I'm someone who enjoys challenges but I can't seem to handle them at the same time. I enjoy the pretty words of virtue, skills, assets, and experiences gained from testing ourselves and moving forward into a new open-minded experience, but my tolerance seems to be low. The pretty words of what a challenge allows you to gain in life, seemed to have a cruel undertone of what happens when you allow so much to overwhelm you, you crack. You crack and fall into a void, a hole of consequence, because the pretty words gave a promise that hard work and perseverance would allow you to thrive and see the value of that exertion. Studying neuroscience showed that prolonging effect of those pretty words of success, problem-solving, and intellectual engagement. For a mind that suffers from their own mental health struggles, it's lack of compassion and tangible showing for what individual talent can do with the right help, it's discouraging. I try very hard to understand the mind, the psychology behind certain phenomenon, and how it seems to crack and fizzle despite a best interest. I'm understanding the practical aspects of pursuing a field to help others, when it seems helping yourself is beyond the picture. I deserve this scholarship because I am barely recognized for the effort I put forward, I only receive a pat on the back when showing resilience, and for facing failures when I wanted success. Pretty words from advisors and institutional college leaders, fail when uprising in individual circumstances and knowing the unique person from an angle to another. I deserve to understand what resilience and perseverance has in value, when nobody celebrates or recognizes it without a golden or silver-colored certificate or award is presented to them. I deserve to understand the value of my mind beyond self-criticism and loathing, since a good grade reinforced a need for further perfection and excellence. I understand that then that pursuit of excellence and perfection was pitted against someone else, since further gold and recognition was what allowed you to succeed. I deserve to truly know, once again, the value of my mind, the value of my experiences and virtues, against societal idealizations of intelligence and worth. I have seen others break down when knowing hard work and sacrifice only was rewarded with endless critique, points of imperfection. I deserve to know, that beyond neuroscience and psychology, I can revise these toxic and challenging frameworks to the field with philosophy and moral engagement to prioritize the individual beyond machine-like expectations. I can give justice for my love for challenges and scenarios, but with a love for my own mind and the differences it has. I can give so much for understanding and approaching a challenge, but not when it breaks my mind and shatters me into something I cannot pick up with further sacrifice.

There was a child-like wonder to watching countless YouTube videos of players giving walkthroughs to an enigmatic game, capturing attention and fascination wherever it went. The game was Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. I wasn't able to find that exact game, but I found another. Despite my mother's annoyed face in Walmart, I was able to secure the game, Super Paper Mario, and fulfilled a childhood fantasy of years and dedication, and in a new, appealing way. Memories, skill challenges, and problem-solving defined everything she wanted to engage herself with. The experience of playing Super Paper Mario was more than just a game; it was a journey of nostalgia and self-discovery. As I navigated through the whimsical world of Flipside and Flopside, I couldn't help but reminisce about the countless hours spent watching gameplay videos and dreaming of the day I would finally get to play it myself. Every level presented new challenges and puzzles to solve, testing my skills and pushing me to think creatively. From mastering the art of flipping between dimensions to strategically using Pixls to overcome obstacles, every moment was a testament to my dedication and perseverance. But beyond the gameplay itself, Super Paper Mario provided a much-needed escape from the struggles of everyday life. In a world filled with uncertainty and hardship, immersing myself in the colorful and imaginative world of the game was a welcome respite. It allowed me to temporarily forget about my worries and immerse myself in a world where anything was possible. The memories I created while playing Super Paper Mario will forever hold a special place in my heart. From the exhilaration of defeating challenging bosses to the satisfaction of uncovering hidden secrets, each moment was a reminder of why I fell in love with gaming in the first place. In the end, Super Paper Mario was more than just a game; it was a symbol of perseverance, dedication, and the power of childhood dreams. It taught me valuable lessons about determination and fulfilling childhood fantasies at a core. I look at the game with a forever appreciation and a knowing it cannot be imitated or replicated, despite it being a sequel to the game I wanted. It shows how enjoyment and thrill can be found where our expectations are challenged.

