Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. For many years, I have been inspired to provide a safe and healthy environment for children and work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. My future plans are to engage with children in a clinical setting providing them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. I've always been there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I have used my certification in volunteering and to teach preschool age children during the summertime while attending college pursuing my ultimate goal. As an added experience, my practicum course has me visiting a local high school to provide lessons to all students on resilience, self-awareness, and mental health. It's brought a new outlook on how young adults handle stress and cope with their day-to-day lives. The skills provided to these children have taught me that everyone can benefit from techniques on how to live a healthy and mindful life. I am still working towards earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and am thankful for all the guidance and experiences college has offered. My future goal is to complete my application to graduate school, be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program, and successfully complete the program becoming a Doctor of Psychology. I continue to be passionate about helping young children and I plan to focus on all the ways I can excel in providing mental health strategies to the community. I would like to work in a clinical setting so that I can provide hands on help to those in need. I've seen how much supports help children with special needs. My family never thought that my brother would reach the successes that he's had and I want to make sure others have the same opportunity by providing the resources and help for their success as well.

My decision to pursue a career in mental health stems from experiences at home. I have a younger sibling with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Growing up, I often felt many emotions about his condition but didn’t quite understand all the reasons. My experiences provided me with insight into the pain that brings people to therapy. As I grew older, I sought out classes to learn more about child development and in the process discovered how powerful therapy can be and make someone feel seen and understood without judgment. I now understand the importance of expressing emotions, finding ways to achieving positive healing, and that compassion and humility are essential parts of a therapeutic process. As a future psychologist, I aim to bring empathy and openness to my work. I want to be the kind of provider who listens deeply, validates experiences, and empowers clients to learn about self-reflection, be able to attain healing, and ultimately achieve personal growth. My career interest remains in working with adolescents, and to educate families on ways they can work together to acknowledge their challenges and focus on what they’ve learned to find solutions. If I could make one significant change to today’s mental healthcare system. I’d focus on expanding integrated community-based mental health services that are easily accessible. Having access is important but sometimes only offered in larger cities. By shifting to community-based services that are decentralized, we can have care available closer to where people live. The other important thing to consider is the affordability of getting services. Mental health care is often not covered by insurance. Mental health services could also be integrated into schools, primary care centers, and community organizations for everyone to choose to seek help without the worry of cost. In my opinion teletherapy requires access and personalized care, however, we do need to address inequities in technology, culture and policy. We need to make sure teletherapy feels safe and relevant for each person. There are many benefits of teletherapy such as rural or underserviced areas that would no longer have geographic barriers. Teletherapy would provide services to those with mobility challenges or limited transportation. It would offer flexible scheduling, and most importantly, teletherapy would make it easier for people to maintain consistent care. Some of the challenges of teletherapy include technology, cultural barriers, privacy, and licensing. Some people have limited access or outdated technology and that makes teletherapy for lower-income clients a challenge. Not all teletherapy locations have providers to accommodate diverse languages or dialects. Clinicians find it harder to read nonverbal cues, body language or emotional signals while online. It’s sometimes hard to find privacy in an unsafe home for a safe teletherapy session. Teletherapy laws can restrict care from treating cross-state or internationally patients even if both parties are willing. Some suggestions to help with these challenges can include partnering with community centers and libraries to offer private spaces for teletherapy sessions. Development of platforms that support multilingual interfaces. Advocate for interstate licensing and international telehealth agreements. Push for insurance parity between teletherapy and in-person sessions. Expand features for people with disabilities to include captioning, text-to-speech, and visual aids but always maintaining a human therapeutic relationship.

Winning a scholarship would really help with the rising costs for tuition and college fees. I don't feel that I deserve a scholarship more than others because there's always a chance that other students are suffering with financial debt just as much as I am or even more so. However, the advantage that I feel I have over other students is that I'm actually out there looking for the right opportunities to help me in my journey to succeed and obtain a degree. I won't let that lack of finances deter me from my goals to earn a degree that will allow me to work at my dream job. I will not allow an injury keep me from my dream. I will continue to pursue an education that will allow me to help others and provide mental health care in a positive way. I'm persistent and my passion for Psychology is just a short way from becoming real. I just need a little help to alieve some of the ever increasing costs to get there.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I would like to share a part of me with you. As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell, and when accidents concerning grandma continued, I became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Grandma had a lot of pride and didn’t want us taking over her life but eventually, she had no choice. Her condition worsened and led to us visiting more often and having to make sure she had everything she needed for the week including housework and completing her usual cleaning. It was unexpected when Grandma fell again and she required a full hip replacement. I was sad that I couldn’t participate heavily during her recovery because it happened during the middle of the school year but I visited when possible and loved the stories she shared with me. I knew her recovery was more important than trying to entertain me but I also wanted her to know how much we loved her and wanted to help her. That same year, my step-grandfather suddenly died. By that time, we were living in Florida and we had to rush to California to help grandma. It was clear that she would not be able to continue to live alone and without help. So, we worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. I remember when she talked to us about her diagnoses and course of treatment the doctors recommended. Grandmother's needs increased each year and I stepped in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. Helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I had the benefit of participating in community-based programs and learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. My education in psychology was helping me find different ways to be empathetic and respectful not only to grandma but to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I began to learn how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and how the benefits of support can promote a patient’s improved health outcome making a difference in a person’s life. Grandma shared six years living with us before she passed and I have no regrets about being her caregiver. I know she received the best loving care possible as we all helped in one way or another. The best part of my experience promoted and encouraged my educational and career choice to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference. As I near completion of my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I have the courage and passion to continue my advanced education by applying to graduate school to earn a Doctor of Psychology degree Psy.D. I hope to ultimately work with children helping them understand themselves and assist in their mental wellness.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I would like to share a part of me with you. As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell, and when accidents concerning grandma continued, I became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Grandma had a lot of pride and didn’t want us taking over her life but eventually, she had no choice. Her condition worsened and led to us visiting more often and having to make sure she had everything she needed for the week including housework and completing her usual cleaning. It was unexpected when Grandma fell again and she required a full hip replacement. I was sad that I couldn’t participate heavily during her recovery because it happened during the middle of the school year but I visited when possible and loved the stories she shared with me. I knew her recovery was more important than trying to entertain me but I also wanted her to know how much we loved her and wanted to help her. That same year, my step-grandfather suddenly died. By that time, we were living in Florida and we had to rush to California to help grandma. It was clear that she would not be able to continue to live alone and without help. So, we worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. I remember when she talked to us about her diagnoses and course of treatment the doctors recommended. Grandmother's needs increased each year and I stepped in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. Helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I had the benefit of participating in community-based programs and learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. My education in psychology was helping me find different ways to be empathetic and respectful not only to grandma but to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I began to learn how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and how the benefits of support can promote a patient’s improved health outcome making a difference in a person’s life. Grandma shared six years living with us before she passed and I have no regrets about being her caregiver. I know she received the best loving care possible as we all helped in one way or another. The best part of my experience promoted and encouraged my educational and career choice to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength and confidence to make a difference. As I near completion of my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I have the courage and passion to continue my advanced education by applying to graduate school to earn a Doctor of Psychology degree Psy.D. I hope to ultimately work with children helping them understand themselves and assist in their mental wellness.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how Ms. Lacayo inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but I realized that I want to be able to make a positive impact on children’s lives. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. During high school I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I used it to teach preschool age children during summertime which helped with some college expenses. The summer prior to beginning college I sustained a serious injury; I prayed that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. With support from my family, I concentrated on my injury and recovery. It was humbling to begin college wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay getting involved and making new connections. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance and I now have it. I am continuing forward with my education aspiring to complete my Bachelor of Science in Psychology and work towards my advanced degree PsyD Doctor of Psychology. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and I believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges. Achieving my educational goals will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

Many people inspired me during my former years in school. However, someone who had a great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities was key in my pursuit for additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and this summer I used it to teach preschool age children fostering a warm and welcoming environment to nurture and inspire youth. I'm now back to college full time and I'm working to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. My ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion of working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others. Being awarded any scholarship will help alleviate the continued rising costs for tuition and books and help me get that much closer to my dreams.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment for children, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grows encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an Early Childhood Professional certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families and I’ve used it to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. Achieving this goal will allow me to follow my passion working with children, making a difference in the world and continuing to help others.

My name is Miranda and would like to share the excitement I had when I discovered I had been accepted at four of the five colleges I applied to. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying at every turn was all worth it. I am not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I believe that what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are invaluable and have helped in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. Although, I diligently work to achieve success, I have experienced a few roadblocks in my life. The first was when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery. For three years I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest and had enormous limitations. In Spring 2023, the bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I felt blessed not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. I looked forward to completing high school and moving on to college. All my dreams were falling into place until the day I sustained a serious injury and couldn’t move my legs. I prayed that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This was the second time in my life where I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. One of which was if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. With support from my family, I concentrated on my injury and spent the summer recovering. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance. I can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because thanks to my courage and faith I have that second chance to move forward with my education, and follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin college wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. I have a passion for working with children and I want to make a difference in the world. I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion, medical skills, and techniques to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges.

For four years, I was inspired on how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. I've always been there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. As a Doctor of Psychology I plan to work with young children to help them with mental health conditions. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, build productive relationships, manage operations, maintain professionalism, observe and record children’s behavior, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, social and emotional growth, and overall child development. I learned how to be empathetic, respectful, and the benefits of using psychological and emotional support to achieve improved health outcomes. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, and social and emotional growth. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

A great influence on me during high school was Ashley Lacayo. She was one of my early childhood education instructors. For four years, she inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, build productive relationships, manage operations, maintain professionalism, observe and record children’s behavior, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, social and emotional growth, and overall child development. I learned how to be empathetic, respectful, and the benefits of using psychological and emotional support to achieve improved health outcomes. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life was showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on children’s lives. I plan to give them encouragement and watch their excitement when they go to school and learn new things. Early childhood education had a great impact on my life and allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Through the years, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities mostly because of my younger brother. I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him and watching his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I’m currently using my certification to teach preschool age children along with attending college full time. I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and my ultimate goal is to be accepted into a Psy.D. graduate program to become a Doctor of Psychology. When possible, I volunteer in my community and I continue to learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

My name is Miranda Thomas and I was born with a birth defect that is rare for females. At age 14 my condition worsened requiring that I undergo major thoracic surgery. I agreed that a three-year commitment to having a bar inside my chest, being immobile for months, and not being able to participate in athletics was a worthwhile setback, and I had the courage to move forward making adjustments and finding activities to keep my mind engaged. When my bar removal surgery day arrived, I was exhilarated to be told that the years of commitment to the procedure was worth it because the bar corrected my deformity enough that I will not have future worries. I was proud of myself for having the courage to get through this challenge in life, and my plan to get back on track was my first priority. My recovery was much easier and I gradually began exploring new activities. I felt on top of the world for three months until I unexpectedly sustained an injury. Doctors informed me that my injuries included an L4 spinal fracture. My emotions were elevated beyond explanation. This of all things was the most serious lifetime setback I experienced. My doctors advised me to cancel all my summer plans and fully concentrate on my recovery. I was upset about how I was going to accomplish my goals to attend college but my doctor told me that I could attend in the fall as long as I wore the back brace and followed the restrictions at all times. It was humbling to begin college wearing a back brace but it didn’t deter me from engaging in new clubs, making new friends and pushing forward to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I’m a strong and determined person and I will not let anything stop me from pursuing my dreams. I’ve learned not to be afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I’ve acquired many skills that I recognize as invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. Through all of this, I continue to volunteer at youth events providing support and guidance and increasing self-esteem while building meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. The steps to successfully overcome my challenges have been tough but I feel it’s helped prepare me for other challenges that may lie ahead. I remain motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I aspire to be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions so people can achieve an overall healthy outcome. My future goal is to become a Doctor of Psychology PsyD with concentration in working with children. This scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial burden college presents and will help me reach my educational goals.

Hello, my name is Miranda and my family has taught me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition from a birth defect. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. Extracurricular activities allow me to explore, develop and show my leadership abilities. One particular area of interest I’d like to share is my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others. I thrive while working with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a volunteer at St. Paul Preschool and the Broward Southwest Regional Library, I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. The skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I continue on my college journey, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming a Doctor of Psychology who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Helping people, improving lives for people who are struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions is a goal of mine. The benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome is endless and I look forward to being able to reach my goal to help provide a high quality of health care to those in need. This scholarship will help me with part of my financial burden that it takes to reach my goals.

