I am pursuing a college degree because I do not want to spend my life wondering what I could have become if I had believed in myself enough to try. I want to prove to myself that I am capable of doing difficult things, following through on my goals, and becoming someone others can depend on. My dream is to become an FBI agent, and college is where I will begin turning that dream into a responsibility I am prepared to carry. There is something intimidating about saying a dream that big out loud. Part of me feels excited, and another part wonders whether I have what it takes. But this dream matters too much to let those doubts make the decision for me. I want to earn my confidence through the work I put in: staying committed when classes are difficult, asking questions when I do not understand, and trying again when I fall short. I want to discover how much I can accomplish when I stop allowing uncertainty to hold me back. At South Dakota State University, I plan to study criminology and sociology. I want to understand why crime happens, how it affects families, and what communities need to feel safe. I also want to become a better listener and learn to see beyond my own experiences. Someday, someone may depend on my judgment during one of the worst moments of their life. That possibility makes my education feel deeply meaningful. I owe that person the effort it takes to become prepared. My family has helped me understand what service looks like long before I have a career. Through delivering Thanksgiving meals and volunteering, I have learned that caring about people means being willing to give your time and attention. Those experiences have shaped the kind of man I hope to become. I want to notice when someone needs help and have the courage and compassion to respond. That is also why I want to lead by example. My younger sister and my nieces and nephew are watching me grow up. I hope they see someone who takes his dreams seriously and treats people kindly along the way. Someday, when they face something that feels beyond their reach, I want my example to give them a reason to try. I want them to know that being afraid does not mean they are incapable. My faith reminds me that my life has a purpose and that the opportunities I receive come with a responsibility to serve. I want to make my family proud, but I also want to become someone I can be proud of when no one else is watching. Serving my community and country would allow me to put those values into action every day. When I picture earning my degree, I think about the younger version of myself who wondered whether he could do something this big. I want to be able to tell him, “You kept going. You did it.” Then I want to take everything I learned and use it to help someone else. That is why I am pursuing college: to build the confidence, knowledge, and character to become the man I hope to be—and to make my life useful to others.

I want to help build a world where a child can fall asleep without being afraid, a family can feel safe in their neighborhood, and someone who has made harmful choices can find a way to change. I know I cannot accomplish all of that alone. But I want to spend my life doing my part, and I plan to begin with the people in my community. My goal is to study criminology at South Dakota State University, become a law enforcement officer, and eventually work toward becoming an FBI agent. I want to protect people from harm and help victims find safety and justice. I also want people who commit crimes to receive the help they need to stop hurting others and turn their lives around. Taking someone off the street may stop an immediate danger. What happens afterward matters, too. I want to learn how officers can connect people with addiction treatment, mental health services, and other resources that support lasting change. Accountability is necessary, but I hope to approach it without giving up on someone’s ability to become a better person. Helping prevent another crime means protecting another potential victim and giving a community a chance to heal. I especially want to build trust with children and teenagers. I hope to volunteer with youth programs, attend community events, and be present before anyone needs to call for help. I want a child who is scared to feel comfortable coming to me. I want a teenager headed in a harmful direction to have someone who will listen honestly, set clear expectations, and encourage a different future. That work begins with how I treat people today. My parents have taught me to give back, work hard, and show kindness without expecting something in return. Through Feed My Starving Children and Thanksgiving meal deliveries, I have contributed to helping people meet a basic need. In college, I plan to seek out opportunities to continue serving, whether through food programs, youth activities, or community projects. I want service to remain a regular part of my life as my responsibilities grow. My Christian faith shapes these goals. I believe every person has value in God’s eyes, including people who feel forgotten or have made serious mistakes. I want my actions to reflect that belief. For me, that means listening before making assumptions, treating people with dignity, and having the courage to stand beside someone who needs protection. I also know that good intentions will not be enough. I will need education, training, patience, and the willingness to learn from people whose experiences are different from mine. I want to understand the community I serve so I can make thoughtful decisions when those decisions matter most. The impact I hope to make will be measured in people: a victim who feels heard, a child who knows where to turn, a family that feels safer, or someone who accepts help and begins again. I want to give back to the world by helping make those futures possible, one person and one community at a time.

