AHS Scholarship

My dream is simplicity. Beating the odds, a home for my family on land we’re proud of, financial stability, and happiness for the people I love the most. As a teen parent, I found myself having to grow up before I could even fathom what all it really entailed. I had my daughter at only 16 years old and nearly lost my life in the process. I was at the bottom of the barrel having to scale a life I didn’t understand. It took me months to physically recover from the medical complications I faced after childbirth and all the hard work I had put in throughout my life to set myself up seemed to have washed down the drain. To top it all off I had never felt more alone in my entire life, but it wasn’t just about my life anymore. When I was medically cleared to return to school that was my main priority aside from raising my daughter and maintaining my physical health. I buckled down the last quarter of school and graduated a semester early with a 4.0. Coming out of highschool I was swamped with the realization that I didn’t have any of the basic necessities to be an adult, I took a gap year(ish) and worked full time to set my daughter and I up independently and am now attending college for an associates degree in pre-radiographic science. With college has come a new challenge of trying to juggle school-full time, work-part time, and also being the best parent I possibly can. I know in the end being in a career I love where I can help people whilst also supporting my family to the fullest extent and more is what truly matters. Being able to show my kids that you can do anything you put your mind to, even when the odds are against your favor is also a huge inspiration to me. Being able to inspire them to change the world one day is what being a parent is all about. Nurturing their natural curiosity and willingness to learn drives me through all the groggy mornings and stacks of homework every weekend. When the going gets tough I remember how far I have come and how much farther I can go. I wouldn’t dream of having my life any other way but I do have dreams about how I can change our lives for the better. Dreams of the life we can build as a family.

If I could change one negative thing in my environment, it would be the lack of access to affordable and healthy food options in my community. This is a problem that affects not only my community, but also many low-income neighborhoods across the country. The availability of fresh, nutritious food is essential for the health and well-being of individuals, yet many communities, particularly those with a higher concentration of poverty, do not have access to these types of food options. The lack of access to healthy food is often referred to as "food insecurity." It can lead to a range of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These problems are often more prevalent in low-income communities, where access to healthy food is limited and processed, unhealthy options are often more readily available and affordable. There are several ways that I would work to improve access to healthy food in my community. One approach would be to increase funding for and expand the number of community gardens and farmers markets in the area. These types of initiatives provide fresh, locally-grown produce and can also serve as a source of income for small farmers and local businesses. Community gardens and farmers markets also provide an opportunity for individuals to come together and build a sense of community, which can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Additionally, I would advocate for the establishment of programs that provide financial assistance for individuals to purchase healthy food, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). These programs can help to offset the often-higher cost of healthy food and make it more accessible for low-income individuals and families. I would also work to improve access to transportation for individuals in my community. Many low-income neighborhoods are located in "food deserts," areas where there are few or no grocery stores or supermarkets that sell fresh, healthy food options. This can make it difficult for individuals without access to a car to purchase healthy food. Improving public transportation or implementing programs that provide access to transportation for individuals without cars could help to alleviate this issue. This could involve increasing funding for public transportation, partnering with ride-sharing companies to offer discounted or free rides to grocery stores, or implementing a car-sharing program for individuals without access to their own vehicle. Improving access to healthy food in my community is essential for the health and well-being of individuals, and it is something that I am passionate about. While it may be a complex and multifaceted issue, I believe that by addressing the root causes and implementing effective solutions, we can make significant progress in improving the availability of healthy food options for all members of our community. This could involve a combination of strategies, such as increasing funding for community gardens and farmers markets, establishing programs to provide financial assistance for healthy food purchases, and improving access to transportation for individuals without cars. By working together and taking a comprehensive approach, we can create a community where all members have access to the healthy food options that they need to thrive.