Losing my dad in high school was the moment that changed the entire direction of my life. Grief arrived suddenly and settled heavily, and I found myself trying to balance schoolwork, friendships, and college plans while quietly navigating depression I didn’t yet have the language for. I remember sitting in class, staring at assignments I couldn’t focus on, feeling like everyone else was moving forward while I was stuck in place. What made a difference was my school counselor. She didn’t treat me like a problem to solve or a student falling behind. She treated me like a whole person who was hurting, and she showed up with compassion, consistency, and patience. Her support helped me believe that healing was possible and that I didn’t have to carry everything alone. That experience is the reason I chose my career path. Currently, I am pursuing my Master of Social Work at Grand Valley State University along with a School Social Work Certificate, because I want to be that same steady, supportive presence for students who are struggling. Mental health challenges affect countless young people every year, and as the scholarship description notes, they can make it incredibly difficult to focus on school or imagine a future beyond the pain of the present moment. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to try to keep up academically while dealing with loss, trauma, or depression. I also know how powerful it is when even one adult takes the time to listen, validate, and guide a student toward the help they need. My goal is to become a school counselor who creates that kind of environment—one where students feel seen, valued, and supported, especially during their hardest moments. My academic and professional experiences have deepened my commitment to this work. Through my undergraduate studies in social work and my current graduate training, I’ve learned how mental health intersects with family systems, school environments, and community resources. I’ve completed internships in child welfare and school settings, where I’ve seen how many students carry invisible burdens that affect their behavior, attendance, and academic performance. These experiences have strengthened my belief that early, accessible mental health support in schools can change lives. I want to help students build coping skills, navigate crises, and feel empowered to ask for help; skills I wish I had understood earlier in my own journey. As a future school counselor, I hope to bridge the gaps between students, families, and community mental health services. I want to advocate for trauma‑informed practices, reduce stigma around seeking help, and ensure that students from low‑income or first‑generation backgrounds—students like me—have access to the support they deserve. I am especially passionate about creating school environments where mental health is treated as a core part of student success, not an afterthought. My counselor helped me find hope when I couldn’t see it myself, and now I want to spend my career doing the same for others.

As a dedicated student pursuing a degree a double major in social work and psychology with a minor in leadership, I am deeply committed to addressing critical social issues and making a positive impact in my community. My passion for public service aligns with the values and legacy of Jeannine Schroeder, whose dedication to social justice and advocacy is admirable. Throughout my academic journey, I have actively engaged in various organizations and initiatives that reflect my commitment to social work and advocacy. As a member of the Student Social Work Association, I have collaborated with peers to raise awareness about important social issues and promote community involvement. This experience has allowed me to develop leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations. In addition to my involvement in the Student Social Work Association, I am also a Sexual Aggression Peer Advocate. In this role, I provide support and resources to survivors of sexual violence, helping them navigate their recovery process and advocating for their rights. This experience has reinforced my belief in the importance of creating safe and supportive environments for all individuals, particularly those who have experienced trauma. I am on the training board of the Leadership Safari and it has further honed my leadership abilities and provided me with valuable insights into effective teamwork and communication. This program has equipped me with the skills necessary to lead initiatives that address social issues and advocate for positive change. As a building supervisor at the Student Activity Center, I have had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of students and staff, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. This role has taught me the importance of creating supportive environments where individuals feel valued and heard. My ultimate goal is to work with youth in Child Protective Services (CPS) and foster care, where I can advocate for their rights and well-being. I am passionate about ensuring that every child has access to a safe and nurturing environment, and I am committed to addressing the systemic issues that impact their lives. By working in CPS and foster care, I hope to provide support and resources to children and families in need, helping them overcome challenges and build brighter futures. In addition to my professional aspirations, I am dedicated to advocating for social justice and equity. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. Through my work in social work and advocacy, I aim to address issues such as child welfare, mental health, and access to resources, ensuring that all individuals have the support they need to succeed.

I am honored to apply for this scholarship, which commemorates an individual who dedicated their life to selflessness and helping others achieve their full potential. As a student pursuing a double major in social work and psychology with a minor in leadership, I have made it my mission to embody these values and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Throughout my academic journey, I have been actively involved in various organizations that align with my passion for helping others. As a member of the Student Social Work Association, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share my commitment to social justice and community service. This experience has allowed me to deepen my understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations and advocate for policy changes. Additionally, I am a Sexual Aggression Peer Advocate. In this role, I provide support and resources to survivors of sexual violence, helping them navigate their recovery process and advocating for their rights. This experience has been incredibly rewarding, as it has allowed me to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who have experienced trauma. Furthermore, I am on the training board for Leadership Safari, a program designed to enhance leadership skills and foster personal growth. Through this program, I have learned the importance of empathy, communication, and teamwork in effective leadership. These skills have been invaluable in my work as a Building Supervisor at the Student Activity Center, where I oversee a team of students and ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all. I also volunteer as a youth mentor, and my passion for working with youth and advocating for their well-being has been a driving force in my academic and professional pursuits. I believe that every child deserves a safe and supportive environment in which to thrive, and I am committed to making this a reality through my future career in social work. By providing mentorship, resources, and advocacy, I aim to empower young people to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. In conclusion, my dedication to helping others and my commitment to social work make me an ideal candidate for this scholarship. I am deeply inspired by the values of selflessness and service that this scholarship represents, and I am eager to continue my journey of making a positive impact on the lives of others. Thank you for considering my application.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

