A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

I want to have a successful career, a loving family, and be a Godly person who inspires others and loves unconditionally.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips, building relationships with people in other countries, and volunteering at Young Life Capernaum (with special needs kids). I am creating relationships with kids in my community and volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Leadership to me is about inspiring others and creating healthy changes in your community. Leadership is important because it can change an entire community through one person or one movement. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. In Albania, we got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture, be a leader for good, and create a healthy community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I serve on missions trips, build relationships with people in other countries, volunteer at Young Life Capernaum, (with special needs kids) and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips, building relationships with people in other countries, and volunteering at Young Life Capernaum (with special needs kids). I am creating relationships with kids in my community and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips, building relationships with people in other countries, and volunteering at Young Life Capernaum (with special needs kids). I am creating relationships with kids in my community and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. Being in Albania taught me that I am really good at communicating with others, encouraging and inspiring others, and helping people. After my trip, I have been continuing to volunteer and encourage/inspire others. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? Two traits that I possess are inspiring and encouraging others. I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and how God got us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends that I still connect with regularly. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do and giving back to my community. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. I want to be a real estate agent and help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for inspiring others and help me encourage a needed change in our community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about the problem I had somewhat created for myself and how badly I was being affected by it. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Overtime, I began to overcome my problems of depression, not connecting with others, and missing school. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and to not ask for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

“Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” – Shakuntala Devi I love math because it teaches me how to problem solve, how to reason, how to understand, and how to manage my finances. Math is a building block to success in my opinion. First, I like math because it creates problems and offers a solution. I enjoy solving the problems and the satisfaction of obtaining the correct answer. Math creates a paradise reality. In this reality, you get the answers to problems and praise for doing so. Life does not give you these things. There are often problems that do not have a simple or right answer. If you do find an answer you are most likely not rewarded for your success. “Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms, it is about understanding.” -William Paul Thurston Another reason I like math is because it teaches you how to reason and understand. Math helps you try to figure out how you got a solution or why this is a problem. Math requires you to think and challenge your brain. It requires you to use the reason and understanding that are God-given gifts. Math makes thankful that I have been blessed with reason, understanding, and problem solving skills. Math inspires creative ideas and concepts. Math challenges our imagination and what we think we know. Finally, I like math because it is useful in all of life, especially in your finances. You can accurately assess your income and how much you should be saving, spending, giving, etc. Math lets you create a budget and encourages healthy financial habits that you can use for the rest of your life. I enjoy using the ideas in math to make myself successful. Math is one of the only subjects that is useful in everyday life and that singlehandedly leads to a successful lifestyle. Overall, math has many uses and all of them are positive. Math challenges you and your brian. It creates healthy habits that you can use for life. Math makes you use your reason and understanding and helps you in your finances. Math also benefits your problem solving skills. In the end, math is only positive and beneficial to creating a successful, intelligent person. A polish mathematician named Stefan Banach once said, “Mathematics is the most beautiful and powerful creation of the human spirit.”

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. I began to develop healthier eating habits to develop my physical and mental state. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have taken a healthy approach and created healthy habits to benefit my mental and physical state, and I have seen a difference. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet.

