Veganism is a controversial topic of today from health and ethical lens. However, for me, being vegan is an economic, theological, environmental and anthropological decision for the good of myself and others. From an economic stand-point, the cost of animal products is much higher than the cost of plant-based products. The cost of animal products such as eggs and meat has increased dramatically over the past couple years. Moreover, people that buy animal products have on average a higher food expenditure than vegans (1). The cost of animal products is higher than plant products, which insinuates the wisdom of veganism. Moreover, veganism makes sense from a theological standpoint. Veganism seems to be the position of men and women before the fall: they ate only the fruit from the green plants. The consumption of animal products does not occur until after the fall as a result of death entering the human and animal condition. Veganism, therefore, seems to be the initial design by God for people. In addition, a vegan diet supports not only the individual but humankind globally. Animal product production produces significantly more green-house gasses (GSG) than plant products alone (5). In specific, large amounts of cows release methane, a green-house gas, in the air. Moreover, to support the growth of animals for food requires more production of plants, resulting in more GSG emissions (5). By eating fewer animal products, plant-based diets create an environment that is cleaner and more sustainable. Therefore, veganism aligns best with the way people were designed biologically. The human body seems to be designed to process plant products better than animal products. Human teeth are designed to grind and not to tear (2). Moreover, animal based diets are correlated with obesity, heart-risk, diabetes, high blood pressure and other health risks (3). Plus, plant-based diets tend to result in higher levels of energy as opposed to animal products which give second-hand energy from the animal which already used some from the consumed plant-products. Plant based diets also result in higher levels of energy due to higher amounts of carbohydrates which are a primary energy source (4). Overall, plant-based diets support the biological design of humans. Common concerns of the vegan diet are protein and calcium intake. The concern is that since the vegan diet does not contain meat as a source of protein the individual will not have enough protein to sustain muscle mass. Contrary to the claim, the vegan diet results in 70% more protein than is needed (6). Thus, the vegan diet is sustainable for athletes as well (6). Plant-based diets also contain a sustainable amount of calcium from lentils, beans, leafy greens and other foods such as tofu (7). And although vegans tend to have more bone fractures than non-vegans, this is more likely due to lower body-mass index (BMI) (7). Thus, although there is concern that the vegan diet does not produce enough protein and calcium intake, studies indicate the reverse. Overall, my decision to be vegan is economic, theological, environmental and anthropological. Wholistically, people and the environment they live in seems to thrive under the plant-based diet. I choose to be vegan not only for myself but also for the good others! 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9321292/ 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7689778/ 3. https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/ 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8623732/ 5. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/15/4110 6. https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/vegan-protein-guide-athletes/ 7. https://www.forksoverknives.com/health-topics/calcium-and-bone-health-diet/