Throughout my journey towards higher education, I have faced and overcome significant challenges. The most profound of these was the passing of my father during high school. This loss deeply affected me and my family, but it also strengthened my resolve to pursue my dreams and make a positive impact in the world. Having a single mom and six siblings has shaped me into the person I am today. Witnessing my mom’s dedication and hard work has instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and determination. After my dad died, I had to take on extra responsibilities at home. Balancing schoolwork with household duties taught me valuable time management and organizational skills. These experiences have made me more disciplined and self-reliant. Despite financial and emotional challenges, I have learned to persevere and stay focused on my academic goals. Growing up in a single-parent household has heightened my empathy and understanding of diverse family dynamics. This perspective has enriched my interactions with peers and educators, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Navigating the complex emotions associated with grief improved my emotional intelligence. I became better at recognizing and managing my own emotions and those of others. Going through the loss of a parent led me to a greater appreciation for relationships and a desire to form meaningful connections. It also made me value the chosen family in my life—the people who stepped in and supported me even though they had no obligation to. All of my experiences have helped me develop skills that are vital for my career choice. I have excelled in people skills and problem-solving. My ability to connect with others and understand their needs has been a cornerstone of my success. Additionally, I have a knack for identifying problems and developing effective solutions, which has been invaluable in both academic and personal settings. I am pursuing a degree in Social Work and Psychology. My aspiration is to become a school social worker or a Child Protective Services agent. My goal is to create a safe and encouraging environment for children and families to foster growth. I am passionate about supporting those in need and helping them overcome their challenges to lead fulfilling lives. I believe that every child and family deserves a chance to thrive, and I want to be a part of making that possible. In my field, I aspire to address and change the systemic injustices in social welfare. For example, I want to work to end discrimination and bias that lead to disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. The child welfare system often disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and low-income families. Poverty is frequently misconstrued as neglect, leading to unnecessary family separations. Another injustice is the surveillance and regulation of social welfare recipients. Instead of providing support, social welfare systems often impose strict regulations and surveillance on recipients. This approach can be punitive and stigmatizing, rather than empowering. Other problems in the social welfare system include economic inequality and access to resources. Many individuals and families struggle to access essential services such as healthcare, housing, and education. This lack of access can exacerbate existing inequalities and hinder social mobility. I am committed to advocating for those who are often unheard, pushing for new legislation, and being on the front lines of change. Personally, I am willing to dedicate my time and energy to drive these changes, ensuring that the social welfare system becomes more equitable and just for everyone. I believe that by promoting the adoption of fair policies and challenging discriminatory practices, we can create a more supportive and inclusive social welfare system. This scholarship will alleviate the financial burden on my family, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. It will provide me with access to essential resources such as textbooks, technology, and academic programs that will enhance my learning experience. The scholarship will enable me to participate in extracurricular activities, internships, and other opportunities that will further my personal and professional development. I will be able to say yes to more opportunities instead of struggling to balance work and school life. This financial support will not only help me achieve my academic goals but also empower me to make a meaningful impact in my field and accomplish my goal of helping children and families. In conclusion, my journey towards higher education has been marked by significant challenges and personal growth. I have developed strong people skills and problem-solving abilities, which are essential for my career in social work and psychology. My goal is to create a safe and encouraging environment for children and families and to address systemic injustices in social welfare. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can achieve these goals and make a positive difference in the lives of those I serve.

Growing up in a single-parent household has profoundly shaped my educational journey and personal development. My dad died when I was young. Having a single mom and 6 siblings has made me into the person I am today. Witnessing my mom’s dedication and hard work has instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and determination. After my dad died, I had to take on some extra responsibilities. Balancing schoolwork with household responsibilities has taught me valuable time management and organizational skills. These experiences have made me more disciplined and self-reliant. Despite financial and emotional challenges, I have learned to persevere and stay focused on my academic goals. Growing up in a single-parent household has heightened my empathy and understanding of diverse family dynamics. This perspective has enriched my interactions with peers and educators, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Navigating the complex emotions associated with grief improved my emotional intelligence. I got better at recognizing and managing my own emotions and those of others. Going throught the loss of a parent lead me to a greater appreciation for relationships and a desire to form meaningful connections. Also, it made me value the chose family in my life, the people who steped in and supported me even though they had no obligation to. I aim to excel in my studies and pursue a degree in social work and psychology, where I can make a meaningful impact. My long-term goal is to become a CPS agent or a school social worker. I am passionate about protecting children, supporting families, education, and making a difference and I believe this career will allow me to make a positive difference. I want to be the chosen family of others. I want to support others so they have the opportunity to reach their full potiential and fufill thier purpose just like others did for me. I aspire to give back to my community by donating, volunteering, and advocating for local programs that help to support children and families. I want to support others who have the same goals as me, but have a different approach to adress the problems. This scholarship will alleviate the financial burden on my family, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. It will provide me with access to essential resources such as textbooks, technology, and academic programs that will enhance my learning experience. The scholarship will enable me to participate in extracurricular activities, internships, and other opportunities that will further my personal and professional development. I will be able to say yes to more opportunites instead of struggle to balance work and school life.

