Wheeling to Heal-a fund for college
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Hannah Hovestol!
I am 18 years old and just graduated from high school after being homeschooled all my life. I am planning on attending college, but I have dealt with both recovering from a life-threatening eating disorder and the passing of my father to depression in November of 2017. Last year I was hospitalized in October, the prime time for applying to colleges and scholarships, but as a type-A kind of girl I was just gonna push through and apply once I got to the residential treatment center (the hospital would only let us use computers for an hour a day and I had other homework that took priority). However, come Thanksgiving, now at the residential center, I was struck with the news that my father had taken his life. After that, I was shaken, in shock, and in a lot of anger and denial. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think straight, and my mind would wander as I tried putting the pieces together. The last thing on my mind at that time was applying for college. It was hard just trying to finish and achieve the goals set for me at the residential treatment facility. I had not met my goal weight at the time of my father's death, so although I wanted so desperately to be home with my family (the residential facility was in another state, and over 500 miles from my home), I had to remain there until my father's memorial service. By the grace of God, and the wonderful support and prayers of my family and friends, I am now here: strong, recovering, and loving my body.
With all that I have been through, I had considered taking a gap year, but I found out in late January that one of my favored colleges still was taking applications (they have a May deadline). So, I applied and was accepted at Chaminade University, a private co-educational university in Honolulu, Hawaii. I chose Chaminade because it is a small private, faith-based college with friendly staff, students, and alumni. Most of all, Hawaii holds a special place in my heart because my parents not only met there, but also my dad, brother, and I were baptized there. At Chaminade, I was given the most funds that can be given to a 4.0 GPA non-Hawaiian student. Also, there was one scholarship I was able to apply for through my school district because it had a May deadline as well, and out of hundreds of applicants, I was the one awarded the $1,000 scholarship! Having been the recipient of the only scholarship I was able to apply for, I realized that I might have received more scholarships had I had the opportunity to apply for them (I am still looking online for any scholarships still available). In the meantime, I still need about $10,000 more to cover the rest of the tuition and school expenses.
Thus, I am hoping to do a bicycle trip in honor of my dad who in the last five years of his life did not have a car, but rode his bicycle everywhere he went. He always talked about taking me on a trip and I feel that this will help me to heal. Through this trip I hope to raise money and awareness of mental illness, suicide, and eating disorders. However, my doctors have said that in order to do this, I have to gain a few more pounds so that I may have some reserves for the strenuous trip. I am a few pounds from this goal, but it is not feasible at this time as I need to prepare for college and also the logistics of planning for this trip will take some time. I am hoping that perhaps I can do this next summer if all is in order. In the meantime, please keep checking here for updates, or you can also go to my Facebook page under Hannah Hovestol.
I hope that you will find it in your heart to help me in any way you can: prayers, financial support, posting this site or telling others about my story, etc. I thank you for taking the time to read my story and may God bless you!
p.s. If you think you might want to join me in the near future on a bicycle trip, feel free to contact me at: [email redacted]
Here is a picture of my mom and brother with me after my commencement ceremony.
I am 18 years old and just graduated from high school after being homeschooled all my life. I am planning on attending college, but I have dealt with both recovering from a life-threatening eating disorder and the passing of my father to depression in November of 2017. Last year I was hospitalized in October, the prime time for applying to colleges and scholarships, but as a type-A kind of girl I was just gonna push through and apply once I got to the residential treatment center (the hospital would only let us use computers for an hour a day and I had other homework that took priority). However, come Thanksgiving, now at the residential center, I was struck with the news that my father had taken his life. After that, I was shaken, in shock, and in a lot of anger and denial. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't think straight, and my mind would wander as I tried putting the pieces together. The last thing on my mind at that time was applying for college. It was hard just trying to finish and achieve the goals set for me at the residential treatment facility. I had not met my goal weight at the time of my father's death, so although I wanted so desperately to be home with my family (the residential facility was in another state, and over 500 miles from my home), I had to remain there until my father's memorial service. By the grace of God, and the wonderful support and prayers of my family and friends, I am now here: strong, recovering, and loving my body.
With all that I have been through, I had considered taking a gap year, but I found out in late January that one of my favored colleges still was taking applications (they have a May deadline). So, I applied and was accepted at Chaminade University, a private co-educational university in Honolulu, Hawaii. I chose Chaminade because it is a small private, faith-based college with friendly staff, students, and alumni. Most of all, Hawaii holds a special place in my heart because my parents not only met there, but also my dad, brother, and I were baptized there. At Chaminade, I was given the most funds that can be given to a 4.0 GPA non-Hawaiian student. Also, there was one scholarship I was able to apply for through my school district because it had a May deadline as well, and out of hundreds of applicants, I was the one awarded the $1,000 scholarship! Having been the recipient of the only scholarship I was able to apply for, I realized that I might have received more scholarships had I had the opportunity to apply for them (I am still looking online for any scholarships still available). In the meantime, I still need about $10,000 more to cover the rest of the tuition and school expenses.
Thus, I am hoping to do a bicycle trip in honor of my dad who in the last five years of his life did not have a car, but rode his bicycle everywhere he went. He always talked about taking me on a trip and I feel that this will help me to heal. Through this trip I hope to raise money and awareness of mental illness, suicide, and eating disorders. However, my doctors have said that in order to do this, I have to gain a few more pounds so that I may have some reserves for the strenuous trip. I am a few pounds from this goal, but it is not feasible at this time as I need to prepare for college and also the logistics of planning for this trip will take some time. I am hoping that perhaps I can do this next summer if all is in order. In the meantime, please keep checking here for updates, or you can also go to my Facebook page under Hannah Hovestol.
I hope that you will find it in your heart to help me in any way you can: prayers, financial support, posting this site or telling others about my story, etc. I thank you for taking the time to read my story and may God bless you!
p.s. If you think you might want to join me in the near future on a bicycle trip, feel free to contact me at: [email redacted]
Here is a picture of my mom and brother with me after my commencement ceremony.Organizer
Hannah Hovestol
Organizer
Bowling Green, KY