Through Edmond Mobile Meals I learned what selflessness actually looks like in practice: showing up for people who need help even when it is inconvenient, seemingly small, and out of our comfort zone. Before I turned sixteen, I lived almost entirely inside my room and on my video games. Severe social anxiety and ADHD kept me isolated. I avoided people, phone calls, and anything that required stepping into the community. When I turned sixteen, I decided that had to change. I started taking God more seriously and wanted to truly follow Him. One of my goals was to get past my fear and start making a positive difference for others instead of only existing for myself. The National Honor Society gave me the first structured chance. I applied not for the title but for the service requirement. Through NHS I found Edmond Mobile Meals and joined its Youth Leadership Council. That is where the real work began. At Edmond Mobile Meals I helped collect donations of handwarmers and other supplies, then delivered them so the organization could get them to seniors who needed them. I helped organize and assemble Holiday Gift Bags and made sure the combined donations from our groups actually reached the people they were meant for. Later I facilitated meetings, made sure quieter members were heard, and led advocacy efforts on social media about elder isolation and hunger. I was able to help cook and deliver nourishing meals. As we grow older, it becomes harder to go out consistently. This has left some elders isolated, especially those who may not have family who visit them much. During a meal-delivery route my cousin-in-law and I were given to deliver meals, many of the clients appreciated the food, but they also seemed to really want somebody to talk to. We were able to see the smiles on every client that we visited when they opened the door for us. It may seem small to most, but sometimes even just a short conversation with somebody can make their entire day. I learned that from my experience in Edmond Mobile Meals. These were not throwaway “community service hours.” They were concrete moments of meeting real needs: someone’s cold hands, someone’s empty refrigerator, someone’s loneliness during the holidays. The work required me to leave the safety of isolation, talk to people, coordinate with others, and keep showing up even on days when anxiety told me to stay home. That is the selflessness I am still learning: putting someone else’s immediate need ahead of my own comfort. I used to think leadership meant being the person others follow. Edmond Mobile Meals taught me something quieter and more important. Good leaders lift other people up. Sometimes that means stepping forward to organize or speak. Sometimes it means stepping back so someone else can. Every meeting and every delivery, our focus stayed on the people we were serving rather than on ourselves. I am continuing that mindset as I begin college. The same drive that pulled me out of my room and into Edmond Mobile Meals is the reason I am the first in my family to pursue a bachelor’s degree. I want the education and the career that follow to put me in a position to keep helping, whether through continued local service or by creating opportunities for others later on. I still have social anxiety every day, but I let my desire to help others and my desire to live a meaningful life overcome it. I want to lead in the way Jesus led: serving others.

I was blessed with a Christian family, but my claims to follow and love God used to be groundless. When I was younger, I was socially anxious and inactive in my faith. I struggled with going out and talking with people. I did nothing to repent from my sins or live for God. I used to be addicted to videogames and isolate myself in my room every day. I was a lukewarm Christian, but that all changed when I turned 16. It started with me seeking God intently. I began with reading the Bible. The more I read, the more attached I got to reading. I learnt a lot about Him that I didn't know before and began to recognize my sin. There was a relationship that I was in that was led by sin. Aligning with God, I made the decision to depart from that relationship. I didn't want to because of what my flesh wanted, but I knew that I had to because of what God wanted. That decision to resist my own desires was a huge turning point for my life. As my faith grew, my life continued to change in other ways as well. My social anxiety was suppressed with faith in God. I signed up to play recreational soccer, I found organizations such as Edmond Mobile Meals to help volunteer in my community, and I actively sought opportunities to go out and express myself. The confidence that was brewing, not confidence in myself but confidence in God, allowed me to have the courage to compete at a state-level and secure myself a spot in DECA's ICDC. I went to compete in an international competition that revolved around speaking and thinking on my feet. I didn't win, but I didn't go just hoping to win. I also went because I wanted to see proof of my transformation. Before God, I would have never wanted to compete at all even at a state level. Before God, I would have never had the confidence to go and compete internationally. Before God, I would have never seen my DECA State Finalist medal. Working at Goodwill, I have seen the difference from working now and working 2 years ago at Freddy's. I've learnt to show servitude leadership every day I work because of my experience learning about Jesus Christ and my time in Edmond Mobile Meals. I volunteer to do the tasks no one else wants to and bring up God when I can to spread the gospel. I've listened to my coworkers who had been discouraged from faith and offered them gentle guidance and a reminder of Him. I hope that I've been able to gently plant new seeds for God to do His work. As I move forward in my career, my confidence and willingness to take opportunities will come from God. At the University of Central Oklahoma, I will pursue my bachelor's in finance with the faith that He will guide every step. Life is a precious gift, and I have no intention of wasting it. Because of God, I'll never cut corners or take the easy road to achieve my dreams. I hope that with the financial expertise I'll get from college, I'll be able to provide for my family and also help others who struggle with finances. I'll always remember that money isn't everything, and my faith will protect me from ever putting worldly possessions or wealth before Him. God has completely transformed my life, and I know He will forever continue to do so.

