My experiences with mental health have completely changed the way I view other people, relationships, and the world around me. Growing up, I saw mental health struggles firsthand through my mother, who has battled depression for most of my life. Even when she was struggling deeply, she still found ways to care for my siblings and me without letting us fully see the weight she carried. Watching her taught me that many people hide their pain from the world, and that you truly never know what someone else may be dealing with internally. I have also struggled with my own mental health. There was a period in my life where I felt completely overwhelmed by pressure, fear, and emotional exhaustion. I reached a point where I attempted to take my own life. Looking back, the hardest part was not necessarily being physically alone, but feeling alone even when surrounded by people who cared about me. Mental health can isolate people in ways that are difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced it. Your mind can convince you that you are a burden or that nobody understands what you are feeling, even when support exists around you. For a long time, I bottled up my emotions because I believed struggling mentally made me weak. I thought I needed to carry everything on my own, especially because of the pressure I feel to succeed for my family. As a first generation college student from a low income household, I constantly worry about finances, academics, athletics, and building a stable future. I know my family cannot financially support me, so I often feel responsible for creating a better future entirely on my own. Over time, that pressure began catching up with me emotionally. What changed my perspective was the people who showed me compassion during my lowest moments. It took genuinely caring people in my life to help me understand that struggling mentally does not make someone less valuable or less deserving of love and support. I learned that expressing emotions is not weakness, but something healthy and necessary. Opening up about my struggles allowed me to better understand both myself and others. These experiences have deeply shaped my relationships. I now value communication, emotional honesty, and simply checking in on people because I know how meaningful small acts of kindness can be. Sometimes people are fighting battles internally that nobody else can see. Because of this, I try to approach others with empathy instead of judgment. My experiences with mental health have also shaped my goals and aspirations. Much of the reason I enjoy working with children is because I want them to understand early in life that it is okay to not be okay. As a camp counselor and mentor, I try to create environments where kids feel safe being themselves and expressing emotions openly. I want young people to know they do not have to suffer silently or feel ashamed for struggling mentally. Mental health has also changed the way I view the world as a whole. I have realized that mental struggles look different for everyone, and they do not always appear outwardly obvious. Some people become quiet, some become angry, and some continue smiling while carrying overwhelming pain internally. Mental health often only fully makes sense to the person experiencing it, which is why compassion and understanding are so important. Although my struggles with mental health have been some of the most difficult experiences of my life, they have also made me more empathetic, emotionally aware, and committed to helping others feel seen and supported. They taught me the importance of human connection, honesty, and kindness. Most importantly, they taught me that nobody should feel like they have to suffer alone.

elationships have played a major role in shaping both my personal goals and the way I hope to impact others in the future. Growing up, I learned very early that strong relationships are often what help people survive difficult circumstances. As the child of a single mother, I watched my mom sacrifice constantly for my siblings and me. She worked hard, carried stress that we often did not even realize she was dealing with, and still found ways to make sure we felt supported and cared for. No matter how difficult things became financially, she always taught us to be kind and generous toward others. Watching my mom shaped the way I view human connection. She taught me that you never truly know what someone else is going through. Even when she was struggling herself, she still treated people with compassion and never asked for sympathy in return. That lesson has stayed with me throughout every stage of my life. It taught me to pay attention to others, to lead with empathy, and to understand that support can completely change someone’s life. Relationships have also shaped my experiences through basketball. As a collegiate athlete, I have learned that the strongest teams are built on trust, communication, and consistency. My coaches and teammates always believed in me and encouraged me to keep pushing forward even during difficult moments. They taught me what it feels like to have people genuinely care about your success both on and off the court. One relationship that especially impacted me was my friendship with my teammate, Lexie. She cared about me as a person beyond basketball more than almost anyone I have ever met. She consistently checked in on me and made sure I was mentally okay even while dealing with struggles of her own. That level of selflessness showed me what real support looks like. It reminded me that relationships are not only about celebrating achievements, but also about being present for people during difficult moments. Another relationship that deeply influenced me was with my mentor, Brandon. Brandon experienced discrimination himself, and through our conversations he helped me better understand the importance of advocacy and speaking up for others. He believed in me when I doubted myself and even gave me a job to help support my future. His mentorship inspired me to begin speaking publicly for minority communities in my area through protests and city council meetings. He taught me that relationships can empower people to use their voices and create meaningful change. Because of these relationships, I now understand that human connection is built on communication, sacrifice, support, and consistency. These values directly influence my long term goals. In the future, I hope to work with youth and create opportunities for children from low income backgrounds through mentorship and athletics. I want to create environments where young people feel genuinely supported and valued because I know firsthand how powerful those relationships can be. Whether through coaching, mentorship, advocacy, or community programs, I want to build the kind of relationships that helped shape me into the person I am today. I believe strong human connections can change lives because they have already changed mine.

