Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. There is one movie that helped me realize that my gifts can become my passion and that I should not limit myself because it is in the art field; I saw how the main character soared through pursuing her gifts and talents, now I want to do the same. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. My light shines through volunteering and exceeding my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. A legacy that I want to leave is the following mindset: "My passion has become my mission," and I hope that it encourages all that come after me.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. I work full time as the Welcome service representative for the City of Denison and also volunteer at my church (Rock Creek Church) as the graphic sermon designer and media runner. Cancer and disease has been something my family has dealt with for a long time, and most recently I lost my aunt to stomach cancer, and my mom's bestfriend and mentor to breast cancer. Both of these losses have affected our family very heavily, and they were not the only losses we experienced in the year 2023; we lost 5 family members and 2 close friends. Working through each of these losses feels like there was always another one coming and we would dread phone calls that usually would have the same message about someone we have lost. The losses of my Aunt and my moms best friend were very hard, because there was nothing we could do but watch from the sidelines as they were constantly told that nothing was helping and that they needed to try something else. Eventually we got the news that the had been given their "amount of time left," and we knew at that time the battle was lost and it was only a matter of time before they left us to be with God and fully healed. The heavy losses, heavy news, and Facebook updates were hard for me to see while completing my classes; I would run out of joy during those times and feel like giving up altogether. I still have times where I feel like giving up, but I know that is not what they would have wanted for me. Therapy has helped me work through those losses and also through the others that were just as hard or even harder, so at least I had that to lean on when I was reaching a breaking point. Communication with my professors, employers, and counselors has helped me overcome the year 2023 by giving me the time I needed to heal and finding ways to work through my bad days. I am thankful to how supportive they were and how I was not allowed to give up because of the amount of support they gave me. Cancer is awful, loss is awful, and trying to work through that sorrow is even worse; but having the support that I had during those times and still now has helped me keep going.

1. My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. 2. My degree does not stop at Graphic Design and Photography, it exceeds into areas that I am still learning and is constantly changing. In Information Technology I have to be up to date on the changes that occur through the programs I use and how that affects the computer software that I have installed. Sometimes it is me learning that I have to update my computer, or change passwords on certain software in order to keep my information and projects safe. I enjoy how this area is always under development and trying to find new ways to make life easier for those who do not know how to use all the fancy equipment or settings; they try to make it user friendly and also super detailed for those who need all that can be offered. Being a small branch of STEM does not mean that I am not aware of how important computer security and training is, it means that I might be even more aware and careful of what software I use and what emails I choose to open. I may not know coding or software development, but I do know a lot of it is through trial and error, and that is a lot of what I experience as a graphic designer. 3. The greatest challenge I have had to overcome is leaving college and finding the courage to come back and start on a new degree that I have no prior knowledge of. I had to learn about software, how to install it into my computer, how to use the software, and even what to do when the software makes your computer crash completely; that was a horrible lesson, lost all my work and had to purchase a new computer (which set me back on my finances for school). Every single challenge is going to come with hard lessons, that is why it is called a challenge; and mine really opened my eyes to what I needed to get prepared for. Another challenge that I experienced that coincided with the original challenge is that the information and tools did not come as easy to me as it did when all I had to do was read text books. I actually had to show that I knew the work and knew the design concepts that we were learning; talk about a bunch of late nights with me reviewing tutorials and watching YouTube videos. What I learned is that not every path is going to be like the one you had before, be open and be ready because it is better to be prepared.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. This scholarship will also help me achieve my dream of being debt free when I graduate, I am working on filling out as many scholarship applications as I can. My goal scholarship amount is $55,000, and I see myself reaching that goal before I graduate; I am going to hustle and not let anything slow me down because I have expectations for myself. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. My passion has become my mission, and I want to help others see that possibility as well.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. This scholarship will also help me achieve my dream of being debt free when I graduate, I am working on filling out as many scholarship applications as I can. My goal scholarship amount is $55,000, and I see myself reaching that goal before I graduate; I am going to hustle and not let anything slow me down because I have expectations for myself. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. There is one movie that helped me realize that my gifts can become my passion and that I should not limit myself because it is in the art field; I saw how the main character soared through pursuing her gifts and talents, now I want to do the same. The movie is called "Look Both Ways" with Lili Reinhart and it gives you two different perspectives of her life based on one decision she makes and in the end her art degree and gift still makes an impact. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. I work full time as the Welcome service representative for the City of Denison and also volunteer at my church (Rock Creek Church) as the graphic sermon designer and media runner. As the first in my family to obtain a college degree, I feel like I am setting an example for my younger brothers and the opportunity for them to be able to ask me questions and what they need to do for their college experience. It also means that I am setting myself up for success and a prosperous career path. Having a college degree will help me feel more secure in the fact that I will have something that shows I put my time in for the respective field and that I am qualified; it gives me the confidence I need to know I am good enough for the jobs I am applying for. When I first started college, I wanted to pursue nursing because of how significant the pay was and how I would be able to help people get better from their ailments. I worked on this degree plan for about two years through my community college, and when COVID hit all of the hard I have been doing came to a crashing halt. All I could do is online classes and online clinicals, and that pretty much killed my spark for the nursing profession. I left college for awhile because I could no longer pursue something that I was going to be miserable in, even if it provided financially. I started working full time at this point, and did so for the next 4 years. It provided fine for while I was still trying to figure myself out, but I soon realized that I needed to do something more to be better off and finally complete my college degree. My mom helped to remind me that I have a passion for art, whether it is drawing, painting, photography, or some sort of design, it is my passion. Because of her influence I considered looking into different art degrees that would help me finish up my degree plan, and I found Graphic Design. Through Graphic Design I have been able to turn my passion into my mission, and to be able to use my gifts not only for myself but for my community. I plan to stay with the City of Denison, and become the first head of the Graphic Design department. I do not know if this will happen in the next couple years or if it will be 10 years down the road, but it is my first goal with the City of Denison that will be influenced by my degree and experience.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. I work full time as the Welcome service representative for the City of Denison and also volunteer at my church (Rock Creek Church) as the graphic sermon designer and media runner. Starting school full time in October of 2022 was new and had its challenges, but after working through the first few classes I was able to set up a schedule that worked for me in order to get my classes completed with excellence and still be present at work like I need to be. I have been blessed to be part of an area that allows me to work on my school work and scholarships at work during down time when I do not have any projects that I would be working on. A big part of this being so successful, has been my communication that I have with my professors and with my supervisor; it also helps that I have a support team at work, church, school, and home that wants to see me achieve all dreams. I realize that my schedule is not perfect and may not work for others, but for the dreams I have I know that having this schedule even for a few years will be worth it when I walk across that stage and receive my diploma. This is a great example of what multi-tasking in my life looks like, usually busy and sometimes chaotic, but this is a great time for me to figure out what I can and cannot handle so I have a better idea for the future. I know that as I grow in my career as a graphic designer, I am going to have many projects that might be back to back and even overlapping; so learning how to work through that now will help me be better prepared in the future. Professionally, I see my self being a great manger of time for projects, meetings, and staying ahead of deadlines before they need to be completed. I do not want others to be hurt by my time management skills lacking, so I will make sure that I become efficient in my time management. When you love something that is your passion, you do not stop trying because it becomes your mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. There is one movie that helped me realize that my gifts can become my passion and that I should not limit myself because it is in the art field; I saw how the main character soared through pursuing her gifts and talents, now I want to do the same. The movie is called "Look Both Ways" with Lili Reinhart and it gives you two different perspectives of her life based on one decision she makes and in the end her art degree and gift still makes an impact. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have watched my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. I work full time as the Welcome service representative for the City of Denison and also volunteer at my church (Rock Creek Church) as the graphic sermon designer and media runner. Cancer and disease has been something my family has dealt with for a long time, and most recently I lost my aunt to stomach cancer, and my mom's bestfriend and mentor to breast cancer. Both of these losses have affected our family very heavily, and they were not the only losses we experienced in the year 2023; we lost 5 family members and 2 close friends. Working through each of these losses feels like there was always another one coming and we would dread phone calls that usually would have the same message about someone we have lost. The losses of my Aunt and my moms best friend were very hard, because there was nothing we could do but watch from the sidelines as they were constantly told that nothing was helping and that they needed to try something else. Eventually we got the news that the had been given their "amount of time left," and we knew at that time the battle was lost and it was only a matter of time before they left us to be with God and fully healed. The heavy losses, heavy news, and Facebook updates were hard for me to see while completing my classes; I would run out of joy during those times and feel like giving up altogether. I still have times where I feel like giving up, but I know that is not what they would have wanted for me. Therapy has helped me work through those losses and also through the others that were just as hard or even harder, so at least I had that to lean on when I was reaching a breaking point. Communication with my professors, employers, and counselors has helped me overcome the year 2023 by giving me the time I needed to heal and finding ways to work through my bad days. I am thankful to how supportive they were and how I was not allowed to give up because of the amount of support they gave me. Cancer is awful, loss is awful, and trying to work through that sorrow is even worse; but having the support that I had during those times and still now has helped me keep going.