What Life is All About, by Peyton Edgecombe I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship and for allowing me to share what my mother's career as an enlisted soldier, officer through Officer Candidate School, and veteran mean to me. While I am just beginning my college studies and I am not a Mother, my Mothers dedication made me realize the sacrifices that so many make each day to support each other and to always be thankful for each day. My dream of becoming an attorney stems from the personal experiences in my life and the important individuals who have inspired my love for helping others. For the past 5 years I have dedicated my time to learning about military law, civilian personal injury, and malpractice law due to the circumstances that I have had to face in life. I look forward to contributing positively to helping others and this scholarship would make a huge difference in making that dream become a reality so that I can serve others. My Mothers career following her service in the US Army and the lessons she has taught me have motivated me to set goals and to work tirelessly to achieve them, I do this in all areas of my life. Growing up, I witnessed the dedication and hard work she demonstrated in empathizing and connecting with others and changing people’s lives along the way, while also supporting our family. Helping those in need in my community is one of the most rewarding choices I have made. I serve as a leader in an Inner-City outreach that helps children and teens who have lived difficult lives. I have told them about the opportunity the military presents, and we have had some choose to join. I have also had the opportunity to be involved in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. It has been life changing to help these teens know that life can be good, that there are kind people in the world, and that they can make it. I have had to work since I was fourteen and have always known that I would have to fund my education, which I know will make me more responsible as I go forward. I have suffered tremendous losses throughout my life, as many of us have, but I have learned through it all that I should not focus on things I cannot change but always focus on others and try to make a difference. When it really comes down to it, the help you are able to provide and the differences you are able to make really are what life is all about. This scholarship will make an extraordinary difference by easing my financial obligations. If chosen, I will do everything in my power to become the best person that I can and to make a difference in the life of each person I meet along the way. I sincerely thank the Jennifer Gephardt Memorial team for your consideration. A few quotes that have provided inspiration for me - "Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels love and believes in the goodness of people." Roy T Bennet “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall