focusing on the negative, she decided to try her best to acclimate to her new world. She studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so well that she received many compliments on her fluency. Despite never feeling accepted, she was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated all of the unkindness with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. When my mother was in her 50's, her world fell apart. My grandfather met another woman on a business trip and left her to start a new life. She was now without the husband she had left her country and given up her Japanese citizenship for. Despite the pain and heartache she experienced from that event, her loving nature never changed. My grandmother was recently diagnosed with early dementia, along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. Due to her dementia, it is becoming increasingly difficult for her to remember words and converse in English, so once I turned 16 years old I began helping to take her to her doctor's appointments and cared for her in any way that I could. Sometimes we would encounter nurses or doctors who would lose patience with her when she struggled to find the right words to describe her ailments, and once in a while, a doctor or nurse would make a comment that bordered on being racist and seemed entirely uncalled for. These interactions were heartbreaking and infuriating for me to see. One day my grandmother asked me to consider a future career in the medical field because she felt that I had the compassion and empathy of a great caregiver. I considered her suggestion very carefully, and I knew I wanted to try and help others if I could. I am now a biology major at UT Knoxville, to become a Physician’s Assistant. My grandmother came to this country and faced adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it has improved, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced racial or any other type of discrimination in health care. My grandmother inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field, and, more than anything, I want to make her proud. I want her to know that her sacrifices were not for nothing, and that her loving legacy will live on through me as I help others.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person I admire most in life and she is also the person who inspired my career choice and ignited my passion for protecting civil rights. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 to begin a new life as the wife of an American soldier she had fallen in love with. She persevered through racial discrimination to raise my uncle and mother, and studied for (and ultimately passed) the American citizenship test, legally gaining her citizenship in the 1980s. She also learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. Despite not always being accepted in American society due to her race, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness and racism with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. She was a strong mother and endured more pain and heartache when my grandfather unexpectedly left her for another woman and moved away to start a new life. Despite the devastation she felt from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. When my parents divorced when I was 4, my grandmother put her heart and soul into helping raise me while my mother worked full-time. As a result, my grandmother and I became very close and remain so to this day. My grandmother now has early dementia, along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. When I was in high school, I often assisted in taking her to her doctor’s appointments, helped her to remember which medications to take, and comforted her when her pain became unbearable. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments and felt that I was extremely compassionate. She said I would excel at caring for others if I cared for them the way I cared for her. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For that reason, her request for me to pursue a career in the medical field made sense, so I plan to do just that. I am now a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. My grandmother came to this country and faced adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced racial discrimination in medical care. I hope to help those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has understanding and compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I've learned from her that all people have value, fear is just a word, and there is nothing I cannot accomplish if I put my mind to it.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person I admire most in life and she is also the person who inspired my career choice. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 to begin a new life as the wife of an American soldier she had fallen in love with. She persevered through racial discrimination to raise my uncle and mother, and studied for (and ultimately passed) the American citizenship test, legally gaining her citizenship in the 1980s. She also learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. Despite not always being accepted in American society due to her race, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness and racism with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. She was a strong mother and endured more pain and heartache when my grandfather unexpectedly left her for another woman and moved away to start a new life. Despite the devastation she felt from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. When my parents divorced when I was 4, my grandmother put her heart and soul into helping raise me while my mother worked full-time. As a result, my grandmother and I became very close and remain so to this day. My grandmother now has early dementia, along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. When I was in high school, I often assisted in taking her to her doctor’s appointments, helped her to remember which medications to take, and comforted her when her pain became unbearable. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments and felt that I was extremely compassionate. She said I would excel at caring for others if I cared for them the way I cared for her. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For that reason, her request for me to pursue a career in the medical field made sense, so I plan to do just that. I am now a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. My grandmother came to this country and faced adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced racial discrimination in medical care. I hope to help those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has understanding and compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I've learned from her that all people have value, fear is just a word, and there is nothing I cannot accomplish if I put my mind to it.