Growing up in a single-parent household is never easy, but my mother went above and beyond to give our family the best life possible. My mother came home exhausted, as single parents often do, but still found time for me and my little sister every day. When she would pick us up from our after-school program, she would always greet us with a kiss. Each time she kissed us, I could feel her cherishing it, almost as if she knew it would possibly be the last kiss she ever gave us. She was no stranger to death; as a hospice social worker, she saw those crucial final moments between loved ones and their family members. Losing her sister and father tragically and unexpectedly gave her an additional sense of urgency to show endless affection to us while she could. She never said it out loud, but I now know that she did that because she knew how fragile our little lives were. She was the human embodiment of duality; somehow, she was tough as nails while remaining as soft as silk. I’m still figuring out how to find that delicate balance but have been given the tools and knowledge by her to know how to master that skill. Her resilience and empathy made me stronger each day. She would gently guide me through the struggles of adolescence and early adult life. She helped me understand the complexities of social dynamics, nourished my care of all living things, and guided me through deaths and losses that I would have otherwise lost myself in. Her endless efforts to help me access the medical and mental health care I needed as a teen helped me get sober and heal from deep-seated traumatic wounds inflicted on me by the cruel hands of older men. Even after I grew up and left home, she remained a persistently supportive and fiercely devoted figure to me. She was a huge inspiration to me to pursue a degree in social work. I know that seeing her selflessness is what made me want to be a social worker. She spent all day working to assist patients and their families in their final moments together, always holding space for the confusion, rage, and sorrow that emanated through those heartbreaking scenarios. Once her workday was over, she never stopped giving. She would take time to drive me to my volunteer shifts at animal shelters, lead our Girl Scout troop, and teach us how to be strong leaders. We saw her endlessly give what little spare time and money she had to people experiencing homelessness and saw her sacrifice her spare time to volunteer at widows' and widowers' retreats because she knew how much the world needed someone who cared. If I am able to accomplish half as much as a social worker as my mother did, then I know I have lived a life that has made an impact. I hope to one day be able to give back to my community in the same way she did, not only with a career in social work but also by continuing to volunteer my free time to community-driven organizations focused on bettering the lives of people around us. Thank you for your time. I know there are many ambitious and caring people who have been touched by the relationships in their lives who are just as deserving as I am. No matter who is selected, I know that the recipient will go on to make a great impact in the world with their education. Have a blessed day.

I have always felt the need to help others. I spent my childhood years volunteering at food banks, animal shelters, and assisted care facilities during my time in Girl Scouts while growing up in San Diego. During the pandemic I did my best to work with grassroots organizations such as the San Diego chapter of BLM to help distribute financial and physical resources to families, making sure to prioritize marginalized families. I moved from California to Oregon in 2022 while experiencing homelessness. I was given the opportunity to be a volunteer land resident at the NOMENUS Wolf Creek Radical Fairy Sanctuary, a religious nonprofit serving the LGBTQ+ community. I spent my time caring for people by gathering resources, helping to mediate conflict, doing socially reparative work, and helping other LGBTQ+ people who were experiencing homelessness by giving them a place to live while volunteering. When there was a death on the land, I was the first person to respond to this crisis. After this I spent as much of my free time as I could tending to the people who were affected by this tragedy. Shortly after this, I was offered a full-time position at NOMENUS after showing consistent commitment to my community and was eventually elected as one of the presidents of the organization. The relationships I made here helped sculpt me into who I am today. I am currently enrolled in classes at Lane Community College with the intention of transferring to the University of Oregon. I plan to obtain my master's degree in social work so I can continue to make an impact on people who need it, especially children and families. I have dreamed of being able to help make the lives of children better by being a part of the support networks in the foster care and adoption system who are experiencing homelessness. If given the opportunity, I would prioritize marginalized children who are in the foster care and adoption system; my time as a respite worker showed me just how often these kids are overlooked. My girlfriend and I have spent a lot of time dreaming about fostering and/or adopting once we are financially stable enough to start a family. Reading Thomas’ story reminded me of how big of a change people can make in the lives of children who need loving homes. I still have a long road ahead of me before I can bring children into my home, but until then I still want to be able to be a positive force to children who are in need of a strong adult figure in their lives through social work.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to apply for this scholarship. It breaks my heart to know that Thomas’ time on this earth was cut short, and it is truly inspiring to know that you are honoring his life by giving students the opportunity to make an impact in the world. I hope whoever is reading this has a beautiful day.

