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Heather Schlinker

4,025

Bold Points

3x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

“I Continuously strive to be a better me tomorrow than I am today.” Good evening and hello. I’m Heather, and I am more than just a number on a file, more than the words on some papers make me seem. I am a non-traditional student, I am a mother, a spouse, a constant reference for useless knowledge, and I’m full of endless different points of view and possibilities. I am a photographer, an advocate, and a fighter. I stand up for those that can't stand up for themselves and I am a fantastic person. As well as a ton of other things, I am a survivor.   I'm from Arkansas.  I still live here so, I must like it more than I think.  I grew up as a child of a battered woman with seven brothers, all younger than me, and with a mom with the mentality of a lovesick puppy. I was not raised, but I learned. “Currently, I am the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior, I find that I might be a master at being unsure. A real-life  “Glass half full and half empty, at the same time”  kind of person. I do embrace it,  as one should, and I utilize it to make legitimately informed decisions.” (Mallett 2021) Although my future is yet to be written, I still strive to LIVE this life that was given to me.  Every day I evolve so that I can be better tomorrow. So that I can be the best me that I can be—my best self.    More often than not, I am faced with some situation, question, or circumstance that requires “a special set of skills” to overcome, and I Excel.  I say overcome because I don't want to endure anything, anymore. Hi, I'm Heather.

Education

Southern New Hampshire University- Online

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
    • Education, General
  • Minors:
    • Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
  • GPA:
    3.6

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
    • Criminology
    • Public Policy Analysis
  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      unknown

    • Dream career goals:

      My academic mission is to become an influential, productive member in my field of study who inspires Hope, Self worth, and Self respect by August 2025. Together we can transform lives and give a voice to those who can not fight for themselves. I intend to formulate, perpetrate, and engage fully in newly developed positions geared towards creating a system that provides a helping hand to anyone that needs a hand up. I am confident in my knowledge of the need and demand of Parenting to inmate liaisons. By creating such options, and opportunities, the system will have reliable and trustworthy sources for the incarcerated, without guidance, or without aid in basic personal emergencies. Revised Academic Goals: Short-Term Goal 1: I will successfully implement time management skills. I am exploring activities and learning to master specific skills to ensure success in my academic goals and adventures. In order to successfully manage my Future as a Liaison, I must be reliable, punctual, and dependable to accomplish my goals.-Short-Term Goal 2: In just a few weeks, I intend for my written work to speak a great deal towards my student progress, my stressor levels to become so wellmanaged they can attest to my success, as well as the prompt completion of my assignments to all provide proof of my dedication to my mission and goals alike, becoming evidence of adequate implementation of time management skills. -short-term goal 3: By the fall of 2021, I intend to be fully prepared, organized, and punctual in every one of my introductory classes and with my assignments, Enabling the transition of time management into everyday life and developing professional skills that are critical to the success of my career.

