The Kybalion, Hermetic Philosophy. I grew up in church, and this journey came with restrictions and the fear of reading about certain things. One day I woke and realized I was being lied to and that there was information that came to me for a reason. Even the Bible said to question things and learn. The Kybalion was a beautiful book about the principles of the universe it makes sense, it doesn't feel evil, and it has opened the door to reading more. I'm no longer biased, and I no longer live in fear. I no longer let others control my views and beliefs through fear. I am strong, and I am on a path I feel I was meant to be on. I feel free in a way I didn't think was possible, and the world around me is more beautiful. It has made my connection with the divine more substantial and my opportunities for growth and development limitless. God is not the one setting limits; we are. If we seek to walk in love for ourselves and others, then there is no need to worry about making mistakes. I have rediscovered my love of reading; it was the most fantastic thing in my life. Thank you for this opportunity!

The past year has been the most fantastic year for me. I quit my job (hence the need for the scholarship) because I wanted to start and finish my Master's in Health Sciences in one year. I have struggled with mental health for years, and although I had help along the way, it wasn't in a way that has helped me grow and gain confidence; I had to figure it all out on my own. My child has severe anxiety, and it was a wake-up call for me; I didn't have the luxury of playing the victim and wasting my life. I craved help and support, but my child needed it more, and I was IT. She challenged my dreams and six months later I was starting school. I followed my heart and found my strength and passion for helping children recognize mental health and build resilience through it. I am so excited for my future; I am no longer that weak and ignorant girl. I have become the strong woman my children need me to be. I am on my way to building my own future and making a difference. I appreciate the education in a way that I haven't before, and it has opened the door to incredible new information topics. I am strong and no longer tolerate toxic people and behaviors in my life. I am still a kind and compassionate person, but I learned how to set boundaries and care for myself. If I am strong, my children will grow strong too. Thank you for this opportunity!

So....I grew up in church - Orthodox and Baptist. I grew up with restrictions and beliefs that didn't make sense in my mind, although my heart felt that certain things were alive and more important than what I was being told. As an adult, there was even more discontent between my heart and mind. The things I was curious about were frowned upon by religion, and the stories I was being told didn't make sense. Tribes like the Dugan knew things about the stars that we didn't discover till the 20th century, and Eastern philosophy seems to have the key to health and a connection to the divine. All cultures and tribes with a great connection to the divine (I have a personal relationship I cannot deny) have been oppressed or deleted from history; all truths have been altered or hidden. I see things coming to the surface today, but people are so indoctrinated they are not willing to learn and seek answers. Their lives are built on lies, and their mental health depends on keeping those lies alive, although they propagate mental health issues and lack of care. Faith is beautiful, but religion has been the greatest invention of all time, to control people and create division. We are connected to this earth and the universe; our body, is a beautiful reflection of it. Understanding ourselves, the divinity within us, and the capability to create beauty is understanding and connecting to the divine. Education without bias is the greatest achievement. It has opened the door to beautiful knowledge and information and has brought peace to my mind, heart, and soul. I no longer read things with bias and fear but to learn. I get to decide if the information will serve me or not. The universe has a plan for me, and I've encountered many "supernatural" things in my life. I believe I am blessed because I keep an open mind and an open heart. It hasn't always been the case, and I felt like a slave to pain and suffering - mental and physical. It's truly an amazing feeling to be free. I wish you all the blessing of being free in mind! Thank you!

As an airman (AF), I learned about leadership and communication skills. Unfortunately, I didn't spend enough time in the military to truly learn those skills through job and training opportunities, but I had to learn them for myself and my children. Leading by example at work hasn't been hard because I always do the right thing; the real struggle was being the mother the children needed me to be. I struggled with depression and anxiety for a long time and made many mistakes. Finally, I found my way out of that darkness and realized the need to lead by example and advocate for myself, so my children can learn how to do so for themselves. I talked about my dreams, and my daughter held me responsible. Why are you not going back to school? Are you afraid? Six months later, I dropped a dead-end job (I did love the job), and I'm chasing my dreams. My Master's program is in Health Sciences (Public Health), and I look forward to creating a program that will help children navigate mental health by creating awareness and mindfulness skills. Leadership is about not running away from the hard work ahead of us. Instead, I plan on using my hardships to create awareness and strength. Resilience is something that I certainly have because my mental health struggles spanned almost 20 years. I had to figure things out the hard way and at a languid pace. I cared for my family and did everything required of me as a daughter, sister, spouse, and mother. I tried to advance my education and knowledge and create the life I wanted. I was focused and determined, and although the journey has been full of lows, and I often had to travel alone, I am standing here solid and ready to fight. I will fight for my purpose and the life I want to create for my children. I will fight for the opportunity to develop mental health awareness and never return to that dark place in my life. I will never return to the victim mentality because I can find solutions and move forward. Always! Thank you!

YES! Her name is Clover, and she's a pit/lab mix who's a significant cuddle bug. I tried to wake up my daughter this morning, and she started growling (lovingly) at me. If her sister woke up, she would also have to move off the bed. Clover has PTSD, so our backyard is not great for her well-being; I walk her several times daily, and we go on the trail every morning. I'm not working right now to finish school faster, and being home allows for more pets, cuddles, and snacks. Although Clover is not trained as a therapy dog, she has excellent instincts for the job; she keeps my daughter and me happy when we struggle through the day. We both struggle with anxiety, and Clover is always ready with kisses and distractions. I didn't grow up with an animal, and having Clover is the biggest blessing; she keeps me happy and healthy. I'm glad I can provide her with a happy and safe environment and help her through her hard times. Thank you!

