Playing baseball taught me many essential life skills, which continued to evolve after becoming an umpire. During 6th grade I was asked to umpire for our local little league; I loved playing baseball, so why not umpire and help others, I thought? I still remember standing behind the plate the first time, with protective gear too big, sweating with nerves. I continued to umpire helping players strengthen their game. It is hard to pick a favorite as I have many, yet it would have to be the Memorial Day 10U Championship game. I was a sophomore in high school and had been volunteering for a few years. This game was neck and neck, with both teams getting great hits and pitchers doing their jobs. As I felt like all my calls were correct, a spectator in the stands continued to heckle me from behind the fence. Every time I made a close call, he complained, saying rude things. I ignored him and continued to do my job, yet he continued. At some point during the game, the players started apologizing to me because they could also hear this person yelling at me. Previously, as a player, I learned to tone out the sounds around me, focus on my task, ignore haters, and do my best; I had the same commitment to being an umpire. In the middle of the 7th inning, it was a tie game. The winner would become the year's championship team, which was important to all players. The coaches asked for a time out and discussed something among themselves; then came to speak with me. I thought they were unhappy with my calls. I became very nervous, but then the Coach said to me, "We need to make a stand about good sportsmanship and follow the Little League codes and rules about being a team player, being positive, and win or lose always to do our best." Both coaches then pulled their kids to stand on their side of the foul line and recited the Little League pledge; after doing that, the Coaches came up beside me and asked the person in the stands to leave, saying they would not continue playing until he was off of the property, they told me that my calls and my help with the kids was exceptional and that I was all the kid's favorite umpire because they all learned things from my calls and critique. This made me feel outstanding and is a proud moment I will never forget. My memories of playing baseball and umpiring are priceless. Baseball helped push me harder in school while being an umpire helped me grow as an individual. I learned hard work, commitment, and restraint. I learned how to be a team player, to accept loss and critique, to always show and respect others, to have thick skin, not let what others say bother me or define me, and to always show true sportsmanship. I am still playing the game I love today in college, with the goal of playing in the MLB; baseball is my passion. In the future, when my days are not filled with classes and practice, I will be an umpire again. Being an umpire helped further develop me as a player and gave me courage to push for my dreams, to speak in public, and to learn from critiques and errors. Baseball on the field, the mound, or behind the plate has made me the man I am today.

I am Aiden Gebhard, AKA Gebby, a 20-year-old from Redmond, Oregon, where I grew up with my family in a great community with many great role models. I started playing sports at a young age and found that I was not only excellent, I also enjoyed it. Growing up, I had a lot of speech problems and dyslexia, which made me feel as if I didn't fit in. I was never at the same academic level as my peers, and sports gave me a way to change that. Baseball gave me a reason to push harder for good grades, and now here I am, a collegiate student-athlete. My first goal is to play college baseball; I am meeting my first goal of continuing my baseball career. The love and passion I found for baseball at a young age have allowed me to continue my baseball goals, and my determination will not go away until I reach the top and play alongside fellow pro athletes with the same drive to play baseball. In High school, I worked hard and was recruited to play at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, where I played for two years before being required to my home team now, the Northern Colorado Bears. Playing college baseball is a dream come true, but I still have goals and hard work ahead of me to meet my future goals of playing in the MLB. Thankfully, I grew up in a great home alongside my Mom, Dad, and older brother, who have supported me from the beginning. My amazing parents have supported me and allowed me to follow my dreams, even giving up things themselves to allow me to play, like when every vacation or anniversary was watching me play baseball. They have been huge advocates for my goals and will always be my biggest fans. As I continue this dream, I am also gaining a much-needed career, opening my eyes to solid career possibilities, and gaining my education and essential skills for my future. As I continue through college and earn my bachelor's degree in business and sports management, I plan to fulfill my dreams of playing in the big leagues while improving on and off the field. Going to school 1700 miles away from home is a challenge. Yet, it allows me to discover myself and dedicate myself and all my time to getting the best education and grades possible while being on the baseball diamond as much as possible. I have met good friends and hope to one day be able to give back to all the people, areas, and communities that helped me pursue my dreams. I believe that with all of my hard work, I will one day play on an MLB team. I have my favorites, but I want to play; no matter what color I wear, I will not stop until I get there!

