This illustration is of my aunt, Anita Grant. I illustrated this in remembrance of her life and to showcase how indispensable she was in my life. She was a librarian at Ohio University for 25 years, serving as a director of circulation services and director of the microfilms department. Originally from Queens, New York. She was adopted into a family from Greensboro, North Carolina. She too had her fair share of trials and tribulations. As well as no stranger to pain, both emotionally and physically. However, it’s these events that show her true strength and how her perseverance and faith carried her to where she was meant to be. She suffered from breast cancer for 10 years and fortunately she was able to persevere and survive through this vigorous and arduous condition. Unfortunately, my family and I ended up losing her to a loose blood clot and fluids inundating her lungs. Losing her was one of the most strenuous times of my life, it was like a part of me died once it truly set it she was gone physically. However, it was also one of the most pleasant and warmest times because I realized she was always with me in my heart and spirit. Reminiscing on all of the memories we shared and the impact she had on other people. These realizations assisted to motivate me to keep moving forward and elevating a multitude of aspects of my life. So that I may follow within her footsteps and accomplish all the great things she saw within me. My Aunt loved giving back to the less fortunate and passed on as much wisdom as she could whenever she could to others. I have such joyous memories of my aunt taking me out during the summer and informing me of the importance of forming a relationship with the community. The many food drives and events within the area presented these ideals from a young age. Which I feel, allowed my heart and mind to expand more on these ideals and practices at that time. Ever since her passing, it has been a motivation to carry on helping and inspiring people as she had throughout her lifetime. Also, as she had taught me years beforehand. Her love and guidance has opened my eyes to how I can form relationships with those that may need someone or how support from an individual can truly change someone's livelihood. This is something that has stuck with me through the years and heavily influenced my aspired future career. Her warm energy and loving spirit inspired and touched all those she encountered. I feel so fortunate to have had her in my life. I now feel most honored that I am able to share her story with you.

I am Rhonda Chrisp, a girl with goals to not only impact the world. But, all those whom I come across. I wish to use my time and resources to be an excellent leader to my peers and generation. I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and I have always wanted to be a positive force throughout my life. However, I didn’t start this way, my life presented me with a multitude of trials and tribulations. My adolescent years were met with the denunciation of my peers. Being ostracized and invariably being reminded of how I was subordinate in comparison. Even with how much I persevered through the years of agony. I ensured that I wouldn’t showcase that it was slowly dismantling my self-worth. Accompanied by the burdens I felt I had to carry with my father. He left when I was two years old and was never a preeminent figure in my life. Watching my mother survive domestic abuse over the years began to weigh on me that It was just my mother and I facing life together without him. I triumphed in these battles by both the will of God and sheer determination of doing better than my father. Accompanied by the determination of my mother and the few family members I had. I adhered to their words and I used that to motivate myself throughout all of the pain I still kept inside. I used these feelings to initiate a new goal of being a leader. I started pushing myself for a multitude of opportunities. From this newfound leadership, I wanted to put it to use. I learned that I wanted to prevent others from experiencing the feelings of loneliness and insufficiency I felt growing up. I developed an eagerness to assist people who feel that they have no one to open up to. Which has led me to pursue a career in art therapy. To achieve this, I desire to attend a well-accredited 4-year educational institution. Within the coming months, I wish to pursue a major in psychology with a minor in visual arts. Advancing my education and expanding my networking skills. Whilst obtaining the experience needed for my profession, I want to continue my involvement within the community. Utilizing my time with the aspiration to improve someone else’s well-being and way of life. Contributing to societal issues and working towards a sense of change. Not only for this but to also educate me on the multitude of circumstances I possibly hear about in the future. Furthermore, my long-term goals consist of me departing from college successfully and advancing toward my Ph.D. Obtaining all qualifications for me to accomplish this ambitious yet gratifying level of education. Sustaining these levels of success, I have the hopes to truly preserve my passion(s) and make a difference in mental health. I desire to establish a practice and residence for those that feel they require mental assistance. Anticipating that it will impact those that not only don’t feel they can vocally express themselves. But those who physically can’t as well. There are so many people in the world with disabilities and certain attributes that may not allow them to be able to express themselves. To conclude, this scholarship will not only be a contribution to me or my dream. It will be a contribution to the future generations of kids and people I desire to assist. Regardless of their circumstances, everyone has a voice and deserves to be heard.