People who know me usually call me the "dumbest smart person" they know. Growing up, I've always stuck to myself. I had severe social anxiety and preferred to just stay in my room all day playing video games. I couldn't make a phone call to schedule appointments, I couldn't talk at the drive-thru, and I hated going out because of all the people. With me being isolated from the world, I missed life experience other kids my age experienced. I have close to no knowledge over any popular celebrities or actors. At my current workplace, it has become a joke about how little I know about the world. They'll mention extremely well-known people and test to see if I know them (I usually don't). And that isn't just with knowing who people are: my isolation when I was younger means I've got hardly any common sense. For instance, at my previous job, I was tasked with mopping the floor (I had never mopped before). So, when I got the mop and got it in the water, I didn't rinse it but instead immediately got to mopping. It didn't take my boss long to stop me and ask in pure astonishment what I was doing. Looking back on it now, it was for sure a comedic moment. There's plenty of other moments where I've done something stupid because I just genuinely had never done or experienced whatever I was doing before. My isolation has defined a lot of my life, but it hasn't defined all of it. Despite being socially isolated, I did give academics my absolute best effort. I've always been a good scholar and took pride in my work. I was blessed to have a supporting family that helped me through the highs and lows of my academics. I've gotten awards that prove my efforts matter, but academics were the only thing that I truly had any care for in my life. At least until I broke free of my own cage. When I turned 16, everything changed. I was sitting in my room after another day of isolation, scrolling through my phone, when I saw highlights from the 2022 World Cup. For the first time ever in my life, I felt a real pull to step outside my comfort zone. I signed up for a soccer league weeks after, even though I was terrified of playing with other people and playing in front of a crowd of families. That small step led to me playing for my high school team, making friends, and slowly building confidence in myself that I never thought I could have. I'm more experienced in life now at 19. The transformation I had when I turned 16 is encouraging to me when I look back at it and see where I'm at now. The proof I needed came when I went to DECA's International Career Development Conference in May for an international competition that I qualified for. I've become much more confident in myself, I've become much more outgoing, and I've proved to myself that my effort in getting control over my life means something. At least, not all the time. I'm like a switch: sometimes my hard work in academics shows, and other times my lack of experience in life shows. I think me having those funny slipups will always be just part of who I am, but I know to laugh at those moments and have fun with those who happen to witness that side of me. Those moments are what make me the dumbest smart person that my friends know.

Being the first in my family to pursue college has been both a challenge and a blessing. With no one ahead of me to show the way, I've had to figure out this journey on my own. Knowing that so many people are counting on me brings a heavy sense of responsibility. I want to honor their belief in me and make the most of the opportunities I've been given. The pressure sometimes feels overwhelming, and I worry about letting both myself and my family down if I don't earn my bachelor's. Even so, that pressure has pushed me forward, given me clear direction, and helped build the determination I'll need as I begin at the University of Central Oklahoma. My academic journey started rocky. I was held back in kindergarten because I struggled to read, but with extra help in my second year I overcame that first major hurdle. From middle school onward I took my studies seriously. At Edmond Santa Fe High School, I discovered AP courses late in my sophomore year and felt overwhelmed. I was scared about being behind everyone else, especially since I was a year older than most of my classmates. Still, I refused to be scared away. I pivoted immediately, pushed myself harder with AP and concurrent courses, earned strong grades, and knocked out a full year of college credit. Earning the 25-26 First Generation Recognition Award from Edmond Public Schools showed me I have what it takes to keep moving forward. Now, as I transition to college, the biggest remaining challenge is financial. My family has supported me every step of the way, but covering the costs still feels intimidating. This scholarship would help ease that burden, reduce stress, and allow me to focus more fully on my studies instead of worrying about money. It would also serve as powerful validation that my efforts are seen and supported. My plans for the future are clear and purposeful. I want to become a Chief Financial Officer at a major company, build a stable life for my family, and use my success to give back. My interest in finance grew deeper as I learned about my family’s struggles. When my mother had me, they relied heavily on government support and fell into significant debt, yet they showed incredible resilience to pull our family into a stable position. That resilience inspires me every day. I want to help other families, especially first-generation ones, avoid similar hardship. I plan to teach free financial literacy courses to help families better manage money, guide first-generation students through college prep, and eventually create my own scholarships for students facing the same barriers I have. Oklahoma is ranked 48th in education for the nation, and I’d like to fight to help boost my community in any way I am able. I also hope to donate meaningfully to Edmond Mobile Meals, an organization close to my heart. Through my time on their Youth Leadership Council, I talked with families receiving support and witnessed their mission firsthand. That experience, along with my volunteer hours through the National Honor Society, taught me servant leadership and the real power of showing up for others. No one in my family has graduated from college, but I’m determined to make history. I want to become the best version of myself: the Aden Latimer I know I can be. With this support, I’ll be one step closer to turning my dreams into reality and helping others do the same.

