First-Generation Student Pursues Her Dreams with Help from the John Youtsey Memorial Scholarship
For Betcy, attending college has always represented an opportunity to build a brighter future. As a student at Georgia Tech and the first person in her family to attend college, she has worked hard to pursue her educational goals while managing a bleeding disorder. As a recipient of the John W. Youtsey Memorial Scholarship, she is grateful for the support that has helped make those goals more attainable.
Betcy was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder while in high school. Since then, Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) has been a source of support for both her and her family as they learned to navigate life with a chronic condition.
"Having HoG's support is something my family and I are very appreciative of," said Betcy.
The scholarship has helped ease the financial burden of college, allowing Betcy to focus on her studies and future plans. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to attend law school. "With support from the scholarship, I'm able to worry less about going into debt during my undergraduate career," she said.
The scholarship has also given Betcy the chance to experience an important part of college life that had previously been out of reach. Throughout most of her time at Georgia Tech, she commuted to campus in order to keep costs down. Now, entering her final year, she is finally able to live on campus.
"Going into my last year of college, something I had to put aside to prioritize my education was being able to live on campus," Betcy said. "Now, with help from the John Youtsey Memorial Scholarship, I'm finally able to live on campus. It's been such a wonderful experience being closer to my friends and being more immersed in the college community."
In addition to scholarship assistance, Betcy has benefited from several HoG services that help address the many challenges of living with a bleeding disorder. "HoG has provided me with support even beyond my educational expenses," she said. "I'm able to get insurance premium assistance to help afford healthcare costs, and through the Mental Health Wellness Program, my therapy sessions are reimbursed. Having all of that support is crucial, especially as a college student."
Betcy has also found ways to give back to the bleeding disorder community. She has volunteered at HoG events, including Trot to Clot, and served as a camp counselor at Camp Wannaklot. "I volunteer to be able to share my story," she said. "It's really nice to connect with others who have similar experiences and understand what it's like to live with a bleeding disorder."
As she prepares for graduation and plans for law school, Betcy is thankful for the resources, opportunities, and community HoG has provided along the way. For her, the John Youtsey Memorial Scholarship is more than financial assistance. It has provided opportunities that once felt out of reach.