I’m a senior studying at Southeastern Louisiana University with the goal of becoming a museum educator, curator, and/or University professor. I love art, music, video games, the Miss America Organization and competitions, cooking, and traveling. I have had a passion for community service and advocacy, starting with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in elementary school and continuing to do service work as a member of my sorority, my honors program, and my campus community in general. As a candidate for my local Miss America competition, I advocate for better education, improved healthcare, and decreased stigmatization of and for those with disabilities and mental illnesses. In my sorority, I’ve helped facilitate and have participated in hygiene drives for the local domestic violence shelter, fundraisers for our local philanthropy (St. Jude Children’s Hospital), and other events across the Greek community benefiting local and national charitable organizations. I try to do the best I can to serve my community. Many of my plans for the future are inspired by or come from my past and present experiences as a low-income, disabled woman from a (relatively) rural community. I want to help create opportunities that I never had. My goal as a future educator, wherever I work, is to help give students from disadvantaged backgrounds (low-income, rural community, disabled, POC, LGBTQ+, etc) a quality education and career-building opportunities such as scholarships, internships, volunteer opportunities, and workshops. For example, if/when I’m a museum curator, I want to work toward helping low-income and/or disabled students enter museum professions by offering a paid internship. As a low-income student myself, I’ve encountered significant obstacles to gaining relevant experience due to the lack of paid opportunities combined with the rising costs of living and tuition. I simply can’t afford to take weeks or months working without pay. Regardless of my career, I will (and currently do) promote and advocate for increased scholarships for students who take longer than four years to graduate college. I’m currently struggling as someone who has taken longer to graduate, as federal and institutional funding only accounts for a limited number of semesters, years, and/or credits. I’m faced with the possibility of not being able to continue school because of the costs of university, medical expenses, and other expenses. Aside from students, I advocate for the entire community. As a professional, I will advocate and develop ways to bring virtual learning and jobs into communities, improve walking Infrastructure, increase public transportation, and extend accessible architecture and infrastructure (such as more benches, better elevators/wheelchair ramps on buildings, more handicapped parking spots, etc.). Overall, I have worked hard to leave the world a better place than I found it, and I will continue to do so as I continue in my academic and professional career.

I am a fifth-year senior hoping to pursue graduate studies and get a job as a museum educator (or other type of educator) in the near future. My favorite activities include singing, playing video games, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and playing with my dogs. A personal dream of mine is to create a scholarship for other low-income disabled students, especially those who take longer than four years to graduate with their undergraduate degree. I have a passion for (and a long history of) service and advocacy, and want to be actively involved in policy-making or nonprofit work once I finish school. I am an advocate for reducing the stigma faced by myself and others who suffer from disabilities and mental illnesses. Most members in my family have some sort of mental illness, either explicitly diagnosed or highly suspected (because they don’t want to be diagnosed due to internal or external stigmas). In general, these are varying degrees of anxiety and depression, but some members exhibit symptoms of other mood or personality disorders. The experiences I can speak on most effectively are my own. I was diagnosed with severe generalized anxiety disorder in my Junior year of high school, although the symptoms of anxiety were there long before and simply overlooked as “shyness” and “sensitivity” by my teachers and family. I was only diagnosed because my symptoms had started exhibiting themselves more explosively and physically, ranging from actual fits of panic and “tantrums” to increased illnesses, body aches/headaches, acne, and other stress-related issues. I missed several days of school at a time due to this (in addition to the days I already missed annually due to my disability and other chronic illnesses), and as a result was left behind academically and socially. It took almost two years before finding the right dose of medication to fix my symptoms - and the “right dose” means that the doctor literally wouldn’t prescribe more despite my symptoms still existing (although in more moderate forms, such as crying when having to make a phone call instead of completely shutting down). I was already used to taking medication, but therapy was new. I still missed extra school days because of these appointments, but I did start to improve. It has taken almost a decade since the first big panic attacks first occurred, but I have learned how to cope with and manage my anxiety in a way that helps me live an almost normal life. I still struggle with unexpected changes, overreact to certain situations, and struggle to find the motivation to push through some anxiety triggers. Some things I still struggle with include dealing with the stress from not being able to afford college, having to go through large crowds of people, making speeches or presentations, and making phone calls (especially very important or very serious calls). Despite my struggles, I maintain leadership positions in many student organizations, hold a part-time job, and am an Honors student. Attending class is still difficult, especially if I recently experienced an embarrassing or other emotional event in that class. I still struggle with lack of concentration, insomnia, lack of motivation, and mental/physical fatigue. Some classes still give me so much anxiety that I am forced to drop them. This only adds to my anxiety surrounding school, as I have had to drop other classes due to extenuating circumstances (such as a University-wide hack/system shutdown and Hurricane Ida). My mental health has deeply affected my academic career and social life, and still makes every day more difficult. Still, I am a fighter and a survivor.

Over my academic and professional career, I have developed my various skills through a combination of work, service, and education. Being actively involved in my community has been one of the most significant aspects of my life ever since I began volunteering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) at about 10 years old. My service experience started in 2010. At this time, I was first diagnosed with a disability called Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) and connected with MDA. During my time as an MDA volunteer, I developed skills in public speaking, advocacy, fundraising, event planning, and community outreach. I would give talks about what services MDA provides patients and their families, participate in and promote MDA fundraising events such as the MDA Muscle Walk, plan fundraising events for MDA in collaboration with my Beta Club, and serve as a spokesperson at events related to MDA’s mission. My service with MDA helped stir my passion for helping others at a young age, because I could directly see the impact that myself and the organization had on other disabled kids and their families. For example, before she passed away, I got to see one of my friends receive treatment that gave her back use of her arms. Being a part of something that made that small but significant change for her was more meaningful than I can properly put into words. As a member of the Jr and Sr Beta Clubs at my school, I helped plan and implement different events that mostly coincided with MDA. This is mostly because my small community didn’t have many service opportunities that kids could participate in and because for my high school years the National Beta organization worked closely with the National MDA. This experience honed my networking and communication skills, as I had to be the bridge between the local branches of both organizations. My most recent experience has been as a college student. I’ve been an active member of several service organizations, including Gamma Beta Phi, Theta Phi Alpha Women’s Fraternity, and my University’s Honors Program. Holding leadership positions in two of these organizations has given me the chance to develop my skills such as supervision, organization, time management, multitasking, and adaptability. Participating in the service aspects of these organizations has helped sustain my desire to help others. My chapter of Theta Phi Alpha, for example, helps St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital along with our National causes. I have helped organize and facilitate our service and fundraising efforts and participate in virtually all of the service events held by the chapter and the University. The Honors Program has several different branches that offer service opportunities. For example, I was a mentor for incoming freshmen and have made graphics for food/supply drives the Honors Student Association organized. I also choose my academic endeavors based on the goal of helping others. My dream career is a museum educator, because I believe that museums can be an excellent educational opportunity for those of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages. My education has focused on cultural studies, business foundations, organizational leadership, politics, and several service-related fields (e.g., DEIA, community initiatives, education). Some examples of my University work include Marketing Principles, State and Local Politics, and Mentorship - with enrollment in Foreign Language Methodology, Intercultural Communication, and Sociology for the Spring semester. I have also used the Coursera platform to learn Diversity and Equity in Education, International Leadership and Organizational Behavior, and am currently taking Leading Sustainable Community Transformation. A personal long-term goal is to create a scholarship program that helps low-income, disabled students afford an education.

A woman who inspires me and supports me constantly is my mother. I understand that this sounds cliché, but I am inspired by her because of her determination and kindness, and she supports me in more ways than I can put into words. It’s hard to articulate not just everything that she’s been through, but everything she’s done for me. The story begins before I was born. My mom was born to a relatively low-income family and was the caretaker of her three siblings. She became a teenage mother to my oldest brother and a single mom to my brothers during the late 1980s and 1990s until marrying my dad. She is now again single mom after their divorce, with two children in college. Although my oldest brother now lives in California, my youngest brother, my sister, and myself stay at or close to home and struggle with a myriad of different health conditions. We rely on her because of these conditions, but she has never once made us feel as though we were a burden to her for it. She works two jobs and close to 60 hours per week to support my sister and I in college and keep us in a safe, stable environment. When my oldest brother was born, my mom had to drop out of high school - but she didn’t just drop out and end her education. She got her GED, passed the ACT with a 26 after only having a 10th grade education, and got accepted into Louisiana State University. She worked her way through college as a first generation student, as a single mother, as a mother of four, and as a member of a low-income household which was, at times, just above the poverty line. She obtained her undergraduate degree, finishing with a 4.0 GPA at Southeastern Louisiana University shortly after I was born. After school, she worked odd jobs until she went back to grad school. Over her life, she has worked as a secretary, night security guard, substitute teacher, waitress, sales associate, and more. She just recently graduated with a masters degree in counseling in 2018 (aged 51) with over a 3.5 GPA. She now works as a middle school counselor, but her heart lies in the juvenile justice system - she wants to work with an alternative school, juvenile detention center, or other place where she can help kids find their way after making mistakes. My mom has supported me in everything I do and has strived to give me and my sister our best chances in college. I started as an honors student at SLU the fall after graduating high school. She made me live on campus, which was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me, though I was terrified at first. She helped me pay for my tuition even though we were both struggling financially, and she attends nearly all of my awards ceremonies, research showcases, and other academic events despite working well over 40 hours each week. As an honors student with numerous awards and projects, those events add up. She gives me advice when I’m struggling, helped me decide when I was unsure about my majors, and has helped me research careers and grad schools for my future goals. She inspires me to work hard to achieve my goals despite what obstacles life throws at me. I cannot put into words how much kindness, determination, passion, and love my mom embodies. I know most people say this about their mothers, but mine is truly my hero and is one-of-a-kind.

