I have struggled with mental health all my life. In high school, I grappled with extreme anxiety and depression, which followed me after graduation. I struggled especially during my first year of college; I graduated high school in 2020 and moved across the country with my parents due to COVID-19. I'd never felt more hopeless and isolated than I did then. However, during that time, I also learned a lot about both myself and the significance of mental health. I think a practical solution for helping more people who struggle with mental health is to make resources more accessible via online communities dedicated to spreading awareness and hope. It's very common for people to struggle with their mental health privately out of fear of ridicule or abuse. Despite needing it, this was the largest reason I didn't seek professional help; I recognized my vulnerability, and it felt risky to ask for help. My experience with an online community has helped me cope with my mental health struggles; last year, I stumbled across a therapist on Instagram who dedicated her platform to mental wellness. It was a space where I discovered resources that helped me recover. I could talk if I wanted to, or I could observe if that felt more comfortable. There was no pressure, which allowed me to focus on learning and improving. Through various live streams, videos, and posts, I participated in a community comprised of others dealing with similar issues as me. It was incredibly gratifying, and I felt less hopeless and isolated after some time. Now, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to grow, and I believe everyone should have the same opportunity to overcome their mental health obstacles. I believe online communities, in their accessibility and security, will help make this possible.

Chronic diseases amount for approximately 71% of global deaths, making chronic illnesses a leading problem globally. Chronic diseases are so prevalent in U.S. society that most people either have personal experience with or know someone who has dealt with chronic illnesses. Asthma, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer are all unique chronic illnesses. From adolescents to the elderly, everyone is impacted by chronic disease in different ways. Treatment of chronic disease is impossible without medical tools; without tools, medical practitioners lose crucial time, precision, and insight necessary for working with chronic diseases. The sheer impact medical technology has on those with chronic disease is largely why I chose biomedical sciences as a major; where medical care is crucial to citizens, medical technologies are crucial to the success of the healthcare industry. I intend to graduate from Troy University with the skills necessary to design innovative medical equipment and research treatments to better ensure patient care. I am particularly fascinated by 3D printing's impact in the medical industry. The applications of 3D printing in the medical field are endless: with 3D printers, practitioners could visualize illnesses, manufacture cells, tissues, and organs, and reduce the costs of medical supplies. Just one of these impacts alone would completely revolutionize the medical industry; 3D printing makes all of them possible. In this regard, humanity is at the forefront of a new era, one where there are readily available cures to cancer, limb loss, and chronic pain; and I am more than a little stoked to be a part of it. A scholarship would do wonders for my education. Currently, my financial situation dictates that I work part-time while attending school. My family experienced significant losses from COVID-19, prompting us to relocate from Iowa in search of work. The savings I compiled while I was in high school were used to help combat immediate costs, and I worked 27 hours a week at Panera during my first semester at college to counter tuition and living costs. Though I maintained a 4.0 GPA, the intense pressure of costs stunted my ability to fully take advantage of my education. With a scholarship, I would have the opportunity to enroll in organizations, clubs, and internships to further my experience in the biomedical field in preparation for graduation. Over the rest of my time at Troy University, I plan to enroll in at least one internship, such as through Johnson and Johnson or Tesla, and a couple of clubs related to Biomedical science. I also plan to enroll in Troy University’s 3D printing elective when my schedule permits me, along with some programming courses. Currently, I am enrolled as a math tutor through Troy University. With a scholarship, I would have the resources and time to involve myself in the Trojan community. I believe that my biomedical science degree from Troy is larger than me; with my education, I intend to help as many people as possible. The truth is: the people who suffer from chronic diseases aren’t strangers. They’re our parents, grandparents, spouses, and children. These are the people that make up our communities, and they play significant roles in the lives around them. Parting with these people is tragic beyond words. With my degree from Troy, I intend to reduce the number of fatalities caused by chronic illnesses by researching chronic illnesses and innovating the technologies and methods by which people approach chronic diseases. I plan to use 3D printing extensively in my biomedical career. I hope to accomplish great things with my Troy education, and I am excited to see what the technologies of tomorrow bring.