My name is Miranda and would like to share the excitement I had when I discovered I had been accepted at four of the five colleges I applied to. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying at every turn was all worth it. I am not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I believe that what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are invaluable and have helped in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. Although, I diligently work to achieve success, I have experienced a few roadblocks in my life. The first was when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery. For three years I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest and had enormous limitations. In Spring 2023, the bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I felt blessed not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. I looked forward to completing the last three months of my senior year and moving on to college. All my dreams were falling into place until one awful day when I was injured in an accident and couldn’t move my legs. I prayed and had faith that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This was the second time in my life where I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. I didn’t know if I would be able to attend college or have the educational opportunities I dreamed about. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. With support from my family and friends, I concentrated on my injury and spent the summer recovering. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance. I can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because thanks to my courage and faith I have a second chance to live, a second chance to move forward with my education, and a second chance to follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin my college adventure wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and ultimately specialize in Pediatric Psychiatry. I have a passion for working with children and I want to make a difference in the world. I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion, medical skills, and techniques to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges.

My name is Miranda and it’s my pleasure to tell you about how exciting it was when I began receiving acceptance notices from colleges. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying was all worth it. I’m blessed to have parents that help guide and support me. They’ve taught me not to be afraid of challenges which has encouraged me to continue to look for ways to grow and improve myself. My mother has been the most influential in my life. She is comforting, understanding, persistent, and always has a way of making everything seem not so extreme. I experienced the first medical challenge when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery and for three years, I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest. Last spring my bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I was ecstatic not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. All my dreams were falling into place until one awful day when I was injured in an accident and couldn’t move my legs. I had faith that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This is the second time in my life that I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve but as always, my mother was there to help me through this trauma. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. I didn’t know if I would be able to attend college or have the educational opportunities I dreamed about. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. Thanks to my mother’s reassurances I remained steadfast in wearing the brace, completing physical therapy to strengthen my core, and remained positive. I realize how fortunate I am and can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Thanks to my determination, strength and courage I have a second chance to live, a second chance to move forward with my education, and a second chance to follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin my college adventure wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and ultimately specialize in Pediatric Psychiatry. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’ll always have a spinal fracture but I’ve been released by my doctor to resume my endeavors with caution. This experience has had an immense impact on me and increased my aspirations to make a difference in the world and make a positive impact on people’s lives. My dream of working with children can be reached and I’m motivated to be a compassionate professional with medical skills and techniques to help others. I’ve triumphed this far and the only other obstacle is needing help to ease my financial burden. This scholarship will help me reach my educational goal to move forward on my pathway toward a profession in helping others.

As I begin my college adventure, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody that had a part in helping me along the way. I acknowledge that I’m no longer a child but a young adult who recognizes that I could not have achieved my successes, thus far, without the help of my family, instructors, and friends. It’s amazing how parents love you and care for you regardless of your circumstance. After I was born, I developed a rare condition that didn’t become serious until my preteen years. I was constantly monitored by my pediatrician, cardiologist, and pulmonologist until my condition required action. That’s when a titanium bar was surgically placed inside my chest to relieve the pressure on my heart and lungs. After the surgery, I was limited in performing any physical activities and had many limitations. For several months, I couldn’t even accomplish the simplest of daily tasks on my own. My family made sure I didn’t fall behind in my educational pursuits while still having time to participate in activities with my friends. I’ve been raised to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and my family doesn’t stand for anything less. They’ve helped built my confidence, making me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and provided a safe environment to experience life and thrive. Helping within the community is important and I'm involved in various community service projects. Not only have I accumulated over 530 hours of service hours, but my extracurricular involvement has taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. A passion of mine is working with children and one thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I earned my Early Childhood Professional Certificate Professional Recognition from the State of Florida and worked with children at the preschool inside my high school to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In 2022, my family encouraged me to apply to the NSU Medical Immersion Programs. I was accepted and was awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program; in addition to the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program. I also became American Heart Association trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. My volunteer work includes participation at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I’ve held leadership positions as a student teacher and camp counselor to preschool-age children. I also held a leadership position as a TAB’s board member and library youth department volunteer planning and making preparations for community activities. I have immense gratitude for all the supports I have because it’s a benefit that allows me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream. This, in part, is what has made me resilient and allows me to succeed. I’m passionate about pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology to gain knowledge, technique, and apply all learned and developed skills to help improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives, especially those struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I strive to make a difference in the world and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.

I’m a young lady with the honor of growing up and learning about different backgrounds and am grateful for how my upbringing has been beneficial, informational, and rewarding. I have immense gratitude for the different traditions that come from my family. Being exposed to a variety of culture has been fun, not only teaching me the importance of good character, but to have integrity, be a good role model, have compassion, and to portray outstanding leadership skills. Knowing about my ancestors, family hardships and successes inspires me to take my future seriously and work hard to achieve my dreams. My career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in classes that would get me closer to my educational goals including studying Early Childhood Education where I became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. Since my high school offered extracurricular involvement, I became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases and promote blood donation opportunities. As a member of the Psychology club we discuss psychological foundations, theories, and analyze areas related to the brain. As my final high school year approached, I wanted to explore more about my passion. That’s when I was accepted and attended the Nova Southeastern University Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs to have a more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. Completing these programs included training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and build meaningful relationships. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that my experiences and accomplishments will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college journey, I remain steadfast about my education and aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and pursue an advanced education to earn a Doctor of Medicine with a specialty in Pediatric Psychiatry. Looking ahead to ten years from now, I see myself reaching my dream of being a medical professional with knowledge and technique, who will apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that medicine and psychological support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me fulfill my dreams and reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I was very excited when I discovered that I was accepted to four of the five colleges that I applied to for college. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying at every turn was all worth it. I am not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I believe that what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are invaluable and have helped in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I experienced my first roadblock in my life when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery. For three years I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest and had enormous limitations. In Spring 2023, my bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I felt blessed not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. I looked forward to completing the last three months of my senior year and moving on to college. All my dreams were falling into place until one awful day when I was injured in an accident and couldn’t move my legs. I prayed and had faith that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This is the second time in my life that I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. I didn’t know if I would be able to attend college or have the educational opportunities I dreamed about. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. With support from my family and friends, I concentrated on my injury and spent the summer recovering. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core and await the doctor’s final evaluation of the healing position of my spine. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance. I can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because thanks to my courage and strength I have a second chance to live, a second chance to move forward with my education, and a second chance to follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin my college adventure wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and ultimately specialize in Pediatric Psychiatry. I have a passion for working with children and I aspire to make a difference in the world. I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion, medical skills, and techniques to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges and achievements.

My name is Miranda and would like to share a little bit about me and my future goals. I was very excited when I discovered I was accepted to four of the five colleges that I applied to. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying at every turn was all worth it. I am not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I believe that what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are invaluable and have helped in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I experienced a setback from my goals when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery. For three years I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest and had enormous limitations. In Spring 2023, my bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I felt blessed not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. I looked forward to completing the last three months of my senior year and moving on to college. All my dreams were falling into place until one awful day when I was injured in an accident and couldn’t move my legs. I prayed that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This is the second time in my life that I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. I didn’t know if I would be able to attend college or have the educational opportunities I dreamed about. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. With support from my family, friends, and church, I concentrated on my injury and spent the summer recovering. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core and achieve a positive healing position on my spine. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance. I can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because thanks to my courage and faith I have a second chance to live, a second chance to move forward with my education, and a second chance to follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin my college adventure wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and ultimately specialize in Pediatric Psychiatry. I have a passion for working with children and I aspire to make a difference in the world. I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion, medical skills, and techniques to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges and achievements. This scholarship will help me with the some of the financial part of reaching my goal.

My name is Miranda and would like to share with you how I triumphed. I was very excited when I discovered I was accepted to four of the five colleges that I applied to. The hard work I put into my education, working, volunteering, and studying at every turn was all worth it. I am not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. I believe that what I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are invaluable and have helped in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I experienced my first roadblock in my life when I was told about a birth defect that required me to have thoracic surgery. For three years I lived with a titanium bar inside my chest and had enormous limitations. In Spring 2023 the bar removal surgery was scheduled. I prayed for a successful outcome and when I was told about correction success, I felt blessed not to have to worry about future complications. I learned a great deal from this experience and was happy that my life was back on track. I looked forward to completing the last three months of my senior year and moving on to college. All my dreams were falling into place until one awful day when I was injured in an accident and couldn’t move my legs. I prayed and had faith that I could recover after being told that I had an L-4 spinal fracture. This is the second time in my life that I felt I was going to lose everything that I had worked so hard to achieve. I left the hospital wearing a back brace along with a lot of unanswered questions about my condition and my future. I didn’t know if I would be able to attend college or have the educational opportunities I dreamed about. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could heal correctly to avoid spine surgery. With support from my family, friends, and church, I concentrated on my injury and spent the summer recovering. I remained steadfast in wearing the back brace and completing physical therapy to strengthen my core and await the doctor’s final evaluation of the healing position of my spine. I am a determined person; however, I realize how fortunate I am to have a second chance. I can connect with the proverb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” because thanks to my courage and faith I have a second chance to live, a second chance to move forward with my education, and a second chance to follow my dreams to help others. It was humbling to begin my college adventure wearing a back brace but I kept my chin up and didn’t delay in getting involved and making new connections. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and ultimately specialize in Pediatric Psychiatry. I have a passion for working with children and I aspire to make a difference in the world. I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion, medical skills, and techniques to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, explore, and grow. I’m motivated to succeed and believe my experiences along with my unwavering faith will help me be better prepared for future challenges and achievements.

Now that I have begun my college adventure, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody who had a part in helping me along the way. I acknowledge that I’m no longer a child but a young adult and can recognize that I could not have achieved my successes, thus far, without the help of my family, instructors, and friends. I’ve been raised to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and my family doesn’t stand for anything less. They built my confidence, made me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and provided a safe environment to experience life and thrive. My career dreams began in third grade when my teacher asked each student to talk about what job we wanted to have after completing school. I was excited when it was my turn and I happily shared that I wanted to become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking Early Childhood Education classes that had a great impact on my life. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but one thing about working with them is that they never fail to make me smile. For four years, every morning I would walk into a classroom filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. I earned my Early Childhood Professional Certificate Professional Recognition from the State of Florida and worked with children at the preschool at my high school to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In 2022, my family encouraged me to apply to the NSU Medical Immersion Programs. I was accepted and was awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program; in addition to the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program. I became American Heart Association trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. My volunteer work includes participation at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I’ve held leadership positions as a student teacher and camp counselor to preschool-age children. I also held a leadership position as a TAB’s board member and library youth department volunteer planning and making preparations for community activities. I have immense gratitude for my family's support because they have provided me with benefits that allow me to dream and they have guided me in the right direction to make my dreams a reality. I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology to help improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives, especially those struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. My future goal is to apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I strive to make a difference in the world and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.