I have always been passionate about making the world a better place. The major issues I focus on include disability rights, mental health awareness, civil justice/civil rights, and education. I was a volunteer for MDA from 2010 until the pandemic and budget cuts impacted the organization in 2020, working with public outreach and education regarding disabled people and the struggles we face. I also volunteered at fundraising events, such as the Muscle Walk, which served both a fundraising and awareness function. In grade school, I helped my Jr and Sr Beta Club become involved with MDA, raising over $1000 in 2017 for the Muscle Walk. In college, I have stayed vocal about my status as a disabled student. In 2020, I was on the National Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Task Force for Theta Phi Alpha, directly shaping the policies, rituals, and documents of our organization to better accommodate all Theta Phi Alpha members. For example, my team suggested adding ritual processes for the visually impaired and physically disabled specifically into the Theta Phi Alpha ritual documents and bylaws. Due to the secret nature of ritual at Theta Phi, I am not at liberty to disclose the details, but I can say that the addition of these specific clauses in writing has personally allowed me to more fully participate in rituals (a core part of the Fraternity). I also advocate for the disabled and mentally ill through my participation in Miss Southeastern (a local Miss America Scholarship Competition), using my platform #notaburden to spread awareness about the struggles that we face and just how prevalent these conditions are. Being vocal about my disability is difficult, as sometimes I have been discriminated against and was almost kicked out of a student organization when I requested accommodations. However, I believe that the only way to fix these systemic issues is to dismantle them from the inside. I am currently working on my Bachelor’s degree, and plan to be one of the few disabled people to get a doctorate. My goal is to work as a museum anthropologist or museum educator, and university professor. I plan to be directly involved with working to teach students, faculty, and directors of these institutions about the struggles of communities (e.g., disabled, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, homeless, etc.). I want to spread the knowledge I have gained about different cultures and societies, but I also want to work to ensure that those from all backgrounds, abilities, ages, and ethnicities have access to high-quality educational resources, including grade schools, universities, libraries, archives, and museums. This is the best way that I can make a difference in the world -- by helping others learn from the past and open their minds. For example, a big issue in our world stems from prejudice, racism, and hate towards those different than the "majority group", especially here in America. Through education, I hope to work with my students to understand not only the history of such hatred and oppression in America but the future of understanding which I believe America can one day achieve. My goal is to educate others on these topics, from Judaism to Islam to Atheism and from Indigenous Peoples to Asian/Pacific Islanders to Africans and about all the other beautiful aspects of our world which America has tended to oppress and "other" in our society. I am working towards a world where anyone can attend college, become employed, receive a better quality of life, or simply enjoy existing and learning, without prejudices based on physical appearance, cultural or religious identity, ancestry, personal expression, health, or socioeconomic status.

My name is Sara Cavalier, a senior General Studies major with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences, Arts, and Humanities. My dream is to work in higher or museum education, and perhaps even be a government ambassador or elected official. I am extremely involved at my school, with my extracurriculars focusing on academic excellence and/or community service. Since freshman year (2019), I have been a member of Theta Phi Alpha Beta Epsilon Chapter, taking on roles such as Asst. Academic Excellence, Alt. Panhellenic Delegate, Secretary, Vice President, National DEIA Task Force Member, and National Collegian Advisory Committee Member. I was also initiated into the Greek Honor Society known as the Order of Omega in 2022, serving as their current VP of Administration for the Delta Psi Chapter. I am in the Honors Program, having previously served as a Living Learning Community Mentor and currently serving as an Honors Ambassador. Other organizations I am involved in include Campus Activities Board, Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board, NSCS, and Gamma Beta Phi. During freshman year, I was a member of the women's networking group ELITE Women. Before the pandemic, I volunteered for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and LASPCA. Unfortunately, I cannot participate in either anymore due to issues with organization budgets, locations, and/or suspension of programs. Growing up in South Louisiana, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, I have certainly had plenty of indirect experience with gun violence. Two separate families in my small town have lost children, or, in one case, a child and both parents, to gun-based domestic violence. More recently, my church was the site of a targeted shooting, and there are many incidents in neighboring towns such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond, Denham Springs, and Walker, sometimes extremely close to where family and/or friends live or work. And, of course, as a college student and the daughter of a public school employee, the constant fear of the possibility of becoming the victim of school-based gun violence can be tiring. I am thankful, and lucky, to have never had direct experience with gun violence so far, but I am painfully aware that that luck could just as easily run out for me as it has for others. As someone who wants to make the world a better place for all, gun violence awareness is a major goal of mine. I want to advocate for common-sense gun laws, such as background checks and regulation of military-grade weapons, educate others about the true meaning of the Second Amendment, and use the power of social media to spread the word about a world where the rights of our fellow Americans outweigh the rights of guns. For example, I support in-depth background checks, waiting periods, and having a system of registration for purchasing, selling, and/or trading guns stored in a centralized system (similar to the system in place regulating the sale of vehicles). Coming from a military-heavy family that also takes recreational hunting very seriously, I know that certain weapons are only used for one thing. I know that you certainly don't need a semi-automatic weapon to hunt any type of game or to protect yourself (or your property/farm/family/livestock) from other people or animals. So, through advocacy, social media campaigns, and educational programs, I plan to use the resources available to me to help raise awareness of how to stop gun violence in our country, and what it can look like when policies are enacted and enforced to promote owning weapons responsibly and reasonably.

Although we didn’t always know it, I have struggled with mental health ever since I was a child. In elementary school, my anxiety presented itself as shyness at first. As I grew, so did my symptoms. By the time I was pulled into homeschooling due to my (unrelated) disability, I had started having full-blown panic attacks before going to school. My parents didn’t know what was going on, and wrote it off as temper tantrums from a child who just didn’t want to go to school. I wasn’t just reluctant - I was terrified. And without my parents realizing, I had internalized that fear as something normal but shameful - a childish behavior that I would grow out of. It started affecting my friendships, and by the end of public school, I only talked to about two or three of my classmates and maybe two other kids my age (who lived in my neighborhood during summer). When I was homeschooled, I did fine. There were, of course, times where my anxiety spiked when I had to go to physical locations to take standardized tests, but meltdowns were no longer. Still, I never wanted to eat at a restaurant and sometimes actually stayed in the car with the AC on while my family went in to eat. I was around 11-13 at this time. My anxiety started truly affecting me during high school. I really only had two friends that I talked to often, though looking back, without my anxiety I probably would have been best friends with most of the kids at school. Aside from my missed relationships and relatively stunted social development, I struggled with attendance and grades. You probably wouldn’t realize this looking at my report card - I got mostly B’s with some C’s and graduated with a 3.7 GPA. But that paper masks the true story. I became very withdrawn and secluded, my panic attacks worsened probably tenfold, and it even started worsening my physical health (which was already affected by numerous physical conditions). Combining my panic attacks with therapy appointments and my regular doctor visits, there was rarely a week I went to school all five days. I relied heavily on my teachers and peers, who went above and beyond to make sure my grades and learning didn’t suffer even though they had no clue what I was dealing with behind closed doors. From re-opening tests to writing my name on a group project when I was only there to turn it in, they pushed me up when I couldn’t hold myself above the water. The best I can describe my anxiety is a constant looming threat that darkens my vision and whispers things to me like “they don’t like me” or “I can’t talk to them, they’ll reject me”. But it’s also given me a different perspective. Those classmates and teachers that helped me so much despite not really knowing my situation allowed me to get the grades I needed to go to college. They gave me confidence, especially in my last year of high school, and many rallied around me and encouraged me to go to events like homecoming and prom, and elected me Historian of the senior class. My anxiety still warps my view, and makes me see enemies when there are none, causes me to miss class and social events. It still sometimes makes me physically sick, even though I’m on medication. I struggle making friends, and I still have never been in a romantic relationship. It’s also affected my career goals. I want to work in a museum or University setting where I can work in an office and might even have the option to work remotely, so that if my anxiety gets to be too much one day, I can retreat to safety without hurting myself financially in the process. It’s also partially inspired my Platform for the Miss America Scholarship Competition system, entitled “Not A Burden”, which advocates for the destigmatization and increased resources for those struggling with disabilities and mental illnesses. I compete in the Miss Southeastern Louisiana University competition every year under this platform, an action which I believe in itself serves as a way to destigmatize these conversations and introduce these issues to others. Life still kind of terrifies me, in a way that’s much deeper and more debilitating even than the average college student, but I’m slowly learning to manage my anxiety with medication, support, and self-awareness. My overall goal in life is to help make my community, state, and country a better place - a safer place. So that maybe my struggles with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness will one day be seen as a terrible and outdated thing of the past, rather than the everyday existence of millions of people.

