I was always taught the importance of perseverance and hard work, even from a young age. I have been homeschooled since 2020, and it has helped me so much to learn self-motivation and discipline. These qualities will help me to take initiative, stay accountable without outside pressure, and run a firm that appreciates hard work even when it takes a long time to succeed. In addition to all of this, being homeschooled has helped me learn the value of leadership and community. These attributes help to support my ambition to pursue a college education in marketing and business management, and this scholarship would enable me to move closer to achieving that goal.
I have been blessed beyond measure, having had the privilege to grow up in a Christian household. From an early age, my parents have taught me the value of leaning on the Lord and doing everything for the glory and honor of him. I hope to one day manage and own my own business with the foundation of Christian values. I plan to do this by always integrating faith into my vision and daily operations. I will also work towards prioritizing honesty, integrity, compassion, and servant leadership in everything I do. This will not always be easy. We live in a broken world, so often fixated on ourselves. People may not always love how I manage my business or the fact that I’m a Christian, but I believe that I am fully called by the lord to make his glory known, whether or not that means my business is successful.
Aside from my faith, volleyball has played a vital role in my life; it has taught me how to work with others, be persistent, and overcome obstacles. In addition to being an athlete, it also helped to teach me how to be a leader on the court who inspires my teammates and leads by example. I will carry these skills and experiences with me far into my future career, and in the business world, I will use these skills to create strong teams who lean on each other, set a good example, and inspire others to overcome obstacles with determination. I was so fortunate to have had and still have such a wonderful, attentive, and God-fearing coach during the school season. Coach John, who started the Knoxville Trailblazers Homeschool team in 2021, has helped me not only to grow immensely in volleyball skill but has also set the example of how to bring Christian integrity to all that I do, on and off the court. Alongside the school season, I played for Club Unite on the 14U premier and 15U national teams, which advanced my skills remarkably but also taught me skills much like those in the school season: discipline, hard work, leadership, and good time management. It was definitely a struggle at times to manage so much volleyball and school while still trying to find the time to prioritize family and friends. However, God was faithful despite it all and helped me to get through even the busiest seasons, teaching me valuable skills along the way, which I will take with me into the business world and beyond.
Not only would this scholarship help relieve financial stress, but it would also be an investment in my future. I hope through determination, hard work, and faith, I will be able to make a lasting impact on both my future family and business and the community around me.
As a Christian, I try to ensure that all areas of my life reflect Christ. In this stage of my life that includes my athletics, academics, church involvement, social life, and spiritual life. As I prepare to begin the next chapter of my life by attending college and obtaining an accounting degree, I will make sure that I do not lose sight of my beliefs, values, and ethics. Honesty, integrity, patience, self-control, discipline, and hard work will all be vital as I begin this journey.
My honesty and integrity will make me stand out in the business world. Honesty and integrity are especially important in business transactions. No one wants to work with someone who is dishonest and lacks integrity. Lying and cheating also displease God. Proverbs 20:10 says “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” In my future career I will work hard to never lie, deceive, cheat, or misrepresent information, especially as an accountant.
I also want the Fruit of the Spirit to show in me as I navigate the business world. Specifically, I believe that patience and self-control are important characteristics of a good businesswoman. Proverbs 16:32 states “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” I will demonstrate patience by listening to others, speaking kindly, and prioritizing long-term gains over short-term benefits. I will also demonstrate self-control in the business world. I believe that self-control in the business world means not taking on unnecessary debt and being a good steward of the money that you have. Proverbs 22:7 mentions that “the borrower is slave to the lender.” While a successful business may have some debt, I will advocate against exorbitant amounts of debt. I will strive to ensure that I am a good steward in the business world by encouraging whatever companies I am involved with to give back to the community.
Finally, I will always work hard and be disciplined no matter where I end up in the world of business. The older that I have gotten, the more I realize the value of hard work and being disciplined. Sadly, I have also noticed how few people are willing to put in the hours and work hard to achieve their goals. Not only do I want to work hard for God, my family, and myself, I also want to set a good example for others through my hard work and effort. I take much encouragement from Proverbs 14:23, which says “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” I know that my hard work will make me stand out from others. By working hard, I will also find success in the business world. Proverbs 12:24 says “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” I hope to use my success in my career to be a light and point others toward Christ.
In conclusion, my Christian beliefs, values, and ethics will guide me throughout my career in business by providing me with a firm foundation. I will always strive to be honest, patient, self-controlled, disciplined, hard-working, and have integrity. I know that my career will have many ups and downs, but as long as I trust God and follow Him, I will succeed. Indeed, Proverbs 2:7 says “He holds success in store for the upright.”