Being a fan of LeBron James is an experience marked by admiration, inspiration, and continuous awe. LeBron James, often hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, has had an illustrious career filled with numerous achievements, records, and memorable moments that have left an indelible mark on the sport. His journey from a high school phenom to an NBA legend is a testament to his exceptional talent, relentless work ethic, and unwavering determination. LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003 as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his impact was immediate. Over the years, he has amassed four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and numerous All-Star selections. His ability to excel in multiple facets of the game, scoring, passing, rebounding, and defense, sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. LeBron's versatility and basketball IQ have allowed him to adapt and thrive in various team environments, from the Cavaliers to the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. One of the primary arguments for LeBron James being the greatest basketball player of all time is his sustained excellence over a long career. Few players have maintained such a high level of performance for as many seasons as LeBron has. His longevity and ability to stay at the top of his game well into his late thirties is unprecedented. Additionally, LeBron's influence extends beyond the court; his leadership, philanthropy, and activism have made him a global icon. The debate over the greatest basketball player of all time often boils down to LeBron James versus Michael Jordan. With his six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and ten scoring titles, Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the standard of excellence in basketball. Jordan's competitiveness, clutch performances, and impact on popular culture have solidified his legendary status. However, LeBron's supporters argue that his all-around game, versatility, and ability to elevate his teammates make him a more complete player. While Jordan was primarily known for scoring and defensive prowess, LeBron's skill set includes elite playmaking and a profound understanding of the game's nuances. LeBron's ability to effectively play and guard multiple positions also gives him an edge in the versatility department. Despite LeBron's remarkable career, some critics argue that he has not surpassed Michael Jordan as the greatest player ever. Jordan's perfect record in the NBA Finals (6-0) is often cited as a critical factor. Jordan's dominance during his peak years, particularly in clutch moments, set a benchmark that LeBron has struggled to match consistently in terms of championship success. Additionally, Jordan's impact on the game during an era when the NBA's global popularity soared is another factor that bolsters his case. Whether or not LeBron James is considered the greatest basketball player of all time is a matter of personal perspective and the criteria one uses to define greatness. As a fan of LeBron James, it is impossible not to be impressed by his extraordinary career, contributions to the game, and legacy off the court. LeBron's story transcends expectations, breaks records, and redefines what it means to be an NBA superstar. While the debate between LeBron and Michael Jordan will likely continue for generations, what is undeniable is that LeBron James has firmly established himself as one of the most influential and iconic figures in basketball history.

My educational goals never included attending college or being the first person in my family to do so. I am currently working on transferring to a university, and I will complete my associate's degree this summer at Lane Community College. It still amazes me that I have come this far. It has been a lot of hard work. I never liked school growing up and never thought I would attend college. Unlike most of my friends, I was never the smart kid in class and always struggled. I had speech issues during Elementary school and struggled to be at the same level as my peers. Thankfully, I loved sports and was always very athletic; during my senior year of High school, I was offered a minor scholarship to go to college to play on the baseball team. I love playing baseball; it's like it is in my blood. This love of baseball gave me the opportunity and drive to attend college. Since starting college, I have begun to like school, and it is much easier for me than High school or Junior high. Since I was always behind and struggled with grades, I want to become a role model to other kids who struggle in school; I want to be able to help others see how hard work and dedication pay off. I am following my dreams of playing baseball, and one day, prayerfully, I will be playing in the MLB, where I can give back to the communities and people around me who have helped and pushed me to get where I am today. Yet, while playing baseball, it is hard to manage school, work, and sports, so having money to pay for school or housing is very hard on myself and my family. My parents do all they can working paycheck to paycheck, so I need scholarships to follow this dream path and gain a better education.