As I embark on my college adventure, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody who had a part in helping me along the way. I acknowledge that I’m no longer a child but a young adult who recognizes that I could not have achieved my successes, thus far, without the help of my family, instructors, and friends. It’s amazing how parents love you and care for you regardless of your circumstances. After I was born, I slowly developed a rare condition that didn’t become serious until my preteen years. I was constantly monitored by my pediatrician, cardiologist, and pulmonologist until my condition required action. That’s when a titanium bar was surgically placed inside my chest to relieve the pressure on my heart and lungs. After the surgery, I was incapable of any physical activities and had many limitations. For several months, I was in intense pain and couldn’t accomplish the simplest of tasks on my own. My family made sure I didn’t fall behind in my educational pursuits while still having time to participate in activities with my friends. I’ve been raised to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and my family doesn’t stand for anything less. They’ve built my confidence, made me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and provided a safe environment to experience life and thrive. We believe that helping within the community is important and we are highly involved in volunteer service. Not only have I accumulated over 550 hours of service hours, but my extracurricular involvement has taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. A passion of mine is working with children and one thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I earned my Early Childhood Professional Certificate Professional Recognition from the State of Florida and worked with children at the preschool inside my high school to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In 2022, my family encouraged me to apply to the NSU Medical Immersion Programs. I was accepted and was awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program; in addition to the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program. I also became American Heart Association trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. My volunteer work includes participation at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I’ve held leadership positions as a student teacher and camp counselor to preschool-age children. I also held a leadership position as a TAB’s board member and library youth department volunteer planning and making preparations for community activities. I have immense gratitude for my family's support because as someone who has experienced mental health issues, it’s a benefit that allowed me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream. This is what has made me resilient and allowed me to succeed. It’s been what has inspired me the most to pursue a bachelor of science degree in psychology to gain knowledge, technique, and skills to help improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives, especially those struggling, with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I strive to make a difference in the world and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to my home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture on my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. I’ve had many challenges including struggling financially, and that’s why this scholarship would make a big difference to help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and am passionate about working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement allowing me to become a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) where I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be selected to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to my home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture on my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. I’ve had many challenges including struggling financially, and that’s why this scholarship would make a big difference to help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and am passionate about working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement allowing me to become a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) where I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be selected to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to my home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture on my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. I’ve had many challenges including struggling financially, and that’s why this scholarship would make a big difference to help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and am passionate about working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement allowing me to become a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) where I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be selected to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life. Some include thoracic surgery to correct a birth defect and an accident that left me with an L-4 spinal fracture. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. This will be accomplished by providing medical and psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream, and it's my honor to inform you that I am a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology, then apply to medical school and ultimately specialize in pediatric psychiatry. I'm motivated to succeed so seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that can be applied towards my financial burden and help me along the way to success. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody who had a part in helping me to this point in life. The person who inspires me the most is my mother because of all the sacrifices she’s made for my well-being and success. My mother is my primary caregiver and has raised me to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and she doesn’t stand for anything less. She built my confidence and made me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and providing a safe environment to experience life. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. The attentiveness, understanding, compassion and sacrifices provided by my mother over the years are admirable. She made sure I didn’t fall behind in my educational pursuits while still having time to participate in activities with my friends. I remain grateful for her support and guidance, and that she made sure I got back on the right track. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. This will be accomplished by providing psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream, and it's my honor to inform you that I am a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I'm motivated to succeed so seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that can be applied towards my financial burden and help me along the way to success. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and with the support of my family, my career dreams began in third grade when I was asked what job I wanted to have after completing school. I happily shared that I want to work with children and become a pediatric doctor. Through elementary and secondary school, educators provided pathways allowing me to develop, grow, explore, and learn. I enrolled in science and anatomy classes and took advanced placement classes that would get me closer to my goal. While in high school I enjoyed taking psychology courses and participating in the psychology club. I’ve had my fair share of roadblocks getting to this part of my life and college journey. Some include unexpected water damage to our home, surgery to correct my birth defect, and an accident that left me with an L-4 fracture in my spine. I remain grateful to everyone who has supported me, helped guide me, and made sure I got back on the right track. Seeking donors has been an avenue in finding opportunities to share my experiences in the hopes of becoming a recipient of a wonderful gift that will make a difference in my financial burden and help me along the way to success. I enjoy volunteering and working with children to motivate and inspire them in different capacities, including providing support and guidance, helping to increase their self-esteem, and building meaningful relationships. I studied early childhood education, became a student teacher working with preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development, and earned the Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida. My high school offered a variety of extracurricular involvement, and I also became a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) attending medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In addition, during the summer of 2022, I was lucky to be chosen to experience the Aim High and Aim Higher Summer Programs at NSU and learn about a variety of medical fields and medical technology. It's my honor to inform you that I am now a freshman student at Nova Southeastern University. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology and apply to medical school ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry. I remain determined to make a positive impact in the world. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired thus far have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career, and extracurricular pursuits. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As a realist, I know there are many other outstanding students out there, however, I see myself reaching my dream of becoming someone with compassion and technique, who will apply medical skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives and provide psychological support to achieve a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach my goal of making a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and I’m a student in the School of Psychology program at Nova Southeastern University. I’m a strong person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure was worth it. I’ve always taken my future seriously and worked hard to achieve academic success. My experience with a birth defect increased my desire to help others and motivated me to be involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore, develop my leadership abilities, and help me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that has helped me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of America Club, I completed service projects and fundraisers to give back to the community and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I aspire to help the younger generation by using psychological knowledge, techniques, and skills to make a positive impact in their lives. I’m determined to be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions reach peace in all facets of their lives. I aspire to help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship means a lot to me because I still have such a long way to go to reach my goal and it can help alleviate some of the financial burden that I still need to fulfill to earn my degree and begin my quest to make a profound effect on society.

My name is Miranda and I’m a student in the School of Psychology program at Nova Southeastern University. I’m a strong person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure was worth it. I’ve always taken my future seriously and worked hard to achieve academic success. My experience with a birth defect increased my desire to help others and motivated me to be involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore, develop my leadership abilities, and help me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that has helped me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of America Club, I completed service projects and fundraisers to give back to the community and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to discuss psychological foundations and explore and analyze areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I aspire to help the younger generation by using psychological knowledge, techniques, and skills to make a positive impact in their lives. I’m determined to be the person to help people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions reach peace in all facets of their lives. I aspire to help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship means a lot to me because I still have such a long way to go to reach my goal and it can help alleviate some of the financial burden that I still need to fulfill to earn my degree and begin my quest to make a profound effect on society.

As I embark on my college adventure, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody who had a part in helping me to this point in life. The person who inspires me the most is my mother because of all the sacrifices she’s made for my well-being and success. I was born with a rare condition that became serious as I reached my preteen years and that’s when my doctors recommended that my condition required action. A titanium bar was surgically placed inside my chest to relieve the pressure on my heart and lungs. After the surgery, I wasn’t permitted to perform physical activities and had many limitations. The attentiveness, understanding, and compassion provided by my mother during those years are admirable. She made sure I didn’t fall behind in my educational pursuits while still having time to participate in activities with my friends. My mother is my primary caregiver and has raised me to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and she doesn’t stand for anything less. She built my confidence and made me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and providing a safe environment to experience life. She believes that helping within the community is important and we are highly involved in volunteer service. My extracurricular involvement has taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. A passion of mine is working with children and one thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I earned my Early Childhood Professional Certificate Recognition from the State of Florida and worked as a student teacher for preschool-age children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In 2022, my mother encouraged me to enroll in the NSU Medical Immersion Programs. I was accepted and awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program. Additionally, I received the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for attending the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program. I also became American Heart Association trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. My volunteer work includes participation at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I’ve held leadership positions as a student teacher and camp counselor to preschool-age children. I also held a leadership position as a TAB’s board member and library youth department volunteer planning and making preparations for community activities. It hasn’t been hard to follow in my mother’s footsteps but without her sacrifices, inspirational talks, support and guidance, I’m sure my life wouldn’t have been as full of direction and opportunity. I have immense gratitude for all the benefits I’ve received that allow me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream. Now that my medical condition has been resolved and isn’t standing in my way, I’m motivated more than ever to pursue a bachelor of science degree in psychology to gain knowledge, technique, and skill to help improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives, especially to those struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I strive to make a difference in the world and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.

As I embark on my college adventure, I’ve taken time to reflect on everything and everybody that had a part in helping me along the way. I acknowledge that I’m no longer a child but a young adult who recognizes that I could not have achieved my successes, thus far, without the help of my family, instructors, and friends. It’s amazing how parents love you and care for you regardless of your circumstance. After I was born, I slowly developed a rare condition that didn’t become serious until my preteen years. I was constantly monitored by my pediatrician, cardiologist, and pulmonologist until my condition required action. That’s when a titanium bar was surgically placed inside my chest to relieve the pressure on my heart and lungs. After the surgery, I was incapable of any physical activities and had many limitations. For several months, I was in intense pain and couldn’t accomplish the simplest of tasks on my own. My family made sure I didn’t fall behind in my educational pursuits while still having time to participate in activities with my friends. I’ve been raised to be independent and responsible. Having integrity, morals, and values is important and my family doesn’t stand for anything less. They’ve built my confidence, made me a strong young adult by teaching me about the world and provided a safe environment to experience life and thrive. We believe that helping within the community is important and we are highly involved in volunteer service. Not only have I accumulated over 500 hours of service hours, but my extracurricular involvement has taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. A passion of mine is working with children and one thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I earned my Early Childhood Professional Certificate Professional Recognition from the State of Florida and worked with children at the preschool inside my high school to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), I attended medical events to learn specifics about diseases. In 2022, my family encouraged me to apply to the NSU Medical Immersion Programs. I was accepted and was awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program; in addition to the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program. I also became American Heart Association trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. My volunteer work includes participation at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I’ve held leadership positions as a student teacher and camp counselor to preschool-age children. I also held a leadership position as a TAB’s board member and library youth department volunteer planning and making preparations for community activities. I have immense gratitude for my family's support because it’s a benefit that allowed me to develop, grow, explore, learn, and dream. This is what has made me resilient and allowed me to succeed. I’m motivated to pursue a bachelor of science degree in psychology to gain knowledge, technique, and skill to help improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives, especially those struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I strive to make a difference in the world and this scholarship will help me reach that goal.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

As a young lady of immigrants, growing up and learning about different backgrounds has been beneficial, informational, and rewarding. I have immense gratitude for the different cultures and traditions that come from my family. Being exposed to a variety of traditions has been fun, not only teaching me the importance of good character, but to have integrity, being a good role model, having compassion, and portraying outstanding leadership skills. My paternal grandmother is from England where she was raised during the war and had very little. She has pride and has taught me to be strong and strive towards my life goals. My maternal grandmother is from Mexico where she was born and was immediately brought to the United States to work on a farm. She tells me stories of the harsh work they endured and the sacrifices they made. She supports and encourages me to remember the advantages I have because many other children in this world can only dream of the opportunities available to me. Knowing about my ancestor's and family's hardships and successes has been inspiring and convinced me to take my future seriously and work hard to achieve my dreams. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and that has helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate). As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases and I educate people on the benefits of donating blood. I attended the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields and also received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I will pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I've learned the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. Understanding the whys of life is difficult and having the support to pick you up when you’re feeling nervous or sad is something I am grateful for. My mother has been there through my tough years of living with a birth defect, having thoracic surgery, and the years that followed having a titanium bar inside me that prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities. My mother encouraged me to be involved in extracurricular activities and that allowed me to explore and helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. When you have someone who not only loves you but is there to listen to you and help you through the worst and the best times, I can thank God for having them in my life. I’m proud to have a mother who continues to help me grow and who helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of America Club, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and promote blood donation opportunities. I participate in the psychology club exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda, and I am a person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and that helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I lead, motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I love reading books. My first request as a gift for any occasion is always a good book or gift card to Barnes and Noble. Reading has helped teach me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. This scholarship will help me reach these goals.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I've learned the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. Understanding the whys of life is difficult and having the support to pick you up when you’re feeling nervous or sad is something I am grateful for. My mother has been there through my tough years of living with a birth defect, having thoracic surgery, and the years that followed having a titanium bar inside me that prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities. My mother encouraged me to be involved in extracurricular activities and that allowed me to explore and helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. When you have someone who not only loves you but is there to listen to you and help you through the worst and the best times, I can only thank God for having them in my life. I’m proud to have a mother who continues to help me grow and who helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I’ve grown up with parents of different backgrounds. I have immense gratitude for the different cultures and traditions that have come from my family. Being exposed to a variety of traditions has been fun, not only teaching me the importance of good character, but to have integrity, being a good role model, having compassion, and portraying outstanding leadership skills. Having both parents in my life has been beneficial, as many people I know have been raised by a single parent or have shuffled back and forth between parental homes. That alone is one of the biggest factors in how I receive the support needed most to reach my educational goals. Though my father makes time for me, encourages me, and is patient with my tenacious nature, he always has a story about how he handled things when he was my age. However, I would have to say that my mother is who has provided exceptional help for me to reach my educational goals. By teaching me as a baby to the present time she has shown me how to listen, how to understand others and explain things when I don’t understand, and how to use specific techniques to find solutions to a variety of problems. She encourages me, guides me and helps me determine the right course. She’s helped me become a responsible and confident person. She’s taught me to take my future seriously and to work hard to achieve academic success. Understanding the whys of life is difficult and having the support to pick you up when you’re feeling nervous or sad is something I am grateful for. My mother has been there through my tough years of living with a birth defect, having thoracic surgery, and the years that followed having a titanium bar inside me that prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities. My mother encouraged me to be involved in extracurricular activities and that allowed me to explore and helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. When you have someone who not only loves you but is there to listen to you and help you through the worst and the best times, I can only thank God for having them in my life. I’m proud to have a mother who continues to help me grow and who helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I am of Hispanic descent. My family has taught me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I am of Hispanic descent. My family has taught me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I am of Hispanic descent. My family has taught me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I’ve grown up with parents of different backgrounds. I have immense gratitude for the different cultures and traditions that have come from my family. Being exposed to a variety of traditions has been fun, not only teaching me the importance of good character, but to have integrity, being a good role model, having compassion, and portraying outstanding leadership skills. Having both parents in my life has been beneficial, as many people I know have been raised by a single parent or have shuffled back and forth between parental homes. That alone is one of the biggest factors in how I receive the support needed most to reach my educational goals. Though my father makes time for me, encourages me, and is patient with my tenacious nature, he always has a story about how he handled things when he was my age. However, I would have to say that my mother is who has provided exceptional help for me to reach my educational goals. By teaching me as a baby to the present time she has shown me how to listen, how to understand others and explain things when I don’t understand, and how to use specific techniques to find solutions to a variety of problems. She encourages me, guides me and helps me determine the right course. She’s helped me become a responsible and confident person. She’s taught me to take my future seriously and to work hard to achieve academic success. Understanding the whys of life is difficult and having the support to pick you up when you’re feeling nervous or sad is something I am grateful for. My mother has been there through my tough years of living with a birth defect, having thoracic surgery, and the years that followed having a titanium bar inside me that prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities. My mother encouraged me to be involved in extracurricular activities and that allowed me to explore and helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. When you have someone who not only loves you but is there to listen to you and help you through the worst and the best times, I can only thank God for having them in my life. I’m proud to have a mother who continues to help me grow and who helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. An influence on my career interest comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. As a young teenager, I underwent thoracic surgery and have a titanium bar placed inside my chest. Just a few months ago I had the bar removed and I was exhilarated to know that the years of commitment to the procedure were worth it. This life experience inspired me and taught me many lessons. I’ve always taken my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success but I also have a desire to help others. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, it helped me find my passion. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda, and I’m a person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities. This has helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda, and I’m a person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities. This helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda, and I am a person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and that helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I lead, motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As I embark on my college journey, I remain passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

