Looking at a photograph or walking by me on any given day, one would never guess the world I conquer. I have a silent pituitary condition that impacts my entire hormonal system, including my mental health. My name is Mason Mattox, and for as long as I have been alive, I have frequented the Children’s Medical Hospital for chronic illness. This hospital amazes me because when I go, a minimum of six specialty doctors enter my room, and they deliberate on the newest developments of how to make my body work. When I became a high school freshman, my school principal asked me if I could handle being the school mascot. I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. Surprisingly, I grew more in my role as the mascot than I could have ever imagined. I became more involved on campus and I learned the importance of showing up. Being behind a mask allowed me to explore away from my introverted personality, and it built my confidence into greater leadership roles. I then began theater and excelled both on and off stage, joining the executive board and taking responsibility for the business management of over $30k in the department. I joined DECA and won UIL prose and poetry competitions, UIL solo events, and I excelled in speech and debate. Even more exciting was the leadership work I grew to love at both Meals on Wheels and Beloved and Beyond, a camp for the disabled to feel valued and respected while having the greatest weeks of their lives. “Beloved Camp is a place where people of all abilities will BE loved and where volunteers can learn to BE love to others.” Every year I volunteer my weeks at camp, and every year I am all the better for this organization. Nothing is more special than listening and making my camper happy just by taking the time to care and be patient. This organization helped change my perspective about differences, even within myself, and it gave me the courage to fix the brokenness and judgment in the world. I volunteer 24 hours a day and sleep in the same cabin helping with personal hygiene tasks and routines. This leadership program has given me hands-on experience and helped refine my desire to become a psychologist and clinical counselor in the medical field. Between my lifelong critical illness and the grief from the loss of my brother, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. Had I not had this illness, I don't think I would have become as passionate about other people and their needs. Daily I have grown to look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers tell me of suicidal ideations. Every one of us has hardships and very difficult roads to travel, and with the right perspective, I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger. My illness keeps me humble and alert, but it has taught me how to balance and discern what is most important to me –my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. One great mentor in my life, who has now passed away, gave me a charge - to continue his legacy of counseling, loving others, and teaching them to pursue honor and joy, while always looking ahead to each new victory moment. That is a charge I believe we should all strive to achieve.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. Between my lifelong disability, the grief from the loss of my brother, and a legal battle against a child predator, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. My illness keeps me humble and alert, and it has taught me how to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. I constantly look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. Our world is hurting tremendously! I believe the wisest people in the world have a mentor to speak truth into their lives, and I fully intend to pass the torch. One great counselor in my life, who has now passed away, encouraged me to receive counsel, love others, and teach honor and joy, always looking ahead to each new victory moment. I will eventually obtain a Ph.D. in psychology but will need to fast-track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing clinical counseling and mental health. I will already have 27 college credits upon high school graduation, and I do not intend to waste time or money. Eventually, I will own a clinical practice and collaborate with other physicians as they did for me. Looking at my photograph, one would never guess the world I choose to conquer. That is because I have a condition that impacts my entire hormonal system. Children's Medical Hospital amazes me because when I’m there, a minimum of six specialty doctors enter my room, and they deliberate on the newest developments of how to make my body work; they keep me alive. Imagine that there is a singular master gland in the body that tells your body to grow, make thyroid, make sex hormones, metabolize food, control blood pressure, regulate mood, and create immunity and adrenaline for controlling stress, injury, or illness. That gland is called the pituitary, and unfortunately, mine does not function well in the least. In high school, I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. I was devastated, but my resolve to be successful and support my school and friends was still important to me though I could no longer play. Amazingly, I grew more in my role as the mascot than I could have imagined, and being playful behind a mask allowed me to explore apart from my introverted personality. It built my confidence and my happiness to connect with others. I then joined theater, DECA, won UIL prose and poetry competitions, and won UIL solo and choir events. Even more exciting was the leadership work I grew to love at Beloved and Beyond, a camp for the disabled. Every year I volunteer my weeks at camp. This organization helped change my perspective about differences, even within myself. It allowed me to see through the lens of someone disabled, but it also grew my leadership capacity, and it taught me more about what I want in life, of my career, and the type of people our world needs most- listeners, problem solvers, and empaths. I learned that my emotions are healthier when I’m focused less inward and more outward, and my experience empowered me to want to change the bitterness and loneliness in the world.