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person who inspired my career choice, and her life story is the catalyst that ignited my desire to fight for civil rights. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 to begin a new life as the wife of an American soldier, and persevered through racial discrimination to raise my mother and uncle in a new country. She studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her citizenship in the 1980s. She learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. She did everything the "right" way to earn her place as an American citizen. Despite all of that, due to her race, she was not always accepted in American society. Nevertheless, she was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness with a warm smile and refused to return any hate that she received. She successfully raised both of her children amidst experiencing a heartwrenching loss when my grandfather left her for another woman later in life. Despite the pain and heartache she experienced from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. Rather than worry about herself, she instead focused on me because I had begun to experience Asian hate and racism in school, and developed crippling social anxiety as a result. Today, my grandmother has early dementia along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments, and she felt that I was an extremely compassionate person who would excel at caring for others. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For this reason, her request for me to pursue a career in the medical field made sense, and the possibility that I could make a positive impact on the world through my career has inspired me to move forward with this choice. I am now a biology major at UT Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. My grandmother came to this country and faced adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who have experienced unlawful discrimination in medical care. I want to help those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America, as my grandmother did and still does. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I also know that there are so many others like her out there, and my generation can make a difference in their quality of life. I have a long way to go and a lot of obstacles to overcome, but fear is just a word. There is nothing I can't accomplish if I put my mind to it, and that's what I intend to do.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person I admire most in life and is also the person who inspired my career choice. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 with almost nothing and began a new life to be the wife the American soldier she had fallen in love with. She persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son (my uncle), and daughter (my mother). My grandmother studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. Despite not always being accepted due to her race, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness and racism with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. My grandfather left to start a new life with another woman when my mother was pregnant with me, and despite the pain and heartache my grandmother experienced from that event she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. Rather than worry about herself, she focused her attention on helping me because I had begun to experience Asian hate and racism while in school, and had developed crippling social anxiety as a result. My teenage years were quite difficult because, as a mixed-race child, I never felt like I found a place where I fit in or belonged. Today, my grandmother has early dementia along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. While in high school, I often assisted in taking my grandmother to her doctor’s appointments, helped her to remember which medications to take, and comforted her when her pain was too much to bear. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments and she felt that I was an extremely compassionate person. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For this reason, I took her request to pursue a career in the medical field to heart and I've decided to do just that. I am now a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. It’s obvious to anyone who knows me exactly why I chose both my major and my minor. My grandmother came to this country and faced so much adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I've learned from her that fear is just a word, and there is nothing I cannot accomplish if I put my mind to it. Thank you for your consideration.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person I admire most in life and is also the person who inspired my career choice. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 with almost nothing and began a new life to be the wife of an American soldier. She persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son (my uncle), and daughter (my mother). My grandmother studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. Despite not always being accepted due to her race, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness and racism with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. She successfully raised both of her children into adulthood, and my mother was pregnant with me when my grandfather unexpectedly met someone else and left her to start a new family in Louisiana. Despite the pain and heartache she experienced from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. My parents divorced when I was only 4 years old, and my grandmother put her heart and soul into helping to raise me while my mother worked at her full-time job. My grandmother and I became very close and remain so to this day. Today, my grandmother has early dementia along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. When I was in high school, I often assisted in taking my grandmother to her doctor’s appointments, helped her to remember which medications to take, and comforted her when her pain was too much to bear. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments. She felt that I was an extremely compassionate person who would excel at caring for others. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For this reason, her request for me to pursue a career in the medical field made sense, and the possibility that I could make a positive impact on the world through my career has inspired me to move forward with this choice. I am now a biology major at UT Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. It’s obvious to anyone who knows me exactly why I chose both my major and my minor. My grandmother came to this country and faced so much adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I've learned from her that fear is just a word, and there is nothing I cannot accomplish if I put my mind to it.

