I remember my middle school teacher asking about each new bruise on my skin. The newest addition to my collection of scars was an iron burn, a bubbling, crimson crater on my forearm. She only discovered it when a careless classmate yanked my arm, sending me into a fit of agony. The fluid-filled bubble burst, revealing the raw wound beneath. There was no longer any way to hide it. When the teacher questioned me after class, I could only stammer out a half-truth, claiming I’d accidentally burned myself while jumping around as my mother ironed clothes. I remember my mother counseling us just before the social worker came to visit. 'If they ask you if we hit you or your sisters, you have to say, "No,"'she would say. 'Okay?' she continued. 'Or do you want to be taken away from us and never see your sisters again because that's what happens.' Every visit after that, my response remained the same until one day, when the social worker came to my high school. I remember this vividly. Being called to the office. By then, I was exhausted from what I had been living. I was wrong to feel this, but I didn't mind not seeing them anymore. I needed my sisters and I to leave that environment, and if ensuring their safety meant I wouldn't see them again, then that was what had to happen. This time, when the social worker asked, I said everything. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that I needed to forgive in order to heal and grow. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. Now, with renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.9 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. I went from a homeless teenager to now standing as a junior at CSUF. My journey illustrates the significance of how we choose to respond to our circumstances. In the future, I see myself growing not only personally but also professionally. My goal is to ensure that I am the best prepared, most knowledgeable, and most qualified for this profession. I see myself continuing to pursue education and seeking mentorship to enhance my skills and knowledge—all the essentials needed to achieve a CPA certification. I give back to my community by volunteering at my local church and organizing and sorting food baskets for families in need. I was a teenager who needed this service once, so now, being the one who does this for others fills my heart with content. I currently own a few stamps but wouldn't consider myself a philately. Although, receiving mail with these stamps brings a bit of joy when I receive them. I've come across some unusual stamps that pique my curiosity and make me wonder about their origins. I've been sent stamps featuring birds, lighthouses, and even ones with 3D images. Receiving mail with these kinds of stamps always brings me joy. Because of this, I would encourage young people to pursue stamp collecting by sharing unique, vivid stamps with them and asking them to explore the interesting history behind the stamps. philately could offer a much-needed escape from the every day, a way to explore the world from the comfort of your home, and a sense of connection to something larger than yourself.

My family life story and how it has impacted my future goals did not begin happily. At the age of 14, my life changed drastically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood Foundation. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made it difficult to form long-term connections with friends. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. Now, with renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today I stand not as a statistic but as a transfer Business Administration major from Orange Coast College, fueled with determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.9 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades; it was about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. I went from being a homeless teenager to now standing as a first-generation junior at CSUF. My journey illustrates the significance of how we choose to respond to our circumstances. In the future, I see myself growing not only personally but also professionally. I see myself continuing to pursue education and seeking mentorship to enhance my skills and knowledge. All the essentials needed to achieve a CPA certification. After this, I plan to pay forward the help and support I have received over the years from my counselors, professors, mentors, and scholarship donors. I intend to assist my community and those in my current circumstances, having a positive impact on my community. Winning this scholarship would serve as a powerful validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial setbacks and allowing me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. Textbooks and tuition fees may seem like minor obstacles, but for a single parent like myself attending school full-time, they pose significant obstacles to my academic future. If chosen as the Scholarship recipient, I would consider it a valuable opportunity to achieve my goals, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there.

At the age of 14, my life changed drastically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood Foundation. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made it difficult to form long-term connections with friends. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. Now, with renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today I stand not as a statistic but as a transfer Business Administration major from Orange Coast College, fueled with determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.9 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades; it was about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. I went from being a homeless teenager to now standing as a first generation junior at CSUF. My journey illustrates the significance of how we choose to respond to our circumstances. In the future, I see myself growing not only personally but also professionally. I see myself continuing to pursue education and seeking mentorship to enhance my skills and knowledge. All the essentials needed to achieve a CPA certification. After this, I plan to pay forward the help and support I have received over the years from my counselors, professors, mentors, and scholarship donors. I intend to assist my community and those in my current circumstances, having a positive impact on my community. Winning this scholarship would serve as a powerful validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial setbacks, and allowing me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. Textbooks and tuition fees may seem like minor obstacles, but for a single parent like myself attending school full-time, they pose significant obstacles to my academic future. If chosen as the Scholarship recipient, I would consider it a valuable opportunity to achieve my goals, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there.