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. Between my lifelong critical illness, the grief from the loss of my brother, and a legal battle against a child predator, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. I have received counsel and psychological support on my journey. I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. My illness keeps me humble and alert, and it has taught me how to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. I constantly look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. Our world is hurting tremendously! I believe the wisest people in the world have a mentor to speak truth into their lives, and I fully intend to pass the torch. One great counselor in my life, who has now passed away, encouraged me to receive counsel, love others, and teach honor and joy, always looking ahead to each new victory moment. I will eventually obtain a Ph.D. in psychology but will need to fast-track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing clinical counseling and mental health. I will already have 27 college credits upon high school graduation, and I do not intend to waste time or money. Eventually, I will own a clinical practice and collaborate with other physicians as they did for me. Looking at my photograph, one would never guess the world I choose to conquer. That is because I have a silent condition that impacts my entire hormonal system. Children's Medical Hospital amazes me because when I’m there, a minimum of six specialty doctors enter my room, and they deliberate on the newest developments of how to make my body work; they keep me alive. Imagine that there is a singular master gland in the body that tells your body to grow, make thyroid, make sex hormones, metabolize food, control blood pressure, regulate mood, and create immunity and adrenaline for controlling stress, injury, or illness. That gland is called the pituitary, and unfortunately, mine does not function well in the least. One hormone helps balance my mood and anxiety, and without it, I struggle to stay balanced. I choose to see a therapist to help me stay centered because I am not currently willing to start another drug. We are trying the necessary growth hormone therapy and counseling until I am older. Normal daily stressors are hard on my lacking adrenal system, so I throw up and experience nausea and low energy daily. It takes a toll on my mental health, so I must stay kind to myself and seek counsel and sleep. In high school, I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. I was devastated, but my resolve to be successful and support my school and friends was still important to me though I could no longer play. Amazingly, I grew more in my role as the mascot than I could have imagined, and being playful behind a mask allowed me to explore apart from my introverted personality. It built my confidence and my happiness to connect with others. I then joined theater, DECA, won UIL prose and poetry competitions, and won UIL solo and choir events. Even more exciting was the leadership work I grew to love at Beloved and Beyond, a camp for the disabled. Every year I volunteer my weeks at camp. This organization helped change my perspective about differences, even within myself. It allowed me to see through the lens of someone disabled, but it also grew my leadership capacity, and it taught me more about what I want in life, of my career, and the type of people our world needs most- listeners, problem solvers, and empaths. I learned that my emotions are healthier when I’m focused less inward and more outward, and my experience empowered me to want to change the bitterness and loneliness in the world.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, most definitely because I have endured my share of struggles. Between my lifelong critical illness, the grief from losing my brother, and a legal battle against a child predator who sought me for evil intent, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. When cultivated and nurtured, I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. It is equally important to have room to protest our "NO" and do it in a way that brings justice and healing. My disability has taught me how to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. From birth until today, I have fought rigorously coming from behind the pack, to the middle, and only sometimes to the top. From six-month hospital visits to detailed and difficult medications, I have always trailed from behind. There was never time to seek popularity because I was too busy just trying to survive. In my freshman year, I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. I understood insecurity, and I constantly looked for people who were struggling. Mascot helped me hide behind pads but also grow in confidence to become who I needed to be - confident and positive for others. I loved making children smile and connect even without words while in that role. It also made me more aware of silent body cues and nonverbal communication of discomfort. It is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. I have been able to intervene numerous times and help others find positive solutions other than self-harm. Our world is hurting tremendously, and my peers, even the meanest ones are desperate for some kind of solace and peace, hiding behind their own masks and pain. At a very young age, I could sense how my brother's death weighed on the whole of my family, my parents, and my enjoyment of life. There are years we barely remember. It is as if my life was forever mauled. Then, when my youngest brother, Ryan, was finally born in 2015, it was as if new life was breathed into our beings, and hope began to grow again. I will obtain a Ph.D. in psychology emphasizing clinical counseling and neuroscience. I will already have 27 college credits upon high school graduation, and I do not intend to waste time or money. Eventually, I see myself owning a clinical practice and opening the doors to other physicians so that a plethora of patients can find healing. I will focus on youth and those with disabilities, remaining close to other doctors who collaborate and communicate best for their patients. I am also interested in utilizing media, podcasts, and literature to share with my generation. I believe the wisest people in the world have a mentor to speak truth into their lives, and I will continue to invest and train others to do the same. I am grateful for the men who have stepped in to guide me. One great mentor, who has now passed away, gave me a charge - to continue his legacy of counseling, loving others, and teaching them to pursue joy and truth always looking ahead to each new victory moment. My future will honor this charge.