For so long, I was driven by my unattainable goal to be perfect. I had to have a 97 or higher on a test, or I would cry. I eventually learned better, but I could have used someone like Andrea Worden in my life to show me that, in the long run, grades do not matter nearly as much as character does. From ages four to sixteen, I was homeschooled, and while it was a blessing that I would not trade for the world, there were also plenty of obstacles that came with homeschooling. My mother was my teacher for kindergarten through around the sixth grade, but after that, I had to become self-sufficient. My mom made many sacrifices to give me the opportunity to be homeschooled, believing strongly that homeschooling was essential for me to avoid unnecessary external pressure and have more time to do the things I loved. She eventually had to go back to work, though, to make enough money so she and I could escape my abusive father. One of the hardest obstacles of homeschooling was that once she went back to work, I had to teach myself. At the time, I did not even understand how much more difficult it was to learn from books instead of someone who knew the subject. An example of this difficulty is how it took me two full years, working even during seasonal breaks, to complete a single physics credit. Do not even get me started on trying to learn complex polynomials and imaginary numbers without help! I had to step up and play all of the roles: advisor, teacher, and student. Mind you, learning on my own was not an isolated event that I could devote all of my time and effort to. During my schooling, I pursued dance and soccer full-time while volunteering for my community. I was also an active member of my church, pursued my passion for art by running a small business, and wrote and published a poetry book entirely on my own. In addition, while all of this was happening, I was also going through a mental health crisis. For the past seven years or so, survival has been an ongoing fight. My parents divorced, and when I started to spend time alone with my father, he became physically abusive. I spent the majority of my time isolated in a dark room, staring at my school books, wanting to cry. That’s how I went from being a year ahead to three months behind on schoolwork, and since I was managing myself, no one noticed. Skip ahead a few years, and my father is killed. Yes, he was abusive, but he was not an evil person; there was plenty of good in him, and I loved him. Devastated by his death, I took a break from school. My mental health continued to decline until in 2023, I was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. Yet with the support of those around me and my own stubborn determination, I was able to get through it all and stand on stage as Pathways Academy 2025 Valedictorian with a smile on my face. I am proud of obtaining the title of valedictorian, but it is by no means my greatest accomplishment during high school. In fact, I might argue I am more proud of the fact that I graduated from therapy and no longer spend nights longing for death. Through counseling and hardships, I learned the most important skills: how to love others and myself, how to forgive, how to comfort, and how to listen. During some of the darkest years of my life, I was able to bring a smile to my friends who were going through their own tragedies. My pain equaled empathy, and I would not trade my empathy for an easy life. My story is not over yet. This is just the introduction. I am hard at work preparing to transfer to Taylor University, where I will pursue a major called “Orphans and Vulnerable Children.” I have experienced things that no child should ever go through. However, it has taught me compassion and invaluable lessons that I can use to help future generations of kids so they do not have to figure it out alone or sit in a dark room wondering when someone will save them. I will protect and provide for the children I come across physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I might not be able to save the world, but if I save a single child’s world, is that not enough?

