For much of my life, I pursued perfection. Whether it was my grades, appearance, or relationships, I constantly felt the need to be flawless. I believed that if I could achieve perfection, everything else would fall into place. And for a while, I succeeded. I made the principal’s list, earned AB Honor Roll, received compliments on my appearance, and stayed fit. At the time, it didn’t feel like pressure—it felt like achievement. My family was proud, and I took comfort in maintaining those standards. However, perfection is a fragile goal. My world began to unravel in ways I could never have predicted. When COVID-19 hit, it brought isolation, uncertainty, and fear. It triggered a decline in my mental health that I wasn’t prepared for. My grades plummeted, and in eighth grade, I hit rock bottom when I received a 20 in one of my classes. For someone who had always excelled academically, this failure felt unbearable. It wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about the deep sense of disappointment and self-doubt that followed. This period of my life was marked by darkness. Depression and suicidal thoughts became constant battles, and I felt as though I was losing control. I could never have imagined that a virus, something completely out of my hands, could bring me to the point of considering ending my own life. Yet, it did—more than once. But what defines us is not the fall, but how we rise after. I had no therapist or guidance through these struggles. I had only myself. While I’m still in the process of healing, I’ve learned to use that pain as a source of strength and motivation. This journey of growth is what led me to fall in love with the medical field, where I could channel my experiences into helping others. During my junior year, I had the opportunity to serve as a student athletic trainer for the football team. This experience was transformative. I always knew I wanted to help others, but I wasn’t sure how. Sports medicine gave me a sense of purpose. Being on the field, surrounded by the energy of the players, the band, and the cheerleaders, I felt part of a close-knit community. But it wasn’t just the excitement that drew me in—it was the responsibility. As our athletic trainer, April Clark, told me, “You’re never watching the game; you’re watching the players.” Her words resonated deeply with me. I learned that my role was about more than just being present during the game; it was about ensuring the athletes were safe, supported, and cared for. It’s about the people behind the game, and that’s what I love most: being a source of help when it’s needed most. Reflecting on my journey, I now understand that life isn’t about chasing perfection. Perfection is an illusion that can consume you. Real life is about embracing imperfections, finding happiness, and, most importantly, loving yourself through every step of the journey. It took time for me to realize that I don’t have to fit into an ideal mold. I just need to be authentic to myself and pursue what truly brings me joy and fulfillment. Now, as I prepare to take the next step in my life and education, I know that my experiences have shaped me into a person ready to grow, learn, and serve others. My path hasn’t been perfect, but it has been real. And I’ve discovered that my best self isn’t defined by flawless achievements, but by my passion, resilience, and desire to make a positive impact.

For much of my life, I pursued perfection. Whether it was my grades, appearance, or relationships, I constantly felt the need to be flawless. I believed that if I could achieve perfection, everything else would fall into place. And for a while, I succeeded. I made the principal’s list, earned AB Honor Roll, received compliments on my appearance, and stayed fit. At the time, it didn’t feel like pressure—it felt like achievement. My family was proud, and I took comfort in maintaining those standards. However, perfection is a fragile goal. My world began to unravel in ways I could never have predicted. When COVID-19 hit, it brought isolation, uncertainty, and fear. It triggered a decline in my mental health that I wasn’t prepared for. My grades plummeted, and in eighth grade, I hit rock bottom when I received a 20 in one of my classes. For someone who had always excelled academically, this failure felt unbearable. It wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about the deep sense of disappointment and self-doubt that followed. This period of my life was marked by darkness. Depression and being suicidal became constant battles, and I felt as though I was losing control. I could never have imagined that a virus, something completely out of my hands, could bring me to the point of considering ending my own life. Yet, it did—more than once. But what defines us is not the fall, but how we rise after. I had no therapist or guidance through these struggles. I had only myself. While I’m still in the process of healing, I’ve learned to use that pain as a source of strength and motivation. This journey of growth is what led me to fall in love with the medical field, where I could channel my experiences into helping others. During my junior year, I had the opportunity to serve as a student athletic trainer for the football team. This experience was transformative. I always knew I wanted to help others, but I wasn’t sure how. Sports medicine gave me a sense of purpose. Being on the field, surrounded by the energy of the players, the band, and the cheerleaders, I felt part of a close-knit community. But it wasn’t just the excitement that drew me in—it was the responsibility. As our athletic trainer, April Clark, told me, “You’re never watching the game; you’re watching the players.” Her words resonated deeply with me. I learned that my role was about more than just being present during the game; it was about ensuring the athletes were safe, supported, and cared for. It’s about the people behind the game, and that’s what I love most: being a source of help when it’s needed most. Reflecting on my journey, I now understand that life isn’t about chasing perfection. Perfection is an illusion that can consume you. Real life is about embracing imperfections, finding happiness, and, most importantly, loving yourself through every step of the journey. It took time for me to realize that I don’t have to fit into an ideal mold. I just need to be authentic to myself and pursue what truly brings me joy and fulfillment. Now, as I prepare to take the next step in my life and education, I know that my experiences have shaped me into a person ready to grow, learn, and serve others. My path hasn’t been perfect, but it has been real. And I’ve discovered that my best self isn’t defined by flawless achievements, but by my passion, resilience, and desire to make a positive impact.