Before I ever wear a badge, I want my heart to belong to Christ. Psalm 46:1 says, “ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” these words reflect the faith I want to carry into every part of my life. I believe God is the greatest healer and protector. As I prepare for a career protect protecting others, I pray that He will shape me into someone who serves with courage, wisdom and compassion. My gratitude to God reaches back to kindergarten, when I developed sepsis that threatened my leg and hip. My teacher noticed that I was confused and recognized that something was wrong. Her quick thinking helped to get me urgent medical attention. Emergency surgery, more than two weeks in the hospital, and weeks of treatment followed. I was too young to understand everything happening. Some details I know through my parents. As I have grown older, I have begun to understand that my teacher, medical team, and parents helped preserve my chance to run, play baseball, and enjoy a childhood filled with sports. I see God‘s care in the teacher who paid attention, the medical team who worked to save my leg, and the family who stayed beside me, I am thankful for their actions and for every opportunity I have had since. That gratitude makes me consider what I will do with the life God has given me. My faith does not give me an explanation for every painful experience. It gives me someone to turn to while I face it. After shoulder surgery in June 2026, I could not work, play sports, or drive. I had planned to earn money for college. Instead, I had to accept help when I wanted independence. My faith reminded me that I could bring my frustration to God. I could ask for patience, follow the steps of recovery, and trust Him with the future I could not control. My parents have taught me that loving Jesus should influence how I treat others. Volunteering with Feed My Starving Children, delivering Thanksgiving meals, and giving gift cards to strangers have given me opportunities to practice that lesson. Each act of service reminds me to pay attention to needs beyond my own. I plan to study criminology at South Dakota State University and eventually work to become an FBI agent. I want my faith to guide how I carry the responsibilities of law enforcement. Every person I encounter will deserve dignity and fair treatment regardless of their beliefs, background, or circumstances. I hope prayer will help me approach difficult situations, thoughtfully. I want humility to keep me willing to learn, admit mistakes, and accept correction. When someone is frightened or struggling, I want to listen carefully and respond with compassion while doing my duty. Someday, I also hope to become a husband and father who builds a Christ centered home. I want the people closest to me to experience the same love and patience I hope to offer my community. Whatever my future holds, I pray that my life will honor God. He has given me people to learn from, opportunities to grow, and reasons to be grateful. My prayer is that He will prepare me to serve faithfully and that someone facing a frightening moment will find comfort because I was willing and ready to help. Dad is great. God is love. I pray that through my life and service, others will see His love in me.

