COVID left me in a depression. I know I was not alone; it was all people could talk about on social media, every TV channel I turned to, and every news article I read. On top of this, I lost my uncle during COVID due to his struggles with bipolar disorder and not having ready access to obtaining the proper help he needed. This experience made it even more important for me to figure out how to manage my emotional health. In my experience, mental health struggles can be incredibly isolating and challenging for most people to navigate without help. In this way, I am grateful to COVID for opening up discussions that have helped to destigmatize mental health issues, provide people with coping skills, and make therapy more accessible. Because of this, I have found it much easier to speak up and vocalize my feelings. As someone who has always had a passion for art and design, I find that I am able to best express myself through creating art. Since the pandemic, I have channeled my feelings through drawing and painting, which allowed me to convey myself honestly and with vulnerability and process my thoughts without fear of judgment. This and journaling have become my safe spaces. These tools have been very instrumental in helping me to prioritize my mental health and overall well-being. When the world reopened, I felt a little better, but I still found myself looking for purpose. Not long after, a friend introduced me to Pure Heart Foundation, an organization that provides support and resources to children of incarcerated parents. As I started learning more about the challenges these families face, and the difference the organization was making in their lives, I realized there were so many people in the world who were dealing with a lot worse than me. As I started volunteering with the Pure Heart organization, I learned about the many struggles that children of incarcerated parents face. For instance, I discovered that children of incarcerated parents often face challenges like social isolation, financial instability, and a higher risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At first, I was hesitant to get involved. I wasn't sure what I could offer since I was still working through my own issues. However, once I started learning how the organization was touching so many lives, I wanted to be a part of that impact. Interestingly, volunteering was one of the most rewarding decisions I have made. Through my volunteer experience, I have worked with children from all backgrounds with varying levels of need. I have provided emotional support, built furniture, and organized activities to help the children to express themselves creatively. Beyond the impact on the children, what was surprising was the impact volunteering would have on me. It has opened my eyes to the challenges others face and taught me the value of giving back to my community and using my skills and resources to work with people from diverse backgrounds and build stronger relationships. It has also helped me improve my communication skills and inspired me to be more empathetic and compassionate. Helping others to build self-esteem enabled me to improve my own. As I prepare to pursue my college education in interior design, I am committed to prioritizing my mental health. Whether through my art, therapy, volunteer work, self-care practices, or having candid conversations with those around me, I am dedicated to living honestly and maintaining a strong and healthy mindset as I navigate this exciting new chapter of my life. I understand that mental health is just as important as physical health and that taking care of ourselves mentally and emotionally is essential to living a happy and fulfilling life. For this reason, I am passionate about using my artistic talents to create spaces that promote mental and emotional well-being, whether it is through thoughtful design choices, the use of color and texture, or simply creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. I believe in order to prioritize mental health, we have to show up as our authentic selves and be vocal about our struggles. I also encourage everyone to seek volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and values and to give back to their community in whatever ways they can because even small acts of kindness can have a major impact on your life and those of others. Whether pursuing our passions and dreams or simply navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, having the tools and resources needed to prioritize mental health is essential to our overall well-being and success.