I love math because it teaches me how to problem solve, how to understand, and how to manage my finances. First, I like math because it creates problems and offers a solution. I enjoy solving the problems and the satisfaction of obtaining the correct answer. Math creates a reality in where you get answers to problems and praise for doing so. Life does not give you these things. There are often problems that do not have a simple or right answer. If you do find an answer you are most likely not rewarded for your success. Another reason I like math is because it teaches you how to reason and understand. Math helps you try to figure out how you got a solution or why this is a problem. Math requires you to think and challenge your brain. It requires you to use the reason and understanding that are God-given gifts. Math makes me want to thank God that I am successful in math and have been blessed with reason, understanding, and problem solving skills. Finally, I like math because it is useful in all of life, especially in your finances. You can accurately access your income and how much you should be saving, spending, giving, etc. Math lets you create a budget and encourages healthy financial habits that you can use for the rest of your life. I enjoy using the ideas in math to make myself successful. Overall, math has many uses and all of them are positive. Math challenges you and creates healthy habits. Math makes you use your reason and understanding and helps you in your finances. Math also benefits your problem solving skills. In the end, math is only positive and beneficial to creating a successful, intelligent person.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. I began to develop healthier eating habits to develop my physical and mental state. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have taken a healthy approach and created healthy habits to benefit my mental and physical state, and I have seen a difference. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to cope with my school and health challenges. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I am most excited to go to College to share my story, inspire others, and grow a career where I can help others.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Perfectible Perfection: It’s the fear of failing, The fear of not being good enough for anyone and everyone, The fear of being below average, The fear of not being able to move on, The fear of losing loved ones, The fear of being an outsider or an outcast, The fear of running out of time, The fear of falling and not being able to get back up, The fear of not amounting to anything, The fear of not being able to perform my very best at all times, The fear of drowning under all the pressure, The fear of disappointing those I love, The fear of not being able to forgive and forget, The fear of not accomplishing my dreams, The fear of not being perfect, It really is perfection at its worst. And I ask of you, is this state of perfection perfectible? MINE: The deep thoughts are mine, The pain is mine, The scars are mine, The worries are mine, The sacrificial love is mine, The guilt is mine, The doubts are mine, The broken heart is mine, The lusts are mine, The sorrow is mine, The fear is mine, The regrets are mine, The trauma is mine, The sin is mine, And I wish it all were someone else’s mine.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I am like Maggie because I have health problems, and like her, I want to use my challenges to inspire others. I hope that others can relate to my struggles and be hope-filled. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help make people feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done in our lives. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to purse real-estate. As a real-estate agent, I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and place them in a home that they will love and appreciate. I can make people feel safe and loved, and I believe that is what a successful life looks like. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture, and I believe implementing that will make me successful in my life and career. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and real-estate. Most importantly, you will help me inspire a needed change in our community.

The Blind Side has had the greatest impact on me because of the many lessons it teaches. This book is hope-filling and reaches a soft spot in the hearts of men and women of all ages. One lesson it teaches is to be kind to others, even if they are not like you. In the book, Michael is a poor African American kid and is befriended by a young white boy and his upperclass family. The mom of the young boy offers Michael a place to stay, with them, and is very hospitable, even though she doesn’t know him. She lets him stay as long as he wants and even buys him food and new clothes. She treats him like she would her own son. Most importantly, she is compassionate and expects nothing in return. Another lesson, from the book, is to not care what others say or think. The mom truly exemplifies Christ-like characteristics and is tremendously selfless. Her upperclass friends and even her own family question her decision, but she continues to stand her ground. She doesn’t care about what others will say or think, she only cares about this young man who is in need. She loves on him and makes him feel like a part of their family. A third lesson is to not judge a book by its cover. Michael is an African American who comes from a poor family who is involved with drugs and the lower class. He seems dangerous and questionable. Her friends and family are nervous about him staying at their house, but she doesn’t listen to them. She doesn’t let race or class determine this young mans worth and character. By the end of the book, the friends and family learn that Michael is harmless and a very kind man. They all learn to love him and eventually legally adopt him into their family. Overall, this book is full of many lessons to emulate and is an inspiring story. The book is even based on a true story, making it even more compelling. This book has challenged my views of race and social class and has encouraged me to be more hospitable, charitable, compassionate, and overall less judgmental. I recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to change to become more selfless and Christ-like. This book has inspired thousands and will continue to do so for centuries to come.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and real-estate. Most important, you will help me inspire a needed change in our community.