Being a first-generation student has been both a challenge and a blessing. I'm the first in my family to pursue college, so I've had to build this path from nothing and walk it without a map. Many people I know are betting on me, and I feel a deep responsibility to repay the support and blessings I've received. Sometimes the pressure feels heavy. If I don't earn my bachelor's degree, I worry that I'll have disappointed both me and my family. But that same pressure has given me direction and built my character as I step into the University of Central Oklahoma's doors. That same pressure hasn't turned me away but has given me fuel to reach for success. I’ve prepared for this since my sophomore year at Edmond Santa Fe High School. I missed out on doing more AP courses sooner since I didn’t know anything about them. I remember feeling behind and overwhelmed, but I made sure to pivot immediately: I took one AP course my sophomore year and decided to push myself harder with more AP courses my junior and senior years. I secured strong grades and worked hard to catch up and prove my efforts mattered. Seeing those efforts pay off by knocking out a full year of college credit through AP exams and concurrent courses was incredibly validating. I was especially proud when Edmond Public Schools’ Board of Education awarded me the 25-26 First Generation Recognition Award. Those accomplishments showed me I have what it takes to pursue my dreams. Now, as I transition to college, the biggest remaining challenge is financial. My family has supported me every step of the way, but covering the rest of the cost feels intimidating. This scholarship would lift a significant burden, making college far more manageable and allowing me to focus on my studies instead of constantly worrying about money. It wouldn't just change my life. It would also honor everyone who has believed in me. My dream is to become a Chief Financial Officer at a major company, build a stable life for my family, and give back. I want to teach free financial literacy courses, create my own scholarships for first-generation students, and donate to organizations like Edmond Mobile Meals that supported my community. My time on their Youth Leadership Council shaped this drive. It taught me servant leadership and the power of directly helping those in need. Because I know what it feels like to be first-generation, I’m determined to support others the same way I’ve been supported. No one in my family has graduated from college, but I'm determined to make history. I want to become the best version of myself, the Aden Latimer I know I can be. Thank you.

