Over the course of my life, I have watched countless scenarios in which those in the military have suffered from trauma after their time in service. Being a child of a veteran, I was subject not only to my Father's trauma but also to his comrades'. I watched many of those that we knew suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and drug abuse. This sunk into my heart deeply and left me wanting to do something more than just hear about it through the walls of our home. Becoming a social worker would allow me to be a person who can work with other professionals that help and aid people like my Dad. My Dad has been my biggest inspiration to become a social worker, countless times watching what service in the military does to our veterans. As we thank our veterans for their service, I want to also thank them by providing myself to be able to help them in return. Whether this be in a school environment, hospital, or in the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or need assistance helping themselves. As a child of a veteran, I know there are many different options for me to help and support those that serve us and our veterans. While Social Work is not the only option, other options could include psychology, or even serving myself. For me, personally, I believe that social work will allow me to not only help veterans but also others such as children who have experienced loss, and those who are disabled. While I say this, social work was not always my biggest aspiration. At one point in my life, all I could think about was being an animal control officer, my dad had been one of my biggest supporters. I slowly realized that despite the things I would see and hear, social work would be also a very good career choice for me regarding my own experiences with my loved ones.

Over the course of my life, I have watched countless scenarios in which those in the military have suffered from trauma after their time in service. Being a child of a veteran, I was subject not only to my Father's trauma but also to his comrades'. I watched many of those that we knew suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and drug abuse. This sunk into my heart deeply and left me wanting to do something more than just hear about it through the walls of our home. Becoming a social worker would allow me to be a person who can work with other professionals that help and aid people like my Dad. My Dad has been my biggest inspiration to become a social worker, countless times watching what service in the military does to our veterans. As we thank our veterans for their service, I want to also thank them by providing myself to be able to help them in return. Whether this be in a school environment, hospital, or in the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or need assistance helping themselves. As a child of a veteran, I know there are many different options for me to help and support those that serve us and our veterans. While Social Work is not the only option, other options could include psychology, or even serving myself. For me, personally, I believe that social work will allow me to not only help veterans but also others such as children who have experienced loss, and those who are disabled. While I say this, social work was not always my biggest aspiration. At one point in my life, all I could think about was being an animal control officer, my dad had been one of my biggest supporters. I slowly realized that despite the things I would see and hear, social work would be also a very good career choice for me regarding my own experiences with my loved ones.

I thoroughly believe that there are two big things in my life that bring me absolutely so much comfort and joy. One that I will begin with is my dog, I could talk and talk about her, never getting tired. My dog, Macee, came into my life when I needed her most. I completely adore her, the happiness she provides me with is immeasurable. I suspect my life may have been different if she hadn't come into my life. The second biggest thing that makes me happy and brings me joy, is the friends that I have made in college. Every single one of them, not even one in particular. They are all so kind, I never knew that I could have friends as I have now. They are always there for me, as I am them, and always looking out for each other and enjoying each other's company. It is a total joy to live with them and to see them every day. These two things bring me so much happiness, they aren't the only things that do, however at the moment they are what get me through life. So, I would happily say that these two are what make me happy.

Over the course of my life, I have watched countless scenarios in which those in the military have suffered from trauma after their time in service. Being a child of a veteran, I was subject not only to my Father's trauma but also to his comrades'. I watched many of those that we knew suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and drug abuse. This sunk into my heart deeply and left me wanting to do something more than just hear about it through the walls of our home. Becoming a social worker would allow me to be a person who can work with other professionals that help and aid people like my Dad. My Dad has been my biggest inspiration to become a social worker, countless times watching what service in the military does to our veterans. As we thank our veterans for their service, I want to also thank them by providing myself to be able to help them in return. Whether this be in a school environment, hospital, or in the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or need assistance helping themselves. As a child of a veteran, I know there are many different options for me to help and support those that serve us and our veterans. While Social Work is not the only option, other options could include psychology, or even serving myself. For me, personally, I believe that social work will allow me to not only help veterans but also others such as children who have experienced loss, and those who are disabled. While I say this, social work was not always my biggest aspiration. At one point in my life, all I could think about was being an animal control officer, my dad had been one of my biggest supporters. I slowly realized that despite the things I would see and hear, social work would be also a very good career choice for me regarding my own experiences with my loved ones.

