Why do so many people who are medical professionals today have a history of pediatric medical conditions? When you grow up in and out of the hospital all the time, sometimes you can't imagine yourself working anywhere else; and you think that if you get through the medical stuff you are navigating, you will pay it forward. This is kind of my story; at least in wanting to work in the medical field. From around the age of 5 or 6, I was telling every doctor and nurse at each medical appointment that I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up, and "if all else failed" my backup plan was to become a clinical psychologist; so that I would still get to work with people like me; sick kids just looking for support amidst the confusion and fear they are navigating. Now as I am writing this, I have just received my Master's level Limited Licensed Psychologist license from the state of Michigan, and am sorting through the job offers I have received, praying through which one I should take. I love working with kids, teens, and young adults; especially those with medical conditions or hard to treat psychiatric conditions. I find so much joy in meeting people in some of the hardest seasons in their lives and walking alongside them to help them achieve their goals and become the person that they were meant to be. But, in the world of clinical psychology, a Master's degree is typically not the end of the road, and so I am looking to start my doctorate either in the fall of 2027 or the fall of 2028, whenever finances allow. The doctorate will enable me to not need supervision to practice, to supervise other clinicians, and to teach and raise up the next generation of therapists - something that I don't necessarily want to do right away, but see myself doing in the future. Being a therapist is such a joy to me; I love what I do, and can't wait to go further in my career - this is just the beginning. However, graduate school is very expensive, particularly at the doctoral level, which is a big reason that I am taking time off to save up and hopefully finish with less debt as a result - the average debt load of a doctoral level psychologist (PsyD) in the US is around $200,000 (tuition alone is over $50,000 a year), which is a big part of the reason that quality care is so expensive. So, what is my plan? To keep doing what I love, and to go back to school eventually to be able to do even more of what I love. And part of building towards that for me is applying for scholarships, grants, and other funding in hopes of making it more affordable. As a woman, I want a family and a career, and I know that you can do both, it just requires a lot of sacrifice and planning. So, I am going to continue planning my work and working my plan; and seeing where that takes me. Thank you for your consideration, and your support for students like me.

As someone who was gifted and was not recognized as such initially, I am deeply passionate about helping kids discover their innate talents and how to magnify and leverage those to accomplish their dreams and make a difference in the world. And as a mental health professional, I feel uniquely positioned to support these students on their journey to getting where they want to be in life. Being a smart kid can be hard. You may feel scared to break away from the group, to raise your hand in class when no one else seems to know the answer - not wanting to seem like a teacher's pet or a know it all. And you may want, on the one hand, to be a part of a gifted program where you can learn and grow more than in common core classes, but you may fear being labelled a "nerd", being othered, being alone. Kids long to fit in, to be average. They don't want to be labeled weird, but they also usually don't want to be labeled "special" either. This is likely one of the major reasons that so many gifted children struggle with depression, anxiety, and suicidality; themes prevalent on the top-tier college campuses across the country. But another reason is likely the pressure that they put themselves under, and the perceived and spoken expectations of others in their lives - sometimes that weight can feel crushing. Being gifted was hard for me; because on the one hand, being smart was a part of our family identity and culture, but on the other hand, it was another thing that made me stand out in school, another thing that made me feel alone. It wasn't until I got to college, and was surrounded by more like-minded peers, that I began to see how my love for learning was a blessing, and that there were more people like me. I think that one of the biggest things that I can do as a therapist to help gifted children and youth who are struggling socially and/or emotionally is to not just tell them that they are not alone, but to show them that they are not alone, and one of the best ways to do that is through group therapy. Group therapy can take many forms; from open processing groups where group consists of a one hour conversation that spans many topics, to more structured, topical groups, and everything in between. While learning skills is a great benefit of many group therapy protocols, one of the biggest things that group therapy can provide is community in a time of need; and access to people with similar struggles. Clients who attend group therapy may have never made a true friend before, and may leave the program with a whole friend group. As a therapist, my job often includes a mixture of teaching skills, modeling behavior and body language, allowing open space to process, and asking thoughtful questions to help direct people to answers they are starting to find on their own. I love that I get to sit with people in their times of deepest need, and to see them leave at a place of strength. And while we may not realize it often, gifted kids often need a lot of emotional support - it can be really hard to be smart, and it's really important for those kids to have safe people to lead and guide them as they navigate through childhood and adolescence; and I count myself deeply privileged to be one of those people.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in people ages 10 to 34, and suicide rates continue to be on the rise. So many people around us are in pain, and yet access to quality mental health care is so hard for so many due to financial barriers. For instance, it used to be possible for someone who was struggling with a mental health condition to go to an inpatient facility for several months; receiving various forms of psychotherapy and other interventions to try and get to the root of their challenges. Now, if one of my patients goes to the hospital with suicidal thoughts, they are likely to be discharged within 24 to 72 hours, and are unlikely to receive any meaningful mental health support in that time. From there, patients who have good insurance and/or money for care can access a quality therapist who is highly trained. Still, many patients on Medicaid or Medicare face long wait times, limits to the number of sessions, and stigma from providers. Yet, patients with mental illnesses are disproportionately the same patients on state-funded healthcare plans, meaning that a large portion of those who need mental healthcare don't have access to it. My hope as a provider is to be able to do a lot of pro-bono or sliding scale work; enabling me to work with patients who do not have robust coverage, and provide them with the care they so desperately need. I have advanced certifications in couples therapy and suicide prevention currently, and am working towards advanced certifications in working with people with personality disorders, DBT, and various other topics. It is important to me as a provider to be continually learning and growing; getting better at helping my patients each day. Pursuing a doctorate should enable me to open up my own practice; and I do hope to provide a lot of care to underserved communities within that, but a doctorate on its own is going to likely put me in close to $100,000 of debt without significant scholarships, which will delay me in being able to do this. This desire to help underserved communities through providing quality healthcare is a big motivator for me in applying for scholarships; as even a small scholarship would put me that much closer to paying off my loans from my Masters and paying for my doctorate; thereby helping me to help those in need. In a world where so much of medicine and allied health is for profit, we need more nonprofits to spring up; though this is often not possible for many professionals, due to the average student loan debt of Masters level psychologists being $100,000 and the average student loan debt for doctoral level psychologists being $200,000. A scholarship like this, while not the $100,000 I need, would be greatly appreciated and would put me that much closer to paying for school. Thank you for your consideraton, and for your support for aspiring nonprofit leaders like me.

As a psychologist in training, you may not initially expect that I have a deep passion and strong background in mathematics, but depending on the school, psychology can be one of the most math-heavy majors out there; particularly in regards to statistics. After all, if you don't have a strong background in statistics, it makes it really hard to understand research, or apply it to either the research or clinical work that you do. I am someone who thinks mathematically, and feel strongly that in order to conduct good research, sound mathematical procedure must be heeded. For, if mathematical procedures are correctly applied, studies can then be replicated to ensure their accuracy, and the efficacy of the treatments in question; and studies being possible to replicate is one of the most essential foundations of good research. In between finishing my Masters this May and going back for my doctorate in the next year or two, I intend to conduct research on medical trauma - that is, atypical PTSD-like presentations in pediatric medical patients, in attempt to test and hopefully validate the diagnostic scale I have created as a part of my Masters thesis. In order for the research to succeed, not only will I need to obtain certain values, but I will also need to conduct the study in a mathematically coherent manner, in order to best ensure accuracy of my findings - whether or not I find what I am looking for. While my undergraduate degree was in psychology, we were required to take a great deal of math and statistics courses in order to ensure that we had a sufficient mathematical foundation to conduct good research. This is something missing from many modern institutions of higher education sadly, and is something I am passionate about bringing back; especially if I start teaching as a professor of psychology after getting my doctorate. Among the many things that we need to change in order to help the next generation, improving mathematical education is near the top, which is why I am so grateful for sponsors like Learner who are passionate about helping students like me who love math, so that we can study hard and then prepare to pay it forward as we enter the workforce! Thank you for your consideration.

My time in Cuba was very enlightening for me, and did a lot for my faith. It was in February of 2023, and I went with the university I did undergrad at in Canada; spending the week teaching in the schools, spending quality time with the seniors, and getting to know other university students. I got to know a Cuban named Daniela who remains one of my very good friends to this day; though I have not had a chance to go back and visit her since, but hope to one day. But, while I love teaching, if I did missions work in the future, I would like to use my training and qualifications as a psychologist to go overseas with Samaritan's Purse or a similar organization; helping individuals experiencing psychosis, suicidal ideation, manic episodes, or other mental illnesses, through providing formal psychological assessments, psychotherapy, and crisis intervention on the ground that I am specially trained. A big area of need within that is helping victims of natural disasters and/or human trafficking, which is happening here in the US, but is also happening in many countries around the world that don't have the same resources we do to help others. The mission work would focus primarily on training the long-term missionaries in mental health support, and providing them with resources to build programs that could be sustained over the long-term. I do not feel called to long-term, overseas missions at the moment, but think it would be rewarding to support the long term missionaries with short term efforts like this. However, if God desires to send me overseas, I will obey and go; as my life belongs to the Lord, not me. God has done a great work in me; using my hydrocephalus and epilepsy to show me areas of weakness and remind me that I have to depend on him, every day (the primary reason I would hesitate to do long-term missions, as I need the advanced medical care available here in the US). However, I would love to have a long-term short-term mission partner abroad that I visited often and helped from afar in between visits; in areas of crisis response, psychological diagnosis, psychotherapy, mandated reporting, and other various topics that fall within my expertise. In summary, it is clear that God calls those of us with more to go serve those with less, and while I don't totally know what that will look like for me, I am sure that I will do some work in the future that falls under the medical/dental umbrella; using my credentials as a psychologist to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people who need it most. The picture I am attaching below was taken in 2023 on my trip to Cuba - you'll see me there in the purple shirt in the middle of the room. The Cuban people are so kind, and I pray that. one day they will have freedom and prosperity, but in the meantime, I also pray that God would give me an opportunity to return to Cuba to use my psychological knowledge for their good and his glory. Medical missions are unique in their ability to provide both tangible help in the form of training, resources, and care; but are also such a clear demonstration of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. Though I want to travel back to Cuba, I do not currently have the funds, and winning a scholarship like this would be a great help with that. I appreciate your consideration.

I wouldn't say that I set out to be a leader, but instead, I tend to fall into a leadership role when a vacuum arises. This isn't due to a lack of desire to lead, per se, but moreso a self-confidence issue, and a desire to let those who are most enthusiastic about leading have first priority. However, when either asked to lead, or when no one steps up to the plate, I am happy to jump in and bring my ideas to the table. In terms of my leadership qualities; I get along well with most people, am good at striking up a conversation with anyone, and am good at analyzing tasks and delegating jobs. I do, however, struggle a lot with creativity, which is one of the things that holds me back from leading in certain situations; silently hoping that someone will step up to the plate. But something that I am slowly learning is that you don't have to be perfect to take on a leadership role; and sometimes, there are others around you who have more knowledge of the task, but less capacity with delegation or organization, and would thus appreciate if someone took on the mantle of leadership to get things going. But leadership isn't for everyone, and I definitely have a lot of shortcomings that are behind my quiet praying that someone will take up the mantle of leadership when in group situations. For instance, due to my struggles with depression and anxiety, I am very self-conscious at times, and am quick to doubt or demean myself, meaning that I get in my own way, and fail to step up to lead even when it's clear that it would be good if I did. So, when I hear "Strong Leaders of Tomorrow", I don't think of myself as a strong leader today, but am confident I can become one with time if I work at it. I think that the first step to leading well is recognizing your shortcomings; as if you feel you are perfect, you will turn people away from you, and fail to recognize the blind spots within which you need to grow. I hope, especially early on in my career, to be someone who is continually looking to learn and grow, and that I will become less afraid to make mistakes with time, so that I can learn as much as possible. The job I have lined up for May of 2026 does not put me in leadership right away, but is likely to lead to a leadership role of sorts within the first year or two; potentially even before I finish out my doctorate. I want to be careful to take these opportunities with gratitude and humility, not to take them out of pride, or turn them down out of fear. I want to be the best psychologist I can be, and one day, to train up the next generation of psychologists; helping people, one patient at a time. I think that we all have the potential to be one of the "Strong Leaders of Tomorrow"; we just have to recognize where growth is needed for us as individuals, and make a plan to tackle it. I love what I do, and am so grateful that I get to make a career out of helping people each and every day; it is truly a blessing. Thank you for your consideration of my application, and your desire to support students like me.

From a young age, like so many other Canadians, I knew that I wanted to move to the US. For many who are outside of Canada and the US, they can seem like very similar countries; but the reality is that Canada is much poorer with many fewer opportunities than are available here; leading to a phenomenon called "brain drain"; whereby if you work/study hard in Canada, you will inevitably end up in the US. It was my dream from a young age to become an American; and while I am still not there yet, I am on my way, which feels surreal. Post-graduation from my Masters, I plan to work for a year or two; and will either remain on a work-visa when I am pursuing my doctorate; or may (Lord-willing) have a green card by then. I think about a concept called "the immigrant advantage" a lot. You see, while being an immigrant to the US poses its challenges at times - for instance, I have not been able to work for the duration of my degree up to this point - having the outside perspective of coming from a country with a lot less opportunity and wealth than the US opens my eyes to see just how much opportunity this country is teeming with; and that the American dream is alive and well; even if it's not as obvious as it used to be. Yes, there are certainly economic challenges that are a reality for our generation that weren't so in the past; but there remain incredible opportunities, as long as you keep your eyes open for them! Post-graduation from my Masters, I have a job lined up in psychological testing; where I will be performing forensic, neuropsychological, and psychometric testing 8-4, and then seeing counseling clients in the evenings. While psychological testing is something that I have received formal education/training on in my graduate work, there is no way for them to make us aware of, nevermind give us the opportunity to perform, every instrument. But in this job, I will get the opportunity to learn about hundreds of instruments, perform them, and evaluate the findings; it will be kind of like doing a post-doc after my Masters. Then in the evenings, I will see therapy clients and provide psychotherapy/counseling. I love everything about the field of psychology; I enjoy teaching, research, counseling, and it is truly a dream come true to be where I am. And there is such a need for it here in the US; so much so that I will be able to stay in the US under a special status available to Canadians who are trained and certified as nurses, doctors, psychologists, etc; without having to worry about applying for a lottery-based visa like the H-1B. In staying, I want to be intentional to give back to this great country that has given so much to me; and being in the mental health field makes that pretty easy from a practical standpoint, thankfully; as I spend each and every day working with people in pain; and helping them to find relief, even in small doses, through psychotherapeutic techniques and new coping skills. There is such a need in my field for mental health professionals; as the cost of education is so high; and then burnout rates are high as well; making going to school for psychology a bad gamble for many. Yet I am blessed that God continues to equip me with the strength to do my job; and love that I get to help people so meaningfully each day.

As a mental health professional, I often see patients get lost in the system; unsure of who to turn to, and what to do. Many patients don't have the same ability to navigate the system that professionals within it do; leading to longer wait times and less access to the care that they need. Seeing this occur with many patients I've had so far in my MA Psychologist practicum made me begin thinking about cross-training to become certified as a PA in addition to eventually getting a doctorate in clinical psychology. This cross training will cost several hundred thousand dollars, but at the end, I will, Lord-willing, be able to be more of a one-stop shop for patients; able to provide psychotherapy and counseling; but then also do blood work, prescribe medication, and do scans where and when appropriate. This would make it easier to prevent my patients from getting "lost in the system"; something that occurs far too frequently; and leads to bad health outcomes; and people in pain. Having this dual certification would also allow me to look more holistically; rather than in a reductionistic manner. I have loved working with patients so far in my Masters practicum on my way to becoming an MA psychologist; but sometimes someone comes in who may be struggling at a neuroendocrine or neurochemical level; and I am not able to help them as effectively without that getting evaluated, and yet so man of my patients have been let down by psychiatry in the past, describing their visit as an "assembly line operation". It's clear that something needs to change in healthcare, and fast, with all the people suffering. Yet the biggest barrier to training healthcare professionals is cost; the average student loan debt of an MA Psychologist is around $120,000, and that's without going for a doctorate or going to PA school! This means that many people simply can't afford to enter the field right now even if they want to, and then another section of students, myself included, are barely scraping by to afford their studies. Something needs to change, or we may face a shortage of healthcare workers in this country unlike anything we could have ever imagined. As someone with two chronic neurological conditions; hydrocephalus and epilepsy, I have spent my life in and out of hospital, so the hospital feels like home to me in some ways; and I always knew that if I was going to work, I'd want to be there. This is a pretty common experience for many who live with chronic medical conditions that began in childhood; so much so that I am including this phenomenon in my Masters thesis which centers around Medical Trauma; which is not an official diagnosis, but I am arguing that it should be its own diagnostic category; as evidenced by the PTSD-like symptoms in many who have chronic conditions that began in childhood; and particularly so in pediatric epilepsy patients. I want to use my pain for purpose, and that's why I always knew I wanted to work in the hospital; and even amidst the financial strain that I am feeling; not knowing where next month's rent is coming from; I am confident that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, which gives me peace when things are uncertain. I sincerely appreciate your consideration of my application for this award, and your support for future healthcare workers like me.

