The "Affordable College Prep's First Time Winner's Scholarship" will be the 110th scholarship I have applied to on Bold.org alone. That doesn't even take into consideration the ones I've submitted on Niche, Scholarship Owl, Sally Mae, and others. Needless to say, I've thrown my hat into the scholarship ring a few times. Through my many failed attempts, I've learned a few essential tips when it comes to applying. The biggest, albeit a bit obvious tip, is not giving up. It's discouraging to keep trying and never win. No one likes rejection, and it doesn't get easier over time. You just have to keep trying. Something I've found that helps is simply not thinking about it too much. If you don't win, you just have to move on and apply for the next one. Another important factor is grammar and spelling. Few people want to give $500+ to someone that gets "there" "their" and "they're" mixed up multiple times. I run all of my essays through three different grammar checkers before submitting them. It doesn't matter how good of an idea you have if you can't format and spell properly. While it's great to apply to as many scholarships as possible, you still shouldn't waste your time. I've written dozens of essays where I struggled to get an idea for or find enough to discuss to meet the length requirement. Because of those factors, the essay wasn't good. You could tell my heart simply wasn't in it. If you don't have a good idea, or you're having to force yourself to do it, move on to a scholarship you're more interested in, and have a better chance at winning. One I have found extremely helpful is to save all of the applications you have made in the past. That 1,000-word essay about losing a family member you spent two hours writing might be able to be reused for a scholarship about a role model in your life with a few tweaks. Even if one board reviewing the essay didn't like it, that doesn't mean it won't be loved by another group reviewing it. Past essays can be a great starting point, save time, and allow you to go back through and see what mistakes you may have made in the past, and what you can change for the next scholarship. Don't get intimidated by word count. 400 words isn't as impossible as it sounds. As long as you have an idea, and are passionate about it, you can hit the limit easily enough. In the same token, don't stall in your essays to add to the word count. From looking at essays that have won over mine, I've found that word count isn't the most important thing in the world. Just because your essay is closer to the limit than the max, that doesn't mean it won't win. The more applications I submit, the more I learn about what donors want. Even if I don't win, I'm thankful for every scholarship I apply to. Whether it's this one, the next one I apply to, or one three years from now, I know that eventually, as long as I keep persevering, I will win a scholarship. And in the meantime, I'll keep trying and becoming better.

One thing that I'm good at is singing. It's something that I've worked hard at and truly love to do, nothing makes me happier. I'm in my school's choir and select choir. On top of that, I sing at church whenever I get the chance and participate in musicals. I do my best to practice whenever I can. A big part of that is learning from others who have singing for longer and getting tips from them. On top of that, I watch videos on YouTube and find exercises to work on things such as pitch and breath control. From there, I work on what I've learned while showering, driving, and even when working out in my basement. Trying to run a mile while singing Amazing Grace isn't an easy thing, take my word for it. I hope to go to college and practice my skills even more by learning under professors and gaining tips from other students. Someday, I hope that I'll have practiced and learned enough to help others with this skill learn and grow.

I have listened to an abundance of music throughout my life. Country and rock thanks to my parents, my emo phase had me listening to Falling in Reverse, My Chemical Romance, and Green Day (not that I've ever stopped jamming out to these bands). Musical theater soundtracks galore, and even a little bit of rap. We don't talk about Bruno? More like we don't talk about those six months where I listened to pretty much nothing but Disney songs. However, one song that has been a constant in my life is "Why Worry" by Set It Off. The band is not known for being uplifting, with most of their songs about things not going right or breakups, with harsh phrases and lines. This song, however, was a little different. The song is about how even when times get tough we need to keep moving and persevere, not focus on those little things that feel like a big deal at the time. The music can best be described as a mix between punk and gospel, something that doesn't sound like it would mesh well together, but it really did. Even though others may have it better than us in some ways, we have good things too. I listen to the song all the time, even now as I type up this scholarship application. When I'm in a good mood it's a way to celebrate. When I'm feeling down it's a way to cheer myself up and remind myself that whatever it is isn't worth the stress. It's the perfect song for just about every occasion.

To me, a big problem is how we treat others, especially those with mental disabilities. Having worked with kids with autism and Down syndrome to name a few things, I've seen firsthand how bright they are. Sadly, because they convey these ideas differently than neurotypical people, they're passed off as being stupid and treated like babies, regardless of their age. A method I helped implement at the day camp I worked at was having them interact with neurotypical kids from a different camp. It gave me the opportunity to explain to other kids why my group acts a little differently and gave them the chance to interact with each other. Within a few visits, we had both groups asking to visit the other to see their friend. At younger ages, you can explain it simply, and then that's that. I believe that's the key to getting rid of these stereotypes. Children are our future. Once we're gone they'll be deciding how their country and the world is shaped. Making sure that they'll leave a positive impact instead of a negative one is of the utmost importance. Adults are more set in their ways and teachings, making them much more difficult to convince to see things from another perspective. Of course, some parents weren't big fans of this idea. They were concerned that some of my group might be violent. However, with a bit of assuring, including the fact that I had my own nieces interacting with my group of kids, they became to willing to let us try this. It's not an easy task to change the way the world thinks, and there will always be people who don't see eye to eye with you. However, I believe that we can make the world a little brighter this way.

