My entire life, I have struggled with my mental health. As a child, I was constantly anxious. Stressing over school, sports, friends - everything. I didn't know how to communicate these feelings, and it left me feeling isolated and alone. In the middle of 8th grade, I ended up in the hospital after attempting to take my own life. Shortly after, my life was shut down further by COVID. It was strange. As I was finally getting the help I so desperately needed, the pandemic isolated me from the world yet again. As I started my freshman year of high school, I found myself seriously struggling in school for the first time in my life. Forced to take online classes, I lost motivation to stay on top of my assignments, and I fell further and further behind. For most of the year, I felt stuck. I believed I had no control over the situation I was in. Until one day, I realized I was the only one who had control over the situation. While I could not dictate what circumstances life threw my way, I had full control over my reaction. As the end of the year approached, I was preparing for my AP American Government test. My dad, a veteran who pursued degrees in history and economics after serving, and I always bonded over our love for history. I reached out to him for support in studying. The two of us spent the last month and a half of the year preparing for the exam. For hours after school, we would discuss the materials I had missed in class. In the end, I passed the exam with a 3. I finally believed in myself again, and I wanted to push myself academically in the following years. I learned that with discipline and determination, I could fight and push through any challenge thrown at me. I also learned when to reach out for support from those around me. I am grateful for my father's help and the example he has set for me in his life of service, honor, and strength. Now, as a sophomore in college, I am pursuing degrees in neuroscience and political science. I have made sure to continue working hard and pushing myself. I have maintained a high GPA and have served my community through volunteering. My dream is to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. I know what it is like to be a child in treatment, feeling lost and alone, and as I look to the future, I hope to be a bright spot in the lives of these children. My thirst for knowledge and learning has led me to seek new opportunities, and I am excited to take on new challenges.

When my kindergarten teacher suggested that I should learn an instrument, without hesitation I immediately blurted out the drums. While I did not know anything about playing the drums yet, I felt intensely drawn to the idea. I was intrigued by the concept of being the stable, rhythmic foundation of the music, of being the center stone on which the other instruments relied. My first concert memory was my own drum recital, the exhilaration and confidence I felt during my first drum recital ignited my passion for drumming. The recital in my teacher’s backyard created a charming and memorable atmosphere. The patio was transformed into a makeshift stage, with the drum set positioned prominently in the middle, gleaming under the stage lights. Cheap lawn chairs formed a semi-circle surrounding the stage. The chairs were filled with smiling parents and restless children. Seeing how many people would be watching me perform made my stomach spin. The soft murmur of conversation never let my mind forget the number of people I would be performing in front of. It was a warm summer evening, and the scent of fresh grass and wet dirt overwhelmed my senses. The golden sun glistened across the lawn, casting gentle shadows and amber light. As I looked around at the tranquil lawn, it helped ground me in the moment and let me try to calm my nerves, despite my growing anxiety as my performance grew closer. While I was filled with anxiety leading up to the performance, I was quickly overcome with enthusiasm and confidence. Before I went on stage I felt nervous and self-conscious, my heart pounded against my ribcage with a mix of fear and excitement. While most of the performers were also quite young, I was by far the youngest at just barely five years old. I questioned whether I was good enough to perform beside the older drummers. My teacher called my name, beckoning me to the stage. As I stood up from my seat, my legs felt like rubber beneath me, and my clammy hands gripped my drumsticks. Shakily, I walked up onto the stage and my teacher shot me a reaffirming smile. I sat behind the drum set, and I instantly felt my nerves calm. As the music started, I felt my heartbeat match the rhythm of the song. My anxiety melted away and turned into sharp focus. I felt natural on the stage as if the drums and the stage itself were an extension of my limbs. Performing had a massive emotional and physical impact, leaving me craving more. The deep vibrations of the bass drum reverberated through my entire body, traveling from my limbs to my core. The cymbals’ sharp crashes pierced the air, striking my eardrums. Each beat was proof of the hours of lessons and practice I had put into learning the song. I was enthralled by the exhilaration of performing. The adrenaline rush, and the confirmation of my hard work from the applause, left me wanting more. The mixture triggered an intense love for music. I felt an indescribable pull to the stage, urging me to continue performing. I loved it and I knew I wanted to keep performing. At such a young age, this first recital was a pivotal moment for me. It cemented my passion for drumming and triggered my love for performing which continues to this day over a decade later. The sheer joy I felt left me with a drive to continue pursuing music and I knew the stage was where I felt the most comfortable.