    • 1995 – 201217 years

    Sports

    Softball

    2010

    Research

    • Research and Experimental Psychology

      yell — parent participant
      2020 – Present

    Arts

    • Photography
      Present

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
    Suppose I may ask for a moment of your time. I'll put my intentions first, then provide the why and drive if that's ok. I want to enact change. Every hospital in the state of Arkansas, if not in our country, should have a mandated requirement for bereavement support specialists to be a part of what’s considered complete and adequate staff. Also, individual staff with direct patient access must participate in classes by completing the minimum policy recommendations that include the recommended support and Clinical counseling classes. Authentic Empathy and compassion might not be able to be instilled into The staff in their entirety, but they can be taught and implemented in the care of patients. It is an Attainable goal, one that should already be in place but sadly is not. Our story is a challenging read, but it's not that long. If you would, please, I ask you to read it. Well, for no better reason than because our baby deserves to be spoken of. Additionally, my mission goes hand in hand with my goals. My goal is a solution that doesn’t yet exist, an option and alternative to what happened to us. I am hoping to prevent this pain and type of unguided loss from ever happening to anyone else, and that is exactly what I intend to do. Allow me to introduce to you; “JaseJournals” -A guided journal, for grief -A guided guide, to making memories -A guided resources list, for memorabilia -A guided list of positive affirmations, for sanity -A guided list of options for final rest (disposition) -A guided list of people you can call, right then, to come to be there with you, that have been where you are. -Sentiments to inspire, so you don’t give in to the darkness -Words of hope, so you don’t give up! Jase Journals~A guide to guide you right now so you can heal later. From one mother who has been where you might be right now to you. In hopes of helping get you through one moment at a time. Below are the details of our tragic story and the beginning that lead to our life, this one that we have yet to recognize. The honorary statement of “Our Jase Layne.” I am deeply saddened to say that I delivered my son, Jase Layne, at 34 weeks; stillborn. September 25, 2021, was the saddest day of my, of our lives, or so I thought. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure. The hardest thing my husband has had to endure. Postpartum depression doesn’t even begin to describe the state of mind I am in constantly. On top of it all, the hospital has lost our son's remains. They left us a voicemail to tell us. Then, On Friday, October 8, 2021, 13 days after my son passed away, hospital personnel gave us an unmarked box of cremains; in a container that was not sealed. There was no Id coin attached to the bag that held less than 2ml of cremains. Further heartache was felt by the dull dark plastic transport urn that was unaccompanied by any type of Cremation certificate or paperwork. The hospital was steadfast in telling us they didn’t know who cremated our son. Since the exchange of the unidentified cremains, the hospital has even blocked my phone number from calling any of the numbers associated with their hospital, including my ob-gyn. There was an extensive effort that had gone into ensuring that I survived. I am, was in contact with my OB regularly to ensure my health remained stable after the unauthorized blood transfusions they gave me until then. We were not made aware of any of the many options for after-death care of our son apart from the three given to us by the hospital staff. Our family could have provided Jase Layne with so much more respect than the hospital has. There were so many options we could have explored had we known to avoid such uncivilized treatment and such torturous mental effects it has had on me and my husband, all at our son's expense and at a time like this in our life. He was my baby. So very innocent and precious. He was deserving of so much more. In honor of him, I fight for his glory. In memory of him, I fight for my tomorrow. In honor of his memory, I fight for the following families to prevent their lives from falling victim to such uncivilized anguish. I am still trying to construct the guided journals for those who are or will suffer loss, so I can make an impact in ways the devil himself can't take life from the living souls that loss leaves behind.
    Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
