I feel I have always had a strong character, however, after undergoing brain surgery in 8th grade, I learned a lot about how to support myself and those around me. Through countless doctors appointments and tests, I have learned the importance of self-advocacy and independence. As a teenager, it can be scary to speak out, but I have learned to voice my opinions and advocate for what I believe in. I was forced to overcome adversity, but through that, I found countless ways to tackle challenges and realized the importance of perseverance. I have become resilient in everything I do. I learn from challenges as well as my mistakes quickly. The most humbling lesson brain surgery taught me was to accept help from those around me. By being surrounded by kind, selfless people, I have learned how important it is to uplift other people. After seeing how much of a difference a kind nurse or helpful neighbor could make, I can make a difference too. Whether it's checking in on my friends, or being kind to strangers, I know that a little bit of kindness can help turn someone's day around. My experience with my health issues has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Until I can help others as a doctor, I have devoted myself to volunteering within my community. I have completed over 20 hours of volunteering as a youth lawyer for the youth court. In this role, I represent minors with misdemeanors to reduce their sentence in court. I have spent countless hours peer tutoring students through my school's chapter of the National Honor Society. My other volunteer experience includes helping my local middle school soccer team, fundraising for local organizations, and more. Furthermore, I work with the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition to implement the Icelandic model in my community to reduce underage substance abuse, homelessness, and further harm. As the only youth employee in my job, it was a struggle initially to find my voice and make others listen. But, I was able to employ the advocacy skills I was forced to learn after brain surgery. My role includes handling data collection, voicing the opinions of my peers, ensuring efforts to support my community including youth, and designing a website to connect families with out-of-school care and resources. Brain surgery and dealing with constant health issues had a dramatic influence on my mental health. Depression and anxiety run in my family, and for the first time, in the middle of a pandemic and directly after having brain surgery, I experienced both of these things in full force. Struggling to find happiness and always feeling uncomfortable in my own skin slowed down my healing process and forced me to prioritize only things that were important to me. Embracing the small moments, like a sunny day, and letting go of seemingly "big things" like my grades has allowed me to truly enjoy learning and life despite my struggles with mental illness. Although anxiety still constantly pulls me away from the things I love and depression is always lurking like a monster under the bed, I am able to cope and live freely thanks to the support from those around me and the strength I have developed through my many life experiences. Passionately, Sofia Anouk Van Dinther Loboy

I feel I have always had a strong character, however, after undergoing brain surgery in 8th grade, I learned a lot about how to support myself and those around me. Through countless doctors appointments and tests, I have learned the importance of self-advocacy and independence. As a teenager, it can be scary to speak out, but I have learned to voice my opinions and advocate for what I believe in. I was forced to overcome adversity, but through that, I found countless ways to tackle challenges and realized the importance of perseverance. I have become resilient in everything I do. I learn from challenges as well as my mistakes quickly. The most humbling lesson brain surgery taught me was to accept help from those around me. By being surrounded by kind, selfless people, I have learned how important it is to uplift other people. After seeing how much of a difference a kind nurse or helpful neighbor could make, I can make a difference too. Whether it's checking in on my friends, or being kind to strangers, I know that a little bit of kindness can help turn someone's day around. My experience with my health issues has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Until I can help others as a doctor, I have devoted myself to volunteering within my community. I have completed over 20 hours of volunteering as a youth lawyer for the youth court. In this role, I represent minors with misdemeanors to reduce their sentence in court. I have spent countless hours peer tutoring students through my school's chapter of the National Honor Society. My other volunteer experience includes helping my local middle school soccer team, fundraising for local organizations, and more. Furthermore, I work with the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition to implement the Icelandic model in my community to reduce underage substance abuse, homelessness, and further harm. As the only youth employee in my job, it was a struggle initially to find my voice and make others listen. But, I was able to employ the advocacy skills I was forced to learn after brain surgery. My role includes handling data collection, voicing the opinions of my peers, ensuring efforts to support my community including youth, and designing a website to connect families with out-of-school care and resources. After undergoing brain surgery I developed POTS and was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Coping with these diagnoses was a struggle at first. It will always be impossible for me to fully comprehend that I will always deal with pain and fatigue. But through the common metaphor of "spoons" used in the chronic illness community, I found happiness in a way I never thought was possible. As a young girl anxiety was what inspired me to do good in school and participate in extracurriculars. However, when I learned how limited my "spoons" would always be, I decided it was a waste to spend my life doing things only because I was scared. Instead, I completely devoted my "spoons" to activities that inspired me and brought happiness into my life. In this way I found my love for learning, and community service, and was able to flourish in every aspect of my life. Passionately, Sofia Anouk Van Dinther Loboy

Although I'm only 17, some might say brain surgery is equivalent to a lifetime of experience already, and through that, I have learned perseverance, strong leadership in uplifting those around me, the importance of taking care of my community, and always working to be better. I feel I have always had a strong character, however, after undergoing brain surgery in 8th grade, I learned a lot about how to support myself and those around me. Through countless doctors appointments and tests, I have learned the importance of self-advocacy and independence. As a teenager, it can be scary to speak out, but I have learned to voice my opinions and advocate for what I believe in. I was forced to overcome adversity, but through that, I found countless ways to tackle challenges and realized the importance of perseverance. I have become resilient in everything I do. I learn from challenges as well as my mistakes quickly. The most humbling lesson brain surgery taught me was to accept help from those around me. By being surrounded by kind, selfless people, I have learned how important it is to uplift other people. After seeing how much of a difference a kind nurse or helpful neighbor could make, I can make a difference too. Whether it's checking in on my friends, or being kind to strangers, I know that a little bit of kindness can help turn someone's day around. My experience with my health issues has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Until I can help others as a doctor, I have devoted myself to volunteering within my community. I have completed over 20 hours of volunteering as a youth lawyer for the youth court. In this role, I represent minors with misdemeanors to reduce their sentence in court. I have spent countless hours peer tutoring students through my school's chapter of the National Honor Society. My other volunteer experience includes helping my local middle school soccer team, fundraising for local organizations, and more. Furthermore, I work with the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition to implement the Icelandic model in my community to reduce underage substance abuse, homelessness, and further harm. As the only youth employee in my job, it was a struggle initially to find my voice and make others listen. But, I was able to employ the advocacy skills I was forced to learn after brain surgery. My role includes handling data collection, voicing the opinions of my peers, ensuring efforts to support my community including youth, and designing a website to connect families with out-of-school care and resources. Although it may sound arrogant to say, I believe I have it in me to make a difference in the world. After my parent divorced I began living primarily with my dad. He did not graduate from college and although he works for the State of Alaska, his salary is docked due to his lack of degree. This has been a big inspiration for me to pursue a college degree. However, my dad already works through the night, in addition to his day job, to make a living. I know that as much as my father wishes to support me in pursuing a college degree, he simply cannot afford it. This scholarship would greatly aid me in my dream of attending college and med school. Passionately, Sofia Anouk Van Dinther Loboy