I see and view confidence as a projection of your highest self. I find myself always struggling to be confident, in many of my younger years of schooling I was often the subject of unfair taunting, which stuck with me for a very long time. To be confident, it takes not just others believing you are a confident individual but yourself as well. Many approach being confident in a way of pretending, in terms of "Fake it till you make it", which is a fairly common ideology for our current generation. This is something I found myself doing or at least, I would attempt to pretend to be confident. If you think, well if I act confident and others see me as confident, I must eventually become confident. That in its entirety, is not completely true. For me, confidence is not something you can pretend exists and hope it becomes a reality for your own persona. Confidence is something you build and work on, not for others, but for yourself. If you approach it in the way that you pretend, it isn't for yourself but instead for others. To become more confident, I find myself attempting to do exercises in which I can highlight the best parts of myself that I do not usually see or would focus on. Whether that be how I may have a particular talent, or how I feel I that I have pretty eyes. Or in the parts of myself I would be bullied for, I find ways to find them beautiful, which in turn can bring myself to have a higher level of confidence. To become my highest self, I have to acknowledge what makes me, me. I am the only one who exists that is truly me, and that is what confidence is.

Over the course of my life, I have watched countless scenarios in which those in the military have suffered from trauma after their time in service. Being a child of a veteran, I was subject not only to my Father's trauma but also to his comrades'. I watched many of those that we knew suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and drug abuse. This sunk into my heart deeply and left me wanting to do something more than just hear about it through the walls of our home. Becoming a social worker would allow me to be a person who can work with other professionals that help and aid people like my Dad. My Dad has been my biggest inspiration to become a social worker, countless times watching what service in the military does to our veterans. As we thank our veterans for their service, I want to also thank them by providing myself to be able to help them in return. Whether this be in a school environment, hospital, or in the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or need assistance helping themselves. As a child of a veteran, I know there are many different options for me to help and support those that serve us and our veterans. While Social Work is not the only option, other options could include psychology, or even serving myself. For me, personally, I believe that social work will allow me to not only help veterans but also others such as children who have experienced loss, and those who are disabled. While I say this, social work was not always my biggest aspiration. At one point in my life, all I could think about was being an animal control officer, my dad had been one of my biggest supporters. I slowly realized that despite the things I would see and hear, social work would be also a very good career choice for me regarding my own experiences with my loved ones.

In my life, I wish to strive to make an impact on those who struggle to help themselves. Whether this is in a school environment, hospital, or in the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or they need assistance helping themselves.

In my life, I wish to strive to make an impact on those who struggle to help themselves. Whether this is in a school environment, hospital, or the military. As a child of a parent that served in the military, I witnessed the way veterans had to change and adjust to their new lives afterward. I would help and make a difference by providing assistance to veterans adjusting to their new civilian and professional lives. I would also work with other health professionals to aid in treatment for individuals affected by the trauma that those in the military experience. I would strive to make an impact on families and those in the military that struggle with Post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse. By proxy, becoming a Social Worker would enable me to become an advocate for those who cannot help themselves and or those who need assistance helping themselves.

When I was in my freshman year of high school, I struggled with my mental health quite a bit. One of my happiest memories came to me in freshman year, when for Christmas my mom gifted me my best friend. I have never cried tears of joy as much as I did that day. I truly love that dog and it is one of my happiest memories, being she was my first true responsibility and she helped pull me out of a dark place.

