Welcome! My name is Zinnia and I'm returning to school this fall to pursue my Master's Degree in Social Welfare at UCLA with a specialization in child and family welfare. I'm incredibly excited about this opportunity as my interest in the field has been shaped by both my own adversities and those of the people I care about deeply. I currently work in the field of social services, providing mentorship and advocacy to incarcerated teenage girls and trans youth of all genders. When I'm not working, I'm planning community events and mutual aid fundraisers, reading, drawing, or spending quality time with my partner, siblings, and pets. I graduated both high school and college a few years early so even though I'm only 29, I'm returning to school after about a decade. This means that while standing strong in my "why," I'm still trying to figure out the "how." I'm no longer a carefree 15-year-old college freshman. This time around I have a plethora of financial responsibilities before even considering tuition. And so I'm extremely grateful for the consideration of each and every scholarship I am applying to, plus to this site for giving me the chance to submit myself and my story.