My journey to college started with my love of baseball. Baseball kept me in school, made me work harder for better grades, and allowed me to attend college. School was always challenging, but baseball gave me dreams of playing at the next level. I was awarded a two-year baseball scholarship to attend Lane Community College and play on their baseball team. This started my dreams of getting an education alongside following my baseball dreams. I never thought I would go to college. I was born with a bifid uvula, which, because of the lack of muscle in my throat, I could not speak when I started kindergarten; I had my own words, and my family could understand me, but I lacked typical language. I struggled and wanted to fit in; I played baseball and made friends but could not speak like my peers. I worked hard with my speech therapist and graduated speech in third grade, but this put me behind because when I was learning to talk, others were learning to read, do the math and write. I was behind my classmates, always struggled in school, and had to work much harder to get good grades. In high school, I had to have C's or higher to play baseball, so I worked hard and got tutors to get a C average. I never thought I would make it to college, but I promised to give it my all when it became an option. I would be the first in my family to attend college, get a degree, and play sports at the next level, and I wanted to do my best and make others proud. These last two years have been a dream come true. Not only am I playing the game I love, but I am also enjoying schoolwork and learning things that I can use in the future. Giving back to all my mentors and those who look up to me is a joy and something that I will always work hard on. I had many great coaches that helped me along the way. I want to make all my mentors, including my parents, proud of my accomplishments. Continuing to play baseball pushes me with my dreams of helping myself and others. By gaining a college degree, I will not struggle like my parents or other families we know. If I can make it pro and push past all the challenges, I can also become a role model for others. Being able to help kids overcome learning disabilities and give them the confidence to keep pushing to never give up is something very close to my heart. I love playing baseball; with that platform, I could give back and help others like Jose. I could also give back to my hometown and help youth better themselves and their education. Baseball gave me the dream, and I plan to work hard to continue my education, follow my dreams of playing for the pros, and give back to all who helped me get there.

While growing up I never realized how hard my parents worked to give us the life we had. I always thought we had a lot of money. As a child I remember seeing the one hundred dollar bill thinking my parents are so rich. My brother and I both played sports, and there was always fees that came along with those sports, as well and new shoes or cleats, uniforms, gloves and other things needed depending on the sport. My brother and I always had it all. I myself played on 3 different baseball teams a few years and each of them cost a lot to play; as a child I never considered or thought about the cost of me playing or how my parents provided all they did for us. As a child you do not understand that everything costs money. Food was always ready for us, we always had healthy lunches packed, I would say that we were spoiled. My parents gave us everything they possibly could. I got my first job my junior year of high school. My parents helped me get the job because they knew people that worked there including my older cousin. I started at $16.50 an hour, and helped the main chefs. My title was officially a prep cook. I was so excited to get my first paycheck, I was going to have a huge check for my first real job. My parents told me to be prepared and not be disappointed but I didn't understand at the time. I was really excited to get that much money every two weeks, then I got my first check for real employment. It was just under $500 and I could not understand why I had to pay taxes, and Medicare, and all the others fees that were taken out of my check at the age of 16. It was crazy to me and also when the lightbulb started to go off about how much our parents did for us. Working over the next few years, saving as much money as I could for college, yet also using it for gas money and fast food like most high schoolers I ran out of money quickly. As I got ready for my first year of college it became clear to me how much our parents sacrificed for us. They both worked full time jobs, my Mom worked night shifts most the time so they didn't have to pay for daycare. I now understand that we were actually a low income family. We were rewarded free lunch each year, and food stamps so we had good lunches. During sports my mom always filled out fee waivers to get help with the huge fees. When they bought me shoes, it meant that they didn't go out on dates, or spend any money on themselves. Almost every dime they made when to the bills for our home, the mortgage they had to pay as well and electric to keep on the lights, and gas to heat our home in the winter. I have qualified for financial aid, Oregon promise and other scholarship's that have allowed me go to college, without this money I would be able to pay them back. Learning all the things my parents sacrificed for me and my brother, makes me eager to gain all the scholarships I can, complete my education, and one day pay them back for all they did for us. I would not be who I am or where I am today without them, I want to pay them back on day.