    I want to inspire others to fight for their tomorrow, never falling victim to their past. I’m Heather, and I am more than just a number on a file, more than the words on those papers make me seem. I am a non-traditional student; I am a mother, a spouse, a constant reference for useless knowledge, and endless different points of view possibilities. I am a photographer, an advocate, and a fighter. I stand up for those that can not stand up for themselves. I am a fantastic person. As well as many other things (last but not least), I am a survivor. I’m from Arkansas, and I still live here, so I must like it more than I think. I grew up as a child of a battered woman with seven brothers, all younger than me, and a mom with the mentality of a lovesick puppy. I learned all I could from my extended family while with them. I was not raised well, but I am self-taught. “Currently, I am the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior, I find that I might be a master at being unsure. A real-life “Glass half full and half empty, at the same time” kind of person. I do embrace it, as one should, and I utilize it to help me make legitimately informed decisions.” Although my future outside of raising, loving, and caring for my family is yet to be written, I still strive to live this life given to me. Living life by being “my best me, my best self.” (Mallett 2021) It does sound great to me. It is a way to always bring your best self with you every day, to every situation, and in every adventure that life takes you on. For me, it has become a way of life. One that I am more than grateful for and of. My open-mindedness and keen abilities to rationalize an unknown number of prospects, possibilities, and outcomes almost instantaneously are all significant characteristics that I bring to the table. Knowing this about myself makes me feel that achieving more in life besides my education is precisely what I am meant to be doing. By taking hold of the opportunity to enforce these purposes, to attain these goals, my goals, and instill my true beliefs, ones of positive change and reinforcement, I can accomplish my ambitions. My kids and I have dreams of normalcy and our future. “So, we fight this fight together. I'll fight with you, right by your side. And if you get weary, I am right here, rock steady; proving victory, already on our side. I promise, I know this to be true, “we must always win!” as I'm already preparing for tomorrow's battle, a battle with no end.“[3] Mallett, H.(2021) I wrote this. My mom passed away just shortly after my newborn baby did Have taken a toll on me emotionally. His remains Lost by the hospital, his right to be honored with dignity and resect ignored, his memory tarnished by a traumatic experience. In rememberence of him, I fight for his Honor. In honor of him, I fight for my tomorrows. “I Continuously strive to be a better me tomorrow than I am today.”-h. mallett
    Isaac Yunhu Lee Memorial Arts Scholarship
    My Plea for Our Jase Layne I am deeply saddened to say that I delivered my son, Jase Layne, at 34 weeks; stillborn. September 25, 2021, was the saddest day of my, of our lives, or so I thought. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure. The hardest thing my husband has had to endure. Postpartum depression doesn’t even begin to describe the state of mind I am in constantly. On top of it all, the hospital has lost our son's remains. They left us a voicemail to tell us. Then, On Friday, October 8, 2021, 13 days after my son passed away, hospital personal gave us an unmarked box of cremains; in a box that was not sealed. The hospital was steadfast in telling us they didn’t know who cremated our son. Since the exchange of the unidentified cremains, the hospital has even blocked my phone number from calling any of the numbers associated with their hospital, including my ob-gyn. There was an extensive effort that had gone into ensuring that I survived. I am, was in contact with my OB regularly to ensure my health remained stable after blood transfusions until then. We were not made aware of any of the many options for after-death care of our son apart from the three given to us by the hospital staff. Our family could have provided Jase Layne with so much more respect than the hospital has. There were so many options we could have explored had we known to avoid such uncivilized treatment and such torturous mental effects it has had on me and my husband, all at our son's expense and at a time like this in our life. I may never recover from this. We may never recover from this. We may never get to lay our son to rest in a way we need to for him and us. How do you wake up from a nightmare when you are not asleep? No one has any idea what needs to be done. I suffered immensely. For hours I laid In a triage bed, writhing in pain, bleeding out internally. It was hours before they even gave me medication of any kind in attempt at pain control. I would pass out and regain consciousness, feeling like I was burning from the inside It was so painful. I couldn’t take it any longer, I guess.  It was like I had been tortured endlessly for what seemed like an eternity. I cope with having to have endured so much pain by telling myself, “I endured such unimaginable pain so that my son didn’t have to. “ But that is not true. Our son had already passed away that morning before 10 am, and he was not delivered until 11:15 pm.  Jase was held, by his dad or me, for days without being put on ice or the mention of such being or needing to be done. We were not told of the stages his body would go through during this time. We were not informed of additional options for memorial services outside of the three choices we were given. There wasn’t someone to tell us in our prominent stage of shock that we could bathe our baby and dress him or to have him leave with us for a home funeral or many many additional options we have learned of after it is now too late to facilitate.  Please help us in our fight for our Jase Layne and for future families to ensure this never happens again.