Mental health is something I have struggled with for a large portion of my life; no family support and no professional support aside from drugs. I had no idea what I was really going through and why. I felt like I had missed so many opportunities in my life, and I didn't know how to knock that wall down. I still can't explain how I did it (perhaps my child's diagnosis woke me up, and I decided to fight harder for her). Now I see the past as a great learning opportunity. I get to show my child compassion and understanding while I get her the help she requires. I get to build myself up as a strong tower that can no longer be taken down. I see myself as a compassionate resource who will make a difference soon. I'm working on taking all the information I have to get healthy physically and mentally, and I have a great future ahead of me. I eat healthily, go on the trails, read motivational articles, and meditate. I've never been so excited to live. Thank you!

Belle! She has a hunger for books and knowledge. She is enhancing her imagination, and she's a kind and giving person. I see myself in her, and as a child, I found this story something I could relate to. Belle is not content with things as they are, so she uses her imagination to expand her world. I feel like the places I'm in are charming, but I can also see the walls closing in; people can make grand places feel small because of their unwillingness to see the beauty around them. Belle reminded me to dream and expand my world, even when things felt small.

I struggled with mental health most of my life, and it took reading to figure out what I was going through. The more research I accomplished, the more I understood, and the more I appreciated the topics I was afraid to entertain in my youth (science). Reading was always a venue to escape the painful reality, and it grew into the thing that saved my life and enhanced my future. To stop learning is a slow and meaningless death. I plan on thriving and making a difference. I have to learn to help my children. I need to learn so that I can create a product that can help others thrive too. The past was hard and painful, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and it creates empathy. This empathy helps me see the needs of others, and it compels me to make a difference. I want my children to see how their mother didn't give up and how her hard work and determination have made a difference for them and others. Thank you!

One of the biggest books I've read, in elementary school, was actually the Odyssey and Illiad. It was a rough start, but hem I found myself immersed in it and I could see myself as the main character. Just like the character, it seems that life is constantly throwing stuff my way, and getting to my destination seems an eternity away. I didn't have a source of strength around me and I don't feel like I do now, so I find my source of strength in books. The epic story from my childhood is always at the forefront of my mind and because life is cyclical, my daughter is reading the book now for school. It's a good time to buy the book again and perhaps my son will read it someday too. Another beautiful book I will never forget is 20,000 leagues under the sea by Jules Verne and this is another book I'll be getting for my birthday next week. Great books never get old, they just stand the test of time.

Hello! I consider myself an empathic person and for the longest time I view this as a curse; I could feel everyone's emotions and those emotions were like a heavy blanket that weighed me down. It took a very long time to learn how to handle those emotions and feel at peace. Along the way, I learned why "hate" was the heaviest blanket I was wearing, and that the individuals involved in "bringing me down" were actually worth off than me; their emotional baggage was so heavy, and they felt so lost and lonely and miserable. They could not even comprehend how they were hurting me, because they were so overwhelmed by their own emotions. It was then I realized I was fighting a losing battle. It was then I decided to slowly lay my blanket down and help them carry their own for a while. Empathy is the process of helping others carry that heavy blanket, long enough for them to notice the change, take a break and hopefully accept to set it down. Long enough for them to realize they are not alone and that there is hope. If they are content in their misery, then and only then I can walk away. I have my own emotional limitations that I am keenly aware of, and as long as I have little children that need me, I cannot take the risk of bringing myself down trying to help stubborn people. But I can facilitate opportunities for them to get professional help. No matter how much empathy I have, there comes a point where I need to accept my own limitations and ask for professional help.

Lesson Learned My parents were young and without any life experiences when they had me. They were struggling with mental issues of their own and trustfully they had to battle with lack of resources and raising a child. They grew up within a society where appearance was more important than making sure the child was taken care of. I had spent years of my life trying to come to terms with my past and with how my parents raised me. Years passed and I became the mother who vowed to do better than her parents. I had vowed to do the opposite. Lol. It sounds like a great plan and for a while, I thought I was on the right path. Then I woke up one day and realized that one extreme is just as bad as the other. My children are amazing, but my choices gave them the idea that they can have anything they asked for. One of their friends set the microwave on fire because she forgot to add water to the mac-n-cheese cup, I had to ask myself if my children were that clueless too. Can they cook easy meals for themselves, can they do laundry and fold clothes, will they know what to do in case of an emergency? I had failed as a mother because I believed my children would be happy if I did everything for them. I had to stop and ask myself what kind of individuals I wanted to raise. I had to look in the mirror and tell that girl looking back at me that a bit of “pain” will make them stronger. I had to tell myself that teaching them to work hard may be uncomfortable now, but it will build a strong character later. I had to tell myself that they are healthy and safe and taken care of and that they will be so proud when they realize what can be accomplished. I had to ask more questions and find the middle ground. I can still do things for them, but I can also teach them to be independent. I can rest assured that in case of emergency they will not panic. My children will know what to do to stay safe. In dealing with life and people, I need to just keep moving forward asking questions and trying to understand the reason behind every choice I judge. I also am moving forward knowing that I must be ready to forgive. People make mistakes but most of the time the mistakes are unintentional; being willing to understand and forgive will only make it easy on me. The biggest lessons in life are not about becoming successful and rich. The biggest lessons in life are about relationships, about learning to love and forgive, and about seeing value in every person we encounter.