I am Rhonda Chrisp, a girl with goals to not only impact the world. But, all those whom I come across. I wish to use my time, words, and resources to be an excellent leader to my peers and generation. I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Becoming (and being) a leader was and still is a preeminent thing in my life. Whilst maintaining my academics I am still taking on the responsibilities of a leader. Being a SCA President, Central Regional Thespian Officer, Cheerleader, Band Member, and so much more; It has constructed my character in a way that has acknowledged my hard work in ways I never would’ve envisioned. However, my accomplishments don't withdraw from the many battles I have/had to face. The bullying, disbelievers, sleepless nights, and the tears. Recollecting my past, it did and still does carry meager influence at times. However, it also motivated my goals to guide and counsel others. After being shut down so many times in my life. I was eager to create and then go on to use those resources to assist people in preventing those feelings of insufficiency. I do feel it was this exact set of events that allowed me to end up on the path I feel I was meant for. It has allured to my goals of wanting to help and motivate others. Always wanting to assist others and change things for the better has not only been a goal in my life. Assisting in awakening my spark for my aspired profession, accompanied with my passion and talent for the arts. I wish to incorporate this into my career goals to become an art therapist specifically. Utilizing my time with the aspiration to improve someone else’s well being and way of life. Contributing to societal issues and working towards a sense of change. Not only for this, but to also educate myself on the multitude of circumstances I possibly hear about in the future. Furthermore, I anticipate that it will impact those that not only don’t feel they can vocally express themselves. But those who physically can’t as well. There are so many people in the world with disabilities and certain attributes that may not allow them to be able to express themselves. With this in mind, art therapy is clinically known to provide a natural outlet of self projection and increases self-control. Accompanied with a designated place to learn and adapt to expressing themselves. It will be my contribution and inception of change within the mental health community. To conclude, someone that has made a positive impact on my life is my (now passed) aunt, Anita Grant. I have such joyous memories of my aunt taking me out during the summer and informing me of the importance of forming a relationship with the community. The many food drives and events within the area presented these ideals from a young age. Which I feel, allowed my heart and mind to expand more on these ideals and practices at that time. Ever since her passing, it has been a motivation to carry on helping and inspiring people as she had throughout her lifetime. Also, as she had taught me years beforehand. Her love and guidance has opened my eyes to how I can form relationships with those that may need someone or how support from an individual can truly change someone's livelihood. This is something that has stuck with me through the years and heavily influenced the person I am today.

Impacting the world is something that I've always aspired to do. Being a leader was and still is a preeminent thing in my life. Always wanting to assist others and change things for the better has not only been a goal in my life. But, it has been something that was instilled in me from a young age. From being a girl scout I was introduced to a multitude of causes and hours upon hours of helping those in need. Those memories still resonate with me and as I've grown my views on community service progressed into a passion. I have such joyous memories of my (now passed) aunt taking me out during the summer and informing me of the importance of forming a relationship with the community. The many food drives and events within the area presented these ideals from a young age. Which I feel, allowed my heart and mind to expand more on these ideals and practices at that time. Ever since her passing, it has been a motivation to carry on helping and inspiring people as she had throughout her lifetime. Also, as she had taught me years beforehand. The multitude of forms of community service and causes have taught me the importance of unity and coming together. It has opened my eyes to how I can form relationships with those that may need someone or how support from an individual can truly change someone's livelihood. With these different experiences and meeting all these different people in need. It assisted in awakening my spark for my aspired profession of wanting to be a licensed therapist. Wanting to help others become better and elevate themselves mentally. This to me is something truly beautiful. I hope my efforts will motivate them to improve their environment for themselves. Alongside all of my future aspirations, I do still practice these ideals now. To continue not only the yearly events I take part in. But, also to research newly founded causes to provide my time too. I will also prioritize encouraging others to find their causes to contribute to. As every individual has their own stories and occurrences and we all can assist in inspiring positive development within certain topics/movements. As within all that is happening today, it is important to still seek ways of unity. To showcase a collective coming together for a singular purpose and development will hopefully and eventually convert the state of each issue, one situation at a time. As we progress this world into a better version of itself. Furthermore, we as individuals morally progress and we continue to learn to assist in one another's progression. As I become the young adult I am meant to be, I wholeheartedly wish to be (and continue to be) a part of this progression.