My kindergarten teacher says I owe her a book. More specifically, she says I owe her a visit to read to her class because she helped save me. This year, my niece sits in her classroom. Whenever my teacher jokes about collecting that debt, I am reminded that I have grown old enough to read to children, whose age I was when she noticed something was terribly wrong. I was confused and not acting like myself. Her quick thinking helped get me urgent medical attention. I had sepsis following a tonsillectomy, and my leg and hip were in danger. Some details come from my parents because I was too young to understand the seriousness of what was happening. Within about an hour of arriving at the hospital, I was in emergency surgery. The operation lasted five hours. I spent more than two weeks hospitalized, needed a PICC line for five weeks, and missed over a month of school. Back then, I could not understand everything those people had done for me. Growing older has given me a different understanding of what they saved. They gave me a chance to run onto a baseball field, play football, and basketball, to stand beside teammates, and to spend my childhood playing sports without stopping to consider whether I would be able to walk. I got to take those things for granted. Now, I am grateful that I could. In June 2026, open shoulder surgery brought another difficult recovery. This time, I was old enough to understand what I was missing. I could not work, play sports, or drive. I had expected to spend the summer earning money for college. Instead, i was at home recovering and I needed help with pretty much everything. It was frustrating to have determination and still unable to do what I wanted. Recovery taught me to respect limits, accept help, and be patient with progress I could not rush. It also gave me something I hope to remember throughout my life: needing help can be difficult, even when you are grateful for the people giving it. My parents have taught me to respond to others needs through acts of kindness. I have volunteered with feed my starving children, helped deliver Thanksgiving meals and participated in gift giving to strangers. Each experience has asked me to give some of my time and attention to someone else. Delivering Thanksgiving meals is especially meaningful because a holiday meal is something many families, including mine look forward to. Helping another family have that opportunity reminds me how much the things we consider ordinary can matter. My own childhood taught me that lesson long before I could put it into words. I plan to study criminology at South Dakota State University, pursue law enforcement, and eventually work toward becoming an FBI agent. I want to protect people and help build trust in the communities I serve. My path is in law enforcement, but the healthcare professionals who helped me have given me an example of how I want to serve. They used their knowledge and skills when my family needed them. I want to develop the judgment and preparation to be useful when another family needs help. I also want to remember the person experiencing the emergency. Confusion, fear, or frustration may make it hard for someone to explain themselves. My teacher noticed when I could not. Someday, I hope my attention and actions can help someone feel safer. My Christian faith guides that hope. I want to treat people with compassion, be honest when it is difficult, and remain accountable for the responsibility I am given. Those commitments will require practice throughout my education and career. When I see my niece with my kindergarten teacher, I see someone our family trusts with another child we love. I also see how fortunate I am to have grown up and to be planning a future. I cannot repay my teacher or the medical team for every opportunity their actions helped preserve. However, I can make those opportunities count by preparing for a life of service. And when I return to read to her class, I will walk in on the leg they help save.

There is a picture of me when I was about seven years old dressed as a police officer. Back then, I thought being a police officer was about the uniform, the badge, and catching bad guys. As I have gotten older, I have realized the badge represents something much bigger: being the person others can turn to when they are having one of the worst days of their lives. I am choosing a career in law enforcement because I want a job where what I do matters. Police officers often meet people when they are scared, angry, grieving, or unsure where to turn. I want to be the officer who can walk into those situations, stay calm, listen, and help someone feel safe. I also want to be someone children can look up to and someone families can trust. My family has taught me that helping others does not have to begin with a career or a title. Growing up, we have delivered Thanksgiving meals to families who might otherwise go without a special meal together. At Christmas, we have helped families by purchasing not only things they need, but also gifts their children want so they can experience the excitement every child deserves. I have also volunteered at middle school dances, helping with games and activities for younger students. These experiences taught me that making a difference often starts with simply noticing someone who needs help and choosing to show up. I have also learned the importance of hard work. I started working at my family’s auto glass business when I was fourteen and have spent summers working full days. I have also worked at Scheels, sometimes going there for another shift after working at the auto glass shop. This past summer challenged me in a different way when I had open shoulder surgery. I couldn’t work, drive, or do many of the things I normally enjoyed. Recovery and physical therapy taught me patience, perseverance, and not to take opportunities for granted. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with an FBI agent and learn more about a career in federal law enforcement. My long-term goal is to become an FBI agent, and that conversation made my goal feel more real. It also showed me that getting there will require education, experience, discipline, integrity, and years of hard work. I plan to study criminology at South Dakota State University as my first step. One difference I especially hope to make is helping strengthen trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. A badge carries authority, but I believe trust and respect still have to be earned by how an officer treats people. I want to listen before judging, treat everyone with dignity, and remember that every person I encounter has a story I may know nothing about. Darran Cherep served his community as a police officer for twenty-nine years. A career that long represents thousands of opportunities to help people. Someday, I hope I can look back on my own career knowing I used those opportunities well. When I was seven, I wanted to wear the badge. Today, I understand what I want that badge to represent: service, integrity, courage, and being there when someone needs help.