I’m a strong and determined person who has learned the importance of integrity, being a good role model, being compassionate, and showing outstanding leadership skills. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition that is rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I’ve always taken my future seriously and I work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities, and because of my life experience, helped me find my passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in my personal life, academic career and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I earned an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club – HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I’ve been taught the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, and showing outstanding leadership capability. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I’ve been taught the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, and showing outstanding leadership capability. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal to make a profound effect on society.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I am of Hispanic descent. My family has taught me the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, being a responsible person, and showing outstanding leadership abilities. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal.

Hello, my name is Miranda and I’ve been taught the importance of having integrity, being a good role model, and showing outstanding leadership capability. I happily portray these skills to my younger special needs sibling and others within the community. An influence on my interest in healthcare and science comes from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare for females. In an attempt for defect correction, at age fifteen, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. I take my future seriously and work hard to achieve academic success. I’ve been involved in extracurricular activities that allow me to explore and develop my leadership abilities and I have a passion for working with children, child development, and the human brain. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I look for ways to grow and improve myself. Something that helps me develop has been engaging in community service work. What I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired have been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a preschool student-teacher, I learned the principles of child development, and how to work collaboratively with others, and I worked with children to advance their physical and intellectual development. As a result of my hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Development, I received an ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) certification from the Florida Department of Children and Families. As a member of the Health Occupation Students of American Club - HOSA, I completed service projects, and fundraisers to give back to the community, and attended medical awareness events to learn specifics about diseases. I also educate people on the benefits of donating blood and I promote blood donation opportunities on the school campus. HOSA gave me the confidence to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. This is where I received my training and certifications from the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I participate in the psychology club to learn about psychological foundations, exploring and analyzing areas related to the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I motivate and inspire children and families in different capacities. I continue to provide support and guidance, helping others to increase their self-esteem and build meaningful relationships with everyone I work with. I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have helped prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. As I embark on my college adventure, I remain determined and passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I found my niche to be psychology, and I’m motivated to pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be the person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help to improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. After everything I’ve been through, and everything I’ve overcome, I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me reach my goal.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell. I was too young to understand what was going on but as accidents continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago, my grandma had a hip replacement and my step-grandfather suddenly died. She could not live alone any longer and we worked together to move her to Florida. Shortly after moving, Grandma told us she had been diagnosed with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and what the course of treatment would be. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I’ve seen first-hand that helping, even in the smallest ways, supports a person’s well-being. People need caring and educated specialists to help them throughout their lives and I’m grateful that my grandmother has access to those things she needs at this time in her life. My community service has given me confidence and taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America “HOSA,” I participate in community-based events and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. I promote blood donations and schedule donation opportunities on campus during the school year to educate people on the benefits of donating such as anti-cancer benefits, maintaining a healthy heart and liver, blood cell production stimulation, and weight loss. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I work with children and families in different leadership capacities. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned many things about the brain and its development, but something that made an impact on me was to be conscious of people’s feelings and to be empathetic and respectful, especially to the elderly, ill, or people struggling. Working with children and families in the community has helped me realize who I am, who I want to be, and the steps needed to get there. I have potential and have worked hard for my education. I know what is important to me, and I know I will continue to make a difference. My parents assure me that the more I learn and apply my skills, the more likely I am to succeed in helping others, in a career, and life. I’m motivated to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be a professional who applies psychological foundations to people with specific health conditions or special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s lasting health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need. I know that going to college is important because earning a college degree can not only boost my lifetime earnings but it will teach me more and provide a pathway to achieving my professional dreams.

My name is Miranda Thomas and my educational plan is to attend college to earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. Growing up with parents of different backgrounds has been beneficial and fun. Both parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, honor, proper ethics, and responsibility. My Hispanic heritage has been influential in teaching me that no matter your heritage, children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. My heritage from both sides of my family has made me the person I am today. I realize that I want to work with children and make an impact on their lives. What sparked my interest in healthcare and science is my younger special-needs brother. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and assist in positive changes. As my brother grew, he encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I’ve found that volunteering in related areas provides me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has it helped me decide my direction in life, but my brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. Interactions like this and others make me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. To make my dreams a reality, I strive to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” where I joined in service projects, fundraisers, and events to give back to the community and school. I’m also a member in good standing with the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development high school classes to learn about child development, learn to teach preschool children, and have earned over 460 volunteer hours. I completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures on robotic mannequins, learn techniques of suturing, intubation, and learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. My parents assure me that the more I learn and apply my skills, the more likely I am to succeed in helping others, in a career, and life. I’m motivated to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be a professional who applies psychological foundations to people with specific health conditions or special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s lasting health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell. I was too young to understand what was going on but as accidents continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago, not only did grandma have a hip replacement but my step-grandfather suddenly died. It was clear that Grandma would not be able to live alone. We worked together to move her to Florida. Shortly after moving, Grandma told us she had been diagnosed with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and what the course of treatment would be. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I’ve seen first-hand that helping, even in the smallest ways, supports a person’s well-being. This is why I believe that helping others, whether in the community or in your family, is important. My community service has given me confidence and taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. As a member of Health Occupations Students of America “HOSA,” I participate in community-based events and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. I promote blood donations and schedule donation opportunities on campus during the school year to educate people on the benefits of donating such as anti-cancer benefits, maintaining a healthy heart and liver, blood cell production stimulation, and weight loss. I also volunteer at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library where I work with children and families in different capacities. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned many things about the brain and its development, but something that made an impact on me was to be conscious of people’s feelings and to be empathetic and respectful, especially to the elderly, ill, or people struggling. Working with children and families in the community has taught me to be the best caregiver possible. It’s helped me realize who I am, who I want to be, and the steps needed to get there. I have potential and have worked hard for my education. My parents assure me that the more I learn and apply my skills, the more likely I am to succeed in helping others, in a career, and life. I’m motivated to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be a professional who applies psychological foundations to people with specific health conditions or special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s lasting health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship will help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need. I believe if I follow my heart and broaden my outlook, within the next 10 years, I will have achieved a great deal and made an undeniable difference.

I have a condition rare for females called pectus excavatum. For years I was regularly monitored and endured constant X-rays, breathing tests, heart MRIs, ultrasounds, and much more. It was embarrassing to wear a halter monitor to school having every move I made be remotely monitored and evaluated. Trying to change out of regular clothes into a physical education uniform was a challenge. But trying to hide the wires that were attached to me from people was the most difficult. I became very good at hiding my low self-esteem about my body disfigurement. In 2020, my condition developed to a critical stage and my doctors advised that my condition had reached a serious degree. My Haller Index number had increased to over five. Doctors strongly recommended corrective surgery. After careful consideration, I underwent major thoracic surgery for defect correction. This part of my life was the most challenging because I had to trust the surgeon to get it right and not puncture any part of my internal organs while placing the bar inside my chest. I was lucky that everything went well, but I had a long road to recovery. It took months of therapy to achieve a movement level to get around the house or even lay down without pain. An advantage was that school went to online education and I was able to sit comfortably each day, not have to carry around a heavy backpack to each class and my confidence level rose. In 2023, after wearing the bar for three years, I had surgery to remove it. Today, my condition still prevents me from participating in certain sports and other fun activities that most people take for granted. I think with time I’ll have the confidence to attempt participating in sports without loss of breath or pain. This experience taught me how to overcome life challenges, it made me a stronger person and inspired me. It taught me humility and to appreciate those who help me accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. I’m blessed to have gone through this process and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve chosen my educational path. For some time now I’ve seriously thought about who I am, who I want to be, and the steps needed to get there. I have potential and have worked hard for my life and my education. I reflect on what is important to me, and how I can make a difference in today’s world. One thing that I will always remember about what my parents have taught me is the more I learn and apply my skills, the better able I am to succeed in education, a career, and in life. I’m now more motivated than ever to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I can help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship can help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need. I believe if I follow my heart and broaden my outlook, within the next 10 years, I will have achieved a great deal and made an undeniable difference.

I have a condition rare for females. For years I was regularly monitored, I endured constant X-rays, breathing tests, heart MRIs, ultrasounds, and much more. It was quite embarrassing to wear a halter monitor to school having every move I made be remotely monitored and evaluated. Trying to change out of regular clothes into a physical education uniform was a challenge. But trying to hide all the wires that were attached to me from my friends and others was the most difficult because they would judge me without even knowing why it exists. I became very inventive in hiding my low self-esteem about my body disfigurement. However, my condition developed to a critical stage when I reached age fifteen. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, my doctors advised that my condition had reached a degree of concern. My Haller Index number had increased to over five. Doctors strongly recommended corrective surgery. So, in June 2020, I underwent major thoracic surgery for defect correction. I consider this part of my life to be the most challenging because I had to trust the surgeon to get it right and not puncture any part of my internal organs while placing the bar inside my chest. I was lucky that everything went well, but I had a long road to recovery ahead. My condition still prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities that I previously took for granted. It took many months of recovery to achieve a movement level to get around the house without pain or being uncomfortable. An advantage was that school went to online education and I was able to sit comfortably each day, not have to carry around a heavy backpack to each class and my confidence level rose. This experience taught me how to overcome life challenges, it made me a stronger person and inspired me. It taught me humility and to appreciate those who help me accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. In March 2023, after wearing the bar for three years, I had surgery to remove it. I’m blessed to have gone through this process and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve chosen my education path. For some time now I’ve seriously thought about who I am, who I want to be and, the steps needed to get there. I have potential and have worked hard for my life and my education. I reflect on what is important to me, and how I can make a difference in today’s world. One thing that I will always remember about what my parents have taught me is the more I learn and apply my skills, the better able I am to succeed in education, a career, and in life. I’m now more motivated than ever to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I will be that person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I will help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship can help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need. I begin college in Fall 2023, at Nova Southeastern University to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Ultimately, my goal is to attend medical school and work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. As I work through college and push to achieve my dream job of a professional in psychology and medicine, I will apply learned skills to those in need.