Growing up in a single-parent household has profoundly shaped my educational journey and personal development. My dad died when I was young. Having a single mom and 6 siblings has made me into the person I am today. Witnessing my mom’s dedication and hard work has instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and determination. After my dad died, I had to take on some extra responsibilities. Balancing schoolwork with household responsibilities has taught me valuable time management and organizational skills. These experiences have made me more disciplined and self-reliant. Despite financial and emotional challenges, I have learned to persevere and stay focused on my academic goals. Growing up in a single-parent household has heightened my empathy and understanding of diverse family dynamics. This perspective has enriched my interactions with peers and educators, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Navigating the complex emotions associated with grief improved my emotional intelligence. I got better at recognizing and managing my own emotions and those of others. Going throught the loss of a parent lead me to a greater appreciation for relationships and a desire to form meaningful connections. Also, it made me value the chose family in my life, the people who steped in and supported me even though they had no obligation to. I aim to excel in my studies and pursue a degree in social work and psychology, where I can make a meaningful impact. My long-term goal is to become a CPS agent or a school social worker. I am passionate about protecting children, supporting families, education, and making a difference and I believe this career will allow me to make a positive difference. I aspire to give back to my community by donating, volunteering, and advocating for local programs that help to support children and families. I want to support others who have the same goals as me, but have a different approach to adress the problems. This scholarship will alleviate the financial burden on my family, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. It will provide me with access to essential resources such as textbooks, technology, and academic programs that will enhance my learning experience. The scholarship will enable me to participate in extracurricular activities, internships, and other opportunities that will further my personal and professional development. I will be able to say yes to more opportunites instead of struggle to balance work and school life.

A social issue I am passionate about is the availability and access to welfare programs for parents of low economic status. I believe that social welfare programs are very important and we need to help our fellow members of our community. As a pro-lifer, I believe that we need to support parents through social welfare programs, so they can take care of their children. There are a couple of parts to this issue. First, there needs to be education for the public on social welfare and the stereotypes surrounding people on welfare. The public perception of someone on welfare is very stigmatized such as a single, lazy, black, mother who just keeps having kids so she can get more money from welfare. We make policies surrounding welfare based on this depiction. We make getting help very difficult because we think they are undeserving of our help. The public must also be educated on how welfare is split into corporate and social welfare. 60% of the welfare budget ($92 billion) goes to corporate welfare. Corporate welfare gives tax breaks to big corporations. Which the public thinks trickles down to the workers by raising wages and creating more jobs, but it has been proven that it does not work. Most of the time corporations keep it as profit. 40% of the welfare budget ($59 billion) goes to social welfare such as food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid, unemployment, social security, work-related injury, temporary assistance for needy families, earned income tax credit, and many more. It is not a lot of money once this gets distributed to all these different programs. When people think that most of welfare money is going to the “undeserving” poor, they are wrong. Most of it is going to big corporations. Once the public gets educated, they can start voting to change policies surrounding welfare. I am going to address this issue by going into social work. I want to educate people on the social welfare systems. I want to tear down stereotypes surrounding welfare and people of poor communities. I want to help families navigate through the social welfare system to improve their lives. I want to improve access to welfare, so families do not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or where they are going to live. Overall, I want to support others in my community and make a positive impact on the world.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. I have faced adversity in my life. My family has always experienced financial stress, so that has always impacted my life. When I was 15 my dad passed away. That came with a lot of challenges involving mental health, adjusting to change, and family conflict. Overcoming my adversity is another reason why I want to become a social worker. I want to encourage others to overcome adversity. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

My faith has always played a pivotal role in my life. I would not be where I am today without the love of God and the support of my Christian community. About 3 years ago, my dad passed away. He was a very dedicated Christian, a deacon of our church, and a youth group leader. He would always say yes to anyone who needed his help. He was a wonderful example of what it meant to be a servant of the Lord. When he died, my world shattered. I struggled with my mental health and my family situation was not the greatest. God saw me in the valley and brought me out of it. It was not an easy journey, but I could not have done it without Him. I know God will use my testimony to bring others to Him. I have always been and will always be involved in church. I lead a women's bible study for college students, mentor elementary students through Kid's Hope USA, run/plan VBS, volunteer for worship on Wednesdays, and am a cabin leader for Grace Adventures Bible Camp. All of these experiences have taught me how to show the love of God to other people and I plan to take that skill into my career. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because it is my passion. I love connecting with people. I was always told that I am an empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving individual, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. I have a passion for social change and advocacy. I have discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where God sends me and there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. All while sharing the gospel whenever I can. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than working to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. A sacrifice I made to accomplish my educational goals is sacrificing my time to work to pay for college. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation. Another sacrifice I have made is leaving my family to attend college. My family is very important to me, so it has been very hard not seeing them often. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling and visiting my family versus working to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I want to improve people's mental health while also helping to improve their situation/circumstances that may be affecting their mental health. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship would help me accomplish my career goals and make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me to accomplish my career goals and help me make a positive impact on the world. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. This scholarship will help me make my career dreams come true. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. It will help me accomplish my dream of becoming a social worker. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. I hope I can make this future a reality. Thank you so much for your consideration.

