Storytelling has always been central to Native American culture, preserving identity, resilience, and belonging across generations. My story, however, is shaped by living between worlds, Native by heritage, yet often without a place to belong. I am 100% Native American, with Lakota, Comanche, and Apache ancestry. Yet because I come from mixed tribal heritage and am not listed on Dawes Rolls or formally enrolled in a single tribe, I have never been fully accepted by any one nation. I often describe myself and others like me as “the lost.” We exist in a space where we experience the challenges and stereotypes placed on Native Americans, while also lacking access to the cultural recognition, community support, and educational resources that tribal enrollment often provides. Growing up, I learned early what it meant to feel invisible. I saw Native Americans portrayed as statistics, stereotypes, or history, rarely as individuals with voices and dreams. At the same time, I experienced being judged or underestimated simply because of my Native identity. This dual reality shaped my resilience. I learned to advocate for myself because there was often no one else to advocate with me or for me. That experience instilled in me a deep sense of determination and empathy for others who feel overlooked, marginalized, or unseen. My life journey continued to reinforce these values. As a single mother, I raised two children on my own while navigating financial hardship and personal challenges. Education for myself became something I set aside to prioritize my family. After a 23-year absence, I returned to college at age 48 as a first-generation student. Returning to higher education later in life has been both challenging and transformative, but it has also strengthened my belief that perseverance and hope can overcome even the most difficult circumstances. My Native heritage has deeply influenced my goals and ambitions. Many Native traditions emphasize community, healing, and caring for future generations. These values guide my desire to pursue a career in crisis and trauma therapy, focusing on survivors of extreme child abuse and veterans suffering from PTSD, individuals who often feel isolated, misunderstood, and overlooked. I want to help create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported, especially those who have endured profound hardship. Recently, I proposed the development of the Honors College Future Scholars Initiative, a mentorship and scholarship pipeline designed to support high-potential youth who lack consistent family or academic support systems. While still in the early stages, this idea reflects my long-term vision of creating opportunities for young people who, like me, may feel lost or unsupported. My hope is that initiatives like this can help build pathways to education, belonging, and success for future generations. Although I have often felt caught between worlds, my Native identity remains a source of strength, resilience, and purpose. My story has shaped my commitment to advocacy, healing, and service. Through my education, I hope to uplift marginalized voices, support individuals facing trauma, and create opportunities for those who, like me, have learned to persevere without a clear place to belong.

At 48 years old, I returned to college after a 23-year absence as a first-generation student and single mother of two college-aged children. My journey back to higher education was not simply about earning a degree, it was about transforming my life and using that transformation to help others, particularly those who face barriers similar to those I have experienced. For much of my life, my focus was on raising my children and ensuring they had opportunities I never had. As a single mother, education for myself became something I postponed while navigating financial hardship, personal challenges, and the responsibilities of parenthood. When my children reached adulthood and began their own college journeys, I realized it was finally time to pursue my own dream. Returning to college after more than two decades required courage, resilience, and determination, but it also gave me a renewed sense of purpose. My experiences have shaped my values and career aspirations in profound ways. Growing up as the daughter of a Vietnam Special Forces veteran and former prisoner of war, I witnessed firsthand the lasting effects of trauma and resilience. Later, in 2008, I made the difficult decision to make my 12-year-old brother an organ donor, an experience that introduced me to profound grief and compassion. These experiences ultimately led me to volunteer with Donate Life Texas and shaped my commitment to helping individuals navigate trauma and hardship. Despite ongoing financial challenges, health issues, and the demands of attending two universities simultaneously to pursue my degree in crisis and trauma therapy with a theology minor, I have embraced leadership opportunities. I currently serve as an Honors College Ambassador and the newly elected Honors College Student Council Vice President. These roles have strengthened my commitment to service and advocacy, particularly for nontraditional students, first-generation students, and those facing significant life challenges. Recently, I developed and presented the Honors College Future Scholars Initiative, a mentorship and scholarship pipeline designed to support high-potential teenagers, particularly orphans and students lacking strong support systems, by providing long-term mentorship, academic preparation, and scholarship opportunities. My long-term vision is to grow this initiative from a pilot program into a university-wide effort, expand it to other universities, and eventually develop it into a nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable youth nationally and globally. This initiative reflects my belief that education has the power to change lives at any stage. Just as returning to college has transformed my own path, I hope to create opportunities for young people who may not otherwise see higher education as attainable. My goal is to use my education to serve survivors of trauma, marginalized communities, and students who need mentorship and encouragement to reach their full potential. This scholarship would help alleviate financial barriers that currently threaten my ability to continue my education. More importantly, it would allow me to continue building initiatives that create lasting opportunities for others. My journey represents resilience, ambition, and the belief that it is never too late to pursue education, purpose, and service. Through my education, I hope to create a lasting impact,one that extends beyond my own life and helps others discover new horizons, just as I have.

My journey toward a career in mental health and trauma therapy did not begin in a classroom. It began through lived experiences that shaped my understanding of pain, resilience, and the urgent need for compassionate mental health care within marginalized communities. At 48 years old, I returned to college after a 23-year absence as a first-generation student and single mother of two college-aged children. The path has not been easy. I currently attend two universities simultaneously to pursue my degree in crisis and trauma therapy while completing a theology minor through an accredited Bible university. I face ongoing financial hardship, including times when I have struggled to afford basic necessities such as laundry, and I currently owe over $2,000 to my university in order to continue my education. Despite serious health challenges and these obstacles, I remain committed to maintaining strong academic performance and serving as both an Honors College Ambassador and the newly elected Honors College Student Council Vice President. My passion for mental health advocacy is deeply personal. As the daughter of a Vietnam Special Forces veteran and former POW, I grew up witnessing the long-term effects of trauma and PTSD. I saw how pain can linger silently and how those who carry invisible wounds often struggle without adequate support. These experiences shaped my belief that mental health care must be compassionate, accessible, and trauma-informed, especially for veterans and others who are frequently underserved. Another pivotal moment came in 2008 when I made the decision to make my 12-year-old brother an organ donor. That experience introduced me to profound grief, responsibility, and resilience at a young age. In the years that followed, I volunteered with Donate Life Texas, supporting organ donation awareness and witnessing firsthand how trauma, loss, and hope intersect within families and communities. These experiences reinforced my commitment to helping individuals navigate their most difficult moments with dignity and compassion. My career goal is to work primarily with survivors of extreme child abuse and veterans suffering from PTSD, two populations that are often marginalized and underserved. I believe that healing must address not only psychological trauma, but also emotional and spiritual wounds. By integrating crisis therapy, music therapy, and theology, I hope to develop compassionate, holistic approaches that help individuals rebuild their lives after devastating experiences. As a nontraditional, first-generation student and single mother, I also advocate for marginalized individuals within higher education. I understand firsthand the barriers faced by students who return to school later in life, who struggle financially, or who carry personal burdens while pursuing academic success. Through leadership and service, I strive to create supportive spaces where all students feel seen, valued, and capable of success. My experiences with mental health, trauma, and resilience have shaped not only my career aspirations, but also my beliefs and activism. I believe that those who have endured the greatest hardships deserve the strongest support systems. I am committed to dedicating my life’s work to serving marginalized communities, providing compassionate trauma-informed care, and helping individuals move from survival toward healing and hope.