The Blind Side has had the greatest impact on me because of the many lessons it teaches. This movie is hope-filling and reaches a soft spot in the hearts of men and women of all ages. One lesson it teaches is to be kind to others, even if they are not like you. In the movie, Michael is an African American kid, an outcast, and is befriended by a young white boy and his upperclass family. The mom of the young boy offers Michael a place to stay, with them, and is very hospitable, even though she doesn’t know him. She lets him stay as long as he wants and even buys him food and new clothes. She treats him like she would her own son. Most importantly, she is compassionate and expects nothing in return. Another lesson, from the movie, is to not care what others say or think. The mom truly exemplifies Christ-like characteristics and is tremendously selfless. Her upperclass friends and even her own family question her decision, but she continues to stand her ground. She doesn’t care about what others will say or think, she only cares about this young man who is in need. She loves on him and makes him feel like a part of their family. A third lesson is to not judge a book by its cover. Michael is an African American who comes from a poor family who is involved with drugs and the lower class. He seems dangerous and questionable. Her friends and family are nervous about him staying at their house, but she doesn’t listen to them. She doesn’t let race or class determine this young mans worth and character. By the end of the movie, the friends and family learn that Michael is harmless and a very kind man. They all learn to love him and eventually legally adopt him into their family. Overall, this movie is full of many lessons to emulate and is an inspiring story. The movie is even based on a true story, making it even more compelling. This movie has challenged my views of race and social class and has encouraged me to be more hospitable, charitable, compassionate, and overall less judgmental. I recommend this movie to anyone who is wanting to change to become more selfless and Christ-like. This movie has inspired thousands and will continue to do so for centuries to come.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I think we can change our environment if we change the community surrounding it and if we start taking care of it, like we would a relationship. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. Once again, I think we can change our environment if we change the community surrounding it and if we start taking care of it, like we would a relationship. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community and environment.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. I learned to persevere through the hard times and have inspired myself and others through my quality of perseverance. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, how to persevere, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet, and I am going to continue growing and inspire others through my perseverance.

It is extremely important to manage your finances as a young adult. It is important because it shows your parents and others that you are capable, dependable, and responsible. Managing your finances is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial in all areas of your life. First, to manage your finances, you need to have a budget. I took a personal finance course at my school, and we learned how to create a budget. We created one for each month and adjusted it, based on the month. I learned that utilities, food, and housing, are all more expensive than I thought. I learned that I need to be alert about how much I am spending. Second, you need to learn how to divide up your spending, saving, and tithe/donation money. Every time I earn money, I split it up into three clear envelopes. They are labeled spend, save, and tithe. I put 10% in my tithe envelope for my church donation, 50% into my savings, and 40% into my spending. After doing this, I have been able to save money and give to God, while still having enough to spend on myself and others. Third, I have discovered a good way to manage my debit and credit cards. I opened a checking account at 16 and got a debit card. I downloaded my bank’s app on my phone, so I can check my account amount frequently and see how much I am spending. I can also make sure no money is missing and my card hasn’t been used somewhere. Furthermore, a few months later, my dad got credit cards for my brother and me. Credit cards can be controversial, especially when you are young, but if you use them correctly it can pay off. Credit cards can be financially risky because you have to pay them off each month. My dad opened credit cards that are based on his account, but it is my credit card and has my name on it. I use my notes app and make a list every month of the things I have bought with my card. I put the date, how much I spent, the store, the purchase, and whether it is something I pay for or my dad does. At the end of the month, I go over the list with my dad and pay him back, like I would pay a bank bill. There are a few things my dad pays for, like food and necessities. I make a note when I purchase those things, and my dad picks up those purchases and doesn't add them to the bill. This is an easy way to manage a credit card and create a realistic scenario on a smaller scale. Finally, you need to develop a high credit score. As I mentioned before, I got a credit card to learn how to manage it, and also to build credit, at a young age. You can build your credit with a student loan, opening a bank account, or opening a checking account/savings account. Your driving record, a late payment, or unpaid medical bills can also affect your credit. You want to build your credit, so you can buy a house, or car, or take out a loan. Overall, being financially smart is a skill that can be hard to master. My dad helped me create financial tips and a high credit score, that will help me for life. If you use the five simple tips I explained, you can be on the road to financial success and high credit.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good/bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