I am Miniya Lothschutz. I am currently majoring in social work and psychology at Central Michigan University. Once I get my bachelor's degree, I will transfer to Grand Valley State University to get my masters in social work. I chose this career path because of my passion and past experiences. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in a helping profession such as a nurse, teacher, or lawyer. I have a passion for connecting with people. I was always told that I am empathic, adaptable, compassionate, problem-solving, and have good communication skills, and I would be perfect in the helping professions. As I got older, I also gained a passion for social change and advocacy. I discovered that there are so many inequalities in the American system especially for people of low economic status. I want to change that. Also, I have experience working in the social work field. I volunteer at a food pantry and soup kitchen. I mentor elementary students who do not have a great home life. I have worked at a summer camp for kids of all backgrounds. This experience has just fueled my passion for social work. In the future, I know I want to work with teens and young adults, but I am not quite sure where I want to work once I have my social work degree. I will just go where there is the most need whether that is Child Protective Services, transition housing, schools, counseling, or a detention center. A degree in social work and psychology gives me a lot of flexibility in my career choices. In a general sense, I want to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, organizations, and communities by accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. I want to fulfill humanitarian needs such as love, affection, care, security, empathy, and independence. I want to improve mental health symptoms by reducing anxiety, stressors, and toxic environments. This scholarship will help to relieve some of the financial burdens of education. I have a single mother and six siblings. I do not want my family to worry about my financial situation, so I have been paying for college by myself. I have been working throughout college. Receiving this scholarship will give me more time to focus on schooling rather than earning money to pay for college. Thank you so much for your consideration for this scholarship.

My greatest achievement is going to the state competition for bowling. I joined the girl's bowling team during my freshman year of high school after I had a knee injury that prevented me from playing basketball that year. It actually wasn't even a team because it was not an official school sport. Meaning we had to pay for our equipment/competition fees and find our own transportation to the bowling lanes. Also, there was only one coach for both the girl's and boys' teams. Other schools' bowling teams had matching equipment, uniforms, vans, JV teams, and multiple coaches per team. My plan was to be on the bowling team for one season to help ease myself into sports and try out for our school's very good basketball team my sophomore year. I ended up falling in love with bowling and being a natural. The problem was we did not have a big enough team, so we had to take a 0 for the players we were short. We went into every game and tournament knowing we were going to lose, but I always had a blast. It was the best team I had ever been on. I continued to play on the bowling team until my senior year. In my senior year, we finally had enough girls on the team and a shot at winning competitions. The problem was 80% of the team were new players and did not know anything about bowling. We still only had one coach, but he never spent much time with the girl's team. He did not think we had a chance to win, but he thought the boy's team did. That year I was team captain and I was determined to prove my coach wrong. The other returning members and I coached the newbies the best we could. I even took some of the girls bowling on the weekend for extra practice. I made sure we all carpooled together to competitions for extra team bonding, not that we needed any because we were already becoming best friends. Our team's average nearly doubled by the end of the season. We won nearly all of our games. I genuinely think we won because even though we were the smallest team we were the loudest cheering everyone on. That year we won the regional competition and were able to move on to the state competition. We were the only team at my high school to win regionals and go to states that year. They recognized our accomplishments and officially made the bowling team a part of the athletic program. Even though we did not win states, I am so proud of the team. I learned so much through this experience. I learned that there will always be people trying to put you down or tell you that you are not enough. I learned the importance of teamwork and finding a community to support you. I learned that winning is not everything. I learned to be a good leader. I learned how to push myself through adversity. I learned that with passion, hard work, and a positive attitude anything is possible. I plan to have many more great achievements in my future starting with furthering my education at Central Michigan University. I am majoring in psychology with a concentration in mental health. I am minoring in Central Michigan's unique leadership program. I hope to use my degree to become a youth or school counselor. I have many other goals outside of schooling and a career. I want to foster teenagers, so they have more opportunities and a good foundation before they become adults. I want to travel to different countries not just to have a vacation, but to immerse myself in a different culture and experience everyday life. I want to have a piece of land to raise animals. I want to rescue dogs from kill shelters. I want to coach sports. I have many goals and my achievements are never going to stop. Most of all I am going to continue to use my passion, work hard, and keep a positive attitude in order to overcome adversity for myself and others.

I plan in making a positive impact through my career. I am going to pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I have always had a passion for helping others. I love getting to know people from all different backgrounds and learning their stories. I support people in every way I can. My family has an extensive history of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have learned how to come alongside them and encourage them through their healing process. Not only have supported others, but I have also needed support from others. During my freshman year, I had a knee injury which made me stop playing sports for a year. I am a three-sport athlete, so it was a very hard time for me. All of my friends played sports, too. So when I was at practices, games, and team bonding we grew apart. Then when I was 15, my dad passed away. The grieving process was very difficult for me. I did not have anyone I could relate to. These experiences have given me a passion for clinical psychology. With my degree, I want to become a youth counselor. I want to support people that normally do not have the support they need. I want to be a person that people can rely on, trust, and have confidence in. Then, I want people to not need me anymore and have a good support group of friends and family. I want to change the suicide rate for people who are dealing with grief or survivor guilt. Over half of grieving people say support from family and friends diminishes after three months even though it takes an average of six years to move forward. And sixty percent of grieving people struggle to find the resources they need to move forward. I want to enact change on these statistics. I also want to use my degree outside of work. I want to volunteer in prisons to help prisoners to reacclimate to life outside of prisons. Also, I want to support veterans transitioning to civilian life. y brother and sister-in-law are both veterans, so I have seen the struggle to reacclimate firsthand. I have a lot of ambitions. I want to change the world by changing the world for the people around me. Then, they can go on a change the world. Getting a master's or doctorate degree in clinical psychology is just the start of my future.

