Education has always been my path to breaking barriers, defying expectations, and creating opportunities—not just for myself, but for others in my community who have faced similar struggles. As a first-generation, low-income student, I understand the weight of financial obstacles, the challenge of navigating higher education without guidance, and the responsibility of paving a path forward for future generations. Despite these challenges, my ambition and drive have never wavered. This scholarship would be a vital step in helping me continue my education, reduce financial stress, and fully commit to achieving my academic and professional goals. I am currently an undergraduate student studying psychology, with a strong focus on psychoneuroimmunology and counseling psychology. My passion for this field stems from personal experiences, community needs, and the desire to contribute to mental health research and advocacy. Coming from a South Asian background, I have witnessed firsthand the stigma surrounding mental health and the lack of access to proper resources, particularly within underrepresented communities. As someone living with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, I understand the psychological and emotional impact of navigating a chronic condition and the need for accessible, inclusive mental health care. This personal experience has reinforced my commitment to improving mental health interventions, increasing awareness, and ensuring that individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges receive the support they need. My goal is to pursue a doctorate in psychology and become a neuropsychologist, specializing in how psychological stress impacts the immune system and overall health. Through research, advocacy, and direct clinical work, I want to bridge the gap between neuroscience and mental health, making care more accessible to marginalized communities. As a first-generation, low-income student, financial strain has been one of my biggest hurdles. While I am determined to succeed, the cost of tuition, textbooks, research opportunities, and other academic expenses pose significant challenges. This scholarship would alleviate some of the financial stress, allowing me to: Focus on my studies and research without the constant worry of financial constraints. Participate in more academic and professional development opportunities, such as research conferences and internships in psychology. Continue my advocacy and volunteer work without having to sacrifice educational opportunities due to financial limitations. Receiving this scholarship would not only be a personal victory but a testament to the power of resilience, ambition, and education as a means of transformation. It would allow me to continue breaking barriers and pushing forward, ensuring that I can pursue my passion for mental health and neuropsychology while also giving back to my community. A Commitment to the Future I believe that education is more than just a personal achievement—it is a tool for change. By awarding me this scholarship, you would be investing in a future psychologist, researcher, and advocate who is dedicated to making a lasting impact on mental health, disability rights, and accessible care. No matter the obstacles, I remain steadfast in my commitment to my education, my career, and my mission to drive meaningful change. This scholarship would be a stepping stone toward a future where I can use my knowledge, research, and voice to help others navigate the challenges of mental health, chronic illness, and societal barriers. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply, and I hope to use this support to continue turning challenges into opportunities and dreams into realities.

Success is often portrayed as a finish line—wealth, status, or a prestigious title. But for me, success is the ability to rise above barriers, turn struggles into strength, and create opportunities where none exist. It’s about defying limitations, breaking generational cycles, and using my education to uplift not only myself but also my community. As a first-generation graduate student and a woman of color, I have always understood that success is not just about personal achievement—it is about creating a pathway for others who have been told their dreams are out of reach. Growing up in a low-income household in California, I have seen firsthand how financial hardships force families to put survival before ambition. When the priority is simply making ends meet, long-term goals like higher education can seem impossible. But I refuse to let circumstances define my future. Instead, I have embraced every challenge as motivation to push forward. Throughout my academic journey, I have pursued opportunities that allow me to break systemic barriers and contribute to meaningful change. My passion lies in psychoneuroimmunology and counseling psychology, where I study the intricate relationship between the mind and body. I am particularly interested in how stress and trauma impact the immune system and how psychological interventions can promote better health outcomes for marginalized communities. Mental health is a crucial yet often overlooked factor in overall well-being, and I aim to bridge the gap between neuroscience, psychology, and public health to create accessible and culturally competent mental health solutions. However, pursuing this path has not been easy. The financial burden of higher education is a significant barrier, and without scholarships, I would struggle to fully dedicate myself to my studies and research. This scholarship would provide me with the financial support necessary to focus on my academic and professional development without the constant worry of student debt. It would also allow me to further engage in research projects, internships, and advocacy work that would not only enhance my education but also make a tangible impact on communities in need. For me, success is not just about personal fulfillment—it is about making a difference. I aspire to reduce healthcare disparities, contribute to groundbreaking research, and advocate for policies that make mental health care accessible to all. I believe that education is a powerful tool for social change, and I am committed to using mine to uplift others. By awarding me this scholarship, you would not only be supporting my education, but you would also be investing in the future of neuropsychology, mental health advocacy, and health equity. With this opportunity, I will continue to push boundaries, break barriers, and prove that no obstacle is too great to overcome when passion and purpose are at the core of one’s journey. Success, to me, is not measured by how far I go alone but by how many others I can help along the way. This scholarship will allow me to reach my goals and, in turn, empower others to reach theirs.

