Both literature and psychology fascinate Rachel, a junior at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Virginia. Although she has faced some health challenges, she has continued to press forward towards her goals. Here’s what else she had to say.

Have you gone through any tough or challenging times? If yes, how did you deal with those challenges?

Yes, I had an acute onset of PANS and have been struggling ever since. This was dealt with using prescribed medications (prescribed by psychiatrists and used as prescribed), therapy, accommodations in school, herbal supplements, and other treatments.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Girl on the Rise?

Since my mother is a single parent with three children going to college at the same time, college expenses are daunting, to say the least. Additionally, all three of us have other medical expenses. This scholarship will help us enormously with the expenses of SAT prep and college visits which would have been much more difficult without it.

What inspired you to want to be involved with Girls on the Rise?

I first heard of this scholarship from my Big Sister [at Big Brothers Big Sisters], Elizabeth. While I wasn’t sure the chances were very high that I’d get the scholarship, I thought that it would be incredibly useful in the process of finding and preparing for college.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals? In other words: Why is the opportunity to visit your prospective colleges important to your journey?

As someone still battling a condition that affects my daily life, it’s important to me that I go to college in an environment that I feel comfortable in. One of the symptoms of the condition is anxiety in my case, so going to a good school for me is most likely critical to my success.