I wouldn’t say that I listen to Olivia Rodrigo because every song describes my life perfectly. What I like about her music is how honestly she writes about growing up. Being a teenager can feel like you are supposed to have everything figured out while your life is changing faster than you can process it. One minute you feel completely confident about where you’re going, and the next you’re questioning everything. “Nothing’s forever” means something different to me now than it probably would have a year ago. This past summer, I had open shoulder surgery. Before surgery, I was used to being independent. I had been working since I was fourteen, spent my summers working full days at my family’s auto glass business, worked another job at Scheels, drove myself where I needed to go, and stayed busy. Then suddenly, I couldn’t do many of those things. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t drive for a period of time. I couldn’t participate in sports or activities the way I normally would. Instead of spending my summer earning money and being independent, I spent it recovering and going to physical therapy. At seventeen, a few months can feel like forever. But they weren’t. Recovery taught me that difficult seasons eventually pass, even when they don’t feel temporary while you’re living through them. It also taught me that progress doesn’t always look impressive. Sometimes victory isn’t accomplishing something huge. Sometimes it is getting a little stronger than you were the week before. Now I am beginning my senior year, and “nothing’s forever” has another meaning. This is my last year of high school. Soon there will be a last football game with my friends, a last school dance, a last day walking through the halls of Byron High School, and eventually graduation. The same idea that helped me through a difficult summer is reminding me not to rush through a really good season of my life. Next year, I hope to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My long-term goal is to work in law enforcement and eventually become an FBI agent. I know getting there won’t happen quickly. There will probably be setbacks, disappointments, and moments when I question whether I can accomplish it. My shoulder surgery taught me what I hope to remember during those moments: where you are today isn’t necessarily where you will stay. Growing up means learning to let go of some things while working toward others. Olivia Rodrigo’s music captures many of those complicated emotions—uncertainty, disappointment, change, and figuring out who you are becoming. For me, “nothing’s forever” isn’t a sad thought. It’s a reminder to keep going through the difficult moments and slow down enough to appreciate the good ones.

When people hear the words “blended family,” they sometimes focus on the word blended. I have learned to focus on the word family. I grew up as one of six kids in a blended family. Some of us are related by blood and some by marriage, but inside our family, those differences have never determined how much someone belongs. Being raised this way has taught me one of the most important lessons I will carry into adulthood: family isn’t only about who you are related to. It is about who chooses to show up for you. My parents have shown me what showing up looks like. They taught me to work hard. I started working at our family’s auto glass business when I was fourteen, sometimes working full summer days and later working another job as well. They taught me to save money, take responsibility for myself, and understand that the things I want in life will require effort. But some of the most important lessons they taught me had nothing to do with work. Family dinners are important in our house. Sitting around the table together might seem insignificant, but it taught me that relationships require time. My parents also taught us to look beyond our own table. At Thanksgiving, our family helps deliver meals to people who might otherwise go without a special holiday dinner. At Christmas, we have adopted families who were struggling. My parents didn’t want us to buy only things those families needed. They wanted the children to receive things they wanted, too, because every kid deserves to experience the excitement and joy of Christmas. Those experiences taught me that doing good isn’t about receiving recognition. It is about noticing what someone else needs and deciding you can do something about it. That lesson has shaped my future goals. After graduation, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. I want to begin a career in law enforcement and eventually become an FBI agent. I know that career will require intelligence and courage, but I believe some of my greatest strengths will come from lessons I learned at home: listen to people, don’t judge someone’s story before you know it, stand up for others, work hard, and show up when someone needs you. Thirty years from now, success to me won’t simply mean having “FBI Agent” attached to my name. I want to be a good Christian, husband, father, friend, uncle, and member of my community. My nieces and nephews jokingly call me “Uncle Ding Dong,” but being someone they can trust and look up to is a responsibility I take seriously. I want them to see that kindness and hard work matter. Someday, I hope to build a family of my own. I want my children to grow up around a dinner table where they know they belong, but I also want them to understand that there will always be room at that table for someone who needs us. Being raised in a blended family taught me that you don’t have to share someone’s blood to change their life. Sometimes you simply have to choose to care, choose to help, and most importantly, choose to show up. And that is exactly the kind of person I hope to become.