I deserve this scholarship for the rats. My calling in life is to increase the overall rat population by 50% in the United States by retirement. I believe everyone deserves a rat friend, and personally, I find the fleas charming. Frankly, my parents don't support my dream of rat breeding. Whenever I sit down for dinner, it's never, "How is the rat business going?" It's always: "Why is the roasted turkey running away? What just crawled up my leg? Where did all these rats come from?" It's very tiring. I haven't overcome this obstacle. I don't like obstacles. If you have any advice, feel free to email me at ratsratsratsratsrats@morerats.rat

Anyone who has attended a single high school improv event should worry for the future of humanity. I would know; when I was in high school, I witnessed and participated in multiple improv events. For several years. As if one experience wasn't a lethal dose. Improv, when done right, is wonderful. It's fast-paced. It's clever. It's 'la-quintessence-du-théâtre'. However, when done poorly, improv is less pleasant. Much less so. (In Article IV of the Geneva Convention, it's stated that forcing audiences to watch bad improv routines exceeding five minutes is a violation of human rights.) Bad improv is like a black hole; it warps time and space so that seconds crawl by for all participants. Studies show that the fall of Rome proceeded much faster for witnesses than a single bad improv performance. More recently, a movement in the '60s resulted in banning the weaponization of the art form, deeming it as a 'WMD' (Weapon of Mortification and Discomfort). Modern political debate focuses mainly on the controversial CIA interrogation technique, which uses high school improv skits to get faster confessions. Its effectiveness is matched by its cruelty. Truly, high school improv is a uniquely awful experience. Some of my favorite high school skits include the 'cat character'-- which put the musical Cats to shame in its raw fervor. A student who was reminded by a judge that, 'if she couldn't do accents, to not attempt to do so on stage,' (to which she responded with a defeated, 'oui,') and conversations that might have been interesting had they occurred while waiting in line. I can recall my acts, which... admittedly, I try to forget daily. (I think this is called 'repression.' I'm not as good at it as I wish, which is similar to my sentiment towards improv.) My personal favorite is when I spent five minutes impersonating a robot. If I am the best at anything in life, I am the best at being the worst at improv. (If you receive an essay that says, "I witnessed a young lady flailing her arms about like a malware-infected robot. The future appears grim..." that's probably me.) However, most remarkable to me is a skit that featured Santa Claus. A Santa Claus, in particular, who stole childrens' knee caps and left pieces of them strewn about. Arguably, the actor was a creative genius, however, the judges noticeably dissented from my opinion. Improv, in this regard, is concerning as it illustrates that humanity's inexperience often warps its aspirations. While many improv students' acts may give viewers second-hand embarrassment, frequently, the skits are born from great practice, effort, and intention. Improv is difficult and is rarely executed perfectly, much like life, despite the great endeavors of participants. Like high school improv students, our species' ambition is often greater than our abilities. This is especially concerning when innovation and creativity are necessary for tackling future obstacles; humanity, in essence, is a high school improv student on stage. Which is rather unnerving, to say the very least.      

It's not an overstatement to say that 2020 impacted everyone in unimaginable ways. For me: I graduated high school, and due to financial losses, my parents made the spontaneous decision to move across the country for work. The day after my graduation, my father left home to apply for work, and it was up to just me, my twin sister, and my mother to condense our belongings and prepare our three-story home for sale. Before I knew it, my life completely changed. I was many things during this; overwhelmed, terrified, and lonely. However: I think I grieved mostly. It felt like I'd lost my friends, my home, my family, and ultimately: my future. It was a difficult time made more intense by the ongoing tumult of the pandemic. Truly, the only thing that outweighed my grief was the selflessness of my older sister. Initially, she flew up from Florida for our graduation. However, when she saw the state of the family, she canceled her return ticket and helped us. Additionally, she did more than the laborious packing and renovating; She laughed and cried with us. Her presence lifted a considerable weight off the family. She supported us, and I am impossibly grateful for her. Giving is everything. The impact of her support is beyond anything I can verbalize. I try to honor that kindness a little bit every day with what I have. From simple things, like holding a door for a stranger or texting a loved one, to doing stressful chores or giving a friend a pep talk. I try to support those around me in ways that matter. This compelling love has inspired me to pursue a career in the health sciences. I hope to give the same love to my community that my sister has gifted me.

Chronic disease is a leading problem in the world. Also known as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), these types of ailments include asthma, diabetes, or breast cancer. Chronic diseases amount to 71% of deaths worldwide. NCDs are unique because they affect everyone, from adolescents to the elderly. While many can take precautions to prevent attaining chronic illnesses, many sicknesses occur because of factors beyond a person’s control. Proper treatment of chronic diseases is nearly impossible without medical tools; without tools, medical practitioners would lose crucial time, precision, and insight that is necessary for working with chronic diseases. The sheer impact of medical technology is partly why I chose biomedical sciences as a major; where medical care is crucial to the United States, medical technologies are crucial to the healthcare industry. I intend to graduate from Troy University with the skills necessary to design innovative medical equipment and research treatments to better ensure patient care. With financial aid, I will be able to fulfill my passion for becoming a biomedical engineer. Currently, my financial situation dictates that I work at least part-time while I attend classes. My family experienced significant losses due to complications from COVID-19, and we had to relocate across the country in search of work. The savings I compiled while I was in high school were used to help combat immediate costs, and I worked 27 hours a week at Panera during my first semester at college to counter tuition and living costs. I managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA, despite the uncertainty in society and the rigorousness of education. Additionally, while I was in high school, I completed a year's worth of college classes with a 4.0; I graduated high school in 2020 with a 3.8 GPA and a 29 ACT score. I intend to pay for my own tuition; because of my parents' incomes, I will qualify only for loans as a full-time student, though I would love to graduate with minimal debt. The less time that I have to dedicate to finances, the more time I will be able to further my education and career. Any financial assistance is invaluable and greatly appreciated. My biomedical sciences degree from Troy is larger than me. I will help as many people as possible with the knowledge I attain in school. The people who suffer from chronic diseases aren’t strangers. They’re our parents, grandparents, spouses, and children. These are the people that make up our communities, and they play significant roles in the lives around them. Parting with these people prematurely is a tragedy beyond human language. With my degree from Troy, I intend to reduce the number of fatalities caused by chronic illnesses by researching NCDs and innovating the technologies and methods by which people approach chronic diseases. Financial assistance is an investment in my education and the future of the medical industry.

