Dealing with my dad and his unpredictability is the hardest part of my life. In 6th grade, my parents separated because of my dad’s infidelity. At first, I thought the hardest part would be being in two homes and learning to live two lives, packing my belongings, and getting adjusted to two homes. But it was truly having to deal with the anxiousness of arriving at my father’s house and not knowing who I was going to find at the door. I was always aware of my father's drinking problem, however, things intensified when my father married my stepmom. These two people together produced nothing but a life full of fights, arguments, and fear. My sisters and I were forced to lock ourselves in our rooms because all we were concerned about was staying safe. The hardest part was accepting that my family was working against my happiness and trying to destroy my life. When things got serious my mother worked extremely hard to collect the evidence and make the report so that we would be safe. After numerous events, my mother finally had enough proof to make a report. Last year my family and I went to court. Going to court was so tedious and it made me go through everything I didn’t want to experience. Meeting up with lawyers and getting ready to go to court was a journey, one I hope to never experience again. I wanted to be so brave in the courtroom, but on the inside, I was struggling to not let myself fall behind in school. School, however, has been tough, but not because I don’t try hard enough, but because my shoulders are bearing the weight of more than any teenager should. Even though I went through this period, I believe that this experience helped me discover some of the most valuable things in my life. I learned that I am stronger than my upbringing, I am capable of being independent and taking care of myself, how to protect the people I care about, that the truth does in fact set you free, and finally, that strength doesn't necessarily need to be earned, it's something that has to be developed from time to time when you decide not to give up. Even though I believe that this period of my life was extremely tough for me, it has been one of the most informative periods in my life. I understood that I am much stronger than the environment I was born into and how to be responsible for myself, as well as others, and to help others when in need. It made me realize the bravery that one has to possess to speak their mind, even when the truth can be a painful one. This experience has influenced me to not know what I wanted out of life and for my career. I hope to one day become a lawyer and defend children because I feel their struggle of being scared of what comes their way, and of who will listen to them, and how important it is to have someone who is always listening. I can tell how important it is to have an advocate present in court, who is more than what I had. My life will forever be changed because I can no longer look at the world without thinking "I will never go through that." But now I am stronger and wiser because I went through that. I have accomplished something major in my life, and I would like to use my achievements for greater things by helping others.

My career plans are to be an attorney in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, advocating for children's rights to have a voice. In middle school all the way through my junior year of high school, I experienced what would now be described as an emotional custody battle. While experiencing such an event, I noticed how brutal the legal process was for a minor and how important it is to have a person advocate for one's rights in a situation when the client is not able to voice his or her own opinions. This experience had an impact on me, motivating me to choose this field for my professional development. I will be attending Westminster College located in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where I am planning to specialize in Pre-Law, and join the Honors College. At Westminster, due to a rigorous academic environment and an encouraging community, I would be able to enhance myself and develop important skills necessary for the life of an attorney: analysis, integrity, and good communication skills. Being in the Honors College will provide me with additional benefits, such as conducting research, taking challenging courses, and engaging in interesting discussions, thus preparing me well for the future career. After graduating from college, my next step will be to get into Widener Law School in Harrisburg to study public interest law. This choice of the school is determined by its practice-oriented approach in teaching students and I believe this will come in handy as I wish to pursue my career in dealing with children and their problems in court. I hope to become actively involved in Widener's clinics, internships, and externships and be able to gain a large amount experience in defending minors' opinions and help them navigate through legal difficulties. It will make a great contribution towards achieving these objectives. I have made it a point to make the best use of every opportunity that comes my way, but at the same time, the financial requirements of higher education, particularly those of students who wish to study law, are quite hefty. All of these things cost money, and studying law can prove to be quite expensive. With the aid of this scholarship, some of the monetary pressure could be eased off, and it would enable me to dedicate myself to my studies, internship programs, and community service. Equally important, this funding will enable me to seek real-world experiences beyond the classroom, including law internships, volunteering, and civic involvement. Such experiences are critical in developing the competencies and expertise that one needs to become a child advocate. The absence of financial strain will allow me more time to build practical experience within the legal profession, thus making me a better lawyer. Most importantly, receiving this scholarship will move me closer towards realizing a childhood ambition of mine - becoming an advocate for children who need someone to speak out for them. While my ambitions go beyond merely practicing law, they include helping to shape the future of children who deserve to have a voice in society. I am grateful for any opportunity offered to me by means of this scholarship that moves me closer towards this goal.

Drugs have affected my family through my aunt’s struggle with addiction. For many years, she used dangerous substances, including heroin, and it hurt her health and her relationships. It was very hard to watch her go through this, and our family often worried about her safety. Addiction did not only affect her, it affected all of us. Thankfully, my aunt’s story is also one of recovery. With help from rehab programs, counseling, and support from our family, she started to rebuild her life. She worked hard to stay sober, and over time we saw her change into someone healthier and more hopeful. Her recovery showed me that addiction is not just a bad choice, it is a serious problem that needs care, patience, and the right resources. Seeing her journey inspired me to study criminal justice. I want to help people who struggle with addiction by making sure the justice system treats them fairly. Too often, people with drug problems are punished instead of being given the chance to heal. Through my degree, I am learning about programs like drug courts and treatment centers that can give people a second chance. My goal is to support solutions that focus on recovery instead of only punishment. My aunt’s recovery proves that change is possible when people get the help they need. Her success motivates me to work toward a system that sees addiction as both a health issue and a justice issue. By combining compassion with accountability, I believe we can help more families find hope, just like mine did. In the end, my aunt’s story taught me that recovery is real and that support matters. Through my criminal justice degree, I want to make sure more people have the chance to rebuild their lives and return to their families and communities. Her journey also taught me the importance of family support in overcoming addiction. There were many times when my aunt felt discouraged, but knowing that we believed in her gave her strength to keep going. This showed me that recovery is not something people achieve alone. It requires encouragement, patience, and a community that refuses to give up on them. As I continue my criminal justice studies, I want to carry this lesson with me by working to build programs that involve families and communities in the recovery process, because lasting change happens when people feel supported both inside and outside of the system.