My name is Sara Cavalier, a Senior General Studies major studying Behavioral Sciences, Arts, and Humanities with a focus on Anthropology, History, and Hispanic Ethnic Studies. I am an Honors student, Vice President of Theta Phi Alpha Beta Epsilon Chapter, and Vice President of Administration of Order of Omega Delta Psi Chapter. I plan to graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in December 2024, being among the only 25% of disabled American adults with a college degree. From around November 2024 to January 2025, I will apply for graduate programs in museum education, museum studies, interdisciplinary studies, anthropology, or similar fields. I hope to be able to apply for colleges outside of the US, so that I can expand my horizons and immerse myself in a different culture while attending school. Some schools I am considering are the University of Maryland, National University of Singapore, and New York University. After earning my Master’s, I will pursue a doctoral program in either museum studies or museum anthropology, or a more specialized field. My goal is to work in a museum and teach at the University level. I’m also considering a career in government, diplomacy, or nonprofit institutions. Of course I would love to work at the Smithsonian and teach at one of the Universities in the DC area, but my general goal is to live and work on the Northeast Coast (especially DC, Boston, or NYC), due to its public transportation systems, healthcare, and sociopolitical climate. This scholarship would mean the world to me. As a low-income, disabled student with income restrictions and work limitations, the rising cost of college and potential for less funding looms over me every semester. This is also affected by the fact that my sister and I are both chronically ill and attending college, and my father is able-bodied but also goes to college (generally) full-time. The only member of my family able to support us is my mother, who works as a school counselor and makes about the same salary as a teacher. Due to many circumstances, I also have to take an extra three semesters to graduate. My only financial aid this upcoming semester is my Pell grant and loans, as all the other school and state funds have a four-year limit. This means that, as of right now, I’m looking at only being able to have half of my college costs (tuition, housing, meal plan, etc.) covered this upcoming year. Seeing as graduate school only gets more expensive as I head toward my dream of earning a doctorate, even small amounts of extra scholarship money helps lessen my burden. This would also allow me to hopefully have more time to volunteer at local businesses and institutions relevant to my desired career paths, such as the Hammond Regional Arts Center, National WWII Museum, or one of the local libraries in the region - or could allow me to focus more on the completion of my undergraduate thesis.

My name is Sara Cavalier, a Senior General Studies major studying Behavioral Sciences, Arts, and Humanities with a focus on Anthropology, History, and Hispanic Ethnic Studies. I am an Honors student, a member of Theta Phi Alpha, and the third of four children. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2017, having lived almost all of my childhood undiagnosed. This may be because my behavior wasn't seen as abnormal by my parents until it got too disruptive to ignore, my family simply thought my behavior was normal. Many of my family members suffer from mental illness or symptoms of such, and any that suffer symptoms cannot or will not seek help due to either a) lack of access or b) the widespread stigma around mental healthcare in rural Louisiana. My personal experience with mental illness has been rough. Living with undiagnosed anxiety is like having an invisible scarf covering your face and not knowing it's there -- you can't breathe right, your vision may be cloudy, and you certainly don't feel or act normal, but because nobody can see the scarf, they assume you're just a bit odd (or maybe you have asthma). I was always shy, especially around adults, but even though I was more outgoing around other kids, I was never really comfortable. Being a child, of course, I couldn't tell what I was feeling. Sometimes, I would cry or have a small tantrum before school, but my parents shrugged it off as being typical "kid hates school" behavior. During middle school, I had been pulled out of a brick-and-mortar building to be homeschooled and then enrolled in a virtual public school. This was because my sister and I both have other health issues, and my sister was especially having trouble with traditional school. I did fine, stayed at or above grade level in almost all of my classes, and even started doing better in subjects such as math that I had struggled with in elementary school. I still sometimes had those weird feelings of nervousness or felt sick to my stomach, but it didn't affect me as much as it had in traditional school. My anxiety skyrocketed during high school when my sister and I were both enrolled back into a public brick-and-mortar school. I would have meltdowns and tantrums, make myself sick or even sometimes attempt to injure myself or appear to have injured myself (by rolling out of bed too fast on purpose, etc.) to avoid getting up to attend school. I missed weeks' worth of classes, and my parents couldn't figure out what was wrong. My mother made an appointment with the school counselor, who recommended therapy and said I probably had some form of severe anxiety. I went to therapy, was prescribed medication, and was overall functioning again. Unfortunately, of course, this doesn't mean my struggles are over or that they didn't have a lasting impact. My undiagnosed anxiety caused me to miss out on opportunities for field trips and educational travel, caused tensions with friends, and even affected my ability to have conversations with others since I never wanted to talk as a kid. I am certainly able to present myself in a professional and educated manner, but small talk and casual conversations are still a weakness of mine. I also have not had any romantic relationships, as my anxiety around rejection and relationships still has not been alleviated. So, long story short, my anxiety has affected nearly all aspects of my life, even if it is controlled enough now for me to function (relatively) normally today.

One of the most important social issues I have directly worked to address is Equity for the disabled community. As a disabled woman myself, I have lived with many of the discrimination, struggles, and injustices faced by the disabled community first-hand. Disabled adults make up almost one-quarter of the US homeless population (usich.gov). Only 26.1% of disabled people have a Bachelor’s degree or higher and 26% of those are employed, compared to 75.9% and 75.9% of able-bodied adults (bls.gov). Also, the highest SSI payments for those who can’t work are less than $900/month. Aside from these numbers, problems such as lack of accessible living options, poor public transportation, and similar issues make living everyday life difficult for the disabled, especially those who can’t drive/don’t own a car. I have been working to increase quality of life and lessen these gaps since about 2010. I was a volunteer for MDA from 2010 until the pandemic and budget cuts impacted the organization in 2020. MDA focuses on medical research, healthcare access, improved accessibility, and the transition of disabled teens to their adult years. I was an MDA Ambassador, working with public outreach and education regarding disabled people and the struggles we face. I also volunteered at fundraising events, such as the Muscle Walk, which served both a fundraising and awareness function. In grade school, I helped my Jr and Sr Beta Club become involved with MDA, raising over $1000 in 2017 for the Muscle Walk. In college, I have stayed vocal about my status as a disabled student. In 2020, I was on the National Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Task Force for Theta Phi Alpha, directly shaping the policies, rituals, and documents of our organization to better accommodate all Theta Phi Alpha members. For example, my team suggested adding ritual processes for the visually impaired and physically disabled specifically into the Theta Phi Alpha ritual documents and bylaws. Due to the secret nature of ritual at Theta Phi, I am not at liberty to disclose the details, but I can say that the addition of these specific clauses in writing has personally allowed me to more fully participate in rituals (a core part of the Fraternity). I also advocate for the disabled and mentally ill through my participation in Miss Southeastern (a local Miss America Scholarship Competition), using my platform #notaburden to spread awareness about the struggles that we face and just how prevalent these conditions are. Being vocal about my disability is difficult, as sometimes I have been discriminated against and was almost kicked out of a student organization when I requested accommodations. However, I believe that the only way to fix these systemic issues is to dismantle them from the inside. I am currently working on my Bachelor’s degree, and plan to be one of the few disabled people to get a doctorate. I plan to be directly involved with Museum education or leadership and Higher Education, working to teach students, faculty, and directors of these institutions about the issues faced by the disabled and the solutions to these problems. I am currently in the process of advocating for the addition of elevators in some of the residence halls on my campus which do not have elevator access for the upper floors, as well as increased sidewalk and bench access, increased campus transport options, and improved accessibility features (such as replacing the worn-down tactile markings on the sidewalks). This, and more, is how I am planning to address the social issues presented by living as a disabled person in a world built by and for the able-bodied community.

My name is Sara Cavalier, a senior majoring in General Studies with a Major concentration in Behavioral Sciences and minor concentrations in Arts and Humanities and Applied Behavioral Sciences. I am also pursuing minors in Anthropology, Psychology, History, and Hispanic Ethnic Studies. I come from a low-income household, have had many family members serve in the military, and am the third of four siblings (my youngest sister and I are currently in college). Between 2009 and 2018, or the ages of 8 and 18, I have been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, PCOS, IBS, Insomnia, and Anxiety. I enjoy singing, acting, serving the community, and drawing and painting. This coming Academic year, I will serve as Vice President of Theta Phi Alpha Beta Epsilon Chapter, Vice President of Administration for Order of Omega Delta Psi Chapter, an Honors Program Ambassador, and a member of Gamma Beta Phi, SLU Campus Activities Board, and the SLU Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board. I am an inducted member of NSCS and the Thirteen Club and have been awarded some form of academic award for virtually every semester at Southeastern Louisiana University (including Honor Roll, President’s List, Dean’s List, and Provost’s List). What motivates me is being a role model for other students and setting an example for others, as well as fighting for more accessibility in campus organizations for those of minority groups. Another strong motivation for me is showing that those suffering from disabilities and chronic conditions, when given proper support and accommodations, can give almost as much to the campus community as any able-bodied student. When I imagine myself in the future, I hope that I can live in the Northeastern U.S. and work as a museum educator, University professor, museum director, anthropologist, and/or archivist. Realistically, I will likely have to be either part-time or work remotely for at least one job due to my health conditions. STEM excites me because of the potential technology has to better the lives of people across the world. Everything that enables disabled people like myself to function -- from medications to mobility and communication aids, to physical and gene therapies and more -- has been made possible by those working in STEM fields. Although I do not plan to work in a field that is traditionally associated with information technology, museums could and do benefit from it greatly. For example, I plan to use technology such as AI, VR, and similar software to create exhibits that allow patrons to share experiences as equitably as possible. For example, one could potentially use VR headsets to translate exhibit descriptions into different languages, use audio descriptions for each exhibit, and live-caption educational lectures (in a similar way that companies are starting to use captioning technology on phone and voice calls). The greatest challenge I have faced so far has been with my sorority. I faced a tremendous amount of discrimination and was almost forced into suspension because I requested reasonable accommodations from the Chapter Advisory Board (a Chapter-based committee consisting of both adult advisors and members of the student-run executive board, such as the President). For reference, suspension means a member cannot affiliate with the Chapter and must return their badge to the National Office until a request is made to reinstate the member as either a collegian (active/student) or alumnae (graduate/adult). This action would mean that I could not participate in social events, community service, or other affiliated activities and would essentially not be a member until my reinstatement. To solve this problem, I reported these actions to the National Office, who immediately took action to remedy the situation. I was informed that my suspension request would not be processed until I had a meeting with the National Officers who were visiting the Chapter later that month. Together, we reviewed my accommodations, health and disability forms, and the actions of the Chapter Advisory Board, and came up with a plan to accommodate me while also holding those responsible for the discrimination accountable for their actions. I advocated for myself and was able to continue as an active member. The National Office addressed my concerns and the issues that came from this problem swiftly and ensured that I was an active participant in advocating for myself and helping them to understand what happened and what needed to be changed. For example, the Advisory Board responsible was replaced with new members who were given proper instruction and information regarding DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access) principles, and National Office continued to communicate with me until they could be ensured that the issue was resolved properly. I am proud to say that with the accommodations myself, the National Office, and the newly-installed Chapter Advisory Board implemented and with my health concerns properly addressed, I have gone from nearly being forced to resign my badge to serving as Chapter Secretary for Spring 2023 and being elected Chapter Vice President for the upcoming term. While I certainly had every right to threaten legal action, or I could have simply allowed the suspension to go through and leave the issue for another time, I felt that this action and the subsequent outcomes were much more satisfactory and led to a more positive interaction -- which will help any future members who may need to seek accommodations for their health issues. Especially since I can continue as a member with no ill will toward my organization, I can continue to fight for better policies and procedures to protect those of all minority groups and make positive changes from within.