Home, to me, will always mean my family. My childhood home, and anywhere my parents and brother and dogs are at. Being away from my family during these first two years of college has been a great experience and helped me realize just how special of a family I have. I currently have my apartment, but it is just my school apartment; it does not feel like home. I often travel home to see my parents and dogs, and just walking into the home I grew up in gives me a comfort that is hard to explain. My family is also why I am going to college and how I started building and looking into a construction career or degree. Growing up, I constantly tinkered in the garage with my Dad. He let me use tools and taught me to be safe with them. He taught me how to fix things around the house. He taught me how to repair and update things on our family vehicles. He guided me in learning new things and gave me the knowledge I would need someday. His training and encouragement gave me the courage to build my designs. This led me to build pieces of furniture for our home. My first project for our home was a more excellent box for my Dad, which was supposed to be a cooler. It was so heavy we had to place it somewhere, and that is where it still sits, as I used only 2x4s. It looks terrific, but I needed help understanding the correct pieces of wood to use. This provided me with more training from my Dad, and then I picked up and enjoyed building different things. I built a chair to attach to my hoverboard and traveled around the neighborhood, sitting on my hoverchair. I then started making pieces useful to my parents; I built an entertainment center when my mom told me what she wanted and gave me ideas. I built it for her for Christmas in my freshman year of high school. I didn't take the shop classes at school because I already knew how to use most of the equipment my school had to teach us. I used the Router, Drill press, multiple different saws, nail guns, and more. Coming home, going in the garage, and enjoying building random things was fun. During High School, I made extra money by building one-of-a-kind dog kennels for a few family members and then some strangers who were referred by my family. Knowing that I could make money off of something I enjoyed doing made me think of gaining more education in college to run a business and to be able to start a construction company or continue to build furniture pieces. No one in my family ever went to college, so stepping up and being the first person to go to college and gain a degree became a goal I wanted to make come true. I am earning my associate's this summer and will continue at my next school to gain even more knowledge for my future.

Being Honduran never changed or shaped who I was. My Dad was born in Honduras and was brough to the United states as a child. I am the first person in the family to attend college and that makes all of my family proud. The people who I feel are most impacted are the people who can not leave Honduras, or gain the money to gain a better life for themselves in The foreign poor company. Knowing how much my family struggled is what is the hardest for me. I want to make things better for others in other countries who do not have the same resources as we do in the states. My great Grandmother still walks about a mile a day just to get water for her daily needs on the ranch she lives on. They can not afford to dig their own well, and since they are in a poorer community it is also not allowed because the others who have money, gain money from these poor people to have access to water. I think I have had it easy in life compared to those who still live in Honduras or other third world continues. Going to college, gaining a degree and being able to help others is my goal. I want to over come those challenges for others. Thankfully I gained financial aid, scholarships and baseball scholarships, which helped me pay for my first two years of college, now moving onto my junior year I know that i will need even more financial help to finish my goals of gaining my degree and helping others who can not help themselves. This money to me is priceless, gaining financial help is the only way that I will be able to continue to afford to go to college. I am applying for every scholarship I am able to, every $500 will help, and I am hoping for much more then that from all of the scholarships I have applied to. My parents live paycheck to paycheck, but they have food and water and do not suffer like the family we have outside of the country, and I want to find a way to not let them suffer any longer. Pushing through the hard times of being broke and eating peanut butter and jelly or top ramen for a few years is worth the change of being able to help others in countries and areas of our world that are still looked down upon because the people and the country is poor. Creating a better system, allowing all free access to clean water would change the lives of so many people out of the US that I plan to work hard and get as much financial support that I can, also taking the burden off of my parents who can not help me as they would like.

As a small child, I always wanted to help my Dad fix things around the house. Using my Dad's tools while following him and tinkering alongside him, and mostly getting in the way, but sharing time with my Dad, I was able to gain a great deal of knowledge and skills for building and fixing things. At a young age, I was taught how to change tires and use drills, saws, and nail guns. I was able to create a bind with my dad but also learn life lessons along the way. This curiosity became a hobby and then a career choice. Working alongside my Dad taught me many things for my future needs, like fixing leaks under the sink, repairing drywall, building fences, etc. Doing these things over the years allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge, giving me a better understanding of things adults need to know. I changed my flat tire at 16 years old; on my own, I changed the oil on my car and fixed the garage door while Dad was away for work. Over the years, the fun alongside dad chores and training became a hobby. During high school, I started building things on my own and created a small business building dog kennels, and household furniture; when I realized that I could use this training and have a career that I liked, I needed to pursue that. Over the years, I have gained more tools than my Dad, and I am now the one fixing most things inside our home, yet when needed, my dad is always there, still teaching me all the skills or life lessons that he can.

