My educational goal is to earn my bachelor’s degree in Community Psychology and continue my education by pursuing a master’s degree in Family Therapy. I have always had a desire to help people, especially children and families who may be experiencing difficult circumstances. Earning my degree will allow me to build on the knowledge and experience I have already gained throughout my career while preparing me to serve individuals and families in an even greater way. As a first-generation college student, earning my degree means so much more to me than simply completing classes or receiving a diploma. I am accomplishing something that no one before me in my family had the opportunity to achieve. Returning to college has required a great deal of courage, commitment, and sacrifice. I came back to school after being away from the classroom for many years, and that experience has reminded me that it is never too late to pursue a goal that has been placed in your heart.My journey has not been without challenges. The changes taking place within the educational system have made continuing college more difficult than I expected. The rising cost of education, financial responsibilities, and trying to understand the different resources available to students can become overwhelming. There are times when it feels difficult to remain encouraged because you are doing everything you can to stay focused and complete your degree while also worrying about how you are going to pay for your education. Even with these challenges, I continue to remind myself why I started. One of my greatest motivations is my two daughters. Being their mother has taught me the importance of perseverance, sacrifice, and setting an example through my actions. I want my daughters to continue seeing me as a role model who did not allow age, financial challenges, or difficult circumstances to stop me from pursuing my goals. I want them to know that education is valuable and that dreams do not have an expiration date. I want my journey to show them that sometimes you may have to take a different path or start later than you originally planned, but you can still accomplish what you set out to do. Completing my bachelor’s degree in Community Psychology is the first major step toward my long-term goal. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I plan to continue my education by pursuing a master’s degree in Family Therapy. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of family relationships, communication, trauma, mental health, and the challenges that can affect children and families. I believe combining my professional experience with a strong educational foundation will allow me to make an even greater impact in the communities I serve. Receiving this scholarship would make a meaningful difference in my educational journey. Financial assistance would help relieve some of the pressure associated with tuition, books, and other educational expenses. It would allow me to focus more of my attention on my coursework and completing my degree instead of constantly worrying about how I will manage the financial responsibility of continuing school. I have come too far to give up now, and I am determined to continue moving forward. For me, earning my degree represents perseverance, growth, and breaking a generational barrier. I want to become the first in my family to accomplish this goal and hopefully inspire the generations that come after me. Receiving this scholarship would not only be an investment in my education, but also an investment in my family, my future, and the children and families I hope to continue serving throughout my career.

My involvement in my local church has played a major role in shaping my heart for serving others. I have been actively involved in ministry for many years and currently serve as the Director of Hospitality at Greater Cornerstone Church of Los Angeles. I am also a licensed minister and have served in areas involving women, youth, young adults, families, and community outreach. Through these experiences, I have learned that ministry is not only about what happens inside the four walls of the church. True ministry is also about recognizing the needs of people in the community and being willing to do something to help. Serving in my church has given me opportunities to work directly with individuals and families who are experiencing difficult circumstances. I have participated in community events, food distributions, outreach programs, and other efforts designed to provide practical assistance to people in need. One experience that was especially meaningful to me was serving as a Site Coordinator for Compassion Weekend, where we were able to serve approximately 100 families by providing groceries and Walmart gift cards. Seeing families receive assistance reminded me that sometimes meeting a practical need can give someone the encouragement they need to keep going. My church involvement has also strengthened my leadership skills. As Director of Hospitality, I have learned how to organize people, communicate effectively, work with different personalities, solve problems, and lead with compassion. Hospitality has taught me that serving is more than greeting someone at the door. It is about making people feel seen, valued, respected, and cared for. I try to carry those same principles into the way I serve people in my community. This commitment to service also connects with my 25-year career with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Through my professional work, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges that children and families face. My church service and professional experience have taught me not to immediately judge people based on their circumstances. Instead, I try to understand what they may be experiencing and determine how I can help or connect them with resources. My involvement in church has ultimately taught me that service is a responsibility, not just an activity. Whether I am serving through ministry, my career, or a community event, I believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion. This is also one of the reasons I chose to pursue higher education in Community Psychology. I want to combine my education with my years of professional and ministry experience to become an even stronger leader and advocate for children, families, and underserved communities. My church helped develop the servant and leader that I am today. It taught me that making a difference does not always require doing something huge. Sometimes it begins with simply being present, listening, providing a resource, offering encouragement, or helping someone through a difficult moment. Those lessons continue to influence how I serve my community and the type of impact I hope to make in the future.

Sobriety and recovery have played a very personal role in my life because I watched my brother struggle with a severe addiction to crack cocaine for many years. Addiction did not just affect him; it affected our entire family. For years, we experienced the worry, disappointment, fear, and uncertainty that came with loving someone who was battling an addiction. There were times when we did not know what the future would look like for him or whether he would ever be able to overcome the hold that drugs had on his life. Watching someone you love struggle with addiction is difficult because you want to help them, but you eventually realize there are some things you cannot fix for another person. Our family experienced years of ups and downs. Addiction changed relationships, affected trust, and caused emotional pain that did not disappear overnight. There were moments of hope followed by disappointment, and there were times when we had to love my brother while also recognizing that his addiction was hurting the people around him. Today, I am extremely grateful to say that my brother has been clean and sober for 18 years. His recovery has allowed me to see another side of addiction, the possibility of restoration. His life is proof to me that a person's worst season does not have to become the final chapter of their story. Recovery requires commitment, accountability, support, and the willingness to make difficult changes. Watching my brother rebuild his life has taught me not to give up on people simply because they are struggling. This experience has also shaped the way I look at individuals and families in my professional life. I have worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for 25 years, and throughout my career I have encountered families facing many different challenges. My personal experience with addiction has helped me understand that substance abuse does not only impact the person using drugs. Children, parents, siblings, spouses, and entire families can carry the effects. It has taught me the importance of looking beyond a person's behavior and understanding that there may be pain, trauma, addiction, or other circumstances contributing to what we see on the outside. My brother's journey has also influenced my decision to continue my education in Community Psychology. I want to better understand people, families, communities, and the systems that impact their lives. After 25 years of serving children and families, I know that education can strengthen the experience I already have and prepare me to serve at an even greater level. I intend to use my education to advocate for individuals and families who may feel overlooked, judged, or without hope. I especially want to continue working in areas that strengthen families and connect people with resources that can help them create lasting change. My brother's recovery reminds me that people should not be defined only by their mistakes, addictions, or lowest moments. Eighteen years ago, my family could not fully see what my brother's future would become. Today, his sobriety represents perseverance, healing, and hope. His journey has taught me that recovery is possible and that having people who continue to believe in your ability to change can make a difference. As I continue my own educational journey, I carry that lesson with me. I want my education to help me become a stronger advocate and leader who sees the person behind the struggle and understands that, with the right support and determination, lives and families can be transformed.