Growing up with hydrocephalus and epilepsy, a lot of people underestimated me; seeing my disabilities instead of seeing me. Though I was smart, a lot of teachers just saw the medical conditions, and limited my potential; thinking that I wasn't going to make it anywhere. Now as I finish out my Masters soon and begin paying off my student loans and simultaneously saving to go back for either a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD) or a PA license, I can see how wrong they were; not in a vindictive way; but just in a way that encourages me every day not to put my patients in a box, as you never know who will end up dong amazing things in this world. Though I love working with each of my patients, I am particularly passionate about doing cognitive and psychometric testing, and working with patients with cognitive and/or intellectual disabilities, which tend to be caused by an underlying medical condition, though not always. I see myself in a lot of these patients, which helps me to hold out hope for their potential; and having been on the other side, I know how hard to push, what kinds of questions to ask, and most importantly what kind of affect is needed; how to be warm and accepting without being demeaning or looking down on someone who might struggle with things more than most people. We need a lot more psychologists who have a passion for psychometric testing and neuropsychological intervention; and that is the direction I plan to take my career - helping people identify exactly where there cognitive deficits are, and how to make progress in those areas so that they can live a life they love. But in that, it is so important for patients to find joy and fulfillment in the here and now, as improvements are not guaranteed; which is why it is so important not to put being neurotypical on a pedestal; as it likely won't ever fully be a reality for a lot of the patients I plan to work with in my career. I am not neurotypical; and never will be. I will likely even encounter periods of my life where I struggle a lot more than I do now; so I have learned to view health as being on a spectrum; and am learning not to take anything for granted. For instance, my medical team didn't think I'd still be walking around by the end of the year, and yet after a successful round of vestibular physiotherapy, I am running! My medical journey which began in infancy and will follow me through life has been a driver for the development of perseverance, good work ethic, and most importantly, compassion; as I do have some days where life is really hard. Something that I learned about empathy at the beginning of grad school that really stuck with me is this; empathy is not about trying to feel exactly as someone else does, because even if two people go through the exact same thing, they will have a different experience of it. Empathy is about sitting patiently with someone, with a heart that says "teach me"; being open to hearing about what their experience is through their eyes, and sitting with them in that; holding space, in other words. So even I, who lives with several chronic disabilities, am not fully able to know how someone else feels; and yet as someone completing her Masters practicum and headed into the field thereafter, I am trying to constantly learn and grow, learning from each new patient.

At the time that you are reading this, I will, Lord-willing, have my license and be practicing as a Masters-Level Psychologist in Michigan; working towards saving up for my Physician Assistant degree. I always knew that I wanted to be in healthcare, but didn't recognize the possibility of multimodal care until I went to school; and started seeing patients who had fallen through the cracks on a variety of different levels; dealing with physical, mental, and social/cultural challenges that weren't being adequately treated; leading to pain, suffering, and a loss of hope that things would ever get better. And as someone with health challenges herself, I have been one of those patients; feeling like every provider is just passing the buck; referring me out to the next person rather than giving me sound advice on what to do. I know that they almost always have the best of intentions in doing this, as they don't want to provide advice they are not qualified to give; but it still doesn't change the hopelessness, despair, and frustration that a patient can feel when their situation seems too complicated for anyone to help them with anything. I want to be a part of the solution here; going for my doctorate in clinical psychology and then also for my physician assistant license; allowing me to do all forms of psychological testing and psychotherapy as a psychologist; while having the PA license that would allow me to draw labs, get imaging done, and look at the underlying physical causes for neurological and psychological challenges; thereby being able to help a lot of people. My dream would be to, to the best of my ability, be a multimodal provider who can serve the role of 2 or 3 people on a treatment team; cutting down on costs, time spent, and emotional energy for my patients by providing them with multiple types of care in one place. Yet, there is one huge barrier that remains in the way of this plan: cost. I will be finishing my Masters, Lord-willing, in May of 2025; and still am not totally sure how I will be paying rent two months from now, nevermind next semester's tuition. The thought of going back for more school seems at the very least daunting, and on more stressful days, impossible. Often thinking about my finances brings me to tears. This has made me fervent in applying for scholarships; in hopes of paying for next semester's classes and living expenses, but then also for my next level of education; whatever that may be. I hope to gain the funding I need so that I can get well equipped to help people in pain all around me. For those who wonder why the cost of mental healthcare and medical care are so expensive; the biggest factor is the sheer cost of education taken on by providers pursuing their degree. We are under a great deal of financial stress for many years, and then graduate only to pay off our debt 5, 10, 20 years later. My hope is to live as frugally as possible in order to graduate with as little debt as possible; but without scholarships, I am easily looking at a six-figure student loan for PA school, on top of the loans I already have for my Masters in Counseling Psychology. I hope and pray that you will consider my application for these funds, as every little bit helps towards funding my degree.

My name is Sarah, and I moved to the US in August of 2024, to pursue the American Dream. One year later, I have been blessed by many great connections, and have a wonderful community around me that encourages me every day. It has been a year of ups and downs, with fun times and various stressors; and I have certainly learned a lot. Long-term, I plan to stay in the US, and give back to my community through practicing as a Clinical Psychologist; a license I will hold by May of next year. I had a bit of a rough go of it in childhood; being diagnosed with two severe forms of neurological conditions; hydrocephalus and epilepsy, that constantly threaten to dominate my life and warp my sense of identity. I was bullied, was always in and out of hospital, and struggled in a lot of ways. If you knew me then, you wouldn't believe that I would be where I am now. But God had other plans, and here I am, closing in on my psychologist license; something I only dreamed of in the past. After graduation, I plan to practice as a Masters level Psychologist for a bit; pay off my debt, and get some experience; and then go back for either a PsyD (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) or PA (Physician Assistant) license. I always knew that I wanted to go into the healthcare field; and as a child, I would often pepper the nurse that was drawing my blood or the doctors we were seeing with all my questions; studying became a coping skill for me, and school became an escape. I grew up with some learning disabilities, but since my physical disabilities were much more severe, I was able to overcome my learning challenges and rise to top student status pretty quickly; when everything is really hard, the thing that is only a bit tricky seems like a piece of cake; and that's how it was for me. I ended up graduating high school a year early, and then taking a gap year at an advanced school in Quebec, the francophone province in Canada. During that year, I began to have some neurological symptoms resurface; and felt God was leading me towards psychology; so applied to study at Huron University College's Psychology program at Western University - a top university in Canada. I ended up double majoring in Spanish, and graduating with honors in the spring of 2024; excited about my new chapter in the US. Having all of these experiences has taught me so many lessons, but I would say that the biggest one is perseverance. Currently, I am undergoing a lot of medical treatment, which can be exhausting at times, and I often so desperately wish I were healthy. Yet I know deep down that I wouldn't be the person that I am today without each of the experiences I have been through; easy and difficult, good and bad. We are shaped through the circumstances we navigate and the people we meet; and we can only live one life. And for that reason, I am learning (slowly) to be grateful for the things that I have and the lessons I am learning. This scholarship would be a great help to me, and would help with educational, medical, and personal costs that I have undertaken to pursue my studies. Thank you for your consideration.

"A person's a person, no matter how small" - Dr Seuss That quote was one that we all heard growing up; and since we probably didn't understand embryology or have Psalm 139 memorized, we probably thought of it as referring to kids like us. And while it can have multiple meanings, I think that quote is a great one for the pro-life space. As pro-lifers, we believe that all human life has infinite value and is thereby worth protecting; regardless of age, weight, race, disability status, income, or any other factor. All people are infinitely valuable; because we were created in God's image. Throughout undergrad back in Canada, I was involved in a lot of pro-life work; eventually serving as the VP Finance (2022-2023) and later the President (2023-2024) of the pro-life club at my university. In Canada, where not only is abortion legal through all nine months for any reason, but also where euthanasia (MAiD) is available for a large array of people; with and without terminal illness, the need for pro-life work is more pertinent than ever. Many are scared to get into this line of work; even on a volunteer basis like me, due to the level of polarization in our media. However, I have had some of the most amazing conversations with people who identified as pro-choice; some of whom became pro-life or ended up believing in limits for abortion by the end of our conversation, and some of whom respectfully disagreed, but nonetheless appreciated the friendly, civil dialogue in a society that seems more divided than ever. For me, the pro-life conversation not only aligns with my beliefs as a Christian, but is also deeply personal for me. I live with hydrocephalus and epilepsy; two chronic neurological conditions which pose a lot of challenges on my day-to-day functioning, and yet am in the top 5% of highest functioning people with that diagnosis. But my prognosis wasn't always like that; and I know that I am only one brain surgery going awry from losing the independence I enjoy (I will require many brain surgeries throughout my lifetime). As a result of the harrowing statistics on hydrocephalus acquired at birth/congenital hydrocephalus, many expecting parents who receive the diagnosis in the perinatal stage elect to get an abortion; ending the life of an innocent child whose story was only in the beginning stages, and who could have done great things. Abortion and Euthanasia are the pinacle of ableism, classism, racism, and sexism; with supporters (consciously or subconciously) arguing that if the conditions aren't "good", life isn't worth living. But if you were walking down the street and saw me, would you say that to my face? Would you tell a person living in poverty, experiencing discrimination, or living with a disability that their life isn't worth as much as someone else's? Maybe you wouldn't directly; but if you support abortion or euthanasia, that is the argument you are effectively making, whether you realize it or not. As a pro-lifer, I am also super passionate about helping moms in need; and am blessed to be in a church community that takes good care of moms and children in need, adopts children that need homes, and provides both social and financial support to moms in need. One of my good friends, who I will call A.C., found the church as a single mom in need of those kinds of supports; and found Christ a year later. She now serves in Children's ministry and is actively seeking out ways to strengthen her faith. That's the kind of change we can make.

Whether or not you claim to be an "artist", we were all born to create. For kids, this often takes the form of drawing, lego creations, or crafts. In adults, this can take the form of writing, formal artistic pursuits, or other similar things. Something about the act of creating activates something deep inside us that makes us feel grounded, valued, and whole. On a rough day, when we are feeling really overwhelmed, turning to a creative pursuit like journaling, drawing, or building something can help us to calm down; recentering our attention on something we enjoy; and something that makes us unique; as each artist puts their unique spins on their creations. As a psychologist intern (meaning I am in school to be a clinical psychologist), art therapy isn't a course per se; but a supervisor of mine is super passionate about art therapy and has a lot of great tips for us interns in how to use it with our clients. Whether it is one art therapy session over the course of a therapeutic process; or a dedicated art therapy protocol; something about being in a different space (we have a dedicated art therapy and play therapy room), and switching things up a bit can be helpful for people of all ages to express themselves, and unveil deeply rooted beliefs in a productive and less confrontational manner. For many, the prospect of coming to therapy is daunting. Even though clients know that everything they tell us is confidential, it takes time sometimes for people to open up about what's really going on. That is where using different forms of communication, such as art therapy, narrative therapy, or even an adult play therapy model can come in handy; helping people to express through actions and/or creations what might be too hard to express with words. As someone who plans to work in an pediatric psychiatric inpatient setting, art therapy techniques will come in handy a lot; from using them with kids who are too young to express their underlying emotions with words; to using them with teens who may be shy, despondent, or otherwise less likely to express themselves in the general group therapy setting. Art therapy is also so personal that we can create something that has a deep meaning to us; but the nature of art allows us to keep that meaning private if we want; meaning that patients can participate without having to self-disclose more than they are comfortable with. All in all; while I plan to take a multimodal approach to psychotherapy, I am excited to see what I can do with art therapy techniques, wherever I find myself after graduation!

Though I am not a member of the LDS faith, I am a Christian, and have spent 4+ years serving in youth ministry, including at youth camps. Though all ministry can be rewarding, there is something very special about working with children and youth; being a role model and guide who helps them know God, tell right from wrong, become ready to serve, and know their place in the body of Christ. Youth are in a phase of transition where they are trying to figure out who they are, and what they believe, and as youth leaders, we are uniquely equipped to have faith-based conversations with them to help them through that process. One big aspect of youth ministry that is particularly rewarding are youth retreats; weekends and sometimes whole weeks where we go away to a campground for concentrated time of games, fellowship, and Bible study. This gives youth an opportunity to bond; making and deepening friendships within the church; and allows us youth leaders to get to know our students better; one soccer game or water balloon fight at a time. Then, we would often also have both times of Bible study/chapel, and testimony time, where students would get to hear from their youth leaders about what God had done in their lives. As someone who is a Christian from a non-Christian family who started going to church at 13 and got saved at 14, youth retreats were the highlight of my teen years. Church in general was an escape for me; a place to go where I was loved, felt connection and appreciation without judgment, and had a good support network to help me navigate the storms of life - but a youth retreat where I could be away from life for a few days to a week was even better. And for some of my students back when I was leading youth group, it was the same for them. All in all, youth ministry is a big commitment, but it is my all-time favorite place to serve. It not only allows me to actively disciple students and lead them towards the Lord, but also uses my knowledge of clinical psychology in a really unique way; being able to come alongside youth navigating mental illness, in a world where so many are in pain. Our youth are navigating a lot these days, and being a youth leader is a great way to make a difference in the world; it is a big commitment, but it is worth it every time!

Growing up in the hospital, I always new I wanted to work there when I grew up, and from a young age, I had already narrowed down my career options to either neurologist or psychologist. Now that I am about halfway through my Masters, and will be able to practice under my Masters while working towards my doctorate, it is all starting to feel very real. In fact, I started my practicum last week, and met my first clients for the very first time! I am over the moon to be a mental health professional, and that I get to help people every day in a (hopefully) very meaningful way. While in school, I am going to see a variety of clients in inpatient, outpatient, and potentially intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization settings, in hopes of gaining a lot of experience with a variety of different conditions; to help me become a well-rounded practitioner. Upon graduation, I hope to work primarily in a pediatric hospital setting; whether on the inpatient psychiatric floor as the in-house psychologist, or on one of the medical inpatient floors; helping kids with chronic conditions through the mental health challenges that they may have developed as well. Being a kid in the hospital is really hard; and that is something I know well on a personal level, and it would be really meaningful to me if I could give back by being the person I never had as a kid in the hospital; a skilled practitioner who could not only be empathetic, but who could also relate to my experience; and show me that a lot was possible for my future, even if the statistics didn't seem to show that. While not traditionally considered part of the medical field, psychologists are being given more and more recognition as of late for their crucial role on the care team, and their incredible level of expertise, given the 10+ years in school it requires to carry the title of "clinical psychologist". Most psychiatrists concur that psychologists have equal if not more diagnostic expertise than many psychiatrists, and certainly more knowledge of psychotherapeutic interventions, while psychiatrists specialize often in managing meds and looking for drug interactions that could be causing mental health-related symptoms. The divide in training and expertise between a psychologist and a psychiatrist doesn't undermine either of the professions, but instead points to the ongoing need for integrated, multimodal healthcare. Apart from working in the hospital, I would potentially be interested in seeing some patients on an outpatient level, and if finances allow, offering reduced cost and/or pro bono services to those who met the criteria for outpatient treatment but couldn't afford to come to counseling on a regular basis. There is a high cost to both regular medical treatment and mental health services, and a big reason behind this is the high cost of education that burdens many physicians and psychologists. The desire to take steps personally to curb this through treatment scholarships, sliding scale fees, and potentially even pro-bono work on a personal level is a big motivator for me in applying for scholarships; as the lower my debt burden upon graduation, the more possible this becomes. Thank you for your consideration of my application, and your desire to help students like me fund our education.

At Moody Theological Seminary - Michigan; the graduate student campus of Moody Bible Institute, I have the opportunity to pursue my dreams of being a clinical psychologist in a Christ-centered, God-honoring environment. Being from a few hours away back in Canada, I had heard a lot of good things about Moody, but wasn't sure just how perfect of a fit it was until I got here. Studying at a Christian school doesn't just offer biblically sound teaching, but also provides incredible community; bringing encouragement and accountability into my life from the first day I arrived in the United States. I am currently nearly one year in to the 3-year Masters in Counseling Psychology program; which will license me as both a Limited License Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Michigan upon graduation in May of 2027. Long-term, I hope to work in an pediatric inpatient setting; either a hospital or some sort of residential treatment center; giving psychological assessments, providing counseling, doing risk assessments, admission, discharge, and creating treatment plans. When the Bible calls us in Luke 24:39-40 to be "the hands and feet of Jesus", or in Galatians 6:2 to "bear one another's burdens", going into the mental health field aligns so well with what God is calling us to there; and is how I personally am living out these verses in my life. Finances are a big stressor for me right now; and are for so many mental health professionals, with the average masters level psychologist graduating with nearly $100,000 in debt, and doctoral-level psychologists graduating with around $200,000 in loans. This, along with the time spent in school, is a big reason for the high cost of mental health care; and even many practitioners who want to offer sliding scale fees or do pro bono work are prevented from doing so by the debt burden they graduate with; a debt burden that is driving many away from entering the field altogether; further increasing the shortages. For me, it looks like a huge portion of next year's expenses will be funded through student loans, unless I am able to get scholarships or change my visa from an F-1 student visa to a work visa, allowing me to work in the US. As a result, I am fervently applying for scholarships, hoping to gain some funding to help offset the high cost of education; and to reduce my debt burden. Beyond that, I live with some chronic medical conditions; hydrocephalus and epilepsy, which mean that I have hit my max out of pocket this year on my health insurance, and anticipate doing so each year; further adding to my cost of living. Being someone with special needs, the blessing of a scholarship is even more pronounced; given that I have higher expenses due to some factors outside of my control. All in all, though I stress often about finances, and lose sleep over them some days, I know that if it is God's will for me to remain in the United States and complete my studies here, he will make a way; whether through scholarships, loans, or income from a job. We make plans, but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16:19), and as a planner, that is the hardest thing for me to grapple with sometimes; while other times, it gives me the Philippians 4:7 level peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for your consideration.

