Hope by Elizabeth

Hope by Elizabeth - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

Hope. It's in the hearts of those who dream big and in the eyes of those who have set their sights on something greater than themselves. It has the power to mend a broken heart, and sometimes, it can be the difference between life and death. Hope can change the course of someone's life and turn them toward a completely different path, better and brighter than whatever they have left behind. Hope is not only the word, but rather the idea that comes to mind when I think about my greater education, my dreams for the future, and how I intend to impact those around me throughout my entire life.
I have set my personal hopes in an education majoring in psychology. Not only am I extremely interested in and devoted to studying the science of the human mind and behavior, but I also have a burning desire to listen to the stories of others and help them overcome their burdens. To me, psychology is a bridge between fascinating biological science and powerful, real-life connections with other people. In the countless hours of studying and learning the science of psychology, I will motivate myself by remembering that with the degree I earn, I will be doing something that not only promises the hope of a successful career, but also spreads hope in the lives of others.
After college, my mission of hope will begin. In 2017, statistics found that one in five adults has a serious mental illness and that the mental health of America's youth in general is increasingly declining. As thought-provoking as that is, the worst part is that the majority of affected people are not getting the help that they need (Mental Health America). A mental irregularity oftentimes develops because an individual is struggling with an especially difficult experience or change, and instead of receiving or seeking out help, they fall into the grasp of a serious and overwhelming condition. The increasing population of those with mental conditions and wearying hardships desperately need genuine, loving support because these problems are more dangerous than they seem. Mental disorders and individual struggles should not hold us back from living our best lives. I will instill hope in the lives of others by combining the knowledge I will gain from my college education with relational communication to look deeper than the social science of an individual's situation and tackle the core condition or feeling that they are struggling with. To be part of the cause to defeat mental illness as a psychologist, alongside compassionately lifting people up and filling their spirits with hope, is my dream.
Hope, to me, is not something only to be observed. Hope should be like a flame, with a small spark starting in one person's heart, then igniting from person to person through passionate and inspiring conversation or conduct, until there is a bright, roaring fire to overshadow the darkness of life's hardships. When I become a psychologist, I want to deeply impact those who come to me with hope. Hope that they will get through their struggles, hope that their problems or conditions are not bigger than who they are, and hope that will empower them to overcome whatever or however they have been suffering. Indeed, my dream is to be a shoulder to cry on and a source of help for those who cannot help themselves. But my ultimate aspiration is to take a stand and be even more than that. I want to use wisdom and the knowledge of psychology to take situations that people view as hopeless and tirelessly emphasize that no matter what hardships they will have to face for the rest of their lives, there is always hope.
Albert Einstein once said, "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." There is always possibility for a bigger, brighter future. My hope-filled future is the adventure of getting my college education, which I could not be more excited for. However, many people do not realize that their future could be brighter than the stars in the night sky, and they do not 'hope for tomorrow'. I want to change that. I want to graduate from college knowing that not only will my hopes have been and continue to be fulfilled, but also that in my career as a psychologist, I can be the shining spark that ignites a passionate and fiery flame of hope in the lives of others.

“The State of Mental Health in America.” Mental Health America, 18 Dec. 2017, www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america.