I consider myself to be a non-traditional student because of the life-long struggle I’ve endured that is rare for females. For years I was regularly monitored, I endured constant X-rays, breathing tests, heart MRIs, ultrasounds, and much more. It was quite embarrassing to wear a halter monitor to school having every move I made be remotely monitored and evaluated. Trying to change out of regular clothes into a physical education uniform was a challenge. But trying to hide all the wires that were attached to me from my friends and others was the most difficult because they would judge me without even knowing why it exists. I became very inventive in hiding my low self-esteem about my body disfigurement. However, my condition developed to a critical stage when I reached age fifteen. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic, my doctors advised that my condition had reached a degree of concern. My Haller Index number had increased to over five. Doctors strongly recommended corrective surgery. So, in June 2020, I underwent major thoracic surgery for defect correction. I consider this part of my life to be the most challenging because I had to trust the surgeon to get it right and not puncture any part of my internal organs while placing the bar inside my chest. I was lucky that everything went well, but I had a long road to recovery ahead. My condition still prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities that I previously took for granted. It took many months of recovery to achieve a movement level to get around the house without pain or being uncomfortable. An advantage was that school went to online education and I was able to sit comfortably each day, not have to carry around a heavy backpack to each class and my confidence level rose. This experience taught me how to overcome life challenges, it made me a stronger person and inspired me. It taught me humility and to appreciate those who help me accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. In March 2023, after wearing the bar for three years, I had surgery to remove it. I’m blessed to have gone through this process and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve chosen my education path. For some time now I’ve seriously thought about who I am, who I want to be and, the steps needed to get there. I have potential and have worked hard for my life and my education. I reflect on what is important to me, and how I can make a difference in today’s world. One thing that I will always remember about what my parents have taught me is the more I learn and apply my skills, the better able I am to succeed in education, a career, and in life. I’m now more motivated than ever to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming someone who will gain knowledge and technique, and apply skills to improve negative health conditions and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I can be that person to apply psychological foundations to people struggling, those with special needs, and others with incurable conditions. I can help improve lives with the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. I can identify with the need for quality health care and this scholarship can help me pursue an education in psychology and help to close the gap that exists for the community in need.

I struggle with a medical condition rare to females and it reached a critical stage at age fifteen. I endured being regularly monitored, getting x-rays all the time, having breathing tests, heart MRIs, ultrasounds, and much more. It was quite embarrassing to wear a halter monitor to school having every move I make be remotely monitored and evaluated. Changing out of regular clothes into a physical education uniform was a challenge but trying to hide all the wires that were attached to me from my friends and others was difficult because they would judge me without even knowing why it exists. I became very inventive in hiding my low self-esteem. In early 2023, doctors determined that my condition had reached a degree of concern and I had major thoracic surgery. I consider this part of my life to be the most challenging because I had to put all my trust in the surgeon to get it right. When I was ready to go home, I was provided a list of do’s and don’ts. I was grateful to have had the surgery, however, my condition prevented me from participating in sports and other fun activities that I previously took for granted. It took months of recovery to achieve a level where I could comfortably move my own body without assistance. An advantage was that schools went to online education. Another advantage is that I started to excel at academics because the other students didn’t know about my condition or surgery and I had opportunities to communicate virtually allowing my confidence level to rise. This experience taught me how to overcome life challenges, it made me a stronger person and inspired me. I learned first-hand how to manage pain and creatively relearn different body movements. It taught me humility and to appreciate those who help me accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. I’m blessed to have gone through this process and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve chosen my educational path. The confidence I acquired led me to join school clubs, and take ECE and psychology classes. I learned how to promote a safe and healthy environment. It taught me that there are many pathways to helping people, and provided opportunities to learn specifics about a variety of diseases. I promoted blood donations and scheduled donation opportunities on campus during the school year to educate people on the benefits of donating. This also led to an exciting opportunity to attend the NSU Medical Immersion Aim High and Aim Higher Programs to have a more in-depth experience in learning about a variety of medical fields. I’ve been inspired by all my experiences with children at the preschool, volunteer work at my church, and public service at my local library where I worked with children and families in different capacities. I will begin college in the Fall of 2023, to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology. My future goal is to attend medical school and work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. I hope to gain more knowledge in psychology and medicine, as well as psychological foundations, and the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. Being a member of the psychology club and HOSA club has been a benefit in understanding these psychological foundations but getting a degree and applying these skills within the community is the biggest benefit for all. Thank you for considering helping me to achieve my dream job as a professional in psychology and medicine.

My future self will be a successful pediatric psychiatrist. Numerous personal, financial, self-management, and adventurous goals accompany that but I dream big because my dreams are the most precious thing I own. I will make a difference in people's lives as a professional in psychology and medicine while developing personal achievements with family, friends, and colleagues.

A couple of things have inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. The first is my younger special needs brother with a learning disability. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. I volunteer in related areas for experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. The other life-inspiring event came from my birth defect and recent correction. After having thoracic surgery to correct pectus excavatum and experiencing three years of having a bar inside my chest that limited me from physical activities and maintaining mental well-being, I understand how difficult and discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. I believe that helping others, even in the smallest ways, is important as it impacts lives and provides an avenue to maintain good mental health. As I continue to learn more about psychological foundations in and out of school, I’ve found that my extracurricular involvement has also given me confidence and taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. I’m a member in good standing with the Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” club and at the Psychology club. Working in the community is important to me and I volunteer at the West Broward High School Early Learning Academy, St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool, and the Broward Southwest Regional Library accumulating 462 service hours to date. Community service is where I’ve held leadership positions such as summer camp counselor, student teacher, teen advisory committee member, and library youth department worker. During the summer of 2022, I was awarded the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Achievement for completing the AIM-High Medical Immersion program; in addition to the NSU Achieve In Medicine Certificate of Completion for the AIM-HighER Medical Immersion summer program, where I learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields and also became trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. Nova Southeastern University is where I’ve chosen to attend college and will begin the Fall Semester in 2023, to earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Ultimately, my goal is to attend medical school and work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. This scholarship will help me pursue an education in psychology and learn more about brain development, language development, children’s temperaments, cultural competency, social and emotional growth and development, and knowledge of other psychological foundations including how to be empathetic and respectful to all people including the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. These skills will increase my knowledge of how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and show how the benefits of psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. As I work through college and aspire to achieve my dream job of a professional in psychology and medicine, I will apply learned skills to make a difference in the world.

Something unique about me is my birth defect, pectus excavatum. Since infancy, I was constantly monitored by cardiologists and pulmonologists until my condition required action. Not only is it unusual for a female to have this condition but to have a Haller index above five was most concerning to my doctors. I had the Nuss procedure during the Covid lockdowns. That’s when a titanium bar was placed in my chest to relieve the pressure on my heart and lungs. Even though I’ve been limited in participating in physical activities, I still enjoy others activities such as swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and reading both fiction and non-fiction works. Just this month I had the bar removed and the experience has made me a stronger person. I’m so proud of myself for having the courage to get through this part of my life and I’ve decided to be the person who shows up for those things that are worthwhile and important in life. My younger special needs brother with a learning disability also inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. I volunteer in related areas for experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to help in the preschool. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He asked me to join him and we began to build something together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put a smile on my face and made me feel better. Interactions like this made me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. I plan to learn more about psychology, cognitive development, and my extracurricular involvement has given me confidence and taught me that there are many pathways to helping people. I’m a member of Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and the psychology club. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school and am a candidate for a CDA Industry Certification. I also completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at NSU where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields. Nova Southeastern University is where I will attend college in Fall 2023, to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology. My future goal is to attend medical school and work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. This scholarship will help me pursue education in psychology and learn more about brain development, language development, children’s temperaments, cultural competency, social and emotional growth and development, and knowledge of other psychological foundations including how to be empathetic and respectful to all people including the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. These skills will increase my knowledge of how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and show how the benefits of psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I’m currently a senior at West Broward High School. I have a younger special needs brother and because of him, I’ve learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. I volunteer in related areas for experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. Another motivation that has steered me towards my educational goal has been the medical condition that I was born with. I struggled with this condition for many years and it limited me physically. I wasn’t permitted to participate in sports and other fun activities. I know what it’s like to be immobile and the importance of positive mental health. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can is important and that helping even in the smallest ways, impacts lives and provides an avenue to maintaining good mental health. I had defect correction surgery this month and I’ve gained enormous strength and empowerment for having gone through this process. It’s enhanced my desire to help others that experience similar anxieties. I’m passionate about working with children. Children always put a smile on my face and I want to make a positive impact on their lives. Interactions I’ve experienced with children made me realize that working with them makes me happy and gives me a purpose. I plan to learn more about psychology and cognitive development and have found that my extracurricular involvement has helped. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and a member in good standing with the psychology club. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school and have earned over 460 volunteer hours, and I’m a candidate for a CDA Industry Certification. I also completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields. When my college search began, I started to understand the costs and the options to apply for educational scholarships, grants, and loans. An important aspect is student financial responsibility when considering educational loans. Very few families have the financial backing to pay for college one hundred percent and for those of us who fall into the category of financial need, well, earning a bachelor’s degree almost seems impossible. That’s why I work hard to find scholarships that can help because every little bit helps, just like when I volunteer in the community. I don’t want to my family to incur too much debt. There are already so many other challenges in life such as cultural barriers, language barriers, and lack of access to health care services, and this is why I continue to seek scholarships to help me along the way towards a better education. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I’m currently a senior at West Broward High School. I enjoy swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and I love reading fiction and non-fiction works. More specifically, horror and mystery genres. I have a younger special needs brother and because of him, I’ve learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. I volunteer in related areas for experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. Through him, I came to appreciate a variety of music as it was key to his improved ability to generate speech as an infant and his brain development. Another motivation that has steered me towards my educational goal has been the medical condition that I was born with. I struggled with this condition for many years and it limited me physically. I wasn’t permitted to participate in sports and other fun activities. I know what it’s like to be immobile and the importance of positive mental health. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest of daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can is important and that helping even in the smallest ways, impacts lives and provides an avenue to maintaining good mental health. I had defect correction surgery this month and I’ve gained enormous strength and empowerment for having gone through this process. It’s enhanced my desire to help others that experience similar anxieties. I’m passionate about working with children. Children always put a smile on my face and I want to make a positive impact on their lives. Interactions I’ve experienced with children made me realize that working with them makes me happy and gives me a purpose. I plan to learn more about psychology and cognitive development and have found that my extracurricular involvement has helped. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and a member in good standing with the psychology club. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school and have earned over 460 volunteer hours, and I’m a candidate for a CDA Industry Certification. I also completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields. When my college search began, I started to understand the costs and the options to apply for educational scholarships, grants, and loans. An important aspect is student financial responsibility when considering educational loans. Very few families have the financial backing to pay for college one hundred percent and for those of us who fall into the category of financial need, well, earning a bachelor’s degree almost seems impossible. That’s why I work hard to find scholarships that can help because every little bit helps, just like when I volunteer in the community. I don’t want to my family to incur too much debt. There are already so many other challenges in life such as cultural barriers, language barriers, and lack of access to health care services, and this is why I continue to seek scholarships to help me along the way towards a better education. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

I’ve grown up with parents of different backgrounds which has been beneficial and fun. Both of my parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, proper ethics, and responsibility. My parents taught me that helping others is important and rewarding. Part of what I’ve learned is to speak softly but directly, listen carefully, try to be understanding of others, help to find solutions to problems, and to be encouraging. I follow by example by volunteering and eagerly learning about important things in life. My heritage, Hispanic and British, has also taught me that children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. I’m happy that my heritage has encouraged me to become a strong, dedicated and responsible person. An influence on my interests in healthcare and science came from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare to females called pectus excavatum. I struggled with this condition for many years until I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction. At age 15, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel at school and academics. My education is important to me and I work hard to keep good grades. Having this condition affects my athletic abilities and that has been tough. Keeping good self-esteem has been a struggle but it has made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others that experience similar anxieties. My family like many others doesn’t earn enough money to send me to college and the thought of earning a bachelor’s degree seems impossible. With the percentage of students with limited resources, it’s humiliating to have to muddle through financial services and feel the pressure to determine if this is a safe and affordable way to pay for part of my college expenses. I don’t want to my family to incur too much debt. There are already so many other challenges in life such as cultural barriers, language barriers, and lack of access to health care services, and this is why I continue to seek scholarships to help me along the way towards a better education. I’m a passionate and motivated student striving to earn a degree in psychology and continue my advanced education by attending medical school. I intend on encouraging people to lobby for better healthcare options. Not only for self-care but for mental health as well. We need to help alleviate healthcare disparities that could be life-threatening. My goal is to apply psychological foundations including how to be empathetic and respectful to all people including the elderly, those who are ill, and people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. To understand how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I would like to share with you how I plan to make a difference by getting a degree and using it to benefit my community. As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Mother frequently took me with her to visit grandma. We had to make sure she had everything she needed for the week and do light cleaning around the house. Grandma has a lot of pride and didn’t want us taking over her life but eventually, she had no choice. Grandma fell again, and this time mother had to drop everything to help her recover from a full hip replacement. I was sad that I couldn’t be there to help because it happened during the middle of the school year. I always love the stories grandma tells me and all the wonderful things we do together but her recovery was more important. During that same year, my step-grandfather suddenly died. By that time, we were living in Florida and we had to rush to California to help grandma. It was clear that she would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. Being a member and participating in the HOSA club at school has taught me about different diseases. I participate in community-based events and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to have my grandmother living with me. She supports my educational dreams, motivates me, and has taught me to give back to others. Helping with her care has taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

