Coach Ray Memorial Athletic Scholarship

I was destined to be a point guard—just not a very good one. Before a wave of ridiculously talented freshmen came in, my job was to run the offense and put points on the board. But the moment I saw our new point guard casually drop 30 like she was out for a light jog, I had an important realization: my playmaking career was over before it started. I could have fought it, maybe launched a few ill-advised threes to prove a point—but I like winning. So, I adapted. If I wasn’t going to be the one scoring, I was going to be the reason we scored. While she ran up the scoreboard, I was the one making it possible—grabbing rebounds over girls who had at least half a foot on me, diving for loose balls like my life depended on it, and turning defense into easy buckets. I led our team in rebounds, steals, and assists—not because I was the biggest or fastest, but because I was the one willing to outwork everyone else. Some people want their name in lights—I just wanted to make sure the lights stayed on. That’s how I approach everything. I don’t need to be the star. I need a purpose. Whether it’s on the court, in the classroom, or in my community, I thrive in the hustle. As ASB Head of Athletics, I work behind the scenes to make sure every athlete at my school gets the recognition they deserve. I plan spirit events, celebrate overlooked players, and push for a culture where every team feels supported. Just like in basketball, my job isn’t to be the face of the operation—it’s to do the work that keeps everything running smoothly. That same mindset carries into my career goals. I want to be a veterinarian, not because it’s glamorous (I am fully aware I will spend a concerning amount of time dealing with animal bodily fluids), but because it’s necessary. Animals can’t speak for themselves, so I want to be the one fighting for them. I know veterinary medicine, like basketball, isn’t just about talent—it’s about persistence, problem-solving, and stepping up when it matters most. It’s long nights, early mornings, and doing the work no one else wants to do—but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. I qualify for this scholarship not because I was the best scorer, but because I was the glue. The one who made sure everything and everyone worked together. The one who found ways to contribute, no matter the circumstances. That’s who I am—on the court, in my school, and in the future career I’m chasing. And while I might not be the one dropping 30, you can bet I’ll be the one making sure someone else can.

Lessons are past experiences in life that shape the future depending on how it is approached. I learned this when I was working extra hard to make the varsity basketball team my junior year. I went the two previous years on the tournament team, which consisted of playing full time on JV and occasionally being pulled up to varsity games and tournaments, I| got to play but I wanted to prove that I could handle more. As a kid I was extremely unathletic, so when I asked my parents to sign me up for basketball they were shocked since my coordination was all over the place. Obviously I was a lot less skilled than kids who have been playing for years before me, but what set me apart was my fearlessness and my passion to succeed. Even though I wasn't the best, I knew this was the sport I wanted to play, so my parents decided to invest in a trainer to build my strength and skills. When I got to high school I knew immediately that I wanted to play for the school team, so I went from training every now-and-then to working out everyday, which started to set me apart from others. Starting my freshman year during COVID set me ahead because I continued to work while others didn't. Over time I was making progress throughout the program, but I wasn't satisfied. I was craving the game time and wanted to show that the work I was putting in outside of practice was actually helping. The summer of my junior year I grinded like no other; I would have practice in the morning and then a couple training sessions in the afternoon. I wanted to prove that I was varsity material, and if the coaches couldn't see it off the bat, I would have to work harder than anyone else. The training I did eventually started to translate into my practices, but the issue was that I still hardly played in the varsity tournaments. At practices I was always paired up with the quickest and best ball handler on the team, which made my defense one of the hardest to beat. When we finally started to go to tournaments, the few seconds I was on the court I made a positive impact with my defense, which stood out to my coaches. Throughout each game I started to be put in for longer than the last, allowing me to show what I have been working on for years. By the time season rolled around I went from playing 30 seconds a game to being one of the starting five. Although it was an on-going mental battle and one of the hardest things I had accomplished while maintaining higher than a 4.0 GPA, I pushed through and learned that no matter what obstacles are in the way, if you believe in what you're working for, put in the hard work, and stay dedicated to what you want, anything is achievable.