My name is Aden Latimer. I am a 19-year-old senior attending Santa Fe High School, and a member of Edmond Mobile Meals Youth Leadership Council. Throughout the time volunteering with NHS and EMM, I've gotten the chance to get out of my shell and help my community. I used to be isolated and a huge introvert, but now I care for the community and engage with it. I was very socially anxious when I was younger. I struggled with activities such as being on the phone with a stranger, going to the store, and ordering through Drive-Thru. My parents had told me about Jesus Christ as I grew up, and I claimed to believe in Him. However, I had not spent any time with him nor live according to Him. I was very much so a lukewarm Christian in that sense. I used to be severely addicted to videogames, and I used to isolate myself in my room every day. However, when I turned 16, I decided I wanted to get my life together. It started with me taking God more seriously. I began reading the Bible, cutting off sinful actions that I had been committing, and ended a sinful relationship I had at the time. I did not become perfect, only one being ever was and that was Jesus Christ Himself. However, I did start taking God more seriously and began trying to live a better life for Him. I was able to get involved with the community through organizations such as the National Honor Society and Edmond Mobile Meals. Both organizations provided me with volunteer opportunities to help the community. After serving two years on Edmond Mobile Meal's Youth Leadership Council, I was able to participate in many meaningful volunteer engagements. I was able to help cook and deliver nourishing meals, as well as be a part of issue advocacy by ensuring that the issue of senior isolation was heard by the community. I've been helped a lot in my life. Despite my parents being in a very tough financial situation when they had me, they kept their faith and trust that it'd all work out. My parents love and gentle guidance has allowed me to life a very happy life and set me up to find God when I was ready to make that step. NHS and EMM have also been a huge help by giving me those volunteer opportunities to fight my social anxiety. But most importantly, God's love and His guidance have shaped my life. I have overcome my social anxiety, I have begun resisting sins more than ever, and I have been reading the Bible. Everyone's help, especially God's help, contributes to why I want to help others. I've been so graciously helped, and I want to return that favor and love others as God wants us to. I hope to be able to use my education in college in finance to help people out of their debts, control their own money, and free themselves of worldly concerns so that they can have more time to spend with God. I want to be able to make a comfortable wage so that I can donate a good amount to the community, and I want to ensure I volunteer frequently when I can throughout my life. I've been studying the Bible, and so once I have understood His word well, I hope to spread the gospel and be bold in hopes of saving others. I alone cannot save people, but I know who I can help guide people to: Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank you.

My name is Aden Latimer. I am an 18-year-old senior attending Santa Fe High School, and a member of Edmond Mobile Meals Youth Leadership Council. Throughout the time volunteering with EMM, I've gotten the chance to get out of my shell and help my community. I used to be very isolated and a huge introvert, but now I care for the community and engage with it. Throughout my life I have had academic success. After failing kindergarten, I bounced back. I maintained all As and Bs throughout Middle School and had all As besides 2 Bs in my previous years of High School. I have a 3.96 unweighted GPA, and a 4.15 weighted GPA. I've taken many AP tests and have scored 4's and 5's, and I am concurrently enrolled into UCO with a 97% being my first official college grade. I plan on going to UCO and graduating with a bachelor's degree in finance. Although I've been a strong scholar, I didn't always have a serving character. Before I turned 16, I didn't do anything outside of school or videogames. I had severe ADHD and social anxiety, so I stayed away from socializing with people. However, when I turned 16, I decided that I was going to get my life together. One of my goals was to get over my social anxiety and make a positive impact on my community. When I turned 17, the option to join the National Honor Society arose. I was intrigued, not by being able to label myself as a member of NHS, but by the opportunity of service. It was expected that each member would volunteer for the community. Each week, NHS would provide volunteer opportunities that could be taken. I knew this was something I needed, so I applied. Once I got in, my dedication to the community began. I started off by volunteering for the school, directly related to the NHS However, NHS then provided me with a gateway into EMM. I joined its Youth Leadership Council and began participating in EMM. Within EMM, I got the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my community directly. I was able to participate in Youth Leadership Council meetings to discuss how to help the community, go to stores and receive donations such as handwarmers, and deliver those handwarmers to the organization so they could distribute them. Additionally, I was able to assist with delivering and cooking nourishing meals for elders in need. After my first year with EMM, I knew I wanted a second. I signed up again just last year. I've been able to facilitate some meetings and be in charge of issue advocacy within my selective group. I let my group post across various social media to spread awareness of issues such as elder isolation, hunger, and more. Additionally, I was able to lead a different group in collecting items to give away in Holiday Gift Bags. I was responsible for organizing, grouping, and delivering our combined groups donations. I want to be successful in life, and my education can help me accomplish that goal. Being successful, to me, isn't just living a comfortable life. It's living a good life. I hope to be able to support people with financial understanding. I would love to help people wipe their debts and free themselves of the chains that come with them. My family, my teachers, NHS, EMM. They all helped guide me closer to who I want to be. I want to return the favor to society. I want to help people just as people have helped me. Thank you.