I don’t know if I would describe myself as selfless. To me, calling yourself selfless almost defeats the purpose. I think selflessness is something other people should see in the way you live your life. What I can say is that I was raised in a family where helping people was never considered extraordinary. It was simply something we did. One of my favorite family traditions happens around Thanksgiving. Family dinners have always been important in our home, and I grew up knowing how meaningful it is to sit around a table with people you love. That is why delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in need means so much to me. We aren’t just delivering food. We are giving another family the opportunity to sit together, share a meal, and hopefully forget about some of life’s stresses for a little while. Christmas taught me another lesson about giving. My family has adopted families who were struggling financially and purchased gifts for them. My parents always made a point of buying not only necessities, but things the children actually wanted. I remember learning that there is a difference between helping someone survive and helping someone experience joy. Every child deserves to open something on Christmas morning that makes their face light up. Those experiences changed the way I look at helping people. Sometimes helping doesn’t involve money at all. I have volunteered at middle school dances, running games and activities for younger students. I try to notice the kid who might be standing off to the side and make them feel included. I also love being an uncle to my nieces and nephews. They call me “Uncle Ding Dong,” which probably isn’t the most impressive title I will ever have, but it is one of my favorites. I want them to grow up knowing that I will show up for them and that they can always count on me. That idea of showing up for people is also connected to my future. After high school, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My goal is to begin a career in law enforcement and eventually become an FBI agent. I know that career will require perseverance. It will require education, experience, discipline, and years of hard work. But I want to pursue it because I want a life where helping and protecting other people isn’t something I occasionally do. I want it to be part of who I am. My parents have taught me something I hope I never forget: you don’t have to be wealthy, powerful, or important to make someone’s life better. Sometimes you buy Christmas gifts. Sometimes you deliver a Thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes you include the kid standing alone. And sometimes you simply show up when somebody needs you. The best part about helping someone is realizing that kindness rarely ends with one person. Someone helps you, you help someone else, and hopefully that person continues it. I don’t expect to change the entire world by myself. But if I can make someone’s world a little better, and inspire them to do the same for someone else, that’s a pretty good place to start.

Some of the most important things I have learned in high school were never written on a whiteboard or included on a test. Mr. Jestus has taught me one of those lessons. What makes Mr. Jestus different is that he doesn’t just teach students; he takes the time to know them. He has conversations with us. He listens. He remembers what is going on in our lives outside of school, and he supports students in the activities that are important to them. Most importantly, he seems to notice when someone needs help, sometimes before that student even realizes they are struggling. That has made a bigger impact on me than he probably knows. High school students don’t always walk into a classroom and announce when something is wrong. Sometimes we don’t even know how to explain what we’re dealing with. It is easy for an adult to see a student sitting at a desk and assume everything is fine. Mr. Jestus looks beyond that. He pays attention to the person sitting in the desk. He has shown me that sometimes making a difference in someone’s life begins with simply noticing them. That lesson has changed the way I think about my own future. After graduation, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My goal is to begin a career in law enforcement and eventually become an FBI agent. For a long time, I thought about law enforcement mainly as a career where I could protect people and help my community. Mr. Jestus has helped me understand that helping people isn’t always about doing something dramatic. Sometimes the person who makes the greatest difference is simply the one who stops, listens, asks another question, and realizes there is more going on than what can be seen on the surface. Someday, that may be one of the most important lessons I carry with me as a police officer. I don’t want to become an officer who only sees a situation, a crime, or a problem that needs to be solved. I want to see the person standing in front of me. I want to listen before making assumptions. I want children and teenagers to know they can talk to me. And I hope I can learn to recognize when someone needs help even when they aren’t quite able to ask for it. Mr. Jestus also taught me something about leadership. You don’t have to demand people’s respect to receive it. You earn it by showing up, caring about people, supporting them, and making them feel like what they have to say matters. Years from now, I probably won’t remember every assignment I completed in high school or every question that appeared on a test. But I will remember the teachers who made me feel like I mattered beyond my grade. Mr. Jestus is one of those teachers. If I am fortunate enough to accomplish my dream of working in law enforcement, I hope I can give people the same thing Mr. Jestus has given his students: the feeling that someone sees them, someone is listening, and someone cares enough to help. Because sometimes changing someone’s life doesn’t begin with having all the answers. Sometimes it begins by taking the time to notice that they need you.