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. Moreover, during my senior year, I am working with Dr. Jones to develop a Christian framework for understanding what a person is. I am also working with Dr. Hankle to design, perform and publish a study on father-daughter relationships. These experiences are preparing me to conduct psychological research, interpret data and form theoretical frameworks in which to encompass developing data. Through the independent study and the research study, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hankle are teaching me to write professionally and consider my audience when writing different types of academic pieces of literature. Regent's professors, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hankle have been integral in developing me as a young researcher. In addition I was a preschool aid for three years right after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic evidently produced a host of developmental issues for all the students, including fine motor, gross motor, speech, relational skills, reading, writing and other skills. This experience taught me the soft-skills of interacting with children that needed extra help in their development. which will be imperative in future internships with children with various disorders. In addition, the preschool job highlighted the importance of relationships for young children in their development. Children are not able to mature without many different relationships encouraging growth in them. Children need a variety of relationships to develop relationally, academically and psychologically. Working as a preschool aid taught me the soft-skills for clinical work and it taught me the importance of relationships in clinical and research work. Once I am licensed, I would like to participate both in research and in clinical work. I'm excited to shape the psychological field of research in a more biblical direction. The field is largely dominated by evolutionary psychology, and I want to use my degree and experience to shape the data interpretation in a more biblical (and I would argue) true direction. If others and I in Christian Psychology can shape the field in this direction, clinicians can more effectively treat their clients (because they will be treating them more in line with who they are designed to be. I want to shape the field in a more biblical direction and treat clients in line with their created design.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. Moreover, during my senior year, I am working with Dr. Jones to develop a Christian framework for understanding what a person is. I am also working with Dr. Hankle to design, perform and publish a study on father-daughter relationships. These experiences are preparing me to conduct psychological research, interpret data and form theoretical frameworks in which to encompass developing data. Through the independent study and the research study, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hankle are teaching me to write professionally and consider my audience when writing different types of academic pieces of literature. Regent's professors, Dr. Jones and Dr. Hankle have been integral in developing me as a young researcher. In addition I was a preschool aid for three years right after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic evidently produced a host of developmental issues for all the students, including fine motor, gross motor, speech, relational skills, reading, writing and other skills. This experience taught me the soft-skills of interacting with children that needed extra help in their development. which will be imperative in future internships with children with various disorders. In addition, the preschool job highlighted the importance of relationships for young children in their development. Children are not able to mature without many different relationships encouraging growth in them. Children need a variety of relationships to develop relationally, academically and psychologically. Working as a preschool aid taught me the soft-skills for clinical work and it taught me the importance of relationships in clinical and research work. Once I am licensed, I would like to participate both in research and in clinical work. I'm excited to shape the psychological field of research in a more biblical direction. The field is largely dominated by evolutionary psychology, and I want to use my degree and experience to shape the data interpretation in a more biblical (and I would argue) true direction. If others and I in Christian Psychology can shape the field in this direction, clinicians can more effectively treat their clients (because they will be treating them more in line with who they are designed to be. I want to shape the field in a more biblical direction and treat clients in line with their created design, so that clinicians can lead their clients into true health and flourishing.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into a clinical psychology and research, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students last year in preschool was adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. At the time she was four, going on five and still required a diaper. She had gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language was impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She was an absolute joy in our class, and it was a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through clinical psychology. But in order to begin practicing clinical psychology, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology and then go to a graduate school to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. Acquiring my PhD will allow me to research as well as apply psychology in counseling so that I can give my clients the best care possible. The first two years of my undergraduate I studied at a community college to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses and lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

There is difference between preferential opinions and objective, capital-T Truth. Truth is that which corresponds to reality and reality is what exist by God's design. The difference between Truth and truth, is that Truth is true for all people across all times and cultures, where as truth may be different for each person depending on their experiences. For example, it is Truth that all people are born and die, but it is truth that one man may have blue eyes and another brown. It is important to acknowledge that both Truth and truth play an important role in the lives of every person. However, in our culture today, may people do not like the idea of Truth. Ultimately, the disposition to despise Truth results from a hatred of God Himself. He is "the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except" (Jn. 14:6) through Him. God is Truth and therefore a hatred of Truth is a hatred of God. He is the source of all Truth and all True things are from Him. Scripture also makes abundantly clear that God and His Truth are visible but rejected and traded for what looks like truth but is falsehood. " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20). God's Truth, rejected by unbelievers, is traded for what they wish to be truth. So He who is truth is rejected for what is thought will satisfy. God's Truth is visible and clear but rejected for what seems to satisfy. Although all Creation points to the Truth of the Creator, the Truth of Scripture more acutely points to Him who is the Truth, specifically through the message of the gospel. The Truth is rejected because men are sinful, and so all men are separated from Him who is the Truth. When the Truth is rejected, God and man are separated, and though this "truth" promises satisfaction, it results in dysfunction (Rom. 1). However, the central message of Scripture is "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (Jn. 8:32) because of Jesus' death and resurrection by reconciling man to God under His Truth. When Jesus redeems a man, he is brought out from "truth" and into the light of His Truth; He is united to the Truth and has a renewed relationship with Him. The Truth of Scripture is that man can be reunited with God, though he has initially rejected Him, through the redemption of the blood of Jesus. The Truth of Scripture is centered around the gospel. Overall, although Truth--and therefore God--is rejected by man, man can be reconciled to the Truth through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Truth is rejected for what seems to be "truth" that can satisfy. But because the truth is not Him who is Truth, "truth" cannot satisfy ultimately. Apart from God's Truth, man cannot be satisfied in truth.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into clinical psychology and research, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students last year in preschool was adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. At the time she was four, going on five and still required a diaper. She had gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language was impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She was an absolute joy in our class, and it was a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through clinical psychology. But in order to begin practicing clinical psychology, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology and then go to a graduate school to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. Acquiring my PhD will allow me to research as well as apply psychology in counseling so that I can give my clients the best care possible. The first two years of my undergraduate I studied at a community college to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses and lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into clinical psychology and research, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students last year in preschool was adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. At the time she was four, going on five and still required a diaper. She had gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language was impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She was an absolute joy in our class, and it was a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through clinical psychology. But in order to begin practicing clinical psychology, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology and then go to a graduate school to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. Acquiring my PhD will allow me to research as well as apply psychology in counseling so that I can give my clients the best care possible. The first two years of my undergraduate I studied at a community college to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses and lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into clinical psychology and research, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students last year in preschool was adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. At the time she was four, going on five and still required a diaper. She had gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language was impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She was an absolute joy in our class, and it was a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through clinical psychology. But in order to begin practicing clinical psychology, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology and then go to a graduate school to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. Acquiring my PhD will allow me to research as well as apply psychology in counseling so that I can give my clients the best care possible. The first two years of my undergraduate I studied at a community college to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses and lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into clinical psychology and research, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students last year in preschool was adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. At the time she was four, going on five and still required a diaper. She had gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language was impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She was an absolute joy in our class, and it was a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through clinical psychology. But in order to begin practicing clinical psychology, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology and then go to a graduate school to obtain my PhD in clinical psychology. Acquiring my PhD will allow me to research as well as apply psychology in counseling so that I can give my clients the best care possible. The first two years of my undergraduate I studied at a community college to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses and lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

