Every parent also hopes that their child’s life will be as trauma-free as possible. My parents had these same hopes, but, often, the unpredictable events become the ones that define our character and growth. When my parents divorced when I was eleven, it was a big change, but things remained relatively stable. Within the next several years, I would have to adapt to more change and instability than I could have ever predicted. These experiences, and my adaptation to them, have both transformed my character and made me my authentic self. When I was thirteen, I lost my dad in a car accident. It was sudden and horrific. At the time, there was an ongoing custody battle between my dad and stepmother and my mom. My mom had effectively lost the fight due to poor legal support, among other things. Prior to my dad’s death, I had been struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy within the seemingly bizarre behavior of the ‘adults.’ When the loss of my father began to register, my mental health went from fragile to catastrophic. I could not control the frequent meltdowns and panic attacks. Then, for reasons that I did not understand, my support network seemed to melt away when I needed it most. My therapists recommended that I be placed in foster care. I had two foster care placements. The first was Ms. Luretta. Ms. Luretta was kind and did her best, but I was unwilling and unable to accept her efforts at nurturing me. I was in a new county, a new school, an entirely new context. Somehow, I found connections that did support me, and I began to rebuild my mental health and stability. This time, all on my own. Six months past the loss of my dad and the obliteration of the life I knew, I was acing honors classes and building friendships that would sustain me for years. Still, I wasn’t comfortable in Ms. Luretta’s home and asked to be placed elsewhere, but stay in the school I was learning to love. Ms. Henrietta was the second placement. Perhaps, the less said the better about that experience. Here, I found dogmatic and arbitrary rules, homophobia, and a lack of respect for her charges. There were locks on the refrigerator, deafening alarms, and a deep sense of alienation. I took harder classes, started theater, and continued to nurture and rely on authentic friendships. Eventually, I was deemed too healthy for foster care, and I began the transition back to my mom with a detour via my grandmother who lives in the country with an excessive yet wonderful number of cats. This was idyllic in some ways, but between COVID and the backwards, rural schools, my academic passion started to wane. Fast forward over a year and I am back in a challenging academic environment, with more friends and a loving partner. I am supported and nurtured by my friends and family. I have the space and stability to focus on my own mental health and goals. I survived. I adapted. I learned firsthand the requirements for health and growth. A home that is stable. A sense of acceptance. Meaningful connections. Plenty of cats. Psychology is simply the study of these requirements for sanity. I choose to pursue a path that enables me to leverage everything I have learned about survival and adaptation to help others achieve health and growth for themselves.

Every parent also hopes that their child’s life will be as trauma-free as possible. My parents had these same hopes, but, often, the unpredictable events become the ones that define our character and growth. When my parents divorced when I was eleven, it was a big change, but things remained relatively stable. Within the next several years, I would have to adapt to more change and instability than I could have ever predicted. These experiences, and my adaptation to them, have both transformed my character and made me my authentic self. When I was thirteen, I lost my dad in a car accident. It was sudden and horrific. At the time, there was an ongoing custody battle between my dad and stepmother and my mom. My mom had effectively lost the fight due to poor legal support, among other things. Prior to my dad’s death, I had been struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy within the seemingly bizarre behavior of the ‘adults.’ When the loss of my father began to register, my mental health went from fragile to catastrophic. I could not control the frequent meltdowns and panic attacks. Then, for reasons that I did not understand, my support network seemed to melt away when I needed it most. My therapists recommended that I be placed in foster care. I had two foster care placements. The first was Ms. Luretta. Ms. Luretta was kind and did her best, but I was unwilling and unable to accept her efforts at nurturing me. I was in a new county, a new school, an entirely new context. Somehow, I found connections that did support me, and I began to rebuild my mental health and stability. This time, all on my own. Six months past the loss of my dad and the obliteration of the life I knew, I was acing honors classes and building friendships that would sustain me for years. Still, I wasn’t comfortable in Ms. Luretta’s home and asked to be placed elsewhere, but stay in the school I was learning to love. Ms. Henrietta was the second placement. Perhaps, the less said the better about that experience. Here, I found dogmatic and arbitrary rules, homophobia, and a lack of respect for her charges. There were locks on the refrigerator, deafening alarms, and a deep sense of alienation. I took harder classes, started theater, and continued to nurture and rely on authentic friendships. Eventually, I was deemed too healthy for foster care, and I began the transition back to my mom with a detour via my grandmother who lives in the country with an excessive yet wonderful number of cats. This was idyllic in some ways, but between COVID and the backwards, rural schools, my academic passion started to wane. Fast forward over a year and I am back in a challenging academic environment, with more friends and a loving partner. I am supported and nurtured by my friends and family. I have the space and stability to focus on my own mental health and goals. I survived. I adapted. I learned firsthand the requirements for health and growth. A home that is stable. A sense of acceptance. Meaningful connections. Plenty of cats. Psychology is simply the study of these requirements for sanity. I choose to pursue a path that enables me to leverage everything I have learned about survival and adaptation to help others achieve health and growth for themselves.