I am currently a junior at Truman State University with a 3.6 GPA and an expected graduation year of 2028. I am also a student athlete on a partial athletic scholarship for the women’s basketball team. Coming from a low income household, attending college has never been guaranteed for me. It has only been possible through scholarships, financial aid, loans, and constant sacrifice. Despite the financial pressure surrounding higher education, I have continued pursuing my degree because I understand how important education is not only for my future, but for my family and community as well. What gives me an advantage over many other applicants is not simply one accomplishment, but the ability to balance several demanding responsibilities at once while continuing to succeed academically. In addition to being a collegiate athlete, I work full time as a park ranger. My responsibilities include ensuring the safety of visitors, protecting wildlife, preserving nature, and educating guests about the environment and surrounding trails. This role has taught me leadership, patience, responsibility, and how to communicate with people from many different backgrounds. It has also strengthened my understanding of service and the importance of protecting spaces that belong to everyone. Along with my work as a park ranger, I have also worked as a camp counselor for children ranging from kindergarten through middle school. My goal was never just to supervise children, but to help create a positive environment where they felt included, supported, and safe. I often found myself teaching children the importance of kindness, teamwork, sharing, and including others who may feel left out. These experiences helped me understand the impact small actions can have on someone’s confidence and sense of belonging. Outside of work and athletics, I have also been heavily involved in advocacy within my community. Growing up in a predominantly white area, I became passionate about supporting minority communities and speaking out against inequality. I have organized protests, spoken publicly at city council meetings, and appeared on local news broadcasts to discuss issues affecting underrepresented groups. Speaking publicly in these environments was not always easy, but I believed remaining silent would have been worse. These experiences taught me the importance of empathy, courage, and using my voice to stand up for people who are often overlooked. Financial hardship has been one of the greatest challenges throughout my educational journey. My mother is disabled and relies on government assistance, and my father is not present in my life. My mother sacrificed constantly to give my siblings and me opportunities she never had herself. There were times she went without necessities so we could have food, clothing, or opportunities to participate in activities such as travel basketball. Watching her sacrifice shaped my work ethic and taught me the importance of perseverance. Today, I am facing financial struggles of my own while trying to remain in college. In order to afford tuition and living expenses, I am preparing to work multiple jobs while balancing academics and athletics. There are times where this schedule may leave me with very little sleep, but stepping away from my education has never felt like an option. I deserve this scholarship because I have consistently demonstrated ambition, drive, and impact through my actions rather than simply my goals. I have maintained strong academics while balancing athletics, full time work, leadership roles, advocacy efforts, and financial hardship. More importantly, I have used my experiences to support others whether through mentoring children, protecting public spaces, advocating for minority communities, or encouraging younger athletes. In the future, I hope to continue creating opportunities for others, especially children from low income backgrounds who may not otherwise have access to sports, mentorship, and educational support. I want to use both my education and life experiences to positively impact my community and help others believe that their circumstances do not determine their future. This scholarship would not simply support my education. It would support someone who is already committed to using every opportunity they receive to create meaningful change for others.