COVID left me in a depression. I was not alone, it was all people could talk about on social media, every tv channel you turned to, and every news article you read. The isolation of COVID impacted so many lives in one way or another. Coming out of the pandemic, I found myself looking for purpose. Not long after, a friend introduced me to Pure Heart Foundation, an organization that provides support and resources to children of incarcerated parents. As I started learning more about the challenges these families face, and the difference the organization was making in their lives, I realized there were many people hurting a lot worse than me. As I started volunteering with the Pure Heart organization, I learned about the many struggles that children of incarcerated parents face. For instance, I discovered that children of incarcerated parents often face challenges like social isolation and financial instability, making it difficult for them to obtain the resources they need. They are also at higher risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can harm their overall well-being. For these reasons, children of incarcerated parents are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system themselves. At first, I was hesitant to get involved. It seemed overwhelming as I had never volunteered before and wasn't sure what I could even offer. However, once I started to learn about how the organization was making an impact on so many lives, I felt a strong desire to be a part of that impact. This ended up being one of the most rewarding decisions I have made. Through my volunteer experience, I have worked with children from all types of backgrounds with varying levels of need. I have provided emotional support, helped with homework, built furniture, and organized activities to help the children to express themselves creatively. Seeing the joy on their faces as they spend time with a positive role model is truly a heartwarming experience. Beyond the impact on the children, what surprised me was the impact volunteering would have on me. It has taught me the value of giving back to my community and using my skills and resources to make a difference. It has opened my eyes to the challenges that others face and inspired me to be more empathetic and compassionate in my daily life. Volunteering has also helped me to develop new skills and gain new experiences. Through my work with the organization, I have improved my communication skills, learned how to work with people from diverse backgrounds, and gained a deeper understanding of the issues others are facing. My experience volunteering has shown me how important it is to help others in need and how personally rewarding it can be. Through my involvement with Pure Heart, I was a positive role model, helping to build others' self-esteem and develop the skills and resources they need to thrive. It also gave me a sense of purpose and allowed me to increase my empathy and compassion. Providing support and guidance to children my age or younger facing such difficult circumstances helped me see how blessed I really am. Volunteering has taught me that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others, and I encourage everyone to seek volunteer opportunities that align with their interests and values and to give back to their community in whatever ways they can. By helping others, we have the power to impact the world around us in ways we cannot even imagine.

As someone who has always had a passion for art and design, I have found that creating art is my safe space. Art and journaling were especially critical throughout the isolation of COVID. Like many others, my mental health struggles intensified during this period. Not being able to spend time with friends, attend school or participate in sports or other activities left me in a slight depression. On top of this, I lost my uncle during COVID due to his struggles with being bipolar and not having ready access to obtaining the proper help he needed. This made it all the more important for me to figure out how to manage my emotional health. I started channeling my feelings through drawing and painting, which allowed me to express myself honestly and with vulnerability and process my thoughts without fear of judgment. In my experience, mental health struggles can be incredibly isolating and challenging to navigate on your own. In this way, I am grateful to COVID for opening up discussions that have helped to destigmatize mental health issues, provide people with coping skills, and make therapy more accessible. This has made it easier for me to speak up and vocalize my feelings and taught me the importance of expressing myself through journaling and art. These tools have been instrumental in obtaining the help and support I need and helped me to prioritize my mental health and overall well-being. As I prepare to pursue my college education in interior design, I am committed to prioritizing my mental health and ensuring I have the support and life skills I need to thrive. Whether through therapy, volunteer work, self-care practices, or simply having candid conversations with those around me, I am dedicated to maintaining a strong and healthy mindset as I navigate this exciting new chapter of my life. I believe that mental health is just as important as physical health and that taking care of ourselves mentally and emotionally is essential to living a happy and fulfilling life. For this reason, I am passionate about creating spaces that promote mental and emotional well-being, whether it is through thoughtful design choices, the use of color and texture, or simply creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. Ultimately, I believe that by prioritizing mental health and being vocal about our struggles, we can all create safe and supportive spaces where we can thrive and grow. Whether we are pursuing our passions and dreams, or simply navigating the ups and downs of everyday life, having the tools and resources that we need to prioritize our mental health is essential to our overall well-being and success.

Receiving this scholarship would be essential to my pursuit of higher education and achieving my dreams of ultimately owning my own interior design firm. As one of four siblings, the financial burden of paying for college is substantial. My parents work tirelessly to provide for us, but the reality is that it would be nearly impossible for them to pay for all four of us to attend college without significant financial assistance. I come from creative stock. Growing up, I watched my mother painting rooms and rearranging the furniture and my dad's artwork around the house and that is where my love for art and design began. I started out making toilet paper outfits for my Barbie dolls and duck tape folders and moved on to experimenting with color schemes in my bedroom and creating my own art. As I got older, my interest in design continued to grow as I binge-watched interior design shows with my mom on HGTV. I began to research different careers within the industry and was immediately drawn to interior design. I knew that this was the career path I wanted to pursue, but I also knew that it would require a lot of hard work and dedication. Attending college is essential to my career goals. Not only will it provide me with the skills and knowledge I need to succeed in the industry, but it will also allow me to make valuable connections with other professionals in the field. However, the cost of college is a major barrier for many students from middle-class families, including myself. Without financial assistance, it would be difficult for me to attend college and achieve my career goals. Receiving this scholarship will help me to avoid the staggering debt that plagues many students upon graduation. It would also allow me to worry less about finances and allow me instead to focus on my studies and career goals. With the help of a scholarship, I will be able to attend the college of my choice and receive the education and training necessary to succeed in the industry. In addition to helping me achieve my academic and career goals, receiving a scholarship would also provide me with the opportunity to give back to my community. As a future interior designer, I hope to use my skills and knowledge to create beautiful and functional spaces for people in need. Whether it’s designing a home for a low-income family or creating a welcoming environment for a nonprofit organization, I want to use my talents to make a positive impact in the world. In conclusion, receiving a scholarship would be life-changing for me and my family. It would allow me to pursue my passion for interior design, attend college, and ultimately achieve my career goals. With the help of a scholarship, I will be able to make a positive impact in my community and give back to those in need. Thank you for considering my application.

