Lee Avenatti Memorial Scholarship

I had been in and out of foster care my whole childhood. My biological mother was disabled and my biological father was not very present in my life. My mother was disabled from schizophrenia and was unmedicated so I suffered from several forms of abuse, and neglect, as well as malnourished. She eventually lost custody. I then permanently resided in the foster care system from the age of 11 years old until I was 16. At that point, my foster family kicked me out and left me homeless. This was for many reasons, including my newfound queer identity. I spent those formative years jumping between homes and school districts. I had difficulty making friends, receiving medical care, and forming relationships. Because of the constant change in living situations, I was oblivious to the queer community's existence, and my place in it. Foster care made it extremely difficult to learn and retain information due to constantly changing schools and the mental strain of home life. I was never able to pass a multiplication test or spelling test. In several aspects, I was far behind my peers. I missed several key courses, such as geography, that my peers all knew and excelled at. I did well in school considering that information and the only time I felt safe was when I was at school, so I buried myself in my studies. Once I reached junior high, I was only moving about once a year so I did much better in my classes. I started taking advanced courses in math, language, history, and science. My perspective on my future and education felt hopeless and unstable. Being in an unstable environment for so long has caused a dark look on life. I am pursuing a nursing degree until I am stable enough financially to pursue my dream career of becoming a doctor. My goals for the program I am currently enrolled in focus on building a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and providing the comfort of being cared for by a fellow member. As a doctor, I hope to be able to help reduce the stigma surrounding affirmative care. Receiving this scholarship could help me achieve my dreams of feeling secure, and helping others feel that same comfort and safety. In the long term, I would love to volunteer my time and skills to help different organizations with what assistance they may need and spread information about affordable care.