My grandmother, Kazuko Yoshida-Cherry, is the person I admire most in life and is also the person who inspired my career choice. She came to this country from Fukuoka, Japan in 1971 with almost nothing and began a new life to be the wife of an American soldier. She persevered through racial discrimination to raise her son (my uncle), and daughter (my mother). My grandmother studied for and passed the American citizenship test, legally gaining her U.S. citizenship in the 1980s, and learned to speak English so fluently that she received many compliments on her language skills. Despite not always being accepted due to her race, my grandmother was loving and generous to everyone she met. She tolerated unkindness and racism with a smile and refused to return any hate that she received. She successfully raised both of her children into adulthood, and my mother was pregnant with me when my grandfather unexpectedly met someone else and left her to start a new family in Louisiana. Despite the pain and heartache she experienced from that event, she never stopped being kind and caring to those around her. My parents divorced when I was only 4 years old, and my grandmother put her heart and soul into helping to raise me while my mother worked at her full-time job. My grandmother and I became very close and remain so to this day. Today, my grandmother has early dementia along with a long list of other medical issues that plague her each day. When I was in high school, I often assisted in taking my grandmother to her doctor’s appointments, helped her to remember which medications to take, and comforted her when her pain was too much to bear. One day she asked me to consider a career in the medical field because she noticed that I always did everything I could to help her with her ailments and she felt that I was an extremely compassionate person who would excel at caring for others. Although she struggles with dementia, my grandmother is very wise and her opinion means the world to me. For this reason, her request for me to pursue a career in the medical field has touched my heart and inspired me to do just that. I am now a biology major at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and my goal is to become a P.A. (Physician’s Assistant). I am also minoring in Japanese. It’s obvious to anyone who knows me exactly why I chose both my major and my minor. My grandmother came to this country and faced so much adversity so that her children and grandchildren could flourish, and I want nothing more than to make her efforts worthwhile. I also know that, while it’s not nearly as bad as it once was, racism still exists in America. Once I can achieve my dream of becoming a P.A., I hope to offer my services to people of all ethnicities - particularly those who would feel most comfortable being treated by someone who has compassion for the difficulties and struggles that foreigners face in America. My grandmother is the most amazing woman I know and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I admire her tenacity and bravery, and there have been many times when I've thought of her incredible story and it gave me strength. I've learned from her that fear is just a word, and there is nothing I cannot accomplish if I put my mind to it.

There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave rather than have to ask strangers if she could get through. School was challenging too, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Her classmates often made fun of Asian people around her, which really hurt. It felt safest to be a wallflower, to just stay the background and not call attention to herself. By her sophomore year, she was taking medication to tame her crippling anxiety. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had social anxiety, but she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost had a panic attack and chickened out of the audition. Ultimately, she forced herself to go through with it, and to her complete and utter shock, she won the part. Winning that role gave her the confidence to try out for other plays, but each time she auditioned she was overcome with paralyzing stage fright. During one audition, she froze and was unable to sing her part at all, and the humiliation was almost too much to bear. But, through many, many tears, she kept trying. She never gave up, and with each audition, she became a little braver. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. She took voice lessons and eventually starred in musicals, confidently singing solos in front of hundreds of people. When she was up on stage she became a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. Theater changed her life. In fact, in her senior year, this girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior” in her class. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that the girl was me. I’m now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and, since being here, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that seem to be struggling, especially those of different ethnicities. I recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel alone. Through my own experiences, I’ve learned that there could be an incredible person hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating people have been overlooked and ignored because society has a natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way or come from wealthy families? I am so glad that I worked through my fears and persevered because, through theater, I met extraordinary people who helped me learn to have confidence and love myself. I hope one day to be involved in theater again, not just as an actress but as a mentor. I want to help other kids, like myself, who just need someone to believe in them.

There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave rather than have to ask strangers if she could get through. School was challenging too, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Her classmates often made fun of Asian people around her, which really hurt. It felt safest to be a wallflower, to just stay the background and not call attention to herself. By her sophomore year, she was taking medication to tame her crippling anxiety. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had social anxiety, but she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost had a panic attack and chickened out of the audition. Ultimately, she forced herself to go through with it, and to her complete and utter shock, she won the part. Winning that role gave her the confidence to try out for other plays, but each time she auditioned she was overcome with paralyzing stage fright. During one audition, she froze and was unable to sing her part at all, and the humiliation was almost too much to bear. But, through many, many tears, she kept trying. She never gave up, and with each audition, she became a little braver. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. She took voice lessons and eventually starred in musicals, confidently singing solos in front of hundreds of people. When she was up on stage she became a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. Theater changed her life. In fact, in her senior year, this girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior” in her class. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that the girl was me. I’m now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and, since being here, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that seem to be struggling. I recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel alone. Through my own experiences, I’ve learned that there could be an incredible person hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating people have been overlooked and ignored because society has a natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way or come from wealthy families? I am so glad that I worked through my fears and persevered because, through theater, I met extraordinary people who helped me learn to have confidence and love myself. I hope one day to be involved in theater again, not just as an actress but as a mentor. I want to help other kids, like myself, who just need someone to believe in them.

