My aunt cried out in pain in the hospital after being hit by a drunk driver in the crosswalk and I rushed over worried and wondering how I could help her. Watching her distraught face and witnessing my young cousins being separated from their mom for long periods sparked my desire to pursue a career filled with empathy as an Occupational Therapist. Success in the past has meant how I could help my family survive homelessness. We lived in hiding for two years of our lives. Our life was a series of seeking out shelters, beds to sleep on, and ever-revolving motel rooms, not knowing where to go. Using burner phones, paying only in cash, and not getting too attached to a person or place, each night, I faced a new challenge. We had to search for a new place to stay, where to heat food, how to do laundry and find a warm spot to study. I was always seeking out solutions. Facing adversity at home affected my academics in school. Experiencing academic challenges with a learning disability made me realize the importance of advocating for oneself when asking for help. It opened my mind up to the possibility of helping others recover from not only their physical challenges but also their mental well-being. My future career success would be defined by having the opportunity to contribute something meaningful back to the community by assisting people in need. I want to make the people that I work with comfortable enough to ask for help when struggling through moments of adversity. I have a passion for reducing barriers for others. As someone who previously experienced homelessness, I possess an understanding of the barriers people face in accessing resources and can bring personal insights to my future career. I plan to pursue my graduate degree in Occupational Therapy after finishing my undergraduate degree in kinesiology. I possess important qualities like empathy, resilience, and a strong belief in equity that will be critical in helping others access healthcare. Experiencing homelessness made me value the importance of appreciating what you have in life. I found courage in seeking out help and saw how it was not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of my strength to acknowledge my academic challenges and have the courage to confront them. I recognize that the path to personal growth is paved with my willingness to embrace change and to grasp onto opportunities in front of me. Building hope in the lives of people in my community by helping them heal from physical and emotional challenges is what success means to me.

My aunt cried out in pain in the hospital after being hit by a drunk driver in the crosswalk and I rushed over worried and wondering how I could help her. Watching her distraught face and witnessing my young cousins being separated from their mom for long periods sparked my desire to pursue a career filled with empathy as an Occupational Therapist. Success in the past has meant how I could help my family survive homelessness. We lived in hiding for two years of our lives. Our life was a series of seeking out shelters, beds to sleep on, and ever-revolving motel rooms, not knowing where to go. Using burner phones, paying only in cash, and not getting too attached to a person or place, each night, I faced a new challenge. We had to search for a new place to stay, where to heat food, how to do laundry and find a warm spot to study. I was always seeking out solutions. Facing adversity at home affected my academics in school. Experiencing academic challenges with a learning disability made me realize the importance of advocating for oneself when asking for help. It opened my mind up to the possibility of helping others recover from not only their physical challenges but also their mental well-being. My future career success would be defined by having the opportunity to contribute something meaningful back to the community by assisting people in need. I want to make the people that I work with comfortable enough to ask for help when struggling through moments of adversity. I have a passion for reducing barriers for others. As someone who previously experienced homelessness, I possess an understanding of the barriers people face in accessing resources and can bring personal insights to my future career. I plan to pursue my graduate degree in Occupational Therapy after finishing my undergraduate degree in kinesiology. I possess important qualities like empathy, resilience, and a strong belief in equity that will be critical in helping others access healthcare. Experiencing homelessness made me value the importance of appreciating what you have in life. I found courage in seeking out help and saw how it was not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of my strength to acknowledge my academic challenges and have the courage to confront them. I recognize that the path to personal growth is paved with my willingness to embrace change and to grasp onto opportunities in front of me. Building hope in the lives of people in my community by helping them heal from physical and emotional challenges is what success means to me.

In my life, I would strive towards becoming an Occupational Therapist. Experiencing academic challenges with a learning disability made me realize the importance of advocating for oneself when asking for help. It opened my mind up to the possibility of helping others recover from not only their physical challenges but also their mental well-being. My future career would provide me with the opportunity to contribute something meaningful back to the community by assisting people in need. I want to make the people that I work with comfortable enough to ask for help when struggling through adversity. I believe I would be a good candidate for this scholarship because I am committed to helping people overcome adversity and have a passion for reducing barriers for others. As someone who previously experienced homelessness, I possess an understanding of the barriers people face in accessing resources and can bring that to my future career. I possess important qualities like empathy, resilience, and a strong belief in equity that will be critical in helping others access healthcare. This scholarship will assist me in achieving my educational goals and I hope to serve my community with hope and compassion.

