Recovery, Is a word people usually connect with health issues and getting better physically. But for me, it isn't just recovering physically but mentally too. It means being able to face failure and picking yourself back up again. When we face a challenge and don't do very well. We tend to experience many emotions that take a toll upon us. Though it is obvious we'll experience feeling down and unmotivated afterward. We still tend to get back up to try to fix and face that problem one more time. Once we try again, we see our mistakes and makeup. That's what recovery means. You don't give up and get back in progress to meet your goals. And I bet people are experiencing this exact feeling as I am writing this. Everyone goes through a tough situation and it is for them to realize they can get themselves back up there if they put in the effort and do intuitive thinking about the future.

When I first began college, I was in a rough spot. I had to deal with financial hardships, and responsibilities all on my own without my parents' help. Like most students, I got help from FAFSA to keep my finances covered. But the only thing I had missing that others had was that their parents were willing to help them financially because it does take money and brains to grow through university. My father did not pay for most of my college help and believed I should do the rest independently because it was too expensive. I had to work on my own to make it all work. And that wasn't the only thing that bothered me; my parents are divorced, and my parent-daughter relationship was a mess. I felt depressed and financially burdened, and my grades started to take effect. Many people would tell you that their freshman year was amazing and was the most memorable, but for me, it was a living hell. I was a depressed and fearful woman who had just turned the age of 18 at the time. So finding resources or reaching out to the school was incredibly difficult. I had to experience being greeted by rude staff or the student business workers. Yes, they were rude to someone who was new to everything but they scared me off. Which made me fall into my bubble. I know I had to get out of my shell to at least do something, but I was trapped by these emotions and my dad's taunting phone calls saying bad things about my mom. And my mom couldn’t help pay for my college because she didn’t have enough money like my dad did. It was so hard, and I had emotional breakdowns. I remember not going to class because of how bad I felt. And you may wonder, "How come I didn’t seek help at the school’s therapy building?" Well, I wanted to, but the therapy from the school did not have a good reputation, and many students complained about it, which caused me to feel hopeless to even try it. I felt trapped. Most of my mental health was caused by family problems, schoolwork, and relationships. I was extremely depressed; I would cry every day or take walks at 3 a.m. around campus. Academic stress was also getting to my mental health because I failed so many classes that I had to get out of school for a quarter. It wasn't my proudest moment, but it impacted me badly. In the present right now, it took 2 years to get back up and understand who I am and what I am here for. I am Precious Garcia, and I now major in game design and have multiple goals. My goals are to have great academic standing, work part-time, get at least 1 scholarship and make connections for my dream job (UX UI design). I am getting back to my feet by being responsible little by little and getting lifted up by my partner who loves me a lot. A peak of motivation helps me keep moving forward to my dreams, only if I put in the effort to do it. I hope I get a scholarship like this because I don't have enough money for school. I am under huge financial stress, and I believe if you hand me one, I would be immensely grateful. After telling you how much hardship I have gone through. I expect the best out of it. I always apply but never get it after my 3 years of college.

Minecraft is an incredible game that allows us to use our creativity freely. I remember being able to build my own home and farm in Minecraft and it really summed up a part of my childhood. It brought my friends and me together. As a game design major it really interested me to want to work or be a part of the gaming industry. Minecraft is the best way to get into video games. The is a particular activity that sparked my interest in Minecraft and it was called the Hunger Games. This was a hugely popular activity, and a lot of people played it in the late 2010s. The Hunger Games was inspired by the book and movie "Hunger Games". This activity allowed us to be competitive so that we could open boxes full of goodies and fight. Later on throughout the years, Hunger Games in Minecraft ended up being changed to being called bottle royales. Same fashion but with different names and add-ons. My favorite aspect of the games is that I got to interact with friends online. We got to play together even if we were living far away from each other. We would get inspiration to build new things on there. Not only did we create things but Minecraft was getting increasingly popular even when Minecraft YouTubers were on the rise on the internet. I resonate with the Minecraft YouTubers and my friends who got to play this game because it really made our own little community that enjoys the world of Minecraft.