    Andrew Perez Mental Illness/Suicidal Awareness Education Scholarship
    Our goal Thank you so much for your considerations in joining our fight. My goal is to create awareness to the point everyone has to listen, procuring more adequate resources for the families that have lost loved ones and equipping a variety of facilities with these resources. By accomplishing this, I will establish a voice loud enough to be heard. Ultimately, I strive to ensure every entity involved, when a life is lost, follows procedure and eliminates the doubts of bereaving families. Providing knowledge of how lost loved ones will be cared for and where they are at all times is essential for and to the grief process and healing. Parents, families, friends of and even hospital staff are victims when the resources are not adequately available. Why can't there be a bereavement counselor on call, a death doula to educate families on their many options and alternatives, to honor those lives lost, ones that are widely observed. A professional photographer willing to come to capture a memory you have yet to make and fill voids families do not yet know will exist? A list of organizations that will create and donate memorial items for those that do grieve, and will grieve, their angels? A support group member that has experienced this dark and unbearable pain personally and will come at a moment's notice, as they are the only ones that can ever truly relate. My vision, one of genuine support, is possible, and it is what support should be like for everyone. This kind of support is what the start of the path should be like for those who undertake the most challenging and harrowing journey to healing most will ever begin to walk down. I, and many others, should have had these options. Let's make this happen together! Thank you so much for joining our fight in honor of Our Jase Layne.
    Law Family Single Parent Scholarship
    Baby Jase Layne was born on September 25, 2021. He remains my sleeping angel, and I long to provide justice for Jase. I will give a voice to my baby and to those who can not fight for themselves. “My academic mission is to successfully become an independent, productive member of society, one who inspires hope, self-worth.” By the end of August 2025, I will have transformed my life and the lives of those I love. I intend to utilize my passion and drive to open the door to a new level of change. Change from the inside out. A few liaison positions already exist inside different areas of the police department and various sections of political offices. Those liaisons are the ones that handle public affairs, public relations, damage control. Those positions have no bearing on the one I intend to create to implement change and reform. We, as a people, must stand up and demand change or else change won’t happen. As a liaison, having a growth mindset can take “doing the right thing” to a whole other level and it can lead to creating an entire system to provide a helping hand to anyone that needs a hand up. I possess the confidence in knowing there’s a high demand for everything from parenting to courts to inmate liaisons. Looking at it from an outsider’s perspective, I have seen a deeper reach can be achieved by taking an initiative no one else would. By talking to the broken heart of a runaway teen, overwhelming gratitude for a completed call to the employer of an incarcerated person that led to continued employment after their release, even the relief of knowing that an unstamped letter to a child, loved one, or friend that was worrying from the outside, free world, would be mailed out when they couldn’t even buy a stamp. The insertion of a mediator position inside the department, between all three areas of the judicial branch and the accused. This could even sheds light on a much-needed end to the “dog and pony” shows we hear of happening 90% of the time in our courtrooms today. The simple guidance and having of a directive, access to someone to ask for information about preparedness, or even to have the ability to hire and rely on a liaison to handle LEGAL outside affairs on ones behalf may actually be a way to provide a means to a”, … OK, so I wont say “an end” but I will say “an end to much waste of the tax payers money and the courts time.” All of the ways that change might take effect just by having the ability to call upon a reliable service, similar to that of a bondsman, that provides someone to handle specific affairs efficiently could happen. It could be nothing but positive and progressive. What an asset it could be for those incarcerated without access to their own means. Preventing the “I didn’t know or I didn’t know hows” may be a huge step in the right direction .
    Pelipost Overcoming Adversity Scholarship