In my life, my Dad has struggled with PTSD and it stings like a bee. Not only the one who has it but to those around them. My Dad is a Marine who ended up facing mental illness as a result of his career. Similar to many others who had pursued being in the military, PTSD inevitably finds you. When it came to PTSD, Post-traumatic stress disorder, it is accompanied by depression as well as other behavioral complications. For the person who has the PTSD, it will never be the same as when you didn’t as well as for those who are around you. Though, it shouldn’t totally define who you are. I have experienced my Dad go through tremendous ordeals as a result of his PTSD and due to this it has given me the opportunity and desire to help those who are like my Dad. I want to get my Masters in Social Work and pursue getting a clinical license. If I am to do this, I can put myself in a place where I can work with the military and with people who are like my Dad. Not only that, but also work with the families that are like myself. As a child in a family with a parent who suffers from PTSD from the military, it definitely has more of an effect than you would ever desire it to. I believe with my experience of seeing it within my family, I am capable of bringing everything I need to the table on-top of a degree, to enable myself to fully be able to help those like my Dad and my family.

This scholarship is important to me and needed so I can fulfill the ability to get all of the education that I need. Whether it be buying books or putting it towards tuition itself. My parents are currently struggling with the IRS and I would hate for them to have to pay for any of my books, even if they would out of their own kindness.

In my life, my dad has always been a huge part of it. From when we were overseas in Japan while I was young, to where we are now. My dad has since been retired for a few years now, but he was a Marine. He first went to Afghanistan when we lived in Japan and has gone back once. However, my dad never came back quite the same. My dad suffers from PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Meaning he suffers from quite a few mental problems under it. He can become irritable often and angry for no real particular reason. But the one thing I won't forget is his response to troubling circumstances. It has happened more than once, and I would more than love to forget about it. When it comes to my parents arguing, as most parents do, it can range from subdued to an outburst. One time, they fought and I remember my dad leaving the house, in a fit of what I perceived as anger. Which I was accustomed to, due to the PTSD. However, that night it was different. He drove away, texting my mom about how he wanted to take his life. That night I was so afraid for my dad. My dad is, well, my dad. No matter his problems, anger, irritation, he is always my dad and I know he can't help but feel this way. When struggling with PTSD, he can't help but respond in a way that makes everyone hurt. I did not know that his PTSD was giving him even a thought like that. Luckily, he did indeed come home, but it has always scared me since. Although I experienced this with my dad, this was not the first time I have heard of or witnessed someone being affected by PTSD this way. When we had lived in Japan, I was quite young but I remember a buddy of my dad's who replaced him in Afghanistan. His name was Dakota Meyers. He came to us, struggling with the after-effects of PTSD and the war. He was dealing with depression and wanted to take his life away. My dad made sure to talk with him about it and stay until he was better. Although my parents no longer have a connection with him, as it was many many years ago, I have not forgotten his name. Since then, I have known, as brave as these people are I wouldn't want to watch someone else I love struggle from this. I hope as time goes on in the future, more awareness comes forward about Marines and anyone struggling with PTSD. PTSD is not just having anxiety, it comes with so much more. I understand as a watcher, and I hope more people come to understand. As the years progressed I wanted to achieve being able to understand more fully how my dad felt. I think I have begun to understand, but I know those with PTSD struggle with so much. I want to do what I can to help those who need help and suffer from PTSD. I want to take this knowledge that I have gained from experiencing this within my family and apply it in my studies and work. I want to go into social work and work with the military and veterans.

Throughout the pandemic, I have been given an extraordinary amount of time to not only reflect on my previous wants but think about what I want from my future. I have gotten the chance to go through my college search, career planning, and more all on my own. Had the pandemic not existed, I would have been assisted by counselors and teachers. While this does seem negative at a surface level, it actually really isn't. It taught me to be more independent and learn to do this on my own. It gave me time to think and run through my choices without feeling pressured, and that helped a lot.

