My mental health journey began when I was just 12 years old. That’s the first time I remember suicidal ideation creeping into my mind—quietly at first, but persistently. By the spring of my junior year of high school, it became impossible to ignore. I started experiencing anxiety attacks almost daily. They began subtly: sharp pains in my chest, waking up at all hours of the night, struggling to breathe. But they escalated into full-blown panic attacks—episodes of screaming and sobbing, where the world around me became a blur. The scariest part? I often couldn’t remember them afterward. They were blocked out, much like the traumatic experiences from my childhood. After one particularly severe episode that landed me in the hospital with chest pains and breathing issues, my mom and I realized this wasn’t something that would resolve on its own. It wasn’t just stress or growing pains. It was something bigger—and we needed help. That realization was painful. My mom and I had always handled life’s challenges together. She’s my rock. Admitting that this was beyond what we could handle as a team was heartbreaking, especially for her. I was diagnosed with clinical depression, situational anxiety, and PTSD. I started therapy twice a week and was put on medication. But even then, things didn’t improve right away. I was doing all the right things: going to therapy, taking my meds, keeping up with school, work, athletics, and friendships. And still, I didn’t feel better. Some days, it felt like I was running on fumes—barely able to drag myself out of bed, let alone perform as a top student, a friend, a daughter, an athlete. But I kept going, even when it felt impossible. Because giving up wasn’t an option. Eventually, something shifted. After cycling through countless medications—trying to find ones that worked without interfering with my chronic migraines or birth control—my psychiatrist and I found the right combination. I began using breathing techniques to manage my anxiety attacks. I discovered mindfulness, started reading again for joy, and began carving out time for things that fulfilled me—not just things that were expected of me. Slowly but surely, I started to feel like myself again. Through this journey, I learned that healing isn’t linear. It’s messy. It's frustrating. And it takes time, patience, and the bravery to keep showing up, even on the darkest days. I’ve also learned that taking care of my mental health isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. If I don’t advocate for myself, no one else can do it for me. That lesson has become the foundation for how I approach my future. As I prepare to graduate with a degree in Political Science and begin law school, I carry these lessons with me. I plan to become a family and custody lawyer, working with vulnerable children and families during incredibly difficult moments. My personal experiences with trauma, mental health, and resilience will allow me to serve my future clients with not only legal skill, but deep empathy and compassion. I want to be the kind of advocate I wish I’d had as a child. Making my health a priority saved my life. And now, it’s shaping my purpose.

Being the first in my family to pursue a college degree is both a privilege and a responsibility that I carry with immense pride. As the daughter of a single mother who raised three girls while working full-time, I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength it takes to persevere through adversity. My mother gave everything she had to make sure we had a chance at a better life, and while we never had much, we had her unwavering determination and love. Her sacrifices are the reason I push forward, and being the first in my family to take this path means that her hard work—and mine—is finally bearing fruit. Navigating college as a first-generation student has not been easy. From learning how to apply for financial aid to figuring out how to write a proper academic email, every step has been a learning experience. There have been moments when I felt like an outsider in the world of higher education, but those moments have only fueled my determination to succeed. I’ve come to understand that breaking cycles doesn’t happen quietly or comfortably—it happens when we push boundaries, ask questions, and refuse to give up even when the odds feel stacked against us. I am currently pursuing a degree in Political Science with plans to graduate this fall. My passion for this field stems from a deep interest in justice, advocacy, and public service. The political system touches every aspect of our lives, and understanding it is crucial for anyone who wants to make meaningful change. I have always believed in standing up for people who may not have the voice or resources to stand up for themselves, which is what drew me to this major. Through my coursework, internships, and leadership roles, I’ve worked to deepen my understanding of how our legal and political institutions function—and how they can be used to protect and empower those who are most vulnerable. After graduating, I plan to attend law school with the ultimate goal of becoming a family and custody lawyer. I want to work with families who are going through some of the most difficult moments of their lives—helping children find safety, helping parents navigate complicated systems, and making sure that every person I represent feels seen, heard, and protected. My dream is to combine my legal education with my lived experience to become the kind of lawyer who doesn’t just practice law but also changes lives. To me, being a first-generation college student isn’t just about personal achievement—it’s about creating a new legacy for my family. It’s about showing my younger sisters and others like us that where you start in life doesn’t have to determine where you end up. It’s about proving that ambition and grit can take you places even when the road ahead is uncharted. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease the financial burdens I still face—it would be a reminder that my journey matters and that people believe in my potential. I am committed to using my education not just for my own success, but to serve others, give back to my community, and inspire the next generation of first-generation students to keep going.