From a young age, my passion for medicine and helping others has been the driving force in my life. One of my earliest memories is dressing up for career day in preschool when I was about three years old as a surgeon, begging my parents to buy me medical tools like a stethoscope, a knee reflex hammer, and (obviously fake) scalpels and scissors. I did not have a specific plan for what I wanted to specialize in, but I knew I wanted to help people. I now plan to pursue becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. My fascination with medicine is not just a career choice. It is a calling rooted in empathy, understanding, and the desire to make a difference.  My name is Teagan Kay, and I am a recently graduated high school senior in the International Baccalaureate program. Having received my IB diploma, I scored highly on my tests, receiving 5s in HL Biology and HL History and a 4 in HL Psychology. In addition, I have received numerous Utah state certifications such as Medical Terminology and Medical Anatomy and Physiology. I was involved in various extracurriculars, such as HOSA, DECA, FBLA, and being a Chinese Club officer. My involvement in these extracurricular activities has developed my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. I am a driven and committed individual who has always focused on achieving my academic and career goals. My thirst for knowledge and learning has led me to seek new opportunities, and I am always excited to take on new challenges.  Most notably, this year I had the privilege of being a part of my high school's Peer Leadership Team. Throughout the year, we gave presentations on the dangers of drug use,  peer refusal skills, and anti-bullying to fifth-grade classrooms throughout our district. Through PLT, I also had the opportunity to volunteer at my school district’s school for disabled children. I loved helping aid the children in expanding their vocabulary, building their confidence in speaking, and helping the children with mobility issues walk throughout the school. I loved being able to make an impact in the lives of both the students and teachers.  This experience reminded me of the time I had spent in treatment. In the middle of the 8th grade, I ended up in the psychiatric ward following a suicide attempt. I felt inspired by the staff working in the ward. The kindness and support they showed me helped me to overcome my mental health struggles and I wanted to be able to do the same for children in the future. Volunteering at the school reinvigorated these ideas and inspirations, I am incredibly grateful for this experience, cementing my goal of going into pediatric healthcare. In the upcoming fall semester, I will study abroad in Prague. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and expand my worldview. I then am enrolled at the University of Vermont for the spring 2025 semester. I aim to major in neuroscience and minor in history, hoping to use my skills and knowledge to positively impact the world. This scholarship would help alleviate the financial burdens of pursuing higher education, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, research, and extracurricular activities and empowering me to achieve my goals and contribute meaningfully to the medical field. Ultimately, this scholarship is not just about financial support; it represents a lifeline enabling me to pursue my academic dreams and contribute meaningfully to society. I am excited about the future and all that it holds.