When you have a disability, it can be tempting to let it bring you down. In my case, my hydrocephalus and epilepsy has led me to develop major depressive disorder; but even in the midst of that, I want my life to mean something; I want a purpose, to use the time and relative health that I have for good. And that is what drives me each day to continue in graduate school, on my way to becoming a clinical psychologist. My life has been full of trials up to this point, and no one would have blamed me if I had decided to "take it easy", and find a simple career; but something inside of me has motivated me to keep pushing myself all of this time; in hopes of being able to work in the field, to work with kids like me, and be the person I didn't have growing up. Due to my hydrocephalus and epilepsy, I am unable to drive, have trouble with gross motor and fine motor skills, have difficulties with short term memory, emotional regulation, and social skills; yet somehow, by God's grace, I maintain a high GPA, a good group of friends, and a full life with extracurriculars and volunteering on the side. I don't know how long I will have this level of functionality, and whether my next treatment will make me better or worse, so I have to learn to find joy with where I am at, as tomorrow is not guaranteed. When you have a disability, you learn certain lessons earlier on in life; like patience, perserverance, and the fact that our bodies are all breaking down at some point. Yet it can feel really isolating to be a young person with a disability, when the majority if not all of your friends are healthy; and don't have many of the fears and considerations that you have on a daily basis. But in the midst of my therapy for my depression, I am learning to count these as strengths; and to remember that I can use my pain for good in this world; taking the lessons that I have learned from my disability to help others; particularly in my future career as a clinical psychologist. Becoming a psychologist is a long road, but I knew from a young age that I either wanted to go into neurology or psychology; as I wanted to help kids like me; to be the person that I never had growing up. This was further reinforced to be the right path for me when I worked at Camp Kodiak in the summer of 2023, which is a special needs summer camp in Ontario, Canada; where campers have various conditions, including ADHD, Autism, and various learning disabilities and medical conditions. Living and working with these campers for a summer helped me to see their day to day struggles; finding ways to encourage them and to even be a role model to them of someone with a disability who wasn't letting it hold them down. They say not to let your disability "define you", but I think it depends on what you mean by "define". My disability is a big part of who I am, and that's not a bad thing. It is both a challenge and a blessing, and without it, I wouldn't be the person that I am today. And that is why I am so passionate about giving back, and joining the disability advocacy movement.

Nearly 8 months ago, around 4 months into me living in the US, a woman at my church lost her sister, who lived nearly one hour away, to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Back when I was living in Canada, I had several friends hurt by IPV; thankfully, none of them were killed; though they will never be the same, as trauma changes you. We live in a scary world, and many tragically suffer in silence; worried that something will happen to them or their loved ones if they open up about their experiences with IPV; or even that no one will believe them. I have always been a safe friend to reach out to for those being subjected to these horrors, and the way that my heart breaks for my friends reassured me that becoming a psychologist was the right fit for me; as I want to dedicate my career to helping people heal from their pain, sitting with them as they process through some of the hardest days of their lives, and encouraging them to continue on living, and moving forward, even when the pain feels unbearable. I want to be the one person who is there for them when they feel like they have no one else; believing in them when they don't believe in themselves. With regard to the first prompt; I think the biggest thing that we can do education-wise is helping victims to identify whether or not they are experiencing intimate partner violence, and then providing them with resources that empower them to seek support if they are. Unfortunately, this kind of things tends to be cyclical in families, and many of those who are victims of IPV were also abused as children; meaning that they may not know what a healthy vs an unhealthy relationship looks like. This type of education can be done in a variety of ways, but I think a good first step would be to introduce it gradually in the context of health class in middle school and high school; in sensitive, age appropriate ways. Helping these students to understand ways to reach out for help; including anonymous ways to report IPV if a friend is going through it and isn't seeking help themselves; or ways to broach the conversation with a trusted authority figure, mental health professional, or police officer, are all good first steps. It is important for victims to understand that if they are being abused, the police are there to help them, not to get them in trouble, which can be an issue for certain communities in particular; meaning that this message may need to either be reinforced, or delivered in a culturally sensitive way. From there, having posters up in bathrooms, locker rooms, and other similar places at colleges; which remind people of the signs of intimate partner violence, and provide hotlines and other resources if they think they might be experiencing it is another good step. Having them in these areas also allows those who someone of the opposite sex is victimizing, as is often the case, to have a safe place to grab these resources, or take a picture of these posters, out of eyeshot of their perpetrator. We live in a broken world, where so many are in dangerous and tragic situations, and many suffer in silence. While no one intervention will completely solve the problem, all of these things are potential steps in the right direction; and the way that my heart breaks even writing this essay further confirms my calling to become a mental health professional.

As a Master's student, money is tight, and I am always on the lookout for scholarships and savings. Currently, a big motivator for me in applying for scholarships is my desire to spend more time on research; specifically in the area of "medical trauma", or trauma disorders that arise due to specific medical events or chronic medical conditions. My dissertation is looking specifically at PTSD-like symptoms in pediatric epilepsy patients, and aims to develop an operational definition for medical trauma, create a diagnostic instrument designed to measure the phenomenon, and join the existing body of research arguing for a medical trauma diagnosis to be added to the DSM-5 TR. My thesis is complex, and will require a lot of time and dedication; but the topic is personal to me. I live with epilepsy and hydrocephalus; and despite a lot of medical issues in the past and present, by God's grace, I am able to continue doing well in school, and want to use my relative health for good, turning my pain into purpose. My journey has been difficult, and in recent years, I have become depressed, even spending some time in inpatient units due to major depressive episodes. But knowing that God can still use me; and use my pain for his purposes; that keeps me going. The clinical psychology world is in need of many more people, yet so many think of it as unaffordable; given that the average Masters-level psychologist graduates with close to $80,000 in debt; must of that from graduate school alone. I myself have felt this stress, especially being an international student here on an F-1 visa, and thus bound by many work restrictions that US citizens are not bound by. However, I have been blessed by the generosity of this country in many ways, and am grateful to be here, even if it means taking on student loans in the short term. Long-term, I hope for the opportunity to stay, and to become American, so that I can give back to a country that has given me so much. Mental health is a tough field to be in; but I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else; there is something so incredibly fulfilling about sitting with someone during some of the hardest seasons of their lives, and helping them to hang onto hope, find direction, reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, or otherwise be able to find some more stability. We need more people in the mental health field; but the cost of education and the number of years remain the two biggest barriers to entry. I am grateful to the scholarship committee at Bold.org, and to the donors that contributed to this scholarship fund. Thank you for your desire to support graduate students like me in affording the high cost of education in the 21st century.

The Lord is so good in the ways that he directs us back onto the right path, even when we are led astray (Psalm 23:3); he promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Eight years ago, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I never imagined I would be where I am today. As a Christian, I still struggle from time to time, due to circumstances that God has placed me in; but the Lord is faithful and he upholds and strengthens me each time; reminding me of who he is, and what he has for me. Most importantly, I am reminded to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all that I need will be added unto me (Matthew 6:33). God never promised us that this life would be easy. In fact, when the disciples first began to follow Jesus, he warned them saying that "the Son of Man knows not where he will lay his head" (Matthew 8:20); meaning that to follow Jesus is to embrace uncertainty; fully entrusting your life to Jesus, and ongoingly trusting him when the storms come; though as a believer, I have seen that sometimes I am more likely to turn my back on God in the easier seasons than in the harder ones. Still, God holds onto me; and is teaching me things each day as I continue to walk with him. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to lead in a variety of areas; though primarily in the context of youth ministry and children's ministry. I have loved these roles; as the ability to help raise children up in knowledge of God and his word is such an incredible blessing. When leading, I aim to be firm, friendly, and consistent. In these ministries, and in all areas of life, we want to be representatives of Jesus; acting as he would, and thereby pointing people back to him through our actions. We should seek for people to see less of us and more of him in the way that we act (John 3:30-35). At Moody, I have the blessing of pursuing my Masters in Counseling Psychology at a Christian institution; which allows me to obtain the same licensure as a dually-licensed Limited License Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan; while getting the benefits of studying at a Christian school, and learning how to integrate faith into psychotherapy if I decide to practice in a Christian environment. This has been a huge blessing; and I have benefited greatly from both discipling and being discipled by my classmates. God is so good. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God," and that is our mandate as believers. So, whether or not I practice in a Christian environment, I am called to promote the welfare of my clients; helping them to pursue emotional wellness, and guiding them along the way. And as long as I am doing that, whether or not I directly integrate faith into my practice, I am doing it for the glory of God.

In the world of STEAM, neuroscience and mental health often go underlooked, even though they are on the cutting edge of modern-day science. Though psychological studies have begun to work their way into the mainstream more and more, with people discussing phenomena such as birth order, personality type, or attachment style, in the grand scheme of things, we know very little about the brain; making each day exciting for the modern-day psychologist, as we get to be lifelong learners, using innovation and the scientific method every day, even in clinical settings, to try to support our clients as best we can. I fell in love with neuroscience and psychology from a young age; largely due to my own health problems that meant I spent a large portion of my childhood in and out of hospital; surrounded by doctors; living as a human guinea pig of sorts, undergoing experimental treatments. That is still my life; and my prognosis is uncertain; with likely at least another 20 brain surgeries or so in my future. But since I don't know what the future will hold, I want to do as much as I can, for as long as I can; and use any relative health I have at the moment for the good of others and the glory of God. My graduate thesis was inspired by my personal experience, and is currently titled "Medical Trauma: Investigating PTSD-like Symptoms in Pediatric Epilepsy Patients, towards Developing a Diagnostic Instrument". Essentially, it has been well known for a long time that children with epilepsy and other neurodegenerative disorders have higher rates of mental illness; but particularly anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. However, some recent research has shown that these same patients have similar neuroimaging scans in the areas of the brain that impact our emotions to patients with PTSD. The guiding hypothesis of my thesis is thus that the underlying mechanism for mental distress in long-term neuro patients is often trauma related, and thus not just a typical case of anxiety or depression; and if these findings hold up, this study could stand with other prior research in not only arguing for a "medical trauma" diagnosis to be added to the DSM; but also for different therapeutic interventions to be trialed with these patients; perhaps those more geared towards trauma and processing through early childhood experiences, than traditional cognitive behavioral models. We have so many people in pain across the US and around the world, and more funding is needed in the area of mental health research. While I know that this fund is a scholarship and not a grant, receiving this award could help me focus more time on research and education, and less on looking for outside work; allowing me to potentially obtain greater findings than I otherwise would have. I am grateful for the commitee's support for STEAM majors, and while psychology is sometimes considered to be a soft science, I felt my project was worthy of consideration for this award, given the nature of the work that I do. Thank you for your consideration.

As someone with a learning disability who is now in graduate school to become a clinical psychologist, I look forward to the ways that I will be able to give back, and to connect with my future clients in unique ways; giving them hope for the future that I so desperately needed when I was their age, and support that not every clinician can give; as though almost every clinician cares deeply for their patients, not everyone can relate to their patients as much as someone who has been there, walked the walk, and come out the other side. I got a sneak peek of the fulfillment that I am hopefully facing in my future career when I worked at Camp Kodiak in the summer of 2023; a small, special needs camp in Ontario, Canada. Campers there range in age from 6-18, and have a variety of different diagnoses, including; Autism Spectrum Disorder (Types 1 & 2), ADHD, Dyslexia, Epilepsy, and a variety of other neurological and psychological special needs. It was an incredible experience, and prepared me more for my future career as a psychologist than many of the classes that I completed in my undergraduate degree, with all of the direct person-to-person interactions that it offered, and the ability to support campers through things that I had only ever read about prior to working there. But most importantly, it was an opportunity for me to give back, as I was once a camper there too; from the summer of 2014 to the summer of 2017; and being on the other side felt surreal. Living with a learning disability does impact me every day; certainly in the ways that it makes life more challenging, but also in the daily realizations of all that I have been able to accomplish by the grace of God and through the help of skilled professionals in spite of all of my challenges. For instance, based on my clinical profile, I shouldn't be able to walk or talk, and certainly shouldn't be a long-time honor-roll student at school in a foreign country pursuing her master's degree. I have had a rough start to my life, and have an uncertain future, but I am already beating the odds. I don't know what the future holds, but I want to do as much as I can, for as long as I can, because at the end of the day, none of us really know what will happen tomorrow, and this world has no guarantees. Being someone who defies the statistics, it helps me to have hope for the clients that I work with, as I know that it isn't a math equation that decides what our potential is, and that sometimes, people will make recoveries that don't make sense, and go on to do great things they had never even thought possible. It is this hope that will not only motivate me each day in working with clients, but that I hope to use to inspire my clients and their families to stay the course and pursue healing, as you never know what might be possible if you put your mind to it. So, I have a disability, but I won't think of myself as disabled, as my disability is only a small part of who I am. And, in being a part of me, I get to decide whether I want it to be something I am proud of and use for the glory of God and the good of others, or something I hide in shame. And today, I choose the former.

I made my connections game based on different therapeutic modalities and their core components; to help students like me remember the difference between each, so we can best determine which one would be right for each particular client! I personally love Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and think that it is very useful for a lot of clients, not just the original population it was designed for (aka clients with borderline personality disorder diagnoses). Since we weren't able to attach an image, here is what my four categories were: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Restructuring, Guided Discovery, Exposure Therapy, and Role Playing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Acceptance, Cognitive Defusion, Being Present, Committed Action Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT): Activating Event, Beliefs, Consequences, Disputation As a grad student training to be a clinical psychologist, not only are these techniques my passion, but it is also important to understand the difference between each of the possible interventions that are research-based, so that if one technique isn't working, you can try something else. But, for those of you reading this who aren't in the field, understanding the different mental health interventions can guide us to finding a good therapist to meet your needs, and help you to find good emotional support! Aside from my connections puzzle, I think it could be a great study resource for students preparing for large exams; looking at associations between things that are important to remember. So, what would be on your connections puzzle? Which things do you try so hard to recall, but struggle with? Or words you'd like to use to stump your favorite study buddy when you hand them the puzzle? Go make a connections puzzle today!

Cancer is a terrifying reality, but it does not have to be a death sentence, and since moving to the US, I have been amazed at just how incredible the cancer treatment protocols really are; people who would not be here were they born in any other country are alive and well; living, laughing, and loving, all thanks to the incredible doctors, nurses, and scientists that make cancer less powerful against the treatments we have to attack it with. And as someone who has lost family back in Canada due to diagnoses that could have been cured had we lived in the US, the fact that others do not have to suffer the way that my family has is an incredible thing. One very important but often underlooked piece of the cancer prevention conversation is the mental wellness aspect; feeling well and preventing or fighting cancer is about more than just our labs or physical symptoms; but should be looked at from a whole person perspective; as if you lose the motivation to fight, you have already given up the battle. And as someone with serious medical issues myself; I know just how tempting it is to throw in the towel; particularly when the prognosis is grim or chronic, and there is no end in sight. My ongoing journey with hydrocephalus and epilepsy helped me to know from a young age which population I wanted to work with; pediatric neurological patients, I just wasn't sure whether I wanted to do that under the banner of medicine or psychology. Having been led to pursue psychology, I now plan to focus my career on helping this cohort; specifically through recognizing and treating medical trauma symptoms; that is, trauma symptoms that have manifested as a result of a serious acute or chronic medical issue, that then develop into anxiety or depressive disorders, if left inadequately treated. My master's thesis is focused on this in particular; looking at how epilepsy impacts the brain in similar ways to other outside traumatic events; towards separating out trauma response symptoms from generalized depression or anxiety; in order to create both an operational definiton and screening instrument for medical trauma diagnoses. I can't undo all of the pain that I or my relatives have been through; but I can use it for good; channeling my suffering into finding ways to help others not have to suffer quite as much. I do have medical trauma; both first and secondhand; from both cancer diagnoses and heart failure in my family, to my own journey living with hydrocephalus and epilepsy. I have been through a lot more than most, and don't know how much longer I have, but want to use whatever "good time" I have left for the good of others and the glory of God. I'm praying that though I can't and may not see it; that he will use my trials for his glory and my good in the long term. Cancer and other health conditions bring so much pain to so many, and I, as an aspiring mental health professional, want to do everything I can to alleviate suffering through evidence-based trauma treatments. And while I don't know all of the ins and outs of why I've been through what I have, I don't think I would have this same passion for mental health if my walk had been easier. So, join with me, and help me to support people through trauma recovery, one person at a time.