It is extremely important to manage your finances as a young adult. It is important because it shows your parents and others that you are capable, dependable, and responsible. Managing your finances is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial in all areas of your life. While in high school, I learned five simple steps from my dad and personal finance teacher that have put me on a path to financial success! First, to manage your finances, you need to have a budget. I took a personal finance course at my school, and we learned how to create a budget. We created one for each month and adjusted it, based on the month. I learned that utilities, food, and housing, are all more expensive than I thought. I learned that I need to be alert about how much I am spending. Second, you need to learn how to divide up your spending, saving, and tithe/donation money. Every time I earn money, I split it up into three clear envelopes. They are labeled spend, save, and tithe. I put 10% in my tithe envelope for my church donation, 50% into my savings, and 40% into my spending. After doing this, I have been able to save money and give to God, while still having enough to spend on myself and others. Third, I have discovered a good way to manage my debit and credit cards. I opened a checking account at 16 and got a debit card. I downloaded my bank’s app on my phone, so I can check my account amount frequently and see how much I am spending. I can also make sure no money is missing or make sure my card hasn’t been used somewhere. Furthermore, a few months later, my dad got credit cards for my brother and I. Credit cards can be controversial, especially when you are young, but if you use them correctly it can pay off. Credit cards can be financially risky because you have to pay them off each month. My dad opened credit cards that are based on his account, but it is my credit card and has my name on it. I use my notes app and make a list every month of the things I have bought with my card. I put the date, how much I spent, the store, the purchase, and whether it is something I pay for or my dad does. At the end of the month, I go over the list with my dad and pay him back, like I would pay a bank bill. There are a few things my dad pays for, like food and necessities. I make a note when I purchase those things, and my dad picks up those purchases and doesn't add them to the bill. This is an easy way to manage a credit card and create a realistic scenario on a smaller scale. Finally, you need to develop a high credit score. As I mentioned before, I got a credit card to learn how to manage it, and also to build credit, at a young age. You can build your credit with a student loan, opening a bank account, or opening a checking account/savings account. Your driving record, a late payment, or unpaid medical bills can also affect your credit. You want to build your credit, so you can buy a house, or car, or take out a loan. Overall, being financially smart is a skill that can be hard to master. My dad helped me create financial tips and a high credit score, that will help me be ahead in the financial world. I will be able to use these tips for the rest of high school, all of College, in my Career, and for many years after. I will have high credit at a young age which will help me in many aspects in the future: job, loans, house, etc. I have learned budgeting tips that I can use for years to come and teach others to use as well. I already have a credit and debit card , and using my system, I can continue to manage my funds in College and my career. I also have learned the system of splitting up my earnings into categories or envelopes to save/spend/tithe. If you use the five simple tips I explained, you can be on the road to financial success and high credit.

Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with others, instead of focusing on schedules. I have been on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected/inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to go to Albania for ten days with a group from my church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our career paths. We also discussed the things that God has done to get us to where we are. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can develop a relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am living the way the Albanians do by serving on mission trips and volunteering at Capernaum (special needs) I also volunteer/help lead Young Life in my school. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and real-estate. You will also be helping me out inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? As a feminist, I want to inspire change and create a healthy community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with others. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions, change, and feminism. You will be helping me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I think this is the first step to creating a healthy environment and community. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me inspire a needed change in our community. This change will create a loving community that leads to establishing a healthy environment and climate.

Capernaum The air was clear, with a sunset in its future, on a mundane Tuesday night. I walked slowly towards the small church building, unsure of what was about to come in the next few moments. I pushed open the door and walked into the room full of people that, unknowing to me, would change my life forever. I had heard stories of how the evening would be and what to expect, but I was pleasantly startled by what I saw. There were children inside the bodies of adults and screaming, crying, laughter, and strange noises. There were teenagers running and people hugging. My first impression of Capernaum was unlike anything I had ever seen and nothing I could have ever predicted. What stood out to me the most was the genuine smiles and pure joy in their eyes of those before me. I did not know what to do or how to act. I was greeted by a girl named Anna, who threw her arms around me. We introduced ourselves and became best friends in the blink of an eye. She introduced me to all of her friends and every one of them greeted me with a smile and hug. Right when I thought it could not get any better, the man in charge called all the leaders into a separate room. It was at that moment that I realized I fit into that category. I had been so caught up in the moment of meeting my new best friends that I had forgotten that I was the one leading them, rather than them leading me. We rushed into the small room filled with a few chairs, a stage, and two big screens. The main guy filled us in on the events of the evening and informed us of the do’s and do not’s when working with handicapped young people. Before I knew it the teens rushed into the room, and there was a strange smell that filled the air. It was an unimaginable and quite horrid smell, but it was coming from the warmest people you will ever meet, so it made up for it. That night consisted of singing, dancing, games, a lesson, small groups, and prayer. so much laughter. There were screams, strange noises, crying, inappropriate outbursts, and singing in the form of yelling. Before I knew it the night, full of newness, was over. All I had learned, by the end, was that every part of me loved these people and with all my heart. I craved being around them, and they filled me with a sense of purpose, unlike anything I had ever felt before. I wanted more smiles, more hugs, and more laughter. Driving home, I could not stop smiling and giggling as I recalled the evening's events. I could not wait to fill my family in on what I had experienced. I retold the night with a huge smile on my face. I relayed how the night had made me feel, and how it was my favorite thing that I had ever experienced. It had changed my view of other people and had made me want to make a difference in the life of every person I came across. My new goal in life was to be just like these kids, full of abundant smiles and genuine joy. After that night I knew that I had seen, and experienced, a glimpse of heaven, and I longed for more nights with those precious angels. I volunteer at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help special needs kids and those around them, by making them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach them through the good and bad times in their life. I can encourage them and help them feel safe and appreciated. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for volunteering/helping others. I want to inspire a needed change in our community and create a loving environment for special needs kids.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

lbanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Financial Success It is extremely important to manage your finances as a young adult. It shows your parents and others that you are capable, dependable, and responsible. Managing your finances is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial in all areas of your life. First, to manage your finances, you need to have a budget. I took a personal finance course at my school, and we learned how to create a budget on a spreadsheet. We created one for each month and adjusted it, depending on the month. I learned that utilities, food, and housing, are all more expensive than I was aware. I learned that I need to be alert about how much I am spending. Second, you need to learn how to divide up your spending, saving, and tithe/donation money (if applicable). Every time I earn money, I split it up into three clear envelopes. They are labeled spend, save, and tithe. I put 10% in my tithe envelope for my church donation, 50% into my savings, and 40% into my spending. After doing this, I have been able to save money and give to God, while still having enough to spend on myself and others. Third, I have discovered a good way to manage my debit and credit cards well. I opened a checking account at 16 and got a debit card. I downloaded my bank’s app on my phone, so I can check my account amount frequently and see how much I am spending. I can also make sure no money is missing and my card hasn’t been used somewhere. Furthermore, a few months later, my dad got credit cards for my brother and me. Credit cards can be controversial, especially when you are young, but if you use them correctly it can pay off. Credit cards can be financially risky because you have to pay them off each month. My dad opened credit cards that are based on his account, but it is my credit card and has my name on it. I use my notes app and make a list every month of the things I have bought with my card. I put the date, how much I spent, the store, the purchase, and whether it is something I pay for or my dad does. At the end of the month, I go over the list with my dad and pay him back, like I would pay a bank bill. There are a few things my dad pays for, like some food or necessities, etc. I make a note when I purchase those things, and my dad picks up those purchases and doesn't add those to the bill. This is an easy way to manage a credit card and create a very realistic scenario on a smaller scale. Finally, you need to develop a high credit score. As I mentioned before, I got a credit card to learn how to manage it, and also to build credit, at a young age. You can build your credit with a student loan, (by paying it off), open a bank account, or open a checking account/savings account. Your driving record, a late payment, or unpaid medical bills can also affect your credit. You want to build your credit, so you can buy a house, or car, or take out a loan. Overall, being financially smart is a lifelong skill that you will want to master. I plan on sharing these skills and if you use the five simple tips I explained, you can be on the road to financial success and high credit.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Having integrity means being trustworthy, honest, dependable, and having strong morals. It also means honoring God and other people through your actions. I have showed honor throughout my life through missions, serving my church, and volunteering at various places. I have served on 4 mission trips and have built relationships with people in other countries. I have helped with my church, since 2018 by volunteering in the children’s department (all ages), and also by helping with the coffee. I am a leader at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with those kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. Throughout the years, I have also volunteered at homeless shelters, free clothing organizations, hygiene pantries, ministries that help poor people, food banks, single mother clinics, and food packing organizations. I have learned how to be kind, gentle, patient, compassionate, and loving. I have also learned how to honor God and those I am serving through my actions and words. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me show others what integrity/honor is. In the end, I hope to inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can develop a new or old relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do by serving on mission trips, volunteering at Young Life Capernaum (special needs kids), and creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my education and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. I know my story isn't over yet and most importantly I can share my story and hopefully encourage and inspire others. The main reason I write is to help other people and hope that they can relate to my struggles and be hope-filled.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