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people, children, and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, most definitely because I have endured my share of struggles. Between my lifelong critical illness, all my development delays, and the grief from the loss of my brother, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas and frustrations. I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. My past has taught me to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. I constantly look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. Our world is hurting tremendously, and we are created to help others not just survive but to thrive. I will study psychology, child development, and clinical practice, and I see myself owning a practice and opening the doors to other physicians so that many patients can find healing. It would be wonderful if I could be attached to a hospital setting so that all the children's specialty care clinics around my office could intertwine and we could help with the developmental delays and work with early childhood intervention services Had it not been for my social workers, speech and language pathologists, and all my medical team, I would have never been able to use words to describe my feelings. I had already still not spoken by 3 years of age nor sung a song. The system allowed me to enter the public school at 3 years old to use the resources to learn to talk. It was the best of the programs but with little funding or visibility. I also had so much medication, hormones, and steroids, to make it seem as though I had a working pituitary gland keeping my physical body regulated to function well enough to learn let alone grow. I know how difficult it must be for a family to find the right doctor or right people, but to find a working team of doctors and psychologists that all specialize in individual areas and all share and talk to find solutions is what I would be interested in developing. Many skills are required to achieve a level of success in college and beyond, but no other skill can surpass what I have experienced every day of my life. From birth until today, I have FOUGHT rigorously coming from behind the pack, to the middle, and only sometimes to the top. From six-month hospital visits to detailed self-care and difficult medications, I have always trailed from behind. I was a micro-preemie at 1.5 pounds at birth and with several pituitary deficiencies, I'm still behind, but I know that I was made for a purpose and to make an impact on the world. I will work with disabled camps and organizations such as "Beloved and Beyond" and help foster learning in all communities so the stigmas of our differences can melt together and become more unified. I want students to celebrate each other and our differences, as opposed to the hateful ways they treat one another. My past has taught me what I want for my life and my career, and my business will one day be that connecting light to make a positive difference in the world.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, most definitely because I have endured my share of struggles. Between my lifelong critical illness, the grief from the loss of my brother, and a legal battle against a child predator, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. My past has taught me to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. I constantly look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. Our world is hurting tremendously. I will eventually obtain a Ph.D. in psychology but will need to fast-track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing clinical counseling and neuroscience. Eventually, I see myself owning a clinical practice and opening the doors to other physicians so that a plethora of patients can find healing. I am also interested in utilizing media, podcasts, and literature to share what I learn. Many skills are required to achieve a level of success of this nature, but no other skill can surpass what I have experienced every day of my life. From birth until today, I have FOUGHT rigorously coming from behind the pack, to the middle, and only sometimes to the top. From six-month hospital visits to detailed self-care and difficult medications, I have always trailed from behind. My resume does not show it, but I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. I was devastated, but my resolve to be successful and support my school and friends was still important to me though I could no longer play. Even more exciting was the leadership work I grew to love at Beloved and Beyond, a camp for the disabled. Every year I volunteer my weeks at camp, and every year I am all the better for this work. This organization helped change my perspective about differences, even within myself, and it gave me the courage to fix the brokenness and judgment in the world. Beloved and Beyond allowed me to see through the lens of someone disabled, but it also grew my leadership capacity, and it taught me more about what I want in life, of my career, and out in the world developing around me. My business will one day be the light for the world and I believe I will have the background to connect with others and provide insight on how to heal with support from others and a great deal of fortitude and accountability.