I never thought of myself as someone who would become a volunteer for a non-profit organization. It was not until a friend introduced me to Pure Heart Foundation, an organization that supports children of incarcerated parents, that I found myself getting involved. At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the situation, and I was hesitant and unsure of what to do or how I could be of help. But there are many ways to get involved and lend your talents and abilities to volunteer organizations. As I started learning more about the challenges these families face, and the difference the organization was making in their lives, I became more inspired to contribute. My time volunteering with the Pure Heart organization has been eye-opening for me. This opportunity has exposed me to the many struggles that children of incarcerated parents face and the importance of providing them with support and resources to help them overcome those challenges. For instance, I discovered that children of incarcerated parents often face challenges like social isolation and financial instability making it difficult for them to obtain the resources they need. They are also at higher risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can harm their overall well-being. For these reasons, children of incarcerated parents are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system themselves. Through my involvement with Pure Heart, I hope that I was able to make a positive impact on these children's lives by providing a positive role model, helping to build their self-esteem, and assisting them in developing the skills and resources they need to thrive. I have seen how the organization and its volunteers have helped to mitigate some of the challenges these children face and improve their chances of leading successful lives. My experience with this organization has been very rewarding for me. I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those around me, developed empathy and compassion, and built relationships with the people I served. Providing support and guidance to children my age or younger facing such difficult circumstances helped me see how blessed I am to have both of my parents. Volunteering with Pure Heart opened me up to the possibility of volunteering for other causes that increase the mental, emotional, and financial well-being of others. I now understand the importance of giving back to my community and using my skills and resources to make a positive impact on the world around me. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with this organization and look forward to continuing to support its mission in the future. Volunteering has taught me that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others, and I encourage everyone to get involved in their community and find ways to give back.

"You’re going to the NBA!" "No, with his math skills, he's going to be an engineer." “No, he’s going to be a famous artist!” These are compliments I’ve heard my entire life. Only, unfortunately, they weren't aimed at me. My brother and I are Irish twins, meaning we were born in the same year, in our case, only 10 1/2 months apart. As far back as I can recall, my brother has been a triple threat; intelligent, artistic, and athletic. We were always close, but over the years, we competed at everything; board games, and sports, and even rivaled at who would get their license first. In ninth grade, my parents separated us for the first time, which proved to be a pivotal point for us. My first year of high school was uncomfortable because I could no longer hide behind my brother. However, it also provided clarity. I discovered that our competition was just a facade I created to keep me limited to my comfort zone. Once we were separated, the crutch of being his sister disappeared, and my perceived invisibility was no longer an excuse for not giving my all. This realization helped me to improve my self-confidence and get out of my own way. I learned time management, went to the library, attended teacher office hours, and took personal accountability for my success. I started participating in various school activities, increased my GPA, and even started community service. Volunteering with children of incarcerated parents taught me to put others' needs before my own and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those around me. This experience also helped deepen my empathy and compassion and gain meaningful relationships with the people I served and it was very rewarding for me personally. Providing support and guidance to children my age or younger facing such difficult circumstances helped me see how blessed we are to have both of our parents. This realization made me less interested in competing with my brother and more invested in becoming the best version of myself. I have discovered I actually have many strengths! I found that I have high emotional intelligence, good judgment, and exceptional problem-solving skills. I am fair, equitable, and inclusive. These traits have helped me to emerge as a strong leader and establish a step team where I currently serve as captain. I am also captain of the cheerleading team, where I help to create choreography and organize events. The self-awareness and confidence I gained helped me to get a job, try out for tennis and secure a spot on the team. I would not have had the courage to do any of these things while living in my brother's shadow. In conclusion, I have discovered that I am a driven and accomplished individual who is passionate about making a positive impact in the world. I have found great value in volunteering for causes that broaden my world scope and I will continue to give my time, skills, and talents to serving these marginalized communities. With a love for creativity, leadership, and community service, I am excited to continue exploring new opportunities and pursuing my dreams.