My name is Sara Cavalier, a Senior General Studies major studying Behavioral Sciences, Arts, and Humanities with a focus on Anthropology, History, and Hispanic Ethnic Studies. I am an Honors student, a member of Theta Phi Alpha, and the third of four children. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2017, having lived almost all of my childhood undiagnosed. This may be because my behavior wasn't seen as abnormal by my parents until it got too disruptive to ignore, my family simply thought my behavior was normal. Many of my family members suffer from mental illness or symptoms of such, and any that suffer symptoms cannot or will not seek help due to either a) lack of access or b) the widespread stigma around mental healthcare in rural Louisiana. My personal experience with mental illness has been rough. Living with undiagnosed anxiety is like having an invisible scarf covering your face and not knowing it's there -- you can't breathe right, your vision may be cloudy, and you certainly don't feel or act normal, but because nobody can see the scarf, they assume you're just a bit odd (or maybe you have asthma). I was always shy, especially around adults, but even though I was more outgoing around other kids, I was never really comfortable. Being a child, of course, I couldn't tell what I was feeling. Sometimes, I would cry or have a small tantrum before school, but my parents shrugged it off as being typical "kid hates school" behavior. During middle school, I had been pulled out of a brick-and-mortar building to be homeschooled and then enrolled in a virtual public school. This was because my sister and I both have other health issues, and my sister was especially having trouble with traditional school. I did fine, stayed at or above grade level in almost all of my classes, and even started doing better in subjects such as math that I had struggled with in elementary school. I still sometimes had those weird feelings of nervousness or felt sick to my stomach, but it didn't affect me as much as it had in traditional school. My anxiety skyrocketed during high school when my sister and I were both enrolled back into a public brick-and-mortar school. I would have meltdowns and tantrums, make myself sick or even sometimes attempt to injure myself or appear to have injured myself (by rolling out of bed too fast on purpose, etc.) to avoid getting up to attend school. I missed weeks' worth of classes, and my parents couldn't figure out what was wrong. My mother made an appointment with the school counselor, who recommended therapy and said I probably had some form of severe anxiety. I went to therapy, was prescribed medication, and was overall functioning again. Unfortunately, of course, this doesn't mean my struggles are over or that they didn't have a lasting impact. My undiagnosed anxiety caused me to miss out on opportunities for field trips and educational travel, caused tensions with friends, and even affected my ability to have conversations with others since I never wanted to talk as a kid. I am certainly able to present myself in a professional and educated manner, but small talk and casual conversations are still a weakness of mine. I also have not had any romantic relationships, as my anxiety around rejection and relationships still has not been alleviated. So, long story short, my anxiety has affected nearly all aspects of my life, even if it is controlled enough now for me to function (relatively) normally today.

My dream future self will have a Doctorate in Museum Studies or a related field, have a career as a museum professional while also teaching at the University level, live somewhere in the Northeastern U.S. (preferably in the D.C. area, NYC, or Boston), and still be involved in non-profit work, volunteering, and/or community service.

I am a disabled woman, and as such have been tremendously impacted by the dedication and generosity of volunteers, from being able to receive medical care to having the “normal” experience of summer camp at an all-expenses-paid camp for disabled kids run by volunteers. This, among other things, originally inspired me to be more involved in service. When I began volunteer work, at about eight years old, I was mostly there just because I was a member of a few groups that happened to do service work (e.g., 4-H, church group). Over time, mostly as I got more involved and began to actively participate, volunteering became a way for me to help others as I have been helped. I saw the impact it had on others, and felt the impact others’ service had on me, and began to love being a volunteer. Volunteering has certainly changed my mindset regarding not only service but myself. When I was first diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, and before that when I was struggling and not knowing why, I thought that there was nothing I could do as good as the other kids. After a few years of volunteering, that mindset changed. I found my skill set and learned how to adapt to physical challenges. Although I am willing and able to help with physical demands, such as carrying supplies or moving furniture, I found that my skills lie in creativity, organization, leadership, and guidance. I am more of a “thinker” than a “doer”, making flyers or mentoring or running the back-end of service events. Volunteering helped change my mindset about myself and my abilities, and gave me confidence that I didn’t have before. In fact, volunteerism led me to Sorority life. Many of the volunteers at MDA Camp, where I spent two weeks out of all of my summers between 3rd grade and graduation, were members of Greek Life. As I became more involved in service, I began to think more about this unique way of involvement. In the summer of 2019, as an incoming college freshman, I signed up for CPC Recruitment. I received a bid, and the rest is history. I continued my work in service, with the renewed connection built by having a community with a common love for philanthropy and service. I‘ve raised funds for St. Jude, collected food items and hygiene products for various shelters, wrote cards for St. Jude patients and senior home residents, and helped clean out gutters for the Hospice House in Hammond, LA. Regarding financial need, this scholarship would help me tremendously with my educational goals. My family is low-income, and myself and my sister are both in college, so they can’t pay the cost of college. Due to issues along the way ranging from my disability to school system outages to hurricanes, I’ll take longer to graduate. This means less money from the government and college, as many scholarships and grants are limited to four years. And, because of my disability and programs with income limits such as SSI, I can’t work enough hours to fully cover the cost of college. I’m also limited in type of job, as retail, fast-food, and manual labor are generally not feasible for me (which eliminates most of the job market within 30 minutes of campus). I need this scholarship so that I can continue to pay for the classes I need to take to graduate within a reasonable period of time. This would help me on my way to graduate school and help me achieve my goal of working in a museum and/or higher education.

My name is Sara Cavalier. I am a Senior General Studies major with a Major focus in Behavioral Sciences and two minor focuses, Business and Arts & Humanities. Because I have already fulfilled the requirements because of my degree, I am minoring in Anthropology, Psychology, and History. Additionally, I am pursuing minors in Hispanic Ethnic Studies and International Studies. My planned specialization is Latin American or Hispanic History and Culture, with coursework in cultural anthropology, Spanish, history, political science, psychology, and geography. After graduating with my B.A., I plan to pursue a Master's in Anthropology, Museum Studies, or Museum Education and a Doctoral Program in Museum Anthropology or Museum Studies. I am also a member of several on-campus organizations, including Theta Phi Alpha, ELITE Women, Campus Activities Board, the Honors Program, NSCS, Gamma Beta Phi, and Order of Omega. As a disabled woman, I sometimes feel inferior to others who do advocacy, activism, and community service work since I can't put as much into physically protesting, lobbying, advocating, or otherwise helping others. But as I have grown older, and had support from the community I've built in my organizations (and family/friends, of course), I realized that I am not inferior -- I am simply able to contribute to a better world differently. This has led to my current path, and I am working toward the future I want while helping others make a difference. I have always been passionate about using lessons from the social and behavioral sciences to make the world a better place. My goal is to work as a museum anthropologist or museum educator, and university professor. I want to spread the knowledge I have gained about different cultures and societies, but I also want to work to ensure that those from all backgrounds, abilities, ages, and ethnicities have access to learn the same lessons I have from these subjects. This is the best way that I can make a difference in the world -- by helping others learn from the past and open their minds to different cultures and peoples. For example, a big issue in our world stems from prejudice, racism, and hate towards those different than the "majority group", especially here in America. Through education, I hope to work with my students to understand not only the history of such hatred and oppression in America but the future of understanding which I believe America can one day achieve. My goal is to educate others on these topics, from Judaism to Islam to Atheism and from Indigenous Peoples to Asian/Pacific Islanders to Africans and about all the other beautiful aspects of our world which America has tended to oppress and "other" in our society.