When my little sister Maya and I were very young, we were always confused when someone referred to our Grandma because we had two of them. Neither one of them wanted to be called anything but “Grandma”, so at the ages of 2 and 4 my sister and I decided to call them “White-Hair Grandma” and “Black-Hair Grandma” to differentiate between the two. Somehow, despite the complete and utter silliness of it, it worked and the names stuck. Every other Saturday morning while we were growing up, White-Hair Grandma and Papaw would drive an hour to our house to take us to McDonald’s for breakfast. Afterwards, we would go to the Dollar Tree and they’d let us pick out 3 things each. We always knew that this was a big deal, because White-Hair Grandma and Papaw were not rich. They lived in low-income apartments and worried about money all the time, but always had a few extra dollars for us. If you ever asked White-Hair Grandma and Papaw what their favorite things in the world were, they’d tell you without hesitation, “Our grandbabies and the Tennessee Vols!” If there was ever a Vols game on, we knew that they would be watching on television, ready to cheer their hearts out. I knew all the words to “Rocky Top” by the time I was 5. Papaw was a superfan, so whenever the Vols were losing we’d learn a couple of new creative curse words from him. When they won, we’d have a big party. Last year, just after I graduated high school, cancer took White-Hair Grandma from us. Immediately after her death, we lost Papaw too. Not because he passed, but because her death somehow triggered dementia in him. He no longer remembers who we are. I lost them both and I never got to tell them my big news: I was accepted to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville! I was going to be a Tennessee Vol. They didn’t know it, but I had decided long before I graduated that I would do whatever it took to get into UT. I never spoke the words out loud because, looking at the cost of tuition, it seemed financially impossible for us. But every time I saw their passion and enthusiasm for the Vols, I knew I had to find a way. My senior year I decided to forego parties and social events so that I could buckle down and study. I knew that unless I received scholarships, I would never be able to afford to go there. So, I fought for it. I joined clubs that would look good on my college application, made a 31 on the ACT and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I applied for every scholarship I was eligible for and saved every dollar I could for my college fund. Each night, I prayed. The letter came just after White-Hair Grandma passed. “Congratulations Lydia! You’re a Tennessee Vol!” Then, enough scholarships came through to put UT within my reach. I tried to tell Papaw, but he doesn’t know who I am anymore. I feel so cheated. More than anything in the world, I wanted to see their faces when I told them. I wanted to take them to a real live Vols game at Neyland Stadium. I just wanted to share this with them. It took time to overcome the grief, but I’ve decided that I will continue to fight for this dream and see it through. Maybe they can't say it, but I know they are rooting for me and I'm going to make them proud.

There was once a young girl who was shy and quiet and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way, were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave rather than have to ask strangers to let her through. School was challenging, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into her academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. In many ways, she wasn't like the other kids. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Sometimes classmates made fun of Asian people around her and it hurt. By her sophomore year, she was taking medication to tame her crippling anxiety. Her parents divorced when she was 4 years old, and her mother always struggled financially. When her classmates started to turn 16, they were all getting brand-new cars and proudly sharing their shiny new vehicles on social media. Her mother couldn't afford to get her a new car so she used her COVID stimulus money to buy an old, slightly beat-up 1998 Alero. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had such terrible social anxiety, but for some reason, she was enthralled with the theater. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost chickened out, but to her complete and utter shock, she won the part. After that, she was hooked. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. When she was up on stage, she was a completely different person. Every production helped her confidence, and she finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed her life. Her senior year, this girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the girl was me. I'm now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that don’t seem to fit in anywhere. I can recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that they don’t feel left out. I know how they feel because I have been that person and truthfully, I still struggle with it at times. The fact is, sometimes an incredible person is hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating people have been overlooked and ignored because of our natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way? It is my goal to be a voice for kids who feel unseen and unheard. I'm still discovering Knoxville, but I would love to eventually be part of local theater again, not just as an actress or singer but as a mentor. I want to find the kids that just don’t fit in and offer them a safe place where they can. I want to give them a chance to shine for once. It made all the difference in the world for me. Thank you for your consideration.

