I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Football has always been associated with family, friends, food, fun, laughter, and good times. That’s why it’s an activity that is very important to me. As early as I can remember, after church on Sundays, my family gathered at my great-uncle’s house and watched football. He would always cook an outstanding meal and we would enjoy being together. Monday nights we gathered at my grandmother’s house for Monday Night Football. Sometimes she would cook my favorite meal and other times we would do a potluck or battle of the pizzas. Although we are die-hard Bears fans, we love watching any team play. Then when I was six years old, I started playing Pee Wee football and I have played football ever since. Because of my family’s love for the sport and love to show support, you would find my mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and little brother in the stands screaming, shouting, cheering, and encouraging my teammates and me every game. You would find my dad walking the sidelines taking pictures and my grandfather at the top of the stands filming the game. Rain, sleet, snow, or sunshine, they were there. My family has always been my biggest support and cheerleader. I have always been blessed, and I have never had a game where I didn’t have my family and their friends in the stands cheering. When I began high school, I was fortunate to start on the varsity football team, and I’ve started my four years. In high school, you could find my mom and aunts working the concession stand for all home games, but for away games, they were the loudest people in the stands along with my little brother. I love football! I’m a student of the game and can break down film like an NFL (National Football League) coach. Football is not just a sport to me, it's also a brotherhood. Football has taught me many life lessons and it's helping me develop many transferable skills for life. Football has taught me to respect the game and to respect authority. Football has taught me to be more disciplined and to be a better student and planner. As a student-athlete, football has helped build my character and shape me as an individual. It has taught me to be a leader on and off the field, in and out of the classroom. Football has increased my confidence and self-esteem. Football has taught me that hard work, discipline, and consistency will pay off and it’s rewarding. Because football is important to me and I love the sport, I have a strong desire to play football in college and I dream of playing professional football in the National Football League one day.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and I will eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will place an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help supplement the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. My desire is to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

Please tell us a bit about you, your family dynamic, schooling, and future plans. 586 Words Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother, and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Is there any other college choice than a HBCU? When I think of college, I think of HBCUs and my parents. Both of my parents are very proud alumni of a Historically Black College and University. My mother attended, “Thee I Love” Jackson State University and my dad is a “Morehouse Man” of Morehouse College. When I say proud alumni, it’s an understatement of the love, dedication, and pride they have for their college homes. They have so many long-lasting memories and lifelong friendships. Initially, attending an HBCU was my parents’ goal for me, but now it’s mine. I want to attend a HBCU because they provide top-ranked, quality education. There is so much rich tradition and history at historically black colleges. HBCUs provide a unique learning experience, that cannot be duplicated at a predominantly white institution. I personally feel that attending an HBCU will provide me with the greatest opportunity to succeed, get support and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. In conclusion, history and traditions are important to me and must always be remembered. I shall not forget, that once upon a time, the only doors that were open for black students to receive a higher education was a Historically Black College or University. I have seen my parents and so many others succeed and give back to their communities after receiving degrees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and this too shall be a part of my success story.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. The above-mentioned things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged.

My grandfather, Lawrence Nalls, Sr. has had a major impact on my educational journey. He was born in 1946 and grew up in the housing projects on the south side of Chicago, with his parents and four brothers. He graduated from high school and due to his parents’ limited income and resources, he was unable to attend college. Therefore, after high school he had to start working. He always had a dream of going to college, unfortunately it never happened. At the age of 20, because of his love for “Our Country”, he decided to enlist in the United States Army; and he was on his way to fight in the Vietnam War. He was only in Vietnam eight months, when he sustained life-threatening injuries. With injuries to the entire left side of his body; face, arms, legs, and back, he was not expected to survive and if he survived, he would not live to see the age of 40. Fast forward 56-years later, he’s still here mentoring and guiding me. Although, my grandfather has received numerous awards and medals, including The Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, Air- Assault Medal, Airborne Jump Wings, and Veteran Service Medals, he still believes his greatest accomplishment would have been graduating from college. This is why he encourages, supports, and pushes me in all my educational and life endeavors. This is also what drives me to be a responsible, respectable, goal-setting, and hard-working individual. I am honored to be named after my grandfather, and I will attend and graduate from college to show him the impact that he’s had on my life and educational journey. My grandfather has inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. Because of the career path that I have chosen, I will look for an employee that will provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and foster community empowerment. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help supplement the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. I desire to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

March 23, 2009 is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life. My humble beginnings have inspired me to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. The youth center will provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 15 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. I enrolled in Morehouse in the Fall of 2023. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will have an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and sports activities. It will have a healthcare component and offer supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 15 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. I enrolled in Morehouse in the Fall of 2023. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will have an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and sports activities. It will have a healthcare component and provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with advocacy.