It is extremely important to manage your finances as a young adult. It is important because it shows your parents and others that you are capable, dependable, and responsible. Managing your finances is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial in all areas of your life. First, to manage your finances, you need to have a budget. I took a personal finance course at my school, and we learned how to create a budget. We created one for each month and adjusted it, based on the month. I learned that utilities, food, and housing, are all more expensive than I thought. I learned that I need to be alert about how much I am spending. Second, you need to learn how to divide up your spending, saving, and tithe/donation money. Every time I earn money, I split it up into three clear envelopes. They are labeled spend, save, and tithe. I put 10% in my tithe envelope for my church donation, 50% into my savings, and 40% into my spending. After doing this, I have been able to save money and give to God, while still having enough to spend on myself and others. Third, I have discovered a good way to manage my debit and credit cards. I opened a checking account at 16 and got a debit card. I downloaded my bank’s app on my phone, so I can check my account amount frequently and see how much I am spending. I can also make sure no money is missing and my card hasn’t been used somewhere. Furthermore, a few months later, my dad got credit cards for my brother and me. Credit cards can be controversial, especially when you are young, but if you use them correctly it can pay off. Credit cards can be financially risky because you have to pay them off each month. My dad opened credit cards that are based on his account, but it is my credit card and has my name on it. I use my notes app and make a list every month of the things I have bought with my card. I put the date, how much I spent, the store, the purchase, and whether it is something I pay for or my dad does. At the end of the month, I go over the list with my dad and pay him back, like I would pay a bank bill. There are a few things my dad pays for, like food and necessities. I make a note when I purchase those things, and my dad picks up those purchases and doesn't add them to the bill. This is an easy way to manage a credit card and create a realistic scenario on a smaller scale. Finally, you need to develop a high credit score. As I mentioned before, I got a credit card to learn how to manage it, and also to build credit, at a young age. You can build your credit with a student loan, opening a bank account, or opening a checking account/savings account. Your driving record, a late payment, or unpaid medical bills can also affect your credit. You want to build your credit, so you can buy a house, or car, or take out a loan. Overall, being financially smart is a skill that can be hard to master. My dad helped me create financial tips and a high credit score, that will help me for life. If you use the five simple tips I explained, you can be on the road to financial success and high credit.

It is extremely important to manage your finances as a young adult. It is important because shows your parents and others that you are capable, dependable, and responsible. Managing your finances is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and is beneficial in all areas of your life. First, to manage your finances, you need to have a budget. I took a personal finance course at my school, and we learned how to create a budget on a spreadsheet. We created one for each month and adjusted it, depending on the month. I learned that utilities, food, and housing, are all more expensive than I was aware. I learned that I need to be alert about how much I am spending. Second, you need to learn how to divide up your spending, saving, and tithe/donation money (if applicable). Every time I earn money, I split it up into three clear envelopes. They are labeled spend, save, and tithe. I put 10% in my tithe envelope for my church donation, 50% into my savings, and 40% into my spending. After doing this, I have been able to save money and give to God, while still having enough to spend on myself and others. Third, I have discovered a good way to manage my debit and credit cards well. I opened a checking account at 16 and got a debit card. I downloaded my bank’s app on my phone, so I can check my account amount frequently and see how much I am spending. I can also make sure no money is missing and my card hasn’t been used somewhere. Furthermore, a few months later, my dad got credit cards for my brother and me. Credit cards can be controversial, especially when you are young, but if you use them correctly it can pay off. Credit cards can be financially risky because you have to pay them off each month. My dad opened credit cards that are based on his account, but it is my credit card and has my name on it. I use my notes app and make a list every month of the things I have bought with my card. I put the date, how much I spent, the store, the purchase, and whether it is something I pay for or my dad does. At the end of the month, I go over the list with my dad and pay him back, like I would pay a bank bill. There are a few things my dad pays for, like some food or necessities, etc. I make a note when I purchase those things, and my dad picks up those purchases and doesn't add those to the bill. This is an easy way to manage a credit card and create a very realistic scenario on a smaller scale. Finally, you need to develop a high credit score. As I mentioned before, I got a credit card to learn how to manage it, and also to build credit, at a young age. You can build your credit with a student loan, (by paying it off), open a bank account, or open a checking account/savings account. Your driving record, a late payment, or unpaid medical bills can also affect your credit. You want to build your credit, so you can buy a house, or car, or take out a loan. Overall, being financially smart is a lifelong skill that can be hard to master. If you use the five simple tips I explained, you can be on the road to financial success and high credit.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on mission trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship, you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Have you ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I needed people around me, to support me, and love me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I need people around me, supporting me, and loving me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I need people around me, supporting me, and loving me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. I would fight with my parents and push them away. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling and I needed help and some serious change. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I apologized to my friends and family for pushing them away. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. I realized that I need people around me, supporting me, and loving me. Before I had always told myself that people needed me to be strong for them and not ask them for help. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable with others. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. I have learned how to be vulnerable, how to ask for help, how to lean on other people, and how to survive. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to emulate the Albanian culture and inspire change in my community.