Right now, one of my absolute favorite tropes in science fiction is neurodivergent people living comfortably alongside neurotypical folks in a world that accommodates all people. Instead of the current world where neurodivergent people have to “get over it” or suffer even more, in science fiction, they have special solutions just for them. It is a world people dream up in fantasy and fiction, but I want to use a degree in Nutrition to help bring that world to life. In the society we live in, everyday tasks are battles for neurodivergent people. For example, eating can be a challenge many folks dread, especially those with sensory issues. Like, for example, most people with autism spectrum disorder struggle with meals, whether because of the size of the meal, the texture, or unpredictable taste. Food is hard for people with sensory issues to deal with. Blueberries can be soft or hard, tart or sweet, and big or small. All of these unpredictable factors of vegetables, or fruits like the blueberry, cause those with sensory issues and a need for predictability to lean towards simpler foods like bread. While there is nothing wrong with some good bread, this repetitive decision causes many to miss out on essential nutrients. I envision a world where we all actively do our best to create an accommodating environment for everyone. I hope to ease the struggles of those I can help. My plan to do this is to design food that will accommodate anyone with sensory needs, low income, and lack of time. I am working towards designing food that has all the needed nutrients of fruits and vegetables in a calorie-dense, quick, and easy-to-prepare meal. That way, it is predictable, easy to eat, and not time-consuming. I hope it will help lessen the burden of those with autism spectrum disorder, ARFID, ADHD, those with limited meal-prep time, and those wanting to eat healthier without the money to afford to do so. By majoring in Nutrition and/or Food Science, I will be able to learn the details of food and find a way to accommodate neurodivergent people, and anyone else who finds it helpful, when it comes to the basic need of food. I will use the knowledge I gain in college to innovate a way to preserve essential nutrients in a yummy, yet predictable flavor. I will have the access to information to begin bringing the science fiction trope of neurodivergent people being properly accommodated, to reality.

Last year on September 1st, 14-year-old me was pulled into the consultant room in a hospital, and my whole world was shaken. My father had been killed unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident. The world kept moving, despite my grief. I had to use my determination to set goals and work to achieve them. So I will do everything in my power to achieve my dreams. During my grief journey, I have had no time to stop and dwell on my pain. I had to keep fighting. My family has to work even harder now that one of our main sources of support is gone. I have to face my future without him. At least, without him physically. My Dad left behind his notorious discipline and determination in me. He will always be a source of inspiration for me. So, despite our financial struggles, I will fight for my education and future. My father’s death taught me the importance of family and dreams. It made me realize I can not just give up because of my struggles, whether mental or physical, but that I have to persevere for everyone’s sake. Including my own. Now, I focus more on the importance of family and my ambitions, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. I will fight my issues, because I want to help as many people as deeply as I can while I am on this earth. I have a dream of becoming a nutritionist/food scientist and designing food for autistic children and their needs. I want to change their world by helping them get their needed nutrients despite their sensory issues. My dream will be a hard thing to accomplish, and it will require expensive and extensive education, but if my dad ever taught me one thing it was how to work hard for what you want. I will fight tooth and nail for my dreams, just like how he fought for his family. My dad may be gone, but his strong willpower still fights inside of me.

My mother gave me everything she never had. She isn’t the best with words, but she has taught me so much by example. From working hard every day, to coming home and making our family three meals, and helping us clean up. She never stopped doing her best for us. When she drops everything to paint her father’s house, for free, to ease his mind, or when she pressure washes the church’s steeple, I’m reminded of how one should love and help those they love. When stuck in an unhealthy relationship, she did not give up. She prepared for six years to be able to divorce her husband. This taught me to see the bigger picture and to find hope in your potential. When my safety was threatened, I saw my mother’s fangs as she grew furious and threatened my abuser. I learned there is a time and place for anger and violence. My mother started her own business and worked her butt off in a man-dominated field and homeschooled me so that I could dance, so that I could play soccer, so that I could have every opportunity to make the most of. She gave me everything, and it taught me to be grateful and how to love and give it to others. When my father was killed in an accident last year, she was there for me. It didn’t matter that she lost her best friend, she held my hand and wiped my tears as she hushed me to sleep. Her love taught me how to comfort and be there for others. She didn’t have the best example of what a mother should be, but instead of following her mother’s steps, she became the mother she never had. I am so grateful she did, and she has given me a wonderful environment to grow up in. She taught me we don't have to become who we were made to be, we can create a new version of ourselves. As I grew up and took on more responsibility, my mother did not take the time to slack off. She instead filled all the gaps she could now reach, and did even more work for our family and those we love. Showing me how to make the most of every blessing you have. My mother taught me that hard work and patience can get you anywhere, that you can always improve and it’s never too late to try. She taught me what love is and how to give it to others. I hope one day I can mimic her virtues.