I chose to attend a HBCU because they provide top-ranked, quality education. There is so much rich tradition and history at historically black colleges. HBCUs provide a unique learning experience, that cannot be duplicated at a predominantly white institution. I feel that attending a HBCU will provide me with the greatest opportunity to succeed, get support and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. History and traditions are important to me and must always be remembered. I shall not forget, that once upon a time, the only doors that were open for black students to receive a higher education was a Historically Black College or University. I have seen my parents and so many others succeed and give back to their communities after receiving degrees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In four years, I will walk across the stage at Morehouse College, with my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I have a goal to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming, because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

She stood 5 feet 9 inches and weighed 225 pounds. She was proud, strong, and fearless. She had a big, beautiful smile that could light up a room. She had an amazing personality, so full of life. She had the best sense of humor; you were going to laugh when she was in your presence. She was intelligent, the first in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree while married and rearing ten children. She was a beloved high school special education teacher. She was a Missionary Worker in her church. She was an outstanding community leader. She always stood for what was right and justice. She marched in the 60s for integration of the school system and protested in the 70s for human rights after an African American male was found hung in the county jail in Mississippi. She was an amazing, awesome, and phenomenal woman. How slowly and sadly things changed right before my eyes. Watching how my grandmother’s life changed before, during, and after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s was unbelievable. It started with the simplest of things: “Where did I sit my purse down, where are my keys, did I lock the door?” It ended with asking the same questions repeatedly: “What time is it, is Prentiss coming (Prentiss was her oldest brother), do you hear that motor?” It ended with no desire to bathe, brush her teeth, comb her hair, get out of bed, not being kind and saying unkind words to the people she loved, being aggressive, and lastly no desire to eat. Tears run down my face as I write this and relive my grandmother’s metamorphosis. I remember like yesterday when my mom and aunts knew something was wrong. It was a regular Sunday. Everyone had gotten dressed, and we were ready to walk out the door. My grandmother stood in the kitchen and asked, why is everyone dressed up, where are we going? You could hear a pin drop. We all stood there confused, but why? We had all seen the signs and knew something was going on. My grandmother had been to the doctor but was told, it was just her age, but now, everyone’s suspicions and fears had been confirmed. Nothing was ever the same after my grandmother’s diagnosis. The first thing that changed after her diagnosis, was she could not drive anymore. Imagine trying to tell a 90-year-old independent woman that she had to give up driving and then having to always hide the keys to the car. I think the next big thing was she could not use the stove and cook. This meant taking the knobs off the stove daily after every meal. Then came the pacing and wondering. Walking out of the house day and night, going to check the mailbox. Never going too far, but far enough to cause concern and fear. I think this was the next major event. Now chimes had to be placed over every door, house keys had to be hidden, followed by her not able to be left home alone. Not leaving her alone might not sound like a big deal, but for a family that did things together 90% of the time, it was. The crazy part of it all was, things happened so gradually, that no one realized how we were all being affected. Not until the stress was so great that it couldn’t be ignored. We all had just jumped into help mode and doing our part. We didn’t notice that we were being short with one another, we were not patient with one another, we were no longer talking with one another, but talking at each other and there didn’t seem to be much laughter in the family anymore. It wasn’t until family members’ health started to be affected that the adults took notice. One of my aunts was diagnosed with high blood pressure, another with diabetes, everyone was gaining weight and my grades began to drop and I began to get into trouble at school. My grandmother was becoming more dependent, than independent. Once my family realized the impact of my grandmother’s diagnosis on her and the family, everyone shifted gears. We all began to focus on our family’s strengths and began to put real-time actions and plans into place. We each identified our personal strengths and skills and how they could best be utilized. We then set up schedules and routines to accommodate my grandmother and to provide personal respite for everyone. This didn’t solve all the challenges associated with my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but it helped us find some balance and create a new way of living. In the early stages of my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she would go to the community center, and this allowed respite for the family, and it allowed her to fellowship with her peers. This provided her with a safe place out of the house and everyone was very supportive of her and the family. In January 2020, right before the world was shut down by COVID-19, my grandmother died at the age of 96. The six years that my family lived with her diagnosis were rewarding, at times scary, and sad. Watching my grandmother go from being such a loveable, smart, strong, vibrant, and outgoing person, and to diminishing into a shell of a person was mind-blowing. Personally, I felt that for my grandmother to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s was cruel, and unfair. I did not feel that she deserved to have this illness because of all the good she had done. Seeing her revert to an infant, and become a shell of a person, was so alarming. Listening to her say mean things to people she loved was confusing. For a while, it seemed like our family was falling apart. However, after some adjusting, I began to feel better and to see things differently. My grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis taught me to not take things for granted, to appreciate the people in my life, and cherish the time I spend with them. I learned that we are stronger and better together when we unite forces and lean on one another. I learned to be patient, compassionate, and grateful, and skills to deal with adversity. I learned lessons of endurance, problem-solving, coping skills, and that you can make it through any situation that you are presented with in life. I learned that you are never alone and there’s always someone available to be supportive and lend a helping hand. Since March 2021, I have volunteered quarterly at an assisted living facility. I found it enjoyable and rewarding. To see the smiles on the resident’s faces and the happiness they felt was very fulfilling. To talk and listen to their stories, even if it was repeated, made me smile as I thought about my grandmother. My goal is to continue to volunteer with our seniors. I support my peers whose grandparents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. I provide them with education about the illness and coping tips. In college, I will take courses in this subject and seek a support group where I can volunteer. I will continue to be available to those in need of support and promote awareness.