Before I tell you where I have been, let me tell you about where I believe I'm going. After graduating college in the Fall of 2024, I will pursue a Master's Degree in Anthropology, Museum Studies, or Museum Education and then a Doctoral Program in Museum Anthropology or Museum Studies. During my academic career, I want to intern with Presidential Libraries, Archives, Museums, and Historical Sites to develop my skills and work experience. My dream career is to work as a museum anthropologist and be a University professor. I hope to live in the Northeast, preferably in D.C., New York City, or Boston. At some point, hopefully, within the next five years, I want to start a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who suffer from disabilities and mental illnesses by spreading awareness, implementing scholarships, and creating programs for expanding access to education. I am passionate about these dreams because of where I have been, which I'll get to in a minute. I have always had a passion for learning about different cultures, a love for history, and a dream to educate others. I want to ensure proper representation and access in education, whether that be higher education, public education, or even museum education, for all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and cultures. I was born in October of 2000 to a low-income family, diagnosed with a rare form of Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT) in 2008, and diagnosed with PCOS, anxiety, IBS, and insomnia between 2016 and 2018. My sister was born in August of 2004 and diagnosed with a myriad of diseases from Fibromyalgia to Asthma to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. My mom was a first-generation college student who had just finished her degree in 2006, and my dad was a college dropout, so my family was never too far above the poverty line growing up -- especially with my sister and I having so many medical issues. But although my story has been full of adversity and struggle, it has also been full of blessings. I was a member of Senior Beta from 2016-2019, the Senior Class Historian for the 18-19 school year, French Settlement High School's Student of the Year for the 18-19 school year, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in May of 2019 with the honor of speaking the convocation during the ceremony and a bright future ahead of me with acceptance into schools such as Baylor University and Loyola University at New Orleans. I started school in August as an Honors Student at Southeastern Louisiana University, mostly because it was closer to home and I felt safer with my medical issues staying near family. In September 2019, I was initiated into the Beta Epsilon Chapter of Theta Phi Alpha Women's Fraternity. Since my freshman year, I have been involved in organizations including the Campus Activities Board, ELITE Women, Honors Mentors, Honors Student Association, Honors Ambassadors, Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board, NCSC, Gamma Beta Phi, and Order of Omega. I have been the Theta Phi Beta Epsilon Assistant Academic Excellence Chair (2021-22), Alternate Panhellenic Delegate (2021-22), and Chapter Secretary (Spring 2023). I was also on the National Theta Phi Alpha DEIA Task Force (2020). I am currently running for Community Outreach Chair, Hospitality Chair, and DEIA Chair in Theta Phi Alpha, and am considering running for a position in SELU Panhellenic, SGA, and Order of Omega. My interests, passions, and characteristics are influenced heavily not only by where I have been but by where I want to go. I hope to be able to continue being a leader on campus and in my community and fulfill my dreams.

I am inspired to be involved in my community for many reasons. I was raised to believe that giving is important, and taught to help others. I have benefited from the generosity and kindness of others, and wish to pass that along. Finally, it is simply something I feel called to do — a calling which has been enforced by loved ones, life events, and the feeling of happiness that comes with helping others. My community work began when I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2009, and I began volunteering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I was an ambassador and volunteer, working to raise funds for research and services provided by MDA, until volunteer opportunities were lost to many when COVID hit and MDA local offices closed. Before college, I was also vice president of my National Junior Beta Club at French Settlement Elementary School, served as a charter member of the National Junior Honor Society of Louisiana Connections Academy, was a member of the French Settlement High School Senior Beta Club, and volunteered in several ways through my church. During Christmas break of my first year of college, I fostered a dog from the Louisiana SPCA. Unfortunately, my involvement in SPCA was cut short by the pandemic and the commute time/expense of traveling from Hammond or Livingston to New Orleans. I am looking to revive this aspect of my involvement with local shelters closer to my area. In college, I am involved across campus and throughout the community. I am a member of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority, whose mission is to end homelessness. Our campus chapter has engaged with the community through donations and volunteer work, including fundraisers, food drives, and volunteering with local organizations. I am also a member of the Campus Activities Board, Order of Omega Honors Society, Honors Program, and Honors Student Association. These campus organizations offer opportunities to volunteer in the community, assist fellow Southeastern Louisiana University students in need, and promote involvement in the campus and local communities. I am also a candidate in the Miss America Organization, working towards winning a local title. My Social Impact Initiative (SII), which I work to promote through several ways including social media, is called Not a Burden (NAB). NAB seeks to help those in communities across the US who are diagnosed with disabilities and/or mental illnesses, like myself. The SII is meant to promote education, engagement, and empowerment through various platforms. For example, my work with MDA and my openness about my disability and how it affects me count under the “education” aspect, as I am usually educating others about disability and the struggle many of us with disabilities or mental illness face to receive the resources we need. My work with National Senior Beta worked as part of the “engagement” aspect, since I worked with my chapter sponsor to engage our club in working with MDA, including volunteering at the MDA Walk and raising money for MDA. Overall, I am working to promote inclusion and access for everyone in the community, and to encourage others to become involved in their communities using their own passions. You need to be the change you want to see in the world.

The greatest change I would like to see is equal access and opportunity for those of all backgrounds (BIPOC, LGBT, disabled, poor, those living in rural areas, etc.) in education, especially higher education and career preparation. Several factors make it difficult to attain an education, such as SSI income and asset limits, racism, rising costs of living, inflation, and more. This is also applied outside of the US — many countries refuse immigrants of certain disabilities (e.g. mobility impairments and autism), discriminate heavily against POC students, and overall display many of the same access issues that the US has (with the stipulation, of course, many countries have low-cost or no-cost higher education programs for citizens/residents). Locally, I try to challenge this norm and make a positive change by being an active member of the community, advocating for equal or equitable policies across my college campus, and being open about my personal experiences as a low-income, disabled, bisexual woman. Along with volunteer work with organizations that match my cause(s), I hope my work inspires others to share their stories, help local efforts of their cause(s), and advocate for/create change.

Although it is difficult to choose one song that has the most important message to me, the message of “Waving Through A Window” is definitely a contender. To me, it is about feeling lost and isolated from the world and offers those suffering from any kind of insecurities, isolation, negative thoughts, etc., a way to feel seen and know that they are not alone. This is especially true if you follow the trends on social media using this song, which from what I have seen generally use the song as a way to reach others with similar struggles (e.g., those with autism and anxiety are some I have seen frequently use this song too escribe their feelings). The message of the song itself is rather sad, being that it centers around a high schooler who feels lost and alone, but it is important for all of us to communicate those negative thoughts and feelings in order to heal.

Throughout my college career, I have worked diligently to balance leadership development, extracurricular activities, and school work. It is difficult at times to maintain my GPA because of my leadership roles and heavy involvement on campus. I attend Southeastern Louisiana University, and most of my time is spent on campus in class, doing school work, or participating in my extracurricular activities. It is especially difficult as a disabled student, as any extra activity can put strain on my mental and physical health. My campus involvement includes ELITE Women (2019-2020), the Campus Activities Board, the Honors Program, the Order of Omega, Miss Southeastern, and Theta Phi Alpha. I have held, or currently hold, positions in Theta Phi Alpha, the Honors Program, the Campus Activities Board, and the Order of Omega. I have served as an Honors Mentor from 2020-2021; Theta Phi Alpha Assistant Academic Excellence Chair from 2021-2022; Theta Phi Alpha Alternate Panhellenic Delegate from 2021-2022, Honors Ambassador from 2021 to present; Charter Member of the Order of Omega as of November 17, 2022; and Campus Activities Board Committee member from 2021 to present. I am also a member of the Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board. One of the main reasons I am able to keep a balance between involvement and academics is that I am blessed to be able to live on campus. With on-campus housing, I am able to quickly get back and forth to class, activities, or campus facilities when I need. If I didn’t live on campus, I would spend at least five hours commuting to campus per week (I live about 45 minutes to an hour away from my college). Instead, I am able to use that five hours to study or work on homework before or after my activities. For example, I often block out time between my Monday 2-3:15pm class and my 6:00pm Theta Phi Alpha meeting to work on classwork. This time is about 4:00pm to 5:00pm, since it takes about half an hour to get from class to my dorm and get any work I’d like to do set up in my room. On Monday I also have 11:00am-1:00pm and 8:00pm to 10:00pm for academics. This results in about 6 hours on Monday dedicated to out-of-class academic affairs (e.g., papers, discussion posts, studying). I have no class Friday, as Southeastern does not schedule normal classes that day, and my extracurricular activities typically do not host events or meetings on the weekend. This means I have Friday through Sunday to fully dedicate to my academics if needed. I also specifically schedule as many classes online as possible. These classes are usually more flexible with deadlines, and therefore my time can be more readily used for my positions and activities. I go to sleep at 1am and wake up at 9-9:30am, which means that there is plenty of time to complete all that I need to complete in a day. I dedicate a few hours most evenings to stretching, exercise, and anything else I may need to recharge my body and help stave off the symptoms of my disability. This also eases my anxiety. One of the most important choices I actively make to maintain my lifestyle is choosing when to take a break. Skipping a class because I am sick with the flu or writing the bare minimum on a paper because my exam is due at the same time is better than failing an exam because I’m feeling ill or getting poor grades on two assignments because I feel overwhelmed. Overall, I maintain my GPA because I trust myself and have support.

I have two dogs, and it is impossible to choose just one for this prompt since both are near and dear to my heart. I even have a tattoo honoring them and my other pets. My oldest dog, a 10-year-old Doberman mix (and a shelter baby) named Cleo, has anxiety like me. Our shared anxiety helps bring us close together, and we can comfort each other when anxious. For example, Cleo likes to lie down in my room on my bed with me when the weather gets rough, regardless of the time of day. I usually calm myself down when I'm stressed about finals by playing with her or by petting her. She is also extremely intelligent and knows how to communicate with us about just about anything relevant to her (e.g., food, play, comfort). Her need for routine gives me and her peace of mind since my anxiety is helped by having something routine in my life. The younger dog, a 5-year-old golden retriever named Beignet, is one of the sweetest and most gentle dogs I have ever known. She is what my family likes to call "an emotional support pet for our other dog". Being a 110lb puppy even on a diet and exercise routine, with a healthy weight estimated around 90lbs, she doesn't quite realize exactly how big she is. Whenever any of us are anxious, hurting, or overall under the weather, she gives us a kiss and lays by our feet or on our laps. Although she is not the brightest of minds, I can certainly say that she has the brightest personality of any dog I've ever known.

