Scott, who graduated with a degree in finance from theĚý, was working as a global executive in the renewable energy industry. Shackled by society’s expectations, the need to please everyone, and the habit of putting her own needs last, she reached a point where it all became too much.Ěý

“I had built such a barrier around my emotions and my heart based on experiences I had in my life,” said Scott. “It was such a burden on my heart, and I got to a place where I finally said I’m quitting my job and giving away most of my things.”

After packing up what belongings she had left and saying goodbye to her stressful lifestyle in Nashville, Scott said hello to the remote jungle of Costa Rica.

Scott’s time at UofL was her first experience of facing the unknown, and the diverse group of people she met allowed her to expand her worldview. The lessons she learned and the people she encountered as a student at UofL served her well as she spent three months in a new country.

Living off the grid in a secluded area – miles off the paved road with no cell phone reception for miles – allowed her to experience the powerful and rewarding feeling of getting in sync with nature as she once had during her childhood.

“As a child, I had lots of animals and loved them and felt very connected to them,” said Scott, who grew up in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. “Experiencing that reconnection, but this time with wild animals, was empowering, fascinating and inspiring.”

Between several encounters with scorpions and bats, Scott’s rekindled connection with nature and wildlife during her time in Costa Rica taught her important life lessons of taking risks and letting go of things she couldn’t control.

“I don’t want any person to feel like what others think is more important than who they authentically are and the power they have in their own right.

“One of the things I learned from bats is that they can’t fly from the ground. They have to be willing to just let go and risk falling,” she said. “That’s how we are in life – sometimes we just have to take that risk.”

During her experience, she discovered the art of journaling and found strength in getting her thoughts and feelings out on paper. Although becoming an author was never the intention, Scott was inspired to share her story with the world of how she went from burnout to reigniting her life.Ěý

“I had a wonderful Business Communications course at UofL that gave us very practical tips on writing everything from thank you letters and resumes to getting thoughts down in a concise way,” Scott said. “Those learnings carried over into writing articles, journal publications, blog entries, and of course the book.”

Her book, Trust Your Animal Instincts, is about reconnecting to your intuition and recharging to stay positive in your own life. While people don’t have to go through exactly what she felt, Scott shares her tips and tricks for recognizing signs that lead to burnout, tapping into your personal power, and rediscovering your purpose.“What inspired me to write the book was allowing myself to feel emotions for the first time in decades,” she explained. “I don’t want any person to feel like what others think is more important than who they authentically are and the power they have in their own right.”

After returning from Costa Rica rejuvenated with a new outlook on life, Scott embarked on a different career path she is passionate about. More importantly, she has adapted the valuable lessons acquired in the jungle to fit her everyday life.

“The way I’ve changed the most is if I thought someone was on a path that was destructive or negative before, I’d try to convince them otherwise,” she said. “Now, I’ve learned to redirect their energy and put a shield up to let it flow around me rather than letting it hit me. It has made me stay a lot more positive because I don’t take on negativity.”

Scott recognizes the challenge that comes with trying to completely tune out negativity, but she encourages everyone to realize how the things we do every day create ripples around us. By focusing too much on the negative things surrounding us, it pulls away from our positive energy.

“The feelings that will lift you up are love and compassion,” she said. “If you feel good about it in your heart, and if you feel passionate that you might be helping yourself and others, then I say jump off the diving board and make some ripples.”

Tabitha Scott’s book, Trust Your Animal Instincts, is available for purchase onĚýĚýand you can visit her websiteĚý.

While in Kazakhstan, Sanders will complete an English teaching assistantship.

“I decided to pursue an English teaching position because I’m terrible at language learning,” said Sanders, a South Carolina native. “Languages are extremely challenging for me, and it’s precisely that challenge that draws me to mastering languages and helping others to do the same.”

Before hearing that she had been named a Fulbright Scholar, Sanders embarked on several adventures, such as hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail and working on a sheep farm in New Zealand. Receiving the award allows her to pursue both education and “esoteric” endeavors.

“When I found out that I got the Fulbright … I realized that not only can I do both things, but that they are complementary,” said Sanders. “My strange adventure has taught me flexibility, adaptability, and patience, which will make me a better English teacher in Kazakhstan.”

Sanders graduated from UofL in May of 2019 as a double major in Anthropology and Environmental Studies with a minor in Russian Studies. Prior to receiving the Fulbright award, she was named a Vogt and honors scholar and received both the Anthropology and Liberal Arts departments’ Awards of Merit.

Sanders will leave for Kazakhstan in January. After completing her time there, she may pursue a master’s degree in łÉČËÖ±˛Ą or English.