In the last several years, the opportunities for gifted children have decreased significantly in order to give rise to the needs of children with varying deficiencies. This shift has led to the assumption that when a child is acting out, it is due to a deficiency, and therefore, the child requires special support. However, time and time again, people find that when children are challenged, when people set the bar high, children thrive as they achieve more and more. This low set bar is an issue for all children, but particularly for children who are gifted. What may come across as a child who is under-preforming is actually a child who is bored. Gifted children in particular need to be challenged, encouraged and supported. As a woman who is working towards her degree in art therapy, I want to be mindful and supporting of gifted children. It is very likely that a child with giftedness will be brought into my office under the pretense that he or she has a deficiency. I want to support these children by an ability to recognize the child’s talent, affirm the gifting, and begin to give the child opportunities to express, challenge and grow his or her gift. I firmly believe that when these children have the opportunity to use their giftedness, they will begin to thrive in the classroom because they are doing what they were designed to do. As a Christian, I know that each of these gifted children have been made uniquely in the image of God. They display his glory and creativity by just being who they are. But I also recognize the present state of brokenness in the world. As an aspiring art therapist and a follower of Christ, I think that I have a unique opportunity to encourage and support gifted children. Art therapy gives children the opportunity to express what they are feeling without needing words. I think this is an important outlet, especially for gifted children. Often, these gifted children are facing opposition in the classroom. They are not being adequately challenged according to his or her giftedness. Art therapy offers a safe space for them to express their feelings. But art therapy does not only give the opportunity to express emotion. In my practice of art therapy, I will be able to give these gifted students challenges that will motivate and inspire them. By prompting them, they will get to explore their unique opportunities as gifted children as well as work with them to create goals that they might be able to pursue outside the classroom. If the classroom is unable or unwilling to support and encourage gifted children to continue to grow, I, as an art therapist, can encourage these students to pursue their giftedness outside the classroom. This is a unique opportunity for me to show gifted children that their giftedness is a beautiful thing and not something to be ignored or passed over. I want to encourage them that this is a way they are created to reflect the image of God and support them through the process of exploring and growing their gifts. Overall, as an aspiring art therapist I am excited for the challenge and the opportunity to encourage and support gifted students. Thank you for your time.