At the age of 14, my life changed drastically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood Foundation. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made it difficult to form long-term connections with friends. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. Now, with renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today I stand not as a statistic but as a transfer Business Administration major from Orange Coast College, fueled with determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.9 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades; it was about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. I went from being a homeless teenager to now standing as a junior at CSUF. My journey illustrates the significance of how we choose to respond to our circumstances. In the future, I see myself growing not only personally but also professionally. I see myself continuing to pursue education and seeking mentorship to enhance my skills and knowledge. All the essentials needed to achieve a CPA certification. Winning this scholarship would serve as a powerful validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial setbacks, which would allow me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. Textbooks and tuition fees may seem like minor obstacles, but for a single parent like myself attending school full-time, they pose significant obstacles to my academic future. If chosen as the Scholarship recipient, I would consider it a valuable opportunity to achieve my goals, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there.

Alcoholism, gambling, overeating, opioids, and marijuana use are just a few types of addiction that are most common in the world today. For many of these people, impulsivity is the initial cause of addiction as a form of a coping mechanism. Take alcoholism as an example, many use alcohol to relieve stress, sadness, loneliness and to cope with their difficult emotions. Covid is one of the biggest events in the world that has caused many to fall into depression, loneliness, illness, victims of domestic violence, death, etc. It is with no surprise that many shifted to alcohol to cope with stress. According to an article written by George Koon, “It was really no surprise that during the first year of the pandemic, alcohol sales jumped by nearly 3%, the largest increase in more than 50 years. Multiple small studies suggest that during the pandemic, about 25% of people drank more than usual, often to cope with stress.” Koob, George. Risky Alcohol Use: An Epidemic Inside the COVID-19 Pandemic. Unfortunately, I happened to be one of the 25% of people that drank more due to depression, isolation, and mental stress during Covid. I was always one to judge my father for being an alcoholic and drug addict throughout my childhood without the thought of one day following in his footsteps. It took my father being incarcerated for drug use and domestic violence to finally stop him for alcohol and drug abuse. It is so sad that so many people end up in this same scenario and end up either in jail or dead. We were fortunate to have my father sober up by finding God at his nearest church right after he was released from jail where he was able to sing and play his guitar. As for myself, I turned to one of my favorite and best hobbies I had since I was a child, art. Art has always been my escape from loneliness, boredom, depression, anxiety, and memories of my difficult past. It wasn’t until my boyfriend called me out for drinking alcohol too much because it was impacting our relationship, my well-being, and my health that I finally realized I was starting to follow that path my father took. To combat my stress and repetitive thoughts I decided to use my favorite form of art, acrylic on canvas, to paint my pain away. Painting myself following an elephant in the Sahara symbolized my inner childhood trauma of always feeling alone in the world but somehow always finding a way to find my inner strength to keep moving forward and take each day one step at a time. Ever since this defining moment I have picked up art as a coping mechanism for my anxiety and depression. I strongly believe art is a very important medium to use as therapy for addiction programs to enhance mental well-being. My experience has proved that art can be used as an addiction treatment to aid emotional expression and help foster healing and self-discovery. In my opinion, creativity can help one gain deeper insights into their feelings and thoughts, which in turn can help them overcome addiction and enhance mental well-being. Engaging in creative expression helps one to express themselves, relax, and focus. I was helping them cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional distress. Engaging in art helps people learn how to focus and be mindful, which in turn helps manage stress and regulate their emotions. Art therapy helps people explore the factors contributing to their addiction and strengthens their commitment to sobriety.