My grandfather, Lawrence Nalls, Sr. has had a major impact on my educational journey. He was born in 1946 and grew up in the housing projects on the south side of Chicago, with his parents and four brothers. He graduated from high school and due to his parents’ limited income and resources, he was unable to attend college. Therefore, after high school he had to start working. He always had a dream of going to college, unfortunately it never happened. At the age of 20, because of his love for “Our Country”, he decided to enlist in the United States Army; and he was on his way to fight in the Vietnam War. He was only in Vietnam eight months, when he sustained life-threatening injuries. With injuries to the entire left side of his body; face, arms, legs, and back, he was not expected to survive and if he survived, he would not live to see the age of 40. Fast forward 56-years later, he’s still here mentoring and guiding me. Although, my grandfather has received numerous awards and medals, including The Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, Air- Assault Medal, Airborne Jump Wings, and Veteran Service Medals, he still believes his greatest accomplishment would have been graduating from college. This is why he encourages, supports, and pushes me in all my educational and life endeavors. This is also what drives me to be a responsible, respectable, goal-setting, and hard-working individual. I am honored to be named after my grandfather, and I will attend and graduate from college to show him the impact that he’s had on my life and educational journey. My grandfather has inspired me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. The center will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. My life goal is to always be kind, honest, and a productive member of society, never forget my humble beginnings, and always give back. These are characteristics that I learned from my grandfather, as well as to whom much is given, much is required.

March 23, 2009 is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life. I am inspired to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center.

Imagine a world where children could attend the first twelve years of school in an educational system that was fair, equal, and not biased. A world in which the same opportunities were afforded to all. Think about a level playing field, not one based on where you live, your economic status, or the family you come from, but purely based on the right to quality education. Isn’t the right to quality education, one of our human rights? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I witnessed first-hand how the educational system affects the opportunities afforded to inner-city students. Many students are not exposed to opportunities that would strengthen or develop skills to prepare them for college. Many schools don’t have libraries, offer advanced college courses, STEM classes, etc. Funding for inner-city schools is much less than for schools in the suburbs. In Illinois, the lottery was created to assist with funding education, however, the distribution of these funds is not equal. Regardless, of Illinois funding, the same disparities in the educational system can be seen in inner cities and in black and brown communities throughout the United States. I was fortunate to enroll in a selective enrollment elementary and high school. These schools provided coursework to prepare me for college. These opportunities should be afforded to all students. Advocacy is needed because the students who need a strong educational foundation are the ones who are being affected negatively, the most. Students whose families are living below the poverty line and have an educational gap need the most resources to get a strong, solid education. Therefore, if given the opportunity, education is the one thing that I would change in the world. Students of color have been impacted by the injustices of the education system for much too long. Glaring disparities can be seen in schools in predominately black and brown communities verses the schools in predominately white communities. Some of these disparities include funding and/or disparities in funding, classroom sizes, outdated textbooks, textbook shortages (not enough books for all students), and extra curriculum activities, building infrastructures, HVAC systems, supportive services, and college preparation. I would make changes to the educational system because unequal educational opportunities have a profound effect on a student’s ability to compete. I would make changes because without adequate resources, students are not equally prepared for testing or applying for college. This leads to fewer black and brown students applying for college, being accepted into college, and getting scholarships to help offset the cost of college. I would start making changes through our local communities and government. Change begins with education and advocacy. Legislators must be held accountable for promises made and doing what’s right for all. The Department of Education must provide adequate funding for all. School districts must demand fair and equal funding. In conclusion, free education that is funded by tax dollars should be fair and equal. All students deserve the right to start the race of life at the same starting line position.

March 23, 2009 is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life.

The birth of my brother and his Down Syndrome diagnosis presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I went from being an only child to the invisible child. Soon this became overwhelming, and I had a hard time managing my emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and what was required for his care and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be caring, compassionate, empathetic, patient, and grateful. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. This experience has inspired me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a licensed clinical psychologist. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, only loans. My desire is to attend college and not acquire a huge amount of debt and receiving this scholarship will assist me in achieving this goal.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering with the Special Olympics, the more educated I became about the impact a disability has on one’s life. Being blessed to have this volunteer opportunity taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. This volunteer experience empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. The above-mentioned things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever. I became a big brother, and my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. As time went on, I began to learn what Down Syndrome meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s life. You can now see why volunteering with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics is meaningful and dearest to my heart. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Also, growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. I will enroll in Morehouse in the Fall of 2023. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life. My humble beginnings have inspired me to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. The youth center will provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life. My humble beginnings have inspired me to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. The youth center will provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I’m a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. I am on the football team. My favorite subject is Psychology. I love football and it’s important to me! Football has always been associated with family, food, laughter, and good times. I’ve been playing football since I was six and I’m a student of the game. I can break down films like an NFL coach. Football is a brotherhood and it’s taught me many transferable skills that I will use throughout my life. Because football is important to me, I have a strong desire to play football in college and I dream of playing football in the NFL one day. I chose to attend an HBCU because they provide top-ranked, quality education. There is so much rich tradition and history at historically black colleges. HBCUs provide a unique learning experience, that cannot be duplicated at a predominantly white institution. I feel that attending an HBCU will provide me with the greatest opportunity to succeed, get support and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. History and traditions are important to me and must always be remembered. I shall not forget, that once upon a time, the only doors that were open for black students to receive a higher education was a Historically Black College or University. I have seen my parents and so many others succeed and give back to their communities after receiving degrees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In four years, I will walk across the stage at Morehouse College, with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my goal is to be drafted into the (NFL) National Football League. Also, growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