For me, a college degree is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a symbol of change, growth, and hope for the future. As a first-generation college student, earning my degree would break barriers in my family and open doors that were never available to those before me. It would be the first step in changing the path of my life and creating opportunities for future generations. Growing up, I was taught to work hard and aim high, but I didn’t always know what that path would look like. No one in my immediate family had the chance to attend college, so I didn’t have a blueprint to follow. But I knew I wanted more—not just for myself, but for the people who will come after me. Earning a degree means I will be able to support myself, build a stable career, and help others do the same. It means I will one day be able to tell my children and nieces or nephews that their dreams are possible because someone in their family proved it could be done. Personally, a college degree represents a major part of my healing journey. I haven’t always had an easy road. I used to strive for perfection in everything—grades, appearance, relationships—because I believed being flawless was the only way to succeed. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, everything fell apart. I battled depression, anxiety, and self-doubt. My grades dropped, and for a while, I felt like I had completely lost myself. It was one of the hardest times in my life, but also the most important. It was during that period that I learned how to rise after falling—and that has made all the difference. Out of that dark time came a passion for the medical field. I realized I wanted to use my pain and experiences to help others who may be struggling in silence. That’s what led me to pursue a nursing degree, with the goal of becoming a postpartum nurse. I want to care for new mothers during some of their most emotional and vulnerable moments. I understand what it feels like to feel overwhelmed and alone, and I want to be a source of comfort, support, and healing for others. To further explore my interest in healthcare, I became a student athletic trainer during my junior year of high school. That experience opened my eyes to the world of sports medicine, and I’ve since been considering the possibility of going to graduate school to become an athletic trainer. Although I’m not 100% sure, I love the idea of combining my nursing background with sports medicine to care for athletes and promote physical well-being in a different setting. In the end, my college degree will not only change my life—it will set a new standard for my family. It will represent all the battles I’ve fought and the strength I’ve gained. Most importantly, it will allow me to follow my passion and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others, while creating a legacy of possibility and purpose for those who come after me.

Ever since I was young, I chased perfection—whether it was in my grades, my looks, or my relationships. I believed that if I was flawless, everything would fall into place. For a while, I succeeded. I earned honors, received compliments, and made my family proud. However, when COVID-19 hit, my perfect world began to unravel. Isolation and uncertainty led to a serious decline in my mental health, and even my academics suffered. I experienced a devastating low when a class grade of 20 shattered my self-image, leading me to question everything about myself. This failure wasn’t just about numbers; it ignited a deep sense of disappointment and self-doubt that plunged me into darkness. Navigating depression and even suicidal thoughts on my own, I eventually discovered that falling is not what defines us—it’s the courage to rise. During my junior year, I had the chance to work as a student athletic trainer for the football team. This experience was transformational. On the field, I learned to see beyond the excitement of the game; I discovered how important it was to care for the people behind it. The words of our athletic trainer, “You’re never watching the game; you’re watching the players,” reminded me that my calling was not about chasing perfection, but about supporting others when they need it most. Today, I stand at the crossroads of my future with a deep understanding that life is about embracing imperfections and learning from our struggles. My journey has taught me that the pursuit of perfection can sometimes hold us back from discovering who we truly are. Instead, real growth comes from accepting our flaws and using our experiences to build resilience and compassion. I am now a nursing major, driven by my passion to help others through difficult times. My goal is to become a postpartum nurse, supporting new mothers as they navigate the early, vulnerable days of parenthood. I believe that every mother deserves the highest standard of care and compassion during such an important period in her life. Additionally, I have a growing interest in pursuing graduate studies to become an athletic trainer. Although I am still exploring that path, the idea of working closely with athletes to aid in their recovery and performance intrigues me. Merging my nursing knowledge with sports medicine could allow me to impact people’s lives even further. As a first-generation, BIPOC student from Georgia, I know firsthand the challenges of navigating a system that isn’t always built for people like me. I also believe that no one’s skin tone or financial background should limit their chance to succeed. This scholarship represents more than financial aid—it is an affirmation that I have the strength and potential to continue my education and achieve my dreams. With your support, I will continue my journey toward becoming a caring, resilient healthcare professional. I am ready to overcome challenges, embrace each step of my growth, and give back to my community as I move forward in both nursing and, potentially, athletic training.