"This too shall pass and tomorrow is another day." I never met my great-grandmother, she died while my mom was pregnant with me. But I've been told many stories about her and I'm a lot like her in both looks and personality. My favorite thing I've been told about is how she kept herself happy. No matter how down in the dumps she got, she would tell herself "this too shall pass and tomorrow is another day." For her, that was enough to get her through the months that the family restaurant wasn't doing well, or when they had to pack up and move again. It even got her through when she boarded a boat by herself at sixteen to go to America. Now whenever I feel like I'm overwhelmed with bad thoughts, or everything is going badly, I tell myself the same thing. That phrase has gotten me through so many things. It kept me going when I was feeling suicidal, and when I thought the whole world was going to crash down on me. When I say it I remember my great-grandmother, and how it allowed her to keep going and persevere. It makes me feel closer to her and helps me remind myself that if she can do it then so can I. I say those words and inexplicably feel stronger and closer to her. I'm not sure if she came up with it herself, or if she learned it from another family member. Perhaps it was passed through the generations. I do however know that somebody in the family came up with it. I hope that I continue passing it along for many generations to come and that it can someday give my children and eventually grandchildren peace of mind.

I suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Due to this life hasn't always been easy. Most days I find myself struggling to come up with a reason to get myself out of bed. When I finally told my family that I was struggling, they were shocked. I was good at hiding it. Nobody could tell I was struggling, because I didn't want them to worry. More than anything I wanted a hug, some kind words, and to be told that everything would be okay. The fear of being a burden kept me from reaching out for help. My journey has taught me to be kind to everyone. If my closest friends and family didn't know that I was at the point of suicidal thoughts, then I can't know whether someone else is struggling. My kindness has allowed me to help others. Even those that I'm not extremely close with will approach me looking for advice, or wants to go ask for help from the guidance counselor but they're scared to go alone. I'll sit in the counselor's room with somebody who only knows me from my kind words said in passing so that they feel more comfortable in reaching out to an adult for help. I would never wish for my experience to fall upon anyone else, but even though I'm still struggling I'm grateful. It makes me happy that my troubles in life have granted me the ability to help others reach out for help and inspire them to try to turn things around.

I spent a summer a year ago working at a day camp for kids with mental disabilities. My mom and grandma both worked full-time jobs doing live-in housing for adults with the same sorts of disabilities, so I thought I would give it a try. Working with these kids shaped me and made me a much better person. The most important lesson it taught me was patience. I learned this in two different ways. I needed to be patient during meltdowns or when they were violent in order to calm them down, but I also had to learn to be patient when it comes to understanding others. Many of the kids were nonverbal, so I had to learn to understand what they were saying. Sometimes it would be a game of Pictionary or charades. Other times they would do their best to pronounce it and I would guess until I got the right word, then help them pronounce it. At first, it could take ten or fifteen minutes just for me to understand that they wanted me to take them to the bathroom, or get out a different toy. However, over time, I grew more patient with figuring it out, and when neither of us were frustrated by lack of understanding, we could share information much quicker. The lessons I learned working at that day camp will continue to be applied every day in my life. I wish we were allowed to have a longer essay because the things I could share about what I've learned could easily surpass a thousand words. Regardless, this experience has made me learn and grow more than anything else I've been through in my sixteen years of life.

The book "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper is about an eleven-year-old girl named Melody, who was born with cerebral palsy. Professionals, teachers, and classmates all brush her off as someone who can't understand what's going on around her, but Melody is much smarter than others realize. She has a photographic memory, which allows her to remember and retain knowledge extremely well. This amazing story inspired me to get a job working with kids with mental disabilities, and I found that just like Melody, they're all smart, they just have to show it differently. One girl, Teslah, would always sort things in rainbow order. Even if a color was missing, she would leave a gap where it was supposed to go then continue with the next color, something she supposedly shouldn't have been able to figure out. The book inspired me to look deeper, and it's because of it I found my passion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a good read. Melody's struggle and story are truly inspiring, and a good reminder that even if others brush you off or count you out, you do indeed have value and worth.