There was once a girl who was quiet, and shy and suffered from social anxiety. Simple things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way, were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave without the Pop-Tarts rather than ask strangers if she could get through. School was challenging, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into her academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. In many ways, she wasn't like the other kids. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Sometimes other kids made fun of Asian people around her and it hurt. Her parents divorced when she was 4 and her mother always struggled financially. By her sophomore year, she was taking medication to tame her crippling anxiety. When her classmates started to turn 16, they all got brand-new cars and proudly shared their shiny new vehicles on social media. Her mother couldn't afford to get her a new car but used her COVID stimulus money to buy her an old, slightly beat-up 1998 Alero. She was grateful, but pulling up to school in that car didn't do her any favors. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had social anxiety, but for some reason, she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost chickened out of the audition but ultimately forced herself to go through with it. To her complete and utter shock, she won the part. In the theater, she found her home. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. When she was up on stage, she was a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed her life. Her senior year, this girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. I’m sure you’ve guessed that the girl was me. I’m now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and, since being here, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that don’t seem to fit in anywhere. I recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that they don’t feel completely alone. I know how they feel because I have been that person. The truth is, sometimes an incredible person is hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating people have been overlooked and ignored because of our natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way? I want to help my community by being a voice for kids who feel unseen and unheard. I would love to be part of local theater again, not just as an actress but as a mentor. I want to find the kids that just don’t fit in, and offer them a place where they can. It made all the difference in the world for me.

There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet, timid and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way, were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave without the Pop-Tarts rather than have to ask strangers to let her through. School was challenging, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into her academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. In many ways, she wasn't like the other kids. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Sometimes other kids made fun of Asian people around her and it really hurt. Her parents divorced when she was 4 years old, and her mother always struggled financially. When her classmates started to turn 16, they were all getting brand-new cars and proudly sharing their shiny new vehicles on social media. Her mother couldn't afford to get her a new car, but on her 16th birthday, she used her COVID stimulus money to buy her an old, slightly beat-up 1998 Alero. She was grateful, but pulling up to school in that car didn't do her any favors. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had crippling social anxiety, but for some reason, she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost chickened out of the audition but ultimately forced herself to go through with it. To her complete and utter surprise, she won the part. After that, she was hooked. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. When she was up on stage, she was a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed her life. Her senior year, this girl who felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the girl with social anxiety was me. I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee majoring in Biology and, since being at college, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that don’t seem to fit in anywhere. I can recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel completely alone. I know how they feel because I have been that person. The truth is, sometimes an incredible person is hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating individuals have been overlooked and ignored because of our natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way? I want to help my community by being a voice for kids who feel unseen and unheard. I would love to eventually be part of local theater again, not just as an actress or singer but as a mentor. I want to find the kids that just don’t fit in, and offer them a place where they can. I want to offer guidance and support. It made all the difference in the world for me.

There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet, timid and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way, were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave without the Pop-Tarts rather than have to ask strangers to let her through. School was challenging, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into her academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. In many ways, she wasn't like the other kids. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Sometimes other kids made fun of Asian people around her and it really hurt. Her parents divorced when she was 4 years old, and her mother always struggled financially. When her classmates started to turn 16, they were all getting brand-new cars and proudly sharing their shiny new vehicles on social media. Her mother couldn't afford to get her a new car, but on her 16th birthday, she used her COVID stimulus money to buy her an old, slightly beat-up 1998 Alero. She was grateful, but pulling up to school in that car didn't do her any favors. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had crippling social anxiety, but for some reason, she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost chickened out of the audition but ultimately forced herself to go through with it. To her complete and utter surprise, she won the part. After that, she was hooked. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. When she was up on stage, she was a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed her life. Her senior year, this girl who felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the girl with social anxiety was me. I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee and, since being at college, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that don’t seem to fit in anywhere. I can recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel completely alone. I know how they feel because I have been that person. The truth is, sometimes an incredible person is hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating individuals have been overlooked and ignored because of our natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way? I want to help my community by being a voice for kids who feel unseen and unheard. I would love to eventually be part of local theater again, not just as an actress or singer but as a mentor. I want to find the kids that just don’t fit in, and offer them a place where they can. It made all the difference in the world for me.