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. I work full time as the Welcome service representative for the City of Denison and also volunteer at my church (Rock Creek Church) as the graphic sermon designer and media runner. Starting school full time in October of 2022 was new and had its challenges, but after working through the first few classes I was able to set up a schedule that worked for me in order to get my classes completed with excellence and still be present at work like I need to be. I have been blessed to be part of an area that allows me to work on my school work and scholarships at work during down time when I do not have any projects that I would be working on. A big part of this being so successful, has been my communication that I have with my professors and with my supervisor; it also helps that I have a support team at work, church, school, and home that wants to see me achieve all dreams. I realize that my schedule is not perfect and may not work for others, but for the dreams I have I know that having this schedule even for a few years will be worth it when I walk across that stage and receive my diploma. This is a great example of what multi-tasking in my life looks like, usually busy and sometimes chaotic, but this is a great time for me to figure out what I can and cannot handle so I have a better idea for the future. I know that as I grow in my career as a graphic designer, I am going to have many projects that might be back to back and even overlapping; so learning how to work through that now will help me be better prepared in the future. When you love something that is your passion, you do not stop trying because it becomes your mission.

Hello! My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. My mental health has always been something that I have been battling since I was in middle school, and started with how I was bullied and teased for my weight. I have been on the road of healing for almost 11 years, and still find myself affected by how I was treated in my past and how it makes me feel less worthy of things that I know I am worthy of; not to mention how hard I work for my success. Being a Christian I have been able to find support and healing through changing my way of thinking and focusing on how I can better myself without the influence of others in my life. It has not always been easy nor has it been perfect, but I do recognize how it has given me more strength to know how to navigate my emotions in a more stable way. Being an adult now has helped me learn along the way people that I am able to trust and those I shouldn't, I can see from their actions and their words whether or not they will truly be supportive of me and the plans I have for the future. My circle is pretty small because of this way of thinking, but it has proven to be very beneficial when I am looking to open up to my friends and share with them what I am going through; I have not had to worry about if they will think less of me. My circle has been by my side through break ups, family losses, and even job losses. The worst year of my life hit last year when I lost 8 people, friends and family members, in my life that each held significance; their support as they came to the funerals and reminded me that they were there for was everything that I could have asked for. I am still struggling with those losses and on the days where I am struggling the most, I know that they will lift me up from my sorrow and remind me of the things that I find joy in everyday. Without their support I would not have considered college ever again, but they saw my gifts and talents for what they really were and encouraged me to expand on those through getting more education and finishing my degree. My mental health holds me most days, but through my support system and the way I hold myself now, I can fight through it because I know what it all will be worth once I complete my degree. I have been helped to see that my passion has become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I want to be someone our youth students can talk to if they are interested in the field of Graphic Design, I want them to be able to ask me questions and I be able to provide the support for them, just like the support I have received from my church team. I want to give them opportunities to try and get started in an area where our support can be positive and life changing. For me it is all about providing the opportunity to those that are interested, just one experience can make a major impact. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Hello, My name is Sarah and I am a first generation college student in my family. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University for a Bachelors degree in Graphic design with a minor in photography. Out of high school I tried attending community college for a nursing degree, but quickly found myself burnt out from the classes and the education that I was receiving. I left college and got certified as a medical assistant so I could start working full time, this helped me start my career path for the next 4 years. However after COVID hit I started to feel like being a medical assistant was not where I was being called and not where my gifts could really be used. I have always had a passion for art and decided that after a long time of pursuing medical I would take the leap of faith and pursue art through graphic design. I started at Grand Canyon University in 2022 and instantly felt like I was making a decision that was going to change my future for the better. I received support and teaching that was more student/ professor focused, unlike what I received at the community college. Going to school full time and working full time is not for the faint of heart, but it is worth it for me to get my bachelors degree and to pursue a passion that brings me joy. This scholarship will help me feel supported in my endeavors for pursuing my passion and building my skillset. Through the classes I have completed so far, I have been able to step into a volunteer role at church to make the sermon media graphics and to also run the graphics during our Sunday services. I have been able to watch my graphics change and become more refined over time, and it has helped propel me forward in other areas as well; like my photography and communication skills. Through volunteering I have exceeded my own expectations for creating an environment where I can grow, and also help others grow who are interested in the graphics field like I was when first starting out. I have become part of a team that has become my support system and encourages my talents to grow and become fruitful because they see my capabilities. I am so thankful for what others see in me through my work, because it is helping me to open my eyes and see it too. I am seeing my passion become my mission.