A person is not defined by what they have but instead how hard they work for their dreams.

We lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on many challenging duties. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I wanted to help create a better future to make my mom's life easier. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to finish so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and seeking out resources and donations. It was through her example I learned about the importance of taking hold of opportunities and working tirelessly toward oneś goals. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my family. Surviving homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out changed me, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand and teaching me what it will take to be successful in life and at school. My mom printed out a worn piece of paper hanging by our front door with a quote that reminds me when I walk out the door each day. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.¨

We lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on many challenging duties. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I wanted to help create a better future to make my mom's life easier. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to finish so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and seeking out resources and donations. It was through her example I learned about the importance of taking hold of opportunities and working tirelessly toward oneś goals. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my family. I hope to become a healthcare worker and to provide compassionate care to people that walk through the door. Surviving homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out changed me, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand and teaching me what it will take to be successful in life and at school. My mom printed out a worn piece of paper hanging by our front door with a quote that reminds me when I walk out the door each day. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.¨

We lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on many challenging duties. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I wanted to help create a better future to make my mom's life easier. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to finish so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and seeking out resources and donations. It was through her example I learned about the importance of taking hold of opportunities and working tirelessly toward oneś goals. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my family. Surviving homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out changed me, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand and teaching me what it will take to be successful in life and at school. My mom printed out a worn piece of paper hanging by our front door with a quote that reminds me when I walk out the door each day. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.¨

We lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on many challenging duties. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I wanted to help create a better future to make my mom's life easier. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to finish so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and seeking resources and donations. It was through her example I learned about the importance of taking hold of opportunities and working tirelessly toward oneś goals. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my family. Surviving homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out changed me, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand and teaching me what it will take to be successful in life and at school. My mom printed out a worn piece of paper hanging by our front door with a quote that reminds me when I walk out the door each day. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.¨

We lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on many challenging duties. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I wanted to help create a better future to make my mom's life easier. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to finish so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and seeking out resources and donations. It was through her example I learned about the importance of taking hold of opportunities and working tirelessly toward oneś goals. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my family. Surviving homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out changed me, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand. My mom printed out a worn piece of paper hanging by our front door with a quote that reminds me when I walk out the door each day. “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.¨

I lived in hiding from my father for two years. Growing up in a single-mother household, I felt the need and responsibility to step up more as a son because you take on lots of challenging responsibilities. I grew up in a middle-class family but then had to escape that life from an abusive father, which made it harder, especially for my mom. We were living from shelter to shelter, trying to find a place to call home and a roof over my head. Cleaning up, selling snacks to kids at school, and getting free stuff everywhere I went. I had to do something, something to help support my mom, who was struggling and desperately in need. Trying to make a difference in my and my family's life, I had to hold onto something. I found hope for a better future that can make life a little bit easier for my mom. When faced with the shelter giving us expired food, I focused on eating at school and finding people to assist us with information. My role as a son was to take on more responsibilities every morning, always seeking a path forward. In the afternoon at school, I hustled for money by selling chips and snacks throughout the day to give to my mom. At night finishing my schoolwork while waiting for the laundry to be done so I can go and grab it. Managing these tasks was especially hard for me, balancing school, being responsible for chores, and helping my mom with money. My mom was always searching for new jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, and getting donated gifts for Christmas life might have seemed rough during that time, but I made the most of it. I have taken on a job as a childcare attendant and janitor, and I am always grateful for all I receive and genuinely feel happiness for what I do have. Living in a single-mother household while experiencing homelessness has taught me to rise to the challenges life throws at you. I am forever grateful for going through all these struggles in my life because it has shaped me into a more humble person willing to do a little extra to make life easier for my mom. Getting through homelessness and taking on responsibilities to help out my single mom has changed me for the better, making me more disciplined to get things done and always wanting to give out that helping hand. As for my aspirations, I plan to become an Occupational Therapist and take care of people showing them the kindness and compassion that life has shown me is so critical in the healing process. I want to pay forward what others have invested in me so I can improve the life of others.