I love pets because they give unconditional love, support, and are always there for me when I need them. I currently have several pets: two dogs, two cats, a bearded dragon, and a goldfish. My dogs have changed my life the most. I have a diagnosis of anxiety, among other issues, and my dogs are always there for me on my worst days. My oldest dog, a 10-year-old Doberman mix (and a shelter baby) named Cleo, also has anxiety. Our shared anxiety helps bring us close together, and we can comfort each other when anxious. For example, Cleo likes to lie down in my room on my bed with me when the weather gets rough, regardless of the time of day. I usually calm myself down when I'm stressed about finals by playing with her or by petting her. The younger dog, a 5-year-old golden retriever named Beignet, is one of the sweetest and most gentle dogs I have ever known. She is what my family likes to call "an emotional support pet for our other dog". Whenever any of us are anxious, hurting, or overall under the weather, she gives us a kiss and lays by our feet or on our laps. Being a 110lb puppy even on a diet and exercise routine, she doesn't quite realize that she can't fit in a lap anymore. Although many may not think of fish and lizards as typical pets, I love my scaly babies just as much as my fur babies. Phoenix, a 5-year-old bearded dragon, has developed a personality that resembles that of a dog. While she doesn't like a leash, she will tolerate it. She also "scratches" at the door with her foot or bumps against it with her nose like our dogs do when they want to be let out. She loves to be outside, and having her has taught me just how special reptiles can be. Sam, my 4-year-old goldfish, doesn't have quite as much personality as my other pets but is just as important to me. He was won at a parish fair just before my freshman year of college and is the last of the three goldfish I got in 2018. Overall, our pets are members of our family. We love them all very much and would not trade them for the world.

A healthy lifestyle is important to me because I need to be healthy to be my best self. As a disabled student preparing to enter the workforce in a few years, making healthy choices is perhaps even more vital than it is for the average able-bodied adult. I also have a family history of many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Being as healthy as possible now allows me to better my chances of living a long, happy, and healthy life throughout my adulthood and as I age. Being as healthy as possible also makes me feel better and eases symptoms related to my disability and chronic illnesses. I have been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, anxiety, PCOS, and IBS, among other related conditions, all of which are reduced with regular exercise, stretching/yoga, and a healthy diet. I am also a competitor for the Miss America Organization, which promotes a healthy lifestyle among other causes. Making healthy choices is vital as a candidate since MAO candidates and titleholders are seen as role models and leaders for young girls and women throughout the country. Youth health has been deteriorating for a few decades, with childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles increasing with the introduction of more technology and a greater variety of junk foods, among other reasons. Being a disabled leader and a potential role model for the next generation, I need to demonstrate healthy choices so that children know how to lead healthy lifestyles.

I am a low-income, disabled, mentally ill college student studying history, psychology, international studies, anthropology, and Hispanic studies. I am a Senior planning to switch majors to General Studies, in order to better focus on the interdisciplinary matters which encompass my desired career path. I am the third of four siblings, all of whom are college-educated. I am an active member of my campus community, with memberships including Theta Phi Alpha, the Honors Program, and the Campus Activities Board. I plan to graduate in Fall 2023/Spring 2024. My goal is to complete at least one internship with a museum or similar institution before enrolling in graduate school in anthropology, museum studies, or a related program. After acquiring a master's, my goal is to earn a doctorate and work in a museum or teach at the university level. As an educator in either career, I hope to instill the importance of history and culture in the next generation(s). I would also like to advocate for better public education, affordable secondary education, and increased awareness of the importance of the Humanities and Social Sciences to society. I will be active locally and nationally in efforts to improve these aspects of our society. I also will work internationally to bring quality education to all parts of the world, as well as promoting the development of vital aspects of society such as quality roads, affordable healthcare, less car-dependent cities, and clean drinking water. My goal will be to help make the world a more accessible, environmentally-friendly, and accepting place. The ideal world for me would be one where a disabled person could live in almost any part of the world they choose without worrying about transportation or being below the poverty line. I will work to create a world where a Person of Color or a member of the LGBTQ+ community can live anywhere they choose without fear of persecution. While hopefully establishing myself as an expert in my field, I also plan to use my salary to start two significant organizations. The first will be a scholarship organization dedicated to helping student from disadvantaged backgrounds (the disabled, People of Color, LGBTQ+, rural communities, etc.) afford higher education or job training. Ideally, I would love to set scholarships for 100+ students each year in the amount of $5,000+. The organization will also provide services like career and college counselling, community classes, public spaces such as art studios, etc. The second organization will be dedicated to preserving and showcasing endangered or lesser-known cultures. These cultures would mostly include smaller, lesser-known groups such as the Islenos in Texas and Louisiana. The organization would digitize resources such as language, dialect, clothing, cuisine, and other important cultural aspects. There will also be classes dedicated to learning traditional methods of each culture, from how to cook their foods to what medicinal practices they use(d). This will help preserve cultures in danger of being lost, connect descendants of various regions with their own cultures, and encourage an open-minded and interconnected society. I will also work with existing organizations dedicated to working toward a better society (e.g. NAACP, WHO). Despite these grand plans, however, I will consider my life a success if even one person is inspired to continue the work I am doing and decides to promote a better world. If I cannot accomplish everything I intend, I will do my best to ensure that others will be willing and able to pick up wherever I leave off.

I have been an active leader in my community since elementary school. I was a member of Junior Beta, Senior Beta, 4-H, and my Student Body Government in elementary/high school (grade school). In college, I am a member of Theta Phi Alpha Women's Fraternity (TPA), the Auxiliary Services Student Advisory Board (AS Advisory Board), Campus Activities Board (CAB), and Honors Program. I am also a competitor in the Miss America Organization (MAO), which includes raising money for charitable organizations as well as leadership development. I am also a volunteer and former Goodwill Ambassador with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Because of the pandemic, I was only able to volunteer and foster with the LASPCA for the 2019/20 academic year, but hope to resume working with local animal shelters soon. During grade school, I organized or helped organize school-wide activities in collaboration with the Beta clubs. This included participation in change drives for MDA and, in high school, the MDA Muscle Walk event. In high school, our Senior Beta Club was awarded for the most donations collected for the Muscle Walk in 2017. I was also the Student Government Historian for the 2018-2019 school year. For my efforts in and out of the classroom, I was awarded Student of the Year of French Settlement High School in 2019. I was also awarded Summa Cum Laude and asked to speak at my graduation. In college, I have held many leadership positions since my freshman year in 2019. I have been a member of TPA and the Honors Program since 2019. I joined CAB in 2020, and the AS Advisory Board and the MAO Community in 2021. In the Honors Program, I was a member of the Leadership Living Learning Community from 2019-2021 and served as an LLC Mentor for the 2020-2021 academic year. I am currently an Honors Ambassador. In TPA, I am currently Assistant Academic Excellence Chair (2021-23) and was formerly the Alternate Panhellenic Delegate (2021-22). In Theta Phi, we take an active role in helping our community. I have participated as a member in events such as fundraisers, hygiene drives, and writing Christmas cards to St. Jude's patients. TPA as an organization has several main philanthropies which members contribute to in many ways both locally and nationally. These causes help reduce homelessness and aid community members affected by natural disasters. The Beta Epsilon Chapter of Theta Phi Alpha in Hammond, LA, of which I am a member, has an additional philanthropy called Mya's Gift that is unique to our chapter. Mya's Gift is dedicated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in honor of a sister's niece who passed in the early 2000's. As a chapter, we hold fundraisers, write Christmas cards, and even visit the hospital in Tennessee (when resources permit). I also consider myself a leader in how I conduct myself. I strive to set examples for the community, both on and off campus, and live a life that I am proud of. I am an advocate for accessibility, equity, and integrity, spreading awareness about various issues through my work on campus and through my personal life. Overall, I strive to help others and encourage the community to do the same.

I practice bravery every day of my life. I am a low-income, disabled, mentally-ill student living in a rural area of Southeast Louisiana. I have had to be brave in many ways. I try to not only live bravely, but also live boldly. Bravery comes in many forms. Specifically, I have to be brave when it comes to my health. I have a fear of needles, but my conditions often necessitate several blood tests and invasive procedures such as an EMG. I also am the only one in my family who has been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, so navigating a completely new medical issue with no knowledge of how it affects me or my quality of life has been terrifying at times. Bravery is also required as a low-income student with clinical anxiety. I am constantly concerned about my mother, who works two or three jobs with a master's degree and barely has enough money to pay the bills. I am never truly safe from being below the poverty line, and the loss of only a couple thousand dollars in scholarships could be the difference between attending college or dropping out. However, I try to live my life to the fullest. I am a full-time college student studying to become a university professor and/or a museum educator. I have plans to visit the Smithsonian, and hope to intern with them or a similar institution. I am active on my college campus and have been involved with various extracurriculars since elementary school. I am a sorority member, honors student, volunteer, and Miss America local pageant participant. I also have acted in plays, performed music at recitals, and had my artwork displayed at the local library. I intend to pursue a doctorate in Museum Studies. Someday, I hope to travel the world.