When I was about seven years old, I wanted to be a police officer. There is a picture of me from that age dressed like one, looking proud and probably believing that wearing a badge meant catching bad guys and being a hero. Ten years later, I still want that badge. But now I understand it differently. I understand that a badge represents responsibility. It means running toward situations other people are running away from. It means meeting people on what may be the worst day of their lives and having the ability to make that day a little less frightening. It means doing what is right even when nobody is watching. Most importantly, it means earning the trust of the people you have promised to protect. That is why I want to become a police officer. After high school, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My long-term dream is to become an FBI agent. I recently had the opportunity to meet with an FBI agent and ask questions about the career. I left that conversation understanding that my dream will require years of education, experience, discipline, and hard work. Instead of discouraging me, it made me want it even more. I have tremendous respect for law enforcement, but I also recognize that not everyone feels that way. One of my greatest goals is to be part of changing that. I want to be the officer who listens before judging, treats everyone with dignity, and understands that respect must be earned. I want a child to feel safer when I walk into a room, not more afraid. My family has taught me that serving others doesn’t begin when someone gives you a badge. It begins with how you live your life. We deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need, adopt families at Christmas, and look for opportunities to pay kindness forward. I volunteer at middle school dances and enjoy being around younger kids. I’m also an uncle, affectionately known to my nieces and nephews as “Uncle Ding Dong.” It’s a funny nickname, but being someone they can trust and look up to means more to me than they probably realize. Reading about Detective Augustin Gonzalez made me think about what true service looks like. He served as a police officer for twenty years and rose to detective, but what affected me most was learning that he served at the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks. When people desperately needed help, he was there. That is the kind of courage and service I hope to carry into my own life. I know putting on a uniform will never automatically make me a hero. The badge doesn’t make the person; the choices made while wearing it do. Someday, I hope that seven-year-old boy in the police uniform would be proud of the man I became. I hope my family is proud. I hope my community trusts me. And after my career is over, I don’t need people to remember my rank or accomplishments. I simply hope they remember that when someone needed help, I showed up.