“I’m hoping the Fulbright will both help me grow as a Russian learner and allow me to collaborate with other language learners.”

Twelve additional UofL alumni have earned 2019 student Fulbright scholarships, a prestigious international award coveted by many high-achieving scholars.Ěý.Ěý

The university has had outstanding results as a producer of Fulbrights. Since 2003, there have been 133 Fulbrights, more than all other Kentucky public institutions combined.

But for one employee the effort hits closer to home.

Violet Ehringer, daughter of Erica Osborne, program manager at UofL’s Kent School of Social Work and a UofL alum, has struggled with a rare congenital heart defect since birth.

This year, Violet will be crowned as Queen of the 2017 Kentuckiana Heart Walk, held Sept. 23 at Waterfront Park.

UofL will have 35 teams participating in the walk including Osborne’s team, the Kent School Heartbeats. The UofL teams have collectively raised more than $35,000, with almost $4,000 coming from the Kent School Heartbeats.

UofLNews had the chance to talk to Osborne about her daughter’s condition and what it means for her to be mother of the Queen:

UofLNews: How/when did your daughter’s condition develop?

Osborne: Violet was born full-termĚýon November 6, 2015 weighing in at over 9 pounds. Though the pregnancy had been normal, and all ultrasounds had been normal, Violet’s oxygen levels were low. Her lungs collapsed, and she was placed on a ventilator. A few hours later, she was diagnosed with Total Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) a very rare congenital heart defect that impacts about 1 in 20,000 children. It’s when the pulmonary veins that are supposed to connect the left part of the heart to the rightĚýpart of the heart don’t connect. She was taken by ambulance to the NICU at what is now known as Norton Children’s Hospital. While she was there, she developed a blood clot that damaged her liver, and pulmonary hypertension. She was very, very critical. After almost 2 weeks in the NICU, her doctors decided she needed more advanced level care and she was taken by ambulance to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where she had open heart surgery on November 20, 2015. We were able to bring her home 10 days later.

UofLNews: What has been the treatment process?

Osborne: For the first few weeks after we brought her home, she was on a feeding tube. And for the first several months, we had to give her shots twice daily due to the blood clots. She also underwent a year of physical therapy to help her get caught up to other kids her age. There were also frequent visits to cardiologist in Cincinnati. But in December 2016, she was given the all clear to take a year between cardiology visits.

If you saw her today, you would never guess what all she has been through. She is a normal, energetic, always on the go toddler. She runs after her older sister, Evelyn, 5, and older brother, Paul Alan, 3. She will always be under the care of a cardiologist, but her future is bright.

UofLNews: Why was your daughter picked for the Kentuckiana Heart Walk?

Osborne: While Violet was in the NICU in Louisville, her cardiologist Dr. Delwyn McCombre (also a UofL grad), told me that we didn’t lose hope. So I planned Violet’s first birthday party. I imagined this big over-the-top celebration. And the second thing I did was to imagine myself talking to others about what Violet had been through. If she recovered, I wanted to spread awareness about congenital heart defects.

So, one day,ĚýI was at work, and I saw the email announcement about getting involved with the American Heart Association’s Kentuckiana Heart Walk, and I thought – ‘this is it.’ This is my chance to do the thing that I had imagined myself doing. At the first meeting that I went to, the AHA representative said that they needed a Heart Queen, and asked if anyone knew of a child who had a heart issue. And I was like, ‘yes!‘Ěý

UofLNews: What does being Queen of the Heart Walk entail?Ěý

Osborne: As the Heart Walk Queen, Violet has been involved in a few Heart Walk rallies and photo shoots. She will officially be crowned on the day of the Heart Walk. We also got to make an appearance with Dawne Gee on Wave 3. As the mother of the Queen, I’ve gotten a chance to speak to several groups about Violet’s story, working to both spread awareness and raise money for the walk. Additionally, my team, the Kent School Heartbeats, has been working hard to raise money through several different fundraisers.

UofLNews: What does it mean to you to have your daughter named Queen of the Heart Walk?

Osborne: Violet has come so very far. But I can close my eyes, and I’m instantly back in that hospital, listening to the sound of her ventilator. Before Violet was born, I didn’t know that congenital heart defects impact 1 out of every 110 children. And I know that there are parents out there going through the same thing that we did. And I know how scared they are. And I know how hopeless they feel. I hope that Violet serving as Queen gives them hope. I hope they see her and think, “If that kid can make it, so can ours.”Ěý

General donations to the Kentuckiana Heart Walk can be made or to search for a specific team go .