Creating Connection A big way I have participated in inclusion and bring people together to create a community it though my years in Unified. Through Unified I have learned so much about creating a community where everyone feels loved and supported and they all feel that they can shine and perform their best. Being on the Unified team has provided me the opportunity to create and reinforce a community of diverse kids where we can all come together to play basketball or soccer as a team with the intention to have fun with each other and the other team. But also a community that we can sing and dance and share with, a community that feels like a family that is open to everyone. At my high school our Unified program has grown and it has helped out athletes get out of their circle and meet new people who love to support them. We have Unified as a club and Unified as a sport, which each have their own specific people to participate, but we also have the Unified mindset throughout the school creating the Unified family of Fife. The family of Fife is not one that ends on the graduation stage but it is one that continues with you throughout your life as you go through the highs and the lows, when you need a cheerleader or some advice, the Unified community at Fife is one where support does not end when high school does. Kindness In Action I had a lot of pressure to conform at the end of my sophomore year when students were making the decision of doing the Running Start Program or not. My biggest pressure came from the community security that I would receive from my school that I would lose a lot of if I enrolled in Running Start. I felt academically ready to take the next step in my education and challenge myself in a way I felt my high school could not challenge me. However, a big part of me socially did not feel ready to make that commitment to only see my friends for about one hour and a half a day. I felt that I would lose the connection I had with people as my friends grew closer while I drifted apart. It was hard to choose to do running start but what made it harder was my schedule did not match up with the one person who enrolled with me. So I would be almost completely alone. Regardless of all that, I decided that the academic challenge was more important than the chance of missing out on a few things. I enrolled in the Running Start Program and I have seen it challenge me in ways that I would not have received in high school. I have grown a lot more independently which makes me feel more prepared for my next steps after high school. I found that it was not super difficult to hang out with my friends and feel included. I still attended school events when I could so I still felt involved, but I grew in my experience at a college that I did not feel as lonely as I thought I would.

My professional goal is to become a school-based Speech Language Pathologist, an ambition rooted in the belief that communication is a fundamental human right. My academic journey toward this goal began early through the Running Start program at Pierce College. Balancing the rigors of college level courses while still in high school provided me with a foundational credit base and demonstrated my academic dedication to university level challenges. Currently I am focused on transitioning to a university to pursue a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences, complemented by a minor in American Sign Language. By bridging communication gaps for students with hearing loss and speech impediments I intend to provide a voice for every child who is unable to do so, equipping them with the tools to advocate for themselves. My commitment to "giving back" is an extension of my belief that community is not just a place to live but a space to cultivate. Throughout high school I have sought to serve others in every place in my life. As a church preschool youth-teacher, I have experienced the joy of helping children reach their developmental milestones. As a student leader in my church and a participant in Unified sports I have dedicated myself to creating environments where everyone feels seen and included. My time in Unified sports has been particularly impactful by reinforced my belief that inclusion is not an option but a necessity. Serving in these roles has taught me that true leadership is found in listening, patience, and the intentional act of putting others’ needs before my own. These experiences have inspired me to make a difference in the world by showing me the transformative power of empathy. Watching my mother work as a teacher, I have seen the profound impact one person can have when they care deeply for their students' success. This legacy of care has shaped my own definition of a difference maker. I no longer view education as a simple pathway to a career, but as a platform to serve others. Whether I am helping a child navigate a social struggle in a preschool setting or advocating for an athlete on a Unified team, I have realized that the world is changed by the small, consistent acts of grace we offer one another. As I move toward my future, I plan to continue utilizing my faith as the primary compass for my professional life. I am praying that God continues to give me a heart for the students I will teach and that I will use my skills and passions to glorify Him. I view my future career as a ministry where I can mirror Christ’s compassion. By combining my professional skills as an SLP with my commitment to community service, I hope to inspire others to see the value in every individual, ensuring that my impact reaches far beyond the classroom and into the lives of those who need a voice the most.

