My name is Riley Terrell, and I am a Freshman at Georgia State University, majoring in Cinematography and Film/Video Production. As a woman with both mental and physical disabilities, I have faced numerous challenges throughout my academic journey. However, these experiences have also shaped my career goals and given me a unique perspective on the importance of accessibility and accommodation in the film industry. This scholarship will help me immensely. I do not have the financial resources to afford my textbooks and necessary school supplies. With the support of the Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship, I can focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. Stress is something that often causes my disabilities to “flare”. This assistance will allow me to excel in my coursework and pursue my passion for filmmaking without the constant worry of how I will afford the tools I need. My disabilities have significantly shaped who I am and what I want to do. As a future filmmaker, it is my goal to make sets more accessible and accommodating to those with both mental and physical disabilities. I have experienced firsthand the struggles and importance of needing accommodations in schooling and on film and theatrical sets. Simple things like having a quiet space to work or ensuring that sets are physically navigable can make a huge difference for someone with disabilities. In my time at GSU, I have already begun to see the impact of accessibility in education and how it can empower students like me to achieve their goals. I am committed to bringing this awareness and dedication to accessibility into the film industry. I want to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute and thrive. My high school unweighted GPA was a 3.0, and I worked hard to maintain that despite the challenges I faced. My experiences have taught me resilience and determination, which I bring to my studies and my future career. I believe that my unique perspective and commitment to accessibility will allow me to make a meaningful impact in the film industry. The Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship will provide me with the financial support I need to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker. My disabilities have shaped my career goals, and I am dedicated to making the film industry more inclusive and accommodating for everyone. Thank you for considering my application.

I've experienced many losses in my life; friends, family, neighbors, and pets. The day before I started 6th grade, my precious Labradoodle was fatally shot. I thought that loss would be the most traumatic thing I'd ever go through. I was wrong. A few years later, I started my freshman year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was 14 years old, fighting to keep myself afloat while taking virtual classes, dealing with mental illness, and handling social conflicts. I did not think things could get much worse until they did. On St. Patrick's Day 2021, I was in my theatre class, learning choreography for a group project, when my dad pulled me from my room. I felt my world crumble as he told me that my grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer. I felt all the air leave my lungs as my father and I just held each other and sobbed. I had to muster up the courage to hide my tear-stained face and leave my virtual class. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, knowing my classmates had to do the project without me, but I knew I would be gone for a while. My grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 small-cell carcinoma that had already metastasized to her liver and spine. She underwent emergency spine surgery to remove a tumor that had caused a fracture. My grandmother had quit smoking around 15 years prior. She stopped smoking right before I was born, so this wouldn't happen, but it did. The doctors told us if she had quit one day earlier, this might not have ever happened, as 15 years was the "money spot" for smokers. A month before her diagnosis, I was diagnosed with numerous disorders, including autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety, dysthymia, OCD, and sensory processing disorder. I was balancing my mental illnesses while also dealing with my parents' depression and anxiety. My grades were slipping, I was losing friendships, and my grandmother had cancer. My mental health was at an all-time low, but I knew I had to keep fighting for my family. At 14, I wasn't hanging out with friends or always studying like most kids. I was either at home trying to catch up on work, at my grandmother's apartment trying to take care of her, or at the hospital visiting her after her treatments and surgeries. There were many obstacles in her treatment because of the pandemic, such as constant COVID tests and always wearing a mask. Because of my sensory issues, wearing a mask was extremely difficult for me during this time and often led to me having breakdowns in bathrooms, but being with Grammy was more important. I finished my freshman year of high school despite these challenges. It wasn't easy. I passed all my classes with my teachers' help. My sophomore year began, and it was like a breath of fresh air. I was in person for school and had a 504 plan. My grandma's condition was getting better, and her cancer had reduced by 70% from chemo and radiation. I auditioned for the competition one-act play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare because of her improving condition. I was cast as Cobweb the Fairy. She was overjoyed that I was moving forward. My grandma, an accomplished singer and pianist, always loved the arts. We shared a passion for music and acting. I had horrible stage fright, so being a lead was never on the cards for me, then. I was devastated that she could not attend my performance due to her declining health. However, our show was uploaded to YouTube, and we had a great time watching it together. I was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall with 75 other singers, and my grandma was ecstatic. She continually encouraged me to audition for the spring musical; however, her health went downhill. In December 2021, she was given a 3-month prognosis. My depression returned and the struggle began anew. On February 18th, 2022, my grandmother passed away. My family was devastated. I was going to drop out of the musical, but I knew that would crush my Grammy, so I switched to stage crew. I knew I had to keep going in the arts for her. That spring, I was inducted into the Thespian Society and elected president. I decided to still go to Carnegie Hall that summer in honor of her. I wore her ashes in a necklace on stage. I continued pursuing the arts and was elected Thespian president for a second year. During my final show, which I student-directed and had a lead role in, I wore her ashes. I am now majoring in film and will continue to honor her passion for music and movies for the rest of my life.