As one of four siblings, I have always understood the importance of being a role model and a leader. Growing up, I took on various responsibilities within my family, helping to care for my younger siblings and taking charge when necessary. This sense of responsibility has translated into other aspects of my life, including academics, extracurricular activities, and community service. With a 3.5 GPA, I have always taken my studies seriously and worked hard to achieve academic success. However, I have also been involved in many extracurricular activities that have allowed me to explore my passions and develop my leadership abilities further. As the captain of my cheerleading and step teams, I have learned the importance of being determined and dependable, working collaboratively to achieve common goals, how to motivate and inspire others, and what it means to be a servant leader. In addition to my athletic pursuits, I am a self-taught artist and have won various architecture awards for my designs. This passion for creativity and innovation has led me to pursue a degree in interior design, hoping to own my own design firm someday. I am not afraid of a challenge, and I am always looking for ways to grow and improve the world around me, whether that means volunteering with children of incarcerated parents or using my artistic talents to create beautiful and functional spaces. Doing community service work for children of incarcerated parents allowed me to develop further as a servant leader. This skill has been invaluable in both my academic and extracurricular pursuits. Working with the Pure Heart Foundation taught me to put others' needs before my own and offer my talents and resources to serve an often-overlooked population. I hope that by my involvement, I was able to provide them with a positive role model, help them build self-esteem, and give them access to additional resources. This experience was very rewarding for me personally. I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those around me, developed empathy and compassion, and built meaningful relationships with the people I served. Providing support and guidance to children my age or younger facing such difficult circumstances helped me see how blessed I am to have both of my parents. Ultimately, I believe that all of my experiences and accomplishments have prepared me well for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As I embark on my college journey and pursue my dreams of owning my own interior design firm, I know that I will bring with me the same dedication, creativity, and leadership that have served me so well thus far. In conclusion, I am a driven and accomplished individual who is passionate about making a positive impact in the world. With a love for creativity, leadership, and community service, I am excited to continue exploring new opportunities and pursuing my dreams. I am confident that I have the skills, talents, and drive to succeed in whatever I choose to do, and I am excited to see where my journey will take me.

Obtaining my degree in Marketing and ultimately pursuing my real estate license is essential in my plan to build a family business and create generational wealth. As an African American woman, I understand that entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for women and people of color to overcome the pay gap in America. As the middle class in America continues to shrink due to rising income inequality and the decline of traditional job security and benefits, I worry about my ability to build wealth in a traditional corporate role and what this means for my parents as they approach retirement. By pursuing my education and becoming an entrepreneur, I hope to create opportunities for myself and my family. I also intend to use this platform to help others in my community obtain financial stability and success. Due to various socioeconomic factors, such as inequality or lack of access to education, barriers to homeownership, lower pay, or higher debt, many African Americans are unable to inherit wealth from their parents. Obtaining my degree in business and marketing will give me the platform and the knowledge to break this cycle. My goal is to help my clients buy and sell properties, manage rental properties, and become a real estate investor myself. By building a successful real estate business, I will be able to create opportunities for my family members to learn the ins and outs of the industry and become investors themselves. Business ownership is an important step in overcoming the detrimental wage gap in America. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the median wage for black workers is only 75% of the median wage for white workers. As a business owner and real estate investor, I can create my own opportunities for success and break free from the limitations of the traditional job market. Having my own business will allow me to take control of my financial future and create jobs and opportunities for my family and others in my community, ultimately fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce. In conclusion, knowledge is wealth, and when you know better you should do better. Doing better to me means creating a legacy for my loved ones that continues to give back over time. By involving my family members in the business, I can pass down my knowledge and expertise and create opportunities for them to succeed. By owning a business, I can create my own opportunities for success, pass on my knowledge, build generational wealth, and help to create a more equitable society for all.