What makes me unique is my commitment to bridging the communication gaps through both my education and my faith. I have always known I wanted to attend college, but finding my specific purpose took time. Enrolling in the Running Start program at Pierce College provided me the foundations credits for my degree, demonstrating my academic dedication to university-level challenges while still in high school. This experience, combined with my work as a student leader and a preschool teacher, has inspired me when planning my future. My specific interest in American Sign Language and Deaf culture was a turning point for me. I became so fascinated with the dept of the language that the experience transformed my general desire to work with kids into a focus on American Sign Language to better serve children with diverse communication needs. My dream is to become a school-based Speech Language Pathologist, using an ASL minor to advocate for and serve Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. I believe communication is a fundamental skill, and my goal is to help provide a voice for every child who is unable to do so. I have seen the impact that my mom leaves on her students by being a teacher who cares, and I want to mirror that compassion in my own career. This scholarship money would directly impact more than just my education but my dreams as well by allowing me to prioritize the rigor of my courses for Speech and Hearing Sciences. A minor in ASL will require extra time and resources and this scholarship support will ensure that I will graduate prepared to serve my future students with excellence. I ultimately want to use my skills and passions to glorify God and educate His children well, and this financial assistance would be a vital step in helping me reach those goals.

Having a relationship with Jesus has affected more than my faith in ways I could not have imagined. Growing up in a Christian home, I had an idea of who Jesus was, but I was missing the personal relationship. My freshman year was full of new and harder challenges, but through it all, my faith shifted from facts in my head to truth in my heart. That year taught me that life isn't meant to be done alone and that with God we can get through anything. This shift changed my view on my academics; instead of seeking validation through achievements, I shifted to see my education as a platform to serve others. This unwavering faith became my guide when navigating my future. In the stress of applying for schools and deciding my major, I went to the Lord in prayer for guidance and peace. It was important for me to remember that God was in control of my future and every step along the way, so He is who I need to rely on for planning above all else. This was put into practice once I started Running Start at Pierce College. Balancing college-level courses while in high school and working required a discipline that I could only find through prayer. My educational journey is about more than just the degree; it is about trusting His timing and guidance in the difficult decisions. This opportunity is meaningful to me because I see it as an open door from God to aid me in my future. IT will provide me with the support I need to pursue my education with gratitude, knowing that I am equipped to glorify Him in my career and service. Through this journey, my professional goals became clear. Studying American Sign Language and Deaf culture in high school was a turning point for me. I became so fascinated with the depth of the language and culture that the experience transformed my general desire to work with kids into a focus on American Sign Language to better serve children with diverse communication needs. After extensive research, I committed to pursuing Speech and Hearing Sciences to become a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist. Communication is a fundamental skill, and my goal is to help provide a voice for every child who is unable to do so and to build their skills to advocate for themselves. As I move towards my next step at university, I plan to utilize my faith as a guiding force. I plan to keep my faith strong by becoming plugged into a church in the area and keeping strong habits of Bible reading, worship, and prayer. I have seen the impact that my mom leaves on her students by being a teacher who cares, and I want to use my skills and passions to glorify Him and educate His children well. I am praying that God continues to give me a heart for the students I will teach, because without Him I have nothing.

Enrolling in the Running Start program at Pierce College provided me the foundational credits for my degree, demonstrating my academic dedication to university-level challenges. I have always known I wanted to attend college but struggled finding my purpose in a career. Currently, I am an active member in my church where I am involved in youth group and a Bible study as well as working as a student leader and a preschool teacher. These privileges to work with kids have inspired me when planning my future. In high school, I started taking American Sign Language and learned about Deaf culture which inspired me to include ASL in my career. I became so fascinated with the depth of the language and culture that the experience transformed my general desire to work with kids into a focus on American Sign Language to better serve children with diverse communication needs. After extensive research, I committed to pursuing Speech and Hearing Sciences. My goal is to become a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist using my American Sign Language minor to bridge communication gaps for students with hearing loss and speech impediments. Communication is a fundamental skill and it is so important for kids to be able to communicate and advocate for themselves. My goal is to help provide a voice for every child who is unable to do so and to build their skills to advocate for themselves. I believe working with kids is very rewarding because it allows for opportunities to inspire and teach kids lessons that can impact the rest of their lives. I have seen the impact that my mom leaves on her students by being a teacher who cares and who wants to see the students succeed. Through my next years of schooling I am praying that God continues to give me a heart for the students I will teach and that I will use my skills and passions to glorify Him and educate His children well.