I was about 8 when my grandfather, Gpa, was diagnosed with cancer. As a kid, and with no experience of death, the word didn’t mean much to me. I can’t remember when my parents told me about his diagnosis of prostate cancer, but I didn’t seem to find it concerning. And perhaps rightfully so. Shortly after the diagnosis, Gran and Gpa moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where they built a home to be near to their grandchildren. They are the most faithful grandparents. They never missed a birthday party, sporting event, or ceremony. They were such a constant in my life. Any passing thought of his cancer diagnosis was immediately dismissed. Because there was no way Gpa could actually die. I am 21 now. And after battling cancer for almost 13 years, Gpa passed away June 16, 2023. He didn’t quite make it to my 21st birthday, but somehow, that seems fitting. Along with grieving my beloved grandfather, I have found that I have also had to grieve my childhood. Gone are the days when I would have sleepover at their house and wake up to the breakfast of Giant doughnuts Gpa had bought for us the day before. Gone are the days when Gpa would cook burgers and hots for a cookout and end up so covered in sweat, we named them “sweat burgers”. Gone are the days of the twinkle in his eyes and a joke on his lips. Gone is the commission of a gracious grandfather who never raised his voice or lost his temper. Gone is the consistency he provided for me when I didn't even know how his consistency would be such a foundation for me in the future. Gpa always loved the Lord, but in the last three months of his life, his faith was a radiant beam of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy room of death. He never shied away from the subject of death and would frequently ask us if we had any questions about dying. He knew this was a new experience for us. And even on his deathbed, he would look into your eyes and say “how are you really doing?” He was not concerned for his own life - he knew where he was going. He would always ask and make sure we were eating, though at this point, he was unable to eat more than a couple of crackers. He was concerned for my grandmother, and that she would be supported financially. And above all else, he wanted to make sure that we were well supported before he made his exit from this world. Cancer is, to me, no longer a mere word. Death overcomes all men in the end, but it takes a different name for each person. Death, for Gpa, was cancer. I have a lot of grief yet to process which has been put on hold due to the business of life. But I know that cancer was not the ultimate end of Gpa because he had faith in the one who overcame death: who overcame cancer. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that the promise for those who believe in him is eternal life with Him forever. So I will grieve, but not as those who do not have hope, because I share the hope that my grandfather had. Cancer led to death. But through Christ, cancer turns to hope. And in that hope, I know that soon, I will be worshiping at the feet of Jesus right next to Gpa.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

I think the most powerful actions I can take as a college student to create a positive impact is encourage interdependence on God and others, tell everyone they can have a relationship with God and encourage secure attachments with God. The more I learn in my psychology degree, the more I see people were designed to rely on each other. We live in a culture that promotes self-reliance and autonomy at the expense of relationships. This is an issue, because people need other people. And people need to know that it's okay to need other people. They need to know it's okay to reach out and ask for help, because no one can do it on their own. As a college student, I think a very practical way of leading others in this radically different way of living is to begin modeling it myself. I want to grow in being able to reach out and ask for help, but I also want to be there for others; I want to listen to others and care for them too. My hope, is that by living in a way that is more interdependent on others, those around me will see me flourish and they will start living more interdependently as well. Ultimately, however, I recognize that human flourishing takes place within relationships not only with other people but with the Lord. I believe that the Triune God, who is himself a relationship, created people to flourish when they live in relational community with one another (to reflect his image) and when they live in relational community with God. People need each other, and people also need God. If it is true that people flourish when they are in relationship with each other and with God, I not only want to promote people living in quality relationships with one another, but also with God. As a college student, another way I can promote a positive impact is by telling people about the good news: they can have a relationship with God. I want to tell everyone about how Jesus died and rose from the dead so that all people have the opportunity to flourish as they come into a reconciled relationship with God! Research done on attachment to God seems to indicate that people can recover from insecure attachment to their parents when they have a secure attachment to God. The more I talk to people on my campus, the more I see there is a lot of brokenness within families, especially between students and their parents. No parents are perfect, and so I think another way that I can create a positive impact is by gently encouraging my peers to strengthen their relationship with the Lord. By doing this, they can begin to create a secure attachment with God and heal from any maladaptive tendencies that may have been promoted within their families. Being at college is a unique time for students when they begin to start making choices for themselves apart from their parents. They get to choose how they want to live and that choice will have implication for the way the live the rest of their life. I want to encourage my peers to take this opportunity to create patterns that are going to promote flourishing for them and the people around them. I want to encourage interdependence on God and others, tell everyone they can have a relationship with God and encourage secure attachments with God. I have found these principals to be essential to my peer's flourishing and I want to continue to promote a positive impact!