The most important thing in a first-person experience is helping other people. The support will benefit both the giver and the receiver in some capacity. In considering what compassion is and its importance for introspection, this analysis acknowledges the major contributions made by both well-known and less well-known philosophers. The following contention examines the relationship between one's personal development, well-being, and helping others from a range of philosophical perspectives: Aristotle believed that in order to obtain eudaimonia, or a flourishing and contented life, one must cultivate virtues. One of these qualities is kindness, which denotes doing actions to make others happy. Through helping others, people cultivate their own moral character as well as sentiments of sympathy, empathy, compassion, and generosity. This encourages personal development, increases self-assurance, and makes life more meaningful and satisfying. The necessity of self-transcendence and the abandonment of a selfish worldview were both emphasized by Friedrich Nietzsche. He made the case that by lending a hand to others, people might engage with every facet of the human experience and transcend their own narrow perspectives. People can confront their egoism and gain a better awareness of the interdependence and interconnection of all humans by reaching out to others and providing support. In keeping with another philosophy, Martha Nussbaum's capabilities approach is based on the fundamental tenet that people should be given the freedom to pursue the lifestyles they have good reason to value. Supporting others becomes necessary when it establishes a society where anybody has access to fundamental resources and may live decently. Individuals can contribute to the creation of a society that is based on equity and justice and in which everyone has the chance to prosper by making a conscious effort to invest in the well-being of others. In his dialogue theory, Buber strongly emphasizes the intrinsic significance of genuine human connections and interactions. People construct cooperative relationships with others by acts of service, recognizing their unique viewpoints, needs, and experiences. Engagement promotes a sense of belonging, respect for one another, and shared accountability, ultimately enhancing how people think of the world and their position within it. Through acts of service, people develop personally, widen their perspectives, and learn more about what it means to be human. It promotes personal pleasure and well-being while urging people to develop a more empathetic and loving mentality. It's also vital to consider other viewpoints and the perceived impact in order to take action and recognize the biggest global hurdles. People may make better judgments, realize how societal issues are connected, and take an active role in positive change thanks to this greater awareness. In the end, individuals embrace the value of freedom, individual expression, and a deeper reservoir of humanity by loving the environment and the people who live on it.

I find solace in the wisdom of philosophers and my love of psychology, growth, and development as I pursue my unwavering desire to make a substantial and enduring positive contribution to the world. By combining my inner and outer intuition, I embarked on a transformative path to address the urgent need for advancement in mental health. I find inspiration from the great thinkers who have contributed to our understanding of the human condition while submerged in the enormous ocean of philosophical thinking. I learn the value of enlightenment and the release of the mind from the confines of ignorance through Plato's cave metaphor. With this as my base, I take on the duty of illuminating the way to holistic wellbeing. My path intersects with the important role played by mental health facilities. As in the words of existentialist philosophers like Viktor Frankl, "There is gap between stimulus and response. I am aware of the institutions' potential for transformation since we have the power to pick our response in that area. They act as safe havens for introspection, personal development, and awakening to one's true identity. I foresee an integrated strategy that balances clinical knowledge and scientific research as a physician-scientist. René Descartes' extensive reflection, "I think, therefore I am," serves as my main source of inspiration. I embrace the mind's significant influence on human experiences. I work to understand the complexity of mental health through meticulous scientific inquiry and to apply this understanding to practical improvements. William James once said, "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." I agree with this concept. With a relentless drive to advancement, I hope to develop evidence-based therapies that transform lives and advance genuine well-being. By combining the wisdom of the past with the advancements of the present, I aim to build a brighter future for those who are struggling with mental health difficulties. I agree with Abraham Maslow's beliefs and those of other humanistic psychologists that support the idea of personal growth and self-actualization. I am motivated to enable others to realize their full potential as a result of his hierarchy of needs theory. We can unlock the potential for growth and spark good change, in my opinion, by encouraging self-awareness, creating resilience, and cultivating a sense of purpose. My goals as a physician-scientist extend beyond the boundaries of conventional medicine. I am driven to create a cooperative relationship that benefits both professions and bridges the gap between clinical application and research. I want to embrace the transformative power of interdisciplinary collaboration to promote innovative treatment methods, broaden access to care, and deepen our understanding of the world. I want to end by expressing that as I continue on this academic challenge, spurred by my passion for psychology, growth, and development, I seek to have a positive impact on the world. I aim to provide a way toward improved mental well-being by drawing on the knowledge of philosophers, psychological understandings, and scientific achievements. I devote myself to the urgent pursuit of progress, inspiring people to overcome their challenges and realize the immense potential that exists within them. I am guided by my intuition—both external and internal.