I will pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I have always had a passion for helping others. I love getting to know people from all different backgrounds and learning their stories. I support people in every way I can. My family has an extensive history of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have learned how to come alongside them and encourage them through their healing process. Not only have supported others, but I have also needed support from others. During my freshman year, I had a knee injury which made me stop playing sports for a year. I am a three-sport athlete, so it was a very hard time for me. All of my friends played sports, too. So when I was at practices, games, and team bonding we grew apart. Then when I was 15, my dad passed away. The grieving process was very difficult for me. I did not have anyone I could relate to. These experiences have given me a passion for clinical psychology. With my degree, I want to become a youth counselor. I want to support people that normally do not have the support they need. I want to be a person that people can rely on, trust, and have confidence in. Then, I want people to not need me anymore and have a good support group of friends and family. I want to change the suicide rate for people who are dealing with grief or survivor guilt. Over half of grieving people say support from family and friends diminishes after three months even though it takes an average of six years to move forward. And sixty percent of grieving people struggle to find the resources they need to move forward. I want to enact change on these statistics. I also want to use my degree outside of work. I want to volunteer in prisons to help prisoners to reacclimate to life outside of prisons. Also, I want to support veterans transitioning to civilian life. y brother and sister-in-law are both veterans, so I have seen the struggle to reacclimate first hand. I have a lot of ambitions. I want to change the world by changing the world for the people around me. Then, they can go on a change the world. Getting a master's or doctorate degree in clinical psychology is just the start of my future.

I have faced adversity in my life, but I am not going to let it define my future. I live in a low-income family and I will be a first-generation college student. Growing up in a low-income family limited my opportunities such as participating in clubs/afterschool activities, traveling, and experiencing other cultures. On top of that, my dad was sick and was undergoing an experiential treatment. My parents struggled to keep their business afloat. Then, my mom had a late-term miscarriage. All of this had a strain on my parent's marriage and they got a divorce while I was in middle school. Even though my home life was not amazing, my parents always encouraged me to reach for the stars. They pushed me in my academics and sports. They supported me and pushed me, so I could have more opportunities than they had. During my freshman year, I tore my patellar tendon. I had to stop playing volleyball, basketball, and softball for a year. I became depressed because sports meant a lot to me and all my friends played sports, so I missed out. After a year, I was cleared for physical activity, but I still had to train very hard to return to sports. Basketball and softball were still too intense on my knee, so I started playing bowling, tennis, and volleyball. I worked really hard to return to and surpass my old athletic ability. Then, I got all-conference and went to States. I did not let my injury become the end of my athletic story. During my junior year, my dad passed away. This was a very hard time for me. I struggled with the grieving process. My dad was the person I went to about everything. He was my biggest supporter. He wanted everything for me. To make him proud, I did not let anything stand in my way. I worked during high school, so I could go on a mission trip to Costa Rica. I was able to get out of my small town and experience a new culture. I was also able to save up money for college. I worked really hard on my academics, so I could get into a really good college. I graduated 6th in my class with a 4.089 GPA. I was able to graduate with an associate's degree. I want to continue to make him proud by accomplishing my dreams even if I have to work a little harder to get there. I am going to Central Michigan University to earn a doctoral degree in clinical psychology with a minor in leadership. I want to help others through the adversity that they may be facing. I am excited to meet new people, participate in clubs, and join community service activities. I do not want financial needs to prevent me from accomplishing my dreams.

I want to be an altruistic, bold, empathetic, adventurous, and patient counselor, wife, mother, friend, and innovator.

I have been exposed to and learned about mental health all my life. My mom's side of the family has a history of bipolar disorder. My stepdad has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My sister has anxiety and experiences panic attacks. My sister-in-law has obsessive-compulsive disorder. My brother has post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in the military. Mental health has influenced my relationships with my family. From a young age, I learned how my family handles different situations. Because I was exposed to different ways of thinking, I can now understand and empathize with others. I learned how to help ease the symptoms of my family members. When I hang out with my sister, I plan thoroughly to reduce her stress. When I spend time with my stepdad, I ensure we do something engaging and active. We would play games rather than watch a movie. When I was with my sister-in-law, I respected and followed her rules and patterns. I learned my brother's triggers and avoid them. I took what I learned from my family into my relationship with others. There are simple things that we can do to ease those around us. Also, I learned it is important to ask others about their preferences and tell others about your preferences. This helped me to form deeper connections with others. Also, my family taught me that reaching out for help is essential. Whether it be a family member, friend, doctor, counselor, or mentor, there is help that we can receive. Also, they taught me how to be a safe, non-judgemental person so that others can reach out for support. Also, learning about mental health has limited the number of stereotypes and basis I have regarding mental health. When I was in high school, my dad passed away. I struggled through the grief process. I was able to get help with my mental health by reaching out to others. Many people do not have that opportunity and I want to change that. Mental health is playing a major role in what I want to do in the future. I have been accepted into Central Michigan University to study psychology with a concentration in mental health with a leadership minor. I want to become a youth counselor. A lot of teens do not have the upbringing and support system that I had. I want to be a safe person that teens can reach out to for help. Besides having a job in the mental health sector, I want to advocate for mental health education in other parts of my life. I want to educate families, friends, teachers, employers, and coworkers on how to properly support and walk alongside those that have a mental health disorder. Another passion I have is changing aspects of the prison system. Prisoners who have mental illnesses such as PTSD, addiction, and depression do not receive the help they need. Often this leads to their reincarceration after they are released. I want to help prisoners receive the care they need to return to society in the best condition possible. That way they may not return to their old lifestyle and activities. Overall mental health has had a major impact on my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Hopefully, I will be able to educate others on mental health and then they can educate others.