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues, most definitely because I have endured my share of struggles. Between my lifelong critical illness, the grief from the loss of my brother, and a legal battle against a child predator, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. I truly believe that our hardships have the power to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. My past has taught me to balance and discern what is most important to me – my family, my faith, and my purpose to give and live well. I constantly look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations and feel open to telling me. Our world is hurting tremendously. I will eventually obtain a Ph.D. in psychology but will need to fast-track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing clinical counseling and neuroscience. Eventually, I see myself owning a clinical practice and opening the doors to other physicians so that a plethora of patients can find healing. I am also interested in utilizing media, podcasts, and literature to share what I learn. Many skills are required to achieve a level of success of this nature, but no other skill can surpass what I have experienced every day of my life. From birth until today, I have FOUGHT rigorously coming from behind the pack, to the middle, and only sometimes to the top. From six-month hospital visits to detailed self-care and difficult medications, I have always trailed from behind. My resume does not show it, but I accepted the leadership role as mascot because I could no longer be athletic in soccer due to my illness. I was devastated, but my resolve to be successful and support my school and friends was still important to me though I could no longer play. Amazingly, I grew more in my role as the mascot than I could have imagined. I became more involved with the children on campus and attended elementary classrooms, and I had to show up to every football and basketball game that year without fail. Being behind a mask in a padded uniform allowed me to explore away from my introverted personality and it built my confidence into greater leadership. I then excelled in theater both on and off stage joining the executive board and taking over the business management of over $30k in the department. I joined DECA and won UIL prose and poetry competitions, and I excelled in speech and debate. Even more exciting was the leadership work I grew to love at Beloved and Beyond, a camp for the disabled. Every year I volunteer my weeks at camp, and every year I am all the better for this work. This organization helped change my perspective about differences, even within myself, and it gave me the courage to fix the brokenness and judgment in the world. Beloved and Beyond allowed me to see through the lens of someone disabled, but it also grew my leadership capacity, and it taught me more about what I want in life, of my career, and out in the world developing around me. My business will one day be the light for the world.

My most meaningful achievements are based around my character and who I strive to be, a man that centers around living for others and finding my life purpose. I don’t naturally seek accolades, popularity, or praise as they make me uncomfortable. My desires revolve around loving people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues mainly because I have endured my own share of struggles. Doctors, strangers, and friends have all made a difference in my life, and I can’t help but give back. Four years I have served at a camp called, “Beloved and Beyond,” a place for special needs children and young adults to feel valued and respected. I volunteer and receive the blessing of serving a camper 24 hours a day, never leaving their side. People at camp know me as the cheerleader. This rewarding program has driven me closer towards becoming a doctor in clinical counseling and speaking truth and encouragement to the hurting world. Another achievement was becoming the school mascot in my freshman year. It is something I never thought of doing, so when the principal asked me, I was surprised. It allowed me to branch out and do what I love, which is making others feel good and feel connected. As an introvert, it allowed me to get in touch with the community, and to reach outside of my melancholy personality. I find it memorable because the responsibility was solely on me. I had to show up because nobody else had the role, and I felt special and accomplished. It also allowed me to see how much of a positive effect I could have on others. My overall goal for my career path is to obtain a PhD for the medical profession in psychology. I will maintain my high grade point average above a 3.5 so that I can get into the best programs available. If possible I would fast track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing on clinical counseling and brain theory. For my doctorate, I’d prefer a larger university with greater scientific research and intern opportunities. I see myself owning my own practice eventually, but I would also like experience in a hospital setting in the inner-city, and helping the youth in psychology. Daily I look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers tell me of suicidal ideations. Additionally, I found myself in a child predator case when an evil man pursued me while gaming. The conviction and legal action I was forced to endure created in me a voice. I was able to protest and help my other friends become brave. I’m grateful that I was able to stand for the right thing and grow with courage to follow-through. God allowed me to experience and then used me to save other kids from this person. I believe I was born to be part of the solutions, and by doing the right thing for people and loving them first, I get to make a profound difference. I intend to live out my career and personal life in this manner.