As someone who has dealt with serious medical challenges her whole life, I don't take anything for granted, and it is such an incredible blessing to be where I am today. Being here in the US on a student visa, pursuing my Masters in Counseling Psychology, and thus finally closing in on becoming a clinical psychologist, I am incredibly grateful for the doctors, teachers, friends, family, and others who inspired me to keep going, even when it felt impossible. Now here I am, in 2025, on my way to making the American dream a reality in my life! When you grow up in the hospital, many people treat you like you are made of glass; and oftentimes they will try to lower the bar for you; telling you not to push yourself "too hard" or "dream too big". These people often have the best of intentions. They want us to be happy, healthy, and set manageable goals that are within grasp. Yet here I am; someone who has had many near death experiences, who is lucky to be able to walk, write, or talk; and yet I am trilingual, pursuing a Master's in Counseling Psychology here in the United States. I shouldn't be alive; but here I am, trying to make the most out of each day and the relative health or sickness it might entail. They always say that when you come from humble beginnings, it's important never to forget where you came from. And for me, thankfully, forgetting would be impossible, as I know that I am one medical mistake away from ending up either in a wheelchair, in long-term care, or even not being here; so I want to make each day count; using my energy and strength for the glory of God and the good of others. In my case, that looks like focusing my research and future practice on helping kids with neurological disorders with their mental health, attention, memory, and other neuropsychological variables. I had an incredible medical team growing up, but I never had anyone on the team who understood; so that is the gap that I want to fill; starting with my Master's thesis focused on medical trauma; and evaluating PTSD symptoms in paediatric epilepsy patients, towards developing a better screening measure to help separate out trauma response disorders from typical anxiety or depression cases; as correct diagnosis is the first step in providing appropriate care. So, to answer the initial question that the essay was based on; having a medical condition like mine means that I have been given a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. lease on life. I don't take anything for granted. But it can also be really isolating and terrifying to be me; if you don't find a way to turn your pain into purpose, like I have been able to find, by God's grace, in my research and clinical endeavors in the psychology world. This could all stop at any moment; as unlike most 22 year olds, I know all too well just how fragile life is; so I don't want to waste one moment of it. Thank you for considering my application for this award, and for supporting each and every one of your recipients in pursuing their dreams. I hope and pray that whichever recipients you select will be blessed by this funding, and am grateful for you taking the time to review my application.

While it is often advised not to let your physical disability "define you", I think there are ways to make it a part of your identity that you are proud to identify yourself with. As someone with hydrocephalus and epilepsy who struggles with mobility, learning disabilities, and both gross motor and fine motor difficulties, I have learned a lot over the years regarding how my disability should/shouldn't fit into my identity. I used to be really ashamed of who I was; and my depression sometimes leads me to start to feel that way again; but I know that in some ways, my challenges are also a gift, and have taught me a lot that I will take into my future career as a clinical psychologist. Though I live with a lot of challenges, I do a good job of masking them in many situations; some may perceive my gait issues and tremor as due to being anxious rather than having neurological difficulties, and I do a great deal to hide my other symptoms when in unfamiliar situations. Though, in places I frequent, I have been learning to embrace who I am, and try to let my other gifts like my intellect or my sense of humor shine, so that people don't see me and think first of what I can't do; but what I can do. My personal experience impacts me every day in the way that I approach people. Growing up, doctors, psychologists, teachers, and other professionals often had really low expectations for me, due to the statistics for my conditions and specific medical profile being really grim. By the stats, I shouldn't be able to walk, talk, write, or perform many basic tasks. Yet here I am, an international student from Canada, pursuing my dreams of becoming a clinical psychologist and moving to the US. My future is uncertain, and one medical procedure gone awry or small medical complication could leave me dead, paralyzed, or in long term care. Yet I continue to press on; seeking to use whatever degree of relative health I have now in the midst of my challenges for good. Long term, I hope to work with kids just like me; as I can be not just another expert in the room, but one who understands on a personal level what many of these kids are thinking and feeling, and can better gauge how and when to push, vs when to lean more on encouragement. It can be damaging to push these kids too hard; but it can damage them more to treat them like glass; assuming that their life will be defined by dependence on others; or that they can only strive for certain things. The bottom line is this - you never know what you are capable of until you try. And as an aspiring psychologist, I hope to help paediatric neurological patients with their attention span, memory, and emotional regulation so that they can achieve things once never thought possible. The picture that I am attaching is one of me on a school trip to France last year; living my life and experiencing a different culture, even amidst the physical barriers that I have. Because I don't currently (though may soon) have a wheelchair or walker, it would be hard to tell from a photo alone that I live with all of these challenges; but that is just another example of how there is much more to each of us than meets the eye.

When you are disabled like me, many will tell you, whether through words or actions or both, that you can't do anything. For many, this constant messaging seeps into their souls, and they limit themselves subconsciously, believing that everyone around them is right; maybe they do need to set their expectations for life low. Thankfully, I was born with a drive to prove people like that wrong; and have been able to break down a myriad of barriers in my way. I am incredibly blessed to be where I am today, and hope to use the skills and lessons I have learned along the way to make the world a better place. When I think of where I am most a leader, it would be in social situations. As someone who has been on the outside, it is my goal and hope that people never feel alone. I am quick to sit with someone who is by themselves and engage them in conversation; hoping to find commonalities to connect over, and ways to get them more integrated into the community. Most of all, I love sitting with people navigating deep pain and sorrow. This world is full of it. And as someone headed into the mental health field, who has already done a lot of volunteering within the field, sitting with people and holding their deepest secrets; being the person they trust the most, is just the most special thing you will ever experience. You get to see the incredible strength inside people who may look different on the outside; and through hearing others' stories, get many different pairs of glasses with which to view the world. I used to think that being a leader meant starting a business, or being the most outgoing person with the most creative ideas. Now I see being a leader as being about authenticity even under pressure, holding to your values, and doing what you can to make the world around you a better place, using your unique skills and abilities. You know what that means? We are all called to lead in our own unique way; and if we all did our part, our world would look incredibly different. Leadership may not seem like it comes naturally to you, but I think that's just the way that we have falsely perceived it in the past. So today, think through what you are good at, what you are passionate about, and how you can use your talents and passions for good in your local community, or the broader global community, and get started! And that's what it means to be a leader.

One underrated part of the conversation around autoimmune disorders is how our endocrine function impacts our mental health. As someone whose endocrine disorder causes acne, mental health issues, fertility, and indigestion. As an aspiring psychologist, I hope to help people in a holistic manner; helping them be healthier and happier in a variety of ways. Prior research seemed to suggest that mental disorders were due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, yet new research shows something different; they seem to be endocrinological, or in other words, autoimmune. This is particularly true for disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are largely serotonin-related, as 70% of serotonin is produced in your gut. However, there have been documented cases of acute psychosis due to nutrient deficiency/malabsorption and thyroid disruption, making research into the neuroendocrinological system more pressing than ever. With my future patients, even just helping to lower their stress levels through the therapeutic process can do so much in the way of prevention and treatment of autoimmune conditions, as stress and anxiety is often a cause of inflammation. But, my work can go beyond that in psychoeducational settings, helping patients to understand why they make the choices they do, and leading them to finding their own motivating factors for pursuing a healthier lifestyle. In the mental health field, one type of therapy that can be quite useful here is called Motivational Interviewing, wherein the therapist asks the patient guiding questions, leading them towards important facts they had not considered, and helping them to implement healthy choices if they are aware that they should but remain unmotivated. This modality has been successful in helping clients improve their diet and exercise habits, but has also been shown to be effective in treating some clients with addictions. One thing is certain though; we cannot ignore the role of mental health professionals in treating physical health conditions. Even if we don't operate, we can, in some cases, be the most important person on the treatment team. After all, a patient can have all the knowledge and access to resources in the world (though few do) and still remain sick if they suffer from depression, anxiety, a lack of motivation, or some sort of other underlying mental health condition. In this country, we have ever-rising rates of chronic disease, including autoimmune disorders, mental health conditions, and others. The need for not only researchers, but also clinicians on the front lines, is more pressing than ever. Yet, in a world where the cost of medical care is going up, so too is the cost of tuition, and many who would aspire to go into helping professions simply can't afford it. As an international student, I am incredibly grateful to be here. However, the current regulations related to my student visa make working impossible at this time; a stressor that domestic students don't have to face; and one that makes scholarships all the more valuable. I am trying very hard to keep my head above water financially, but have been applied to hundreds of scholarships and have yet to receive a yes. However, I will press on, and have a goal number of $50000 in scholarships. That might sound like a lot, but school and living expenses add up, and every bit helps. I sincerely appreciate your consideration.

When I was born, there were a lot of complications with the labor and delivery, and the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck; leading to hypoxia in those crucial first moments of life. Based on current scientific data, it is quite possible this was the cause of my hydrocephalus, a neurological condition I developed in the first few months of life that later caused me to develop epilepsy due to significant brain damage. Growing up in and out of hospital, I had two choices - to let my medical challenges hold me back, or to use them to do good in the world. And, thanks to the help of my medical team, friends, and family, I chose the latter. From a young age, I chose to use each hospital visit as a learning opportunity; asking good questions of the team and seeking to be an empowered patient who understood and advocated for the care I needed. However, while my medical team was incredible, I always felt that someone key was missing; someone who had been through it - something like me. Initially, I thought this meant going to medical school to become a neurologist, but due to medical complications in my grade 12 year, I chose to head down the path to become a clinical psychologist, despite having being accepted into medical science programs. As a clinical psychologist, I hope to focus my career on helping patients who have suffered brain injuries or other medical conditions; helping them recover from the brain damage and cope with the realities of living with a disability. Passion for something doesn't come out of nowhere. In fact, the things that we are most passionate about often come from periods of deep pain and even potentially suffering in either our lives, or the lives of our loved ones. For people like me, who grew up in and out of hospital, it is very common to head into medicine, nursing, psychology, or other helping professions; because we know what it is like to feel scared and alone, and want to "pay it forward" in a sense. Everyone has a unique destiny in life, and if you do not yet know yours, it is definitely worth it to work, volunteer, and study in a variety of different areas to determine what you feel drawn towards - though if you don't find it right away, that's fine! Life is full of opportunities to pivot, gaining education and experience in a new field that begins to excite you later on. I feel so blessed to be in graduate school for clinical psychology, and hope to be a blessing to the community at large, but particularly those with medical conditions and other underserved or disadvantaged communities. Thank you for your consideration of my application for this award.

My dad, while he does not have cancer, lives with dialated cardiomyopathy, and has had a couple of close calls over the years. I am 22, my sister is 17, and our father is almost 52. He is much too young to die, yet we do not have control over that; we can only make the most of the time we have; enjoying each day, while still planning for the future. But not only does my father live with serious conditions that make his future uncertain, I do too. My epilepsy has a rare presentation that puts me at a high risk for bad outcomes, and while I am functioning relatively well overall with regard to the hydrocephalus, my brain scans show significant damage and I do deal with a lot of cognitive delays on a daily basis. Yet, amidst all of that, I have found ways to succeed in school and in the workplace, and am blessed to be where I am right now, even if I don't know how long it will last. I could die tomorrow, or I could live 20 more years, or even 60 or 70 more years. But, when you live with serious medical challenges, you need to stop yourself from thinking that way; living each day that God gives you to the fullest, knowing that if you woke up today, you are meant to be here. My dad is not the only one in the family who has dealt with heart problems. In fact, many of the men in the family have, and some have even died in their early 50s. My dad, being now almost 52 and having already had two heart surgeries, is not doing great; but it could be a lot worse. One of the hardest things about having a parent that is ill is not wanting to mourn them while they are still alive, but also worrying that if you don't to some extent, they may die unexpectedly, before you even have the chance to say goodbye. I have to hold these two things in tandem, and try to spend quality time with my dad when I can; which means so much more when there is more at stake. As someone heading into the field of couseling and psychotherapy, understanding how to sit with people who are navigating terminal illness or have recently experienced a loss is so important. After all, unlike many of the diagnoses in the DSM, grief is something that almost all of us will experience; and if not dealt with correctly, can lead to even greater challenges. I do hope to primarily focus my practice on working with children and teens, so hope to use my understanding of grief from a young person's lens to relate to youth navigating losses; understanding that the existential nature and number of questions can be so much greater when you lose someone when you're young. I want to be there to listen, support, and encourage those walking through grief, while also giving them a safe space to process emotions that they feel they couldn't vocalize anywhere else, within the four walls of my counseling office. There are so many people in pain, and while I can't help them all, I do want to be a part of the solution.

Though I did not grow up in a Christian home, God drew me to himself at a young age. At the age of 13, I started going to church in my hometown of London, ON, and I then gave my life to Jesus at the age of 14, getting baptized at 15. I served in Children's Ministry all through high school, and Youth Ministry all throughout undergrad, loving every moment of it. Leading youth and children to Jesus, and setting an example of what it looks like to walk with God through the ups and downs of life has been such a blessing. Now that I am in the US, I look forward to stepping back into both youth and children's ministry in February 2025, once I have been at my new church here in Plymouth, MI, for 6 months. While I am in school to be a clinical psychologist, albeit at a Christian school, I hope to use my career for ministry purposes in various ways, even while not planning to work for a church directly. We live in a world where so many people are in pain, especially in the context of the church, making the need for quality Christian counselors more pertinent than ever. Beyond that, I plan to focus my practice on working with children and teens; helping to direct them through seasons of mental health challenges or generalized uncertainty. I hope to work with a lot of kids from low-income families, providing low-cost yet high-quality services to Outside of my vocational pursuits, I have wanted to adopt and/or foster children from a very young age, and hope that my education and training in the realm of psychology will allow me to support youth in need in really unique ways; enabling me to take in youth who might otherwise be placed in a group home setting due to their special needs, giving them a family and stability they might not otherwise have, at such a critical point in their lives. While each ministry within the church is incredibly important, Children's ministry plays such a key role in helping children to understand their personal need for Jesus, pointing them to him, and bringing them up with knowledge of God's word. Quality ministry to children results in youth who know the word of God and apply it to their lives in even the hardest of seasons. While our salvation is not up to our own efforts and is ultimately up to God, it is the responsibility of the church to raise up children well, while still ultimately entrusting the children to him. As someone who has spent a lot of time ministering to children, I have seen this firsthand. In regards to current research, I think more focus needs to be put on how best to empower children to make their faith their own while growing up in the church, allowing them to ask questions and wrestle with things, so that they are less likely to fall away when they leave home and head off to university. However, while we can do research, we must recognize that our salvation is not of our own doing, but is from beginning to end the result of God and his providential love for us, and faithfulness in our lives. Let us praise God for his sovereignty, while still being faithful to share the Gospel with each child, youth, and adult who walks through our doors.

As someone who is doing a Masters in Counseling Psychology, my love of Math often goes unrecognized. After all, some may think; what on earth does math have to do with psychology? Well, my background has actually involved a strong focus on mathematics and statistics, being that good research practices necessitate a sound knowledge of statistics in particular. While I do not hope to do research vocationally upon graduation, understanding data collection and analysis is important for clinicians; in helping them know how to interpret the findings of research going on in the field, to be able to continually improve their practice each and every day. I have always loved Math, especially as a trilingual. After all, Math is the same in every language, and is consistent across all countries and cultures - one could even call it the universal language. Not only that, but an understanding and correct implementation of mathematical principles is the only way to conduct sound research; where the results can be replicated to ensure accuracy. In the fields of neuroscience and psychology, where very little is currently known about the brain, accuracy is of utmost importance. There are many people suffering with neurological and psychological conditions, and current research aimed at finding cures and treatments is more needed than ever. While Math is really important, it can provoke anxiety for many. In fact, most people experience some level of anxiety and frustration when beginning their journey in the field. However, once you master a few small areas of mathematics, it becomes almost magical; and you begin to feel empowered to solve problems you never thought you'd ever be able to tackle! So, if you are someone who feels stressed when even thinking about your upcoming math test, keep pressing on! Math can be hard to grasp at first, but one day it might "click" for you, and then bring you a joy that you don't get from many other subjects in school! In a world that is increasingly being dominated by technology, and understanding of mathematics and coding is more important than ever; and if you learn to leverage math for to your advantage in work and school, the results will be unmatched!