I have always had a passion for helping those around me. I love being involved in my community. I mentor a child through Kids Hope USA. I pack food for Hand2Hand. I am a part of the Coopersville Area Youth Advisory Council which enacts change in my community. I volunteer in the children's programs at my church. I am involved in many other extracurricular activities. Getting to know the people in my community has inspired me to become a counselor. I am going to pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I want to help the youth in my community. I want to stop the cycle of untreated anxiety and depression in teenagers. I want to prevent teens from growing up and not knowing how to handle their emotions appropriately. I want them to learn how to be the best version of themselves now, so they can have a better life when they get older. Many teens want to reach out for help but do not know how or can not afford to see a counselor. I want to be someone they can always reach out to, so they know they are seen and appreciated. I want to help them reach their goals and to teach them to never give up. Also, I would like to work in a prison to help rehabilitate prisoners. More the half of prisoners return to prison within five years of being released. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. My goal is to rehabilitate prisoners so they do not end up back in prison. Low-level offenders should be able to work on themselves in order to break the cycle of reincarnation. Often times they do not have access to the help they need and all they can turn to is violence, drugs, or gangs. I want to continue to know others around me. I am excited to go to college and learn about the diversity of my peers. I want to continue to stay involved in the community. I want to be an advocate for the underprivileged. I want to travel the world to learn about different cultures. I want to break stereotypes and stigmas surrounding different people groups. Most of all, I want to inspire others to be the change they wish to see in the world. I hope I will be able to change many people's lives so they can change others.

I have been exposed to and learned about mental health all my life. My mom's side of the family has a history of bipolar disorder. My stepdad has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My sister has anxiety and experiences panic attacks. My sister-in-law has obsessive-compulsive disorder. My brother has post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in the military. Mental health has influenced my relationships with my family. From a young age, I learned how my family handles different situations. Because I was exposed to different ways of thinking, I can now understand and empathize with others. I learned how to help ease the symptoms of my family members. When I hang out with my sister, I plan thoroughly to reduce her stress. When I spend time with my stepdad, I ensure we do something engaging and active. We would play games rather than watch a movie. When I was with my sister-in-law, I respected and followed her rules and patterns. I learned my brother's triggers and avoid them. I took what I learned from my family into my relationship with others. There are simple things that we can do to ease those around us. Also, I learned it is important to ask others about their preferences and tell others about your preferences. This helped me to form deeper connections with others. Also, my family taught me that reaching out for help is essential. Whether it be a family member, friend, doctor, counselor, or mentor, there is help that we can receive. Also, they taught me how to be a safe, non-judgemental person so that others can reach out for support. Also, learning about mental health has limited the number of stereotypes and basis I have regarding mental health. When I was in high school, my dad passed away. I struggled through the grief process. I was able to get help with my mental health by reaching out to others. Many people do not have that opportunity and I want to change that. Mental health is playing a major role in what I want to do in the future. I have been accepted into Central Michigan University to study psychology with a concentration in mental health with a leadership minor. I want to become a youth counselor. A lot of teens do not have the upbringing and support system that I had. I want to be a safe person that teens can reach out to for help. Besides having a job in the mental health sector, I want to advocate for mental health education in other parts of my life. I want to educate families, friends, teachers, employers, and coworkers on how to properly support and walk alongside those that have a mental health disorder. Another passion I have is changing aspects of the prison system. Prisoners who have mental illnesses such as PTSD, addiction, and depression do not receive the help they need. Often this leads to their reincarceration after they are released. I want to help prisoners receive the care they need to return to society in the best condition possible. That way they may not return to their old lifestyle and activities. Overall mental health has had a major impact on my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Hopefully, I will be able to educate others on mental health and then they can educate others.

Everyone is unique in their own way. I am unique through my personality. People around me describe me as being patient, laid back, resilient, hard-working, unorganized, empathetic, introverted, and ambitious. I am unique in my interests. I like animals, tennis, painting, bowling, volleyball, movies, board games, baking, and camping. I am also unique through my experiences like community service, knee surgery, team captain, mission trips to Costa Rica, the death of a parent, becoming an aunt, being top of my class, and working. All of these things make me unique. And all of these things give me the passion and ambition I need to give back to my community. I am going to pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I have always had a passion for helping others. I love getting to know people from all different backgrounds and learning their stories. I support people in every way I can. My family has an extensive history of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have learned how to come alongside them and encourage them through their healing process. With my degree, I want to become a youth and grief counselor. I want to support people that normally do not have the support they need. I want to be someone people can rely on, trust, and have confidence in. Then, I want people not to need me anymore and have a good support group of friends and family. I want to change the suicide rate for people who are dealing with grief or survivor guilt. Over half of grieving people say support from family and friends diminishes after three months even though it takes an average of six years to move forward. And sixty percent of grieving people struggle to find the resources they need to move forward. I want to enact change on these statistics. I also want to use my degree outside of work. I want to volunteer in prisons to help prisoners to reacclimate to life outside of prisons. Also, I want to support veterans transitioning to civilian life. I want to be a youth pastor as well. I have a lot of ambitions. I want to change the world by changing the world for the people around me. Then, they can go on a change the world. This is how I will give back to my community.