In the middle of the 8th grade, I ended up in the children’s psychiatric ward. Throughout my childhood, I dealt with tremendous struggles of depression and anxiety. I have battled severe anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm for as long as I can remember. I felt trapped in my mind, unable to ask for help. I kept these thoughts hidden until my suicide attempt in November of 2019. I was inspired by the staff working in the ward. The kindness and support they showed me helped me to overcome my mental health struggles and I wanted to be able to do the same for children in the future. My time in the hospital was crucial in getting me the emergency help I needed, but my troubles were far from being over. As I entered my freshman year, online learning left me isolated. It felt as if all the progress I had made was erased in an instant. I was taken over with apathy and inaction. I felt stuck. I got in with a group of friends that were bad influences and I lost any momentum in my life. I have to thank my mom for being the person that helped pull me out and put me back on track. After falling out with those friends, I realized I needed to change, my mom was the one there to support me. It was nearing the end of the school year and I knew my first step was to regain my love for school and learning. I also was fortunate enough to find kind, motivated friends that encouraged me. I often look back on my life and wish I could restart, and never go through the pain and suffering. However, I know I would never be the person I am today without it. I would never have learned how to push through and persevere, I would never have made the friends I have today, and I never would been able to love myself like I do now. I’ve spent almost all my life hating who I was, but I am finally proud of who I am. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned from my hardships. I learned that I am strong, I am determined, and I am someone who is worth fighting for. For the past 2 years, my dream has been to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. I have had a love for medicine since I was a child. One of my earliest memories is dressing up for career day in preschool when I was about three years old as a surgeon, begging my parents to buy me medical tools. This year I had the privilege of being a part of my high school's Peer Leadership Team. Throughout the year, we gave presentations on the dangers of drug use, peer refusal skills, and anti-bullying. I also had the opportunity to volunteer at my school district’s school for disabled children. The classroom I volunteered with was middle school age and I loved helping aid the children in expanding their vocabulary, building their confidence in speaking, and helping some of the children with mobility issues walking throughout the school. I loved being able to make an impact in the lives of both the students and teachers. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and it truly cemented my goal of going into pediatric healthcare. I know what it is like to be a child in treatment, feeling lost and alone, and as I look to the future I hope to be a bright spot in the lives of these children.

From a young age, my passion for medicine and helping others has been the driving force in my life. The dream of becoming a doctor has become fundamental to who I am. One of my earliest memories is dressing up for career day in preschool when I was about three years old as a surgeon, begging my parents to buy me medical tools like a stethoscope, a knee reflex hammer, and (obviously fake) scalpels and scissors. I did not have a specific plan for what I wanted to specialize in, but I knew I wanted to help people. My fascination with medicine is not just a career choice; it's a calling rooted in empathy, understanding, and the desire to make a difference in the world. My name is Teagan Kay, and I am a senior in the International Baccalaureate program. I have developed a deep passion for science and medicine and will graduate with the Medical Pathway. I am pursuing six rigorous IB courses, including IB Chinese SL, IB History HL, IB English HL, IB Biology HL, IB Psychology HL, and IB Math A&I SL. In addition, I have received numerous Utah state certifications such as Medical Terminology, Medical Anatomy and Physiology, and 3D Animation/Graphics. I am in my high school's Peer Leadership Team, presenting anti-drug presentations to 5th-grade students who have been affected by drug use and tutoring disabled elementary school students. I am also involved in a variety of extracurriculars, such as HOSA, DECA, FBLA, and being a Chinese Club officer. My involvement in these extracurricular activities has developed my leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. However, my journey hasn't been without its challenges. As an LGBTQ+ individual, I've faced moments of doubt, fear, and discrimination. Coming out at a young age as gay and transgender was a pivotal but complex step. Despite the initial struggles and lack of complete understanding from some quarters, I've persevered, seeking solace in supportive communities and advocating for greater acceptance and inclusivity. I am a driven and committed individual who has always focused on achieving my academic and career goals. My thirst for knowledge and learning has led me to seek new opportunities, and I am always excited to take on new challenges. I plan to study abroad at the American University of Paris this fall semester. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and expand my worldview. I then plan to enroll at George Washington University in the fall 2025 semester. I aim to major in neuroscience and minor in history. I aspire to use my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact in the world, especially in the field of medicine as a pediatric neurosurgeon. I am excited about the future and all that it holds. Receiving this scholarship would help alleviate the financial burdens of pursuing higher education, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my studies, research, and extracurricular activities. While I am not low-income, I have little money saved up for university, with my family living paycheck to paycheck most of the time. My parents already have student loans to pay off their education and cannot help significantly pay for my tuition. This scholarship will alleviate the pressure of financing my education, allowing me to focus on my studies without worry of financial constraints, empowering me to explore extracurricular opportunities, engage in community service, and invest in resources like textbooks and academic materials. This scholarship is not just about financial support; it is a lifeline enabling me to pursue my dreams.

