Living with diabetes has never been something I could ignore. It shows up in the middle of school days, when I’m out with friends, and even when I just want to relax. I remember moments where I had to stop everything to check my blood sugar while everyone else kept going without thinking twice. That was when it really hit me, my life requires a level of awareness and discipline that most people my age don’t have to think about. At first, it felt unfair. I had to learn how to manage something serious while still trying to be a normal teenager. Counting carbs, monitoring my levels, and making sure I stayed on track became part of my daily routine. There’s no break or “off days”when it comes to having diabetes, even mentally when I’m tapped out, and that forced me to grow up faster than I expected. I had to become responsible not just for school or work, but for my own health and well being every single day. Over time, diabetes started to shape me in ways I didn’t expect. It built my discipline and taught me how to stay consistent even when I didn’t feel like it. Skipping even one step could affect my entire day, so I learned quickly that responsibility isn’t optional. It affects me longer more than people think driving a car is the biggest challenge, if your blood sugar is not under control you have to stop fix your blood sugar before moving on with your day. It also made me more aware not just of my own body, but of other people as well. I’ve learned that everyone is dealing with something, even if you can’t see it. This experience has also influenced how I see my future. Living with diabetes has shown me that I can handle pressure, stay calm in difficult situations, and take control when things don’t go as planned. These are skills I know will carry into my career and everyday life. It has also made me more interested in helping others, especially in healthcare, where I can use my own experiences to connect with and support people going through similar challenges. Diabetes isn’t easy, and it never will be. But it has made me stronger, more disciplined, and more prepared for real life. Instead of holding me back, it has pushed me to become someone who can face challenges head-on and that mindset is something I will carry with me into my future.

On May 2, 2019, my life changed with a diagnosis that required me to grow up quickly: Type 1 diabetes. What used to be a normal school day suddenly became a constant balance of numbers, timing, and responsibility. Instead of just focusing on assignments and exams, I began monitoring blood sugar levels, counting carbohydrates, and learning how to advocate for my health. Type 1 diabetes did not just affect my body — it reshaped my mindset. One of the biggest challenges I face in school is managing blood sugar fluctuations during class. When my blood sugar runs high, I feel exhausted, unfocused, and sometimes frustrated because I know I am capable of more than my body is allowing at that moment. On the other hand, when my blood sugar drops low, I must leave class immediately to treat it. Lows can make me shaky, dizzy, and unable to concentrate. There have been times when I missed important instruction or had to retake quizzes because my health came first. Learning to balance my academics with a chronic illness has required discipline and self-awareness beyond my years. Beyond the classroom, Type 1 diabetes brings emotional challenges as well. There is an invisible weight that comes with constantly thinking ahead packing supplies, checking devices, calculating insulin doses, and planning for “what if” situations. There is no day off from diabetes. Even at night, I must be aware of potential blood sugar drops. Managing this condition while trying to live like a normal teenager has taught me resilience. It has forced me to become organized, responsible, and proactive. Despite these challenges, I strive to embody the qualities of being fierce and kind. I am fierce in my determination not to let diabetes define my limits. I push myself academically and personally, even on days when my body feels drained. I advocate for myself with teachers when I need accommodations, and I refuse to allow setbacks to discourage me. At the same time, I am kind because living with a chronic illness has deepened my empathy. I understand what it feels like to struggle silently. This awareness shapes how I treat others with patience, compassion, and understanding. Type 1 diabetes has strengthened me in ways I did not expect. It has taught me responsibility, time management, and perseverance. It has shown me that strength is not about never facing obstacles, but about continuing forward despite them. Rather than seeing my diagnosis as a limitation, I see it as preparation. It has prepared me to handle adversity, to advocate for myself and others, and to approach life with both courage and compassion. Living with Type 1 diabetes is a daily challenge, but it has made me both fierce in resilience and kind in spirit, qualities I carry into every classroom, relationship, and goal I pursue.