I’m a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. I am on the football team. My favorite subject is Psychology. I love football and it’s important to me! Football has always been associated with family, food, laughter, and good times. I’ve been playing football since I was six and I’m a student of the game. I can break down films like an NFL coach. Football is a brotherhood and it’s taught me many transferable skills that I will use throughout my life. Because I love football, I have a strong desire to play football in college and I dream of playing football in the NFL one day. I chose to attend an HBCU because they provide top-ranked, quality education. There is so much rich tradition and history at historically black colleges. HBCUs provide a unique learning experience, that cannot be duplicated at a predominantly white institution. I feel that attending an HBCU will provide me with the greatest opportunity to succeed, get support and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. History and traditions are important to me and must always be remembered. I shall not forget, that once upon a time, the only doors that were open for black students to receive a higher education was a Historically Black College or University. I have seen my parents and so many others succeed and give back to their communities after receiving degrees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In four years, I will walk across the stage at Morehouse College, with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my goal is to be drafted into the (NFL) National Football League. I have a goal to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever. I became a big brother, and my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. As time went on, I began to learn what Down Syndrome meant and how it affected every fiber of my little brother’s life. You can now see why volunteering with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics is meaningful and dearest to my heart. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves.

I’m a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. I am on the football team. My favorite subject is Psychology. I love football and it’s important to me! Football has always been associated with family, food, laughter, and good times. I’ve been playing football since I was six and I’m a student of the game. I can break down films like an NFL coach. Football is a brotherhood and it’s taught me many transferable skills that I will use throughout my life. Because football is important to me, I have a strong desire to play football in college and I dream of playing football in the NFL one day. Is there any other college choice than an HBCU? When I think of college, I think of HBCUs and my parents. Both of my parents are very proud alumni of a Historically Black College and University. My mother attended, “Thee I Love” Jackson State University and my dad is a “Morehouse Man” of Morehouse College. When I say proud alumni, it’s an understatement of the love, dedication, and pride they have for their college homes. They have so many long-lasting memories and lifelong friendships. Initially, attending an HBCU was my parents’ goal for me, but now it’s mine. I want to attend an HBCU because they provide top-ranked, quality education. There is so much rich tradition and history at historically black colleges. HBCUs provide a unique learning experience, that cannot be duplicated at a predominantly white institution. I feel that attending an HBCU will provide me with the greatest opportunity to succeed, get support and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Because HBCUs are not restricted only to African American students, I will still be allowed to study in a diverse setting and meet students from different races, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds. History and traditions are important to me and must always be remembered. I shall not forget, that once upon a time, the only doors that were open for black students to receive a higher education was a Historically Black College or University. I have seen my parents and so many others succeed and give back to their communities after receiving degrees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and this too shall be a part of my success story. In four years, I will walk across the stage at Morehouse College, with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and my goal is to be drafted into the (NFL) National Football League. Also, growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

I became passionate about healthcare after my 11-year-old cousin went into a diabetic coma and later died. No one knew she had diabetes. My aunt did not have insurance which inhibited her from taking my cousin to the doctor for required physicals or when she became ill. At age thirteen, this was a very sad and scary time for me. At the time, I did not understand how someone so young could get sick, go to the hospital, and die within hours. It made me afraid as a child to become ill, and it made me think about how many of my friends’ parents could not take them to a doctor when they were ill. I wondered if I would lose my friends that way as well. None of this seemed fair to me. As time passed, I learned that my cousin’s food choices; eating flaming hot Cheetos, chewy candies, drinking sugary drinks, and eating fast food daily impacted her diagnosis. The lack of healthcare resulted in her not being diagnosed with diabetes and diabetes resulted in her death. I was committed to getting a better understanding of how this happened. I had many questions then, and as I got older the questions became clearer. Was her death preventable? Could she have seen a doctor without her mother having insurance? How many other children were ill and not seeing a doctor because of the lack of insurance? How many other neighborhoods had more fast-food restaurants, corner stores than grocery stores, and places to buy healthy food? I would like to see changes to the healthcare system in my community. I am not sure if my cousin’s death was preventable. I am certain that healthcare needs to be provided to all regardless of a family’s economic status or their ability to pay or not pay. I am convinced that healthcare is a human right. All humans should have access to high-quality and affordable healthcare. If a family is not able to afford healthcare, medical care still needs to be provided. No one should be denied healthcare due to a lack of health insurance. Diet and healthy food choices are also parts of healthcare. A sad reality is food deserts are real in many communities. There are no grocery stores within a 10-15-mile radius of many homes on Chicago’s south, west, and east sides. More readily available are corner stores that market “junk food”, and fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s. These establishments provide unhealthy and non-nutritional food options. Without grocery stores in communities, families have fewer opportunities to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and quality meat to prepare healthy and nutritional meals. The question becomes, “What can we do to impact change?” We can begin with awareness and advocacy. We must become aware of the importance and impact of diet and medical care in our lives. Communities must learn to advocate and demand equal services, resources, and funding for health initiatives. We must speak out and protest in our communities to eliminate food deserts, and demand grocery stores with healthy food options until our demands are met. We must also voice our concerns to our Aldermen, and local, and state elected officials. We must hold each accountable and vote according to how they represent us and honor our concerns. As well as how they serve us and make it their number one priority to enhance the quality of the lives they represent. In closing, we must also demand that businesses that come into our communities develop our communities and that their products have a positive effect on the families in our communities.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Essay What success looks like for you and how this opportunity will help you achieve it. 500 Words Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

