I began my freshman year at the height of the pandemic. At 14, I was juggling virtual classes, mental illness, and social conflicts. Things felt overwhelming, but I didn’t think they could get worse—until they did. On St. Patrick’s Day 2021, while learning choreography for a theatre class project, my dad pulled me aside. I felt my world crumble as he told me my grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer. Tears streamed down my face as my dad and I held each other, sobbing. I mustered up the courage to return to class, hiding my tear-stained face. My grandmother had stage 4 small-cell carcinoma, which had already metastasized to her liver and spine. She required emergency spine surgery to remove a tumor that caused a fracture. My grandmother had quit smoking 15 years earlier to avoid exactly this fate. Doctors told us if she had quit just one day sooner, the cancer might not have developed. A month before her diagnosis, I had been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety, dysthymia, OCD, and sensory processing disorder. Balancing my mental health while supporting my family was exhausting. My grades were slipping, friendships were falling apart, and my grandma was ill. At 14, I wasn’t hanging out with friends or devoting myself to studies like many of my peers. I was at home catching up on schoolwork, at my grandmother’s apartment helping care for her or visiting her in the hospital after treatments and surgeries. The pandemic added its own challenges. COVID tests and masks were difficult, and my sensory issues made wearing a mask especially challenging. I often broke down in bathrooms, overwhelmed by the discomfort. But being with Grammy mattered more, and I pushed through for her. Despite everything, I finished my freshman year. Sophomore year brought a sense of relief. I returned in-person with accommodations in place, and my grandmother’s condition improved—her cancer reduced by 70% after treatments. Inspired by her progress, I auditioned for the competition one-act play and was cast. My grandma was overjoyed that I was pursuing my passion for the arts. An accomplished singer and pianist, she shared my enthusiasm for music and acting. Although her health prevented her from attending my performance, we watched the recording together on YouTube. Around the same time, I was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall alongside 75 other singers. My grandma was ecstatic and encouraged me to audition for the spring musical. However, her health quickly declined, and in December 2021, she was given three months to live. My depression returned. On February 18, 2022, my grandmother passed away, leaving my family heartbroken. I considered dropping out of the musical but knew she wouldn’t have wanted that. Instead, I joined the stage crew, determined to stay involved for her. That spring, I was inducted into the Thespian Society and elected president, accomplishments I knew would have made her proud. I decided to attend Carnegie Hall that summer in her honor, carrying her ashes in a necklace as I performed. In the following year, I was re-elected Thespian president and continued to grow in the arts. During my final high school production—a show I student-directed and also starred in—I once again wore her ashes, a constant reminder of her influence on my life. My grandmother’s passion for music and the arts continues to inspire me. Her love shaped my creative journey and motivated me to persevere through life’s challenges. Now, as a film major, I am dedicated to honoring her memory by pursuing my passions and keeping her legacy alive. She is, and always will be, my greatest inspiration.

My name is Riley Terrell, and I am a Freshman at Georgia State University, majoring in Cinematography and Film/Video Production. As a woman with both mental and physical disabilities, I have faced numerous challenges throughout my academic journey. However, these experiences have also shaped my career goals and given me a unique perspective on the importance of accessibility and accommodation in the film industry. This scholarship will help me immensely. I do not have the financial resources to afford my textbooks and necessary school supplies. With the support of the Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship, I can focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. Stress is something that often causes my disabilities to “flare”. This assistance will allow me to excel in my coursework and pursue my passion for filmmaking without the constant worry of how I will afford the tools I need. My disabilities have significantly shaped who I am and what I want to do. As a future filmmaker, it is my goal to make sets more accessible and accommodating to those with both mental and physical disabilities. I have experienced firsthand the struggles and importance of needing accommodations in schooling and on film and theatrical sets. Simple things like having a quiet space to work or ensuring that sets are physically navigable can make a huge difference for someone with disabilities. In my time at GSU, I have already begun to see the impact of accessibility in education and how it can empower students like me to achieve their goals. I am committed to bringing this awareness and dedication to accessibility into the film industry. I want to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can contribute and thrive. My high school unweighted GPA was a 3.0, and I worked hard to maintain that despite the challenges I faced. My experiences have taught me resilience and determination, which I bring to my studies and my future career. I believe that my unique perspective and commitment to accessibility will allow me to make a meaningful impact in the film industry. The Dwight "The Professor" Baldwin Scholarship will provide me with the financial support I need to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker. My disabilities have shaped my career goals, and I am dedicated to making the film industry more inclusive and accommodating for everyone. Thank you for considering my application.