Preparing for higher education has not been a straight or easy path for me, but the challenges I have faced have shaped my resilience, discipline, and sense of purpose. As a student with ADHD and a chronic medical condition, I learned early on that traditional learning environments were not built with students like me in mind. Staying focused, managing time, and advocating for accommodations required constant effort. Instead of allowing these challenges to hold me back, I learned to adapt, develop self awareness, and push myself to succeed even when the odds felt stacked against me. In addition to navigating school with a disability, my childhood experiences played a major role in preparing me for this next chapter. Before being adopted, I spent time in foster care, which brought instability and uncertainty at a young age. Moving through systems that were not always consistent or supportive taught me independence and perseverance. I learned how to advocate for myself, ask questions, and take responsibility for my future. These experiences forced me to mature quickly and helped me develop emotional strength that now supports me academically and personally. One of my greatest accomplishments has been learning how to plan for my success rather than pushing myself into situations that would overwhelm me. To support my ADHD and manage stress more effectively, I plan to begin my higher education journey at a community college, where I can complete my prerequisite courses before transferring. This path will allow me to adjust to college level coursework at a manageable pace, build strong academic habits, and reduce unnecessary pressure. By choosing an environment that offers smaller class sizes and additional support, I am setting myself up to learn more effectively while maintaining my mental and emotional well being. Despite these challenges, I am proud of the progress I have made. Completing high school while managing my health, maintaining academic goals, and preparing for college has required persistence and determination. I have learned how to manage my ADHD through structure, accountability, and self discipline. Each obstacle I overcame reinforced my belief that success does not come from having fewer challenges, but from learning how to face them head on. In college, I plan to study nursing. This field is important to me because of my personal experiences with healthcare, both as a patient and as someone who has seen how vulnerable individuals can feel within medical systems. Living with a disability has given me empathy for people who feel unheard, misunderstood, or overlooked. I want to work in healthcare so I can be a source of comfort, understanding, and advocacy for patients, especially children and individuals with disabilities. My long term goal is to work in pediatric or community healthcare, where I can support underserved populations and help bridge gaps in access to care. I hope to make an impact by treating patients with patience and compassion, while also educating families and advocating for inclusive, accessible healthcare environments. I want to be the kind of nurse who understands that healing is not just physical, but emotional as well. Higher education represents more than a degree for me. It represents stability, opportunity, and the chance to turn my lived experiences into meaningful change. By starting at a community college and pursuing nursing, I am choosing a path that supports my learning needs while allowing me to grow into a professional who can uplift others navigating similar challenges.

A father figure does not have to be perfect to be impactful. For me, my father figure is my adoptive dad, someone who stepped into my life during a time when stability felt unfamiliar and trust did not come easily. What makes him special is not just that he provided a home, but that he consistently offered support and guidance when things were difficult. Before being adopted, I experienced foster care and the uncertainty that comes with it. I learned early on that adults were not always permanent, which made it hard to rely on anyone. When my adoptive dad entered my life, he did not try to erase my past or pretend it had not shaped me. Instead, he acknowledged it and met me where I was. He understood that trust takes time, and he never rushed the process. That patience became one of the most important lessons he taught me. What truly sets him apart is his consistency. He showed me what it means to be dependable through everyday actions, not grand gestures. Through constant encouragement, honest conversations, and his steady presence during challenging moments, he proved that support does not need to be loud to be meaningful. Even when our family faced obstacles, he remained committed and grounded, showing me that strength can exist alongside vulnerability. My father figure also taught me resilience through example. He balanced responsibility with compassion and showed me that leadership starts with listening. Watching him navigate setbacks without giving up shaped how I approach obstacles in my own life. Instead of seeing challenges as stopping points, I learned to view them as opportunities to grow and adapt. Because of his influence, I developed a strong sense of responsibility and empathy. He encouraged me to take my education seriously, not just as a path to personal success, but as a way to build a meaningful future. His belief in me pushed me to believe in myself, even during moments when self doubt tried to take over. Knowing that someone believed in my potential made me want to work harder and aim higher. Today, the lessons my father figure taught me continue to guide my goals and values. He showed me that being a parent is not defined by biology, but by commitment, patience, and unconditional support. The stability he provided gave me the confidence to pursue my education and plan for a future where I can make a positive impact. My father figure is special because he chose to stay, to care, and to lead with compassion. His influence shaped the person I am becoming, and his example reminds me every day of the importance of offering the same understanding and support to others.

Growing up, my brain never worked the way classrooms expected it to. I was labeled as easily distracted, talkative, or not reaching my potential long before anyone considered that I might be neurodivergent. Being diagnosed with ADHD helped me understand that my struggles were not due to a lack of intelligence or motivation, but rather a different way of processing the world. While this realization brought clarity, navigating life with a neurodivergent disability has required resilience, self advocacy, and a deep understanding of my own limits and strengths. School was often overwhelming. Sitting still, focusing for long periods, and organizing assignments felt nearly impossible at times. I learned early on that I had to work twice as hard to keep up, often feeling misunderstood by peers and educators. However, ADHD also gave me strengths that I now value deeply, including empathy, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to think quickly in high pressure situations. These traits have shaped not only how I learn, but how I connect with others. Outside of academics, my life experiences further shaped my perspective. Having grown up in foster care before being adopted, I experienced instability and uncertainty at a young age. Combined with managing ADHD and a chronic medical condition, I became familiar with systems that are often difficult to navigate, especially for underserved families. These experiences taught me how isolating it can feel to need support and not know where to find it, or to feel overlooked because your needs do not fit neatly into a system. Rather than allowing these challenges to limit me, they motivated me to pursue a career in healthcare. I plan to become a nurse, with the goal of working in pediatric and underserved communities. My neurodivergent experience allows me to approach patients with patience and understanding, especially those who may struggle with communication, attention, or emotional regulation. I know what it feels like to be dismissed or misunderstood, and I am committed to ensuring my patients feel heard, respected, and safe. Through my education, I hope to advocate for individuals who are neurodivergent, chronically ill, or come from backgrounds where access to care is limited. I want to work in environments that serve children and families who may lack resources, stable support systems, or consistent healthcare. My long term goal is to help bridge the gap between medical providers and patients by promoting compassionate, inclusive care that acknowledges both physical and neurological differences. Being neurodivergent has shaped the way I see the world. It has taught me perseverance, empathy, and the importance of advocacy. With the support of my education, I intend to turn my lived experiences into meaningful action, using my voice and skills to uplift underserved communities and contribute to a more understanding and equitable healthcare system.