Albanian Love Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? I want to inspire change and create a relationship-oriented community. I want to encourage people to love one another and create relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 mission trips to France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me and inspired me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for ten days with a group from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly be with the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and we 100% did! Albanians think of themselves as one extended family and treat each other with love. They are genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship-based and was focused on walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and talked about our careers and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians, as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania and the differences between America and Albania. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans if it means they can talk to someone or develop a new relationship. The culture accepts this behavior and the majority of Albanians run late because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know others. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. We had a night where we got to talk about both cultures and their holidays. We even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of our visit, the young professionals were encouraged, non-believers were exposed to Christianity, and the local ministry we worked with was blessed. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love. This trip has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better and inspired us. I made some lifelong friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate. Overall, I want to create an environment that resembles the Albanian culture.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know my story isn't over yet. I have considered being a therapist because I want to help people and make them feel loved and known. I can be an emotional coach for people through the good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and appreciated. I want to make sure people never have to feel the way that I did. Most importantly I want to prevent people from taking their life or thinking about it.

A Healthy Heart Salty tears on a sorrowful face. That was me on any night, but no one would have guessed. I hid behind a mask of “pure joy” and “smiles,” while I was battling the physical and emotional struggles that sickness puts on a person. I was stuck in a cycle of waking with severe pains, staying home, being lonely, and having severe depression. Ever heard of FOMO? It’s the fear of missing out, sounds made-up, but I had it. I wanted to grow and make a difference, but I was held back by this sickness and my fragile mental state. I wanted to feel normal, see my friends, and experience the joy that I used to. I had missed so much school that I was questioning whether I would be able to graduate. I felt like mail that was lost, with no destination, no one aware that it was lost, and no one looking for it. I had thousands of tests, scans, sonograms, MRIs, and several procedures, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I also had many IVs, appointments, and shots every week that I had to face. It felt as if they would never cease to exist. I thought that I would have no blood, by the end. I had taken so many pills that I felt repulsed by the image. No one had an answer to my question, “When will this end?” I had been battling with severe migraines, stomach pains, light-headedness, hot flashes, nausea, and abdominal cramps for years. I had been getting more and more depressed throughout the years, and I was on the verge of committing suicide and taking my life. I thought about it daily and wondered if anyone would even miss me. Meanwhile, my condition was only getting worse, and I had lost all hope in the medical field. One day, I decided to talk about how badly I was being affected. I admitted that I was spiraling down and needed help and some serious changes in my life. Slowly, I let the emotions, under the surface, come to light. I became genuine about how hard life was and the depression I was dealing with. I sought professional help and talked about my emotions and feelings, which was hard for me. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness. I began to see beauty in life and feel known again. Through prayers, friends, and family I learned to find joy in my suffering. I began to go to school and get out of the depression, reconnecting with friends and family. Before I had always told myself that people needed me, and I had to be strong for them. I felt as if sharing my struggles was making myself a burden on others, but I learned to open up and be vulnerable. Today, I still face hardships and have the same health problems, but I approach them with a different mindset. Butterflies will always be special because they represent where I started, how I have grown, and what I strive to become. I know that my story isn't over yet. I want to be a real estate agent because I can help people in a very pivotal time in their lives: buying their first house, getting divorced, having to move, etc. I can be an emotional coach for people through these good or bad times in their life. I can encourage people and help them feel safe and loved, by placing them in a home that they will love and appreciate.