Growing up tinkering along side my grandfather in his woodshop, I was always excited to see the start of scraps become a custom built product, one that only he could do. Growing up I started collecting my own tools and machines and started to tinker in my own garage, against my parents better judgement due to the messy garage, I learned to enjoy building, the small of the wood and seeing the final design created a construction developer out of a small kid. Through middle and high school I collected more building tools and started making household furniture to bring income to myself while I was playing sports and going to class. my first alone build was the cornhole boards we still play on today. I then continued with tables, tv stands, and dog kennels, all made out of wood and crafted to my desire. I started to make $800 or more for my custom dog kennels. I also built fences, gates and sheds learning along the way from more skilled builders. As this continued through High School, I new that I wanted to work in construction, but I also knew that I did not want to work or other companies who paid me to do theirs work. With my collection of tools and talent I plan to become the builder of my own piece's and owner of my own construction and building company. I am happy the teaching and memories of my grandfather will be with me as I advance my education and career. As the future unfolds and I learn even more I know that my grandfather will be supporting me, as I will continue to honor him and the memories and knowledge that he instilled in me at a young age.

In some ways it seems like life will never go back to normal, but what if normal is not what is needed any more. What if we need to become better and stronger then we were before. These last few years and the challenges caused by COVID have created a new normal. We are stronger, smarter, better, I know I am. I was a sophomore in High School when the world shut down due to an unknown illness. Now two years later the world is still fighting over right and wrong and true and false. I was forced to stay home, not see my friends, not play baseball, and learn a whole new way to get the rest of my education. For myself and many of my peers it was the worst 2 years ever. I am about to graduate high school but I have actually only been inside my High school for 2 school years. I lost out on many important life lessons and bonds normally created during this time in a teenagers life. Instead I sat on my bed, played games while listening to my teachers talk in the background, or just make sure to turn in my daily assignment and I got a passing grade. I myself, hated it. I knew myself and my peers were missing out on so many valuable lessons from attending high school. Yet, I pushed myself, I arranged hang out times with my friends, we played baseball, and I learned that not everything you see on the news is true. I started to do my own research of life lessons, the so called pandemic and things going on in our society. I was always taught that life is not fair, no everyone deserves a trophy, be honest, say what is true only, and if you cant say anything nice don't say anything at all, as well as many lessons taught by my parents and grandparents, not from school or tv. As the years went on I realized that not everyone was taught these things, or people just simply didn't care about being honest and truthful with each other and our world is falling apart. As I know start the journey of adulthood after graduating from High School, I now have to take all the lessons, and lack there of to create the life I want to live. Success to me means being the very best I can be at everything I do and say in life, holding true to who I am, true to my believes and pushing every day to make my goals come true. Since I was 6 years old I have wanted to play professional baseball. Many of my best memories are about and involving baseball. Baseball taught me how to be patient, kind, forgiving and many other lessons that I did not learn in school. I believe that my goal to play baseball and my practice to become better and better has prepared me for success. During high school I had to pass all my classes in order to play baseball. As a Senior I have to take 4 classes each term and pass all of them in order to play, I do not need any more credits to graduate because I pushed myself to succeed the whole time. Yet I will still take and pass 4 more classes so I can play baseball. I can not say for sure where I will be in 20 years, but I know that I will do everything in my power to succeed in my dream to play in the MLB.

I stay committed to speaking my mind by always remembering a quote my mom told me while growing up, it has become a motto of sorts in our family. My mom from as far back as I can remember always taught us to be confident in ourselves. She would always say " be confident in your words and choices" I was born with a bifid uvula. This is a deformity on your uvula that makes it a heart shape instead of a tear shape. The muscle in the top of your mouth does not form all the way prior to birth. This small deformity made me struggle very hard with speech, for a few years I couldn't speak my mind. I pushed hard during school and sports making good friends regardless of my speech problems, I also worked very hard on my speech to over come the speech impediment I was born with, I didn't do it because it was normal, or because others made fun of me, I did it because " I wanted to speak better". While growing up in our society today speaking your mind, or your belief's has become frowned upon. You might offend someone, or upset someone. I was taught to always be the very best version of myself in all things, regardless of what others are saying or doing. Following your own ideas and morals and not doing or saying things just because your friends are. You should always make your own choices based on truth and knowledge and speak these truth in hopes of helping others do the same. Don't believe everything you see on Tv or let others change the person that you know you are, or stop you from saying what you want to say! Be confident in your choices!