I have many passions, including community service, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, education, history, and the arts. These passions have shaped not only my activities and how I spend my time, but also have shaped my education and career choices. My passion for community service and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access) have shaped how I spend most of my time and even influenced the social circles I have joined. As a grade school student (5-6th and 10th-12th grade), I was a member of the National Junior and Senior Beta Clubs. I was also an active volunteer and Goodwill Ambassador with the Muscular Dystrophy Association from 2010 until 2019. These opportunities helped shape my leadership skills and allowed me to develop skills in various disciplines, including fundraising, organization, nonprofit affairs, marketing, and public speaking. They have also given me a deep appreciation for the efforts of volunteers and organizations around the world who fight for what they believe in, whether that be an animal humane society, a cancer research organization, or a local beach cleanup group. These passions also shaped my college life, as I joined the Women's Fraternity Theta Phi Alpha in 2019. Theta Phi has taken up a majority of my time, from participating in fundraisers to creating Christmas card for St. Jude to working with a DEIA Task Force. The DEIA Task Force has so far been one of the most impactful efforts I have been a part of. In 2020, a group of several Theta Phi women were chosen from a pool of applicants to help Theta Phi Alpha become a more inclusive organization. We made recommendations for changing policies, increasing awareness of accommodations, and altering rituals and other private matters to make everyone's Theta Phi experience fulfilling, welcoming, and accepting. My passions for education, history, and the arts often overlap. I believe that we can learn from the past, that everyone deserves a quality education, and that the arts can develop skills essential for youth and adults alike. My passion for education and history have most impacted my career and education goals. I originally wanted to be a Social Studies teacher, but soon realized that I did not have to teach grade school in order to make an impact. I now am working toward a career in museums, archives, or cultural institutions -- specifically, I desire to pursue a graduate degree in the humanities and earn a certificate in museum education. I would also like to teach at the university level, helping others reach their goals and providing a more in-depth approach to the topics of the social sciences which I am most passionate about. I plan to advocate for arts education not only in grade school, but as an essential tool for the community. I would love to open and maintain a community building which would house classrooms, workshops, an auditorium, and other facilities so that everyone in the community can have a space to teach, learn, and play. Although the building would likely focus on arts and humanities, I would love for classes of other disciplines to be taught and perhaps even to be able to provide certifications for various disciplines, including business, social sciences, education, and STEM. Overall, I believe that my passions have certainly shaped who I am and who I will become in a way that I sometimes forget. Our passions can have a monumental impact not only on ourselves and our lives, but on the lives of others as well. This is a sentiment that I hope has proven true in my life and will ideally continue into my future.

I am always trying to live my life with selfless dedication to others and a passion for making the world a better place for all. For example, I am or have been a member of and volunteer with several organizations dedicated to service. These include the Women's Fraternity of Theta Phi Alpha, National Senior and Junior Beta, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and the Louisiana SPCA. My passion manifests itself in many ways, from doing volunteer work to sharing on social media. My belief is that no effort is too small. I volunteered with the Louisiana SPCA for only about a year, as COVID and other circumstances impacted my ability to travel from my home or school to New Orleans (between 1.25 and 2 hours away, depending on traffic). I joined in 2019 and fostered an adult dog named Callie over the winter break, taking over responsibilities such as socialization and medicating. I continue to look for opportunities to get involved with animal welfare and shelters, and hope to foster another dog and do more volunteer work soon. I am currently working on plans to donate supplies to the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Shelter. I have been a member of Theta Phi Alpha since 2019, my freshman year of college. Examples of service I have participated in include fundraisers for various causes (e.g. homelessness, childhood cancer), writing Christmas cards and sending gifts to St. Jude Children's Hospital, hygiene supply drives for local homeless shelters, and sending various donations to Camp Friendship in Mississippi. Through our membership dues and by enlisting the help of sorority members, Theta Phi Alpha is also able to partner with other organizations to help build houses for the homeless, support sorority siblings (a gender-neutral term for sisters) and community members who have suffered through natural disasters, and other service projects in national, local, and state capacities. While in Elementary and High School, I participated in the National Junior and Senior Beta Clubs. As a club, we raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, erected a "free little library", and raised money for other causes such as the March of Dimes. I was involved in the organizing and fundraising for the 2017 and 2018 MDA Muscle Walks, where we raised over $1000 for MDA. In 2017, our team was awarded for the most money raised for MDA by the teams who participated in the Baton Rouge Area Muscle Walk, which was no small feat for a school with less than 800 middle and high school students. For the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Southeast Louisiana, I have been a volunteer since I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth in 2009. This is an organization close to my heart, and I try to both give back to the organization who has given me so much and help MDA reach other children and families facing the struggles that come with disabilities. I was a Goodwill Ambassador from 2010 until 2018, serving as the public face of MDA's efforts and encouraging individuals and businesses to help MDA through volunteering, donations, fundraising, etc. I also volunteered with public outreach, teaching firefighters about MDA's mission and Camp Starlight during the annual Fill the Boot campaign. I have participated in the annual Muscle Walk when able, and have been present at many MDA events throughout the years so that I could have a personal impact on the lives of those suffering from disabilities. In recent years, the Muscular Dystrophy Association has developed several new drugs to help treat or cure neuromuscular diseases such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and has promoted new legislation benefitting the disabled.

My dream career would be either a museum curator/director or an anthropologist. Overall, I would like to work with and learn about different cultures, periods, regions, etc. I plan to specialize in the Ancient Near East or the Mediterranean, encompassing such civilizations as Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome. While I believe I would enjoy doing fieldwork, I wish to pursue a career that mainly focuses on the education of the public, laboratory research, exhibit design, and related tasks. Being disabled, I am especially excited about the future of technology in the fields of cultural studies, anthropology, history, and education. LIDAR, 3D Imaging, Virtual Reality, and similar technologies could open up opportunities for those like me to pursue careers in fieldwork-heavy subjects like archaeology without sacrificing our health. I hope to use these technologies to improve quality of education, accessibility, and equitability in the Humanities and Social Sciences. I wish to leave a legacy of acceptance, access, and tolerance in my field.

My plans for the near future are to graduate from college with a B.A. in History with a Concentration in Public History and Cultural Resource Management and minors in Psychology, Anthropology, and International Studies. After undergrad, I plan to pursue an M.A. in History, Museology, or a related field. I may then work on a Master's in Anthropology or a similar field (e.g. Cultural Studies). Once earning one or both Master's, I will pursue a Doctorate in Anthropology or Museum Studies. My dream is to work at a museum or similar institution. I hope to become a curator, director, professor, or anthropologist. I plan to achieve this by using federal loans, grants, scholarships, and other aid during my undergraduate and first graduate programs. Once I earn my master's, I'll be able to work while attending school for either my second master's or my doctorate. This will allow me to maximize funding while minimizing private loans. I will also save up to attend several field schools and internships, hopefully at the Smithsonian or international programs/institutions. Once I earn my doctorate, I will be able to work in a variety of fields. I am rather flexible on where I would like to live, so I plan to travel to wherever work takes me -- even if that means leaving the country. Ideally, however, I would live in the Northeastern United States. I chose this region due to its general quality of infrastructure and healthcare, climate, similarity in culture and values, and availability of relevant jobs. To summarize, the highest level of education I plan to achieve is a Doctorate. I will work through grad school, earning work experience through internships and field schools. Once completing school, I hope to move to the Northeastern US and work in a museum or similar institution.

The way I stay committed to speaking my mind is by remembering that if I don't say something, there's no guarantee someone else will. This applies to everything from asking a question in class to promoting social/political issues. One concept that stays in my head is the diffusion of responsibility -- where the more people there are in a situation, the less likely each person is to act. If something feels off, or someone needs help, that concept often pushes me into action. Action could mean protesting an unfair college statute, advocating for more diversity in Greek Life, speaking out against injustice, etc. I also remind myself that my voice deserves to be heard and that I am worth being listened to. My opinion matters, and I am knowledgeable about the topic I'm passionate about. Even though I may not be an expert on everything I care about, I can still support those causes. Not every voice needs to be an expert. Overall, I just try to stay committed by remembering who I am, what I care about, and what I'm worth. I keep my purpose in the back of my mind constantly -- making the world a better place for myself, the people around me, the people who come after me, and the plants and animals we share the planet with.

My bucket list so far is: 1. Travel across Europe (specifically Spain, the UK, Germany, Poland, and Italy) 2. Travel to Egypt 3. Travel to Japan 4. Visit all of the Smithsonian Museums 5. Compete on American Idol 6. Become fluent in at least two languages other than English 7. Study Abroad 8. Attend college outside of the US (e.g. semester abroad, out of country master's program, etc.) 9. Attend an anthropology field school 10. Attend an archaeology field school 11. Visit all 50 US States 12. Live outside of Louisiana, preferably out of the US, for at least one year 13. Get a Doctorate 14. Graduate from college with an Honors Diploma and a 3.0 GPA or higher Although I've had many obstacles to achieving my goals, from health issues to natural disasters to COVID, I feel as though I'm on my way to crossing a few things off my bucket list. I have so far visited 9 states, signed up to audition for American Idol, and am currently studying Spanish. I'm a senior in college who will graduate with a Bachelor's in History with a Concentration in Public History and Cultural Resource Management and minors in Anthropology, International Studies, and Psychology. I have a 3.2 GPA and have 2 classes, one thesis, and a study abroad to complete the requirements for an Honors Diploma. Although these accomplishments may not seem like much, the trials I've had to endure to achieve all I've done so far make me proud and give me confidence. I know I'll get to do all of the things I dream of one day.

My favorite hobbies include playing video games, drawing, painting, and singing. Most of my interest in these hobbies comes from creativity (e.g., sketching, Sims-esque games, singing) or strategy (e.g., sudoku, battle strategy games, logistics games). I enjoy a wide array of video games, from the Sims 4 to Mount & Blade. I especially enjoy playing with my siblings, as that was something we could all do together no matter how far apart we were. My oldest brother, for example, lives out of state. We spent a good portion of time playing games together while he was going to grad school in Tennessee. I am always up to trying something creative. Although I've tried everything from crochet to wood burning to floral arrangements, I tend to prefer drawing and painting. My favorite medium for drawing is charcoal, particularly charcoal pencils. For painting, I prefer acrylics. I usually gravitate towards landscapes, silhouettes, and broad shapes in art. Singing is, perhaps, the hobby which I am most passionate about. My whole life has been surrounded by music. As a baby, my parents inadvertently discovered that Metallica's "Enter Sandman" was a perfect lullaby for me, as I usually fell asleep listening to it. My childhood favorite song was Nickelback's "This is How You Remind Me", or, as I would call it as a young kid, "The Oo-we Song", after the line "are we having fun yet". I have always been encouraged to sing and always enjoy doing so. Singing, in fact, is my talent when I compete in the Miss America local competitions. I have been singing since I could talk, and I dreamed of being a professional singer when I grew up. Although I spend most of my time playing games, I usually get more enjoyment from singing.