    If you give me a moment of your time, I promise to provide you with a reason to fight for me despite the negative in my past that work against me. I promise to validate my worthiness; I wont waste your time, so long as your ethics are as genuine as my faith in you, and I will not jeopardize the opportunity to provide my kids’ with a future full of hope and happiness. I swear it. I have dedicated years to become better tomorrow than I am today; to be the best me possible. I was incarcerated when my ex-spouse filed divorce, and I was not given the means to obtain legal counsel; I was imprisoned and not granted access to the resources. I wasnt in the courtroom during the proceedings, I was only asked one question, and I was asked what possessions I was requesting to be appointed to me. I believed that the hearing for divorce was just that. A divorce. That custody would be later. I wasn't informed then or later it was one in the same. I was railroaded. The divorce petition and subsequent judgments against me weren't made known to me until months later. The judge ordered him the custody of my four babies. He’d never even changed a diaper. The SAME ATTORNEY that represented my ex, the SAME man that worked out with him on the weekends, was my prosecutor in my criminal hearing. He was set on the courts sentencing me to prison, claiming hot check violation from the account I shared with my ex-spouse. The offense came in after my ex-spouse emptied the bill, without my knowledge, so I had no money for lodging or food. I didn’t have the $800. They said that if I paid, it would ensure I get probation and rehabilitation opportunities in lue of incarceration; it was what I had asked so intensely about. I had been incarcerated that whole time, a ward of the state. On 12/2009, my marriage fell apart. In a matter of months, regrettably, I was over-medicating. Realizing he was displaced from our family and home, I spiraled into postpartum depression. No one offered to lend me a helping hand, to help me see that I was consumed in darkness. watched me as I began to “drown” within three months. I was going out, finding myself in positions I was not accustomed to since I become an adult. I found myself trying to help anyone I thought was in the wrong way. one girl I helped, however, will forever be branded in my memories Now I take full responsibility for my actions, and I paid my debt to society. A person is never without being convicted by others, it seems. After my penance paid, my ex never honored the visitation guide set in the decree, demanded I pay tens of thousands of dollars first, then demanded I have more extensive everything, and one hurdle set was for me togain forgiveness. I don’t think anything ever would have been good enough to get him to let me have visits with my kids. He spoke so poorly of me to them. His words made them believe that I “was a bad person,” “I never would try to get them back. I was never going to try to do anything to get them back.” They felt unwanted and unloved. As the years passed without any progress, the kids wanted me and I them. my kids began giving up in believing a life with me was even possible. Ultimately, they just thought that I never fought for them at all. It has been 11 years since my divorce. I was sentenced to the ADC in 2017 for inability to comply with child support, taking me yet again from my four children, from a subsequent marriage, including my newborn baby. Just weeks after delivery, I experienced birth trauma. I now and treated for mental health issues weekly. Including agoraphobia, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder. In ten years, I’ve gone from a sinners’ life to being clean, sober, and productive. Im proud and a damn good mother to my kids. Eleven of my thirteen kids live with me. Will you help me fight? Will you help me prevent further injustices and support our family to stay a family? Will you help me win by providing more than anyone ever could?
    Pro-Life Advocates Scholarship
    “I Continuously strive to be a better me tomorrow than I am today.” Good evening and hello. I’m Heather, and I am more than just a number on a file, more than an ex-convict, more than the words on those papers make me seem. I am a non-traditional student, I am a mother, a spouse, an endless reference for useless knowledge and endless different points of view possibilities. I am a photographer, an advocate, and a fighter. I stand up for those that cant stand up for themselves and am an amazing person. as well as a ton of other things. And (last but not least) I am a survivor.   I am from Arkansas.  I still live here so I must like it more than I think.  I grew up as a child of a battered woman with 7 brothers all younger than me and a mom with the mentality of a lovesick puppy. I was not raised but I learned “Currently I am the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior I find that I might be a master at being unsure. A real-life  “Glass half full and half empty, at the same time”  kind of person. I do embrace it,  as one should, and I utilize it to help me make legitimately informed decisions.” Although my future outside of raising, loving, and caring for my family is yet to be written I still strive to live this life that was given to me. Living life by being “my best me, my best self.”  Every day I evolve so that I can be better tomorrow. so that I can be the best me that I can be. My best self.     