Throughout my life, I have been deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world and helping those around me. Whether it be through volunteering at local charities, mentoring younger students, or simply lending a listening ear to those in need, I have always strived to do my best and make a difference in the lives of those around me. One of the key qualities that has helped me achieve my goals is my strong sense of perseverance. No matter how challenging a task or situation may be, I have always been determined to overcome any obstacles and push forward towards success. Whether it be through studying diligently for exams or working tirelessly to improve my skills and abilities, I am always willing to put in the hard work and effort required to achieve my goals. I believe that my dedication and hard work will serve me well as I continue my studies and work towards making a positive impact in the world. Through my studies, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution to society. Whether it be through scientific research, public service, or other means, I am committed to using my abilities to help those in need and make the world a better place. One of the areas that I am particularly passionate about is education. I believe that education is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating positive change in the world. Through education, we can help people improve their lives, expand their opportunities, and achieve their dreams. As such, I have always been deeply committed to mentoring and helping younger students, whether it be through tutoring, coaching sports teams, or simply providing guidance and support. In addition to my work in education, I am also passionate about social justice and equality. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or other factors. As such, I am committed to working towards a more just and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Overall, I am a caring and compassionate individual who is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world. Through my strong sense of perseverance, dedication, and hard work, I am confident that I can achieve my goals and help those in need. Whether it be through education, social justice, or other means, I am committed to making the world a better place and creating a brighter future for all.

Throughout my life, I have been deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world and helping those around me. Whether it be through volunteering at local charities, mentoring younger students, or simply lending a listening ear to those in need, I have always strived to do my best and make a difference in the lives of those around me. One of the key qualities that has helped me achieve my goals is my strong sense of perseverance. No matter how challenging a task or situation may be, I have always been determined to overcome any obstacles and push forward towards success. Whether it be through studying diligently for exams or working tirelessly to improve my skills and abilities, I am always willing to put in the hard work and effort required to achieve my goals. I believe that my dedication and hard work will serve me well as I continue my studies and work towards making a positive impact in the world. Through my studies, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution to society. Whether it be through scientific research, public service, or other means, I am committed to using my abilities to help those in need and make the world a better place. One of the areas that I am particularly passionate about is education. I believe that education is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating positive change in the world. Through education, we can help people improve their lives, expand their opportunities, and achieve their dreams. As such, I have always been deeply committed to mentoring and helping younger students, whether it be through tutoring, coaching sports teams, or simply providing guidance and support. In addition to my work in education, I am also passionate about social justice and equality. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or other factors. As such, I am committed to working towards a more just and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Overall, I am a caring and compassionate individual who is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world. Through my strong sense of perseverance, dedication, and hard work, I am confident that I can achieve my goals and help those in need. Whether it be through education, social justice, or other means, I am committed to making the world a better place and creating a brighter future for all.

Throughout my life, I have been deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world and helping those around me. Whether it be through volunteering at local charities, mentoring younger students, or simply lending a listening ear to those in need, I have always strived to do my best and make a difference in the lives of those around me. One of the key qualities that has helped me achieve my goals is my strong sense of perseverance. No matter how challenging a task or situation may be, I have always been determined to overcome any obstacles and push forward towards success. Whether it be through studying diligently for exams or working tirelessly to improve my skills and abilities, I am always willing to put in the hard work and effort required to achieve my goals. I believe that my dedication and hard work will serve me well as I continue my studies and work towards making a positive impact in the world. Through my studies, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution to society. Whether it be through scientific research, public service, or other means, I am committed to using my abilities to help those in need and make the world a better place. One of the areas that I am particularly passionate about is education. I believe that education is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating positive change in the world. Through education, we can help people improve their lives, expand their opportunities, and achieve their dreams. As such, I have always been deeply committed to mentoring and helping younger students, whether it be through tutoring, coaching sports teams, or simply providing guidance and support. In addition to my work in education, I am also passionate about social justice and equality. I believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or other factors. As such, I am committed to working toward a more just and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Overall, I am a caring and compassionate individual who is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the world. Through my strong sense of perseverance, dedication, and hard work, I am confident that I can achieve my goals and help those in need. Whether it be through education, social justice, or other means, I am committed to making the world a better place and creating a brighter future for all.