There have been three instances where Disney has impacted my life. It first started with a 16-year-old animated mermaid named Ariel. I was first introduced to The Little Mermaid at a friend's house. She was generous enough to let keep the movie. Since then, I remember running down the stairs to the basement, putting in the VHS tape, and experiencing the story daily. What immediately drew me in was its iconic music; it was the driving force for making The Little Mermaid one of my favorite Disney Films of all time! The song Part of Your World impacted me the most; it made me fall in love with singing. Ariel’s "I want" song also inspired me to dream big. I wanted to sing forever, and it became the first passion I’ve ever had. Twelve years later, I never would have thought that the show Marry Poppins would be involved in the most significant decision of my life. I got the role of Miss Andrews in the Marry Poppins Musical my senior year of high school. This excited me because I always wanted to play a Disney villain, and I thought this was the closest I’ll ever get! Though, it came with extreme anxiety and self-doubt. I had stage fright when singing a solo in front of a crowd. Miss Andrews was the biggest role I had in high school. I would mostly be put in the ensemble. I also performed for three Des Moines High School Musical Awards judges. It didn’t stop me from confronting my fear. I would sing my two solos whenever I could: in the car on the way to school, after school, or at lunch. I was terrified all three nights I performed, but I can proudly say I never missed a note or a lyric. The most memorable moment was Saturday night after hitting a high note and getting a standing ovation! In the Spring, my drama teacher informed me that I received an Outstanding Performance Award! I was the first in my class to receive this achievement! This turning point fueled my decision to pursue the arts and get a Bachelor's in Theatre Arts. During the pandemic, things were starting to get uncertain. Everything started to feel real when I started college, and doubts began invading my brain. My scariest thought was, "What if I’m unhappy and unsuccessful if I continue down this path?" My fears vanished on Christmas Day of 2020 when Disney Plus released Pixar’s new movie Soul. The story drew me in - a man pursuing his dream in music! I had to know how it ended and if he will be happy. I will never forget what Dorothea Williams says at the end of the movie, “I heard this story about a fish. He swims up to this older fish and says, ‘I’m trying to find this thing they call the ocean’ 'The ocean,’ says the older fish, ‘that’s what you in right now.’ ‘This,’ says the younger fish, ‘this is water. What I want is the ocean.’” I didn’t know what she meant then, but it opened my eyes at the end. My life is so much more than my passion. It’s my mom’s homemade food, my friends game nights, late-night rides, or just watching Disney movies. I knew that wherever life took me; I'll be content with whatever life had to offer In other words, Disney gave me passion, a push to pursue my passion, and the key to living and finding happiness. I thank everyone involved at Disney for making me the person I am today.

In Season 3: Episode 4 of SpongeBob, Gary goes missing and leaves SpongeBob devastated. He went to great lengths to find his pet and was not the same without Gary. That is precisely how I feel about my dog, Doki. We changed each other's lives. When my mother visited a friend in Mexico, she found a street dog named Doki; they felt a connection instantly. He was just a puppy then and would follow her everywhere she went. My mother decided to adopt Doki and take him back to the United States! When I was first introduced to Doki, I could tell immediately that he was not an average dog. Doki was timid and barely made a sound. When I tried to get him to play with his chew toys, he would run away scared. My mother later told me people in the neighborhood mistreated him: one instance being throwing firecrackers at his face. I finally understood where his mistrust comes from. I wanted to teach him that he is in a loving home. My family and I gave him lots of cuddles and hugs - he started to trust us quickly. I also had the idea to replace his chew toys with bones and blankets to play tug-of-war. When we introduced him to the rest of our family, he was happy to see new faces! He changed drastically in the span of a few months. Doki also helped me in ways I'd never expected. I found that he loves running around the State Park nearby, so I take him occasionally. It made me love nature and motivated me to start exercising more. It was more fun with a friend like Doki by your side. He also noticed when I was feeling upset. My parents were going through a divorce at the time, and I was not taking it well. He would cuddle beside me on my bad days and put his head on my lap. He has always been there to comfort me. Pets bring out the best in people and give us purpose in one way or another. It is not a one-way relationship: we each bring something to the table. That's why I love all pets so much! We bring joy to each other! We have been in each other's lives for six years, and hopefully, we will be together for many more. I'm so grateful that Doki is in my life. I wouldn't change a single thing.