Grief and loss have shaped my life from an early age, but they have also taught me resilience, self-awareness, and strength. When my family moved back to Pittsburgh, my dad was parenting on his own, caring for my younger sister, my older brother, and me. Over time, we slowly watched his alcohol use increase. His drinking began to affect our daily lives, our sense of safety, our mental health, and our overall well-being. As a child, I didn’t have the language to fully explain what I was experiencing, but I knew I needed a way to cope. That was when I began journaling. At first, I wrote simply to document my days, especially during times when life felt unpredictable and we didn’t consistently attend school. Writing became a safe space where I could be honest about my fears, confusion, and sadness. As I watched alcohol slowly take my dad away from us, journaling helped me process emotions that felt too heavy to say out loud. It gave me control during a time when so much felt out of my hands. I still journal to this day. I write about my present life, my goals, and the person I am becoming. When I look back at my earlier journal entries, I’m reminded of how much growth has come from hardship. Those pages tell the story of survival, healing, and perseverance. Journaling taught me emotional discipline, reflection, and the importance of mental health—lessons that continue to guide me as I move forward. Faith has also been an important part of my healing. When I reflect on my past, I’m amazed by the work God has done in my life. The challenges I faced did not break me; instead, they shaped my character and strengthened my purpose. My past has become a source of motivation rather than pain, reminding me that growth is possible even in the hardest circumstances. Through loss, responsibility, and self-reflection, I learned how to be resilient and compassionate. These experiences are the foundation of my desire to continue my education and pursue a meaningful career in healthcare. I want to support others through difficult moments, just as I learned to support myself. College represents an opportunity to break cycles, create stability, and turn my experiences into a way to help others feel seen, safe, and supported. Everything I have endured has prepared me for the future I am working toward. I carry my past with strength, faith, and gratitude, knowing it has shaped me into someone capable of growth, leadership, and purpose.

Yes, I was in the foster care system, an experience that shaped who I am today and motivated me to create meaningful change in my community. Growing up without stability taught me resilience at a young age, but it also showed me how powerful support systems can be when someone finally believes in you. Being adopted gave me a second chance at security and hope, and I plan to use my education to be that source of stability and advocacy for others. My life experiences have guided me toward a career in healthcare, specifically pediatric nursing. Living with diabetes has given me firsthand insight into what it feels like to rely on medical professionals not just for treatment, but for compassion, understanding, and reassurance. As a patient, I learned how deeply a caring nurse can impact someone’s confidence and emotional well being. This inspired my desire to work with children, especially those managing chronic illnesses or navigating difficult home situations similar to my own. Beyond my personal health journey, my upbringing has shaped my ability to care for others. I grew up helping raise my younger siblings, which taught me responsibility, patience, and empathy. I also volunteered at my church, where I interpreted in American Sign Language for deaf children. Being fluent in ASL allowed me to bridge communication gaps and advocate for children who often feel overlooked. These experiences strengthened my belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. After earning my degree, I plan to give back by working in pediatric healthcare and serving underserved families, including children in foster care. I want to be a nurse who understands trauma, recognizes the emotional needs of foster youth, and provides care that extends beyond medical charts. My long term goal is to specialize in diabetes care, educating children and families on how to manage their health confidently and independently. I also hope to volunteer with mentorship programs for foster children, helping them navigate education, healthcare, and life transitions they often face alone. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus on my education without the constant stress of financial uncertainty. As a former foster kid, financial stability is not something I take for granted. This opportunity would bring me one step closer to a career dedicated to service, advocacy, and compassion. My past does not define my limits it defines my purpose. I am committed to turning my experiences into action and creating a future where children feel safe, supported, and empowered. With this scholarship, I will continue building a path that not only changes my life, but positively impacts the lives of others in my community.