“You do realize that since you’re not a Christian, you’re going to hell, right?” That sentence has been burned into my brain and heart since I was 6 years old. A female jewelry store employee, her lips pursed in disgust, uttered those words....not to me, but to my wonderful, loving, 100% Japanese (and Buddhist) grandmother. How could someone say such an awful thing to my sweet “Obachan”, who helped raise me and loved me unconditionally? I saw the hurt and pain in my grandmother’s eyes, and it crushed me. I was 6 years old, and it was an ordinary day of shopping at the mall when I first realized that I was different…that WE were different. My name is Lydia, and I am ¼ Japanese. 25% doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re a young child listening to other kids make fun of Asians, pulling the corners of their eyes up and mocking their speech in exaggerated accents, and you have to sit there in uncomfortable silence wondering if you should speak up or stay shamefully silent….it feels like a lot. Growing up in a small Southern town, I never felt like I had a place where I truly belonged in school. Once I got to high school, I couldn’t wait to graduate and get out of there. When the time finally came, I chose a college completely on the other side of the state so that I could get a fresh start and get away from all of the hurtful people and memories. I’m now partially into my second semester at college, majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese. My initial goal was to work in forensics, perhaps as a Medical Examiner, but I am funding the majority of my education myself and the financial aspect has been tougher than I expected. After a lot of soul-searching and constant worrying about finances, I have decided that medical school is probably going to be out of my reach, so I’m looking at a different avenue instead. Two of the most amazing people I ever met in my life are the Family Nurse Practitioner and Physician’s Assistant at my hometown clinic. Both of those men have been part of my life since I was a baby and have not only kept me healthy, but when I was struggling with social anxiety in high school, they were there to guide me as well. I am forever grateful to Chad Odle, FNP, and Tyler Sherwood, PA-C, - two men who I admire so much, and I would be honored to hold either of the titles that they do. They never treated my Asian side of the family any differently than any other American family and we always felt completely at ease in their presence. That kindness and care are what have inspired me to look at pursuing a career as a PA instead of forensics. In forensics, the patient has, unfortunately, already passed. I can make a difference, but not in the way that I’m most interested in. As a PA, my patients will be alive and sometimes in pain - either physically or emotionally - and as a mixed-race individual, I feel that I can offer a certain level of understanding and compassion to people of different ethnicities than some others can. If I receive this scholarship, I will do everything in my power to be not just a medical care provider, but a compassionate friend and mentor to others who, like me, have experienced racism in their lives and never felt like they fit in.

Lydia Runions, age 18 There was once a young girl who was shy, quiet, timid and suffered from social anxiety. Little things, like going to grab a box of Pop-Tarts at the grocery store while people were standing in the way, were sometimes too difficult. She'd just leave without the Pop-Tarts rather than have to ask strangers to let her through. School was challenging, but not in the way you'd think. She put her heart and soul into her academics but struggled to fit in with any of the cliques. In many ways, she wasn't like the other kids. She was 1/4 Japanese, and there were almost no other Asian kids in her small Southern hometown. Sometimes other kids made fun of Asian people around her and it hurt. Her parents divorced when she was 4 years old, and her mother always struggled financially. When her classmates started to turn 16, they were all getting brand-new cars and proudly sharing their shiny new vehicles on social media. Her mother couldn't afford to get her a new car, but on her 16th birthday, she used her COVID stimulus money to buy her an old, slightly beat-up 1998 Alero. She was grateful, but pulling up to school in that car didn't do her any favors. There was something about this girl that only a few people knew: she loved to sing and act. It made no sense because she had crippling social anxiety, but for some reason, she was enthralled with musicals and plays. In the fifth grade, she mustered all of the bravery she could and tried out for the part of Jasmine in the school production of "Aladdin". The part required her to sing one solo, and she almost chickened out of the audition but ultimately forced herself to go through with it. To her complete and utter surprise, she won the part. After that, she was hooked. She went on to be in over 15 theatrical productions throughout school and even won starring roles by the time she was in high school. When she was up on stage, she was a completely different person. She finally found her voice in the last place anyone ever thought she’d find it. It’s not a stretch to say that theater changed her life. In her senior year, this girl who had always felt invisible won the title of “Friendliest Senior”. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the girl with social anxiety was me. I am now a freshman at the University of Tennessee and, since being at college, I have found myself gravitating toward individuals that don’t seem to fit in. I recognize the look on their faces…the uncertainty and fear…and I know that I want to be the person who makes sure that those individuals don’t feel completely alone. I know how they feel because I have been that person. The truth is, sometimes an incredible person is hiding underneath an exterior that causes them to be excluded. How many fascinating individuals have been overlooked and ignored because of our natural tendency to only focus on people who look a certain way? I want to help my community by being a voice for kids who feel unseen and unheard. I would love to eventually be part of local theater again, not just as an actress or singer but as a mentor. I want to find the kids that just don’t fit in, and offer them a place where they can. It made all the difference in the world for me.