I’ve grown up with parents of different backgrounds which has been beneficial and fun. Both of my parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, proper ethics, and responsibility. My parents taught me that helping others is important and rewarding. Part of what I’ve learned is to speak softly but directly, listen carefully, try to be understanding of others, help to find solutions to problems, and to be encouraging. I follow by example by volunteering and eagerly learning about important things in life. My heritage, Hispanic and British, has also taught me that children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. I’m happy that my heritage has encouraged me to become a strong, dedicated and responsible person. An influence on my interests in healthcare and science came from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare to females called pectus excavatum. I struggled with this condition for many years until I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction. At age 15, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel at school and academics. My education is important to me and I work hard to keep good grades. Having this condition affects my athletic abilities and that has been tough. Keeping good self-esteem has been a struggle but it has made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others that experience similar anxieties. My family like many others doesn’t earn enough money to send me to college and the thought of earning a bachelor’s degree seems impossible. With the percentage of students with limited resources, it’s humiliating to have to muddle through financial services and feel the pressure to determine if this is a safe and affordable way to pay for part of my college expenses. I don’t want to my family to incur too much debt. There are already so many other challenges in life such as cultural barriers, language barriers, and lack of access to health care services, and this is why I continue to seek scholarships to help me along the way towards a better education. I’m a passionate and motivated student striving to earn a degree in psychology and continue my advanced education by attending medical school. I intend on encouraging people to lobby for better healthcare options. Not only for self-care but for mental health as well. We need to help alleviate healthcare disparities that could be life-threatening. My goal is to apply psychological foundations including how to be empathetic and respectful to all people including the elderly, those who are ill, and people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. To understand how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome.

I’ve grown up with parents of different backgrounds which has been beneficial and fun. Both of my parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, proper ethics, and responsibility. My parents taught me that helping others is important and rewarding. Part of what I’ve learned is to speak softly but directly, listen carefully, try to be understanding of others, help to find solutions to problems, and to be encouraging. I follow by example by volunteering and eagerly learning about important things in life. My heritage, Hispanic and British, has also taught me that children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. I’m happy that my heritage has encouraged me to become a strong, dedicated and responsible person. An influence on my interests in healthcare and science came from my health condition. I was born with a medical condition rare to females called pectus excavatum. I struggled with this condition for many years until I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction. At age 15, I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel at school and academics. My education is important to me and I work hard to keep good grades. Having this condition affects my athletic abilities and that has been tough. Keeping good self-esteem has been a struggle but it has made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others that experience similar anxieties. My family like many others doesn’t earn enough money to send me to college and the thought of earning a bachelor’s degree seems impossible. With the percentage of students with a parent that has limited English proficiency, it’s humiliating to have to muddle through financial services and feel the pressure to determine if this is a safe and affordable way to pay for part of my college expenses. I don’t want to my family to incur too much debt. There are already so many other challenges in life such as cultural barriers, language barriers, and lack of access to health care services, and this is why I continue to seek scholarships to help me along the way towards a better education. I’m a passionate and motivated student striving to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology and continue my advanced education by attending medical school. I intend on encouraging people to lobby for better healthcare options. Not only for self-care but for mental health as well. We need to help alleviate healthcare disparities that could be life-threatening. My goal is to apply psychological foundations including how to be empathetic and respectful to all people including the elderly, those who are ill, and people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. To understand how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits that psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I’m currently a high school senior and I plan to attend college to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology. I have a younger special needs brother and because of him, I’ve learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I found that volunteering in related areas provides me with experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. I know what it’s like to be immobile and the importance of positive mental health. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives and provides an avenue to maintaining good mental health. I’m passionate while I work with children to make a positive impact on their lives. Interactions I’ve experienced made me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. I plan to learn more about psychology and cognitive development and have found that my extracurricular involvement has helped. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and a member in good standing with the psychology club. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school and have earned over 460 volunteer hours, and I’m a candidate for a CDA Industry Certification. I also completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields. Unfortunately, the cost to attend college is more than I planned. It wasn’t until I started investigating colleges, that I began to understand the costs and the options to apply for educational scholarships, grants, and loans. An important aspect is a financial responsibility for taking educational loans. Very few families have the financial backing to pay for college one hundred percent and for those of us who fall into the category of financial need, well, earning a bachelor’s degree almost seems impossible. That’s when I worked hard to find scholarships that apply to my educational plan. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I would like to share with you why I’m passionate about helping people and plan to attend college to earn a bachelor of science degree in psychology. I have a younger special needs brother and because of him, I’ve learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I enjoy helping him through difficulties and want him to succeed. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I found that volunteering in related areas provides me with experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I can make a difference. My younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments. I know what it’s like to be immobile and the importance of positive mental health. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives and provides an avenue to maintaining good mental health. I’m passionate while I work with children to make a positive impact on their lives. Interactions I’ve experienced made me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. I plan to learn more about psychology and cognitive development and have found that my extracurricular involvement has helped. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and a member in good standing with the psychology club. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school and have earned over 460 volunteer hours, and I’m a candidate for a CDA Industry Certification. I also completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to a variety of medical fields. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I would like to share with you how I plan to make a difference by getting a degree and using it to benefit my community. As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Mother frequently took me with her to visit grandma. We had to make sure she had everything she needed for the week and do light cleaning around the house. Grandma has a lot of pride and didn’t want us taking over her life but eventually, she had no choice. Grandma fell again, and this time mother had to drop everything to help her recover from a full hip replacement. I was sad that I couldn’t be there to help because it happened during the middle of the school year. I always love the stories grandma tells me and all the wonderful things we do together but her recovery was more important. During that same year, my step-grandfather suddenly died. By that time, we were living in Florida and we had to rush to California to help grandma. It was clear that she would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. Being a member and participating in the HOSA club at school has taught me to be the best caregiver possible. I participate in community-based events and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be my grandmother’s caregiver because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago my step-grandfather suddenly died. It was clear that grandmother would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Over the past five years, we’ve all helped grandma in one way or another. However, my mother and I have been the most involved with her care. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know what it’s like to be immobile. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I can attest that the years participating in the HOSA club at school have impacted me to be the best caregiver I can be for my grandmother. I participate in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be my grandmother’s caregiver because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference not only for my family but for others in the community. My grandmother motivates me and supports my educational goals. She encourages me to work hard toward my future career dreams. That’s why my educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago my step-grandfather suddenly died. It was clear that grandmother would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Over the past five years, we’ve all helped grandma in one way or another. However, my mother and I have been the most involved with her care. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know what it’s like to be immobile. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I can attest that the years participating in the HOSA club at school have impacted me to be the best caregiver I can be for my grandmother. I participate in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be my grandmother’s caregiver because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference not only for my family but for others in the community. My grandmother has been a role model who motivates me and supports my educational goals. She encourages me to work hard toward my future career dreams. That’s why my educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago my step-grandfather suddenly died. It was clear that grandmother would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Over the past five years, we’ve all helped grandma in one way or another. However, my mother and I have been the most involved with her care. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know what it’s like to be immobile. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I can attest that the years participating in the HOSA club at school have impacted me to be the best caregiver I can be for my grandmother. I participate in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be my grandmother’s caregiver because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference not only for my family but for others in the community. Grandmother motivates me and supports my educational goals. She encourages me to work hard toward my future career dreams. That’s why my educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

As a child, I spent weekends and holidays visiting my grandparents. One day while visiting, my grandmother fell and I was too young to realize what was going on. However, when accidents concerning grandma continued, I soon became more inquisitive about what was wrong with grandma. Grandma went from using a walking cane to using a walker and then only going outside the home in a wheelchair. Five years ago my step-grandfather suddenly died. It was clear that grandmother would not be able to continue to live without help and not alone with so many responsibilities. We worked together to move her to Florida to live with us. This was very hard on grandma as she was always independent and still depressed from losing her 34-year-long significant other. We remodeled a bathroom for her so she had all the handicapped facilities she needed and she settled into our home. It wasn’t long before grandma’s condition declined. She discussed with us that the doctors had diagnosed her with multiple system atrophy “MSA” and they had conducted many tests to determine what course of treatment they wanted to take with her. Over the past five years, we’ve all helped grandma in one way or another. However, my mother and I have been the most involved with her care. Grandmother's needs increase each year and I step in every day, in every way, to help out. I know what it’s like to be immobile. While I recovered from thoracic surgery, I couldn’t move because of the pain and I had to relearn many body movements. It was the most difficult process I’ve ever experienced and I struggled a great deal. So, I know how discouraging things can get when you rely on others to help you accomplish the simplest daily tasks. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I know that helping, even in the smallest ways, impacts lives. I can attest that the years participating in the HOSA club at school have impacted me to be the best caregiver I can be for my grandmother. I participate in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism and have learned a great deal about how diseases impact lives. By taking psychology courses and being in the psychology club I’ve learned how to be empathetic and respectful to all people, especially the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcomes. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be my grandmother’s caregiver because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s taught me humility and given me the strength to make a difference not only for my family but for others in the community. Grandmother motivates me and supports my educational goals. She encourages me to work hard toward my future career dreams. That’s why my educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Psychiatry.

Hi my name is Miranda and I would like to share with you how a difficult event has shaped my life. How better to explain the gratitude I have other than to tell you how blessed I am to be here today. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. After many years of being tested, wearing halter monitors, and seeing doctors, I was told that the time had come when waiting was no longer an option. Three years ago, in 2020, I was lucky to have my first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction. It was the most terrifying thing I could ever imagine and I had to remain in hospital care for 7 days after the surgery. I had to relearn many body movements and struggled a great deal. The nurses encouraged me to get up and move every day and said that I was improving quickly. When I was sent home, I was told I couldn’t climb stairs or lay flat. I was provided a list of things not to do but I had the courage and spent the whole summer working on my recovery. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I love to read and I excel in academics. Plus, there wasn’t anything that was going to prevent me from returning to school. So today, I still have a titanium bar inside my chest. The bar placement allows me to breathe better and relieves the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled for next month, and I plan to continue achieving all that I can. With the support of my family, friends and doctors, I have an optimistic outlook at full and permanent recovery. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I have fond memories of when people helped me when I needed it, and especially helped my special needs brother. I watched how helping, even in the smallest ways, impacted others’ lives and I want to help as well. I’ve contributed to my community for seven years by volunteering at my church during vacation bible school as a summer camp counselor, being the church child care provider during adult events, participating at church holiday events, volunteering at the Early Learning Academy Preschool onsite at my high school, and volunteering at the public library in the youth services department in a leadership role planning and preparing library activities. I’m a member of the HOSA club participating in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism. I’m also involved in my school psychology club where we explore and analyze the brain including conducting experiments. My commitment to helping the community and volunteering is important to me. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to have been challenged with my medical experience because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s given me confidence, shown me the importance of being courteous, directed me to help others, and given me the strength to make a difference. I’m motivated and happy that I can live my life following my dreams without the fears I had before and without hesitation to work towards my educational goals and future career dreams. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

Hi my name is Miranda and I would like to share with you how a difficult event has shaped my life. How better to explain the gratitude I have other than to tell you how blessed I am to be here today. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. After many years of being tested, wearing halter monitors, and seeing doctors, I was told that the time had come when waiting was no longer an option. Three years ago, in 2020, I was lucky to have my first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction. It was the most terrifying thing I could ever imagine and I had to remain in hospital care for 7 days after the surgery. I had to relearn many body movements and struggled a great deal. The nurses encouraged me to get up and move every day and said that I was improving quickly. When I was sent home, I was told I couldn’t climb stairs or lay flat. I was provided a list of things not to do but I had the courage and spent the whole summer working on my recovery. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I love to read and I excel in academics. Plus, there wasn’t anything that was going to prevent me from returning to school. So today, I still have a titanium bar inside my chest. The bar placement allows me to breathe better and relieves the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled for next month, and I plan to continue achieving all that I can. With the support of my family, friends and doctors, I have an optimistic outlook at full and permanent recovery. I believe that helping others when you can, is important. I have fond memories of when people helped me when I needed it, and especially helped my special needs brother. I watched how helping, even in the smallest ways, impacted others’ lives and I want to help as well. I’ve contributed to my community for seven years by volunteering at my church during vacation bible school as a summer camp counselor, being the church child care provider during adult events, participating at church holiday events, volunteering at the Early Learning Academy Preschool onsite at my high school, and volunteering at the public library in the youth services department in a leadership role planning and preparing library activities. I’m a member of the HOSA club participating in community-based blood drives and walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney transplant, and autism. I’m also involved in my school psychology club where we explore and analyze the brain including conducting experiments. My commitment to helping the community and volunteering is important to me. I’ve learned that one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to have been challenged with my medical experience because it’s taught me to give back to others. It’s given me confidence, shown me the importance of being courteous, directed me to help others, and given me the strength to make a difference. I’m motivated and happy that I can live my life following my dreams without the fears I had before and without hesitation to work towards my educational goals and future career dreams. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry.

