The human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons that make trillions of connections, all serving their own purpose, creating us. I'm beyond fascinated by the brain and neurosciences. How chemical and neuronal changes affects how we feel, behave and act; how the plasticity that not only allow room for new learning, also can help us adapt and further thrive in new, less than optimal conditions. I read Bruce D. Perry's "The boy who was raised as a dog" a little while back, and I could not put the book down. This was when I realized what I wanted to do with my life. The book told several stories about kids who had suffered different forms of traumas that ultimately altered their brain circuitry and thus also their behavior and development. It talked about kids who watched their parents die, kids who were sexually abused, kids who were neglected and not cared for, and kids who grew up treated as an animal; fed and played with every so often, but if disobeying put in a kennel with the other dogs. The stories were horrifying, but all with a brighter ending. With the help of neuroscience, D. Perry was able to understand where the kids' behaviors and developmental delays originated from, and from there he was able to work with each child, to help them rewire their brains and create a life of hope and healing; That is what I want to do! I want to help children in similar situations, and I want to help children who suffer or struggle with any other neuropsychological disorders. I want to make a difference, be a helping, supporting hand, and most of all, I want to set these children up for a bright future. I'm currently a Psychological and Brain Sciences student at the University of California-Santa Barbara and I plan to further my studies and get a Ph.D. to become a Neuropsychologist. I know it's not going to be an easy profession, it will be a profession of a lot of trauma and severity, I will see a lot, maybe sometimes things I wish I could unsee. But for me, the most important thing is to help the people who need to be helped. I'm ready for big challenges, but also the big rewards when I get to see these children rewire, heal, and approach daily life in different, better ways than before. However, the path to get where I want to be is not only long, but also very expensive. Being an out of state student at a highly academic university like UCSB, is very demanding on my wallet and while I am already in debt, I am not ready to give up my dreams because of financial incapabilities. I am therefore dedicated to find solutions and I hope that these scholarships can help me pay off my student bills and debts and thus also help lead me towards my dream.

I'm a competitive runner, that's what I've always been recognized as; "the track athlete", "the girl who runs so fast". I love competition, I love running and I absolutely love being really good at what I do. However, though running may be a skill of mine, I wouldn't say it is my greatest characteristic or quality, but I believe my greatest quality is my dedication and commitment. I wasn't always a really good runner, neither did I become one over the course of a day. It has taken me years to get where I am today. Years of hard work, sacrifices, ups and downs. So many times, I've woken up in the morning not wanting to run, sometimes even wanting to quit the sport completely. Yet I've kept on putting my running shoes on, headed out for practice in heat, rain, snow and in temperatures below freezing. I've woken up at 4am, half awake, half still asleep, heading out for mile after mile. I've pushed myself to my very limit, felt my legs going numb under me. Felt my lungs burning, screaming for me to stop, to provide them with more air. I've felt my heart pounding like a ticking bomb, that would explode if I wouldn't inactivate it by stopping. But the thought of stopping would never cross my mind, it's the absolute last thing I would do. Running isn't easy. I've been asked so many times why I do it, why I put myself through this pain. Ultimately, it comes down to perseverance to the goals I want to achieve; my dedication. Though things may be tough, I never give up. I fight for what I want and I'm taking myself to where I want to be. I look beyond the pain or momentarily struggle. I see myself succeed not only now, but also tomorrow and in the future to come. And this dedication, this strive to reach my goals, is what I show not only in running, but in everything I do. In addition to becoming a top runner, I hope to one day, as a neuropsychologist, contribute to the advancement of brain sciences; to help and make a difference for children who suffer from neuropsychological disorders, and I believe that my dedication is the key to reaching those big goals of mine. When I've set up my mind on something, there is nothing holding me back. I've learned that you can do anything if you just believe in yourself and stay committed to your goals. Therefore, just as I know I will become a top runner, I know, that I one day will work as a neuropsychologist and change the lives of those children who's brains are playing tricks on them.

The human brain is the most complex system in the known universe. With approximately 86 billion neurons, it makes trillions of connections, creating countless circuits. I can't say exactly how my interest in the brain and neuropsychology started, but I was reading Bruce D. Perry's "The boy who was raised as a dog" when I really realized what I wanted to do with my life. The book told several stories about kids who had suffered different forms of traumas that altered their brain circuitry, thus also their behavior and development. I was captivated by the stories that all ultimately showed how the smallest amount of stress in early childhood could make immense imprints for the rest of your life. I avidly took notes on what I learned throughout the book and after reading the last line, I wasn't content; I wanted to learn more. One day, as a doctoral student and neuropsychologist, I hope to contribute to the advancement of brain sciences; to help and make a difference for children who suffer from neuropsychological disorders. I've grown up wanting to change the world, make a difference for those people who struggle, suffer, or those who have less than myself. Since I was a kid, I've had this one same goal; to help. Today, my big goal is to help as many kids as possible through whatever struggles their brain may cause them. By working with kids, I plan to prevent the bad from happening before it happens and thus create a strong base for a bright future.