More often than not, I am faced with some sort of situation, question, and/or circumstance that requires “a special set of skills” to overcome.  I say overcome because I don't want to endure anything anymore. I want to overcome it. I want to accept, process, learn, and apply the trivial, as well as the not so trivial, lessons towards events in my days ahead, not live in my past. Sounds great, right?   It does sound great to me. It is a way to always bring your best self with you every day, to every situation, and in every adventure that life takes you on. For me, it has become a way of life. One that I am more than grateful for and of.” My open-mindedness and keen abilities to rationalize an unknown number of prospectives, possibilities, and outcomes almost instantaneously, are all great characteristics that I bring to the table. Knowing this about myself makes me feel as if achieving higher education is exactly what I am meant to be doing. Having the opportunity to implement these goals and this positive change can and will help me to achieve the dreams my kids and I have. Dreams of normalcy and our future so that we do not stay living in our past. Thank you for your time and in advance for your consideration. Mallett (2021) wrote this about an academic topic. however, it seems to be very fitting for this letter. Mallett, H. (2021) what my best self means to me [unpublished post] Southern New Hampshire University
    Mary Jo Huey Scholarship
    In Dec 2019, an unpublished article by Mallett read, “In my personal opinion, grit is my ability to overcome and persevere in complex/challenging times. One unique Growth mindset is knowing you can go from where you are to where you want to be, despite setbacks or obstacles in your way. Without a growth mindset, what good is your grit, really? I know that I am a non-traditional student involved in an evolving learning platform. I’ve placed faith in myself to help me achieve my educational goals. I know my decade or so years between myself and a classroom (a classroom is an ancient form of learning, requiring a pencil and paper) can, has, and will slow me down as things have advanced so much since the old methods. Without the knowledge (growth mindset) that I am capable of learning and able to succeed, I would lack ambition and drive even to try to create my future. All of my “agenda items” are priority items mostly because they are essentially basic life skills and family necessities. I admit, my get up and go has gone up and went, and it does take me longer to perform simple tasks. The dishes and laundry can wait, and we all manage. I know that what I’m doing right now works. I will continue to keep a close watch on my self-discipline to ensure my foundation is rock steady.” I can not express in enough words that grit and a growth mindset are fundamental to my success. Core values that I base everything in life on are formulated from empathy, understanding, and compassion. The compassion that you have for others and the perception of others’ worldly views create a foundation for what makes you successful in your career and in life.
    Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
    “I Continuously strive to be better tomorrow than I am today.” I’m more than a number, words on a paper or how they make me seem, a non-traditional student, mother, spouse, endless reference for useless knowledge. I’m an advocate, dreamer, and despite life, I’m a survivor. The oldest of 8 to a battered woman with the mentality of a lovesick puppy, and I wasn’t raised, but I learned. Currently, I’m the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior, I find that I may be a master at being unsure. A “Glass half full and empty, at the same time” kind of person. I embrace it and use it to help me make informed decisions. More often than not, I’m faced with situations, questions, and circumstances that require skills to conquer. I overcome because I won’t endure anymore. Sounds great, right? It does to me. It’s a way to bring my best self every day, to every situation in life, and for me, it’s a way of life I’m grateful for. Knowing self feels as if achieving more is imperative to my life. Having the opportunity to achieve my goals will help me fulfill my dreams of normalcy and ensure my future. Although beyond raising, loving, and caring for my family, the future is unknown, I still strive to live life as “my best self.” Every day I evolve so I can be better tomorrow. Hi, I’m Heather. I dedicated everything in me to guarantee consistent and steady progress in my life. Eleven years ago, I was a victim. Not only was I a victim, but my children fell victim to my circumstance. Now, eleven years later, I hold my head up, and I say with pride that I am a survivor. I have climbed every mountain, leaped every hurdle, and refused to give into Humanistic nature to be bitter. My mental health and self-awareness has given me the tools to empower my children and inspire them to strive for their tomorrow versus living as victims to their past.
    Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