In my junior year of high school, I had an art teacher who was the best teacher I had ever had. Mr. B was new, pretty much straight out of college. As a new teacher, I'm sure it is more difficult than most to help students with their problems as they haven't experienced that kind of interaction with them yet. However, Mr. B really did not show that at all. He was extremely caring, I found him to be more caring than my other main curricular teachers. I remember once, I was having a really bad day, it was clear I was struggling and he encouraged me and made me feel like I wasn't alone. Not only had I experienced him being there for me, but other students often. We had another student who actively acted out, which you would not think to find in an art class. However, the student more so acted out of the fact he was struggling with himself. I watched daily my teacher help him and talk with him, whether at the desk or out in the hallway. It seemed over the course of the next two months that the student was not nearly the same, and actually actively participated with my table. This came as an honest shock, this kid was rowdy, but often made many self-deprecating jokes about being depressed. That kid was now better than before, he still had his woes, but he became an active member of our table more than before. We learned more about him and found he wasn't actually the kind of person we thought he was. I think Mr. B played a huge role in that. Although he may have been only an art teacher, I looked up to him a lot. I was greatly saddened when Covid hit, meaning our classes were cut short. Whilst being an art teacher he managed to help students, even myself. I want to be able to do that for people as well. Whether it be older people, young people, it really does not matter to me. Although I don't want to be a teacher, I have decided I want to go into social work. I think after watching Mr. B, someone who was only an art teacher but tried his best for his students, if I were to go to school and learn all the knowledge I can that could help another kid or person, even more, I would.

A quote I take to heart is the one of "Be kind to all kinds". I heard this quote from a random person, not someone who I know personally but it stuck with me. I believe it should really be how everyone feels about one another. Everyone is different, there are so many factors that differentiate us from each other. Whether that be religion, race, what someone may look like, sexuality, everything in any category you could really think of. We should be kind to everyone who may be a little different from us, there is no place for judgement in our world. I really do believe that and I think that's what people should live by. Just because they aren't like you doesn't mean they deserve any less.

In society, I think in every aspect there will be nothing left untouched or unchanged by Covid-19. I believe it will always impact how most people think in terms of health and how they take care of themselves. When it comes to transportation, large gatherings, and the like, I think those of us who never thought much about it will always think about it. Especially those who have found themselves sick with the virus, someone close to them became sick or just lost someone to it. I think that people who experienced that will always be more careful and know how easy it is for sickness to spread when in public. I also think the virus has left and will leave impacts on schooling. This is because, with the introduction of virtual school, it might be more common for schools to use those forms of teaching. I believe this because even someone I know asked me if schools may keep doing virtual schooling so there could be bigger classes or just school for kids who don't want to go in person. While I personally think that is not the best idea, I think it is fully possible it may happen in some schools. I think it is also very good to assume that schools may adopt and continue to use the websites that came to be commonly used over the pandemic, such as Canvas.

My absolute all-time favorite film would have to be Disney's Mulan, hands down. I have found myself watching it many times over the past few years, it being my favorite film even when I was a young child. This is because of a couple of things, the story is amazing and I always feel drawn in when it comes on. The music the characters sing and the meaning behind them has always made me feel good. Mulan's first song, Reflection, is my favorite within the movie. When I was younger, I was very shy and had a hard time wanting to be myself and I felt connected to this song which made me love it more. Not to mention the artwork and animation are extremely pleasing to look at. It is a movie I can see myself continuing to watch again and again.

My dachshund Macee is the light of my life. If you didn’t notice, her name is spelt like mine! I also included her in my senior photos because she is apart of who I am. That shoot was so enlightening and I got to see interact with different people. In her other pictures, she loves the snow and she also loves to sunbathe as well. Her instagram is @macee.the.doxie

My mom is one of the absolute hardest workers I know. While her work may seem normal from the outside, I know she is worked to the bone. She has always been the type of person to learn something fast and do it extremely well, better than anyone else can actually. I have found myself taking after her, I always work myself as much as I can to be the best person for any sort of task. To me, just like her, it doesn't matter the task. I have learned to treat it all the same. That is what she has taught me. When I have worked with her, that was when I first noticed our similarities and how hard she works. I plan on carrying her values with me, never giving my job a half-done or minimal performance. When I worked at her job, her employer was surprised with my ability to finish a job in 2 days far better than someone else did with more time. I was told I was exactly like her, and it was easy to tell that I was her kid. That was something that made me proud to know, that I could represent my mom and her ethics. I know, despite me completing that task, if my mom wasn't my mom I would not be capable of such a thing. I am eternally grateful for those lessons and skills she has taught me, as I know it will be something I will carry with me throughout my whole life. I know it has made her go far, as my mom did not go to college, but she is the one person that a workplace cannot afford to lose. I strive to be just like her.