I grew up in a small town and graduated from the same school district where I went to daycare. In this small town there was a huge addiction rate, this resulted in me seeing not only my only family but families around me be ruined by addiction. This is largely the reason why I want to go into family and custody law. With family law, I want to help children find a place that is safest and best for them. Growing up in a family riddled with addiction, abuse, and neglect, I have seen firsthand the communities that often need assistance are the least able to afford that help. So often the broken system that we have in place today, leaves children behind. These are children who have hopes and dreams just like the kids they go to school with. However, unlike most of the kids they go to school with, these kids will go home to drug-addicted mothers and fathers who often abuse, neglect, or exploit their children. These parents are the ones who should've had their rights stripped from them years ago but didn't because the system we have in place often sees a roof over a kid's head and thinks that's enough. Even if, under that roof, there is mental, physical, or sexual abuse. If I don't go into family law then I want to go into immigration law. In the case of immigration law, I want to help people whose only goal is to make a better life and future for themselves. Millions of immigrants come from all over the world to our nation, for a multitude of reasons. Whether that is to escape dangerous situations in their home countries or to simply chase the “American Dream.” These people deserve a chance to obtain these goals legally and safely. I think for a lot of people in America, we forget this country was founded by immigrants for immigrants. The people who came after are the ones who forgot this ideal and put into place an immigration system built only for immigrants who look like them. However, the reality is the people who are coming to this nation to escape the horrors of their home country often do not look like those people who put our current system into place. They are people of all nations, skin tones, religions, etc. who most of the time just simply dream of a better life for not only themselves but their children and their families. I just want to help make those dreams a reality for them. Whether I end up practicing family, immigration, or another type of law, being a lawyer has been my dream since I was young, and it is not a dream that I intend to give up on.

Like many others in this country, I was raised to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to. However, I, again like many others, grew up in a single-parent household. My mom is a teacher and has been for most of my life, and she loves her job and students. She does what she loves. I hope to love my future career as much as she does. Even though my mom did go back to school and get her degree in teaching, she did not go to school until she was out of the military and my eldest sister was school-age. Taking care of my two older sisters while trying to provide for them was hard enough, school added onto that never felt like an option for her. That was until she decided that going back to school was the best option for her, but it was best for all three of them. I was born just 6 months after she graduated college. Through everything that came her way, my mom persevered. It is because of my mom that I know that no matter what life throws at me, I can get through it and accomplish anything I set my mind to. She not only told me this but showed me multiple times. Growing up with a single mom who taught in a low-income school district, the biggest trouble that came my way when pursuing my education was the funding. I had the grades, and the scholarships that I could, however, I still ended up having to take loans out at the beginning of every semester I've been in college. I want to be an attorney, I desire to help others through the practice of law-- either family law or immigration law. With family law, I want to help children find a place that is safest and best for them. Growing up in a family riddled with addiction, abuse, and neglect, I have seen firsthand the communities that often need assistance are the least able to afford that help. I want to be able to help those children and families that need it most. In the case of immigration law, I want to help people whose only goal is to make a better life and future for themselves. Millions of immigrants come from all over the world to our nation, for a multitude of reasons. Whether that is to escape dangerous situations in their home countries or to simply chase the “American Dream.” These people deserve a chance to obtain these goals legally and safely. I want to help these people achieve whatever goals they may have. Whether I end up practicing family, immigration, or another type of law, being a lawyer has been my dream since I was young, and it is not a dream that I intend to give up on. No matter what kind of law I end up practicing I hope to not only have a positive impact on the children or the families that I help but also my community around me. I grew up volunteering and this is something I have continued to do throughout my college career and plan on doing so in the future. This scholarship will not only allow me to continue my education and one day achieve my goals, but for the Fall of 2024 specifically, it will allow me to spend the semester in Washington DC, interning and getting the experience that will help me throughout my educational and professional career, all while still having classes and obligations back home.