The pituitary is a small pea-sized gland that has tremendous function in the body. It tells every other gland in the body what hormone to produce and how much. When this gland is damaged causing hypopituitary, a person becomes chained to a life of hormone supplements, dosage management, self awareness, extreme financial strain, needles, and insurance frustrations. I was born 1.5 pounds and four months early from the typical nine months of pregnancy. For half a year I lived in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and I learned to become tough through death, resuscitation, and survival. When I finally came home, I was followed my many doctors. Though we didn't know at the time, the endocrinologist would stay with me lifelong. I take shots daily for growth, pills daily for adrenaline and stress, more shots for muscle and reproductive function, and other pills to fight against nausea, headaches, anxiety, and fatigue. To others, my condition is silent, which means that other people can't see what effects me. Internally I feel frail and weak, but these struggles have refined me and have forced me to be resilient and mature towards my life purposes. Adrenal insufficiency and not making cortisol to handle life stress, illness, and injury is scary. Though it has taken years to understand, I can now look back and better understand how normal daily activities were hard for me but easier for others. I love soccer, but once I advanced to competitive leagues, my body couldn’t keep up with the physical demands. My muscles and tendons were always failing, and I had to have constant physical therapy to play. I also love theater and performing, but 12-14 hour school days weren’t sustainable. Extreme fatigue would set in, then vomiting and confusion. Grades are important to me, and my desire to be successful in life weighs on me often. Normal stresses to perform well and make the grade taught me to always use my best efforts. I have maintained a 3.78 GPA. I am also hard on myself. At times, I feel as though I work harder than others, and I live in humility more often than my brighter peers. My condition has taught me to accept defeat as a normal part of life. I also experience a great deal of chemical anxiety as I work hard to keep up. The growth hormone helps my depression symptoms, and helps me not get sick as often. A single cold throws me off, and my adrenal system has to receive a stress doses for me to function. Through this health journey, I have learned to fight for myself and to value life and others. My career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues most definitely because I have endured my own share of struggles. I will obtain a PhD for research and clinical counseling in the field of psychology. If possible I would fast track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing on clinical counseling and brain theory. For my doctorate, I’d prefer a larger university with greater scientific research and intern opportunities. I see myself owning my own practice eventually, but I would also like experience in a hospital setting in the inner-city. Though my educational goals will require hard work and diligence, I know I have the tenacity to achieve what I feel is my life calling. I look forward to one day advancing in this career and making a profound difference in the world.

My career goals revolve around my love of people and psychology. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues most definitely because I have endured my own share of struggles. Between my critical illness, the grief from the loss of my brother, and a courageous legal battle with a child predator situation, I feel somewhat equipped to understand others’ traumas. I truly believe that our hardships have the opportunity to refine us and make us stronger for the aid of others. Daily I look for people who are struggling, and it is astounding how many of my peers have suicidal ideations. I believe the wisest people in the world have a mentor to speak truth into their life, and I fully intend to help wherever I see the need. I am also grateful for the men who have stepped in to guide me, as there are stigmas against men not asking for help when necessary; our country needs brave and healthy men. Religion, philosophy, history, and fine arts are of great value in a healthy society, and I am passionate about this education. My first large leadership role was becoming the school mascot as a freshman. Since then I have become well-rounded and have had many opportunities to become prouder of my leadership in music, choir, drama, and speech. Even though I am not majoring in fine arts, I will enjoy these activities lifelong. Dedicating time each summer to the special needs camp, Beloved and Beyond, has been the most beneficial way I have grown in leadership and service to people who are many times unseen and feel devalued. This camp has taught me how to combat against judgement in the world and to actively care for and protect all people who struggle. My overall goal for my career path is to obtain a PhD for research. If possible I would fast track my graduate degree into 5 years emphasizing on clinical counseling and brain theory. For my doctorate, I’d prefer a larger university with greater scientific research and intern opportunities. I see myself owning my own practice eventually, but I would also like experience in a hospital setting in the inner-city. I am applying for a scholarship because school is far more expensive than we can afford, and I will be looking at owing too much in loans before I get my graduate degree to practice clinically. The FAFSA grants and personal scholarships obtained will be my only way to attend school. I am maximum Pell Grant eligible, and I have some medical and prescription costs that our insurance doesn’t fully cover. Though my educational goals will require a lot of hard work and diligence, I know I have the tenacity to achieve what I feel is my life calling. I look forward to one day advancing in this career and making a profound difference in the world. Thank you for this opportunity.