My cat, Misty, is my best friend. She and I are inseparable; she's like my little shadow, and we do almost everything together; we watch TV, we crochet, (though she is less helpful in this regard. She likes to sever the bond between yarn and project) and, at meal times, she sits next to me. The picture is one I took while she was sitting with her elbows on the table. (She's still getting the hang of her table manners.) Everyday, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have such her by my side.

My life changed dramatically when I was 16 years old. I had been walking down a flight of stairs in search of art supplies when, out of nowhere, a burst of pain bolted from my knee. Overwhelmed and surprised, I nearly tumbled down the remaining steps to the basement floor. A trip to the doctor's office and one x-ray later revealed that I had a calcium deposit, a.k.a a bone spur, attached to my knee cap. Fortunately, the diagnosis wasn't life-threatening, just mildly painful. Like a calcium barnacle, the bone spur irritated the surrounding tendons and caused the muscle to swell. In the following weeks, my knee hurt when I walked, and it throbbed when I sat still. However, the thing that caused me the most discomfort was the doctor's advice: "Just don't run or put too much pressure on your knee and you'll hurt less." In other words: my knee would most likely never cease aching. ​ Before the pain, I would play tennis with my father and bicycle with my sister almost every weekend. On lovely days, I would explore the local creek beds, searching for, pretty rocks, mushrooms, and bugs to identify. However, after the pain, I was barred from those hobbies; instead, I filled my time with physical therapy and mindless entertainment. I grew hopeless; All I wanted was the pain to stop. I'm 19 now, and my knee still aches. It's been something I have reluctantly learned to live with. However, as unpleasant as it can be, I have learned to appreciate it: it's taught me a lot about mindfulness, perseverance, and gratefulness. My knee forced me to come to terms with my limits; I have since stopped working against the pain and decided to work with it. Where I once viewed my knee as an enemy, I now see it as an opportunity to expand myself as a person every day. It has given me greater insight into the lives and struggles of those with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and for that, I am immensely grateful. Experiences are tools at our disposal, regardless of their pleasantness. As for hobbies, I have adapted. Now, I endlessly enjoy painting, crocheting, journaling, and composing music, which I would never have truly appreciated without this obstacle. My knee inspired me to pursue the biomedical sciences. I have always been curious about the world. I will be a lifetime student, and I believe that the most useful question anyone can ask is: "Why?" I love to learn about everything and anything, and I apply my foundations of knowledge to everything I do. I'm also a problem solver; I enjoy fixing rod reels, re-piecing broken flower pots, and tweaking watch gears. Part of the fun of fixing things is learning about the underlying mechanisms that allow the object to work. The other part is seeing the impact it has on people when they see their favorite objects rejuvenated. My love of people parallels my curiosity; I intend to use my talents and experiences to promote happiness and alleviate suffering. My resume as a student may be short, but my ambitions as a human are great. I hope to revolutionize the medical industry by improving medical technologies and making medical technologies more accessible. Healthcare is an incredibly politicized subject; however, by making treatments and tools cheaper to both the practitioner and the patient, the effects will be resounding across the planet. The 3D printing of organs, for example, is only useful to the public if the public can afford it; life-changing developments in technology and medicine need to reach every community. I live in a community with a 25% poverty rate, and I see the impacts of rising health costs. It's one thing to have chronic pain. It's another if you can't afford to live with chronic pain. I am fortunate that my knee doesn't require expensive surgeries, medications, or ER visits, but not everyone has that luxury. By reducing costs, I hope to assist the disadvantaged and make health services more accessible. We all live in such a beautiful world, and we all deserve to experience it. The fact of the matter is: pain limits experiences. You don't have to be an astronaut to experience forces found in space. You can see the milky way in a tub drain, but what good is seeing the milky way when you can't get into the tub? I am in love with existence; I would like others to be as well.