In my life, my dad has always been a huge part of it. From when we were overseas in Japan while I was young, to where we are now. My dad has since been retired for a few years now, but he was a Marine. He first went to Afghanistan when we lived in Japan and has gone back once. However, my dad never came back quite the same. My dad suffers from PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Meaning he suffers from quite a few mental problems under it. He can become irritable often and angry for no real particular reason. But the one thing I won't forget is his response to troubling circumstances. It has happened more than once, and I would more than love to forget about it. When it comes to my parents arguing, as most parents do, it can range from subdued to an outburst. One time, they fought and I remember my dad leaving the house, in a fit of what I perceived as anger. Which I was accustomed to, due to the PTSD. However, that night it was different. He drove away, texting my mom about how he wanted to take his life. That night I was so afraid for my dad. My dad is, well, my dad. No matter his problems, anger, irritation, he is always my dad and I know he can't help but feel this way. When struggling with PTSD, he can't help but respond in a way that makes everyone hurt. I did not know that his PTSD was giving him even a thought like that. Luckily, he did indeed come home, but it has always scared me since. Although I experienced this with my dad, this was not the first time I have heard of or witnessed someone being affected by PTSD this way. When we had lived in Japan, I was quite young but I remember a buddy of my dad's who replaced him in Afghanistan. His name was Dakota Meyers. He came to us, struggling with the after-effects of PTSD and the war. He was dealing with depression and wanted to take his life away. My dad made sure to talk with him about it and stay until he was better. Although my parents no longer have a connection with him, as it was many many years ago, I have not forgotten his name. Since then, I have known, as brave as these people are I wouldn't want to watch someone else I love struggle from this. I hope as time goes on in the future, more awareness comes forward about Marines and anyone struggling with PTSD. PTSD is not just having anxiety, it comes with so much more. I understand as a watcher, and I hope more people come to understand. As the years progressed I wanted to achieve being able to understand more fully how my dad felt. I think I have begun to understand, but I know those with PTSD struggle with so much.

I think I speak for us all when I say 2020 was a rough year. One of the small good things that came out of 2020, would be the memes we would make in an attempt to feel better about our current circumstances. This meme, similar to the many like it, means a lot to me because so many of us made memes similar or in the same category to make us laugh about our predicament all of us had found ourselves in.

I want to study Criminal Justice and Animal sciences. My biggest goal is to get a job working for the SPCA, or in other words, I want to be an Animal Control Officer. Though it may not be entirely required to have a high level of education to complete such a goal, I want to be able to provide the best-suited knowledge and experience that I can. This is because this job, I personally believe has to be handled with some sort of care. Working with people every day, whether they may not be caring for animals or be apart of a larger ring of abuse that goes in hand with added crimes, I firmly believe that I have to have an education in the field of crime to obtain a better understanding of handling situations and the law. I also have a strong desire to study Animal sciences so I can be able to care for the animals in need that I am helping. I want to be the best possible choice for the job, and I plan to dedicate my life to the cause.

These are my 2 memes! Caption for the one with Jim: Let's keep the glasses on and not think about the Student Debt, use Bold.org to get scholarships and lessen what you have to worry about! Caption for Pam: They may look the same, but when you sign up for Bold.org they look very different! or something along those lines! Totally free to change if you'd like, I made these myself and my Instagram handle is @_lait.chaud_

This is my dog Macee May! Macee because my name is spelt Skylee. I adore her with all my heart and she further pushes my passion and love for animals every day. I wish to pursue a career that helps aid animals in need. My insta handle is @_lait.chaud_