    “I Continuously strive to be a better me tomorrow than I am today.” Good evening and hello. I’m Heather, and I am more than just a number on a file, more than, more than the words on those papers make me seem, more than a victim, I am a mother, a spouse, a nontraditional student, a steady reference for “useless knowledge” and endless points of view. I'm a photographer, an advocate, and a fighter. I stand up for those that cant stand up for themselves, and I'm an amazing person as well. Among all the things, most of all, I am a survivor.   I am from Arkansas.  I still live here so I must like it more than I think.  I grew up as a child of a battered woman with seven brothers, all younger than me, and a mom with the mentality of a lovesick puppy. I may not have been raised, but I learned to strive for better. Currently, I am the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior, I find that I might be a master at being unsure. A real-life  “Glass half full and half empty, at the same time”  kind of person. I do embrace it,  as one should, and I utilize it to help me make legitimately informed decisions.” Every day I evolve; I am dedicated to progress and be the best I can be—my best self.     More often than not, I am faced with some situations, questions, and circumstances that require a growth mindset to overcome my past, the stigma surrounding such and ensure I am always moving forward. I say overcome because I don't want to endure anything anymore. I want to overcome it. I want to accept, process, learn, and apply the trivial, as well as the not so trivial, lessons towards events in my days ahead, not live in my past. Sounds great, right?   It does sound great to me. It is a way to always bring your best self with you every day, to every situation, and in every adventure that life takes you on. For me, it has become a way of life. One that I am more than grateful for and of.” My open-mindedness and keen abilities to rationalize an unknown number of probabilities, possibilities, and outcomes instantaneously are significant characteristics that I bring to the table. Knowing this about myself makes me feel that achieving higher education is exactly what I am meant to be doing. Having the opportunity to implement these goals and this positive change can help me achieve my kids' dreams, and I have. Dreams of normalcy and our future so that we do not stay living in our past. Thank you for your time and in advance for your consideration. Mallett (2021) wrote this about an academic topic. However, it seems to be very fitting for this letter. Mallett, H. (2021) what my best self means to me [unpublished post] Southern New Hampshire University
    Unicorn Scholarship
    “I Continuously strive to be a better me tomorrow than I am today.” Good evening and hello. I’m Heather, and I am more than just a number on a file, more than a box marked, more than the words on any paoer. I'm a non-traditional student, a mother, spouse, endless reference for useless knowledge and different POVs. I’m a photographer, advocate, and a fighter. I stand up for those that cant stand up for themselves and i am an amazing person. (last but not least) I am a survivor.   I’m from Arkansas.  I still live here so I must like it more than I think.  I grew up as a child of a battered woman with 7 brothers all younger than me and a mom with the mentality of a lovesick puppy. I was not raised but I learned “Currently I am the most indecisive person I know. So, now that I have dedicated 36 years to this behavior I find that I might be a master at being unsure. A real-life  “Glass half-full and half-empty, at the same time”  kinda person. I embrace it,  as one should, and I utilize it to make legitimately informed decisions.” Although my future outside of raising, loving, and caring for my family is yet to be written I still strive to live this life that was given to me. Living life by being “my best me, my best self.”  Every day I evolve so that I can be better tomorrow. so that I can be the best me that I can be. My best self.     More often than not, I am faced with some sort of situation, question, and/or circumstance that requires “a special set of skills” to overcome.  I say overcome because I don't want to endure anything anymore. I want to overcome it. I want to accept, process, learn, and apply the trivial, as well as the not so trivial, lessons towards events in my days ahead, not live in my past. Sounds great, right?   It does sound great to me. It is a way to always bring your best self with you every day, to every situation, and in every adventure that life takes you on. For me, it has become a way of life. One that I am more than grateful for and of.” My open-mindedness and keen abilities to rationalize an unknown number of prospectives, possibilities, and outcomes almost instantaneously, are all great characteristics that I bring to the table. Knowing this about myself makes me feel as if achieving higher education is exactly what I am meant to be doing. Having the opportunity to implement these goals and this positive change can and will help me to achieve the dreams my kids and I have. Dreams of normalcy and our future so that we do not stay living in our past. Thank you for your time and in advance for your consideration. Mallett (2021) what my best self means to me [unpublished post] Southern New Hampshire University