Hello, My name is Precious, I attend UCSC and I am a rising junior. According to the question, I have to say that my favorite Nintendo game is Mario Kart, I love this game because I remember growing up playing it with my little brother. When we went over to our cousin's house, we would play together. This was the peak of our childhood. we would always have fun during the summertime playing Mario Kart or doing other activities. My little brother and I only had each other and we really became best friends. But on to Mario Kart, it really made our friendship stronger. My little brother and I would play all the time in Mario Kart sometimes with co-op mode. You may wonder what characters we choose to play. Well, I would usually choose Peach or Birdo to play and my sibling would usually go with Luigi or Wario. It was really fun when we got to compete against each other for fun. As we sat on the carpet looking at the TV, my hands gripped onto the controller. I think this part of my childhood playing Mario Kart really made it memorable because it took place at my cousin's house when it was hot and sunny. Our cousin was a college student so she would let my brother and I play around with the Wii. I really enjoyed that memorable moment, when our cousin was nice enough to let us play. We were just kids and we had so much energy.

Hello, My name is Precious Garcia, I am a rising junior attending UCSC and will be discussing the transformative experience of travel for individuals. Meaning that they would be exposed to different cultures, and perspectives, which can lead their personal development. Many people love to travel because it acts as an escapism or a way for us to venture outside of our zone. Travel can be transformative for many people. when we travel for the first time in our lives we sense a part of ourselves Improving to be a better person. improvement is key, raising confidence, skill learning, and self-reflection. Usually, when people travel on their own for personal goals, it would be around their adult years. adults want to learn from themselves and reach a goal to understand themselves better. and that's why it's transformative to us. When traveling no matter the distance from our homes, we are immensely exposed to various cultures. When we are exposed to a new culture we may feel a push of discomfort or excitement. As this would help you get out of your comfort zone. A new environment may cause you to feel disoriented or stressed but it would be the best way for self-growth at times when you are trying to figure out what you are. Traveling can change a person when you are around an environment where things are new to you. This means that you will need to get out of your bubble and learn a new language or know how to interact with locals of this culture. It can be a mix of emotions but the most important part is you got out there to face a fear or maybe you needed to go somewhere else to realize something about yourself. Although I haven't traveled outside of the U.S., I still want to travel out of here to gain more experience in my character growth. I do plan to travel somewhere, and hopefully, learn a new language or experience cuisine you can never imagine being served at home. So I would suggest that traveling can build your character. Even if I didn't travel outside of my country, I have traveled outside of my hometown from my family to live in a university. Living upon the campus university, I have developed my skills and responsibilities. Those experiences after 3 years have made an impact on me. I am now more resilient and independent than the old me from years ago. I am proud to have improved myself to be more responsible as an adult.

Hello, my name is Precious Garcia. I am a rising junior at the University of California - Santa Cruz (UCSC), majoring in Game Design. I am a Hispanic woman and identify as bisexual. I recently achieved a 4.0 GPA for the first time, a goal that took a lot of effort and perseverance. This accomplishment is especially meaningful to me because I have a learning disability called Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). APD makes it hard for me to understand speech, especially when there is background noise, and it has affected my learning throughout my life. Achieving a 4.0 GPA took a lot of hard work and support from the disability center at my university. They provided me with accommodations such as extra time on tests, a quieter space to study, and smaller class sizes. These accommodations were crucial in helping me succeed. I also had to study more than the average student to keep up with my peers. This experience has taught me the value of persistence and the importance of seeking help when needed. I plan to use my education in Game Design to make a positive impact on society by creating visual art for game companies. I want to draw characters and illustrations that represent people from different cultures, so they feel seen and included. As a bisexual woman, I believe that my art can show the world the richness of diverse cultures and identities. Representation in media, including video games, is important because it helps people feel valued and understood. In the gaming industry, there is still a lack of diverse characters and stories. Many games feature stereotypical or one-dimensional characters, which can be harmful and alienating. By creating diverse and complex characters, I hope to challenge these stereotypes and provide players with a more inclusive and enriching experience. I want people from all backgrounds to see themselves in the games they play and feel a sense of belonging. My goal is to work for a game company that values diversity and inclusion. I want to be part of a team that is committed to creating games that reflect the real world, with all its diversity and complexity. By doing this, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive and understanding society. In conclusion, my education in Game Design at UCSC has given me the skills and knowledge to pursue my passion for art and representation. With the support of the disability center and my determination, I have achieved academic success and am on my way to making a positive impact in the gaming industry. Thank you for considering my application for the VNutrition & Wellness Annual LGBTQ+ Vitality Scholarship. This scholarship will help me continue my education and work towards my goal of creating diverse and inclusive games.