"When I see friends messing around with their brothers and sisters, it makes me realize that I'll never have those kinds of moments with my sibling. It hurts to know that nothing is ever going to be normal." - A feeling experienced by almost everyone with a sibling with a developmental disability, including myself. Growing up, it was very confusing for my parents to understand my younger brother's behaviors. A young toddler who had quite the vibrant smile would then shift to lacking eye contact, becoming fully indifferent to efforts made to interact with him. My father was angry and ashamed when others pinpointed that there was something "wrong" with my younger brother, nothing more than a secret to be kept just within the family. On the other hand, my mother tried to understand my brother and support him in the best possible manner, though it proved difficult and required extenuating patience. The world had changed for all of us being revealed that John had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of two. To confess with open honesty, I always reflect on how my younger brother impacted me and the path I decided to pursue. When reading the article "Siblings of children with autism have social, emotional problems, " many things clicked and made sense to me; a reason for even some of my own behaviors that separate me from my peers. According to the research study conducted, the following is stated: "Siblings of autistic children are more likely than siblings of children without the condition to be withdrawn and to have poor social skills. By various measures, they also fare worse socially and emotionally than siblings of children with intellectual disability or other forms of developmental delay." I was somewhat ostracized for my lack of voice and tendency to always keep to myself in elementary school. I also understood my brother a bit more, even considering him to be some form of light for me. I recall even keeping a picture of him in my pocket when I tried to hide from the other kids in the bathroom. I understood the sense of being "different" through the condition of me fully being able to recognize the opinions of others in my environment; being able to comprehend, reflect, and react to the higher judgment in my school. I would ask myself questions such as how John and others like him would respond to such an environment filled with pre-existing stigma for even those that appear slightly different. I would have my answers revealed through observations I made on my peers and how others with disabilities attempted to interact with them: - Reactions that would include facial expressions of concern and being weirded out. - Moving away quickly from them, whispering to nearby people about something being "off" with the person. - Saying "Go away" or "Leave me alone" to simply walking away without any words. - Pretending to be nice at the moment, though only recognizing the person for the disability: forcing kindness. - A few people showed sincere kindness to those with disabilities. This wasn't kindness that was forced out of moral obligation to show empathy, but the person truly understood and interacted accordingly. Sadly, this was incredibly rare. Throughout school, these patterns in people interacting with those like my brother broke my heart and gave me the incentive to contribute towards change. I decided to pursue a field in high demand in the psychiatric world, an imperative concept that would help everybody struggling with mental health; any form of debilitating condition with the basis of originating from the mind. John inspires me to continue on a very difficult yet rewarding path for my career. I want to help those with developmental disabilities through integrating neuroscience in the realm of applied behavioral analysis. Formally, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Neuroscience with a concentration in Psychology. I wish to integrate research into our pre-existing understanding of available therapy options, such as applied behavioral analysis, to the point of facilitating revisions and even the emergence of new opportunities for developmental disabilities. I want to eventually reach a position of becoming accepted into an MD/PhD program to divert between clinical practice and research, which has been noted to open doors of new perspectives and understanding that cannot be explored otherwise. A combined scientific and clinical setting allows for interesting observations, and more proactive change can be done. I set high goals for myself, opening myself up to a challenging path filled with obstacles and failures. I believe in myself, even when I don't feel the best or the most capable. My younger brother and my experiences volunteering and meeting those like him contributed to this massive dream. In Louisiana, there are limited slots for those with developmental disabilities to receive services that include ABA therapy primarily. There are long waiting lists for those looking for services, and some services are strictly limited to children with an autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities do not qualify for any services, and there are limited programs for adults. Regretfully, there is not much being done actively toward this in the realm of opportunities for adults and even those as children that imperatively need these services. John received ABA services when he was younger, now at 17; he does not qualify for any services, which as a child, highly benefited him. I ask myself how teenagers and adults with autism can benefit from applied behavioral therapy strategies targeted toward topics in that age domain. By pursuing a field with a strong foundation in neuroscience, I wish to conduct and facilitate research about the effectiveness of the alterations or improvements made to applied behavioral analysis. Along with this, propose new ideas of behavioral therapy options that are directed towards teenagers and adults. If I receive this scholarship, I will be encouraged to continue this path of my bachelor's degree and find new opportunities to proceed with my dreams.