My educational and career goals revolve around my love of psychology and people. I have a servant's heart towards anyone with mental, relational, emotional, or spiritual issues. My overall goal for my career path is obtain a PhD for research and service to the community. I would like to own my own practice eventually but would also like experience in a hospital setting. Too many people are hurting and need recovery, so I want to guide them through their own labyrinth of issues and traumas that are causing them pain. I also have personal experiences with physical and medical disabilities, grief from the loss of my sibling, and a legal battle with a child predator situation. Though my educational goals will require a lot of hard work and diligence, I know I will achieve it. This is a passion that points to my life calling and purpose. I have a physical impairment, Adrenal Insufficiency, that stems from an underperforming pituitary gland. I take many hormones and medicines to keep my hormones in balance, and there are times I get stressed and very tired with my condition. I am also growth hormone deficient. I have learned how to manage my conditions, and I don't allow them to impede my responsibilities and life desires. Sports are the only areas where I have had to cut back, because my body can't keep up. We are currently looking at social security to help pay for my medications, but we aren't sure it will come through. Once I turn 18, I think that is the only program that could help us. Even though my mom has teacher insurance, the drugs that sustain me have become too expensive. I will have to have scholarships, grants, work study, and loans for college. I plan to use my study in psychology to help and serve the people around me. I want to help those with mental issues, so they can thrive throughout their life without mental strain. With mental health currently on the rise, therapists are in a predicament where more and more people need care. I intend to help others, as I can relate to patients who have a wide variety of traumas. As my education increases, so will my knowledge and scope of focus. Five years from graduation, I can see myself still in the middle of my masters program, and looking towards internships. It would be wonderful if I could fast track my masters degree within these first 5 years, start working, and then look for a school with a wonderful doctorate program. Vanderbilt would be amazing!

Surviving to my Purpose As I age, my mind thinks upon things that have truly impacted my life. It travels through joys and sorrows to acknowledge how far I’ve grown. I have lived amazing moments and successes with blessings all around me. I have also endured an intense medical history, the death of my sibling, and I have experienced a legal matter with a child predator. All these things combined together have helped create the person I am today and the profound drive and passion that I hold. They each influence my academic pursuits in different ways and for different reasons, but the theme of each points to a purpose to help my community and to bring positive results in the lives I am able to help. Though I don’t enjoy using my medical diagnosis towards obtaining scholarships, I most definitely agree that I am a more resilient person because of it. For six months I lived in the hospital where every system in my body was affected by premature birth. I have always been an endocrinology patient with many pituitary problems, including Adrenal Insufficiency. I get tired easily, my body fails often, and I worry constantly about reading my body cues for confusion, slurred speech, and when I may need an emergency shot of hydrocortisone to keep me stable. My illness has taught me to accept defeat as a normal part of life, to stay positive, and to work really hard. It has given me a way to understand people who are different. I have learned perseverance and inner strength, and I know I will be able to use my experience for the greater good. During my elementary years I experienced the loss of my baby brother. He died by a care-giver who was not in right mind. Living with my family in this pain took years off our life. I remember feeling like I was never safe, but also that I couldn't always control everything. It forced me to ask hard questions about life and death, and it has been the most confusing and hurtful part of my life. In the future I can only imagine myself being able to help others with grief and depression and being able to connect to them emotionally. In middle school a child predator tried to groom me through video gaming, and I experienced evil. My family intervened, and with much police involvement, we learned that this person had a criminal history of abuse. Though it was difficult, my testimony was used to help bring about justice. It also helped my friend be brave and come forward. My voice and action was able to protect others in this situation. By the time I entered high school, I knew I wanted to study psychology. I started to really listen to my friends and invited them to share their struggles with me. Whether it was praying with them, sitting in silence, or just talking with them, it seemed as if so many of my friends just needed support, and many had thoughts of suicide. I continue in these conversations frequently. Dr. Terry's story impacts me because he became a psychoanalyst after enduring so much in his early life. He used his life to fulfill a greater purpose. Like him, I feel this calling developing in me, and I would like to have a PhD. Though finances are an issue, I am grateful to live in this country and have the opportunity to serve others in the field of psychology. Thank you for this scholarship opportunity and the ways I can grow through this application.

