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Paul Aune

755

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Finalist

Bio

I am a former Navy brat, lifeguard, stagehand, help desk engineer, email abuse analyst, system administrator, grocery store clerk, and mail carrier. I have returned to school to become a professional helper. I am in continuous, long term recovery from substance abuse and mental illness, and I have been since 1990. My wife is a foreign service officer with USAID. We travel from country to country with her work. At each post, I pick up at least some of the local language as we explore the local culture together. We visit museums, ruins, geological features, indigenous healers and crafts-persons, and local restaurants.

Education

Stephen F Austin State University

Master's degree program
2022 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Social Work

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Bachelor's degree program
2018 - 2021
  • Majors:
    • Social Work

Northern Virginia Community College

Associate's degree program
2015 - 2018
  • Majors:
    • Social Sciences, General

Sherwood High School

High School
1985 - 1989

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Social Work
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      social work

    • Dream career goals:

      change advocate

    • Assistant Rural Carrier

      United States Postal Service
      2022 – 2022
    • Office Volunteer

      Habitat for Humanity
      2022 – 2022
    • Stagehand

      Various
      1994 – 201319 years
    • Clerk

      Giant of Maryland, LLC
      2009 – 20167 years
    • Student Intern

      Compass Health
      2021 – 2021

    Sports

    Wrestling

    Varsity
    1988 – 19891 year

    Wrestling

    Junior Varsity
    1987 – 19881 year

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Your Dream Music Scholarship
    The song that holds the most message for me is Hideaway by Erasure on the Circus album. The message was that I could still survive even being rejected by my loved ones. I could be brave on my own. When I got into long-term recovery from substance abuse and mental illness in the summer of 1990, I listened to this song (and the rest of the album) daily. I felt so alone living in an Oxford house at age 19. Both of my parents had enabled my substance use, and so I was forbidden to live with either of them as part of my aftercare plan. This song helped me plumb the depths of my grief and sit still with it. I felt sad from being rejected by my father in rehab. He denied my diseases in a family session while I was still inpatient. I could no longer trust him for emotional support. This song helped me survive and do the next right thing anyway. I revisited this song about 3 years later, putting it back into daily rotation, when I started to question my sexuality and gender. I was rejected by my very Catholic mother. The lack of support made me feel sad and separated from her. This song helped me to be brave and do well. I did not come out to my dad for another year or two more. Doing so was very scary, and he did not respond right away. I needed to listen to listen to the album again while I awaited his reaction and expected fall-out. Once again, I grew strength and bravery from this song.
    Lost Dreams Awaken Scholarship
    Recovery at its root is a restoration to sanity. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the steps means that I am fit to carry the message to others, but I must first be restored to a state of grace (whether or not such a state was ever a part of my life before I began using) to do anything. In my case, I needed to get clean before I could treat my mental illnesses, before I could be a partner or friend or son, before I could study, before I could understand my sexuality, before I could know my purpose, before I could unearth my childhood traumas, and before I could be of use in any other area of my life. Recovery is the foundation of my life, and I am so grateful that it started back on June 8th, 1990. It was on that day that I asked for help, and it was that day I accepted the help that was offered. I have been clean ever since. I am about to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work degree, and I am applying to graduate schools to get my Master of Social Work degree.