Heart disease can put obstacles in your life, but you don't have to let it define you. As someone who lives with dialated cardiomyopathy, whose father has had multiple heart surgeries and many health scares for that same condition, and whose paternal grandparents both died from heart disease, I have seen firsthand just how crippling a heart condition for me. For me, my heart rate and blood pressure are very low. Recently I was in urgent care, and my blood pressure read 80/30. Being that I am 22 and in my first year of graduate school, doctors are trying to keep me off medications as long as possible; in hopes that the treatments will be better when my symptoms do worsen down the road, and in the hopes of avoiding placing me on meds that will do more harm than good. I think about my dad's health often. His uncle had a heart attack and died when his cousins (the uncle's daughters) were 16 and 21. This was a shock to our entire family, and changed the course of the lives of his daughters forever. I am 22, and my sister Claire is 17. We don't want that to happen to us; we hope and pray that our father will live much longer, and that we will get to enjoy many more years with him. Heart disease is a tragic part of modern life. Rates of the most common forms of heart disease on the rise, and the medical system in many countries is becoming overwhelmed; including right here in the US. Something needs to change quick, because if it doesn't, more and more people will continue to pass away, whose lives could potentially be saved. Heart disease is such a multifaceted issue; with factors like diet, stress levels, genetics, exercise, and environment all playing a part in not only determining the risk of acquiring heart disease, but also the prognosis. With the issue becoming increasingly complex, the need for qualified professionals to enter the field is more prevalent than ever. Yet, one often overlooked part of the team with regard to managing heart disease is mental health, and that's where people like me come in. It is well known that stress impacts us in a variety of ways, and that high-stress lifestyles can lead to a higher rate of heart attacks and heart disease in general. So, it should follow that a key part of preventing heart disease would be to lower stress levels. Beyond the simple relationship between stress and heart disease, our neurological and endocrine systems are intricately connected, and not taking care of your mental health can have dire ramifications on your physical well-being. As a mental health professional, I hope to educate and empower my patients to make wise and balanced decisions for their health, to help them lower stress levels overall, and inspire them to engage in behaviors that promote their physical and psychological wellbeing. There are so many people who need support and encouragement in this world today, and I hope to do my part to serve my future patients and broader community well. Thank you to the John Nathan Lee Foundation for providing this opportunity, and for considering my application.

Healthcare is such a rewarding field for so many, as you get to come alongside people and provide meaningful support and encouragement on some of the hardest days of their lives. While many will first bring to mind an image of a doctor or a nurse upon hearing the term "healthcare", the field is much broader than that, including paramedical professionals such as paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and so many more. There are a diverse number of professions under this umbrella, and something for everyone who is passionate both about science and helping those in need. In my case, being a graduate student pursuing a Masters in Psychology, I have a particular passion for the brain and mental health. This is for many reasons, but those fall into two categories; interest spurred on by my own mental health journey, and the fact that the field of psychology is in rapid development, meaning that you are always learning and adapting your methods to best help your patients. Though the field has continued to advance, many are in need, and diagnoses of mental illnesses are sadly on the rise, making mental health care more important than ever. However, due to the high cost of education and thereby the resulting debt that doctors and therapists have upon graduation, it often forces therapists to charge high rates and few scholarships or discounts to their patients, in order to stay on top of their bills. My hope is to graduate with minimal to no debt, which would thereby enable me to help more clients who don't have the resources to seek care anywhere else. Beyond my passion for helping those who need financial support to receive counselling, I have always wanted to foster and/or adopt once married. I do not yet know whether this would look like solely foster care, foster care and adoption, international adoption, or embryo adoption among other options, but my desire to adopt remains strong. Many children who remain in foster care waiting for a forever family have high emotional needs due to trauma and/or disability, and need foster parents with a high degree of training to best support and parent them. My hope is to use my training and education not only in my professional life, but also in my home; in the way that I parent and interact with my family. All in all, if you are going to go into healthcare in any capacity, it is important to love what you do. It can be a long road to get certified, and it won't always be easy to find joy in the day to day of your job; so finding deeper meaning in what you do is so important, so that you can keep going, even when things are really, really hard. Thank you for your support of future healthcare workers in offering this scholarship, and for your consideration of my application.

Legacy, in short, means creating traditions and passing on values through the generations; whether that is in your family, or a bigger legacy that leaves a mark on the broader world around us. Leaving a good legacy for your children and beyond is important, and yet so many did not have that blessing. As an international student in the United States who hopes to potentially live here long term following school, I hope to use that to build a legacy for my future generations. As an outsider who was raised in another country and is now an international student in the US, I have a deep appreciation for the hospitality and generosity of Americans and the unique opportunities available; and hope to use those to do a lot of good in the world. My hope is to become an American one day; not so that I can take from the US, but so that I can give back, and contribute to this country that is doing so many incredible things in this world. When I think about legacy, one thing that has been on my heart from a young age is adoption and foster care; taking in those who have been forgotten or neglected, and helping them to feel loved and supported in ways they had never thought possible. I hope, as someone who is pursuing a Masters in Counseling Psychology, to use my professional experience to take in children with higher needs, who might otherwise be hard to place with a forever family. I want to take them in, adopt them, and change their legacy; from a legacy of despair and cycle of poverty to a legacy of hope. No matter where you came from, or what the generational trends are in your line, you can decide to make a change; to change your legacy, to rewrite your story. Let's be people who seek to not only change the legacy of our families through making different choices, but also people who seek to break down barriers in others' lives; giving them a hand up, helping them find their footing when they feel like they are drowning. Finally, I hope to leave a financial legacy for my children; to teach them to manage money well, to be generous, to enjoy the gifts they have been given, and to be excited by opportunities to give back to help those in need; which is a big part of the reason that I am so fervent about applying to scholarships; in hopes that I won't be crippled by debt, and can instead be free to help others and do good, both in school, and when I graduate.

Veterans and service members keep us safe and free, and it is important to recognize their great contribution to our country, and to the people who live in peace today as a result of their service. Veterans Day and Memorial Day give us an opportunity to think about service members, but let's be a society who does not reserve our gratitude for their service to those days, but rather we must never forget; as forgotten history often gets repeated. My great grandfather John fought in bomber command in World War II. When flying over Europe, his plane exploded; leaving him and his squadron to parachute down in the middle of the countryside. At the time, they were unsure where they were, and needed to find a way to navigate to safety. They ran into the dilemma; whether to navigate through the cities and risk capture by the Nazis, or to navigate through the countryside, and risk illness or starvation. As a country kid who grew up on a farm, my great grandfather was used to the backwoods, and opted to take his chances and navigate through the woods, in hopes of finding his way to an allied country, and thereby be able to get to safety. This ended up being the decision that saved his life and preserved his line. The squadron ended up splitting, with some who went through the city, and others who opted for the backroads. Those who went through the city soon found out they were in Poland; but only once they were captured. They ended up in Prisoner of War camps, and were all either confirmed deceased, or their fate was unknown. However, those who were led through the woods by my great grandpa John made it to safety, and were eventually returned home. My great grandpa received many medals for his service, most of which centred around this event. Yet, surviving the war doesn't mean you aren't affected. Like so many other veterans, my great grandfather lived with PTSD, leading to nightmares and paranoia. However, he still pursued a successful career; eventually becoming an accountant, having three kids, and building a nice new life in the world of peace that followed the Second World War. As someone who had seen a lot, he had a lot of wisdom on areas of finance, freedom, and family, among others. He did have many challenges related to his service, for sure, but growing up amidst such chaos and tribulation helped to form his character and inform his beliefs. Like so many other veterans, he knew what freedom was, and why it was so important. So, let us never forget the sacrifice of the veterans, the current service members, and those who never come home.

Disabilities, while they can certainly impact our lives, don't mean that we can't accomplish great things. As a disabled woman who has overcome many obstacles, I speak from experience when I say that those with disabilities are often much more capable than they seem, and don't deserve to be overlooked, as they tragically are frequently in our society. I live with epilepsy and hydrocephalus, and am legally disabled, meaning that I am unable to drive, and have various other limitations; which impact me on a day to day level. I have undergone one brain surgery and a variety of experimental treatments so far; having spent a large part of my childhood, teenage, and adult years in and out of hospital. This year, I am facing down likely at least one brain surgery, in addition to a variety of other experimental treatments; all of which carries potential for significant and even life-threatening side effects. Nevertheless, I am determined to continue pursuing my Masters, as long as I am able. I have succeeded in school amidst all of this, and have been able to use my lived experience to help others; even from the position of a fellow student. My neurological conditions are what inspired me to go into psychology. From a young age, I became fascinated by the brain, due to the many appointments that I had with my treatment team. This was partially due to a longstanding passion that I have had about science in general, but was primarily due to the fact that, while my team was incredible, I always felt like someone key was missing - someone with lived experience; someone like me. As a result, I knew from a young age that I either wanted to go into neurology or psychology. Then, when university applications came around for undergrad, I finalized my decision to complete a Bachelor's in Psychology. I am now headed into my Master's in Psychology, which will license me in the state of Michigan as a Limited License Psychologist, and my dreams are finally starting to feel real. In my mind, it is a beautiful thing when people can turn their pain into passion; leveraging their challenges and setbacks to be able to help others. Life can be incredibly painful, and each of us has our own challenges to navigate; even while some have a harder walk than others. However, due to our experience with suffering, we are all uniquely equipped to help certain groups of people, and some time of reflection can help you identify who that is for you. So, ask yourself today - who are you most passionate about supporting? Who do you feel can benefit from hearing your story? We all have unique stories, talents, and passions - so let's use them for good in this world.

While each character from "Stranger Things" would bring their unique talents to bear in an emergency situation involving a supernatural threat, the three that would be best on your team are clear; Eleven, Dustin, and David Hopper. While they would make an unconventional team given the plot of the show, they would make an excellent team of three in an emergency situation as described above. Eleven would be an asset due to her supernatural abilities in telekinesis and telepathy; making her an obvious choice to face a supernatural ability. While many characters possess talents that would make them poised to fight many different enemies, the chances of survival would be optimal with Eleven on the team. From there, Dustin would be a surprisingly helpful addition due to his funny personality. While not being an immediately obvious choice, the power of comic relief in boosting the morale of the team, and motivating them to continue on in the midst of significant threats and suffering would help them to persevere until the threat was neutralized. Dustin also brings a friendly presence; enabling the team of three, who have dramatically different personalities, to bond well through these strange times. Finally, Jim Hopper, being the police chief looking for action, would have the training to respond to significant threats, and would be able to provide leadership and direction as they ward off the enemies they would be facing in these times. While Eleven has talents unique to supernatural threats, and Dustin would help in uniting the team, they would still need a strong leader spurring them on, and that is where Jim comes in. All in all, if you had to pick only three characters from the show to help you in these sorts of trying times, this team would likely be your best bet.

Success, in short, means realizing your dreams, even and especially after having many barriers thrown in the way. It looks like going where you always wanted to, even though you never actually believed you would make it. Success is relative - each person has different abilities, desires, and dreams, so it is important to define what success looks like in your life, and what steps you can take to achieve it. As someone who is a graduate student studying a Masters in Counseling Psychology in Michigan, success was felt in even getting accepted into the program, and I'm sure will be amplified upon its completion; when I become licensed as a Limited License Psychologist in the state of Michigan. This would be success for many people; but feels incredibly special to me given all that I've been through and am still navigating in order to get where I am today, and where I will be when I graduate in May of 2027 with my license. Growing up with hydrocephalus and epilepsy, I am very lucky to be alive, and even more blessed to be as functional as I am. Sometimes it can be hard to find gratitude in where I am at - having serious medical problems can be very scary, and incredibly frustrating. Yet, I remind myself daily of the fact that being able to climb the stairs independently was success when I was 9, and now here I am in graduate school, about to become a psychologist. That's quite the turnaround! My prognosis for the future with my hydrocephalus and epilepsy is complex. I will likely need at least 10-20 more brain surgeries in my lifetime, if not more, and my condition will continue to impact both my mental and physical health. Yet, while it will certainly impact my life, I try very hard to make sure that it doesn't define it - I am much more than my limitations, even though that's something that took a long time to learn, and is easy to forget if I am not careful to remind myself frequently. Because of how fortunate I have been so far, I want to use my abilities and lived experience to give back, and plan to focus my practice as a psychologist on helping children and youth with chronic disease - especially those with chronic neurological disorders like epilepsy. You see, while we need more people working in mental health in general, we need more of a particular kind of practitioner as well - people who have lived experience with chronic disease, especially when it comes to working with kids navigating these challenges. Growing up, I had an INCREDIBLE medical team, but it would have been so powerful to have someone who had walked in my shoes - or similar ones at least - to show me through their lived experience that all hope wasn't lost. Someone to comfort me all those times that I almost died, or almost ended up in a wheelchair - someone who understood what it was like to be a young person and grapple with the very real possibility of death, and yet who was living a relatively happy, and successful life. Currently, I am living out what I would consider success. I am alive, and functional enough to do well in school, have a good group of friends, work, and volunteer. My future is incredibly uncertain, but I am determined to use all of my abilities, time, and energy to give back, and to do as much as I can to help others, while I am still able. I don't know what the future holds, but no one does. I could have 20, 40, or even 60 more good years, or I could face death or serious ailments as a result of my condition tomorrow. Yet, something that I have learned, and am still learning, is to not dwell too much on what could be, but rather to live in the moment, and to take advantage of the time, energy, and abilities that you do have to pursue your dreams and make the world a better place. And that's what success looks like to me. So, though I am facing a lot right now, and it gets really, really hard at times, I would say that I am succeeding, and I'm incredibly grateful for that. Let's redefine victory together!

Of the many Nintendo games, my all time favourite is a classic: MarioKart. While this may seem boring to some, Mariokart can be extremely entertaining, and is a great game for kids to play with friends, as the rules are simple: stay on the track, and try to beat your friends to the finish line! From playing it on a DS when I was really young, to then upgrading to a Wii later on, MarioKart was always a favourite. Nintendo has been revolutionary in the realm of entertainment and video games, especially for younger millennials/older gen z, who remember a time before playstations, VR, and all the modern video game technology took hold - we remember the era of the Nintendo DS. While video games are often maligned as anti-social, they can be very social activities, if treated correctly. Video games allow kids to practice fine motor skills, learn about turn-taking, and learn healthy competition from a young age. And, for kids who, like me, are not very good at video games, there is a good lesson in sportsmanship and in losing gracefully to be had as well. All in all, Nintendo will long be remembered as a trailblazer in the realm of entertainment, and it will be interesting to see what becomes of their brand as technology continues to evolve.

As a Christian, I believe we are called to radical selflessness. Jesus said that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last, and that the greatest among us will be our servant. Needless to say, selflessness is arguably the most important virtue in life, and the world would be a much better place if it were more highly regarded and pursued. Putting others before yourself doesn't come naturally - or at least it doesn't for me, and is a conscious choice you need to make every day; to live for the good of others, and focus on meeting the needs of others, even when it can be easy to focus only on your own needs; but taking the focus away from yourself not only makes the world a better place - it makes your life better too. As a young person, it can be easy to think that there is nothing that you can do to bring about real change in our world. After all, as a college student myself heading into my Masters, I understand how tight finances and busy schedules can make it seem hard to help others; it sometimes feels impossible to meet your own needs, never mind helping others. But, there are definitely things that you CAN do; we just need to have the right frame of mind. When it comes to selflessness, I think the best definition is this "seeking first the good of others, based on your capacity, while still ensuring that your basic needs are met". And, when thinking about being selfless, we can be selfless (or selfish) with more than just our money; meaning that we don't need to wait until we have disposable income to start helping others. Currently, my abundant resource is not money - it's time. And, as a result, I endeavour to use my time in selfless ways, such that I can make a positive impact on both my community and the world at large - as, if everyone does their part, big changes are possible. Specifically, I have done a lot of volunteering in both youth ministry and children's ministry at my church, and as a Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone, a National Crisis Line in Canada. Coming to the US in August, 2024, I am planning to begin volunteering at my local church as soon as possible, and will also try to get involved in Crisis Response efforts for local hotlines, or something similar. In addition to that, my program requires 700+ unpaid practicum hours to become a Limited License Psychologist in the state of Michigan, meaning that volunteering will be built into my degree, in addition to any efforts I make outside of that to serve my community. Selflessness is almost like a muscle - the more you practice acting selflessly; whether with your time, money, or anything else, the more natural those selfless acts become. It can be easy to think, especially as a young person, that you don't have anything to give, even if you wanted to. However, we can all help - with our money, abilities, time, energy, and opportunities, depending on which ones we have in abundance in specific seasons. As young people, we often don't have much money, but do have the other four "resources" in that list, that we can then use to the benefit of those around us; enabling us to be a part of real, lasting change in our world. You can make a difference too!