My name is Aden Latimer. I'm an 18-year-old student attending Edmond Santa Fe High School with plans to be the first member in my family to graduate from college and acquire a bachelor's degree in finance. When I first started school, I struggled and failed kindergarten because I couldn’t read. Even then, I felt what it was like to fail for the first time. During my second year, I received individualized instruction that helped me learn to read. From that moment forward, I took my education more seriously. By middle school, I maintained all As and Bs. Although I was doing well academically, I was stuck in my own shell. With ADHD and severe social anxiety, I struggled to make friends and spent much of my time playing video games rather than interacting with others. However, when I graduated from middle school, things began to change. I grew tired of doing nothing with my life and wanted to mature. After watching the 2022 World Cup, I became interested in soccer. My parents signed me up for a recreational league, which forced me to interact with others and became the first crack in my shell. I also tried out for my high school soccer team but was cut. Academically, I challenged myself with AP World History and earned a 4 on the AP exam. I maintained all As except one B in Spanish II freshman year. I also applied for jobs and worked at Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers over the summer before junior year. Sophomore year marked the beginning of a new chapter; junior and senior year became proof of it. When my junior year began, I didn’t let my failure in the school’s soccer team during my sophomore year discourage me. Like my younger self did in kindergarten, I bounced back. I trained over summer break, participated in training camps, and tried out for the team once more. This time: I made the team. I spent the school year as a member of my school’s soccer team and enjoyed playing games against the other schools in our district. My success in AP World History made it clear to me that I was capable of pushing even further. So I did. I signed up for AP US History, AP English Lang, AP Microeconomics, and AP Macroeconomics, an additional 4 AP courses. At the end of the year, I earned scores of 4s and 5s on their AP tests. At the end of my junior year, I took the ACT and received a composite score of 29. Additionally, I received an invitation to the National Honor Society due to my academic performance. It was more than just a label; it required 40 hours of volunteer service per school year. This volunteer experience freed me of my chains of social anxiety, and it allowed me to finally begin helping my community. I was able to help my church, help families pick out free Christmas gifts for their children and more. In particular, it gave me access to Edmond Mobile Meals. I was able to sign up for EMM’s Youth Leadership Council, and that is where I’ve been able to do the most for my community. Actively engaging in EMM and building a strong bond with the organization, I have been able to volunteer frequently. I’ve cooked nourishing meals, delivered nourishing meals, and engaged in meaningful conversations with the elders of the program. Being able to help those in need was a very enjoyable experience to have. Another organization I was able to join was DECA. I did not register for DECA’s state competition yet, but I took the program seriously and ensured that I retained the career skills it offered. I was able to learn how to be interviewed, how to make career presentations, and how to write professional emails. I am still in my senior year and have more to do, but I’ve already begun to continue this trend of my new life. I still push myself academically, but now it is with a clear purpose. I want to prepare for college. Taking AP courses and concurrent courses, alongside receiving scholarships, will allow me to attend college and be the first of my family to graduate. I’m currently taking AP Statistics and AP US Government. I have completed UCO English Composition I during my first semester with a 97% final grade. I’ve additionally enrolled into UCO English Composition II for the second semester of this school year. I am in my final year with EMM’s Youth Leadership Council. However, my bond with the organization has only grown. I’ve been permitted to facilitate some of our meetings, and a lot of my NHS hours this year have come from participating in EMM. I hope to continue to volunteer after graduation. Still involved with DECA, I’ve gone a step further as well. I have signed up for its DECA State Competition in Business Finance. After competing, I earnt a DECA State Finalist medal and will be competing at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) late April. I hope that, with participating, I’ll be able to learn more about Business Finance and ensure that it is a career I want to reach for. I’ve acquired a job at Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, and have reached the 6th month mark of working there. I’ve been able to gain valuable work experience and I have been trusted multiple times to help train new employees I want to make the world a better place however I can, especially in volunteering and donating. There’s many days where I wish I would’ve done more, wish I would’ve started sooner. But the last two years of my life have been my best, and I want more of those. I want to be who I know I can be. I want to be Aden Latimer. Thank you.