Impacting the world is something that I've always aspired to do. Being a leader was and still is a preeminent thing in my life. Always wanting to assist others and change things for the better has not only been a goal in my life. But, it has been something that was instilled in me from a young age. From being a girl scout I was introduced to a multitude of causes and hours upon hours of helping those in need. Those memories still resonate with me and as I've grown my views on community service progressed into a passion. I have such joyous memories of my (now passed) aunt taking me out during the summer and informing me of the importance of forming a relationship with the community. The many food drives and events within the area presented these ideals from a young age. Which I feel, allowed my heart and mind to expand more on these ideals and practices at that time. Ever since her passing, it has been a motivation to carry on helping and inspiring people as she had throughout her lifetime. Also, as she had taught me years beforehand. The multitude of forms of community service and causes have taught me the importance of unity and coming together. It has opened my eyes to how I can form relationships with those that may need someone or how support from an individual can truly change someone's livelihood. With these different experiences and meeting all these different people in need. It assisted in awakening my spark for my aspired profession of wanting to be a licensed therapist. Wanting to help others become better and elevate themselves mentally. This to me is something truly beautiful. I hope my efforts will motivate them to improve their environment for themselves. As I go on about this I feel that this scholarship fund will not only assist me to accomplish my goals. But, it will assist me in my journey of self-growth and provides me with some relief with my tuition funds. It’s not just me I wish to keep in mind, it is also my mother. As she is a single unmarried parent doing it all alone with barely any help financially from anyone. She has been such a solidified part of my growth and she has worked tirelessly to make me the accomplished young woman I am today. I wish to help her and showcase that her efforts and journey weren’t for nothing. I feel this is my way of giving back to her and helping her for a change. As I know that her road to where she is wasn’t easy. Accompanied by the number of people that have doubted her both in her face and behind her back. As they have also doubted her success with me and I wish to do what I can to prove those naysayers wrong. To assist my mom for myself and to reassure her that she did an amazing job as a single parent. This scholarship is something I can truly see myself with and I would feel honored to carry on Lauren’s memory. As I feel this should not only help me but continue to get her wonderful and heartwarming message across to not only me. But future recipients as well!

I am Rhonda Chrisp, a girl with goals to not only impact the world. But, all those whom I come across. I wish to use my time and resources to be an excellent leader to my peers and generation. I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and I have always wanted to be a positive force throughout my life. Growing up was a challenge as I have been bullied throughout my school experience. However, I do feel it was this exact set of events that allowed me to end up on the path I feel I was meant for. As well as my mother was a huge driving force as to why I grew the strength I needed to make it through those tribulations I faced. She never fails to motivate me with both my academics and all of my extracurriculars. With this mindset, I have made it a priority to stay focused and to pursue the path I feel is the most appropriate for my career. Maintaining a 3.9 GPA and only progressing with my success! While ensuring my teachers' efforts and hard work to assist me during this journey are appreciated. Within my academic premise, I also love to challenge myself and further my knowledge by taking all honors and AP courses. I have made it preeminent to be exemplary outside of the classroom as well! As I’m in a total of 15 different organizations and I’m currently (or previously have been) a leader for 7 of these organizations. Outside of my academics, I am a part of 9 different activities/organizations and I’m currently a leader of 2 of these organizations. Also, I have made it a significant part of my life to give back to my community (and take part in community service). I feel that being affiliated with these practices truly showcases my want for change. To assist all of those who have faced similar challenges that have caused people to question their self-worth. I wish to become a safe space for people to talk to when they don’t feel heard. I know what it feels like to have people hold me back and strip me of my voice; So much so to the point where it feels useless to talk because I felt that no one would ever hear me or utilize what I had to say. After being shut down so many times in my life and not having anyone I felt I could relay that too; I wish to create and then go on to use those resources to assist people in preventing those feelings of insufficiency. To utilize my time to impact someone’s life in such a way that makes theirs excel what it was previously. Hopefully, by helping them create that new mindset, they can go on to help others with what they have on the inside. Helping them feel like they’re never truly alone and they have someone to communicate and vent with. As this also plays into my hopeful career of becoming a licensed psychologist/therapist. Assisting others and making that progress is truly exceptional and fulfilling.

My dream in this life is to inspirational to others, to accomplish so much and to tell motivate others they can do it to. As a rising black young woman wanting to go into the psychological field; I feel that playing a role into making mental health more of a priority in my community is huge. Also, as someone that is in multiple leadership roles and still achieving great things, I would like to be that sense of representation for my people and show that it's possible to keep going no matter what people say.