I know that this is a bit of a classic, but my favourite book-to-film adaptation was The Hunger Games, Catching Fire. While The Hunger Games books are generally a favourite series of mine, as with many other things, some stuff is inevitably always lost in adapting a book to film. With the first, third, and fourth movies, this was certainly the case - the first missed a lot of key details in general, and the third and fourth tended to portray Katniss' character differently altogether from the portrayal in the books. However, Catching Fire was really well done. Starting with the victory tours, the discontent in the districts and the realization of Katniss and Peeta that their decisions in the games had bigger impacts than they had originally realized was clear. From there, we see more of the grotesque nature of the Capitol and its out of touch citizens who don't realize the evil acts of their president or the horror of life in the districts; and come to face the reality that no one ever "wins" the games, as we can see in that even the most prosperous victors like Finnick Odair are ultimately still slaves of the system; they are just rich slaves, but are certainly not free. After all, no one ever wins the games. In addition to that, the arena in Catching Fire was exactly as pictured, and the cinematographers and directors did a great job of orchestrating the 75th hunger games as described in the books. Everything from the clock-shaped arena, to the different "plagues" (fog, monkeys, wave, etc), was perfectly orchestrated. The actors were also excellent, and did a great job of portraying key characters such as Johanna, Mags, Finnick, and others. One of the reasons that the Hunger Games movies have been on my mind a lot recently is due to the fact that there will be another book - Sunrise on the Reaping, and a subsequent movie adaptation of it coming out soon. It will be interesting to see how factors such as the casting and cinematography will play out with regard to this new spinoff focused on Haymitch's games, but it is hard to predict what it will look like as of yet, seeing as the book has not yet been released. Nevertheless, I am sure that I, along with all other Hunger Games superfans, will not be disappointed by this tale of the 50th Hunger Games. As a bookworm, the topic of book to movie adaptations is particularly fascinating to me. When reading a book, you develop a picture in your mind of the story playing out, and it is always a bit disappointing when the movie isn't as you had pictured it. However, each person pictures characters differently, and a movie director has to condense a complex story into two or three hours, meaning that they must pick and choose what to showcase in that timeframe. Each movie adaptation will disappoint some fans, no matter how well done it is. Nevertheless, I am very excited for the new Hunger Games movie, and am eagerly anticipating its release in 2026.

From a young age, I have always had a passion for helping others. This has led me to do a wide variety of volunteering: at food banks, in childcare, providing first aid, volunteering as a crisis responder, as a youth leader, in children's ministry, and so much more. But, not only do I enjoy volunteering - I always knew I wanted to go into a career where I could make a living while getting to provide support to people in need in the hardest moments of their lives; and now that I am headed to do my Masters in Counseling Psychology in the fall, my dreams are starting to become reality. While public servants make money doing this meaningful work, many of these fields are underfunded. In my field of psychology, many graduate with over six figures of student loan debt, and then are given the option of either working in public service for a low wage, or working in private practice for a much more reasonable salary. However, it is not out of greed that many choose private practice - it is out of necessity. The reality is that, if you graduate with debt, your career decisions will be impacted by that, no matter how noble your ambitions are. This, among other factors, led me to work all the way through undergrad to graduate debt free, and has led me to pursue scholarship funding for graduate school so that I can graduate with minimal to no debt; meaning that I can go into the field, and help those in need, without having to worry that doing meaningful work will put my family at risk, due to financial constraints. As someone moving to the US from Canada for school, I am excited to join the mental health sphere in the country. We have many people in pain in North America, and meaningful supports for those struggling with mental health are desperately needed. However, many of these supports are out of reach for people, due to cost, among other factors. Graduating with minimal to no debt is important to me as it will enable me to provide more services to people at a reduced cost or even pro-bono, while still making enough to pay the bills. Mental healthcare is very, very expensive, but a big driver of that is the cost of college, and the amount of debt that is carried by the average mental health professional. Thank you for considering my application. This world needs more people passionate about serving those in need, and funds like yours help those of us heading into public service be able to afford a reasonable lifestyle, while providing meaningful support to those who need it most. Public service is a goal for many, but oftentimes financial constraints can be a barrier that inevitably turns people away; because affordability matters too. But, with help from scholarship funds like this, more and more people will be able to pursue careers in public service, which is very exciting!

From a young age, I have always valued education. As a child, I remember spending the bulk of my free time reading, and this evolved into even teaching myself a third language in high school, and now pursuing proficiency in three additional languages on top of that. As the child of an immigrant to Canada, who is now moving to the US to pursue my educational dreams, I have a deep appreciation for the United States and for the opportunities it provides to both American-born citizens and immigrants to the country. As someone who is coming to the US on August 1st as an international student, I am excited for what these next few years hold, and the adventures that await me in this new country. The United States is world-renowned for having excellent educational institutions, and particularly an abundance of research opportunities in areas of science and psychology, among other fields; a major reason that drove me to leave behind my home country in search of opportunities elsewhere. Though being an international student is an incredible privilege, it does mean that opportunities are limited with regard to part time work as a student, and in my case, I will not be able to work for the first 8 months of school. For this reason, I am pursuing funding elsewhere in the form of scholarships and grants, to enable me to remain in school full time, in spite of these financial stressors. I am so excited for what the year ahead holds, and am grateful for your consideration of my application.

Being the oldest child, and the oldest of my cousins on my mom's side, I had a special relationship with my great grandparents that I am incredible grateful for. However, while all of my great grandparents are wonderful, my great-grandmother, Mary, probably had the greatest impact on my life; and many of our memories together are ones I still look back on to this day. Part of the reason for this was that Nana Mary, as I called her, came to live with us when I was 4, due to her old age, and my parents' desire to take care of her themselves, rather than send her to a long term care facility. Due to my medical conditions, my parents had to work long hours to pay for my treatment, meaning that I spent quite a lot of time with my Nana Mary before she passed. From secretly grabbing donuts together, to going to the park, to reading classics like "Heidi" from when she was a kid, we did a lot together. But, in addition to the fun we had together, she also taught me valuable life lessons. Having lived through the Great Depression, she taught me a lot about budgeting, creative cooking hacks, and contentment on little; lessons that are helpful for any walk of life, but particularly so when you are a student trying to make wise use of the limited funds you have on hand. Beyond that, she played a big role in my character development; particularly in the example she showed of how to hold onto joy through deeply painful circumstances in her battle with cancer at the end of her life. While many of her lessons were practical, such as budgeting, cleaning, or other "household hacks" so to speak, she also taught me a lot about important values in life, that I continue to prioritize to this day. While she had many wonderful values, among those core to her character were; family, generosity, gentleness, and mercy. She was quick to give, to forgive, and deeply cared for her family. She never held a grudge, and led by example in living a life of good character. Not only are these values wonderful for life in general; but they will also apply to me in my vocation as a psychologist. In particular, my value of generosity is my primary motivation in applying for scholarships - I would love to graduate debt free, which would mean being able to support those in need while being able to offer flexible rates or even some therapy scholarships to those who can't afford the care they so desperately need (aka generosity). In our world, there are so many people in pain, yet mental health care remains unnaffordable for many, largely due to the amount of debt mental health and medical professionals have upon graduation. Beyond simply my career goals, I intend to adopt and/or foster once married and established in my career, and receiving financial support towards my education now would help me to do that in the future. This year in particular, I will be receiving a lot of experimental medical treatments including likely at least one surgery if not more, which makes the financial stress related to my education more pressing than ever. Because of my Nana Mary's perseverance through her trials, and financial responsibility along the way, it has motivated me to keep pressing on through the medical challenges, and yet try to figure out a way to manage my finances amidst all of it. Thank you for your consideration of my application.

I used to resent my epilepsy and hydrocephalus when I was younger. After all, why did I have to go through all this pain, when most of my friends had "normal lives"? However, over time, as I began to work with kids, continue to succeed in school, and ultimately settled on becoming a psychologist, I began to realize that there were some silver linings in my journey that would likely help me out later in life. Now, I plan to, under my Masters degree which I am beginning this fall, practice with a focus on group therapy for children and teens living with chronic medical conditions such as epilepsy, hydrocephalus and others. And, if I do go back for a doctorate later in life, I currently plan to do that in clinical neuropsychology; enabling me to render neuropsychological evaluations and help rehabilitate people following traumatic brain injury and/or who live with chronic neurological conditions. My journey with epilepsy has been complex. The hydrocephalus was caused due to complications when I was born, and I had my first seizure as a baby, and was officially diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 3 or 4. My life was full of appointments with my neurologist, neurosurgeon, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, neuropsychologist, and various tutors. From a young age, the hospital was the norm for me. I have a very complex form of epilepsy, and experience both frequent non-life threatening seizures that inconvenience me on a daily basis by making it generally harder to function in due to visual disturbances, dizziness, short periods of losing consciousness, etc; but also long, life threatening seizures which lasted 30 minutes or more each time; requiring copious amount of rescue medications, IV fluids, and oxygen; and which doctors were marvelled at the fact that I even made it out alive, never mind making it out without paralysis, etc. Needless to say, epilepsy has had and continues to have a significant impact on my life. However, though I have navigated many challenges and continue to have a very uncertain future, my lived experience is a gift in that it will help me to relate to my patients/clients who do live with chronic disease in a way that many clinicians cannot. That is what I had always wanted as a kid - someone on my team who was like me, and yet was doing okay. My team was WONDERFUL, don't get me wrong. But, seeing that all of them were healthy (or appeared to be), it didn't give me a lot of hope for my future; due to the challenges related to my condition. However, now that I am heading into my Masters in Psychology, it is starting to look possible, and that is so exciting! In terms of how these funds would help me specifically; due to the medical shortages in Canada, I have not been receiving adequate medical care for quite some time, as we just don't have the resources for it. However, once I move to Michigan in August for my program, I will begin consulting with doctors, and receiving treatment/care in the US; likely including both medication and surgery (I have been waiting for a VP Shunt revision for the hydrocephalus for years). As a result, I will have my hands full between full time school and all this medical care, and don't anticipate having the time to work on top of that; especially with the likely symptoms and side effects related to the treatments. Receiving this scholarship would be super helpful for me as a result; as every little bit counts, and having a nice financial cushion would help me to focus on staying well and doing well in school, rather than worrying about money on top of all of that. Like Arlin, I intend to focus my career and life more broadly on helping those with epilepsy, and am just looking for financial support in that regard. Thank you for all that you do for people like me; and for your consideration of my application.

Sportsmanship is a key value and crucial part of not only all activities in the sports world, but also in academics and beyond. While I have not been involved in bass fishing in particular, I have been involved in water sports; including instructing sailing and kayak as a camp counsellor last summer, and having always loved to swim, from a really young age. Outside of the water, I have primarily been involved in both dance and karate; but also some school sports like basketball and cross country, all of which taught me a lot about sportsmanship and work ethic. However, while these lessons can be potentially learned through simply participating in these types of activities, I think that the way that my coaches and teachers emphasized values of sportsmanship, achieving your personal best, and encouraging others, was really important in reminding us to consider these lessons and take them to heart; both in athletic contexts, and non-athletic contexts. In my life, from dance in particular, I learned a lot about attention to detail. In dance, this is reinforced often, particularly in the context of group routines where either everyone has to look the same, or where everyone has to do their part to pull the routine off. This bled over into my school work, and from a young age, I have been someone who was relatively meticulous in reading and rereading my work, to ensure its accuracy, in attempt to achieve the best score possible. However, one must be careful like this, as this also led to an unhealthy level of perfectionistic thinking for a while, and it took a while to work through these thought patterns and reframe up what success and good work looks like. Having overcome this struggle with lack of confidence and overly perfectionistic thinking, it has helped me greatly in relating to my students and helping high-achieving students in particular with regard to how to balance their academic efforts with promotion of mental wellness and healthy thought patterns; and gives me lived experience to draw upon in explaining to them why balance is important in this area, and that one can still achieve great results while putting in a healthy amount of effort, and ensuring time for rest and self-care. All in all, not only can sports offer a great outlet for ensuring you get enough daily physical activity; they can also be wonderful for character development; and teach you lessons that may seem subtle at the time, but have the potential to gain greater significance later in life. However, in order to best teach these lessons, we have to be intentional. So, for those that engage in sporting activities with young; whether as a teacher, camp counsellor, or in some other role; let's continue to be intentional to reinforce these lessons, so that they are not lost in the next generation.

In our world today, many are struggling to interact, and this has led to social anxiety diagnoses skyrocketing. I have seen this in my own life in how, while I did experience social anxiety more as a kid, it got better in high school, once I really "found my crowd" so to speak. After having only interacted with my friends for months via FaceTime, I got to see them again. This was definitely super exciting, and most of those interactions were smooth. However, one skill that had gotten a little rusty in my life was how to form new friendships; and I was finding that I was leaning back on my existing friends, rather than both investing in them and seeking out new friendships. Living with social anxiety is like having one person on your shoulder telling you to suck up your anxiety and put yourself out there, and another person on your shoulder critiquing your every move, or possible move. I tend to plan out conversations in my head, figure out who I am going to sit with and talk to before agreeing to go to things. and am unlikely to attend any sort of function if I don't have a friend to go with me. The paradoxical thing with social anxiety is that you tend to isolated yourself out of fear of the unknown, and then wonder why it is that you feel so lonely. At least, I've definitely seen that play out in my own journey. However, now I am leaving my home country of Canada to study a Masters in Counseling Psychology in the US, which will mean leaving my entire support network of friends, family, mentors, and even my long-time therapist behind. Part of this is exciting, because it will open up many new doors that I didn't even know existed before. It will certainly be challenging, but the optimist inside me thinks it will most likely be worth it (even if sometimes the pessimist tries to shout over it). While I used to resent my struggles with mental and physical health (I live with Epilepsy, Hydrocephalus, ADHD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Social Anxiety), I have seen how my pain has been "put to good use" so to speak, in the way that it already has enabled me to walk with those in frightening and devastating circumstances, but also in the way that it will inform my practice as a therapist upon finishing my Masters! In my view, the second hardest seasons in my life have been those of great pain and sorry, but the hardest tend to come after; when you contemplate why you even had to go through that anyway - and almost feel like it was totally wasted, and served no purpose, other than to torment you. One of the main things that I have learned through this is that painful seasons can often be those in which we also learn the most; wisdom doesn't often come easily. In walking through this, and having this past and ongoing lived experience with both mental and physical health, I think (and hope), that it will enable me to encourage and relate to my clients who feel hopeless in powerful ways; to use my pain for good.

I am entering a Masters in Counseling Psychology program in August, which will license me as a Limited License Psychologist in the state of Michigan, allowing me to practice psychotherapy and diagnose mental illnesses, learning disabilities, and speech disorders. Being someone who lives with epilepsy and hydrocephalus, and who has experienced and currently lives with serious medical complications and side effects, this is a dream come true. I will finally get to head into the field, and focus on helping people like me; being the person that I always wanted on my team as a kid; someone who had been there, someone who got it in a way that no one else could. STEAM has always been a fascination of mine, and I had initially planned to go to medical school, had the complications not become so extreme. STEAM is so interesting because of its foundation in innovation, and drive to make the world a better place. Whether this looks like discoveries in Engineering, Science, Technology, or another similar field; STEAM blazes the path to the future, and that is why investment in the field is so, so important. However, a sometimes underlooked part of the STEAM movement is the discipline of psychology; aka the study of the human mind. While experimental design is certainly much more complex within psychology, its complexity should not lead it to be discounted as not being a science, but rather admired due to the creative ways that psychologists, neurologists, and neuroscientists alike endeavour to learn more and more about the brain, enabling them to help people in need. A particular area of psychology that interests me the most is neuropsychology; which focuses on rehabilitating people who have experienced brain injury and/or who live with chronic neurological disorders. From improving IQ, to working on executive functioning skills, to using brain training to improve skills such as memory and attention span, the realm of neuropsychology is broad, enabling it to be incredibly helpful for those in need of this support. Beyond finding neuropsychology incredibly fascinating, my primary driver in heading into the field is that I want to help kids like me; to both support them from an evidence based perspective, but also to show them through my lived experience that having a neurological condition or experiencing a traumatic brain injury does not mean that you cannot do amazing things with your life - I want to recognize their strengths, and encourage them to persevere in their pain, through both evidence based methodologies, and sharing from my own lived experience. All in all, there are many fascinating areas in the world of STEAM, and many find the most passion and drive in fields with which they have a personal connection. So, if you, like me, generally find STEAM fascinating, ask yourself this question - what problems are you most passionate about solving or which populations are you most passionate about supporting? This can definitely be a great way to narrow down your options to something that will make you truly excited to go to work every day. Let's change the world together, with each person doing a small part, which will then add up to significant change over time!

The main driver for me in going into clinical psychology was that I wanted to help kids like me. As someone who lives with hydrocephalus and epilepsy, two chronic neurological disorders, I often felt and sometimes still feel alone in my struggles. While we need more people in medicine and psychology in general, we particularly need those with lived experience with these kinds of conditions; those who have walked through significant challenges, and continue to struggle in many ways, and yet live joyful and fulfilling lives in the midst of all of it. Why? Because it gives patients and their families hope for the future, even and especially when the prognosis is looking bleak. For this reason primarily, I always knew I either wanted to go into either medicine or psychology; so that I could work with patients walking through similar challenges, and give them hope that there is potential for them, even if it seems impossible. I had initially planned to go to medical school, however due to an increase in complications in my grade 12 year, I ended up completing my undergraduate degree in psychology, and am now heading to get my Masters in psychology, to become a Limited License Psychologist. Like medical doctors, psychologists have a long road when it comes to completing their education. For this reason, I plan to practice under my Masters degree for quite some time, allowing me to gain experience working with patients, and get into a better financial position prior to pursuing my doctorate. However, in thinking through what I would like to specialize in when the time comes, I would like to focus my attention on clinical neuropsychology and neuropsychological evaluations of patients who have experienced severe brain damage and/or who live with chronic medical conditions; helping with their psychosocial rehabilitation such that they can function well, and hopefully even live independently. However, before I go back to get my doctorate, my intention is to focus my practice on both group and individual therapy for those living with chronic conditions; allowing them to not only access support from a licensed professional, but also to meet and build meaningful relationships with others walking through similar challenges, and in doing so, allowing them to feel less alone in their pain. While it can be tempting to tell those in pain that they are not alone, showing them that can be much more helpful, and that is something that I have even seen in my own journey. Let's be people who use our pain for good in the world, to help others in ways that we always wanted to be supported. In doing that, we will, little by little, make the world a better place.