I wouldn't be the person I am today if it were not for soccer. My name is Aden Latimer. I'm an 18-year-old student attending Edmond Santa Fe High School with plans to be the first member in my family to graduate from college and acquire a bachelor's degree in finance. I'm concurrently enrolled in UCO and will be attending on campus Fall 2026. I decided to do finance as I've been interested in managing money and numbers. I also believe that I can be helpful to my family and my community through free financial guidance. I used to have severe social anxiety. I was unable to order at a drive-through, make phone calls for appointments, and I despised having to talk to the cashier when my parents and I went to the store. I stuck to myself, and never truly sought self-improvement. My life took a complete turn when I turned 16 and became a sophomore. I was getting tired of doing nothing in life and wanted to grow in maturity. So, I started fighting against my social anxiety. After watching the 2022 World Cup, I became interested in soccer. I started playing soccer in the backyard with my father. My dad had always tried getting me into sports before, primarily basketball, but I never found the interest in it. Funny enough, the one sport he did not introduce me to, ended up being the sport I wanted to play. I then signed up for a Recreational Soccer League, and this league was the first crack in my social shell. It forced me to interact with other people and communicate openly during games. The social shove from this recreational league was monumental for me, as I consider it the point that I started to engage with the world. I played as a Center Back, still very new to the sport and commonly outperformed by those who had been playing their whole lives. I didn't let that discourage me, though. I trained with my older cousin in my backyard and eventually got to the point where I was a reliable defender for my team. I didn't have the fundamentals like the other kids did, but my hustle made the difference. Additionally, I decided to push myself even further: I tried out for my high school's soccer team. My first year ever playing soccer, I decided I wanted to try. I got to enjoy the offseason, learning a lot and anticipating the training each time. I was very happy, and my social anxiety was shredding away. However, due to my lack of experience, I sadly was cut from the team. I didn't let that stop me. I trained over the next summer, participated in training camps, and signed up to try again. It paid off for me when I made the team the very next year. I was nervous, but also very excited to play. Soccer has changed my life. I used to be unable to do a lot of things, with my severe social anxiety holding me back in life. I socialize often and volunteer. I'm a member of Edmond Mobile Meals' Youth Leadership Council. Within EMM, I have been able to volunteer a lot. I've helped cook nourishing meals, deliver those meals, and have meaningful conversations with those in need. I've volunteered a total of 82 hours in the last two years, and I plan on doing far more than just that. Soccer freed me and allowed me to become a person who wants to help their community. And I'll never stop enjoying that.

My name is Aden Latimer. I am an 18-year-old senior attending Santa Fe High School, and a member of Edmond Mobile Meals. Throughout the time volunteering with Edmond Mobile Meals, I've gotten the chance to get out of my shell and help my community. I used to be very isolated and a huge introvert, but now I care for the community and engage with it. Before I turned 16, I didn't do anything outside of school or videogames. I had severe ADHD and social anxiety, so I stayed away from socializing with people. However, when I turned 16, I decided that I was going to get my life together. One of my goals was to get over my social anxiety and make a positive impact on my community. When I turned 17, the option to join the National Honor Society arose. I was intrigued not by being able to label myself as a member of NHS, but by the opportunity of service. It was expected that each member would volunteer for the community. Each week, NHS would provide volunteer opportunities that could be optionally taken. I knew this was something I needed, so I applied with haste. Once I got in, my dedication to the community began. I started off by volunteering for the school, directly related to National Honor Society. However, NHS then provided me a gateway into Edmond Mobile Meals. I joined its Youth Leadership Council and began participating in EMM. Within Edmond Mobile Meals, I got the opportunity to make meaningful impact on my community directly. I was able to participate in Youth Leadership Council meetings to discuss how to help the community, go to stores and receive donations such as handwarmers, and deliver those handwarmers to EMM so that the organization could distribute them. Additionally, I was able to assist with delivering and cooking nourishing meals for elders in need. After my first year with Edmond Mobile Meals, I knew I wanted a second. I signed up again just last year. I've been able to facilitate some meetings and be in charge of issue advocacy within my selective group. I let my group to posting across various social medias to spread awareness of issues such as elder isolation, hunger, and more. Additionally, I was able to lead a different group in collecting items to give away in Holiday Gift Bags. I was responsible for organizing, grouping, and delivering our combined groups donations. I used to believe that leadership was as simple as being someone people follow. However, because of Edmond Mobile Meal's Youth Leadership Council, I've learnt what leadership means through service. Leadership isn't about how many followers you have. We watched videos and took lessons on different kinds of leaders, but ultimately, there was a common consistency between the good types of leaders: They all lift other people up. Throughout everything I did with Edmond Mobile Meals Youth Leadership Council, we always thought of others. Our goal, every day we met, was to be as helpful as possible to our community. My second year with EMM, I was able to display some of that leadership that I was thankfully taught. I ensured no one in the group was skipped, I ensured everyone got their word in, and I made sure to never "take over". As I've learnt through facilitating meetings, leadership is also being able to know when to sit back and not lead. If we want to be helped and lifted up when we're in need, Then we need to do the same when others are in need. Thank you.