A teacher who influenced me during high school is Ashley Lacayo. She’s been one of my early childhood education instructors for the past four years. She inspired me and taught me how to provide a safe and healthy environment, work with children to advance their physical and intellectual development, build productive relationships, manage operations, maintain professionalism, observe and record children’s behavior, understand the principles of child development and brain development, language development and temperaments, social and emotional growth and development, and many other psychological foundations such as being empathetic, respectful, and the benefits of obtaining psychological and emotional support to achieve improved health outcomes. An example of how she inspired me and my approach to life is by showing me how working with children can make you happy and how you can have a purpose by helping others. Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years. I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model toward them. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s interactions like this that make me happy. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. Learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I plan to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, continue volunteering in my community, and learn a variety of ways my efforts can continue to help others.

Growing up with parents of different backgrounds has been beneficial and fun. Both parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, honor, proper ethics, and responsibility. My mother’s influence has guided me to listen carefully, speak softly but directly, learn to understand the world, learn to find positive solutions, and strive for those things that are important. My Hispanic heritage has encouraged me to become a dedicated and responsible person. My father has also been influential in teaching me that no matter their heritage, children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. I have a passion for healthcare and science which stems from my younger special needs brother. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I found myself always wanting to be there for my brother. I wanted to help him through any difficulties and wanted him to succeed. So, I encouraged him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and got upset. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I found that volunteering in related areas provided me with experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has it helped me decide my direction in life, but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. I’ve worked within the community earning over 430 volunteer hours. I’m a member in good standing at Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” and in the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school to learn about child development, learn to teach preschool children, and am a candidate to earn my CDA Industry Certification. I completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures, learning techniques of suturing, and intubation. We also learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. Something that is somewhat unique to me and has been a personal struggle and life challenge of mine is that I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction at age 15 when I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled before I finish high school. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel in other areas, like academics. With the support of my family and friends, I have an optimistic outlook on full and permanent recovery and my future. As a testament to my bravery and courage, this has made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others in the future.

Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow, and be a positive role model toward them. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch a child’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool and upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him, and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. It’s exciting to be part of a person’s results when we all network together as a family, as friends, as volunteers, doctors and specialists to help in a person’s success. I’ve seen this happen with my special needs younger brother. My learning experience of seeing my brother grow over the years, develop, give us smiles, and reach his goals and accomplishments encourages me to learn more so I can help others in the same way. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has also made me realize my desire for helping younger children. I’m eager to learn about children with learning disabilities and I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. It’s interesting to admit that I never knew these little things in life had such a great influence on me. These interactions and experiences are what have positively influenced me today and for my future where I know that I’ll continue to volunteer and apply learned skills in cognitive development, medicine, and psychology to help others in a variety of ways within the community. My educational plan is to earn a bachelor of science in psychology, continue my advanced education and work toward a doctor of medicine, ultimately specializing in pediatric psychiatry.

My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. Growing up with parents of different backgrounds has been beneficial and fun. Both parents have instilled in me the importance of good character, honor, proper ethics, and responsibility. My Hispanic heritage has been influential in teaching me that no matter your heritage, children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. My heritage from both sides of my family has made me the person I am today. I realize that I want to work with children and make an impact on their lives. What sparked my interest in healthcare and science is my younger special needs brother. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I’ve found that volunteering in related areas provides me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has it helped me decide my direction in life, but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. Interactions like this and others make me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. In an effort to make my dreams a reality, I strive to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” where I joined in service projects, fundraisers, and events to give back to the community and school. I’m also a member in good standing with the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development high school classes to learn about child development, learn to teach preschool children, earned over 430 volunteer hours, and am a candidate to earn my CDA Industry Certification within the next month. I completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures on robotic mannequins, learn techniques of suturing, intubation, and learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health.

My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. I’ve realized that I want to work with children and make an impact on their lives. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. Interactions like this and others make me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I found myself always wanting to be there for my brother. I wanted to help him through any difficulties and wanted him to succeed. So, I encouraged him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and got upset. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I’ve found that volunteering in related areas provides me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has it helped me decide my direction in life, but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. In an effort to make my dreams a reality, I strive to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” where I join in service projects, fundraisers, and events in order to give back to the community and school. I’m also a member in good standing with the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain including conducting experiments and participate in psychological games. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development high school classes, learning about child development, learn to teach preschool children, earned over 430 volunteer hours, and am a candidate to earn my CDA Industry Certification within the next month. I completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures on robotic mannequins, learn techniques of suturing, intubation, and learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health.

Growing up with parents of different backgrounds has been beneficial and fun. Both parents have instilled upon me the importance of good character, honor, proper ethics, and responsibility. My mother’s influence has guided me to listen carefully, speak softly but directly, learn to understand the world, learn to find positive solutions, and strive for those things that are important. My Hispanic heritage has encouraged me to become a dedicated and responsible person. My father has also been influential in teaching me that no matter your heritage, children can learn, grow and become more worldly by knowing and experiencing different languages, different ways of living, and different traditions. The quote I often hear from my parents is “knowledge is power”, and heritage from both sides of my family has made me the person I am today. What sparked my interest in healthcare and science is my younger special needs brother. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities. I found myself always wanting to be there for my brother. I wanted to help him through any difficulties and wanted him to succeed. So, I encouraged him to keep trying even when he wanted to give up and got upset. Assisting in his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more and pursue additional education in healthcare, sciences, and psychology. I’ve found that volunteering in related areas provides me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has it helped me decide my direction in life, but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. My educational plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. I’ve realized that I want to work with children and make an impact on their lives. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. Interactions like this and others make me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. To make my dreams a reality, I strive to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” where I join in service projects, fundraisers, and events to give back to the community and school. I’m also a member in good standing with the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain including conducting experiments and participating in psychological games. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development in high school to learn about child development, learn to teach preschool children, earned over 430 volunteer hours, and am a candidate to earn my CDA Industry Certification within the next month. I completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures on robotic mannequins, learn techniques of suturing, intubation, and learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. I would like to share a personal struggle and life challenge of mine with you. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction at age 15 when I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled for next year before I finish high school. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel in other areas, like academics. With the support of my family and friends, I have an optimistic outlook on full and permanent recovery, and my future. As a testament to my bravery and courage, this has made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others in the future.

My family helps me realize how much one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m honored to volunteer because it not only helps others but has taught me integrity, provided experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has this helped me decide my direction in life but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. Interactions like this and others make me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. This is one reason I've chosen my educational pathway starting with psychology. My educational goal is to attend a 4-year college and earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine, and continue my advanced medical education specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. As a testament to my bravery and courage, I would like to note a personal life struggle of mine that has also shaped me and teach me that having honor is commendable. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction, and at age 15 I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled for early next year. Though my condition currently prevents me from participating in sports, I excel in other areas, like academics and I’m looking forward to no longer having physical limitations. With the support of my family and friends, I have an optimistic outlook for full and permanent recovery, and my future. This has made me a stronger person, shown me humility and built integrity. It’s shown me that anyone with the desire to improve upon themselves can do so. Overcoming this obstacle in my life has enhanced my desire to help others in the future.

My family helps me realize how much one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. I’m honored to volunteer because it not only helps others but has taught me integrity, provided experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self-motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has this helped me decide my direction in life but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. My educational goal is to attend a 4-year college and earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, attend medical school to work toward a Doctor of Medicine, and continue my advanced medical education specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. As a testament to my bravery and courage, I would like to note a personal life struggle of mine that has also shaped me and teach me that having honor is commendable. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction, and at age 15 I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled for early next year. Though my condition currently prevents me from participating in sports, I excel in other areas, like academics and I’m looking forward to no longer having physical limitations. With the support of my family and friends, I have an optimistic outlook for full and permanent recovery, and my future. This has made me a stronger person, shown me humility and built integrity. It’s shown me that anyone with the desire to improve upon themselves can do so. Overcoming this obstacle in my life has enhanced my desire to help others in the future.

Hello, my name is Miranda Thomas. I’ve been a member in good standing with Health Occupations Students of America HOSA since 2019, and I’m also been a member of the Psychology club for two years. I’ve accumulated over 480 hours of volunteer service experience. I’ve been trained and certified by the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I have other work experience as a summer camp counselor, on the Teen Advisory Board for the Library, as a student preschool teacher, and my leadership experience working and volunteering at the library. My hobbies and interests are swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and reading fiction and non-fiction works. I completed Nova Southeastern University's Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs summer of 2022, which provided hands-on activities and helpful information in all fields of medicine. I’m a responsible, honest, and ambitious person. My educational goals are to graduate high school with a Scholars diploma and an Industry Certification (Child Development Associate Credential - CDA); attend 4-year college to earn a B.S. in psychology; attend medical school working toward a doctor of medicine; and continue my advanced medical education specializing in pediatric psychiatry. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and to be a positive role model. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch a child’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool and upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what put that smile on my face and made me feel better. My interactions and experience learning about the development of children and their learning abilities encourage me to pursue additional education in the medical field. I continue to volunteer within the community to learn a variety of ways my efforts can help others. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. I’m eager to learn about children with learning disabilities and I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew also encouraged me to learn more about cognitive development, medicine, and psychology.

Hello, my name is Miranda Thomas and am currently a senior at West Broward High School. My plan is to attend a 4-year university to earn a Bachelor of Science in psychology; attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine; then continue my advanced medical education by specializing in Pediatric Psychiatry. Keeping a positive outlook on things helps, however, my father is a disabled veteran and has had difficulty finding full-time work for over a year. My mother is the primary caregiver to us all, but specifically for my younger special needs brother. She helps me realize how much one person’s efforts can make a difference in the lives of others. She volunteers within our community and has taught us to do the same when possible. I’m proud to volunteer because it’s given me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to show that I’m responsible, courteous, self motivated, and able to make a difference. Not only has this helped me decide my direction in life but my younger brother has touched my heart with his physical, emotional, cognitive, and social accomplishments when everyone thought he would never be able to attain certain levels. I know there must be other worthy candidates for this scholarship but as a testament to my bravery and courage, I would like to share a personal life struggle of mine. I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction, and at age 15 I had a titanium bar placed inside my chest. This allowed me to breathe better, and relieve the pressure my chest was putting on my heart. A bar removal surgery is scheduled early next year before I finish high school. My condition prevents me from participating in sports, but I excel in other areas, like academics. With the support of my family and friends, I have an optimistic outlook at full and permanent recovery, and my future. This has definitely made me a stronger person and enhanced my desire to help others in the future. In an effort to make my dreams a reality, I accept all opportunities to learn about psychology and cognitive development. I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupation Students of America “HOSA” where I joined in service projects, fundraisers, and events in order to give back to the community and school. I’m also a member in good standing with the psychology club where we explore and analyze areas related to psychology and the brain including conducting experiments and participate in psychological games. I’m American Heart Assoc. trained and certified in Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I’ve taken Early Childhood Development high school classes, learning about child development, learn to teach preschool children, earned over 430 volunteer hours, and hope to earn my CDA Industry Certification by the end of this current year. I successfully completed the Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs at Nova Southeastern University where we learned to apply innovative and emerging technologies related to medicine, practice medical procedures on robotic mannequins, learn techniques of suturing, intubation, and learned about preventative medicine, pediatrics, neuroscience, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and public health. I have a 4.4 weighted cumulative GPA and take Honors and AP classes. I have the courage to move forward in life and I’m determined to be successful. I continue to look for pathways that can help in my future education. This scholarship will give me an enormous opportunity to reach my future educational and career goals. Thank you for your consideration.

