On Monday, April 11, 2022, my life changed forever. I was a high school freshman and was home sick from school with my Dad because of a dog bite over the weekend. My Dad had just retired in January from the local police department where he had worked for 30 years and was enjoying some time off while looking for a part-time job to stay busy in retirement. That morning, my Dad was in the basement working out and came upstairs saying he was not feeling well. He went into his bedroom, and I heard a loud thud. I went in to see what had happened and found him on the ground, not breathing. I called 911 and started CPR on my Dad with coaching from the 911 operator.

My Mom was also a police officer at the time and was working as an SRO at a local school. Dispatch contacted her so that she could come to be with me. We, my Mom, my sister, and I, learned later at the hospital that my Dad would not make it.

My parents were divorced, and my Mom was to retire at the end of 2022 from police work as well. This left her to be the primary source of support for me and my older sister, who was a junior in high school at the time. My mom is retired and took a part-time job at the school so that she could also help care for my grandpa, who had parkinsons and was becoming too much for my grandma to handle.

After my Dad passed, we learned that he had recently stopped paying his life insurance premium. My mom was surprised; she had made sure they always had life insurance when they were married, and she believed he still was carrying life insurance. Being a police officer, my Dad had started receiving his pension. We soon learned that my Dad filled out his retirement paperwork to receive his pension “for his life only”. This means that his pension that he worked 30 years for died with him, and there would be no continued payments for his beneficiaries.

Both of these mistakes were a huge financial hit to my sister and me. Having either life insurance or the pension would have meant that college would be less of an issue for us. Instead, even a less expensive state school is a challenge. I have saved money for myself over the years, and I have worked a part-time job while in high school. I have been involved in 4H and FFA showing livestock and have also saved the profits from sales at fairs. I, however, have not saved enough to cover 4 years of college. My mom is spread thin financially with both my sister and I attending college right now.

I will forever tell people to make sure their financial affairs are in order and their family will be taken care of if something tragic happens.

Losing my mother at a young age was devastating, but the financial struggles that followed made the loss even more overwhelming. With no life insurance, no health insurance, and no financial safety net, my family was left in crisis. Suddenly, I had to take on the role of both provider and caregiver for my younger siblings. Affording college became uncertain as survival took priority. Instead of choosing a school based on my
aspirations, I had to prioritize financial aid and work opportunities. Yet, despite every challenge, I remained determined to pursue my education—not just for myself, but to fulfill my mother’s dream of me becoming a lawyer.

Without her income, we struggled to meet even our most basic needs. Our utilities were repeatedly cut off because we could not pay the bills. There were weeks when we did not have enough food, forcing me to stretch every dollar to ensure my siblings could eat. The instability forced us to move multiple times, uprooting what little stability we had. Each move was a painful reminder of our financial vulnerability, making it difficult to focus on school while constantly worrying about where we would live next.

To keep us afloat, I worked long hours, picking up early morning, late-night, and weekend shifts in multiple jobs. I sacrificed sleep, social activities, and any sense of normalcy to ensure my siblings had food, shelter, and some stability. I learned how to navigate financial hardship at a young age, stretching paychecks and prioritizing bills to keep a roof over our heads. The responsibility was overwhelming, but I had no other choice.

The lack of life insurance made everything worse. If my mother had been insured, we would have had the financial security to grieve without the immediate pressure of survival. We could have kept our home, avoided the stress of unpaid bills, and focused on healing rather than fighting to make ends meet. With health insurance, we would not have had to avoid medical care due to cost. The financial safety net that life insurance provides would have changed our lives entirely, sparing us from the desperation that followed her passing.

Despite these hardships, I never lost sight of my mother’s dream for me to become a lawyer. Her unwavering belief in my potential continues to drive me. Experiencing financial instability and legal challenges firsthand has strengthened my resolve to advocate for families like mine, ensuring that others do not have to endure the same struggles. The law is not just a profession for me—it is a means of empowerment, a tool to create justice for those without support.

Every challenge I have faced has shaped me into the resilient and determined person I am today. I seek to fulfill my mother’s dream, using my legal career to fight for marginalized communities, advocate for struggling families, and ensure that no child is left without support after losing a parent. Her dream lives on through me, and I will make it a reality.

Growing up, I never could have imagined my life looking so different from what I had always known. But last May, my world was turned upside down with the unexpected passing of my father. In an instant, everything changed—emotionally, mentally, and financially. Losing him right before my senior year was the hardest thing I have ever faced. I had to come to terms with the fact that my biggest supporter and role model was no longer around. As August approached and I started working on my college applications, I realized how much his absence would affect my future.

My dad’s passing has had a significant impact on my college plans. Fortunately, I was accepted into my school of choice, but I quickly realized how expensive out-of-state tuition is. Without my dad’s financial support, affording college has become a significant concern. My mom works as a teacher and does everything she can to provide for my brothers and me, but the financial strain is overwhelming. That is why I am filling out every local scholarship available in my area and searching for national opportunities. My goal is to earn a degree in civil engineering and, one day, work for a Fortune 500 company designing innovative structures that are functional and eye-catching and incorporate alternative energy elements to lessen the carbon impact on the earth.

My family’s financial burden would have been drastically different if my father had adequate life insurance coverage. If he had been appropriately insured, my college expenses would have been completely covered, allowing me to focus solely on my education rather than worrying about how to afford it. Instead, my mom has had to stretch her income even further to keep up with everyday expenses while also trying to support my college journey. The reality of losing him without the safety net of life insurance has made me more aware of financial planning and the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.

Beyond the emotional toll, my father’s passing also forced me to step up in ways I never imagined. I have worked two jobs to help provide for myself and contribute to our household. Additionally, my responsibilities at home have shifted—I now handle many of the tasks my dad once did, like mowing the lawn, fixing things around the house, and making sure my mom doesn’t have to carry the weight alone. These experiences have taught me responsibility, resilience, and what it truly means to be there for family.

This scholarship would not only ease my financial burden but also be a testament to the perseverance my father instilled in me. Despite my challenges, I refuse to let them define me. Instead, I use them as motivation to work harder and push forward. I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to apply, and I appreciate your time and consideration.