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients.

I was about 8 when my grandfather, Gpa, was diagnosed with cancer. As a kid, and with no experience of death, the word didn’t mean much to me. I can’t remember when my parents told me about his diagnosis of prostate cancer, but I didn’t seem to find it concerning. And perhaps rightfully so. Shortly after the diagnosis, Gran and Gpa moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where they built a home to be near to their grandchildren. They are the most faithful grandparents. They never missed a birthday party, sporting event, or ceremony. They were such a constant in my life. Any passing thought of his cancer diagnosis was immediately dismissed. Because there was no way Gpa could actually die. I am 21 now. And after battling cancer for almost 13 years, Gpa passed away June 16, 2023. He didn’t quite make it to my 21st birthday, but somehow, that seems fitting. Along with grieving my beloved grandfather, I have found that I have also had to grieve my childhood. Gone are the days when I would have sleepover at their house and wake up to the breakfast of Giant doughnuts Gpa had bought for us the day before. Gone are the days when Gpa would cook burgers and hots for a cookout and end up so covered in sweat, we named them “sweat burgers”. Gone are the days of the twinkle in his eyes and a joke on his lips. Gone is the commission of a gracious grandfather who never raised his voice or lost his temper. Gone is the consistency he provided for me when I didn't even know how his consistency would be such a foundation for me in the future. Gpa always loved the Lord, but in the last three months of his life, his faith was a radiant beam of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy room of death. He never shied away from the subject of death and would frequently ask us if we had any questions about dying. He knew this was a new experience for us. And even on his deathbed, he would look into your eyes and say “how are you really doing?” He was not concerned for his own life - he knew where he was going. He would always ask and make sure we were eating, though at this point, he was unable to eat more than a couple of crackers. He was concerned for my grandmother, and that she would be supported financially. And above all else, he wanted to make sure that we were well supported before he made his exit from this world. Cancer is, to me, no longer a mere word. Death overcomes all men in the end, but it takes a different name for each person. Death, for Gpa, was cancer. I have a lot of grief yet to process which has been put on hold due to the business of life. But I know that cancer was not the ultimate end of Gpa because he had faith in the one who overcame death: who overcame cancer. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that the promise for those who believe in him is eternal life with Him forever. So I will grieve, but not as those who do not have hope, because I share the hope that my grandfather had. Cancer led to death. But through Christ, cancer turns to hope. And in that hope, I know that soon, I will be worshiping at the feet of Jesus right next to Gpa.

A woman of refined character, passionate about serving those around me, who diligently work at whatever she does, ultimately working with utmost excellence unto the glory of God.

As a Christ-follower, it is important to me not only to serve these children, but to give them the good news that Jesus died and rose from the day in order to take away our sin and give us the right relationship with Him! In studying art therapy, I will have the opportunity to minister physically to these children. And this physical ministering shows these children that they are cared for by me, but ultimately, I want them to understand that Christ is caring for them through me, and He wants a deep relationship with each of them. During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. I am now attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is committed to biblical truth. Psychology is rooted in worldview so I needed a school that would teach critical thinking. Psychology is a scientific method plus anthropology, and if my anthropology is wrong, I may be treating patients incorrectly. Having a right understanding of the brain will help me diagnose and treat my patients accurately. Regent University is teaching me psychological methods and how to interpret data correctly so that I can best help my future patients. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

I spent the last three years working at Mountainside Preschool; the time during and after the pandemic lockdown. I have had the privilege of working with children who have been impacted by the pandemic with decreased gross motor skills, deficits in language and speech as well as deficits in social skills. The Lord has made it so clear to me that children are so vulnerable, and that He would like me to continue to serve children who need to be cared for. Vulnerable children are everywhere. It is not a matter of if we find them, but who: us, or ill-intentioned people? As a Christ-follower, it is important to me not only to serve children but to give them the good news that Jesus died and rose from the day to take away our sins and give us the right relationship with Him! In studying art therapy, I will have the opportunity to minister physically to these children. And this physical ministering shows these children that they are cared for by me, but ultimately, I want them to understand that Christ is caring for them through me, and He wants a deep relationship with each of them. During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education in art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. One of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had a substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language are impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy.