Our communities are made up of diverse values and priorities, people and beliefs, and strengths and weakness. The way we choose to nurture these communities or neglect them will determine our future and sense of connectedness in the community in which we live. I desire to give into my community and impact it through listening, love, and service. One of the many leadership roles that is immensely important to me is my experience at Beloved and Beyond. This specific community has truly impacted my life and changed my entire perspective on what a community should strive towards. The disabled community brought me into a new light, as I had to live, grow, understand, and serve them in ways that I had never thought of doing. The work humbled me. Beloved and Beyond is a place where people, no matter their appearance or disability, can come and receive respect and love without having to worry about what others think. During the weeks of camp I took care of a camper. I was their “Buddy,” which meant that I encouraged them to be independent but helped them when needed. Whether it was to tell them to get dressed in the morning or to help them shower, I was always available. I helped them learn to swim, ride a horse, communicate, take risks, and have fun. I provided them courage, strength, love, understanding, listening ears, and safety. The selfless work and dedication I provided not only positively impacted the camper but also me. The experience with Beloved and Beyond changed how I treated others, as well as how I thought about disabilities in general. It changed my perspective about differences and gave me courage to fix the brokenness and judgment in the world. It made me want to love others even more, to truly care for and protect them. I found that it was extremely rewarding to see my buddy laugh, smile, and find pride in self. I got the privilege to meet his parents, thank them for his time at camp, and receive their gratitude. There is something so special about making others happy or helping them through a tough moment. Serving in this way brought me joy and a smile, and that is why I want to help people. Throughout the Beloved and Beyond journey, whether it be cleaning cabins, serving food, helping my buddy with tasks, or just sitting there, I have learned to listen. It takes a few minutes to learn about someone when you truly listen. This skill requires patience, quality time, and effort, and it is something I have learned to value. Listening to someone and having the patience to communicate and understand, can genuinely help anyone. I have even noticed this with my peers in high school. All people have hardships, and they struggle and fight through life difficulties. For all these reasons, I have wanted to go into psychology and the study of human behavior. Serving others in this field of social sciences has become my passion. Beloved and Beyond allowed me to see through the lens of someone disabled, but it also grew my leadership capacity, and it taught me what I want in life and in my career. I will devote myself into helping and assisting others, while encouraging others to do the same.

My great-grandfather told me once that inheritance was designed for family and children in emergencies, NOT for extreme pleasures. He was a highly respected military man and one I would never wish to disappoint. I heard a story in which he created a trust that equally willed money to his multiple children, with his desire that the wealth continued to move down to his future great-grandchildren. The problem he endured was that one of his sons, my grandfather, was addicted to drugs. He was fearful that his granddaughter, my mom, would never receive a penny. My great-grandfather decided to invest in multiple life insurance policies, and he was a man that was frugal and saved much in his lifetime. He decided to take a third of his son's share of the inheritance and put it in my mom's name. He actually did this with all his grandchildren, but it was specifically planned because of this troubling problem. I am so proud that my mom chose to invest the money. It was under 20k, but still, if you receive that kind of money in your 20s, it allows much time for it to grow. My mom never touched a penny, she found some real estate for those specific funds, and it doubled. When she sold the land, she then placed it in an IRA to start allowing it to grow for her own family. My mom is firm that the money will be available to my brother and me, when she passes. I believe that generational wealth is healthy, wise, and honorable. With the right financial tools such as life insurance, IRAs, using real estate, or saving with good planning, you can help make money work and grow for you. Living debt-free is a goal of mine one day, but building wealth on my own and then multiplying it to leave for my future children and their children would be my dream. My plan for my college years is to try and get my doctorate in psychology degree without having college debt or at least very small loans to pay back. We do qualify for need grants and loans, and I also will qualify for some merit, but I'm not at the top of my class. I work very hard to be my best, and I will have to work hard for scholarships over the years. I will also work while in college so that I can save. I agree with my great-grandfather's vision, and I respect him. Had he not thought about the future of his grandchildren, or had he not planned, then this line of wealth would have been completely spent through his son's drug addiction. Despite other measures put in place, my grandfather with drug addiction did go through his money very quickly. He now lives homeless, and we haven't been able to find him.