"I can only imagine" is a song with a great message for people, in fact the most important message, the Gospel. The song talks about imagining what Heaven will look like and what the experience will be. This song excites believers about Heaven and encourages non-believers to be saved. This song spreads inspiration, joy, and hope. I hope and pray that as many people as possible get to experience what Heaven really will be like. The song paints a beautiful picture of what Heaven will be like and how awe-struck we will be. I love the positive message of this song and the hope that it gives us.

Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? Not only do I want to make a difference in my career of real-estate, but I also want to inspire change in America as a whole. I want to create a relationship-oriented community in America. I want to encourage people to put more emphasis on loving one another and being in relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 missions trips to: France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. However, the one that affected me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and I can say we 100% did! The citizens think of themselves as one big extended family and treat each other with love and compassion. They were genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. Most of my trip was relationship-based and was focused on encouraging and walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and got to talk about our career paths and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules and relationships. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans or schedules, if it means they can talk to someone and further develop a relationship with them. The culture accepts this behavior and as a whole Albanians run late to most occasions because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know each other better. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love for them. This trip has reminded me of how good God is and of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed my life, for the better, and I made some life-long friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. I am so grateful that I got to go on this trip and hope to go back someday. Now back in the U.S., I hope to pass on that “Albanian love.” I want to create the family-like culture that they have in my workplace. I want to inspire change, spread kindness and love, and bring people joy through the career of real-estate.

Do you wish Americans were more compassionate to one other? Not only do I want to make a difference in my career, but I also want to inspire change in America as a whole. I want to create a relationship-oriented community in America. I want to encourage people to put more emphasis on loving one another and being in relationships with those in our community, instead of focusing on a schedule. I have been privileged to go on 4 missions trips to: France, Haiti, Honduras, and Albania. Although, the one that affected me the most was my trip to Albania because of the culture and the relationship-centered community. I was blessed to get to go to Albania for 10 days with a group of 13 from our church. We got to enjoy the beautiful country of Albania and the delicious food, but most importantly the community of the Albanian people. They have a saying in Albania about foreigners “catching the Albanian love” and I can tell you we 100% did! The citizens think of themselves as one big extended family and treat each other with love and compassion. They were genuine, inclusive, and full of joy. The majority of Albanians are Muslim with less than 1% being Christian. As a result, we worked with Muslims, non-believers, and some of that one percent. Most of our trip was relationship based and was focused on encouraging and walking alongside these people. We worked with young professionals and got to talk about our career paths and the things that God has done to get us to where we are today. We had daily coffees with the Albanians as the average Albanian has 3 coffees a day, which we enjoyed of course! During these coffee times, we had some challenging conversations about culture. We talked about the struggles of living in Albania, the many issues in our sinful world, and the differences between America and Albania. We also discussed the worldviews that we hold as Christians. Out of all the culture shocks the biggest difference was the way they handle their schedules and relationships. Albanians run on “Albanian time” and are willing to drop their plans or schedules, if it means they can talk to someone and further develop a relationship with them. The culture accepts this behavior and as a whole Albanians run late to most occasions because of the high value that they place on relationships. I want to change the way Americans think and encourage people to throw out their schedules and get to know each other better. Aside from having conversations over coffee, we also hosted several events and a retreat that the young professionals attended where we discussed God and American culture. One of the nights was an American night where we talked about our holidays and culture. On another night they put on an Albanian night for us, and we even learned some of their traditional dances! As a result of my team and I, new believers were encouraged and affirmed, non-believers were exposed to what Christianity is, and the local ministry we worked with in Albania was blessed and walked alongside. As Americans, we opened the door for these young professionals to get connected to the local ministry and learn more about Christ’s love for them. We hope to continue learning from the ministry about the many things God is doing through them and through the young professionals. This trip has reminded me of how good God is and of how blessed I am to have the opportunities I do in America. These people changed our lives for the better, and I made some life-long friends from all the amazing people we came in contact with. I am so grateful that I got to go on this trip and hope to go back someday. As we return to the U.S., we hope to pass on that “Albanian love” and the family-like culture that they have. I believe that I am actively living the way the Albanians do. I am serving on missions trips and building relationships with people in other countries. I am volunteering at Young Life Capernaum, with special needs kids, and I am creating relationships with these kids in my community. I am also volunteering and helping lead Young Life in my school community. By granting me this scholarship you will be helping me further my passion for missions and help me inspire a needed change in our community.