My name is Aaden Burzette, and I am a senior at Byron High School in Minnesota. I plan to attend South Dakota State University to study criminology, with the long-term goal of working in federal law enforcement and hopefully becoming an FBI agent. I have always respected law enforcement, but what interests me most about the career is the opportunity to protect people, help others, and make a positive difference in my community. Community involvement has been an important part of how I was raised. My family believes that if you are fortunate enough to help someone else, you should. Around Thanksgiving, we help deliver meals to families who might otherwise not have a special holiday dinner. At Christmas, we have adopted families who are struggling and purchased both necessities and gifts so their children can experience the excitement of Christmas. I have also volunteered at middle school dances, where I help run games and activities for younger students. I enjoy working with kids, and being an uncle to my nieces and nephews is one of my favorite roles. They call me “Uncle Ding Dong,” and although the nickname is funny, being someone they can trust and look up to is something I take seriously. I have also learned the value of hard work. I started working at my family’s auto glass business when I was fourteen and have spent summers working full days there. I have also worked at Scheels, sometimes working a second shift after finishing at the auto glass shop. I have tried to save money because I know college is expensive and I want to contribute toward my education. Finances are one of my biggest concerns as I enter college. My family and I have talked honestly about the cost, and there have been times when I have wondered whether going to college is financially realistic. However, I don’t want finances to cause me to give up on a career I have worked toward. Scholarships would allow me to reduce the amount we need to borrow and let me focus more on succeeding in school. Keeping children and teenagers safe from bullying is also important to me. I believe one of the most powerful things an older student can do is make younger students feel included. When I volunteer at middle school activities, I try to talk to kids, involve them in games, and make sure nobody is intentionally left out. Sometimes preventing bullying starts with something as simple as noticing the person standing alone. Online, I believe we have the same responsibility. A screen shouldn’t give someone permission to say something they would never say face-to-face. I don’t participate in posts or group conversations that embarrass or tear someone down, and I believe serious threats or bullying should be reported rather than ignored or shared. My future career is ultimately about protecting people, but I don’t have to wait until I have a badge to start doing that. I can do it now by being kind, including others, speaking up when something isn’t right, and being someone younger kids can trust. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education so I can turn those values into a career of serving others.

My name is Aaden Burzette, and I am a senior at Byron High School. When I think about who I am, I don’t think the most important things about me can be found on a transcript. I think they are found in how I work, how I treat people, and the kind of person I hope to become. I grew up in a family that believes strongly in working hard and helping others. I started working at my family’s auto glass business when I was fourteen, working full summer days and learning that you don’t get anywhere by expecting things to be handed to you. I have also worked at Scheels, sometimes going from a full day at the auto glass shop to another shift there. Working has taught me responsibility, how to communicate with people, and the value of earning and saving my own money. My family has also taught me that success means very little if you aren’t willing to help someone else. Every Thanksgiving, we help deliver meals to families who might otherwise not have a special Thanksgiving dinner. At Christmas, we have adopted families who are struggling and purchased not only things they need, but also gifts they want. I have seen how something that may seem small to one person can mean so much to another. Those experiences have made me want service to always be part of my life. My goal after high school is to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. I hope to eventually become an FBI agent. I know that is a difficult goal, but that is part of what attracts me to it. I want a career where integrity matters, where people depend on me, and where I have an opportunity to serve and protect others. I also hope I can help build trust and respect between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This past summer tested me in a different way. I had open shoulder surgery, which meant I could not work, play sports, or even drive for a period of time. I had to focus on physical therapy and recovery. It was frustrating to suddenly be unable to do many of the things I was used to doing for myself, but it taught me patience and reminded me not to take opportunities for granted. Receiving this scholarship would help make one of my biggest opportunities possible: college. The cost of college is something I think about seriously. I don’t want the financial burden to keep me from pursuing my goals, and I also want to do everything I can to reduce the amount my family and I need to borrow. That is why I am willing to put in the work to apply for scholarships. A scholarship would be more than financial help to me. It would be someone saying that they believe my goals are worth investing in. I would be grateful for that opportunity, and I would work hard to make that investment worthwhile. Someday, I hope I am in a position to do the same for someone else.