Essay What success looks like for you and how this opportunity will help you achieve it. 500 Words Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever. I became a big brother, and my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. As time went on, I began to learn what Down Syndrome meant and how it affected every fiber of my little brother’s life. You can now see why volunteering with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics is meaningful and dearest to my heart. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Also, growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. These things have inspired me to pursue and obtain my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. After college, my immediate goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist and return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. My long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. There will be an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affected every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life. I’ve learned that for me success is knowing that I have had a positive impact on someone during my time on earth and that I render services to my community to make it a better place.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. These things have inspired me to pursue a psychology degree and eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. The center will also provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. My life goal is to always be kind, honest, and a productive member of society, never forget my humble beginnings and always give back. I am most passionate about my younger brother who has Down syndrome. I have watched my mom advocate on his behalf, his entire life. Because she’s been a great role model, I’ve learned why advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. I strive to be a leader in all aspects of my life. I work daily to be the best person I can be and a person my family will be proud of. I am confident, have integrity, am a hard worker, am disciplined, and get along well with my peers and others. I strive to learn from mistakes and to use the lessons learned as a tool to overcome adversity. I am respectful and respectable and I'm always willing to learn. I am an active member of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 236 Elvin J. Carey. I give back to my community by continuing to serve. Some of my community services include volunteering to feed the homeless, at a senior citizen’s facility, and mentoring and tutoring younger students. I also volunteer with the Special Olympics, which is dearest to my heart. I vow to continue to provide service to those in need, and I will make a difference in the world by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I am a great candidate for this scholarship because I believe education is the key to success. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help subsidize the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants. I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parents’ financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother with special needs, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. I desire to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible. Receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and saddened to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations.

I became passionate about healthcare after my 11-year-old cousin died after going into a diabetic coma. No one knew she had diabetes. Because her mother did not have insurance; she did not go to the doctor on a regular basis or when she became ill. I was 13 years old, and this was a very sad and scary time. I could not understand how someone so young could get sick, go to the hospital, and die within hours. As time passed, I learned that my cousin’s food choices; eating flaming hot Cheetos, chewy candies, drinking sugary drinks, and eating fast food daily impacted her health. The lack of healthcare resulted in her not being diagnosed with diabetes and diabetes resulted in her death. I was committed to getting a better understanding of how this happened. Was her death preventable? Could she have seen a doctor, although her mother did not have insurance? How many other children were ill and not seeing a doctor because of the lack of insurance? How many other neighborhoods have more fast-food restaurants and corner stores than grocery stores, and places to buy healthy food? I am not sure if my cousin’s death was preventable, but I am sure that healthcare should be provided to all. Regardless of a family’s economic status or their ability to pay or not pay, healthcare is a human right. All humans should have access to, high-quality, affordable healthcare, and if a family cannot afford healthcare, medical care should still be provided. The sad reality is food deserts are real in many communities. There are no grocery stores within a 10-15-mile radius of many homes on the south, west, and east sides of Chicago. More readily available are corner stores that market “junk food”, McDonald’s, White Castle, Popeyes, and other neighborhood fast-food restaurants. These establishments provide unhealthy and not non-nutritional food options. Without grocery stores in communities, families have fewer opportunities to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats to prepare healthy and nutritional meals. The question becomes, “What actions do we need to take to improve the overall health care in our black and brown communities?” I think we can begin with awareness and advocacy. We must become aware of the importance and impact of diet, exercise, and medical treatment in our lives. We must encourage others to get annual medical exams and follow up with recommendations. Communities must learn to advocate and demand equal services, resources, and funding. We must protest to eliminate food deserts and demand grocery stores and healthy food options. We can contact our Alderman and other elected officials regarding equal healthcare for all, whether you are insured or not. We must hold them accountable to provide the things needed in our communities, to enhance our quality of life. My motto is, “Be the change, you want to see in others.” Therefore, I have written my United States Senator, Tammy Duckworth regarding the nation’s healthcare policies and I have encouraged my classmates to do the same. In closing, I believe when we empower others, change is inevitable.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families who are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. In August 2023, I began my pursuit of my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center in my community. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies and staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship would help remove some stress and financial obligations. $51,623.00, is the cost of tuition, room, board, and fees to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA! The only non-loan financial assistance that I have been awarded is a Morehouse scholarship of $12,500.00. Per my conversation with the financial officer, my family is responsible for covering the difference which is $39,123.00. The pandemic had a major impact on my family’s income. My father is self-employed as a photographer and since the pandemic, his income has not rebounded and is down over 25%. During the pandemic, my family had to go into their savings to make ends meet. Due to my younger brother’s diagnosis, my parents have additional financial obligations associated with his medical needs, therapy, and equipment not covered by their insurance. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds. I desire to attend college and not acquire a huge amount of debt and receiving this scholarship will assist me in achieving this goal.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my youth center will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and I will eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help supplement the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. I desire to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