There are two occasions that come to mind when thinking about an important impact I made in my life and others. The first is when I was a fifth grader. I had the opportunity to be involved in a program called Future Educators of America, “FEA”. Attending FEA helped me learn how to teach others and how to plan for educational programs. The teacher that I was assigned to explained to me that by the end of the school year, I would be required to teach her kindergarten students a subject without her help. While that was a very scary thought, we met regularly and talked a lot about how that would happen. She helped me become familiar with each student to get an idea about their interests. We decided that I would plan a math assignment for her class. I worked hard researching and preparing the math work that would be the best suited and fun for her students. At the end of that school year, under her direction, I was the class teacher for an hour. This process was definitely scary, nerve wrenching, exciting, and interesting but the outcome was perfect. I was so proud of myself! It was an accomplishment that I won’t ever forget. That experience gave me the confidence and courage to become a crew leader at a summer camp helping 5 elementary level students. I’ve continued to be a camp counselor each summer helping students learn and experience fun activities. The other recollection I have related to having courage and bravery is when I attended the NSU Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs. When NSU initially contacted me to ask if I would be interested in attending virtually during Covid-19, I was disappointed and respectfully declined. They informed me to reapply the following year, which I did and was accepted to both programs. I was quite nervous about attending two programs in one summer but after a lot of encouragement from my family, I attended. The staff, professors, and medical students were understanding and attentive which made me relax and open up to the experience. I made friends from across the United States. We stayed in the school dorms and experienced together what college life would be like. We worked together on research projects and medical projects. I became an intricate part of a group of students who had a variety of experience in certain fields and others who had experience in other fields. This was experience that I thought I would fail at, and be embarrassed about not knowing expert levels of information in the medical field. Contrary to those thoughts, I was quite proud to be an active participant having knowledge of some areas of study and working together with others to learn even more. I look back at it today and thank everyone who helped encourage me to do it. My confidence level grew because I had the courage and bravery to attend, work together with others, stand up and speak in front of my peers, and learn from the experience. If I can do it anyone can do it too!

Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model towards them. Thinking back on my preschool years, I have fond memories and recollections on how adult helpers and teachers encouraged me to learn, imagine things, create, help to find my interests, and encourage my development of all academic areas. Of course, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing, I was just a kid having fun. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage those same opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. Parents relish each day in seeing and hearing about their child’s success in school. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Additionally, I continue to volunteer within the community and learning a variety of ways my efforts help others. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, all that college has to offer, and any financial scholarship will greatly help me achieve my goals.

Hello, my name is Miranda Thomas. I’ve been a member in good standing with Health Occupations Students of America HOSA since 2019, and I’m also been a member of the Psychology club for two years. I’ve accumulated over 480 hours of volunteer service experience. I’ve been trained and certified by the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I have other work experience as a summer camp counselor, on the Teen Advisory Board for the Library, as a student preschool teacher, and my leadership experience working and volunteering at the library. My hobbies and interests are: swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and reading fiction and non-fiction works. I successfully completed the Nova Southeastern University's Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs the summer of 2022, which provided hands on activities and helpful information in all fields of medicine. I’m a responsible, honest, and ambitious person. My educational goals are to graduate high school with a Scholars diploma and an Industry Certification (Child Development Associate Credential - CDA); attend 4-year college to earn a B.S. in psychology; attend medical school working toward a doctor of medicine; and continue my advanced medical education specializing in pediatric psychiatry. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and to be a positive role model towards them. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch a child’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool and upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. My interactions and experience learning about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in the medical field. I continue to volunteer within the community to learn a variety of ways my efforts can help others. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. I’m eager to learn about children with learning disabilities and I always want to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew also encouraged me to learn more about cognitive development, medicine, and psychology. Thank you for consideration of my application to the Analtha Parr Pell Memorial Scholarship.

My name is Miranda Thomas. I’m a senior at West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida. I’m writing to you today to describe the desire and ambition I have in life. I’ve recently been introduced to the Dr. Meme Heineman Scholarship and am happy to submit an essay about my educational career, educational goals, life goals and how your scholarship can help support my dream to achieve it all. I have a 4.4 weighted GPA, I’m a member in good standing with Health Occupations Students of America HOSA since 2019. I’m working to earn specific diploma designations for Scholars, Merit, and Industry Certification (Child Development Associate Credential - CDA). I continue to strive to earn high grades and continue to take Honors and AP classes that are relevant to my educational plans. I’ve accumulated over 331 hours of volunteer service experience at West Broward preschool, Broward County Public Library, and St. Paul Lutheran Church and Preschool. I’ve been trained and certified by the American Heart Association for Heart Saver First Aid, CPR, and AED. I have other work experience as a summer camp counselor, on the Teen Advisory Board for the Library, as a student preschool teacher, and my leadership experience working and volunteering at the library. My hobbies and interests are: swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and reading fiction and non-fiction works. I especially enjoy horror and mystery genre. I’m a responsible, honest, and an ambitious person with a good character. I successfully attended Nova Southeastern University's Aim High and Aim Higher medical immersion programs the summer of 2022, which provided hands on activities and information in all fields of medicine. My educational goals are to attend 4-year college to earn a B.S. in psychology, attend medical school working toward a doctor of medicine, and continue my advanced medical education specializing in pediatric psychiatry. Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model towards them. Thinking back on my preschool years, I have fond memories and recollections on how adult helpers and teachers encouraged me to learn, imagine things, create, help to find my interests, and encourage my development of all academic areas. Of course, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing, I was just a kid having fun. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage those same opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. Parents relish each day in seeing and hearing about their child’s success in school. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification this year. Additionally, I continue to volunteer within the community and continue learning a variety of ways my efforts help others. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, all that college has to offer, and any financial scholarship will greatly help me achieve my goals. I want to thank you for considering my application for the Dr. Meme Heineman Scholarship.

Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model towards them. Thinking back on my preschool years, I have fond memories and recollections on how adult helpers and teachers encouraged me to learn, imagine things, create, help to find my interests, and encourage my development of all academic areas. Of course, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing, I was just a kid having fun. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage those same opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. Parents relish each day in seeing and hearing about their child’s success in school. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. My future education goals include applying to 4-year colleges to major in psychology and earn a bachelor of science in that field. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, and all that college has to offer will help me achieve my goals. My long-term goal is to earn an advance medical degree and specialize in child psychiatry.

Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model towards them. Thinking back on my preschool years, I have fond memories and recollections on how adult helpers and teachers encouraged me to learn, imagine things, create, help to find my interests, and encourage my development of all academic areas. Of course, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing, I was just a kid having fun. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage those same opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. Parents relish each day in seeing and hearing about their child’s success in school. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. My future education goals include applying to 4-year colleges to major in psychology and earn a bachelor of science in that field. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, and all that college has to offer will help me achieve my goals. My long-term goal is to earn an advance medical degree and specialize in child psychiatry.

Every day first thing in the morning, I walk into a room filled with bright smiling faces, eager to start their day and learn something new. Some people may find it difficult to work with young children, but in the past few years I have realized that I want to be able to make an impact on their lives, and give them the encouragement and excitement to come to school and learn new things. Early childhood education has had a great impact on my life and has allowed me to develop a passion for helping children grow and be a positive role model towards them. Thinking back on my preschool years, I have fond memories and recollections on how adult helpers and teachers encouraged me to learn, imagine things, create, help to find my interests, and encourage my development of all academic areas. Of course, I didn’t realize that was what they were doing, I was just a kid having fun. As I learn more about child development and work with children, help them learn, and encourage those same opportunities to learn, I realize how rewarding it can be. It’s great to watch the children’s excitement and boosted self-confidence while working with them and helping them to produce artistic compositions or learn about science and math. Parents relish each day in seeing and hearing about their child’s success in school. One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. My future education goals include applying to 4-year colleges to major in psychology and earn a bachelor of science in that field. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, and all that college has to offer will help me achieve my goals. My long-term goal is to earn an advance medical degree and specialize in child psychiatry.

One thing about working with children is that they never fail to make me smile. I remember one day when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I still wanted to participate at the preschool in helping the children. Upon my arrival, one of the children ran up to me and wanted to show me what he was doing in the science center. He started to show me something he created with magnets and different toys. He asked me to join him and we began to build something new together. Since I have had experience knowing how it feels to accomplish something new while working with a teacher, this child was having the same reaction. When we finished the project, he was energized and happy to share his work with the rest of the class. Watching him react this way is what puts that smile on my face and actually made me feel better. Interactions like this and others makes me realize that working with children makes me happy and gives me a purpose. My perspective about the development of children and their learning abilities has encouraged me to pursue additional education in that field. I have taken psychology courses and early childhood education in high school. I plan to continue my early childhood education to earn my Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Having a younger brother with special needs and disabilities has allowed me to realize my passion for helping younger children. Throughout my childhood, I learned a lot about children with learning disabilities and I always wanted to be there for my brother to help him through any difficulties. Being there with him to see his positive changes and accomplishments as he grew encouraged me to learn more about psychology and cognitive development. My future education goals include applying to 4-year colleges to major in psychology and earn a bachelor of science in that field. I believe that everything I’ve learned to date, and all that college has to offer will help me achieve my goals. My long-term goal is to earn an advance medical degree and specialize in child psychiatry.

I’m a student interested in the medical field. I’m learning that there are many other considerations that have to be made as a medical provider. I hope to learn about clinical settings, and the considerations that must be included in patient treatment and patient care. I believe it’s also important to understand about doctor/patient relationships, patient care, health impacts and health outcomes. I’ve had the opportunity to learn directly with young children in my high school’s preschool, at summer camp and at the public library. My volunteer work includes learning teaching techniques and implementing them with the children I work with. This includes applying techniques and knowledge acquired from my psychology courses and how to be empathetic and respectful to all people but especially to the elderly, ill, or people struggling with special needs and/or incurable conditions. I’m also learning about how negative health conditions impact people’s lives financially and emotionally, and the benefits of psychological and emotional support can have on a patient’s improved health outcome. I’m in the process of identifying what colleges have to offer and how those pathways can lead to my academic success. My goal is the attend a 4-year college, earn and Bachelor of Science in Psychology; attend medical school working toward a Doctor of Medicine, and continue my advanced medical education specializing in pediatric Psychiatry. I have a younger sibling with special needs that I participate in helping when he struggles. I’ve seen how networking together as a family, with doctors and specialists help in his success. The learning experience of seeing his growth, development, smiles and accomplishments encourages me to learn more about medicine and how I can help other people.

Hi, I enjoy swimming, freehand sketching, beach activities, and reading both fiction and non-fiction works. More specifically, horror and mystery genre. I've been a member of HOSA for 3 years and have served over 350 community service hours to date. An interesting thing about me is that I was born with a medical condition rare to females. I struggled having this condition until I was lucky to have the first surgery (Nuss procedure) for defect correction at age 15. I'm a stronger person now & my desire is to help others in the future.

What makes me happy is to be recognized by my teachers when I participate in class and give the correct answer to a problem. I study hard and am happy when I go to class, understand the materials and leave knowing that it was a good session. I'm taking a few AP classes this year and it's my first year doing so. I was quite scared that the material would be too hard. In fact, it's been quite challenging. Right now I'm so happy that I had the wrong idea of taking AP classes and more happy that so far I'm doing well with them.

I love my freckles on my face. In this time of the Covid pandemic and wearing masks, it’s hard to see the whole persons face. My freckles help people remember who I am and I feel that I’m not just another number in the school system. So many teachers and elk me that they will always remember me because they love my freckles. So, that’s why I love my freckles. They make me remembered, unique, special, and happy.