Mental health has been difficult for me all my life. I grew up in a low-income household that had it abundance of difficulties. I never truly ever felt like a child. I began playing basketball to cope and distract myself from the problems in my personal life. I fell in love with the sport when I soon began to realize that sports psychology existed. I had gotten injured and that bandaid of basketball that I had put on my mental health was falling off, this time leaving a deeper wound. This was also around the time that I discovered that I had macular degeneration, rapidly depreciating central vision. I felt lost and afraid, my goals began to look impossible. Being a low-vision, injury-prone, basketball player didn't seem appropriate so I halted my engagement in the sport post-high school. This was when my mental health got bad. I felt so lost and alone after losing the one thing that had brought me peace. On top of that, I had a new vision issue that was irreversible. It was after one conversation with a psychologist that I met through a friend that my toxic cycle of hopelessness and sadness broke. I was told that these emotions are fully healthy and I should let myself feel them to understand their true meanings. However, I should not freeze myself in these states because as I remained frozen at a single group of life events I had encountered, life kept moving. As I remained stuck, life got farther and farther away from me. My goals did not become impossible. I just needed to chase them again the way I had prior to my complications. I got out of my rough period of negative mental health into a much brighter state. These obstacles in life cannot stop me from reaching my goal. I want to make an impact and make others feel better the way that that psychologist inspired me. Inspiration and motivation combined with some reassurance and drive can be such an amazing remedy in people's lives. I aspire to provide the tools for that remedy through understanding the difficulties I have faced and embracing my own mental health journey. This will help me aid others in healing themselves from their downs in life. I appreciate your consideration and generosity when creating this scholarship. These goals involving mental health are often big goals with so much positive impact and reward, but the difficulty is often funding them when recovering from challenges. It can feel impossible at times, but it is important to persevere throughout the journey. This would be a great help in my pursuit of a graduate degree in psychology upon completing my bachelor's degree next spring.

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding experiences one can have in their lifetime. It allows individuals to give back to their community, help those in need, and create positive change in the world. Despite facing personal health challenges, I have found great joy and fulfillment in volunteering and helping my community. In fact, my dedication to volunteering has only grown stronger as I have persevered through my health struggles and maintained a high GPA in my academic pursuits. Volunteering has always been a part of my life, even before my health issues began. As a child, I enjoyed participating in various community service projects and always felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after completing them. However, as I entered high school, I was diagnosed with a genetic condition that reduced my central vision. This diagnosis came as a shock to me, and I initially felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. Despite this setback, I refused to let my health challenges define me. Instead, I decided to use my experiences to help others who may be going through similar struggles. I began volunteering at local hospitals and clinics, where I could use my own experiences to comfort and support patients. Through these experiences, I found that I had a passion for helping others and making a difference in their lives. In addition to my volunteer work, I have also maintained a high GPA throughout my academic pursuits. While this has not always been easy, I have found that my volunteer work has actually helped me stay motivated and focused on my studies. Through my volunteer experiences, I have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of education and the impact it can have on one's life. This has inspired me to work harder and strive for academic excellence, despite my health challenges. Maintaining a high GPA while volunteering and dealing with personal health challenges has not been easy, but it has been worth it. I have found that volunteering has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that cannot be matched by any other activity. It has allowed me to make a positive impact on the world, even when I am facing my own personal struggles. And it has inspired me to keep pushing forward and never give up on my dreams, no matter what challenges may come my way. Volunteering and helping my community have been a central part of my life, despite struggling with my health. I believe that anyone can make a difference in the world, no matter what obstacles they may face, and I encourage others to consider volunteering and giving back to their community. As an individual, my next steps include obtaining a doctorate degree in psychology. This comes with a hefty cost that I have decided to attempt to cover the cost of on my own because of family financial issues. This scholarship would be greatly appreciated and would be of great help in funding my future. Thank you for your consideration!