I will pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I have always had a passion for helping others. I love getting to know people from all different backgrounds and learning their stories. I support people in every way I can. My family has an extensive history of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have learned how to come alongside them and encourage them through their healing process. Not only have supported others, but I have also needed support from others. During my freshman year, I had a knee injury which made me stop playing sports for a year. I am a three-sport athlete, so it was a very hard time for me. All of my friends played sports, too. So when I was at practices, games, and team bonding we grew apart. Then when I was 15, my dad passed away. The grieving process was very difficult for me. I did not have anyone I could relate to. These experiences have given me a passion for clinical psychology. With my degree, I want to become a youth counselor. I want to support people that normally do not have the support they need. I want to be a person that people can rely on, trust, and have confidence in. Then, I want people to not need me anymore and have a good support group of friends and family. I want to change the suicide rate for people who are dealing with grief or survivor guilt. Over half of grieving people say support from family and friends diminishes after three months even though it takes an average of six years to move forward. And sixty percent of grieving people struggle to find the resources they need to move forward. I want to enact change on these statistics. I also want to use my degree outside of work. I want to volunteer in prisons to help prisoners to reacclimate to life outside of prisons. Also, I want to support veterans transitioning to civilian life. I want to be a youth pastor as well. I have a lot of ambitions. I want to change the world by changing the world for the people around me. Then, they can go on a change the world. Getting a master's or doctorate degree in clinical psychology is just the start of my future.

What does servant leadership mean to me? Servant leaders are not the typical leaders who boss people around, are the face of an idea, and only look for results. Servant leaders are the people behind the scenes. Without them, the whole operation would fall apart. They are strong listeners, empathetic, and able to predict needs. They are humble, reliable, and kind. I try to show the attributes in all aspects of my life. I am involved in many extracurricular activities. I love to work with kids. I am a leader of worship on Wednesdays, vacation bible school, church nursery, kids fest, and kids' hope. When I work with kids, servant leadership looks like being a reliable adult. I guide kids through any struggles they are facing. And I celebrate with them when they accomplish something new. I have played sports all my life as well. Up until freshman year, I played volleyball, basketball, and softball. Then I had a knee injury, so I switched to playing volleyball, bowling, and tennis. I was the captain of the bowling and tennis teams. I asked my teammates why they chose me to be captain. They said I am encouraging, positive, and uplifting. Also, they said I made an effort to get to know all of them. This allowed me to learn how I could come alongside them and support them. I am the vice president of the Coopersville Area Youth Advisory Committee (CAYAC). We give out grants to nonprofits that support youth in the community. Also, we volunteer for various groups as well. I use my leadership skill in this group by being a good listener, advocate, and problem-solving. Being the vice president, I also have the opportunity to grow the future leaders of the group. I show servant leadership when I am at home too. I always help out around the house and help take care of the animals. I watch my nieces and nephews whenever my siblings need a break. I help take care of my sister when she has surgery. I am a mediator when conflicts arise. I always am there for my family and support them. Being a servant leader has taught me a lot. It has taught me to be more relational and understanding with people. It has inspired me to pursue a degree in clinical psychology. I want to continue to be a servant leader until the day I die. But until then, I also want to teach others to do the same.

I have been exposed to and learned about mental health all my life. My mom's side of the family has a history of bipolar disorder. My stepdad has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. My sister has anxiety and experiences panic attacks. My sister-in-law has obsessive-compulsive disorder. My brother has post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in the military. Mental health has influenced my relationships with my family. From a young age, I learned how my family handles different situations. Because I was exposed to different ways of thinking, I can now understand and empathize with others. I learned how to help ease the symptoms of my family members. When I hang out with my sister, I plan thoroughly to reduce her stress. When I spend time with my stepdad, I ensure we do something engaging and active. We would play games rather than watch a movie. When I was with my sister-in-law, I respected and followed her rules and patterns. I learned my brother's triggers and avoid them. I took what I learned from my family into my relationship with others. There are simple things that we can do to ease those around us. Also, I learned it is important to ask others about their preferences and tell others about your preferences. This helped me to form deeper connections with others. Also, my family taught me that reaching out for help is essential. Whether it be a family member, friend, doctor, counselor, or mentor, there is help that we can receive. Also, they taught me how to be a safe, non-judgemental person that others can reach out to for support. Also, learning about mental health has limited the amount to stereotypes and basis I have regarding mental health. Mental health is playing a major role in what I want to do in the future. I have gotten into Central Michigan University to study psychology with a concentration in mental health with a leadership minor. I want to become a youth counselor. A lot of teens do not have the upbringing and support system that I had. I want to be a safe person that teens can reach out to for help. Besides having a job in the mental health sector, I want to advocate for mental health education in other parts of my life. I want to educate families, friends, teachers, employers, and coworkers on how to properly support and walk alongside those that have a mental health disorder. Another passion I have is changing aspects of the prison system. Prisoners who have mental illnesses such as PTSD, addiction, and depression do not receive the help they need. Often this leads to their reincarceration after they are released. I want to help prisoners receive the care they need to return to society in the best condition possible. That way they may not return to their old lifestyle and activities. Overall mental health has had a major impact on my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. Hopefully, I am able to education others on mental health and then they can educate others.