I have always believed that the way you treat people matters, especially when no one is watching. I was raised in a family that believes in working hard, helping others, and paying it forward. Those values have shaped who I am and are a big part of why I want to pursue a career in law enforcement. After graduating from Byron High School, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My ultimate goal is to become an FBI special agent. What draws me to this career isn’t the badge or the title, I am interested in investigating crimes, putting pieces of information together, and finding the truth, but even more importantly, I want a career where my work has a purpose and can make a difference in people’s lives. I have tremendous respect for law enforcement officers and the responsibility they carry. I also understand that trust between law enforcement and the public isn’t automatic. I want to be part of making that relationship stronger. If I earn the opportunity to serve in law enforcement, I want people to know they will be treated with dignity and respect. I want to listen, remain open-minded, make decisions based on facts, and be someone others can trust during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Hard work has been part of my life from a young age. I began working in my family‘s auto glass business when I was 14. As I got older, I also took a job at Scheels and sometimes worked there after spending the day at the glass shop. Those experiences have taught me responsibility, time management, and the value of earning what I have. This past summer tested those qualities in a different way when I underwent open shoulder surgery. For a period of time, I couldn’t drive, work,  participate in sports, or do many things independently. Recovery and physical therapy required patience and determination. It taught me that progress isn’t always fast and that sometimes success means continuing to work towards something even when the results aren’t immediate. My family has taught me that success means more when you use what you have to help someone else. We have delivered Thanksgiving meals to families in need, provided Christmas gifts for families who are struggling, given gift cards to strangers, and looked for opportunities to make someone’s day a little better. Those experiences have shown me how much a small act can mean to another person. One of my favorite roles is being an uncle. My nieces and nephew know me as Uncle Ding Dong. It’s a funny nickname, but being their uncle means a lot to me. I know they are watching me grow up, and I want to be someone they can look up to. I want them to see that working hard, going to college, treating people well, overcoming setbacks, and pursuing a big goal can pay off. Becoming an FBI agent won’t be easy, and that is part of what motivates me. I don’t expect my future to simply be handed to me. I want to earn it. Someday, I hope my career allows me to protect others, seek the truth, serve my community and country, and be someone people can depend on. And if my nieces and nephew can look at Uncle Ding Dong and see an example worth following, I will consider that another kind of success. 

I believe one of the greatest responsibilities a person can have is earning someone’s trust when they are scared, vulnerable, or unsure where to turn. That is one of the reasons I want to pursue a career in federal law-enforcement. After high school, I plan to attend South Dakota State University and study criminology. My long-term goal is to become an FBI special agent. I know, reaching that goal will require much more than earning a degree. It will take discipline, integrity, good judgment, physical and mental strength, and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds. Those are qualities I want to continue developing throughout college and in my career. I have a great deal of respect for law-enforcement, but I also recognize that there can be mistrust between officers and the communities they serve. I don’t want to wear a badge and expect people to trust me because of it. I want to earn their trust through the way I treat them. I hope to be someone who listens before judging, treats people with dignity, stays calm in difficult situations, and remembers that behind every case is a person or family, whose life may have been changed forever. My family has greatly influenced the person I want to become. I was raised to believe that helping others isn’t about receiving recognition. My family provides Christmas gifts for families who are struggling and delivers Thanksgiving meals to families in need so they can gather around a table and enjoy a special meal together. We have also done smaller acts of kindness, such as giving gift cards to strangers or paying for someone’s meal. These experiences taught me that something small to you can mean everything to someone else. Another role that means a lot to me is being an uncle. My nieces and nephews know me as Uncle Ding Dong, a nickname that always makes them laugh. The name may be silly, but I take being their uncle seriously. I know they are watching the choices I make even when I don’t realize it. I want them to see me work hard, attend college, pursue a challenging career, help others, and keep going when things don’t come easily. I want to show them that success isn’t simply given to you, you need to work for it. I learned that lesson personally this past summer when I went open shoulder surgery. Suddenly, I couldn’t work, drive, participate in sports, or do many things independently. Recovery required patience, determination, and commitment to physical therapy. It taught me that circumstances can change quickly and gave me an even greater appreciation for the people who step up when someone needs help. Hard work has been part of my life for years. I started working at my families’s auto glass business when I was 14 and later balanced working there with a second job at Scheels while attending high school. Those long days taught me responsibility, time management, and the value of earning what I have. My goal isn’t simply to become a FBI agent. I want to become the kind of FBI agent people are thankful showed up on one of their worst days of their lives. I want to protect people, seek justice, build trust, and make communities better through a life of service. When my nieces and nephew look at Uncle Ding Dong, I hope they see proof that working hard, treating people with kindness, persevering through challenges, and doing the right thing can take you far. That will be the greatest reward.