To be bold, it is commonly defined as the act of taking that apparent leap of faith and the sacrifices needed to progress. When being bold, it doesn't only include the moments of bravery and assertiveness in life; though rather, the weaker and low moments that serve to teach one valuable things regarding life. I am living boldly life through being receptive to both the positive and negative. The positive being the moments in where everything is how I want it to be. The negative, on the other hand, being the moments that take you to a complete low and teach you lessons that give a firm foundation. Boldness and bravery is being open to whatever life throws on your way. To an extent, it includes the character and attitude you display in those moments. You have to recognize your own flaws in these moments and make the sacrifice to change. I am learning to say goodbye to moments of depression, self-loathing, blame, and shame that regarded everything I saw in myself. Instead, I am now being open to learning how to truly appreciate myself in the place of comparing myself to others. Finally, throwing away all of that negativity that defined everything I saw in my image. I am no longer letting my own mind limit me in that way. That very act of living life is a forever lesson on learning how to truly be bold. Most notably, gained through the hardships and life events that make us question everything that we understand.

"The thing you realize when you get into studying neuroscience, even a little bit, is that everything is connected to everything else. So it's as if the brain is trying to use everything at its disposal - what it is seeing, what it is hearing, what is the temperature, past experience." - Paul Allen Neuroscience became an established field in the 1960s, which many refer to as being a baby science. New and exciting discoveries in this field revolutionize the world, which has a core to understanding on how the brain develops and how it applies to various forms: cognition, learning, neurological and psychiatric conditions, social interaction, and many more. It being a newly introduced science shows that there is so much potential for growth within this field; there can be many momentous discoveries that change what we have previously known about ourselves and those around us. I'm interested in STEM for the potential this field has. Introduced as a STEM field, I found the possibilities for what I can do in this field to narrow down to an ideal dream: to become a physician-scientist. The idea of making discoveries about the neurobiology of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and autism into new perspectives of treatment is appealing. Specifically, the conditions of patients that would often lead to hospitalization in mental health facilities and asylums due to how disabling the symptoms may be. These patients with drug resistance often become the center of fragmented experimentation with medicine, which can make the symptoms of a patient worse. I sometimes wish that the field of psychiatric treatment had better tools involving neuroscience to make better decisions regarding how medication may react with a patient. I wish for things to be different, and I feel like my dreams of how psychiatric treatment today can change something of a fantasy. I read somewhere that the field of psychiatry has an imperative need to integrate neuroscience more strongly within that area. Understanding the relevant concepts of the brain can allow for better treatment outcomes and more advancements than we can ever anticipate. "I hope that through my career that neuroscience can become applied in psychiatric practices. I want to see patients of my own and understand them a bit more. I also want to do clinical research to help answer questions that are left with many ambiguities in the field of the psychological brain sciences. That is my dream of pursuing a field with a focus in neuroscience." Yes, I am an ambitious dreamer. There are so many things that I can hope can change in what I deem so important. Fields in STEM allow for significant changes to our world and at a pace that can be unprecedented if more choose to focus on it. Neuroscience grasped my interest and is a field I am willing to dedicate my life to in striving for that perceived change. Currently, I am pursuing a neuroscience degree that has a focus on psychology. Slowly, I am gaining the knowledge, skills, and habits to turn those dreams into reality. In the process, I realize the magnitude of challenges and answers that this field can entail.

Impactful individuals that leave significant legacies come in various forms of being. By this, I mean the vision they have executed through individualistic greatness that came from how they viewed the world around them. With that vision came different life experiences, they all help to mold a person to carry out a self-proclaimed life mission that creates a difference from what they have deemed important in this lifetime. To admire somebody, you would have to be very influenced by the actions and influence they had in society as you relate to it on a higher level. You, yourself, imagine having the abilities and drive to do something as influential as they had. The person that I admire is not someone from history, though is creating substantial research and vigorous endeavors to contribute to the battle against the epidemic of mental health. He has created this change through personal situations relating to his sister having schizophrenia, his motivation of a drive, and his passion to help others with similar issues. His name is Edwin Fuller Torrey. His research pertaining to some of the most complex illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder allowed him to write books such as "Surviving Schizophrenia" and "Surviving Manic Depression." These books incorporate his research and understanding to best combat the illnesses, from family involvement to what precise steps should be done to approach the issue. Extending beyond his impact, he is the founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center and has extended his influence to become the associate director of the Research of the Stanley Medical Research Institute. My dreams and vision for my life have been impacted by my younger brother suffering from autism and ADHD. When I hear about the impact that was driven by a similar situation, I can imagine being as great.