I was 16 the first time I tried heroin; I could feel at that moment that it would ruin my life if I let it. I spent my teen years bouncing between inpatient and outpatient rehab clinics and behavioral health services; I know I worried my family sick. I managed to kick opiates but was still drinking and smoking cannabis, frequently getting caught and placed back in treatment. This affected my ability to perform in school immensely, and I was at risk of not graduating. My mom found a charter school that was designed to help kids with addiction and behavioral issues to graduate, and I don’t think I would have gotten a high school diploma if I hadn’t gone there. I was 18 the first time I tried meth. I was homeless at the time and couch surfing to avoid my abusive ex, trying to juggle community college while my life was falling apart. Someone I met on the streets offered it to me, subsequently putting me in a scenario where I had to fight off his unwelcome sexual advances. My addiction had a hold on me in a way that made it impossible to stay focused on academics, resulting in me dropping out. My addiction took control and caused my life to fall apart. I was in and out of homelessness often; my longest stint on the streets lasted 5 years. I struggled to hold down a job, frequently choosing drugs and alcohol over my responsibilities. I remember there was a time when I was using on the job and trying not to get caught. While being homeless and in active addiction, I was put in numerous scenarios that threatened my life. I had guns pulled on me, knives pressed into my body, and was beaten, abused, and sexually assaulted on more than one occasion. I finally realized that I deserved more than what drugs and alcohol had to offer me, and 3 years and 4 months ago, I made the decision to get sober and stay sober. I cleaned up and moved to a new state to restart my life. I have been able to hold down a job, maintain stable housing, have healthy relationships, and better my mental and physical health. I even have a girlfriend who is kind and supportive of me in every way imaginable. After being stable for so long, I have decided to go back to school and get my degree in social work so that I can help people who have experienced what I have been through. I have infinite hope for my future and want to help give others hope by one day starting a scholarship fund for people who have experienced homelessness as a result of drug addiction. I intend to use my education to support teens and young adults who have behavioral and substance abuse issues. One of the things that helped me get sober was having the support of professionals who have been in my scenario and want to assist others in their healing journey, and I want to do the same for those in need. It is my dream to provide social services for people in marginalized communities who are experiencing homelessness while dealing with mental health struggles and are in active addiction. Substance use is usually a result of people suffering and needing something to help cope with their trauma, and I firmly believe that we can alleviate much of the suffering in the world by offering help to those around us. Thank you for your time. This opportunity means the world to me.

My father taught me the value of serving your community; he worked tirelessly to design and distribute modern medical software to hospitals in Black communities. I learned that there is no part of yourself that you can’t give to help others, and he helped me grow the mindset necessary to act selflessly. I have worked at soup kitchens, food banks, and with homeless people, striving to help keep my community as safe as possible. After George Floyd was murdered, I couldn’t sit at home and do nothing. I helped to organize protests and actions and set up grassroots social support, providing Black people with funding and resources in my area. Working hand in hand with the San Diego chapter of BLM showed me the power of community and intentional organization. I was at many protests where people were hurt by the police, including a peaceful protest where a Black woman in La Mesa was shot in the head with a baton round and sustained life-threatening injuries. After that incident I swore to do whatever I could to protect those around me. A few days later I was hit with baton rounds while trying to diffuse a teargas canister that was thrown into the crowd. I still have scars on my legs from the shots that hit me. These experiences have shaped how I move in the world, and I plan to integrate these ideals into my future career in social work. My father was alive during the civil rights movement. He saw firsthand that the racist and exploitative systems that built this country would do anything in their power to desperately cling to the oppressive structures that had allowed for white men to remain in positions of power. From a very young age he taught me and my siblings about how the effects of slavery and Jim Crow still ripple out from the past and impact the present day. Being a mixed Black and Indigenous family gave me many perspectives on how unjust systems prevail today. He was a catalyst for my understanding of how deeply integrated racism is into our society and how these current systems were never meant to support and uplift Black Americans. While I took heed to his warning, it never stopped me from going out and standing up for what’s right, even if it cost me. One of the most abhorrent of these systems is the prison industrial complex, an outdated remnant of slavery that incarcerates and exploits Black people at a substantially higher rate than other races. Incarceration tears families apart and utilizes people for unpaid, grueling labor, putting them in unsafe and hostile conditions without proper infrastructure to meet their basic human needs. This is a direct reflection of how enslaved people were abused and exploited for some 400 years after being kidnapped and separated from their families and homes. Many Black people who have been incarcerated are given more severe sentences than their white counterparts who have committed the same crimes, and many more are imprisoned under false pretenses without evidence to even prove that they have committed a crime in the first place. The modern American system of policing is also a corrupt relic of this nation's horrific past. Current systems of policing are directly based on slave catchers that would round up enslaved people who would attempt to escape from the plantations where they were forced to work, subsequently brutalizing them before returning them back to their white owners or beating them to death. We see this today with the disproportionate targeting of Black people by the police; it is a deliberate and malicious effort to continue to uphold systems of white supremacy and racism funded by our tax dollars. Cops have taken the lives of countless Black people without facing any repercussions and have imprisoned many more. When a Black child loses his life because the bag of Skittles in his hand was “mistaken for a gun” by armed officers, that is no mistake; it is a lethal example of how deeply embedded systemic racism is in every aspect of American society. As Angela Davis once said "Prisons do not disappear social problems, they disappear human beings" This system is further supported by the lack of federally and state-funded infrastructure in predominantly Black areas. Resources such as schools, hospitals, social services, and safe housing are deliberately left underfunded, continuing to enforce segregation and oppression. This lack of infrastructure forces people into unlawful scenarios, resorting to crime as a way to keep make ends meet. When a Black person isn’t given the opportunity to access the same quality of education as their white peers, they are less likely to be able to get a job that sustains them; without a stable income, they aren’t able to afford adequate housing; without adequate housing, they end up homeless; and when sleeping on the streets is a crime, it’s far easier to force Black people into the industrial prison machine, where they can continue to be used as modern-day slaves. I believe making changes to these systems is of utmost importance, and I believe Black leaders and Black community members should be at the forefront of dismantling and reforming said systems. Individuals who base their reform ideologies off of figures such as Bryan Stevenson and Angela Davis and organizations similar to the Congressional Black Caucus have the knowledge and drive to enforce lasting institutional change. Black social workers in predominantly Black communities are also crucial parts of social support and infrastructure, helping and supporting those who have been affected by systemic racism. I hope that with my degree in social work I can be one of the people who is able to provide hands-on support and care for the most vulnerable in the Black community. I pray one day I will have the means to be able to put together a scholarship fund to help other Black people in their pursuit of higher education. Thank you for this opportunity. Have a blessed day.