Art, through many mediums, has the ability to make a positive impact in the world, serving as a universal language that bridges cultures, communicates deep emotions, and inspires change. At it's core, art has the power to evoke empathy and understanding among individuals, enabling people from diverse backgrounds to connect over shared human experiences. This ability to foster connections is crucial in a world where empathy is often the first step towards addressing social issues and building a more inclusive society. Keeping this in mind, I want my work to speak and express, creating those moments of understanding and deep rooted thinking. I believe that a positive impact can be as small as a smile that you give someone when waiting at a stop light, so if something that small and lasts seconds can make an impact; imagine what my work can do since it is designed to stay around forever. I like to think of my art carrying the weight of the creator, when I am sad the art is dull and lacks creativity, but when the I am in a cheerful mood it is bright and colorful with different ideas all wrapped into one piece. I want my work to be able to help individuals feel peace, joy, happiness, and comfort through my art; I want them to know that my art will be there for them when they need a smile or a chuckle because it is hard to find now and days. The art I have provided: - A "thank you" card that I water color painted and turned into a digital file. I love using water color when painting flowers, plants, or some kind of landscape; the colors just flow together and make the art connected. - The Eisenhower statue is from my home city at a state park, and it was part of a school project where we had to do a digital painting on a series of "interesting places" in our city. This one was my favorite because it made me laugh using my sunglasses to make it look like the statue was wearing them, it also provided an unusual point of view. - The canyon picture, I loved how the canyon walls guided my eyes to the patterned sky. Helped me remember how remarkable nature can be.

My mental health is quite literally a roller coaster, and I have not managed to keep it stable like it needs to be. In my academic and personal life it has kept me from doing things that I love and has also left me paralyzed when realizing the amount of work I need to do. It has made me feel like I cannot do anything at times and I start to give up then give in to the thought that I am done with all the stuff life has thrown at me. I have outlets such as going for a run, talking to my best friend, cuddling with my corgi and pursuing my passion through my art. I may be struggling but I know what I need to do to get out of a funk and push myself to keep showing up and trying. I have noticed that during my worst times, my grades slip from A's to B's because I feel like giving up, and I hate that I do that to myself and my GPA. I have made the Dean's list and I have made the President's list, so I know what I am capable of but the weight of my mental health can pull me down so far. My strength is not one to be envied because it took work that in the beginning was very ugly and not a journey I want for anyone. My mental health has been a battle since high school and I would say continued to get worse from that point; half of the time I am pretty sure I masked it so others would not feel uncomfortable by it. But for those that I let into my life, I was honest and opened up to them; most of those individuals were supportive and helped me find ways that I could get help and create positive outlets. I truly believe without those people in my life, I would not have been as resilient as I am now because they taught me how to be strong and take care of myself even when they are not available. Your strength comes from the experiences you have to go through, whether they are good or bad, they are the experiences that define you later down the road and that is how your strength grows. The first step is always to communicate with someone who will listen, that alone will help you know and feel that you are no longer alone in your mental health battle.

I strongly agree with your attention grabbing sentence "The world of art offers a valuable outlet for countless people around the world." Younger me had a hard time just being present at school and at home, so I would turn to doodling as an outlet for my stress and anxiety. Granted I got in trouble for doodling and not paying attention, but I felt I was still doing good and understanding the information; but hearing it for so long killed my motivation for art and I lost all joy that I found in my art. I hate that the school system I was in took that away from me, because I know that my art was an extension of me and how I expressed myself. After elementary school I stopped pursuing my art altogether, the only time that I used it was for projects that required me to be creative and put something together. I made the mistake of letting others keep me from my skillset and what gifts God gave me, and that slowed down the time it took for me to discover what I wanted to do with my life and what degree I wanted to pursue. My mediums have usually been focused around drawing, painting, and piecing stuff to create art (like scrapbooks or paper mache). Graphic design did not become part of my life until I started getting into photography and was gifted an iPad for drawing. I did not know anything about using the new iPad for drawing, but after many YouTube videos and doing my research I finally found ways that I can create my art through Procreate. First it started out as copies of other art that I was inspired by on Pinterest and then it expanded into art that I offered as practice for my family friends by creating cartoon characters from their original images. I love how I am able to put my own creative touches in the work that I do that help set my pieces apart from others, but also my pieces stand out because I did them. They were my thoughts that I wrote down and let my hands turn it into real life work. My passion for graphic design is the learning aspect that never seems to disappoint me or bore me, because there is always something new to learn or try creating. Graphic design is always evolving and changing with the world and it helps me stay caught up with the world and what people feel influenced by. Don't let barriers that have been set up by others slow you down or keep you from being able to create from your heart. Your creativeness is yours and yours alone, and the world is just waiting to see what beauty comes from your work.