I know this is a classic, but I am inspired by Chat GPT and the AI space. While there are certainly a bevy of valid concerns around AI and what it will mean for our life as we know it, it is important not to overlook its benefits and the asset that it can be to our education. While AI can certainly pose a risk to academic integrity in universities, and that should not be overlooked, it can also be used for good by honest, hard-working, conscientious students, and certainly shouldn't be looked at as all-bad. For instance, when studying for exams, you can leverage Chat GPT and other AI based study tools to generate extra practice questions and even practice exams for you based on your study notes, saving you valuable time in preparing to study, and allowing you to spend that time actually studying. For this reason, popular study tools such as Anki and Quizlet have already integrated AI based software into their apps, to help their clients prepare for their exams. While AI can certainly help reduce the workload, that is not necessarily a bad thing. The real concern centers around how you use it, and whether that is for good purposes or nefarious ones. So, instead of maligning AI as a bad force in the world of academia, it is crucial for universities to begin teaching students how to use the tool in honest and productive ways; allowing it to promote growth, creativity, and intelligence in students, rather than being used as a way out of doing work. As technology continues to develop, let's be a generation that seeks to use it to our advantage, rather than resenting it. Let's consider how we can optimize our time management in light of these advances, allowing us to do more good in the world as a result. All in all, technology can be an incredible thing, as long as we use it properly.

As someone who has always loved reading, the phenomenon of #BookTok brings me joy. Reading regularly is something that I strive to build into my routine, yet sometimes even just walking into a bookstore or library can be overwhelming for the bookworm like me; making it feel impossible to choose something. For this reason, I have always loved recommendations; I just need to make sure I'm not buying books faster than I can read them! Phenomena like #BookTok are wonderful in helping to narrow down the number of books purchased at once, and helping those who love to read decide what their next book will be; as it provides helpful reviews and summaries of books, so that you can pick something that suits you! In terms of titles within the community that have appealed to me, I am particularly drawn to books related to psychology; as that is my passion and what I study. Within this group are books such as "I Want to Die But I Want To Eat", by Baek Sehee, and "They Both Die at The End" by Adam Silvera, among others. But more important than any title mentioned on BookTok is the movement itself; getting young people excited about reading is a really good thing. For Gen Alpha and younger members of Gen Z, reading can feel like a chore, and as a result, literacy rates have plummeted, particularly in underserved communities. Part of the reason for this is smartphones, but another factor contributing to this gap is plummeting literacy rates, particularly among poorer demographics who don't have the same access to education and other resources as everyone else. However, in 2024, almost everyone has access to the internet, and many youth spend hours a day on social media. While there is increasingly more access to books, many youth prefer to spend their time scrolling social media; viewing their favourite creators, and seeing what their friends are up to these days. But, with movements like BookTok, reading has become cool again, and many more have been inspired to put their phone down and pick up a book for a few minutes every day. And, like with anything else, every little bit counts. So, with that in mind, it would seem that instead of shunning the movement, #BookTok would be something worth promoting, and telling the teens in your life about. Perhaps we don't need to ban social media for teens to get them reading, but can instead inspire them through skilled marketing campaigns such as this. Let's get inspired, and find creative ways to get everyone reading again.

From pumpkin spice, to candy cane lattes, to a variety of other themed drinks, Starbucks is great at crafting seasonal flavours to help you celebrate life and appreciate the small moments, even and especially when life is really stressful. Sometimes, when exams hit, it can be hard to get your mind off your grades and how those might impact your future. Yet, amidst the studying, prioritizing self-care in exam season is so important, to promote wellness, even as you seek to achieve top grades - and that is a lesson that took me forever to learn. As a highly conscientious student, it can be hard for me to give myself breaks, and enjoy the holidays; as in university, December means finals season for the fall semester. However, curling up with a hot, sweet, seasonal favourite from Starbucks can do the trick when it comes to bringing down your stress levels. While I have many favourites among the seasonal treats, my top favourites include the gingerbread oat chai, and the caramel apple spice (Sorry! Starbucks is too good to narrow it down to one). As someone who LOVES coffee, this would perplex those in my life. But yes, my top favourites are indeed not coffee drinks. The caramel apple spice is a refreshing pick me up on a cold day (it gets really cold where I live), and takes me back to my many fond memories of celebrating the fall with the family - among the pumpkin picking, apple cider, and of course the yard clean up that characterize the fall - the apple cider is a refreshing and light treat, perfect for a cold day. However, if I am feeling tea, I would have to go with the gingerbread oat chai. The oat milk makes it nice and light, and the gingerbread and chai flavours blend together to craft a drink full of sugar and spice that reminds me of the Christmas cookies we used to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve. It is one of those drinks that is a good in-between after thanksgiving and before Christmas (or even to keep the Christmas spirit going in January), and I love to curl up with a book and a chai in my hand on a really cold day - it is just so good at bringing me to a relaxed state, even when the snow and wind rage outside. The world's best feeling in my books is when the weather is bad BUT you don't have to go outside, and can instead admire the snow from the comfort and warmth of your home; with a hot drink and either a book, or your knitting needles. All in all, Starbucks is known for working hard to develop a creative holiday menu every year. AND, if you don't see something on there that calls your name, be sure to check out the Starbucks secret menu to see what else you could ask for, to make sure you get a holiday treat that puts a smile on your face, and warms your soul amidst the cold and darkness of winter. When the weather is cold and the days are short, it is so important to prioritize self-care; and working the occasional Starbucks treat into your budget can definitely be a part of that.

The Office is one of the most iconic television shows out there, and for fans, we can often see ourselves and most of our coworkers in at least one, if not more of the characters in the show. For me, while I resonate with many of the characters, I feel like Dwight and I have the most in common. While Dwight is known for being the socially awkward yet incredibly intelligent character in the workplace, he is so much more than that. He is kind, caring, and incredibly hard-working; seeking to promote a positive culture. As someone who lives with a couple of different neurological disorders, and who does well in school in spite of that, I can resonate with many of those traits. From running to help Michael when he burns his foot, to taking Ryan to the farm to pass on his knowledge about sales, to comforting the crying Pam, and more, it is evident that Dwight cares deeply about his coworkers. He also has a surprisingly diverse array of skills, and a vast knowledge base on a variety of unrelated subjects; making his helping nature humorous at times... after all, how does he know all of that? I can relate to Dwight in a lot of these areas. I have always loved to read, and the more you read, the more you'll know; which sometimes means I have the answer to the world's most random questions. While people are often grateful for this, it can feel awkward at times. After all, I don't want to come across as being prideful, or a know-it-all, I just want to help people in need. In addition to this, I struggled a bit socially as a kid; and learning social skills and how best to interact with my peers took a lot of work. Without doing that work, I would have been 100% like Dwight in the ways that I interacted with others; jumping in with answers, even when people are asking rhetorical questions, and providing advice to people who really just want you to listen. However, I have seen in my life that a little work can go a long way, and that's one of the things that inspired me to become a psychologist, and to help people who have walked through some of the same challenges. From The Office, we can see that there are some dynamics that seem to exist in most workplaces; and that some struggles are largely universal. This can give us comfort when we find that social life at work can be a struggle - we are not alone. All in all, The Office gives us an outlet to turn our struggles into laughter when we get home after a long day, and that is likely one of the major reasons behind its increase in popularity. Whether you see yourself in Dwight or in someone else, it is unlikely that you will find yourself unable to relate to at least one or more characters in the show.

With the world that we live in being increasingly on fire, and natural disasters raging all over the place, the question as to how best to address this issue and lower our carbon footprint has come to the forefront. Many, in thinking about addressing climate change, look to the government and policy creation. However, while laws and policies can be helpful in addressing key societal issues, these take a long time to go through, and there is so much that you can do in your own life to reduce your personal carbon footprint, and do your part in making the world a better place. In Canada, conversations around the environment are frequent, and there are a lot of efforts underway, both from the government and corporations, to address the issue of climate change. For instance, most grocery stores no longer carry plastic bags, and instead sell reusable bags and encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags for shopping. This has greatly reduced the number of single use plastics in the grocery store. However, a lot of plastic still remains. For instance, most produce is still packaged in plastic, as are a large number of processed foods; including cookies, chips, breads, and more. Though, while many of the foods in the grocery store are packaged in plastic, the conscious consumer can find a lot of different ways to reduce their carbon footprint in their weekly grocery shop. For instance, while most loaves of bread come in plastic bags, many grocery stores carry freshly baked baguettes and other breads in paper bags, allowing customers to avoid purchasing plastic wrapped goods. Additionally, when shopping, I will typically bring mesh bags for produce, and prefer to select my own produce, rather than purchasing the produce that comes in plastic shells. Sure, we won't be able to totally get rid of our carbon footprint. Each one of us will have a carbon footprint to some extent. But, there are a lot of small, seemingly painless changes that we can make on a daily basis to reduce our impact on the climate crisis. And, if each of us takes small steps in our personal lives, together, it will add up to big changes. Beyond the grocery store, I also live sustainably in that I do not own a car. This means that, most often, I walk to the places that I need to visit, which has little to no impact on the climate. While this does not seem possible to many, it is becoming increasingly easy with the number of remote or hybrid jobs available. However, if it is not possible in your life, there are surely other ways that you can make little changes for significant results in the long term. The main takeaway is this; in order for change to take place, we all need to see which steps we can take. Let's all do our part, and see how much change occurs as a result. Big changes happen when lots of people make little changes, and that's the most important thing to remember.

Hi there! My name is Sarah Handler, and I am a Canadian coming to study in the US for three years, to do a Masters in Counseling Psychology. Helping others has always been a core part of who I am and what I like to do, and from a young age, I knew that I wanted to go into medicine or psychology; two careers laser-focused on helping people in need. I live with epilepsy and hydrocephalus, two neurological conditions which have impacted my life in many ways. In some seasons, this has meant near constant doctors appointments, surgery, medications, etc., and in other seasons the ER visits and appointments have been less frequent, but never went away. I have had many near-death experiences as a result, and am very lucky to be alive, and even more lucky to be as functional as I am, even while I do still live with many challenges. I used to resent my challenges. After all, it seemed like no one else around me was going through the same level of medical complications, and that made me feel really isolated. My friends, family, and medical team were always really encouraging, but because they didn't have a neurological condition or any other serious medical condition, I always felt like they didn't really get it. For this reason primarily, I decided from a young age that I would go into either medicine or psychology, so that I could not only pay it forward with regard to all that my team had done for me, but also so that I could be a role model, and provide hope to those experiencing significant medical challenges; showing them that there was hope, even when things feel really hopeless. This fall, I am heading into the first year of my Masters, and I am so excited to begin counseling very soon. In addition to focusing my practice on helping those with serious medical conditions, and primarily children and teens, I am passionate about the impact of group therapy, and would love to pilot therapy groups for people within this demographic, allowing them to not only receive support as they navigate their treatment, but also to form lasting friendships with others in the same position; and thereby helping them to feel less alone. As a woman, I am particularly sensitive to how medical conditions can impact young women; who care deeply about fitting in with their friends, and managing their public persona, such that others perceive them as kind and beautiful. My hope, with these groups, would be to empower young women and girls with these challenges, to see that they are so much more than their diagnosis, and have so much potential and hope for their future. Essentially, I want to be the person to others that I wish that I had on my team growing up, and that's why I went into psychology.

As someone who has been to 16 foreign countries (and some multiple times!), and who is a Canadian moving to Michigan in August for graduate school, travel is a big part of my life. Travel is a great way to learn about other cultures, meet new people, and gain a better understanding of the world that we live in, and how to best advocate for change in our world. From Austria to Cuba, Malaysia to Italy, I have been around the globe a fair bit. When considering travel, it can be tempting to first consider the top European destinations, such as France, England, or Switzerland. However, while these are incredible destinations - some of which I myself have visited - the world is so much bigger than the top tourist spots, and sticking to those alone will mean missing out on amazing opportunities for learning, friendship, and fun in cultures you had never even thought about before. A primary example of this in my life was my trip to Cuba. While most people choose to spend their Cuban vacation at one of the many lovely resorts, this means missing the chance to make meaningful connections with locals, and learn about local customs and culture. However, I was given the incredible opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange with my university, wherein I made lasting relationships with university students and teachers in Holguin, Cuba, while volunteering alongside them, teaching English in the schools and in retirement homes. Our team also stayed with local families who were generous enough to host us; adding to the immersive experience. For me, this trip has stood out among all the others, because of the way that I got to learn about another culture in a really unique way, and see parts of a country that a tourist ordinarily wouldn't be able to access. From that point forward, I decided that the focus of my travel would be to find similar experiences, whether self-created or in the context of a school trip or tour group; as seeing the inside of a country and understanding what life is like for the locals is such an important part of ethical and sustainable travel, particularly in poorer nations like Cuba. On top of that, travel that focuses on understanding more about real life in other countries is so much more enriching and educational. In the future, I hope to continue to travel, and a scholarship like this would be incredibly helpful in that pursuit. While occasionally pricey, travel is such an important part of education; and being a good citizen starts with understanding your country and the other countries in the world; and how seemingly individual choices really do impact others, more than we expect. Let's be a generation who seeks to understand the world around us, so that we can be champions for lifting people up, and supporting those less fortunate than us.

I don't know why, but I have always been a natural leader. Whether at school, in the workplace, or in any other social context, whenever there is something that needs to get done, you can count on me to take charge. I'm quite timid internally, often calculating my every word and decision, so the reason for this impulse to step up when leadership was needed in any particular situation had long been perplexing to me. However, when reflecting on my life and the things that I have been through, it started to make a bit more sense. My childhood was full of challenges. I live with a few chronic neurological conditions that I have had since birth. I am very lucky to be alive, and even more blessed to be as functional as I am, considering all of the medical complications I have faced. For this reason, I was often left out as a young kid, and didn't really find my place in the world until high school. Hearing this, you might expect that I would be the last person to lead; and that's what I thought too, but as I developed a strong support network of wonderful friends in my teen and young adult years, I began to gain more confidence in my knowledge and abilities, which drove me to desire to pay it forward and help others through what I had learned. In my academic/professional journey, I have used my past experiences to walk with and encourage children and teens facing chronic diseases or medical conditions; showing them that there is hope for the future, even just in the way that I lead a life filled with joy and accomplishments - something that I had never thought possible when I was in their life stage. When I think about how my past experiences have impacted my leadership skills in particular, I feel particularly led to lead in situations where I can tell that someone in the group is feeling timid, or if I worry they might be left out - because I understand that feeling at a visceral level, and seek to ensure that no one else has to feel that way when I am around. While this isn't CEO level leadership, leading the way in promoting inclusion and acceptance is so important, and is a form of leadership that I try my best to encourage in others as well. In a world where mental illness and loneliness is on the rise, we could use a lot more leadership in this area - we need to be bold about supporting others and doing the right thing; even if it is hard to do at times. And, for people like me, who work with children and teens, this is all the more important. While the term "leader" can sometimes be reduced down to the billionaires whose names we all know, understanding steps that we can all take to make a positive impact on our world is all important. Let's be a generation who leads the way in promoting kindness, compassion, and friendship amidst the many suffering in our world. If everyone does their part in making small changes, big changes become easy.

Growing up with hydrocephalus and epilepsy, my educational journey has been met with many challenges; but I'm grateful for where I've been and how far I've come; and hope that I can channel my pain into helping others in really meaningful ways. As a young child, my life was filled with appointments; physiotherapy, occupational therapy, neurology, neurosurgery, brain training, tutoring, and many others - my neurological delays felt like the centre of my world. I had trouble getting up and down stairs, had a very obvious tremor, and social delays that made it hard to make friends; I was alone, and it didn't feel fair, as there was nothing that I could do to change it. After a really successful brain surgery at the age of 9, physiotherapy became more effective. I was finally able to complete simple tasks such as walk up an down stairs, cook, etc; which I had had a lot of trouble with previously. I found school a bit easier; and even found myself better able to relate to my peers and make friends. However, with hydrocephalus, since there is no cure, there were still a lot of struggles. Thankfully, even with my struggles, I was able to work through many of my learning delays, and started doing really well in school. At that point, I thought that I wanted to be a doctor; growing up, my team was great, but none of them had been through the same things that I had - they didn't get it. I wanted to be someone in a kid's life who could relate to them. I was an honour role student through high school, graduating a year early near the top of my class. I ended up deciding to take a gap year prior to entering university, and ended up studying at a boarding school just for fun. In that year, my VP shunt; the device they had placed when I was 9; began to fail, and a lot of the complications came back, quickly. Due to shortages in the medical system in my region, I am still waiting for a shunt revision; and experience delays such as dizziness, trouble focusing, gross motor and fine motor delays, frequent seizures, and much more. This led to me deciding to go into the field of psychology; as it was still related to the brain and would enable me to work with children with neurological delays, while not being nearly as demanding as medical school. I didn't realize this at the time, but psychology was a better path for me all along. It will enable me to work with the population that I want to work with; children with neurological delays; while not being as demanding in terms of hours worked; allowing for a better work-life balance, helping me stay on top of self care. Due to my current health challenges that are ongoing, staying in school full-time on its own is a lot; and while I have worked throughout undergrad, this first year of graduate school looks to be particularly demanding, on top of the various medical procedures I have on the horizon. These funds, if awarded to me, would help me to breathe and focus on my health and my studies in a season where I am undergoing a lot of medical treatments and still trying to stay in school full time. Thank you, very much, for your consideration of my application.