My theatre/film career started with a 16 year old, redhead, animated mermaid. The first film I fell in love with was The Little Mermaid. I used to watch that movie every day; I can still remember every line. I instantly fell in love with the music, and (pun not intended) I desperately wanted to be a part of that world! I would imagine being in the movie singing about my dreams. Not only did it bring me so much joy, but it also was an escape from my home life. My parents used to fight constantly, even after the divorce; I was bullied at school and didn’t have any kind of support system. Watching my favorite films about friendship and the power of kindness gave me a sense of hope that things could get better. Over time, the films and shows I watched grew up with me and provided the advice I needed to hear. Shows such as Steven Universe and Infinity Train helped me to heal and cope with my childhood trauma. At first, I had doubts if I could make an impact in theatre. I wasn’t sure if it was helping people or if anyone was inspired by my performances. However, my performance in the play Fefu and her Friends eliminated my doubts. The story focuses on six women and their snuggles living in a patriarchal society. In the play, I was cast as the lead Fefu - she struggles to take control of her own life and suffers from depression. After the Saturday night show, my friend Michelle expressed how much this play meant to her. She reacted to almost all of the women in her play, making her feel less alone. That is precisely why I love doing theatre; it brings people joy, and they can see themselves in the story. In my career, I want to be able to portray characters authentically and create stories of my own that people need. Thus far, I’ve taken classes - such as Theatre for Social Change, Acting, Intro to Design/Tech, and Script Analysis - that have helped me develop my storytelling skills and taught me how to make my stories come to life. These classes allowed me to create two stories of my own: a play called Vida en Memorias and a TV show called Realmality. A team and I designed sets, lighting, and costumes that complemented these stories. They both aim to portray mental health to persuade people to reach out for help and recognize that they’re not alone. Currently, I spend 2-4 hours every day finding and applying for scholarships that will help me lessen my financial stress. During the upcoming school year, I plan to work with my academic advisor to help me find internships in Chicago. I live in a state with few opportunities to work in theatre. Chicago is close to my home state and offers more opportunities to gain experience in the theatre. I am thrilled and grateful for the future of my education and the impact it will have on others. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone behind the Jennie Gilbert Daigre Education Scholarship and to Theresa Styles for funding this scholarship. Five hundred dollars would help me pay for my textbooks and part of my meal plan. I also hope to one day to raise money to create a scholarship fund for low-income minority students that want to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and invest in people's futures. Have a great day!

I have attached a video to this application. Thank you so much for this opportunity and for investing in people's futures!

I believe that I was born shy. Growing up, I remember being afraid to talk to new people. Throughout elementary school, I had difficulty communicating with other students and teachers out of fear of saying the wrong thing. Finding my bravery took a leap of faith. The drama director announced that there would be auditions for the musical Music Man at the auditorium after school. I initially attended to support my best friend; thus, I sat at the back and waited for her audition to be over. The drama director spotted me and persuaded me to audition as well. I wanted to decline her offer, but I figured I had nothing to lose. Therefore, I auditioned unprepared and still ended up cast in the ensemble. Throughout the rehearsal process, I discovered my love of live performance. In my senior year of high school, I got cast as Miss Andrews in Marry Poppins: The Musical. I have gained some confidence over the years. Still, I have never sung alone in front of an audience, and I had to perform in front of anonymous judges from the Des Moines High School Musical Awards. I practiced my lines and songs daily: at lunch, between classes, and before I went to bed. The day had finally come, and the fear hit me; before I went on stage, I told myself, "You are Miss Andrews. She is not afraid of anything." It didn't eliminate my fear completely, but it gave me the confidence to do my part. I ended up being the first student in my high school to win an award for Outstanding Performance in a Principle Role. All three nights, I had a fear of messing up, but instead of running away, I did it scared. That's what bravery means.