The year 2023 was not for the faint of heart, and not for those who could not handle loss. I was the one that had no other choice but to handle the loss of 6 family members and 2 friends. Skylar was a loss that I did not expect for a long time, and was so fast from when I last spoke with her that I could not comprehend that this was the reality now. She was gone. The ones that were expected I never thought would come, and hit hard; but the ones I was not expecting hit even harder. As a youth counselor at my church I see so many young ladies through their years of middle school and high school, even watching some graduate from college; you never expect to get a phone call from their parents that she relapsed and died from an overdose. What was I supposed to say in that moment to the parents who just lost their daughter and while grieving the loss of the young lady that I watched grow up. All I could do is sit silently on the phone frozen from the shock of the news I just received. This young lady had a heart for God and would serve in our church in every way she could, we even went on mission trips together; how did she go from being on fire for God to stripping her life away from everyone who loved her. To say that she impacted my life is an understatement, she and her family became part of my life; they saw me through heartbreak and pursuing new adventures to help me grow as a young adult. I was ready to see what she was going to do with her life, she was so close to completing college and was pursuing Christian vocation to serve as a youth counselor in churches. We knew she struggled before, and had to go through getting into trouble in order to learn from her lesson; but none of us knew that she was considering it again. Her loss was probably one of the ones that hit the hardest, and I needed help understanding why and how I failed as her youth counselor. I tried medicine for depression and anxiety, but it did nothing to alleviate the pain I was feeling. I thought going to therapy would help me talk about it and walk through what I was dealing with, and some days it does; then some days it doesn't and I find myself still frozen in shock unable to believe that it is real. It has not been long since her loss, it has only been since September; and her loss on top of other losses I have experienced has made my healing become impossible. My depression is real and my emotions unable to be controlled. I do not know what it will feel like to overcome her loss and the other losses I have experienced, but I do know that getting up everyday and continuing to push for my own sake helps drown out the sadness. The biggest thing I can take away from this unexpected loss is that you cannot believe people who have struggled with substance in the past when they tell you their fine if you know they have been under stress lately. Keep showing up and checking in on them, because they are not fine they need you and need the reminder that they have made it before without substances and they can do it again. I miss you Skylar.

Within my church, I am more of the behind-the-scenes person when it comes to serving and helping people meet and follow Jesus. I run the media, graphics, and music so no one knows where we are located or who we are because they are focused on the worship or the message. However, I did have one situation where I felt called to be outside of my media room and in the sanctuary so I could be part of the congregation. I do not think I was out of the media room for more than 10 minutes and I had one of the students I lead on Wednesday nights come up to me and ask for prayer because he was struggling and had no one to talk to. I was able to hand off my duties to another one of the staff members and sat with him in the lobby to listen to what he needed to talk about and receive prayer for. We talked for the whole service and there was not one moment that I allowed myself to not pay attention or get distracted, because I was able to tell that this student needed me in that moment and I was able to be there for him. I feel like it is important to help others because you do not know what they are going through and what a small difference could make in a moment that did not mean much to you, but meant everything to them. Helping someone is going out of your way to be the positive light in someones life that they did not know they needed or even had available to them. Helping someone is learning to be selfless in a society that has become nothing but toxic and selfish, leaving people behind to fend for themselves while others flourish in their absence. Helping someone goes far beyond what I am able to do for another person, but what one action can do to create more actions around the world that ends up helping thousands. It is my strong belief that God has called us to be disciples and follow the example that Jesus came down and laid out for us; even with his sacrifice. His love was so deep for us, his perfect creation that lives imperfect lives, and was still willing to die for us and do everything he could so that we may live beside him again. Jesus set the example for how I want to help others and how I would want others to help me, so I will do what I can selflessly and with sacrifice.