My grandfather, Lawrence Nalls, Sr. has had a major impact on my educational journey. He was born in 1946 and grew up in the housing projects on the south side of Chicago, with his parents and four brothers. He graduated from high school and due to his parents’ limited income and resources, he was unable to attend college. Therefore, after high school, he had to start working. He always had a dream of going to college, unfortunately, it never happened. At the age of 20, because of his love for “Our Country”, he decided to enlist in the United States Army; and he was on his way to fight in the Vietnam War. He was only in Vietnam for eight months, when he sustained life-threatening injuries. With injuries to the entire left side of his body; face, arms, legs, and back, he was not expected to survive and if he survived, he would not live to see the age of 40. Fast forward 56 years later, and he’s still here mentoring and guiding me. Although my grandfather has received numerous awards and medals, including The Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, Air-Assault Medal, Airborne Jump Wings, and Veteran Service Medals, he still believes his greatest accomplishment would have been graduating from college. This is why he encourages, supports, and pushes me in all my educational and life endeavors. This is also what drives me to be a responsible, respectable, goal-setting, and hard-working individual. I am honored to be named after my grandfather, and I will attend and graduate from college to show him the impact that he’s had on my life and educational journey. Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of educational disparities, and generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. Having a younger brother diagnosed with Down Syndrome has allowed me the opportunity to see why advocacy is needed in society. These are some of the things that have inspired me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. The center will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. My life goal is to always be kind, honest, and a productive member of society, never forget my humble beginnings and always give back. I will give back to my community by continuing to serve. Some of my current community services include volunteering to feed the homeless, volunteering at a senior citizen’s facility, and mentoring and tutoring younger students. I also volunteer with the Special Olympics, which is dearest to my heart. I vow to continue to provide service to those in need, and I will make a difference in the world by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In conclusion, I strongly believe that to whom much is given, much is required.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services. My youth center will provide mental health services not only to the youth but also to their families. I learned that mental health does not affect one person without affecting the entire family nuclear. Some aspects of mental health are hereditary, while some are environmental. Nonetheless, because of the dynamics all are affected in one way or another. Recently, talking with my mother, she shared with me some alarming statistics that confirmed that I am on the right track with my major and goals. She shared with me that six is the median onset age for anxiety disorders, eleven is the median onset age for ADHD and behavior disorders and thirteen is the onset age for mood disorders. These ages are alarming because many of these youth in the inner-city are probably not engaged in services early enough to have the best outcome for their lives. This is why my community will aim to focus on early intervention for this targeted population.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life. I have goals to accomplish and service to give. I am committed to beginning and graduating from college. I am committed to being dedicated to my studies, staying focused and engaged. Receiving this scholarship will help subsidize my college costs, remove some stress, and decrease the amount of loans I will accrue. The pandemic had a major impact on my family’s income. My father is self-employed as a photographer. During the pandemic, my family had to use their savings to make ends meet. My father’s business still has not fully recovered. My desire is to attend college and not acquire a huge amount of debt and receiving this scholarship will assist me in achieving this goal.

March 23, 2009, is a day I will always remember for several reasons. This is the day my life changed forever, the day I became a big brother and the day my little brother was born with Down Syndrome. When my parents told me about his diagnosis, I didn’t know what that meant, and I certainly had no idea how it would change my life. Reflecting on the past 14 years of my life, I now know that my little brother’s birth sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of myself. My brother’s birth allowed me to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, which I’ve learned is very dear to my heart. The more time I spent volunteering for the Special Recreational Program at Jesse Owens Park and with the Special Olympics, the more I began to learn what living with a disability meant and how it affects every fiber of my little brother’s and other’s life. Being blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer with the Special Recreational Program and the Special Olympics has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown to be more empathetic and understanding of my brother and his peers’ different abilities, and their limits. This volunteer experience has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Throughout high school, I also had an opportunity to volunteer with You Are H.O.P.E., LLC. This is a community-based program. I provided tutoring for one hour a week in math and English and mentored elementary students. I was a role model and set positive examples for the students. We discussed topics regarding family, community, and school. These students were able to discuss real-time problems and issues and I was able to help them navigate and develop real-time solutions. As a result of their tutoring in English and math, they each tested on grade level. This increased their self-esteem and made them feel proud. I learned that I love spending time with young men, and everything we did and talked about benefited me as well. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable in certain settings and when you share, you are often helping others who are experiencing the same challenges. I learned that helping others makes me feel empowered to create change. Volunteering has also influenced how I view and define success. I once thought of success as having a lot of money, having a wardrobe that turned heads, owning many fancy cars, living in a huge house, owning a boat, and traveling the world. But the more I volunteer, I look at the world and life in a different way. I realize that material things don’t make you successful, although I do want to have material things in life. I’ve learned that for me success is knowing that I have had a positive impact on someone during my time on earth and that I render services to my community in an effort to make it a better place.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College in August 2023. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger and the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. These things have inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Morehouse College in August 2023. After graduating from Morehouse, I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. I will then return to my community to provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. I believe that public service is very important. Through public service, the community can work together, and we can create and impact change. There is strength in numbers and when public servants work with the community, we can empower and support one another. I want my legacy to be that through public service and community building, I impacted positive change, growth, and development. I believe leadership and service go hand in hand. To whom much is given, much is required.