Like many others in this country, I was raised to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to. However, I, again like many others, grew up in a single-parent household. My mom is a teacher and has been for most of my life, and she loves her job and students. She does what she loves. I hope to love my future career as much as she does. Even though my mom did go back to school and get her degree in teaching, she did not go to school until she was out of the military and my eldest sister was school-age. Taking care of my two older sisters while trying to provide for them was hard enough, school added onto that never felt like an option for her. That was until she decided that going back to school was the best option for her, but it was best for all three of them. I was born just 6 months after she graduated college. Through everything that came her way, my mom persevered. It is because of my mom that I know that no matter what life throws at me, I can get through it and accomplish anything I set my mind to. She not only told me this but showed me multiple times. Growing up with a single mom who taught in a low-income school district, the biggest trouble that came my way when pursuing my education was the funding. I had the grades, and the scholarships that I could, however, I still ended up having to take loans out at the beginning of every semester I've been in college. I want to be an attorney, I desire to help others through the practice of law-- either family law or immigration law. With family law, I want to help children find a place that is safest and best for them. Growing up in a family riddled with addiction, abuse, and neglect, I have seen firsthand the communities that often need assistance are the least able to afford that help. I want to be able to help those children and families that need it most. In the case of immigration law, I want to help people whose only goal is to make a better life and future for themselves. Millions of immigrants come from all over the world to our nation, for a multitude of reasons. Whether that is to escape dangerous situations in their home countries or to simply chase the “American Dream.” These people deserve a chance to obtain these goals legally and safely. I want to help these people achieve whatever goals they may have. Whether I end up practicing family, immigration, or another type of law, being a lawyer has been my dream since I was young, and it is not a dream that I intend to give up on. This scholarship will not only allow me to continue my education and one day achieve my goals, but for the Fall of 2024 specifically, it will allow me to spend the semester in Washington DC, interning and getting the experience that will help me throughout my educational and professional career, all while still having classes and obligations back home.

I want to be an attorney, I desire to help others through the practice of law-- either family law or immigration law. With family law, I want to help children find a place that is safest and best for them. Growing up in a family riddled with addiction, abuse, and neglect, I have seen firsthand the communities that often need assistance are the least able to afford that help. So often the broken system that we have in place today, leaves children behind. These are children who have hopes and dreams just like the kids they go to school with. However, unlike most of the kids they go to school with, these kids will go home to drug-addicted mothers and fathers who often abuse, neglect, or exploit their children. These parents are the ones who should've had their rights stripped from them years ago but didn't because the system we have in place often sees a roof over a kid's head and thinks that's enough. Even if, under that roof, there is mental, physical, or sexual abuse. In the case of immigration law, I want to help people whose only goal is to make a better life and future for themselves. Millions of immigrants come from all over the world to our nation, for a multitude of reasons. Whether that is to escape dangerous situations in their home countries or to simply chase the “American Dream.” These people deserve a chance to obtain these goals legally and safely. I think for a lot of people in America, we forget this country was founded by immigrants for immigrants. The people who came after are the ones who forgot this ideal and put into place an immigration system built only for immigrants who look like them. However, the reality is the people who are coming to this nation to escape the horrors of their home country often do not look like those people who put our current system into place. They are people of all nations, skin tones, religions, etc. who most of the time just simply dream of a better life for not only themselves but their children and their families. I just want to help make those dreams a reality for them. Whether I end up practicing family, immigration, or another type of law, being a lawyer has been my dream since I was young, and it is not a dream that I intend to give up on.