I am talented mostly in the arts. I've been told I'm a good writer, and I know I can paint and draw well, but my true passion is music. I love to sing, and I sing A Capella for my talent portion of local Miss America Louisiana competitions (e.g. Miss Southeastern Louisiana University). Singing is perhaps my greatest talent, both because I love to sing and because others have told me I sing well. I keep my skills sharp by applying them. I sing in the shower, hum while washing dishes, doodle on my notes, and use digital apps to create drawings. Practice, for me, is about using my talents regardless of how I sound or how my art looks -- as long as I'm doing it, I get better. I don't strive for perfection every day. I practice for certain events, such as the MAO competitions, but I relax and give myself time to just enjoy my talents without the pressure of sounding good to others. This gives me the ability to extend my range and increase my skills because I don't have to hit a high note exactly right or get the lyrics to a "tee" on a song sung in my room. I'm able to experiment, get out of my comfort zone, and try new tunes, genres, ranges, mediums, etc. without putting too much pressure on myself.

My mental health experience started in elementary school. Although my mom refuses to believe that she could miss it, I was extremely anxious and body-conscious as a little girl. My mother herself displays some unhealthy habits, and those habits have stuck with me as I learned from her. She does not have an ED to my knowledge, but those disordered eating habits are still hard to break from (ex. skipping meals, counting calories, sorting "good foods" from "bad foods"). Some of these things contributed to me refusing to eat in restaurants, ignoring my body's hunger signals because I've eaten "too much", and being consistently tired and unfocused in school. From my experience, the majority of women in my area suffer from some of these same issues, and society accepts them because women are usually tied to their looks. The biggest mental health challenge in my life has been my anxiety. I was diagnosed at the age of 16 with clinical social anxiety, but showed signs long before that. In elementary school, I often cried and screamed in the mornings begging to not go, and even sometimes clung to the sofa, trying to get my parents to give up on sending me. I was always a shy person, would rarely speak to others, and did not enjoy being around people. I'd often dread parties, school events, and other social gatherings without really knowing why. In high school, my anxiety worsened to the point where I would throw tantrums and try to fall out of bed in order to avoid stress-provoking situations. I missed several days of school, and even made myself sick with worry. My doctor prescribed Lexapro, and I improved, and I went to therapy for a while. I needed to increase my dosage twice in order to control the debilitating worry, from 5mg to 10, and from 10 to 15. The first increase was in senior year of high school, the second just this past fall. So far, my current dosage seems to make the anxiety bearable. One reason for the increased anxiety is the pandemic, another the raging hurricanes that have struck my state of Louisiana throughout the past couple years, and another the rising costs of college and housing. Now, I am doing better. I am a sorority girl, although still a shy and reserved one, I am living on campus at college, I do well in school, and I'm relatively healthier (I have physical disabilities as well, so I'll never really be healthy). I still miss class due to anxiety and stress, and have not put as much effort into my extracurriculars as I may like, but I'm improving. My mindset is also healthier. I am overweight, and so I need to lose about 50 pounds to make it to my healthy weight, but I am setting realistic goals and know that, because of my body, I will never have a flat stomach or thin legs -- and that's okay. While my main goal when I was younger was to be thin and pretty, my goal now is to be healthy. I think that I've missed out on many great experiences and relationships throughout my life because of my mental illness. I avoid talking to those I don't know, I refuse to share my feelings with guys I'm attracted to, and I generally make it a point to avoid social gatherings in case I would either be recognized and ignored, or recognized and embarrass myself. My beliefs have been shaped by mental illness throughout my life. I believe that many, if not all, mental illnesses are uncurable, but not untreatable. I believe that mental illnesses such as addiction need to be treated with compassion and patience, rather than prison and punishment. I believe in being kind to others and making an impact in others' lives, because I know my anxiety is relieved ever-so-slightly when someone smiles and waves, or opens the door for me, or reaches out to see if I need help. I have based my career less off of my mental health, but it still plays a part. My dream job is in history, anthropology, or museology (e.g. professor, historian, anthropologist, curator, etc.). I love working in a rather quiet area where all I have is myself and my work, but I understand the importance of the public in these professions. I am choosing to fight my anxieties so I can follow my dreams, and so that others can say "hey, she's like me! If she can do this, I can too!"

I believe that the meaning of life is different for every person. To me, life is about making connections, experiencing the world, and helping others. It's about learning and growing, no matter your age or education level. I always believed that learning is a lifelong venture and that growth and openness lead ultimately to a better life and a better state of being. I strive to try new things, learn new hobbies, and experience other cultures. I love to travel and learn about how others live, think, and behave. Connection is as vital to today's life as it was before civilizations, in the hunter-gatherer communities of our earliest days. I strive to seek out new relationships and meet new people, developing friendships and connections. This desire to fulfil that connection aspect of life was partially my reason for living on campus during college and joining a sorority. Overall, I think the meaning of life is simply to live and let live. It's taking without taking too much, giving more than is received, and learning all that you can about yourself, the world, and others.

I believe that selflessness is vital to our society and that humanity survives based on empathy and compassion. When I am in trouble or need help, I am always grateful when someone lends a helping hand. That is one reason I like to extend my hand to help others. There are many ways I help others, from volunteering to mentoring to donations. My goal is to be someone that friends, family, and strangers can rely on for help. For example, I enjoy helping people with homework or with a difficult situation. When I see someone in need in the street, I'll generally hand them a few dollars. I am active in my sorority, participating as a chapter officer as well as volunteering for community service or philanthropy activities. I thrive by helping others.

As a low-income, disabled kid growing up, I was always taught to appreciate all of the little things. These things could have been something as big as winning a trip to Disney through Kidd's Kids to something as small as a Sonic ice cream on the weekend. Even on Christmas, my siblings and I would have been just as happy with a pair of pajamas and a new DVD as we would with a fancy dollhouse or expensive tablet. And those memories of watching a new movie with my family are the ones that stick with me, not the memories of expensive gifts. Now, those values still ring true. My ideal birthday gift is dinner with my family and a cookie cake for dessert (although, as a broke college student, I also really appreciate getting money so I can pay off those student loans). I appreciate every gift I am given, no matter the cost or the object, because I believe it's the thought that counts. I am also grateful for the opportunities my family has given me, from the opportunity to pursue my interests to pursuing higher education. I understand that many cannot afford the luxuries I have been granted: performing in a play in a different town, getting private voice lessons, or even being able to pursue my education. Although I am human, and so I do sometimes wish I had more, I strive to look at all of my blessings and appreciate the life that I have.

As a disabled, chronically ill, bisexual, low-income student with anxiety, I have had many obstacles in life. I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth, a form of muscular dystrophy, at about eight or nine years old. My chronic illnesses include IBS (diagnosed appx. 2015) and PCOS (~2018). My mother had a college degree and worked at a head-start program, my father dropped out of college and would frequently change jobs. Oftentimes, we were only a few thousand dollars above poverty. My mother graduated with a master's in counseling, so we are slightly better off in socioeconomic status, but our previous income struggles have had lasting effects including higher debts and no savings. The challenges I have faced include bullying, exclusion from activities, inability or struggles to pay for education, poor attendance (due to doctor's appointments and illness, at times totaling up to three or four days a week), lack of extracurricular activities, inability to participate in travel opportunities (e.g. school travel programs, internships, leadership academies, etc.), and many more. My sister, who is graduating from high school this year, and I have been forced to choose colleges and experiences based on cost, rather than quality or quantity of opportunities presented. I am still extremely concerned about the cost of activities such as study abroad, internships, and volunteer activities, and have been trying to find low-cost but high-quality opportunities to gain work experience before I graduate. One of the most recent and extremely nerve-wracking experiences was this year. I am a member of a sorority, and my location in a small-town, Southern college means that I am a minority among my sisters. The tasks given to us members were becoming too much for me compared to my able-bodied sisters, especially since the chapter was attempting to catch up from years of COVID protocols affecting chapter activities. I went to the chapter advisory board asking for assistance, with a desire to continue participating in ways that would help the chapter while accommodating my health issues. When this request was rejected, I was given a few days to turn in suspension paperwork and hand over my badge. For clarification, suspension means that I cannot affiliate myself with anything relating to the sorority, the chapter, Greek Life. I was to be "benched", so to speak. This would mean missing out on my community, leadership experience, community service, and much more which I had been enjoying or looking forward to. I decided to take my case to the National Office, and explained my story. I presented the documentation used at the chapter board meeting, which included diagnoses and example accommodations. Nationals accepted my request for accommodations, and we have started the process of implementing those accommodations on the chapter level. Overall, my struggles have defined me and allowed me to develop perseverance, self-advocacy skills, and other qualities which I can use in a myriad of situations. I plan to use my education to implement programs and advocate for changes which help other underrepresented and underprivileged individuals. I will support legislation, implement education programs, and hope to start a charitable organization dedicated to uplifting those in tough situations and giving them the tools needed to succeed in a world which often seems to fight against them through education, networking, job opportunities, housing/food assistance, financial planning, etc. Upon graduation, I hope to become a museum professional and advocate for the proper display and discussion of underrepresented (or improperly represented) cultures, peoples, and events worldwide.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I am really, really good at singing. I’m the best singer. My GPA is also a stellar -3.34 and so I am a high-achieving student. 2. I aspire to be a professional petty thief. My pettiness is stellar, and I watch spy movies regularly in order to brush up on my skills. 3. The most difficult obstacle I have overcome is the severe burden of being a multi-billionaire. It’s very difficult to push through such a tragedy, but through Daddy’s credit card and my personal Amazon delivery truck, I have managed to succeed.