Volunteering has allowed me to grow and see the world from a new perspective. Prior to engaging with my community, I struggled to discover what the true needs of those around me were. After volunteering at events like school carnivals, and visiting retirement homes I found that one thing everyone loved was time spent with others. My volunteering experiences inspired me to seek a career that directly involves engagement with others. During my time spent volunteering, I noticed the positive impact that talking to others and asking them how they felt had on all age groups. It catapulted me into the broad field of psychology. I immediately fell in love with the idea of helping people through their mental obstacles. It incorporated both of my biggest passions which include helping others and the study of human behavior. Now I aspire to receive my PsyD in psychology and open my own practice one day. I want to be able to work with others and assist them through their individual mental obstacles. Eventually, I hope to direct my services to athletes because as someone who played basketball for 11 years, I know how mentally draining it can be to face roadblocks when chasing athletic success. This scholarship would aid me financially because I have decided to stay close to home to save money for college. This would allow me to work and pay off the 2 years of college that I have left so I do not collect the debt before I attend a pricey Graduate school. My family income was too high to qualify for any grants and I have discussed with my family that I prefer to pay for these 2 years on my own by attempting to make ends meet through working. This is because I have completed close to 70 college courses while in high school which allows me to move straight into my bachelor's this fall. I would appreciate the financial help so I can put more time towards collecting research hours for my Graduate opportunities rather than working to pay my full tuition on my own. Overall, my volunteering experience helped aid me in discovering my passion and exploring my options. I am grateful for the new people that I met through volunteering and appreciate the time I got to spend with my community. Being able to take part in activities around my small town at such a young age ended up being one of the most exciting parts of my childhood. I was exposed to so much diversity and learned so many new things through my interactions with helping others.

Mental health is a universal challenge in our everyday society. We often see people who appear to suffer in a variety of different ways. As humans, our instinct is to internalize pain and push through challenges. The roadblock on our path to success often is mental health. It plants itself in the center of our path making every single day a challenge. We fight, we preserve, and we try our best to keep fighting. I have battled my fair share of mental health challenges in my life. When my physical health began taking a deep dive I was put in a tough spot mentally. Every day I asked myself "why me", the thoughts I had were so dark I would never wish them upon anyone. My mental health was so severely damaged at such a young age that even when my physical health began to improve my mentality was scarred. That scar still remains today. I became introverted and embarrassed to put myself out into the large and scary world. I saw endless possibilities for growth, but also endless possibilities for death. Successfully fighting this battle on my own made me aware of how much help is really needed for struggling individuals. Bad mental health puts you in such a dark place and it feels like the light will never come. That is why I am dedicating my life to making sure I create change in people's lives. I am dedicated to providing for those who struggle with not only their physical health but also their mental health. Only recently, has mental health support become popularized. Previous to the pandemic people were left in the dark and often offered no assistance for struggles that were not physical. By pursuing a career in psychiatry I am determined to offer a hand to lead people into the light. I am determined to bring awareness to such an overlooked problem in modern society. It is not fair for children to see their loved ones suffer nor is it safe for parents to see their own children suffer. Suffering created by our minds is unfair. It takes away the things and people we love most. I was in the darkest period of my life when doctors were trying their best to help me physically, but no one wanted to help me mentally. No one really knew how. Nothing they did made the pain go away and it was me that had to slowly dig myself out of the hole I fell into. I refuse to watch anyone else suffer this fate and my interest and passion for psychology grow each day. I know the system is unorganized and messy, but I fell into the mess. However, with determiniation and passion lives can be saved and awareness can be brought. Everyone should be able to live their lives free of the noise in their heads creating chaos. Families should be able to live in peace without mental burdens stressing relationships. Mental health is really so important and nothing of that sort should even come close to having the power of taking away those we love.

When I was a young child I always knew I wanted to help others. I grew up in a stable household that had its fair share of issues. From mental health to physical health I saw my average family struggle daily. When I turned 15 I knew that I needed to make a difference in the world. Specifically, children who are mentally affected by disorders. I chose to commit to psychiatry with a focus on children and sports. This way I can help children who struggle in their day-to-day lives as a result of the issues of those around them. As far as physical health, I saw my own physical health take a dive when I was a sophomore in high school. I am currently struggling with a rare retinal visual impairment that leaves me with limited vision. I became extremely depressed when I saw my 20/20 vision begin to rapidly decline. I now am on various medications to try and slow the progression and improve my vision. It has worked a bit, but I am afraid I will never get back the vision I once had. This is not only a physical roadblock in my path to success but also a mental one. I find myself struggling to see in the dark and even drive at night. These are things people do every day that I struggle to attempt. Another thing about this is that not even my high trained doctors at UCSF understand my issue. They run tests and discover problems that they can't really find the cause for in an otherwise healthy and active teenage girl. As a child psychologist or even a child psychiatrist, I aim to help children who struggle. Children who face major roadblocks at a young age as I did. I don't want them to go through it all alone like I had to because the effects on mental health are extremely damaging. I am committed to helping children make it through the challenging parts of life so that they can make a difference in the world. So that those children will one day be just as motivated to help others based on the help that they received. I believe that having health problems at a young age and coming from a more low-income family allowed me to want to achieve so much. It became a factor of motivation in my desire to help others.