I spent most of high school struggling with chronic illness, while still going to school in person full-time. After multiple surgeries and lots of different treatments, I am ready to go to college and not have to spend my time dealing with medical issues. I am no stranger to children's hospitals. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that affects every system in my body and makes my joints loose and unstable. EDS has caused me to have many other conditions, which means I have at least three appointments a week with specialists to help manage all my symptoms. I am on a medical carousel that never stops turning. Being sick controls so much of my life, but I am committed to doing things that are important to me, even if it looks different now. One huge part of my life that I am unwilling to give up is my education. Gaining knowledge about the world fills me with joy; I like having answers to things that don’t make sense. Missing school has been one of the hardest parts of becoming sick. I love to think, research, ponder, and work hard. I am eager to continue learning about the world so that I can help others and provide care to those in need. I am enrolled at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, for the fall of 2025. Educationally, my goal is to go to college and major in psychology and double minor in neuroscience and health studies, on the pre-med track. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue an M.D. and become a pediatric neurologist or a pediatric physical therapist. Regardless of the branch of medicine I go into, I plan to focus on developmental and neurological disabilities, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder, along with rare diseases. I want to advocate for those who need it, I want to fight for the rights that we deserve, and I want medical professionals to have adequate training and tools to support people like me. I have a lot of life experiences that have pushed me to pursue a career in medicine. I want to be the supportive doctor who makes medical complexity less lonely for a family by helping them find answers and giving them hope when no one else has. No one should have to go through this alone. Being a hard worker is not something I take a break from, and college will be no exception. Over the past four years, I have persevered through things I never thought would happen to me, and I have consistently surprised myself with how strong I can be and how I can withstand a lot. The things I have experienced have taught me a lot about myself and the world. I have learned that even when it feels too hard, I can often still do it, and that will aid me in college. I am ready to learn about the world, and college provides that opportunity.

If chosen as one of the scholarship recipients, I will use the funds to support my undergraduate education. I am enrolled at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, for the fall of 2025. The funds would be used directly to help pay for my tuition, which would greatly impact me and my family. College is not cheap, and I would be endlessly grateful to receive one of the scholarships to help me have a successful college experience. I spent most of high school struggling with chronic illness, while still going to school in person full-time. After multiple surgeries and lots of different treatments, I am ready to go to college and not have to spend my time dealing with medical issues. I am eager to continue learning about the world so that I can help others and provide care to those in need. Being a hard worker is not something I take a break from, and college will be no exception. I have learned that even when it feels too hard, I can often still do it, and that will aid me in college. The things I have experienced have taught me a lot about myself and the world. I feel very prepared for college and the challenges that will come because of what I have faced. I have big goals for myself, and college is a big step, and it will help me get to my goals.