Bleacher's "Stop Making this Hurt" is my mantra. Produced on May 18, 2021, musical architect Jack Antonoff writes the song. The song's instrumentals are upbeat and dance-worthy; I always fail to keep from dancing in my seat when I hear this song. However, the lyrics are more solemn and raw; the resounding chorus of "Stop Making This hurt!" conveys a powerful message about Antonoff's dismay with the past year's turmoil. The lyrics: "Daniel puts the kids to bed/They're screaming, "Oh, the gods must be crazy"/Well, Jimmy's on the road tonight/She doesn't recognize her country/My father's in the room next door/Crying with his ma at 65" resonated with me on a profound level. His observations of all the pandemonium and malcontent of the past year cut bone-deep; I observed similar conflicts in my life, and I had this overwhelming frustration regarding it during the months of quarantine. I graduated high school when the country I loved seemed to be falling apart, thread by thread, like a shoddily made quilt. Every aspect of normalcy was obliterated; From how I attended lectures to the dynamic of the people I loved, nothing was left untouched. People were scared, angry, and hurt, just as I. Everything appeared hopeless, and I didn't know what to do about it. I just wanted a break from the hurting. On top of all these frustrations, this song communicates several pivotal concepts that: a.) things were terrible b.) we survived, and c.) we should celebrate that! The sound articulates the heaviness of the last year and ends on a gleeful recognition of what's important. It may be easy to fixate on what was terrible, but it's important to remember what we do have. Jack Antonoff''s "Stop Making this Hurt" truly, makes me celebrate life every day.

Leonardo DaVinci is considered both one of the greatest scientists and one of the most talented artists known to man. He was both a systemic thinker and a polymath, and his passion for understanding the nature of life aided him in his artistic and scientific pursuits. I relate to Da Vinci because I am pursuing the sciences through a Biomedical Science degree, and my painting hobby leaves me feeling reinvigorated and appreciative of life on this planet. Like Da Vinci, I hope to create monumental change through my reverence for this world.

Considered one of the greatest geniuses, Leonardo Da Vinci often comes to mind when someone talks about art or aviation. Da Vinci was a polymath, and he was known for his systemic thinking: he was constantly searching for patterns in nature, documenting similarities between the wind and waves, humans and animals, and light and shade. He explored the geometry of light and linear perspective, applying what he learned in his observations to further his work. Da Vinci was employed as an artist. He was commissioned by Italian royalty to paint, sculpt, and draw. However, today many consider Da Vinci one of the most outstanding scientists of all time: his designs were revolutionary, and his understandings of the Earth sciences changed how people see the world. In this regard, Da Vinci appears almost a walking contradiction: how could a man, so artistic, be so smart? Da Vinci's passion for art is what aided him in his scientific studies and vice versa. Through his passion for better understanding the nature of things, he improved his technical skills. Da Vinci wasn't a walking contradiction; he was an artist. Artists are systemic thinkers with aims to understand and communicate. They appreciate the depth and complexity of their studies; they view this world through reverent lenses. They're masters of creation. They find interest in the seemingly ordinary and create from that something original and different. Similar to scientists who ruthlessly seek breakthroughs and new information from the world around them. I found relatability in Da Vinci because of the extent of his interests; I happen to love learning. I have spent many hours devouring books and random Wikipedia articles in search of new information. I love documentaries almost as much as I love fiction: Truly, there is no such thing as too much knowledge. Creation is the ultimate dedication to knowledge. It's a form of our humanness. The art we create and choose to is a proclamation: it's a testament to our uniqueness as individuals and a species. It's the condensation of our experiences into a singular thing, whether it be sound or on paper. Art is essentially limitless: as long as it can be experienced in some regard, it is art. I am connected to art because I am human. It is in our nature, as a species, to communicate. Art is as natural to us as laughing or crying. Artists are constantly learning and reimagining how people do things. Not only is it awe-inspiring, but it's also valuable for the evolution of our kind. Art gives us new tools and ways to look at things. Humans today are on the cusp of change. The future will look exponentially different, decades and centuries from now, as humanity begins to explore the far reaches of the solar system. It's easy to overlook the beauty of the ladybug on a grass blade when complex machines are circumventing the pull of the Earth. However, we mustn't forget ourselves. Our humanness is something that universally connects us. I intend to use my art to ground the generations lost in space: a reminder that all life is equally beautiful and complex. I intend to make as much positive change as I can with the short time I have alotted. When I am creating something, whether it be a poem, a new song on my guitar, or a painting, I find euphoria. I would like to be able to share this passion. Or: to help others to experience what it truly means to be human.