Lydia Runions Freshman University of Tennessee - Knoxville When my little sister Maya and I were very young, we were always confused when someone referred to our Grandma because we had two of them. Neither one of them wanted to be called anything but “Grandma”, so at the ages of 2 and 4 my sister and I decided to call them “White-Hair Grandma” and “Black-Hair Grandma” to differentiate between the two. Somehow, despite the complete and utter silliness of it, it worked and the names stuck. Every other Saturday morning while we were growing up, White-Hair Grandma and Papaw would drive an hour to our house to take us to McDonald’s for breakfast. Papaw would write knock-knock jokes on napkins and pass them to us, making us giggle. Afterward, we would go to the Dollar Tree and they’d let us pick out 3 things each. We always knew that this was a big deal because White-Hair Grandma and Papaw were not rich. They lived in low-income apartments and worried about money all the time. Despite that, they always put aside enough money to take us to McDonald’s and Dollar Tree when they visited. White-Hair Grandma loved to sew, and one of my most cherished memories is when Maya and I went through our American Girl Doll phase. We loved our dolls so much that she started showing up with a tub full of hand-made doll clothes. Looking back, she must have spent countless hours making those clothes for us. Every single time she appeared with that tub we’d burst into elated squeals and spend the next few hours doing an American Girl Doll fashion show for her and Papaw. We loved it so much, but it was clear that no one enjoyed it more than she did. If you ever asked White-Hair Grandma and Papaw what their favorite things in the world were, they’d tell you without hesitation, “Our grandbabies and the Tennessee Vols!” If there was ever a Vols game on, we knew that White-Hair Grandma and Papaw would be watching on television. I knew all the words to “Rocky Top” by the time I was 5. Papaw was a superfan, so whenever the Vols were losing we’d learn a couple of new creative curse words from him. When they won, we’d have a big party. Last year, just after I graduated high school, cancer took White-Hair Grandma from us. Immediately after her death, we lost Papaw too. Not because he passed, but because her death somehow triggered dementia in him. He no longer remembers who we are. I lost them both and I never got to tell them my big news: I was accepted to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville! I was going to be a Tennessee Vol. They didn’t know it, but I had decided long before I graduated that I would do whatever it took to get into UT. I never spoke the words out loud because, looking at the cost of tuition, it seemed financially impossible for us. But every time I saw their passion and enthusiasm for the Vols, I knew I had to find a way. During my senior year, I decided to forego parties and social events so that I could buckle down and study. I knew that unless I received scholarships, I would never be able to afford to go there. So, I fought for it. I joined clubs that would look good on my college application, made a 31 on the ACT and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. I applied for every scholarship I was eligible for and saved every dollar I could for my college fund. Each night, I prayed. The letter came just after White-Hair Grandma passed. “Congratulations Lydia! You’re a Tennessee Vol!” Then, enough scholarships came through to put UT within my reach. I’d still need student loans but I had done it! I tried to tell Papaw, but he doesn’t know who I am anymore. I feel so cheated. More than anything in the world, I wanted to see their faces when I told them. I wanted to take them to a real live Vols game at Neyland Stadium. I just wanted to share this with them. It took a long time to overcome the grief, but I’ve decided that I will continue to fight for this dream. Everything about this campus reminds me of them, so I’m determined to stay and see it through. I learned the words from them when I was 5, but they mean more to me now than ever. “Rocky Top, you'll always be Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top, Tennessee Rocky Top, Tennessee” I did it, White-Hair Grandma and Papaw. I did it.