Pursuing a degree in social work is more than a career choice for me; it is a commitment to building a safer, stronger community for marginalized people who are often overlooked and underserved. Many individuals face barriers because of poverty, discrimination, mental health challenges, homelessness, or lack of access to education and healthcare. Through social work, I want to become an advocate who helps create opportunities, provide support, and empower people to overcome these struggles. A degree in social work will give me the knowledge and skills to understand the social systems that affect vulnerable populations. I believe marginalized people deserve to feel safe, respected, and valued in their communities. By working directly with individuals and families, I hope to create environments where people are heard and supported rather than judged or ignored. Building a stronger community contributes to my future by allowing me to turn my passion for helping others into meaningful action. I want my future career to have purpose and impact. Social work will give me the opportunity to work in schools, community centers, healthcare facilities, or nonprofit organizations where I can make a real difference in people’s lives. Helping others succeed and improve their quality of life will also motivate me to continue growing both personally and professionally. I believe true success is measured not only by personal achievements but also by the positive impact we make on others. In the future, I also hope to create a scholarship fund for students pursuing degrees in social work. I understand that many passionate and hardworking students face financial challenges that make higher education difficult to access. By creating a scholarship fund, I would be able to support future social workers who are dedicated to serving their communities and helping marginalized populations. I want to encourage others to follow careers centered on compassion, advocacy, and service, just as I hope to do. Supporting future students would allow me to continue making a positive impact beyond my own work and help strengthen the next generation of social workers. This work will also positively impact my community by encouraging unity, compassion, and understanding. When marginalized individuals receive support, entire communities become healthier and stronger. Families gain stability, children perform better in school, and people are more likely to contribute positively to society. Social workers help break cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality by connecting people to the tools they need to succeed. Even small acts of support can create lasting change and inspire hope in others. In addition, pursuing social work will help me become a more empathetic and informed person. By helping marginalized people feel included and empowered, I can contribute to building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through dedication, compassion, and education, I hope to create meaningful change that benefits both my future and the lives of those around me. Thank you for considering my application and for supporting students who are committed to creating positive change in their communities.