March 23, 2009 is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life. My humble beginnings have inspired me to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. The youth center will provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and I will eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will place an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help supplement the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. My desire is to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

I am surprised and sadden to learn that suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults in the United States of America. It is also difficult to process the number of teens and young adults who have thought about suicide or have attempted suicide. I am very fortunate to not personally know anyone who has attempted suicide or who has died from suicide. However, I do know that the alarming rate of teen and young adult suicides has caused this to be a mental health crisis. Suicide reaches all economic neighborhoods. Regardless of where you live, your family’s income or education, your school status, or your community status. You can be an athlete, entertainer, or famous; suicide has no respect for the person. The question becomes why or what is the common denominator or is there a common denominator? Could the answer be peer pressure, loneliness, the feeling of unworthiness, sadness, substance abuse, or simply depression? Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen many things that impact the mental health of teens and young adults in my community. I’ve observed various disparities in the healthcare system, generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts about their fears, struggles, and desires to belong and succeed. I’ve seen the self-imposed pressure that my friends place on themselves and listened as they talk about the pressure placed on them by their families. All these things can be very overwhelming and affect one’s mental health. As I hear about the uprise in suicides among teens and young adults, I realize these are serious indications of the need for mental health services to be accessible to all. For these reasons, I am inspired to enter the mental health field and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I will continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. Upon completion of my education, I will return to my community to make a difference in suicide prevention by providing trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families. Thus, my long-term goal is to open a Christian-based youth center in my community to serve and meet the needs of youth and families. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. It will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, sports, and mental health services.

My grandfather, Lawrence Nalls, Sr. has had a major impact on my educational journey. He was born in 1946 and grew up in the housing projects on the south side of Chicago, with his parents and four brothers. He graduated from high school and due to his parents’ limited income and resources, he was unable to attend college. Therefore, after high school, he had to start working. He always had a dream of going to college, unfortunately, it never happened. At the age of 20, because of his love for “Our Country”, he decided to enlist in the United States Army; and he was on his way to fight in the Vietnam War. He was only in Vietnam for eight months, when he sustained life-threatening injuries. With injuries to the entire left side of his body; face, arms, legs, and back, he was not expected to survive and if he survived, he would not live to see the age of 40. Fast forward 56 years later, he’s still here mentoring and guiding me. Although my grandfather has received numerous awards and medals, including The Purple Heart, Presidential Citation, Air-Assault Medal, Airborne Jump Wings, and Veteran Service Medals, he still believes his greatest accomplishment would have been graduating from college. This is why he encourages, supports, and pushes me in all my educational and life endeavors. This is also what drives me to be a responsible, respectable, goal-setting, and hard-working individual. I am honored to be named after my grandfather, and I will attend and graduate from college to show him the impact that he’s had on my life and educational journey. Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of educational disparities, and generational poverty, witnessed trauma, witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger; as well as the egregious crimes committed by juveniles. I have spent countless hours listening to my friends as they share deep secrets and intimate thoughts. The uprise in suicides among teens and young adults is an indication of the need for mental health services. Having a younger brother diagnosed with Down Syndrome has allowed me the opportunity to see why advocacy is needed in society. These are some of the things that have inspired me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then continue my education to become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college my immediate goal is to return to my community and provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families; ultimately, opening a Christian-based youth center. My youth center will provide youth with a safe space and place to go. The center will also provide advocacy, mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will also have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. My life goal is to always be kind, honest, and a productive member of society, never forget my humble beginnings and always give back. I will give back to my community by continuing to serve. Some of my current community services include volunteering to feed the homeless, volunteering at a senior citizen’s facility, and mentoring and tutoring younger students. I also volunteer with the Special Olympics, which is dearest to my heart. I vow to continue to provide service to those in need, and I will make a difference in the world by advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In conclusion, I strongly believe that to whom much is given, much is required.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and I will eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will emphasize violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance and help supplement the cost for me to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. I desire to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.