Through the years I realized I needed to change my mentality, steer away from self destruction. It wasn’t until i med a wonderful couple that allowed me in their home and showed me the beautiful power of God. Not only did i understand that I was loved, I also understood that I am worthy of everything that I set my mind to. I remember vividly that at the age of 14, my life changed dramatically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made forming long-term connections with friends difficult. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. With renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today, I am not a statistic but a transfer business administration student from Orange Coast College, fueled by my determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration with accounting concentration at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.95 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades but about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. To me, success is about reaching a goal and proving to yourself that you are capable of achieving more than others might think. It's about overcoming obstacles and staying focused on your purpose. I believe that with determination and resilience, I will succeed in reaching my academic goals, despite any stigmas or challenges along the way. From a homeless teenager to soon holding an associate's degree, my journey is a testament to the power of choosing our response over our circumstances. I've learned that life's challenges aren't roadblocks but opportunities to build resilience and redefine our narratives. In the future, I see myself growing personally and professionally. I envision a fulfilling job providing financial security and stability for my family. I see myself continuing to pursue education and taking courses to enhance my skills and knowledge. As a former foster youth, single mother, and passionate accounting major, I'm fueled by a mission to rewrite the statistics and help others like me by paying it forward. Winning this scholarship would serve as a robust validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial hurdles, which would allow me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. This scholarship would serve as a foundation towards achieving my dreams, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there. I appreciate your generosity.

At the age of 14, my life changed dramatically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made forming long-term connections with friends difficult. After aging out of the system, I was left confused and alone, but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. With renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today, I am not a statistic but a transfer business administration student from Orange Coast College, fueled by my determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration with accounting concentration at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.95 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades but about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. To me, success is about reaching a goal and proving to yourself that you are capable of achieving more than others might think. It's about overcoming obstacles and staying focused on your purpose. I believe that with determination and resilience, I will succeed in reaching my academic goals, despite any stigmas or challenges along the way. From a homeless teenager to soon holding an associate's degree, my journey is a testament to the power of choosing our response over our circumstances. I've learned that life's challenges aren't roadblocks but opportunities to build resilience and redefine our narratives. In the future, I see myself growing personally and professionally. I envision a fulfilling job providing financial security and stability for my family. I see myself continuing to pursue education and taking courses to enhance my skills and knowledge. As a former foster youth, single mother, and passionate accounting major, I'm fueled by a mission to rewrite the statistics and help others like me by paying it forward. Winning this scholarship would serve as a robust validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial hurdles, which would allow me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. This scholarship would serve as a foundation towards achieving my dreams, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there. I appreciate your generosity.

At the age of 14, my life changed dramatically as my sisters and I were placed in a foster care non-profit called Orangewood. This experience had a significant impact on me as I faced frequent relocations at an early age and being placed in the system. This constant change and relocation made it difficult to form long-term connections with friends. After aging out of the system I was left confused and alone but I came to realize that forgiveness is a crucial aspect of healing and growth. Although I had to temporarily pause my studies due to financial setbacks, my thirst for knowledge never left me. Now, with renewed determination, I am back to achieving my academic goals. As a former foster child, the odds of obtaining a bachelor's degree after 26 have plummeted to less than 3%. However, today I stand not as a statistic but as a transfer Business Administration major from Orange Coast College, fueled with determination to build a stable future for myself and my son. This determination drives me to pursue a bachelor's degree in accounting at California State University Fullerton, where I can expand on the foundation I have established at Orange Coast College. I understand that defying the odds against me takes more than just determination. It demands academic excellence, and with a 3.95 GPA, I'm proving that my second chance at education is a true success story. Each bleary-eyed morning after a night of studying wasn't just about grades; it was about building a better tomorrow. And every A on my transcript feels like a victory, a step closer to my dream. From a homeless teenager to soon holding an associate's degree, my journey is a testament to the power of choosing our response over our circumstances. I've learned that life's challenges aren't roadblocks but opportunities to build resilience and redefine our narratives. In the future, I see myself growing not only personally but also professionally. I envision myself having a fulfilling job that provides financial security and stability for my family. I see myself continuing to pursue education and taking courses to enhance my skills and knowledge. As a former foster youth, single mother, and passionate accounting major, I'm fueled by a mission to rewrite the statistics and help others like myself, by paying it forward. Winning this scholarship would serve as a powerful validation of my efforts, providing the resources I need to overcome financial hurdles, which would allow me to dedicate myself fully to my studies. Textbooks, tuition, and fees may seem like minor obstacles, but for a single parent like myself, they are formidable barriers. By removing these obstacles, the scholarship wouldn't just alleviate financial stress; it would ignite my motivation and serve as a tangible reward for my hard work. It would be a stepping stone towards achieving my dreams, proving that a brighter future is possible no matter where you come from or how long it takes to get there.