Generational wealth refers to the accumulation of assets and resources passed down from one generation to the next. This type of wealth is created and built over time and allows families to achieve and maintain financial stability and security over several generations. My family was stripped of their generational wealth due to a series of unfortunate situations that caused multiple financial crises. I did not fully understand the impact that the absence of this wealth would have until it was time for me to apply for colleges. It was then that I had to watch my mother agonize over how she would be able to help me finance my college education. Today, she works two jobs and I’m a full-time student with a part-time job, and every penny we make is spoken for before we even cash our paychecks. Not having the financial cushion that generational wealth allows has made life very difficult. All my life I’ve wanted to be a Tennessee Vol and attend the University of Tennessee, but I knew that unless I did extraordinary on the ACT I would likely not receive any college scholarships. I also knew that without scholarships, I wouldn’t be able to afford to go to UT. I worked hard and stayed focused, and I am the first person in my family to receive over a 30 on the ACT. Now, as I look towards my second year at UT, the financial worries are the same. Will I be able to afford to continue my education at UT? I’m not certain, but I know that I will do everything within my power to stay, and once I graduate I want to begin building generational wealth for my family once again. My plan will take long-term planning and self-discipline. First and foremost, each day I try to live below my means. For me, it is essential to avoid overspending and debt, although some student loans have been necessary to cover the remaining college expenses after my scholarship credits. Once I graduate, I plan to continue living below my means so that I can begin paying off my student loan debt as quickly as possible. I am also interested in investing in assets that appreciate, such as stocks and real estate. My family once owned 200 acres of land in Northwest Tennessee, and I would love nothing more than to be in a position to purchase land to will my future children and grandchildren. I believe it is also vital to look at investing in a variety of other assets. I hope that doing this will help reduce risk and increase the potential for long-term growth. Finally, I feel it is vital that we educate future generations about financial literacy and responsibility. We live in such a “throw-away” world, where items don’t have as much value as they once did. We buy things we don’t need without thinking about the effect those decisions could have on our financial future. I hope one day to be in a position to teach my children how to make informed decisions and continue to build wealth for future generations. - Lydia Runions, Freshman, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

ESSAY, PART 1: “You do realize that since you’re not a Christian, you’re going to hell, right?” That sentence has been burned into my brain and heart since I was 6 years old. A mall employee, her lips pursed in disdain, uttered those hateful and unnecessary words - not to ME, but to my wonderful, loving, Japanese grandmother. I saw the hurt and pain in her eyes and it crushed me. I was 6 years old, and it was an ordinary day of shopping at the mall when I first realized that I was different…that WE were different. My name is Lydia, and I am ¼ Japanese. 25% doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re a young child listening to other kids make fun of Asians, pulling the corners of their eyes up and mocking their speech in exaggerated accents, and you have to sit there in uncomfortable silence wondering if you should speak up or stay shamefully silent….it feels like a lot. Growing up in a small Southern town, I never felt like I had a place where I truly belonged in school. There was no one with a similar ethnic heritage as mine. As I got older, I found myself withdrawing from social situations and feeling anxiety whenever I met new people or talked to kids who had a penchant for making fun of anyone "different". Once I got to high school, I couldn’t wait to graduate and get out of there. When the time finally came, I chose a college completely on the other side of the state so that I could get a fresh start away from all of the hurtful people and memories. I’m now partially into my second semester at college, majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese, and I finally met “my people”. I am now a proud sister of Delta Phi Lambda, an Asian interest sorority, and I look back on my childhood and want to cry for the scared girl that I used to be. For the first time in my life, I have friends who are like me, who grew up eating food like me, who understand my fears and struggles, and who accept me just as I am. Their beautiful personalities and unwavering friendship have given me strength and resolve that I never knew I had. I have learned to embrace the shape of my eyes, my straight hair that will never curl, my small stature, and my tendency to be on the quiet side. I finally understand that there was never anything wrong with me, my family or my heritage. The issue was with the unkind people, not me. If I could talk to myself as a child, I would look into her almond-shaped eyes, gently push up her chin and tell her to hold her head high. I would tell her to be PROUD of who she is, and to never feel like she has to stay quiet about who she is again because she is an amazing human being. Hello. I’m Lydia, I’m 18 years old, and I am proud to say I’m 1/4 Japanese. ESSAY, PART 2: Children of Asian descent, whether they’re 100% Asian or 25%, often experience similar treatment. Part of the reason I joined Delta Phi Lambda was for the opportunity to be an advocate for Asian American men and women. When offered the chance to become the chair for both Sisterhood and Philanthropy, I took it immediately. It is my goal while I am at the University of Tennessee, and for the rest of my life, to cultivate understanding and acceptance between students of all races. I especially want to help empower young girls of Asian descent who, like me, have felt stereotyped or unseen. I believe I can be a voice for those little girls, and I can’t wait to get started.