Football has always been associated with family, friends, food, fun, laughter, and good times. That’s why it’s an activity that is very important to me. As early as I can remember, after church on Sundays, my family gathered at my great-uncle’s house and watched football. He would always cook an outstanding meal and we would enjoy being together. Monday nights we gathered at my grandmother’s house for Monday Night Football. Sometimes she would cook my favorite meal, and other times we would do a potluck or battle of the pizzas. Although we are die-hard Bears fans, we love watching any team play. Then when I was six years old, I started playing Pee Wee football and I have played football ever since. Because of my family’s love for the sport and love to show support, you would find my mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, and little brother in the stands screaming, shouting, cheering, and encouraging my teammates and me every game. You would find my dad walking the sidelines taking pictures and my grandfather at the top of the stands filming the game. Rain, sleet, snow, or sunshine, they were there. My family has always been my biggest support and cheerleader. I have always been blessed, and I have never had a game where I didn’t have my family and their friends in the stands cheering. When I began high school, I was fortunate to start on the varsity football team, and I’ve started my four years. In high school, you could find my mom and aunts working the concession stand for all home games, but for away games, they were the loudest people in the stands along with my little brother. I love football! I’m a student of the game and can break down film like an NFL (National Football League) coach. Football is not just a sport to me, it's also a brotherhood. Football has taught me many life lessons and it's helping me develop many transferable skills for life. Football has taught me to respect the game and to respect authority. Football has taught me to be more disciplined and to be a better student and planner. As a student-athlete, football has helped build my character and shape me as an individual. It has taught me to be a leader on and off the field, in and out of the classroom. Football has increased my confidence and self-esteem. Football has taught me that hard work, discipline, and consistency will pay off and it’s rewarding. Because football is important to me and I love the sport, I have a strong desire to play football in college and I dream of playing professional football in the National Football League one day.

March 23, 2009 is a day I will always remember. This is when I became a big brother and my life changed forever. My brother’s birth presented me with one of the biggest challenges of adversity that I would learn to overcome and adjust to because he was diagnosed with Down syndrome. At four years of age, I didn’t know what Down Syndrome was and I certainly had no idea how it would impact my life. I had been an only child, grandchild, and nephew before my brother’s birth and the world revolved around me. Initially, I didn’t think I would mind sharing my little brother, but soon it became overwhelming, because I was sharing him with everyone, and I was no longer the center of attention. Shortly after that, I vanished from everyone’s radar. All the attention went from me to him, and I was having a hard time managing my feelings and emotions. I was too young to verbalize my feelings, which resulted in me making poor choices. To make matters worse, four times a week, for the next three years, our home was filled with therapists. As time passed, I grew to understand my brother’s diagnosis and how it affects every fiber of his life. I understood why therapy was important from day one! I learned to understand why my parents had to devote so much time and energy to his care, well-being, and welfare. Having a brother with special needs has taught me to be more caring, compassionate, loving, kind, patient, and grateful. I have grown these past 13 years to be more empathetic and understanding of people; their differences, their abilities, and their limitations. My brother has taught me to not take things for granted. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is. Disabilities simply mean a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. I have grown as a person and individual. I’ve matured and grown in a manner of believing, always trying, and never saying “no”, before attempting and putting forth effort. I’ve grown to believe that anything is possible when you do the work and put forth the effort. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. This experience with my little brother has empowered me and taught me to be an advocate and a voice for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I’ve watched my mother advocate on behalf of my little brother and demand services that he would have otherwise not received. I’ve learned this skill and have added it to my toolbox. I have spoken up for classmates and teammates, in tough situations, because I’ve witnessed first-hand how to be a voice for others in a time of need. Having a brother with special needs has stretched me and caused me to want to be a change agent and empower others as they navigate through life.

Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, I have seen the impact of generational poverty, homelessness, food deserts, and poor educational and healthcare options. I have witnessed trauma and witnessed the deaths of far too many youths my age and younger. Having a younger brother with Down Syndrome has caused me to see life through different lenses. Making this adjustment required time, and a lot of understanding and education about his diagnosis. This was not always easy. I’ve grown to understand that when a person has a disability it’s not the end of the world. Disabilities do not define who a person is or what they will become. A disability simply means a person might need additional resources, support, patience, advocacy, and understanding. Depending on a person’s disability, they can achieve goals and have a meaningful life when given a fair opportunity. A disability does not mean a person should be counted out or cast aside. These things have caused me to be passionate about helping youth and families that are in situations beyond their control and advocating for people with disabilities and those who are not empowered to advocate for themselves. As I watched my mom advocate on my brother’s behalf, I learned that advocating is needed in this world and how it can and should be done. As a result of my life experiences, I am inspired and motivated to pursue and obtain a degree in psychology and I will eventually become a licensed clinical psychologist. After college, my immediate goal is to return to my community, provide trauma-sensitive counseling to youth and families, and advocate for those in need. My long-term goal is to ultimately, open a Christian-based youth center. The center will place an emphasis on violence prevention and provide mentoring, tutoring, counseling, sports, and other character-building activities. It will have a healthcare component that will provide dietary and mental health services. The center will also provide educational and supportive services to people with disabilities, along with resources and advocacy. Receiving this scholarship will provide me with additional financial assistance to attend college. Per my FAFSA and Student Aid Report, I am not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and I have not been determined eligible for other federal grants, or work-study funds; I am only eligible for a direct loan. Due to my parent’s financial obligations, and the extra cost associated with caring for my little brother, they cannot afford to pay 100% of my college cost. My desire is to attend college and acquire as little debt as possible and receiving this scholarship would assist me in achieving this goal.