During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was enamored that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania is out of control. And I didn't learn about it until I was sixteen. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there we worked together to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. In fact, one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. But in order to begin practicing art therapy, I will need to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology with a minor in art and then go to a graduate school to obtain my masters in art therapy. The last two years I was able to study at a community college in order to obtain my associates in arts with my general education courses in order to lower the total cost of my education. Next year, I plan on attending Regent university in order to obtain my bachelors of science in psychology. In choosing an undergraduate college, it was important for me to find a college that is deeply rooted in Biblical Truth according to the word of God. I understand that psychology is rooted in worldview and I feel I need to find a school that will teach me psychology in light of Scripture in order to have a right understanding of the mind to help children heal from trauma. Education matters and obtaining an accurate education matters even more. Thank you for your time.

Art has always been a subject of close importance to me as well as a talent. But it wasn't until I was introduced to art therapy that I put into place my educational goals. Art therapy is a unique career that blends beauty, psychology and a biblical worldview into a vision of redemption to be received and experienced by individuals who have undergone trauma. I feel called particularly to vulnerable children. Art therapy offers a helpful avenue for children to process and experience freedom from their trauma. Children do not yet have fully developed language and cognitive abilities, so art therapy offers a way for these children to express what they are thinking and feeling via the back door to his or her mind. I spent the last three years working at Mountainside Preschool; the time during and after the pandemic lockdown. I have had the privilege of working with children who have been impacted by the pandemic in decreased gross motor skills, deficits in language and speech as well as deficits in social skills. The Lord has made it so clear to me that children are so vulnerable, and that He would like me to continue to serve children who need to be cared for. Vulnerable children are everywhere. It is not a matter of if we find them, but who: us, or ill-intentioned people? As a Christ-follower, it is important to me not only to serve these children but to give them the good news that Jesus died and rose from the day in order to take away our sins and give us the right relationship with Him! In studying art therapy, I will have the opportunity to minister physically to these children. And this physical ministering shows these children that they are cared for by me, but ultimately, I want them to understand that Christ is caring for them through me, and He wants a deep relationship with each of them. During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I wanted my peers to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal at the time who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder as well as raise money for Sara's House of Hope. As I continue my education in art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. One of my students this year in the preschool is adopted, but her birth mother had a substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language are impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She and children like her are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy.

My name is Anike Heller, and as a Christ follower, substance use disorder is near to my heart. During my high school education, the Lord laid it on my heart to participate in spreading awareness of substance use disorder. I didn't learn about opioids until my sophomore year of high school, and I was amazed that the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania was out of control. I set out for a way to make this more known, particularly to the student body who are so easily enticed into the realm of drugs and alcohol via peer pressure. I wanted them to understand what I now understood: opioids and drugs are not toys but dangerous to the body, mind, and soul. And I was aware of the fact that hearing this message from an adult was one thing, but hearing it from another peer was more weighted. I assembled a team of students who were similarly passionate about the issue of substance use disorder along with a teacher and the school principal who connected me with the organization Sara's House of Hope. From there I led with their support to establish an annual 5k that would continue on after I graduated to raise money for Sara's House of Hope as well as raise awareness in the community at large about substance use disorder. The other students and I worked together to create a club in the Cumberland Valley high school called Break the Silence, which now meets once a month to generate and put into practice ideas that will raise awareness in the school about substance use disorder. As I continue my education into art therapy, substance use disorder continues to be an issue close to my heart. Substance use disorder affects parents and in turn, affects their children. I currently work at a preschool, and one of my students this year in the preschool is adopted. Her birth mother had substance use disorder. As a result, this child has fetal alcohol syndrome. She is four, going on five and still requires a diaper. She has gross and fine motor deficits. Her speech and language is impaired as well as her vision and her cognitive and learning abilities. She is an absolute joy in our class, and it is a deep privilege to serve her in her needs. She, and children like her, are the kinds of children I want to have the ability to continue to serve through art therapy. Art therapy is a career opportunity to help child recover from the effects of substance use disorder and prevent further substace use disorders from developing in these children. The hope, is that as we treat these children for various traumas and mental health issues, we can simeotaneously prevent further substance use disorder in these same children. Thank you for considering my application, Anike Heller