I have been a single mother for 12 years. I first pursued college when my son was two years old. I went for three years and then allowed life circumstances to get in the way. I had to drop out. I worked dead-end jobs for the next five years until 2017 when I got pregnant with my daughter. I chose to go back to college to try to bring our socioeconomic status to a higher level. I have completed two bachelor's degrees and am currently in grad school online. I complete my work while my children are asleep and on weekends. It is not the easiest because they both need me at different durations throughout the day. I have somehow been able to make it work. When I obtained my bachelor's degree, I took two majors at once, earning a 3.6 in one and a 4.0 in the other. It was challenging because I had to ensure my children were cared for while maintaining my grades satisfactory to my expectations. My children are now 12 and 5. This will be the first year my daughter starts school in the fall. Which will also be the first time I won't have my daughter in my care the entire day. I have not had a single break, not even a few hours, from my daughter for the entire duration of her life. I have learned many different self-care routines and techniques. Throughout this journey, I have gained much knowledge on emotional intelligence and how to handle situations with grace and more patience. Attending college for psychology has helped my personal home life in many ways. When my son was 6, he was diagnosed with ADHD. I did not have a clear understanding of the struggles he faced and will face. I only have a generic understanding of the disorder. After attending college, I have come to learn that the executive functioning of his brain does not work as it does for neurotypical individuals. I have also learned about the assistance he will require for emotional regulation, along with impulsivity. I faced many challenges caring for him when I was younger being ignorant of his disorder and also having struggles with my ability to regulate my emotions. The college has helped me harness the skills needed to successfully navigate the struggles I was facing. I believe this scholarship would be beneficial because it will aid in the reduction of costs and loans I will have to take out. I aspire to go for my doctorate next, and although I know I will have to pay off some of the loan debt, I currently have to complete that goal. I don't talk much to the ones I love about being a single mother, because I have come to find that many do not understand unless they also are a single mother. I have been told I am a superwoman for all that I do, yet I am humble enough to know that any woman can accomplish what I have if they decide to do so. I believe the only ones that truly hold us back are ourselves.

I am passionate about the US Constitution because it serves as the foundation for the rights that Americans innately have. They should not be infringed upon or taken lightly in any situation. I have studied the Constitution much throughout my life and I stand by the importance it has. I have heard so many who lack the knowledge of what it entails through in-person conversations, social media, and even new outlets. I plan to help fight for civil rights through the employment I am pursuing. I am hoping to become a forensic psychologist, to aid in the justice system for those who are convicted in midst of mental health struggles. Many of the offenders that are serving time lack the knowledge of their constitutional rights and lack the ability or the know-how to fight for their rights as American citizens. there are many cases where an individual is coerced or intimidated into pleading out or admitting to a charge, even when they did not commit the crime. These tactics are unconstitutional and should not be used under any circumstance. Within the justice system, there are law enforcement officers that have not been properly trained on how to handle situations that involve individuals that are either diagnosed or undiagnosed as neurodivergent. This causes heighten situations to occur that could be avoided with more psychological-based training for all law enforcement. I would dedicate my time after school to aid in the implementation of these types of courses becoming mandatory for all that enter the justice system. These types of courses would help with the infringement of rights, they would bring awareness to the Disabilities Act and ensure it is properly followed. I think classes on the constitution should be a continued educated course for all law enforcement due to the magnitude of its importance. This could decrease the number of times an individual is stopped for a simple infraction and physically harmed or unlawfully given a ticket. For individuals who are involved in the court system, I want to aid in better interventions that present options to offenders to obtain knowledge beyond just mental health services. I would like to work with attorneys to devise information packages for their clients regarding the rights they have within their situation. There are so many injustices that occur to individuals whether it be in criminal or civil court that need to be made aware of. My goal is to bring them to light and figure out the best path to decrease infringement on the rights of Americans within the court system.