My favorite way to help others is to listen to what they have to say. So often we become so caught up in our own lives that we find ourselves brushing others off, or absentmindedly listening, but in reality, we're just waiting for our turn to talk. Sometimes all somebody needs is a person that is actually listening. Not trying to compare it to something they're going through, or make them out to be overdramatic. People don't even always need you to tell them how to fix the problem, because sometimes there's no easy solution. They just need a shoulder to lean on, and a voice to tell them that someone is there and cares. Life can really suck at times, there's no way around it. We all need to be there for each other when we hit those lows so that they don't last as long. I've found over and over again that if they don't ask for a solution, it's better to not give one right away. It's not your job to solve the world's problems, it's your job to remind people that there's someone in this problematic world that cares.

Ahh, young love! My two babies sleeping together and holding paws. The orange one is my sweet girl, Pumbaa. The black one is my baby boy, Roo. I love them both even if they're little troublemakers at times.

My grandpa Dave died a few months ago. He was a stepfather to my stepdad, and I didn't get to meet him until I was 9 years old. Meeting step-family is a scary thing, I wasn't sure if they would accept me or not. However from the first time he met me, even before my stepdad said "I do," he considered me his granddaughter and treated me the same as any of his other grandkids. Over these last 7 years, I've grown really close to him. I went over and hung out a lot, and we would usually play checkers and chat. Two or three years ago my biological grandfather disowned me, so grandpa Dave became the only grandfather I really had. He was never one to say "I love you," or give hugs. He wasn't even the type of person to say "I'm proud of you" very often. His love was shown in different ways. He would always give you candy, or buy a movie he thought you would like and watch it with you. For me, he would often ask to listen to me sing, because he knew I enjoyed doing it. His favorite song that I sang was "You are my Sunshine." Eventually, he got really sick and wound up being bedridden. We were told he had just a few days left to live. People took turns hanging out in his room, and we were told to constantly talk or do something so that he knew somebody else was there. He was in and out and couldn't really talk very much. Finally, it was my turn to keep him company. I talked for a little bit about memories with him, and after an hour I started to quietly sing. Two or three songs in I sang his favorite and when I finished I hear him speak. For the first time since laying down on that bed, he was awake and alert. He told me that he knew I was going to amount to amazing things, and he wished he could be there to see them. My grandfather, who hadn't spoken or been completely alert in a day and a half, came too when I sang our song. The man who rarely showed affection told me I would accomplish good things and that he loved me. An hour later, without conversing with anybody else, my grandpa Dave passed away. Now, I use his final words as motivation. Someday I will succeed in my goals and make him proud.

"This too shall pass and tomorrow is another day." I never met my great-grandmother, she died while my mom was pregnant with me. But I've been told many stories about her and am apparently a lot like her in both looks and personality. My favorite thing I've been told about is how she kept herself happy. No matter how down in the dumps she got, she would tell herself that "this too shall pass and tomorrow is another day." For her that was enough to get her through the months that the family restaurant wasn't doing well, or when they had to pack up and move again, or even when they didn't have much money and barely got by. It even got her through when she boarded a boat by herself at 16 to go to America. Now whenever I feel like I'm overwhelmed with bad thoughts, or everything is going badly, I tell myself the same thing. That phrase has gotten me through so many things. It kept me going when I was feeling suicidal, and when I thought the whole world was going to crash down on me. When I say it I remember my great-grandmother, and how it allowed her to keep going and persevere. It makes me feel closer to her and helps me remind myself that if she can do it then so can I. I say those words and inexplicably feel stronger and closer to her. My life has not been a walk in the park. I've suffered from post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and attention deficit disorder since I was a little kid. I've been put in many dangerous situations and those words have helped me come out of them staying true to myself and keeping a positive outlook on the world. I'm not sure if she came up with it herself, or if she learned it from another family member. Perhaps it was passed through the generations. I do however know that somebody in the family came up with it. I hope that I continue passing it along for many generations to come and that it can someday give my children and eventually grandchildren peace of mind.

My favorite book is Out of my Mind by Sharon M. Draper. It follows an eleven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. She is incredibly smart, but most people don't seem to notice and it frustrates her that people treat her like a baby. Much to everybody's surprise, she succeeds in joining her school's trivia team, getting a perfect score on the entry test. Throughout the story, there are many twists and turns. There will be times when you feel happy for her, and times when you can feel your heart breaking right alongside her. I would tell you the ending, but I strongly recommend you read it for yourself so I won't spoil it. I never re-read a book because once I read it I can remember everything about the plot, so it feels boring the second time around. This book is the only exception. This book is what inspired me to get a summer job working with kids with disabilities, which gave me my calling in life. Without this amazing story, I would still be unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, and in all honesty, I probably wouldn't have recognized how smart those kids are without it. Out of my mind gave was a large step in giving my life a purpose. Having worked with mentally disabled kids, I can confirm how smart they can be. Just like Melody, they have to go about telling you things in a different way, but if you pay attention they'll take you by surprise. Out of My Mind really opened my eyes and I sincerely hope it continues to open the eyes of others.