The performance that stuck with me the most was during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in 2024. This was a big moment for me because you can see so many years worth of emotion and dedication all come forward while she is on stage. I can only imagine how hard having a career in the spotlight can be; the constant travel, unlimited press tours and interviews, the grueling performances, the long nights and early mornings, the fans who don’t respect boundaries, and the stress of trolls and haters on social media must take such a toll on her. Yet she continues to release her music and perform for her adoring fans because she knows that her music is so important to so many people. I grew up listening to her music and saw her grow as an artist, and I feel like you can see all that time and dedication coming to a head as the Eras Tour comes to an end. I saw a video posted on Twitter of her beginning to cry on stage and apologizing to the crowd because she was “having a moment," and that really stuck with me.  She has had so many moments where she stays strong on stage because the show must go on, but underneath all the glamor she is still just like us; she is still a human being with real feelings and a deep inner world. I love her music and hope I never have to see her career come to an end. Taylor Swift is an icon for all generations, and her music will live on forever! If I am awarded this scholarship, I will use it to pursue a degree in social work. I hope to use that degree to help uplift people so they can feel like they are super stars! I would also love to be able to put together a scholarship fund for teens looking to pursue a career in social work so I can be able to pay it forward. Thank you so much for your time; have a blessed day!

I am a fan of Sabrina Carpenter because she destigmatizes female sexuality and makes femininity fun! She has helped me feel more comfortable and confident in my body with her lyrics and performances. Sabrina Carpenter is a modern-day Marilyn Monroe; she is a sex icon who rules the stage and uses her femininity to exude power. Her song “Juno” flips the misogynist script on its head, rejecting the male gaze and using themes of the objectification of women while talking to a male sexual interest. I adore how she is so self-aware in songs like this and manages to playfully make serious criticisms of sexism in society. Her song “Taste” was the anthem of my recent, very messy breakup and helped me realize the importance of self-love. Her music has seen me through so much sorrow and joy and has given me strength in moments where I wanted to give up. I was a fan of Sabrina Carpenter back in her Disney Channel days and have enjoyed watching her career evolve into something so spectacular! She feels like a refreshing break from all of the pop songs centered around male approval. She worked hard to make a name for herself as an artist, and even though it took six albums and ten years for her to get the recognition she deserves, she never gave up. She never doubted herself and has been quoted in an interview saying, "I never had the plan B, and it wasn't even a thought in my mind that it wouldn't work out.” That is the mentality that I want to have in life. Her career inspired me to set my mind to something and not stop until I’ve reached that goal! If I am awarded this scholarship, I will use it to pursue a degree in social work. I hope to use that degree to help uplift people so they can feel like they are super stars! I would also love to be able to put together a scholarship fund for teens looking to pursue a career in social work so I can be able to pay it forward. Thank you so much for your time; have a blessed day!

I think a fun, new, exciting Love Island challenge would be to have people choose who they think they would be most compatible with based on their zodiac sign and horoscope. Astrology is a long-standing practice that provides insight into our character traits based on how the planets were aligned at the moment of our birth. It is not seen as a valid scientific practice, but I think that adds to the appeal of using it in a show like Love Island! The producers can look up everyone's birth chart, show copies to the contenders, and have the participants choose who they think would be compatible based on their zodiac charts. One’s Sun, Moon, and rising signs give hints at the aspects of their personality that show up in day-to-day life. Your Venus placement is considered to be the placement that gives you details about your love life and the type of romantic partner you are, and your Mars placement reflects your sexual needs and desires. These two parts of a birth chart could be a lot of fun to play with, since the show is all about love and sex! I know a lot of people on Love Island (especially the girls) have talked about zodiac sign compatibility, but this would take it to a whole new level by having them analyze the birth charts in more depth. Part of what would make this challenge fun is people's various levels of knowledge on the subject; someone who knows a lot about Sun, Moon, and Rising placements may not know much about what Venus, Saturn, or Mars placements mean on a birth chart, and many contenders will likely be unfamiliar with what the houses on a birth chart indicate.  For this challenge, it would be cool to see someone who is a master astrologer come onto the show and analyze the couples' choices after the group has all picked partners. She could give input, criticism, praise, and feedback based on how the contenders did at picking their partners based on their zodiac charts. She can even give suggestions for dates/activities the couples could do based on their zodiac placements and help either nudge people towards lasting connections or fuel the drama by creating chaos based on conflicting zodiac placements. There could also be a point where the contenders can choose to continue to pursue the match they picked or re-pick someone else based on their newly formed knowledge of zodiac compatibility. You could even do zodiac speed dating, where people get shuffled around, and the only things they can talk about are things based on their zodiac placements.  If I am awarded this scholarship, I will use it to pursue a degree in social work. I hope to use that degree to help uplift people so they can feel like they are superstars! I would also love to be able to put together a scholarship fund for teens looking to pursue a career in social work so I can pay it forward. Thank you so much for your time. Have a blessed day!