High School is challenging for most students. It is an environment where awkwardness and social anxiety loom, and temptation is found at every turn. I have experienced those same challenges, but thankfully I have a friend in Jesus Christ, and He helps me overcome these burdens.

I have never been great at making friends. Growing up with autism made it difficult to talk to other kids my age. Every day at school I felt alone, despite my efforts to interact. I prayed for years that God would bless me with friends. After much prayer and consideration, my parents decided to homeschool my brother and me beginning my eighth-grade year. Homeschooling not only allowed me to study in a Christian-based environment, but it also opened the door to the friends I had been praying for. Although it took many years of praying, God answered and helped strengthen my faith. As a result, my anxiety decreased and my confidence grew. I eventually gathered the courage to pursue interests I would never have tried, such as performing in our co-op’s high school drama class or volunteering in service projects. Despite my struggles with social interaction, God has been faithful to answer my prayers. He has led me to a great group of friends, with whom I have shared many wonderful memories over the years.

I have always tried to take schooling seriously, but unfortunately, I sometimes get distracted. Electronics are my weakness, and the temptation to pick up my video games or cell phone during school hours has landed me in hot water several times. My parents have punished me on numerous occasions to convey their point- “work before play.” My initial response is usually anger, but eventually, my heart becomes convicted, and I realize I am in the wrong. I am so thankful for God’s conviction and for loving parents who are willing to correct me and stress the importance of striving to be my best. I can never reach my full potential if I squander my time sitting in front of a screen. I have faced many challenges throughout high school, and I will undoubtedly face many more in the future. The Lord has brought me through enough situations to strengthen my faith and reinforce the fact that anything is possible through Him. I pray that my story can help others put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Click here to learn what winning the scholarship would mean to Riley!

Everything we know came to be by God. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by material worries, I think of dust, the physical origin of our universe. From dust God created his kingdom, and to it all things will return. What this does is put into perspective for me how insignificant everything on this Earth really is. Our world is promoting the departure of God from our lives in order to spearhead these insignificant priorities, which is something I cannot wrap my head around, as he is the very basis of all that exists. Putting God first has been a practice of mine ever since I became serious with my faith as a budding teenager, though “practice” would be the keyword there. I would love to say I prioritize the Lord flawlessly in all facets of my life, but that is so very untrue. Sin is something no (ordinarily conceived) person has ever been able to overcome, and I am definitely no exception. However, I am constantly striving to eliminate sin from my life, impossible as it may be. I lay in bed at night and go through my day with God, trying to pinpoint the exact moments where I chose to give into temptation instead of following his call. I then repent and ask him to align my will with his, in an effort to completely eradicate any decision that would lead me away from heaven. These Godly decisions are ones I have been prioritizing every opportunity I get, and my church has provided a multitude of outlets that allow me to put God at the forefront of my life. I altar serve, attend youth group, went all through Sunday School, and have logged hundreds upon hundreds of volunteer hours, all through God and the church. I have done yards; made meals; run church yard sales; assisted the elderly; worked VBS; cleaned up after tornadoes; worked church events; fed the homeless at soup kitchens, shelters, and by physically walking through the streets under bridges with friars; and participated in countless other activities through which God has used me to reach others. The decisions in my life have been a product of God’s love for me and my desire to reciprocate that love to him and others. Every decision I make is with God taken into account, as he is the very center of not only my life, but life itself.

Click here to learn what winning the scholarship would mean to Chase!

The moment sears itself in my memory. I’ll never forget standing at the peak of Tooth of Time in New Mexico with my Boy Scout Troop. It was a cold, windy evening in July, but as I looked out over the breathtaking landscape – craggy cliffs, winding rivers, and the vast plains of the Midwest on my right and the Rockies on my left – I felt a deep connection to His creation. As I remembered the verse from 1 Peter 4:10 that had always stayed with me. At that moment, I felt a deep sense of purpose – to serve others with my talents in God’s grace and name.

One verse, but one that has always spoken to me. At that moment, I felt a sense of clarity overtake me. I realized in that exact moment my purpose in life: one of service. A Scout is reverent. I felt the overwhelming urge to pray to Him and give thanks for his blessing. I took a deep breath and looked to the quickly darkening sky, admiring the vastness and mystery of the heavens above. After my moment of epiphany, I was determined to use my talents to help those who have been left behind by modern society. Through my Eagle Project, I became closer to God and His plan. With my complete renovation of a playground that had given me countless memories as a young child, I found myself reconnecting with my childhood in a way I had never done before. Through Scouting, I’ve volunteered 100+ hours towards meaningful causes in my local community, helping enrich my soul and connection to God. My Catholic upbringing encouraged me to become a mentor and role model for the next generation of Eagle Scouts: to teach them compassion, cheerfulness, and crucially, tolerance.

I’ve always enjoyed learning about financial systems and economics, making wealth management the ideal fit for me, my career goals, and my faith. God has blessed me with countless opportunities to serve others, making a Jesuit collegiate education focused on service and faith an integral part of my future plans. Jesuit colleges have a long history of promoting social justice and serving marginalized communities, just as my International Baccalaureate education at Hoover High School had. This commitment to social responsibility will help me develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a positive impact on society throughout my career.

Click here to learn what winning the scholarship would mean to Alex!

I was born in a tiny village outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. My mother was very poor and addicted to drugs. I never knew my father or eight of my siblings. My mother was unable to properly care for one of my younger brothers and me. At the age of five, my mother was turned into the authorities for child neglect. My brother and I were moved to a government run orphanage. I remained in the orphanage until the age of eleven. At age eleven, I was given the amazing opportunity to be adopted by a family from the United States of America. The Lord plucked me out of Latin America and brought me to Birmingham, Alabama to become a Giffin.

Moving to the United States eight years ago taught me resilience as I had to leave everything that I knew and loved. My culture, my language, my food, my friends, the only family that I had ever known. As a young girl in Costa Rica, I was introduced to Jesus. However, my adoption experience and move to the United States required me to become dependent upon Him and showed me that God had an incredible purpose for my life. I gave my heart to Jesus and was baptized in 2015.

All decisions that I have made throughout high school and as I prepare for college have been viewed through the lens of my Christian faith and God’s purpose for my future. As I have chosen friendships as well as my high school courses, I have sought His wisdom through prayer and Bible study. My faith helped me conquer learning a second language as well as other academic obstacles along the way. My Christian friends and mentors have encouraged me to remain pure and abstain from drugs and alcohol. I have allowed His spirit to guide me in choosing summer camps, school activities and clubs, and volunteer work throughout high school. I have received such joy from serving the Lord through my church and within my community. I have been called by God to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to become a travel nurse. I believe this career path will lead me to the mission field. I know that God has brought me this far and will not forsake me at this point or at any point in my journey. I will continue to trust Him in all things.

Click here to learn what winning the scholarship would mean to Angela!