While it can be easy to look ahead to the future, and think that your journey in walking with others through mental health challenges starts then, I've been learning more and more that there is so much that you can do to help those in pain around you where you are right now. This can look a lot of different ways; including in both formal roles, and informal relationships - sometimes a key part of being a good friend will involve walking with someone through a mental health crisis. Now that I am heading into grad school for counseling psychology in the fall, I am looking forward to helping people in more formal contexts, as I begin counseling people in my role as a placement student. However, I have had many opportunities throughout undergrad to walk with people in pain, and have learned a lot through those experiences that is so valuable; both in my life now, and in preparing me for my intended future career. As someone with neurological disorders, who has spent a lot of time in hospitals and doctors' offices, I am particularly attuned to those in pain, and understand how to sit with those who are suffering, in ways that many don't understand. For this reason, I always knew that I wanted to go into either mental health or medicine - having someone with lived experience is so encouraging to patients/clients, and I hope to be the clinician on a treatment team that I never had growing up. As a result of my challenges, I have had the opportunity to sit with and walk with many friends in pain; and my experience has given me an intuition related to when to speak and when to just listen. I used to resent my disability; but now I see that it is a gift that will allow me to help others that feel no one can relate to them; and speak hope into the lives of people who feel hopeless. While I have walked with friends and others in informal contexts, I have also had the opportunity to use my mental health knowledge to help others in more formal contexts; as a crisis responder for a national hotline and as both a youth leader and children's ministry volunteer at my church. In many contexts, having someone with a strong working knowledge of how to walk with people facing mental health challenges is so valuable; whether or not you are fully certified. Certainly, I am very excited to be fully licensed one day; but don't want to wait until I get there to be a light to the people placed in my path. There are so many ways along the way to provide meaningful support to those in need; and in doing so, you will continually learn and improve - and that is what I need to remind myself of every day. Mental health crises are devastating at times; so let's be people who show up for those in need - using the gifts that we have already, rather than passing by people in need until we feel we can help them perfectly; because even once certified, our techniques will never be perfect, as each person is unique and needs to be supported differently to succeed.

Math is fascinating due to its universality and objectivity. It is not arbitrary, but rather follows the rules of the universe. For this reason, math can be used to solve problems and settle debates in science; leading us to real, practical solutions. As a psychology student entering my Masters, I have a strong background in mathematics, and enjoy using it as the foundation of my research designs, for one primary reason; when the math checks out, the design can be replicated; again, and again, and again. While there is certainly merit to qualitative research designs, particularly in the realm of psychology and neuroscience, some questions need to be examined from a quantitative lens, and that is where math comes in. I didn't always love math. Growing up, math was initially very challenging for me due to my neurological delays. However, with the help of highly skilled professionals, I was able to overcome many of the related learning disabilities I endured, and find joy in learning like I had never imagined was possible. In high school, this turned into even competing on the math team; things had really come full circle. Now, I even tutor math; helping students to learn to appreciate the subject for the reasons that I do; it's objectivity and thereby its unique ability to help us in answering questions about life and the universe. Obviously, there are certain questions that cannot be answered by math, and many that we may never have answers to; but mathematics, due to its unique properties, is the foundation for most good research designs. Learning to love math isn't always easy, but I believe that as a tutor, the most important thing that I can do is teach students to love the subject they are learning about; so that they will continue to persevere amidst struggle, not just for the sake of obtaining a certain grade, but ultimately because they find what they are learning fascinating, and find motivation in that pursuit. Math, while it can seem trivial to younger learners, has incredible properties, and learning about it can open many doors that you may have never even known existed.

The universe we live in is more vast and complex than any of us can ever imagine. The millions of galaxies, stretching far beyond the eye can see, provoke wonder and imagination in anyone who takes the time to ponder it. Even our own solar system is more complex than we can imagine, and a seemingly close planet like Mars is so hard to reach; though, if current trends continue in the advancement of space technology, it is quite possible that we will send astronauts to visit it within our lifetime. Understanding the universe is a key part to understanding who we are, and why we are here. Not only does it provoke wonder, it also provides context. Additionally, with our planet running low on certain resources, finding those resources elsewhere; perhaps on asteroids or other planets, will soon become necessary in order to sustain the way of life that we have become accustomed to. Yet, the most awe inducing part is that we have no hope of truly understanding the scope and extent of our universe; it is just not possible, due to the unfathomable size and complexity of its design. As a Christian, the fact that we will never truly understand the full scope of the universe is unsurprising; yet I still desire to learn more, as with each new detail I learn, my love of God and his majesty in designing such an awe-inspiring place only grows. Even the detail on earth, with the countless species, and the way that they all interact within the numerous different ecosystems is fascinating; it is a design far more intricate than one any of us could ever dream of. One question that is particularly captivating to me and so many others with regard to space travel is whether life, or, more specifically, sentient life, exists elsewhere in the universe. And, if so, what is this life like? And, what conditions are required to sustain it? One thing that I often marvel at is how the conditions on our planet needed to be so perfect for life to even be possible; and how incredible it is that everything works together so perfectly on this earth in order to maintain those conditions. Because of this, protecting the planet that God has given us, and stewarding the resources that he has given us dominion over is all the more important. Let's be a generation who not only seeks to explore what is out there, but also one who takes care of what we have already been given; so that future generations may marvel at the things that we too have been able to enjoy. The thought that there might be more out there elicits deep excitement and wonder within me, and I know this is the case for so many others; whether or not they subscribe to some sort of religious belief. After all, for skeptics in particular, gaining more information about what is out there can help to frame up what is here, and why. Let's be a generation who encourages and invests in space travel; not just for utilitarian reasons, but ultimately out of wonder and joy, and a deep desire to pursue knowledge and truth. Let's be a generation who values learning, and who seeks to learn more about who we are, and why we are here. And, for that reason among so many others; let's invest in space exploration, to help us toward that end.

Growing up with hydrocephalus and epilepsy, it would have been easy to let my disability define me. My childhood was filled with appointments with the neurologist, the neurosurgeon, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists, among many others. I have had many health scares and near death experiences, and while the future is still uncertain, I have hope; I have come this far, and I know that I can use my pain for good. Since I was a young child, I always knew I wanted to do something in the realm of neurology or psychology. The primary driver for me was this; while all of the professionals who worked with me were kind and rooted for my success, none of them had been there; nobody could honestly tell me they understood how I felt. And, to some degree, no one person will ever be able to tell another person honestly that they know exactly how they feel. However, having more professionals in the realm of neurology and psychology with lived experience with neurological and/or psychological disorders would be so valuable; for they can offer a hope to patients and families that those who have not faced similar obstacles cannot. The masters degree program that I am entering this fall will license me as a Limited License Psychologist in the state of Michigan inside of three years. With that degree, my hope is to focus my practice on providing mental health support to those navigating serious physical health challenges, in addition to providing support services for those recovering from brain injury (brain training, etc). In this role, I hope to be the encouragement to my future patients/clients that I never got - someone who had been there (or at least been through something similar). One of the major things that I have learned from my own walk with both mental and physical health challenges is the importance of community; and I am so blessed to have found that in many forms. I have friends who will visit me in the hospital, offer rides, or encourage me on those harder days. But a particularly special form of community for those facing serious health challenges is found among those who are walking through similar things. My walk, in showing me the importance of community, has given me a specific passion that I hope to centre my practice around - group therapy. This modality naturally brings community around people; even and especially those who didn't have it prior to seeking support. My hope would be to run different groups for people in need of mental health support; based on their mental health needs, but also on their specific life situation. In so doing, I would be able to connect clients to others who may become their new closest friends; their inner circle, when they had previously felt rejected and alone. I used to wonder if there was any point to my suffering. As a kid, sitting in a hospital bed, it was hard to hold onto hope. But now, seeing what has come of it, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and looking at health from a holistic picture, accounting for the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial determinants of health is so important. Though I am only now starting my Masters in Counseling Psychology, mental health has been a long-time passion of mine, and both experiences in my own life and in the lives of those I've walked with is what initially inspired me to pursue a vocation in this area. Throughout my life, I have always been someone that people would turn to in hard times, and as such, have had the privilege of supporting friends through some truly devastating circumstances. To me, being a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on is the most important trait to look for in a friend. But, my experience with offering mental health support extends far beyond my circles of friends and family; but also vocationally and in various volunteer positions I have held. Most notably, I have volunteered as a Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone Line, a Canada-wide crisis line for over two years. In this role, I have spoken to a variety of people from different backgrounds, listening and supporting them through various circumstances, including but not limited to; suicidal ideation, self harm, eating disorders, substance use, abuse, and neglect, among others. Prior to taking this role, I was pretty sure I wanted to pursue a career in mental health, but this experience really solidified that for me. In addition to that particular role, I have employed my crisis response and mental health support skills in a variety of other contexts, including as a camp counsellor, youth leader, or tutor, among others. While my vocational plan involves becoming a fully licensed mental health professional, it is my belief that more awareness around mental health is needed across the board, as even if you don't work in mental health, someone in your life might be struggling with it now, or may face some challenges in the future, and we all need to be ready to show up. Let's be there for one another; to laugh together in the hard moments, and cry together when life is feeling unbearable, for that is what community is all about.

In John 14:6, Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me". So, in defining truth, we must first look to God. But, what does that mean? Well, all Scripture is the inspired word of God, and is therefore the ultimate truth. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) reads "All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." From these verses, we can see that; not only is Jesus the embodiment of truth, but the Word of God is the ultimate source of truth; written or spoken. In a culture that has adopted a concept of "my truth vs your truth", the concept of THE truth is foreign to many. While denying the existence of truth can bring about temporary bliss, it breeds ultimate confusion - we all need to know who we are and where we stand. This confusion can be seen in our culture; morals and values change constantly, and it is almost impossible to keep up; it is so easy to be confused about what to do or even who you are. Yet, according to 1 Corinthians 14:26-32, our God is not a God of confusion, but instead a God of peace. God has not answered all of our questions in the Word, but he has given us everything that we need to obey him. So, what are we to do as believers, in this world that does not recognize Jesus as Lord? In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." This means that, because the truth has been revealed to us in Jesus, we are called to share the Gospel message to the ends of the earth; so that others may hear of the truth, and share in the hope that we have. Living out your faith in this broken world is certainly not an easy task. But, the Bible never said that it would be. In fact, in the Beattitudes (Matthew 5:3-12), Jesus exhorts us to live lives that bring glory to God and seek kingdom treasures, no matter the earthly cost. While it can be easy to forget, we must remember to store up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth; for nothing on earth lasts, and this life is fading faster than we realize. Ultimately, however, when we think of truth, we must always redirect our gaze to Jesus; he who was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8). God has always existed, and will always exist (John 1:3). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13), the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6-7), our creator, and our saviour. We who abide in him who is true (1 John 5:20) will have eternal life; not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us; and that is the truth that will set us free, not just in this life, but for eternity.

Being diagnosed with hydrocephalus in infancy and epilepsy in early childhood, I have always been passionate about neurology and psychology. However, once I got into my preteen years, mental health became even more personal to me. Not only did I see the struggles friends were navigating with regard to depression, anxiety, body image, etc., but I began to have my own struggles in those areas as well. However, though my friends faced their own battles, I felt alone in mine, being the only one I knew with a serious medical condition in our age group. Thankfully, with the advent of social media, the conversation around mental and physical health has finally started to get the attention it deserved, and even rare conditions are able to gain awareness through the digital sphere. Not only that, but social media facilitates connection between people with similar experiences through the existence of different groups for people navigating various challenges, or who simply have particular interests. For instance, a teen or young adult with type 1 diabetes can find a plethora of social media groups to join, to make friends with and get advice from people walking through the same circumstances. Having spent a lot of time in the hospital as a child, I always knew I wanted to enter a field related to the brain; it's just SO fascinating! But in seeing survivors of various conditions on social media, it only further inspired me that this was the path I was going to go down. For a while, I thought that the specific vocation I was meant for was a neurologist. However, due to some unforeseen medical challenges in my grade 12 year, I ended up heading into an undergraduate psychology program in September 2020 instead, with the tentative plan to become a Clinical Psychologist. While being in this type of profession in and of itself is admirable, the person that was really missing from my treatment team growing up was someone who had been there - someone who had experienced significant neurological issues and yet was still happy and successful. As someone heading towards the field of counseling and clinical psychology, my hope is to be that person for someone else one day. While I find joy in helping people who are walking through a wide variety of circumstances, it is especially fulfilling for me to work with those facing neurological challenges, as while no two experiences of suffering are the same, I can relate to those facing neurological challenges in ways that many others cannot. For this reason, were I to pursue a doctorate following my Masters degree, it would likely be in the field of Clinical Neuropsychology, with a focus on helping people recover from traumatic brain injury, and regain functionality in areas of memory, emotion, speech, etc. All in all, I used to resent my mental and physical health challenges, thinking that they held me back from doing the things that I was meant to do. However, what I know now is that, while they have certainly brought difficulty into my life that others didn't have to face, these extra challenges taught me things that would have been difficult to learn any other way. As someone entering the field of mental health, my hope is, in working with clients, to help them see how their unique challenges can be turned into unique opportunities for them in the future; that there is hope, even when it feels hopeless, and a point to the suffering that can seem pointless.

Currently, I volunteer both as a youth leader at my church (September 2020-present), and as a crisis responder for Kids Help Phone, a national crisis hotline in Canada (October 2022-present). I also have additional volunteer experience in children's ministry at my church (September 2016-present), and have volunteered in many other areas as well. My vocational plan following university is to work as a clinical psychologist, and I have a particular passion for foster and adoptive youth - even wanting to become a foster parent one day myself! In my life, giving back is so, so important. I grew up with epilepsy and hydrocephalus, two debilitating neurological disorders, and yet am thriving in life, thanks to the help of many in my life! Through it all, God has been with me, and has placed many in my path to walk alongside me; through both the ups and the downs. He has blessed me with pastors, mentors, and friends who are keen to walk alongside me and help me succeed; and this has given me a drive to strive to be that person in the lives of others! Outside of long-term formal volunteer commitments, I have served in a variety of informal ways over the years, including helping out with charity events and helping out at the food bank, among others. Lord-willing, I look forward to the work I will be able to do in Plymouth, Michigan very soon as I look towards completing a Masters in Counseling Psychology at Moody Theological Seminary; which will license me as a Limited License Psychologist, and enable me to diagnose, treat, and counsel clients in need, from a wide variety of backgrounds. Because of my career path, it is so important to me to graduate debt free or with as little debt as possible, so that I can dedicate my time and energy towards my clients, and serve where I feel led, rather than needing to take one particular job to make a living wage. God has so blessed me in how he has given me the strength and endurance to persevere through my undergraduate degree, and the drive to take it further into graduate school, and I trust that He will provide, in whatever way that looks like. I am excited for the adventures God has ahead of me, and am ready to serve him, wherever I am called! Thank you for your consideration.

If I were to pick one book that each person should read, I would say that it would need to be The Hunger Games trilogy (or just the first book), by Suzanne Collins. As a futuristic picture of a moral regression back to Ancient Rome, The Hunger Games exposes the divisions between the ultra-wealthy and the peasant class with the Capitol and its districts, and inspire its readers that, with hope and determination, one can overcome even the toughest of challengers. Katniss Everdeen, growing up in a single-parent household following the tragic death of her father, exemplifies how teens and young adults can do more than they think to help their families, and make a difference in their society. Her bravery and sacrifice in going into the games in her sister's place, and then in how she interacted with others in the arena, exemplifies the good character traits many parents hope to develop in their children. Including this series in a typical high school curriculum would enable young readers to ponder themes of authoritarian rule, class divides, and tension among different groups; as can be seen in the interactions between the districts and the Capitol, but also in the districts themselves. The Hunger Games trilogy is a thrilling and emotional read, which will make it hard to put the book down! It is also both complex in its creativity and storyline, yet colloquial enough to be enjoyed by readers of all ages, making it the perfect series to include in your curriculum or add to your bookshelf today!