I love being involved in my community. My community has done so much for me that I try to give back whenever I can. When I was younger, I loved going to community-hosted events. I enjoyed going to parades, family nights, sports games, trick-or-treating, and other festivities. They bring the community together, improve town identity, improve community mental health, and it is fun. To keep these events going, I try to help out wherever I can. I do a trunk for trunk or treat. I do floats for the parades. I paint faces after the Christmas parade. I do a game tent for kids' fest. I help out in the concession stands. I love to do these because it makes me feel like I belong to the community. I can provide that same feeling to others. Also, It is fun to participate in community events. Growing up, I loved participating in church activities. It was a place I felt like I belonged. Now I am a leader of Worship on Wednesdays (WOW). WOW is for pre-schoolers through fifth graders. We teach them about Jesus, play games, and teach them how to show the love of Christ to others. It allows kids to connect with other Christian children. It also proved a safe space for kids to go to after school. The teens and adults that lead WOW are mentors to many of the kids. The kids are able to reach out to us whenever they need something. Also, I decorate, organize, and lead portions of Vacation Bible School (VBS). VBS provides dinner, fun, and Jesus during the summer. I volunteer for the nursery that takes place during the church service as well. My church community has done so much for me. They support, love, and welcome me. I volunteer for my church because I want to help provide a welcoming, loving, supportive place that future generations can turn to like I did. I am the vice president of a group called the Coopersville Area Youth Advisory Committee (CAYAC). Our motto is For Good Forever. That is because we collect money and use the interest to provide grants to non-profits. Donors' money is for good forever because it is not touched by us and it can keep building interest. We grant the money to organizations such as Girls on the Run, the robotics team, the Coopersville Public Library, NEO Forum, the Rec department, and the Autism Family network. This group is a way I can inspire others to give back to the community. I think it is important to provide support to the emotional needs of my community, but physical needs are important too. I volunteer with Hand2Hand, Pack it Up, and Feed America Food Truck to distribute food to those in need. These organizations provide food for over 200 families in my community. It is important to help our neighbors out. If you can't provide for the need directly, the least your can do is give your time to help those around you. I plan to continue to be an active member of my community wherever I go. In the future, I plan to do it through my career. I want to become a clinical psychologist to help the members of my community.

I have always had a passion for helping those around me. I love being involved in my community. I mentor a child through Kids Hope USA. I pack food for Hand2Hand. I am a part of the Coopersville Area Youth Advisory Council which enacts change in my community. I volunteer in the children's programs at my church. I am involved in many other extracurricular activities. Getting to know the people in my community has inspired me to become a counselor. I am going to pursue a degree in clinical psychology at Central Michigan University. I want to help the youth in my community. I want to stop the cycle of untreated anxiety and depression in teenagers. I want to prevent teens from growing up and not knowing how to handle their emotions appropriately. I want them to learn how to be the best version of themselves now, so they can have a better life when they get older. Many teens want to reach out for help, but do not know how or can not afford to see a counselor. I want to be someone they can always reach out to, so they know they are seen and appreciated. I want to help them reach their goals and to teach them to never give up. Also, I would like to work in a prison to help rehabilitate prisoners. More the half of prisoners return to prison within five years of being released. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. My goal is to rehabilitate prisoners so they do not end up back in prison. Low-level offenders should be able to work on themselves in order to break the cycle of reincarnation. Often times they do not have access to the help they need and all they can turn to is violence, drugs, or gangs. I want to continue to know others around me. I am excited to go to college and learn about the diversity of my peers. I want to continue to stay involved in the community. I want to be an advocate for the underprivileged. I want to travel the world to learn about different cultures. I want to break stereotypes and stigmas surrounding different people groups. Most of all, I want to inspire others to be the change they wish to see in the world. I hope I will be able to change many people's lives so they can change others.

Since I started looking at and applying for scholarships, I have learned a lot. There are a lot of scholarships out there. Some are specific to certain interests like art, science, and business. Other scholarships are for first-generation students or transfer students. There are scholarships from businesses, community foundations, individual donors, and other organizations. Others require well-thought-out essays about a certain topic. Some just require an email and a simple click to apply. No matter who you are, you can find a scholarship for you. Also, I have learned to look at due dates. Each scholarship has a different due date. I have saved scholarships to apply to later. Then, I go to apply and come to find out the due date has already passed. Now, I sort the scholarships by due dates so I know which ones have priority. Another thing I have learned from applying for scholarships is to be myself. I answer all the questions honestly and put myself out there. Overall I have had a lot of fun applying for scholarships and I hope a lot of other people do, too.

I am a senior at Coopersville High School. I am taking classes at Muskegon Community College to get a head start on my college degree. I aim to get a master's or doctoral degree in clinical psychology. I want to work in a school or with youth. Also, I would like to work in a prison. I am a firm believer in prison rehabilitation so that when they get out they can live a better life. I want to help people work through their struggles. I would love to do that by sharing the gospel with them, too. I want to share my story of coming to Christ with others. I have already got early admission to a couple of schools that will help me pursue psychology. I have got a couple of scholarships for my merits, but I have to pay for college myself. Even though I come from a low-income family, I do not want to let money stop me from accomplishing my dream. This scholarship would help me start getting the money I need to get to college.