My Next Big Educational Goal by Ava

My Next Big Educational Goal by Ava - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Currently, I attend Brooklyn College, and am nearing the finish line with my Bachelor’s degree, currently earning a 3.7 GPA and progressing towards a double major.

My life experience is partly what pushed me towards a degree in Psychology, and also led to me receiving a diagnosis of autism later in life.

Having had to go through school and life with no accommodations, I know how difficult it can be for individuals with undiagnosed autism. The constant feeling of not being good enough, having to try so hard at things that seem to come so easily to others. Always feeling estranged from and behind your peers, and believing it's your fault.

After receiving my autism diagnosis, I am very interested in pursuing a career or volunteer opportunities where I can work with other individuals who are neurodivergent.

Currently, the mainstream understanding of autism, even amongst many mental health providers, is based on research and stereotypes that only studied the presentation of autism in young, white boys. This narrow view ignores the different ways autism presents in other populations, like women, older adults, and people of color.

Providers and communities that have a more nuanced understanding of autism, are few and far between.

This leads to many people being in a similar situation that I was, falling through the cracks, unnoticed, and left to wonder why they struggle to be “normal.”

Having done some local mental health volunteer work in the past, I am very interested in doing more work with neurodivergent populations, and pursuing a career path that allows me to help fill this gap of understanding, and help other neurodivergent individuals to feel supported.

Thank you for considering my application, and for funding this scholarship opportunity for students to meet their educational goals.