Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Antonie Bernard Thomas Memorial Scholarship

1.) As a strong leader I'm always authentic. People value honesty and sincerity in their leaders so that's what I try to resemble. I always try to have a vivid imagination; seeing everyone's perspective. Communication is key. The better we communicate the stronger our trust and loyalty becomes. I have this group chat set up on my iPhone where I can constantly communicate with my fellow soldiers. 2.) In my own words, resilience is the ability to bounce back from difficult times in life. Resilience comes from the lessons and skills we absorb as we grow up and as we face all our difficulties whatever they are. Being in army help me become more resilient. I am able to handle every and anything this world is able to throw at me. And get back up like nothing every happen. I woke up knowing that life is a challenge that is waiting to knock me down, but my army spirit constantly brings me back to my feet. 3.) As I leader I'm always willing to put others needs and wishes before my own. Whether it's in training or dinner chow my team comes first. With that being said, my followers are willing to follow my great leaderships. Unselfishness makes me a great leader. I have put my fellow soldiers ahead of me so many times that it becomes a way of life. Especially when it comes to safety. As an infantry men it's part of my job to defend this country . Having my soldiers back and putting them first brings cohesiveness so therefore we can work as a team and do what we are train to do ;Protect American lifes. 4.) Everyday I tell myself that the world is mine. I do this on a routine bases so it could process in my brain. I often reward myself for each milestone I complete to stay determined and motivated. As long as I follow my routine there is know way I can fail. Staying focus to me is the key to success. To do anything in life you have to stay consistent. So far my routine has been working well so I plan on keeping it but, if needed it will subject to change in the near future. 5.) I'm always the first to come and last to leave work. I always try to go above and beyond to get the job done. Staying fit inside the gym gives me a real confidence booster. It motivates me and keeps me determined. I typically work 60+ hours a week so my work ethic it better than average.

To whom it may concern, My name is Nolan Coleman and the main thing in my life are my relationship with God, my role as a husband and future father, and my continued service as a United States Marine. I will be adding the title of Wichita City Police Officer in January when I start the academy. I am studying online at Southern New Hampshire University in Criminal Justice in order to develop my knowledge and ability to make a difference in my country and within my community. I have served as a leader as an Eagle Scout, Commanding officer of my high school, Annapolis NJROTC program, and as a rifle team commander. After high school, I followed Gods plan for me and went on a two year church service and proselyting mission in Sacramento, California. We focused of preaching of Christ, serving our neighbors and planning service projects and helping at local food banks as well. I served in leadership for over 18 months of the 24 months, working to create goals, standards and excellence within my fellow missionaries. This was fulltime and required dedication to our beliefs and a strong work ethic and resilience to go out everyday and face the tediousness of doing the almost same routine everyday for two years. Within the Marine Corps, I am a Corporal. As an Non Commissioned Officer of Marines is a big role to acquire and one I do not take lightly. I have personally lost a Marine to Suicide and another to Drug addiction. This has led me to focus mainly, in my style of leadership, on the welfare of my Marines and subsequently those I meet everyday in life. I also have to utilize communication and delegation when we preform our training operations. People can easily work less effectively when communication from the leader is harsh or without care for them. My MOS of 1391, Bulk Fuel Specialist, requires efficiency as we move and lay out portable fuel sites and fuel aircraft and land vehicles. This requires hard work and an effective team that can communicate well in crunch time. I currently work as a security officer at a local mall, where I live, as I wait to start my police career in January. We often deal with homeless, mentally ill, and youth. These groups require more understanding and tactfulness when involved in a situation. This job has greatly increased my skills in communication for such reasons. My life has been filled with leadership roles, desire to be better and the most important giving up as much of myself in the benefit of others. I seek to assist my country, community and family through my work and personal interactions. I have been resilient through ruthless training and opposition to who I am and what I believe and stand true to what is true. I have no greater desire than to continue to develop the traits of a leader and especially that of a selfless friend of all I meet.

Courageous – is the act of being ready and willing to face negative circumstances involving danger or pain. Being courageous is the reason why I am applying to this scholarship now. I decided to take a leap of faith during the process of me getting my second degree. My courageousness will be the beginning of financial freedom for my family and I. In less than seven years my goal is to be debt free and I will begin the process of helping my mother get debt free as well. At the start of 2020, I had no idea that the media studies degree I was going to school for was not going to be used right away. Due to the coronavirus, healthcare jobs started to spike leaving upcoming media studies students jobs very slim. As a 19 year old dropping out of school didn’t seem like the best option. During my time at Fort Valley State University, It was very productive. I joined a number of community service organizations that built my character as an unselfish, caring, focused, patient student with increased strengths in work ethics. A few organizations I joined were The Blue Coat Ambassadors, a group of collegiate students who serve the President of Fort Valley State University, his colleagues, students, alumni, and staff at all special events held on or off FVSU’s campus. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP to ensure the political, educational, equality of minority group citizens of States and eliminate race prejudice, and Mary Magdalene a group that trained me to assist people who have been sexually abused or harassed. I didn’t realize that staying, and not using my degree right away would put me in more debt than I already was. I had aspirations to be a doctor but I didn’t want to stay in school 8 to 10 years or more but I knew I wanted to have a healthcare job to help and to serve people who may have medical issues. I remained resilient in my decision to stay and God spoke a word over my life. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2022 where I discovered sonography, I was scrolling on TikTok and it found me. Sonography is the perfect job for combining healthcare and photography. This is what I am destined to do. So now with a bachelors degree in media studies, I’m going back to school for my associates degree in sonography. It takes a real courageous person to have $28,000 worth of debt and go back to school for $50,000 with high hopes to get rid of their debt and to have financial freedom before the age of 30. This is what courageous looks like. I refuse to settle and to give up on my dreams, that is how people get depressed because they lose the thrill of life due to circumstances. “Be the change you want to see”, is one of my favorite quotes. I am a God fearing woman who is exercising her faith by walking by faith and not by sight. I also have brains because at Fort Valley State University my last semester ended with a 3.6 GPA. Kristin Kirby is more than capable of becoming a registered diagnostic medical sonography. Taking those good risks, will be my token to an awesome life. God is going to bless me so that I can ultimately bless others. I first must go through the process of continuing to be courageous, kind, and becoming wiser.