Having a relationship with Jesus has affected more than my faith in ways I could not have imagined. Growing up in a Christian home where we attended church regularly I had an idea of who Jesus was based on the Bible and what others said but I was missing the personal relationship. He was working in my life in spectacular ways that I was missing because I was not looking to Him with gratitude. Once I started to understand my need for a personal relationship with Jesus different aspects of my life started to feel more complete. He affected my outlook on life to be full of gratitude towards Him and His works as well as my way of thinking grew to involve Him more through prayer and trust. This shift changed my view on my academics and what personal success looked like. Instead of seeking validation through achievements I shifted to see my education as a platform to serve others. My relationship with Jesus gave me the peace to not worry about my own standing but to instead focus on my ability to serve others. Knowing Jesus and all that He has done for me has changed my faith for the better giving me an assurance of eternity with Him to look forward to. When it came to planning my future education post high school there was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety in making a decision on a major, a career, and a college. In the stress of applying for schools and deciding my major I went to the Lord in prayer for guidance and peace in the decisions and the next steps I took. Recognizing that God is in control of my future, I constantly had to remember to rely on His guidance for my plans above all else. This was truly practiced once I started Running Start at Pierce College. Balancing college-level courses while in High School and working required discipline that I could only find through prayer. My educational journey is about more than just the degree, but it is about trusting His timing and guidance in the difficult decisions. As I move towards my next step of education at university living on campus, and surrounded by other students, I plan to keep my faith strong by becoming plugged into a church in the area. Being away from home and surrounded by new people and new challenges my faith is going to be tested in ways I haven't experienced yet so it is essential for me to grow a strong relationship with Jesus to lean on every step of the way. Keeping strong habits of Bible reading, regular worship, and prayer will keep me well rooted through the ups and downs of college life. Being a light for Christ is a big way I will implement my faith on campus by praying for my classmates, sharing the Gospel, and showing them through my actions how to live for Christ and love one another. I also plan to incorporate my faith through my calling to Speech and Hearing Sciences. By pursuing an American Sign Language minor to advocate for and serve Deaf and hard-of-hearing students I hope to mirror Christ's compassion and serving heart. Helping a child find their voice is a direct way for me to glorify God who created them. The most important way to implement my faith through my education is to continue to grow and prioritize Him over everything because without Him I have nothing.

I was born into a Christian home but didn't make my faith my own until I was 15. My freshman year was full of new and harder challenges but through it all my faith shifted from facts in my head to truth in my heart. That year taught me that life isn't meant to be done alone and that with God we can get through anything. God has been my guide when navigating my future. As I prepare for the transition onto a university campus I continue to rely on God's guidance for my next steps. Currently I am an active member in my church's youth group and Bible study. Additionally, serving as a student leader and a preschool teacher has given me crucial experiences that have inspired my career goals. I have always known I wanted to attend college but struggled finding my purpose in a career. Enrolling in the Running Start program at Pierce College provided me the academic foundation for my degree demonstrating my academic dedication for university-level challenges. My desire to work with children has almost always been clear to me, but I didn't know how that looked for me long-term. This was something I wrestled with for a while, not knowing where God was going to lead me. Studying American Sign Language and Deaf culture in high school was a turning point for me. I became so fascinated with the depth of the language and culture that the experience transformed my general desire to work with kids into a focus on American Sign Language to better serve children with diverse communication needs. After extensive research I committed to pursuing Speech and Hearing Sciences. I intend to become a school-based Speech-Language Pathologist using my American Sign Language minor to bridge communication gaps for students with hearing loss and speech impediments. Communication is a fundamental skill and it is so important for kids to be able to communicate and advocate for themselves so my mission is to help provide a voice for every child who is unable to do so and to build their skills to advocate for themselves. I believe working with kids is very rewarding because it allows for opportunities to inspire and teach kids lessons that can impact the rest of their lives. I have seen the impact that my mom leaves on her students by being a teacher who cares and who wants to see the students succeed. Through my next years of schooling I am praying that God continues to give me a heart for the students I will teach and that I will use my skills and passions to glorify Him and educate His children well.