Rotary Scholarship Applications

• Bigelow

Resilience, to me, means continuing forward even when everything around you falls apart. Freshman year of high school was supposed to be a fresh start, but instead, it became the most painful turning point of my life. During the pandemic, my family life deteriorated. My father became increasingly unstable, and the tension in our home grew unbearable. One day, the arguments turned into violence. I watched in horror as my father pinned my mother to the ground and hit her while my sister screamed and cried beside me. Calling the police was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.
After that, my mother, my sister, and I left. We moved from our farm in Salem to Lake Oswego. We left behind our animals, our land, and everything that once gave me a sense of peace. The transition was incredibly difficult. I was in a completely new environment, grieving the loss of a home and family dynamic that had been shattered. My grades dropped. I felt isolated, anxious, and overwhelmed. For a while, it felt like I was just surviving. But I didn’t give up. I leaned on the few people who were there for me—teachers, counselors, and a few new friends—and gradually found my footing again. I began working harder in school, pushing through the emotional weight, determined not to let my past control my future.
Just as I was starting to find stability, another challenge struck. In my junior year, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Suddenly, I was battling fatigue and excruciating pain all while trying to keep up with 5 AP classes and commitments. There were days I could barely focus in class or even get out of bed. Missing school meant falling behind, and catching up was exhausting. At first, I didn’t know how to ask for help. But I eventually learned to advocate for myself—emailing teachers, setting up plans to stay on track, and staying late to make up for what I missed.
Managing a chronic illness while trying to maintain strong grades and stay involved at school hasn’t been easy. But I kept going. I took on leadership roles, and I became the president of the Pool Club at my school. I found small ways to build community and keep myself grounded. Even when my disease made things harder, I stayed committed to doing my best.
I believe I deserve this scholarship because I have fought through more than what most people ever see—and I’ve kept going. My challenges have shaped me, but they haven’t broken me. Instead, they’ve taught me to persist, to adapt, and to rise above.

I have been accepted to University of Oregon and that is where I am planning on going.

No, I have not gotten a full tuition scholarship or grant. My family is still struggling in funding my college expense.