Out of all the issues that are present throughout the world, not just my community, there was one that I in particular saw opportunity to help with. I used to be extremely anxious, and so I didn't make an effort to help my community. I was like that until 2 years ago, when I turned 16. I was able to apply for an organization called Edmond Mobile Meals. EMM works to provide nourishing meals and socializing with elders across Edmond who may be unable to cook nourishing meals for themselves or may be lonely. I was accepted into their Youth Leadership Council, which is a leadership council that lets High School students help and make an impact in their community. I was able to engage in conversations on how to best help Edmond's elders, organize and purchase supplies to give out such as handwarmers during Christmas, and also help cook in Edmond Mobile Meals kitchen. Occasionally, I've been able to also help deliver the food personally and have meaningful conversations with the elders of our community. Being out in my community and seeing the impact of my seemingly small actions motivated me to continue. To this day I am still a member of the Edmond Mobile Meals Youth Leadership Council. On top of the tasks I did last year, I've also been able to advocate for attention to be brought to the elders in our community on social media (Facebook). My last year with the Youth Leadership Council is coming to an end, however, as I'm about to graduate from Santa Fe High School. I do not plan on stopping my contribution, though. I hope to continue volunteering for Edmond Mobile Meals with cooking and also delivery. I want to continue to participate in many volunteering opportunities, like ones I've done before independently. I've helped clean my church, I've helped in an organization giving free Christmas gifts to parents to then give to their children, and I've assisted Elementary Schools with family-night events. My motivation, at first, was to get out of my isolated shell. However, through my experience with Edmond Mobile Meals and helping my community, my motivation has shifted. I want to help others as I'd want others to help me. Our time on Earth is short, so I want to enjoy that short while with others. I want to be there for others. Thank you.

My name is Aden Latimer, an 18 year old student attending Edmond Santa Fe High School as a senior. Until I turned 16, I was stuck in my shell. I didn’t put effort in life, I didn’t socialize, and I didn’t exercise. I did good in school, recovering from what happened in kindergarten. I couldn’t read and struggled as a student, so I was held back. The extra help I was given by my teacher helped set me on the path that I've followed to this day. I've kept myself at a high standard for school, maintaining a 3.96 unweighted GPA and a 4.2 weighted GPA. I've enrolled into UCO as a concurrent student and will be attending on campus the next school year. My current plan at UCO is to get a bachelor's degree in finance. I've always been eager to handle money and I'm good with numbers. After studying microeconomics and macroeconomics in AP Courses, I was hooked onto the idea of being a part of understanding and managing the finances of our world, both in the world economy and in businesses. When I turned 16, everything for my life changed. I signed up for a recreational soccer league, I signed up for my High School’s soccer team, I started to work out, and I got a job. When I tried out for my High School’s soccer team, I failed the first year. This was the first time I had ever truly faced “failure” since kindergarten due to my unwillingness to branch out. Instead of withering away and giving up, I bounced back like I did in kindergarten. I trained over summer, and the next year I tried out I made the team. I didn’t make the team because of anything but my willingness to try again. I am a strong believer in anyone being able to do anything with enough effort. When I was 17, The National Honor Society provided me with opportunity to participate and volunteer in my community. With being required to volunteer, I was forced through an opportunity I was shying away from before. The volunteer hours gave me a chance to get out of my shell and learn valuable life lessons. In particular, it gave me the chance to join Edmond Mobile Meal’s Youth Leadership Council. Not only did I get the chance to overcome my social anxiety and develop leadership, but I also got to make a direct impact on my community. I was able to deliver food personally to the elders of the program and I had meaningful conversations with them. To this day, I still participate in the Edmond Mobile Meal’s Youth Leadership Council, as I’ve made a sincere connection with the organization. I've been allowed to help facilitate and direct meetings which has been very constructive for my future career goals. My experience with volunteering, especially with Edmond Mobile Meals, has set a clear goal for me. I want to help my community as I'd want them to help me. I plan on sticking with Edmond Mobile Meals and volunteering further. I hope to, one day, be able to donate a large sum of money back to them. They're giving me the chance now to volunteer and help my community. They're giving me the chance to fight my social anxiety. They're giving me the chance to be who I want to be. I just hope one day I can return that favor. Thank you, Aden Latimer