Hi, my name is Maggie Chambers, and I am a low-income first-generation college student from Pumpkintown, South Carolina. Growing up in a household with financial hardship shaped how I view education and opportunity. My mother is disabled and relies on government assistance, and she has sacrificed greatly to support my siblings and me. Because of her, I learned early that education is not just something you pursue for yourself but something that can change the entire direction of a family’s future. Attending higher education is extremely important to my long-term goals because it provides me with the knowledge, stability, and opportunity to expand the impact I already want to make in my community. As a student at Truman State University, I have been able to continue my education while also gaining real-world experience that has shaped my leadership and communication skills. However, without financial assistance, continuing my degree would be extremely difficult due to my limited resources. Outside of academics, I have taken on several roles that have helped me grow as a leader and strengthened my commitment to serving others. I currently work as a park ranger, where I have learned responsibility, teamwork, and how to interact with people from all backgrounds in a respectful and educational environment. I have also worked as a camp counselor, where I supported and mentored children, helping them build confidence, teamwork skills, and positive relationships. In addition to my work experience, I have been actively involved in advocating for minority communities. I have helped organize protests and have spoken at community meetings to bring awareness to issues affecting underrepresented groups. These experiences have taught me the importance of using my voice and standing up for people who may not always feel heard. They have also shown me that change often begins at the local level through consistent action and engagement. Through higher education, I hope to further develop my ability to create meaningful change both in my community and beyond. My goal is to use my education to build programs that support youth especially those from low-income backgrounds by providing them with access to opportunities they may not otherwise have. I want to create spaces where students feel seen supported and encouraged to pursue their goals regardless of their financial situation. In the future, I plan to continue working in youth development and community based programs using both my education and lived experiences to guide my work. I also hope to expand opportunities for young athletes and students through mentorship and accessible programs that remove financial barriers. Higher education will allow me to take the experiences I already have working as a park ranger mentoring children as a camp counselor and advocating for minority communities and turn them into long term structured impact. It will give me the tools to not only support others on a personal level but also to create lasting programs that improve access and opportunity for those who need it most. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education but also bring me closer to my goal of using my voice leadership and experiences to create positive change in the lives of others.

Hi, my name is Maggie Chambers, and I am a first-generation college student from a small town called Pumpkintown, South Carolina. Growing up, I learned early what financial hardship looks like. My mom is disabled and relies on government assistance each month, and my dad is not present in my life. My mom has always been my biggest role model. There were times she sacrificed meals so my siblings and I could eat, and she gave up her own comfort to make sure we had opportunities she never had. Because of her, I learned the meaning of perseverance, gratitude, and responsibility. As a first-generation college student, I have had to navigate higher education without the guidance or connections that others may have. Financially, I rely on scholarships, financial aid, and loans in order to continue my education. Without support like this scholarship, continuing my degree would become extremely difficult. However, I remain committed to finishing my education because I understand the value it holds not only for my future, but for the future of my family and community. I am currently a junior at Truman State University and a member of the women’s basketball team. Basketball has shaped my discipline, leadership, and teamwork. It has also shown me how powerful sports can be in bringing people together regardless of background, language, or circumstance. On and off the court, I try to lead by example by encouraging others, especially younger athletes, to believe in themselves even when their situation feels limiting. I plan to use my experiences, talents, and education to build a more empathetic and understanding community through sports and mentorship. One of my long-term goals is to start a travel basketball program in upstate South Carolina for children from low-income families. This program would be donation-based so that financial barriers do not prevent talented kids from participating. Through this, I hope to create opportunities for children to be seen by college coaches, build confidence, and learn life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Beyond athletics, I believe empathy begins with understanding people’s circumstances. Growing up in financial hardship has made me more aware of how differently people experience the world. I want to use that perspective to connect with others who feel overlooked or limited by their environment. Whether through mentoring younger students, supporting teammates, or building future programs, I want to be someone who helps others feel seen, valued, and supported. This scholarship would not only help me continue my education as a first-generation student with financial need, but it would also allow me to turn my goals into real impact. I want to use my journey to help others believe that their background does not define their future, and that with support and opportunity, they can achieve more than they thought possible.