"You are my only hope, Mary. I know that with you, we will be able to achieve great things. In the future, you will have your job and you will help take care of me and John. You will be more than I ever was." Those were some words that my mother has told me, showing her faith that I will go on to achieve things that she herself couldn't. Her life has been one of intense burden and responsibilities, being a single mother to a child that has a disability has been challenging. We come from a poor socioeconomic background and the funds for my college tuition are very limited. My father will help me from time to time, yet the money for my college costs isn't fully covered for. I have remembered the constant dream my mother had of buying her own house, moving into our own house, and have that feeling of financial stability. The feeling of having our own place to definitively call our own, rather than the apartments that were entirely old and consistently had problems from time to time. It was something that always was on her mind, contributed by the times in which she cleaned a house for only a hundred dollars or so. It was all in the effort to give me and my younger brother food and a chance to have a better life. "I will work hard and hopefully get a house one day. God will help me do this and open the paths that will allow me to do so." My mother is originally from Honduras and came to the United States twenty-one years and married my father, they divorced in the year of 2012. Deciding to take me and my brother, we moved away and she raised us somewhere else. Having no support from family, she was left on her own financial terms to raise us. With making many sacrifices to have financial stability, she lived a life of consistent efforts and hard work in the most minimally paying of jobs. As well as having an autistic child, this way of living was not easy for her. My mother inspires me to do great things in life. The question of why I need the scholarship includes the hardships that were endured to bring me to the point of pursuing a college education. The sacrifices and the background that pushes an individual like me to want to do something amazing with their life. I want to become a physician-scientist that will pursue research in contributing new findings related to psychiatric illnesses and treating them. To change previous societal practices into ones promoting progressive change, leaving a lasting impact and legacy. With this scholarship, I will be given the funds and further support in chasing a wish my mother has set for my life and the dreams that have arisen. My life circumstances and background will not limit the potential I have for success, though give fire to ambition.

With all the experiences I have had regarding my mental health and different life experiences, I feel motivated to pursue a career that allows me to contribute to a larger cause than life. I want to contribute to battling the silent epidemics of mental health and to the different neurological disabilities that not only impact the sufferer themselves, though the family and loved ones of those individuals. I have spent a great amount of time with several insecurities about the outcomes of my future, along with the extent of my abilities and what I can do in this world. It came with periods with thinking if I was good enough to set on the path in what I hope to achieve in the future, which is contributing new research into the understanding of different mental illnesses and finding new manners of accomodating them. That is the cause I want to contribute to, in the pursuit of a career in neuroscience and psychology that will make this closer to an achieved dream. In trying to accommodate those suffering from mental diseases, you can look at the current practices today that attempt to provide care and rehabilitation to those suffering. Relating to behavioral and psychiatric facilities, the current practices may not be as effective in the success of managing particular symptoms to ensure that they have a high degree of functionality. For extremely severe cases for sufferers of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other illnesses, sometimes the main reliance is placed on heavy doses of particular medications. It restores a degree of some ability to connect appropriately with their thoughts and feelings. Yet, it is still not enough. The therapy and care are not enough to reach these patients and they are left to suffer from the mental disease that plagued their minds, to stay in these institutions for years and maybe to life. How should the practices in the psychiatric world and beyond be changed to allow better chances for successful rehabilitation not only within such institutions, though extended so that these illnesses do not pose a major hindrance in living? Mental health conditions may not completely go away, though is in the best effort to try and find means of supporting them beyond what is currently being done. It is a dream to see most cases of mental health being able to recover not only from medication, though through other strategies that help them combat the symptoms not only effective in the short-term yet long-term. Research and understanding more about complicated illnesses and their behaviors will help revise modern treatments targeted towards them, along with the practices in schools and the institutions that they directly pertain to. If we understand more about the manners in how the neurodevelopment of children and teenagers can diverge off into making them more prone to the development of an illness or condition, early intervention can be more successful in the long term. Along with this, maybe even specialized therapy that targets the most debilitating symptoms and devises a course of action in response. There are new ideas and thoughts that can be applied here. As an aspiring physician-scientist, my goal in life is to contribute to the new changes and practices within psychiatry and in society to help those that are suffering from mental diseases. To do more research, to understand the thoughts and suffering of those that suffer from any condition of the mind that debilitates them. In this pursuit, helping to change lives by allowing more opportunities for different forms of treatment. With this, we allow equal chances of living life without burden.