My Dream: 

My dream is to help individuals with special needs.

My Story: 
I’ve always dreamed of having a career where I could “help people” through interpersonal relationships or in the medical field. Very early in my life, I developed a passion for working with individuals with special needs. My passion really started to grow when I volunteered at a summer camp for children with special needs. I knew I wanted to do something like that for the rest of my life. However, previous to my camp experience, I was in an accident that fractured my shoulder, and I had to undergo physical therapy. I was so grateful for the help I received from my therapist that I thought maybe I would pursue a career in therapy. In high school, I found a mentor who was an Occupational Therapist, and that was the first time I was able to put a name to what I wanted to do with my life. With Occupational Therapy, I could combine my experience in the medical field with my passion for individuals with special needs. I went on to Rockhurst University, which has a special program to finish Occupational Therapy school in 5 years, and I have loved every minute of my time at Rockhurst making new friends and pursuing my dream.

My Inspiration: 
My inspiration comes from my mentor, my family, but most of all from God my creator and heavenly Father.

Challenges I Face:
The challenges I have faced have been mostly financial. College is so expensive and I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dream without scholarships to help me finance my education. Science courses tend to have very expensive textbooks, and my anatomy book and lab manual next semester is about $400. That is a lot in addition to tuition, room and food.

If I get funded I will:
A scholarship from UChic would make textbooks one less challenge I have to face. $1000 would cover all my books for a semester, which is huge!

My quote of inspiration for others:  If I could positively impact the world in one way, I would do exactly what I’m doing right now- pursue the calling that God has placed in front of me. In the future, I would love to start a scholarship fund for kids needing money to pursue their dreams. I feel convicted to give back because of all those that have given to me in this time of need.

My Dream:

I am at KU so that I can get my degree in social welfare and spend the rest of my life working to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

My Inspiration:

At my high school there was a class the integrated special education and general education students and we worked together to create service projects. Working with that population is the most fun and rewarding experience I have ever had. But in that time I saw the challenges THEY face. I want to be able to help those students overcome their challenges.

Challenges I Face:  

I am a first generation student with few funds. Paying for it myself is overwhelming. Textbooks, tuition and living expenses are extremely expensive. I am going to be taking out a lot of loans and going into a not so profitable career path.

If I get funded I will:

A grant would take a large weight off of my shoulders and could possibly help me fund a service trip to Kenya to work with students there in an internally displaced community.

My quote of inspiration for others:

If things don’t work out exactly how you plan, just wait, because they might end up being even better than you can imagine.

For the full scoop on our #1000Dreams campaign on Indiegogo and to meet all of the deserving young women we are funding, visit – UChic: We’re Fulfilling 1000 Dreams.