Hi, my name is Maggie Chambers. I grew up in a small town called Pumpkintown in South Carolina. I do not come from money. My mom relies on a check from the government every month as she is disabled. My dad is not present in my life. My mom is my hero. There would be days where she would not eat to ensure my siblings and I did not go hungry. She sold her collectible items to make sure I had the money to play travel basketball. She gave up the better half of her life to make sure my siblings and I had the best childhood we could possibly have. I will be a junior in college this coming year at Truman State University and I am on the women's basketball team. Despite the financial challenges I faced in childhood, I refused to let that determine my future. My mom's persistence that she instilled in me and her unending support is why I am where I am today. There were times throughout high school where I had to choose between getting extra hours in at my job, or going to training. I would get the extra hours in and still go to the gym and put in the work on the court. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to afford to attend school. I have no family that could help fund my situation. I rely on scholarships, financial aid/loans and my own work. I am currently a park ranger, and am looking to get a second job at Walmart on third shift. If I were to be chosen for this scholarship, it would help me achieve my dream of becoming the first person in my family to earn a degree. I want to start my own travel basketball team in the upstate of South Carolina and open it to children who have significant financial need. My hopes are for it to be fully donation funded and for the children to be able to showcase their talents in front of top college coaches and achieve their dreams just like I have been able to. I believe all children should have access to the sports they love. That access should not be dependent on the amount of money they or their parents have. I also believe that this is true for school. Education and the betterment of children, which are the future of this nation, should be of upmost priority in our government. It is truly a shame that there are millions of kids every single day who will never unlock their full potential simply because of a number in their bank account. If you are hard working, and determined, that should be the only requirement.

I grew up with an older brother, and in a family that has very traditional thinking. My family believes that women are no where near as capable as men and do not even have the capacity to reach a man. However, I have never thought less of myself just because I am a woman. I have always competed with men for everything. Jobs, athletics, you name it. My grandpa has his own carpentry business and would always let the men in the family work for him, but would never let any of the girls because it is not "a girls job". Growing up playing basketball, our games were 100x more competitive than the guys, yet everyone wants to watch the guys game and no one shows up to ours. I was named an All-region player 3 years, the one year I did not get it was the year I tore my ACL. I was named All-State my senior year. I took my team to the playoffs back to back years and we won the first Region Championship for women in my schools history. In track I was named All-State 2 years in a row, and I placed 3rd at the State Championships. I hold the school record for Shot Put, and Discus, and was named an All-American at the All-American track meet. I believe in my heart and soul that women are just as capable as men in every aspect of life, we just do not have the same opportunities to prove it. I have played basketball since I was 6 years old and now I compete collegiately at Truman State University. I have faced 2 major setbacks in my career. I tore my ACL and meniscus in high school. All the men in my life told me I should just hang it up, that I would never be the same player again. 10 months later, I was an even better and more skilled player than I was before. My freshman year of college, I went to Limestone University. It shut down at the end of the year with only 2 weeks of a warning. I was absolutely terrified that I would never get to play basketball again because it was already so late in the year. I scrambled for months to find a new school that would take a freshman player who did not play much in their freshman year. Finally, I found a school in Missouri who was willing to take a chance on me. All it takes is one person believing in you to accomplish your dreams. As a woman, those people are hard to come by, but what they do not tell you is that that one person can be yourself. My school shutting down started as probably one of the worst experiences of my life. Now, I am incredibly thankful that it happened. I love where I ended up and I could not be happier. I admire and look up to my mom. She has not had an easy life by any means. She is permanently disabled and has chronic migraines. There would be nights where she could not eat because there was not enough food for all of us. She sacrificed her prime years to give me the chance to play sports at a high, competitive level. She is the epitome of hard work and dedication. I could not be more proud of someone. This scholarship would help fund my education. I do not come from a rich family and I could not possibly ask my mom for more money. I rely on scholarships and federal aid/loans to pay. My athletic scholarship is only partial because I am at a Dll school. Recently I found out one of my scholarships I will no longer receive. This has put me in a tremendous hole. However, I am strong and I am capable of figuring this out to ensure I finish my education. This scholarship would help me do that and alleviate financial stress. I could take the easy way out and stop playing basketball and move back home. However, I want to show girls who come from situations just like me that it is possible to get your degree and play the sport that you love. I currently am a Park ranger at a park in South Carolina. I am also applying for a second job to help cover some of my expenses. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay and for gifting this opportunity to girls all over the country. This organization is the embodiment of "YGIG".