The Woman Who Chose to Stay I was drawn to this scholarship because my grandmother did more than raise me. She chose me at a time when I had already lost almost everyone I depended on, and she continued choosing me while living with Parkinson’s herself. There are certain days when losing your parents feels louder than others. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are obvious ones, but sometimes it is the moments people do not think about. Graduations, birthdays, wedding planning, or even having a bad day and wishing I could call my mom or dad. I lost my mother to cancer when I was around four years old, and my father passed away from heart problems when I was around five. I was so young that I barely had time to know them, but I have spent my whole life missing them. After losing my parents, I moved to Puerto Rico to live with my uncle. He later passed away while I was in sixth grade. Eventually, I moved back to Florida and was raised by my grandmother. By then, I had already learned that life could change without warning. People sometimes make unfair assumptions about girls raised by their grandmothers. I have heard comments suggesting that we are trouble, difficult, or missing something that makes us less likely to succeed. What people do not see is the reason many of us are being raised by our grandparents in the first place. They do not see the loss, instability, or rejection that may have happened before we reached their homes. They see behavior, but they do not always ask what pain is underneath it. My grandmother never treated me like I was a burden or a problem she had to fix. She loved me. She has lived with Parkinson’s for almost the entire time she has been raising me. While she was dealing with changes in her own body and health, she still gave me a home, guidance, and the kind of love that made me feel safe. There were moments when I worried about her while she was probably worrying about me. Watching her continue to care for me while facing her own condition taught me what real strength looks like. My grandmother is honestly the love of my life. She is my hero, my comfort, and one of the biggest reasons I keep pushing myself. She always reminds me, “This too shall pass.” Those words stayed with me through military training, college, work, and every moment when I felt like giving up. Being raised by her made me independent, but it also made me deeply grateful. She taught me that family is not only about who was supposed to be there. It is also about the person who chooses to stay, even when staying is difficult. My future goals come from wanting to make her sacrifices mean something. I want to finish my psychology degree, build a successful career, grow my business, and create a stable home for my future family. I also want to help people who have experienced grief, trauma, and instability feel understood instead of judged. Most of all, I want to reach a point where I can care for my grandmother the way she has always cared for me. I cannot give her back every year she sacrificed, but I can build a life that shows her love was never wasted.

I first became interested in PMDD because someone close to me experiences it. Before that, I honestly did not know much about PMDD or how seriously it could affect someone. I think that is part of the problem. So many people grow up hearing that periods are supposed to make you emotional, tired, or uncomfortable, so it can be easy to overlook the moment when those symptoms become something much bigger. Watching someone I care about deal with those changes made me want to understand what was actually happening. It showed me that PMDD is not just someone having a bad week or being overly emotional. It can affect how a person feels about themselves, how they communicate, how they work, and how they handle everyday life. The hardest part is that the people around them may not understand why it is happening. Sometimes the person experiencing it may not understand either. That really stood out to me because I am studying psychology. Mental health is already misunderstood, but when symptoms are connected to a menstrual cycle, they can be dismissed even faster. Women are often told that what they are feeling is normal, that they are being dramatic, or that they just need to deal with it. I want to be part of changing that. My interest in women’s health also connects to my work as a licensed esthetician and my past experience as a certified nursing assistant. Both roles taught me that women will sometimes open up about what they are going through when they finally feel comfortable and listened to. I have learned that care is not only about knowing what service or treatment to provide. It is also about paying attention, asking better questions, and believing someone when they say that something does not feel right. One concrete way I hope to help is by bringing menstrual health conversations into the mental health spaces I work in one day. I want to encourage routine questions about whether depression, anxiety, anger, or other emotional changes become worse during certain parts of the menstrual cycle. I would also like to create simple educational resources that help young women track their symptoms and know when it may be time to speak with a doctor or mental health professional. A symptom tracker sounds small, but it could help someone recognize a pattern they have been struggling to explain for years. I am still learning, and I will not pretend that I already know everything about PMDD or PME. What I do know is that people should not have to spend years wondering what is wrong with them before someone takes their symptoms seriously. My goal is to use psychology, education, and honest conversations to help women feel heard earlier. If more people know what signs to look for, more women can receive support before their symptoms begin controlling their lives.

Prompt 3: Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health in the Military The military, when you hear that word, you probably think of strength, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude. But what often gets overlooked is the silent battle many service members face with their mental health. In a world that values toughness, it's tough to admit when you're struggling. Stories like that of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christopher Savidge, who lost his fight with PTSD, hit hard and remind us we need to change how we see mental health in the military. I've seen this firsthand, being in the Army Reserves and having a fiancé who's dealt with deployment and now lives with PTSD, I know how the pressure to stay strong can stop people from getting help. It's scary to look weak, and that fear can be paralyzing. Even my brother, who's in the Navy, worries about the lack of resources and how seeking mental health support might hurt his career. These aren't just isolated cases; it's a real issue we need to tackle head-on. So, how do we break this stigma and create a culture of mental wellness in the military? First, we need to start talking, really talking about mental health. Everyone, from the top officers to the newest recruits, needs to understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. Imagine if mental health awareness was part of the regular training. It could help service members spot the signs of distress in themselves and others. We need to drive home the idea that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Leaders need to step up, share their stories, and build an environment where it's okay to be vulnerable. Besides talking openly, we need to make sure there are plenty of confidential and easy-to-access mental health resources. That means more mental health professionals, shorter wait times for appointments, and getting rid of the stigma around seeking help. Telehealth could be a game-changer, especially for those in remote locations or who are hesitant to go for in-person counseling. Using technology, we can reach more people and provide care that's both convenient and private. Changing the culture around mental health in the military is a big job that needs a lot of different approaches. We need to create a safe space where service members feel they can prioritize their mental well-being. By remembering those like CW4 Savidge and pushing for better mental health support, we can make sure the brave men and women who serve our country get the care they need to thrive, both during and after their service.