My lungs felt like they were on fire. Tears stung in my eyes. Students’ voices echoed in the brick halls. I felt countless eyes on me, but I felt disconnected from the world around me. I gripped onto my friend’s hand as I tried to stop the world around me from spinning. I felt my nails dig into her skin. It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real. I've battled severe anxiety and depression and thoughts of self-harm for as long as I can remember. I felt trapped in my mind, unable to ask for help. Fearing I wouldn’t be “perfect” anymore. November 22, 2019. Looking back the day blends together, with some crystal clear images but no way to make out any clear memories. In short, my “friend” group was officially ditching me and telling our whole grade how ‘annoying’ and ‘clingy’ I was. With my underlying mental health issues, this pushed me over the edge. I decided this was it. I was going to end it. I made a “joke” about this to Natalie, my friend, and she (assuming I was joking) told me she would report me to SafeUT, an app in Utah where you can report anything. I knew I had to act now. I either get help now or- well. I tell her to do it. Natalie’s face dropped, concern overtaking her face. She said okay and had me help her fill it out. The class bell rang as I started to realize the weight of what I had done. Natalie tried to comfort me as she walked me to my next class. She told me she loved me and that I would be okay. I wish I would’ve hugged her and thanked her for everything. However, at the moment, I was too overcome with panic and anxiety to do anything. After a long day of talking to school counselors, my parents, and social workers, I was admitted into the psychiatric ward where I ended up spending two weeks. A few months later I was able to reach out to Natalie and thank her for everything. We talked a little in the next coming weeks but eventually fell out of contact. While writing this I tried to search for her on social media but couldn’t find anything. I don’t think she will ever know just how thankful I am for her. This whole event, and what Natalie did for me, helped me be able to grow and overcome. I felt lost and alone for years, I didn’t believe anyone would help me and I didn’t believe I even could be helped. Life became distorted, a movie I was simply watching with no control over what happened to me. I often look back on my life and wish I could restart, never go through the pain and suffering, I get angry thinking about what I’ve gone through. I don’t think it’s fair. However, I know I would never be the person I am today without it. I would never have learned how to push through and persevere, I would never have made the friends I have today. I’ve spent almost all my life hating who I was, but for the first time, I’m proud of who I am. I wouldn’t be here without you. You’ve shown me so much kindness in the time that I’ve known you and I can only hope to show the people around me a fraction of that kindness. Times have been harder than ever since we last talked but I’ve kept fighting. Thank you, Natalie.

I have had many close friends and family members who have suffered from both drug and alcohol addiction. Seeing the suffering that some of those closest to me have experienced has left an everlasting impact on me. As a result of these experiences, I have developed a strong interest in understanding addiction and helping those who struggle with it, this interest has led me to pursue a degree in psychology. Through my coursework, I gained valuable insights into the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to addiction. I have also learned about effective treatment strategies and the importance of providing recovery support and resources to individuals. I hope to help those around me who suffer from addiction, knowing well that they are not any less and deserve immense love and support. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out volunteer opportunities that allow me to directly support those affected by addiction. For example, I have volunteered with the Street Dawg Crew and other organizations to help the homeless, many of who are suffering from addiction. Through these experiences, I have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges that individuals with addiction face, including stigma, limited access to resources, and barriers to treatment. I have also witnessed firsthand the transformative power of support and resources, and the immense difference they can make in someone's life. My experiences have reinforced my belief that addiction is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a holistic approach to treatment and support. I firmly believe that addiction is not a moral failing, but rather a chronic disease that requires ongoing management and care. In terms of relationships, my experiences have taught me the importance of compassion, empathy, and non-judgment when it comes to interacting with individuals struggling with addiction. I have learned to approach conversations about addiction with sensitivity and care, recognizing the potential for shame and stigma surrounding the issue. With the help of this scholarship, I hope to further develop my skills and knowledge in the field of addiction studies. I am eager to continue learning about the latest research and evidence-based practices and to apply this knowledge to help those struggling with addiction in my community. Moreover, the financial support provided by this scholarship would allow me to focus more fully on my academic pursuits and volunteer work. As a full-time student, I often struggle to balance my coursework with my part-time job and other responsibilities. This scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burdens, allowing me to fully immerse myself in my studies and volunteer work.