Receiving this scholarship would be essential to my pursuit of higher education and achieving my dreams of ultimately owning my own interior design firm. As one of four siblings, the financial burden of paying for college is substantial. My parents work tirelessly to provide for us, but the reality is that it would be nearly impossible for them to pay for all four of us to attend college without significant financial assistance. I come from creative stock. Growing up, I watched my mother painting rooms and rearranging the furniture and my dad's artwork around the house and that is where my love for art and design began. I started out making toilet paper outfits for my Barbie dolls and duck tape folders and moved on to experimenting with color schemes in my bedroom and creating my own art. As I got older, my interest in design continued to grow as I binge-watched interior design shows with my mom on HGTV. I began to research different careers within the industry and was immediately drawn to interior design. I knew that this was the career path I wanted to pursue, but I also knew that it would require a lot of hard work and dedication. Attending college is essential to my career goals. Not only will it provide me with the skills and knowledge I need to succeed in the industry, but it will also allow me to make valuable connections with other professionals in the field. However, the cost of college is a major barrier for many students from middle-class families, including myself. Without financial assistance, it would be difficult for me to attend college and achieve my career goals. Receiving this scholarship will help me to avoid the staggering debt that plagues many students upon graduation. It would also allow me to worry less about finances and allow me instead to focus on my studies and career goals. With the help of a scholarship, I will be able to attend the college of my choice and receive the education and training necessary to succeed in the industry. In addition to helping me achieve my academic and career goals, receiving a scholarship would also provide me with the opportunity to give back to my community. As a future interior designer, I hope to use my skills and knowledge to create beautiful and functional spaces for people in need. Whether it’s designing a home for a low-income family or creating a welcoming environment for a nonprofit organization, I want to use my talents to make a positive impact in the world. In conclusion, receiving a scholarship would be life-changing for me and my family. It would allow me to pursue my passion for interior design, attend college, and ultimately achieve my career goals. With the help of a scholarship, I will be able to make a positive impact in my community and give back to those in need. Thank you for considering my application.

I practice servant leadership by volunteering my time and skills to others; be it making props for cheer or step team competitions, putting furniture together or painting for the center for children of incarcerated parents, or helping my younger siblings with their science fair projects. As cheer and step team captain, it is often my job to mentor the other members of the team, especially those who are struggling. I pride myself on my ability to be fully present, impartial, and non-judgmental when interacting with others to build trust and rapport. There is nothing worse than feeling like the odd one out, so I always aim to foster a sense of inclusion. I also understand the importance of leading by example. I am often considered a role model to others because I value others' ideas and contributions as I work collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals. I uphold my personal values and demonstrate positive behaviors like respecting others, being punctual, keeping my word, and taking personal accountability for my actions. This has allowed me to build positive relationships and I earn the trust and respect of my classmates, teachers, teammates, and community. Volunteering for the PureHeart Foundation has helped me to build unbelievable empathy. By donating my time to children of incarcerated parents, I have learned about and served an often-overlooked population and provided much-needed support and guidance to many children who may be facing very difficult circumstances. So many families in this program are faced with the impossible task of navigating challenges such as societal stigmas, social isolation, and financial instability. These things take a tremendous toll on a person's mental health and well-being but it is often overlooked or they do not have the resources or ability to seek help, especially if they are placed into the foster care system, which by design often adds to their existing issues. I am grateful for the time I have been able to donate to this cause because I have learned so much about my society and also about myself. I hope that I have been not only a servant leader to them, but also a positive role model. In addition to the impact I have had on the children and families I served, the experience has been incredibly rewarding for me personally. By putting the needs of others first, I have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those around me, developed compassion, and built meaningful relationships with the people I served.

My dream life is to become a highly respected and award-winning interior designer, known for creating beautiful and functional spaces that inspire and delight my clients.