I vividly remember my days as a young child when I would lay on the warm grass of my backyard and peer into the sky. Looking at the endless blue void above me, I would gaze at the clouds floating by while the hawks and ospreys soared overhead, reaching heights I thought to be unattainable. As I watched these birds effortlessly climb into the sky I couldn’t help but wonder, what does the world look like from up there? My fascination with the differing perspectives of the world grew in me. I came to desire to know what it feels like to sail through the sky and view life through new lenses. At first learning about different cultures and the way their people see the world has made me yearn to travel and experience it for myself. Most recently as I become older I continued to find myself gazing at the sky and while looking into the clouds with more mature eyes I came to a realization; my desires could be fulfilled through a certain career path, piloting. This epiphany was shortly followed by my innate sense of practicality that drove me to ponder the possibility of realistically pursuing this occupation. It’s easy to simply want something, but it’s an entirely different ballgame understanding what needs to be done to attain it. After much research and discourse with teachers in the field of aeronautics, I found that the prospects of becoming a pilot were staggeringly high. With the growing need for pilots, the opportunity to financially support myself for decades to come, the chance to travel the world, and most importantly the thought of one day be able to help other young prospects pursuit their dreams of becoming pilots, solidified my determination to want to pursue this incredible career. While having insight on what I want to be doing professionally by the time I am an adult is important, understanding what I can do for my community is just as paramount. This notion stems from my belief that no matter how successful somebody becomes, they shouldn’t forget where they came from and should work to serve the community that molded them into the person they are today. It is also important to embrace one’s passion and use it to complement one’s goals. I am grateful for being able to play baseball since I was five years old. My passion for baseball have helped me through my life allowing me to play for my high school varsity baseball team most recently earning the role of team captain my senior year. Growing up as a baseball player, I understand the positive impact that organized sports can have on children’s lives. This is why I hope to have the opportunity to be a baseball coach to children within my community. I can teach kids and teens about the importance of qualities like teamwork, comradery, and perseverance. By instilling these traits and more into children through sports, I can inspire and create the next generation of success within my community. While I have come a long way in my young life, I can acknowledge that there is still much room for improvement, especially while going into college which is a new endeavor for me. The tenacity that I have gained through my life will be further tested within these coming years, and I couldn’t be more excited for the challenge. I can’t wait for the opportunity to grow as a professional, see the world through new eyes while soaring through the skies and be a positive contributor to my community and to society.

One of the most common misconceptions many may entertain is the thought that one must be wealthy or be a successful person with great financial means to be able to give back to the community and to get involved in promoting positive change in our society. I respectfully beg to differ! I was born in NYC to my Dominican mother and my Puerto Rican father and although we are from humble beginnings I am blessed and grateful of my heritage and the values my parents have inculcated in me which have propelled me to be who I am today. Being structured, disciplined and compassionate are aptitudes my parents have always taken seriously and have always promoted. As such these aptitudes have become part of me growing up. My parents have taught me that everyone has the ability to help others as help can come in many different ways and in different capacity. They have imprinted in me an important sense of being involved with my community and to have empathy for others which are blessings many do not experience. I think it is important for people to engage with their communities because servicing others less fortunate changes lives. It does not only change the lives of those we help but also that of us. It is important to love our community because it is part of our livelihood almost becoming part of our family and who we are or become in it and when we give back or get involved we can enjoy opportunities to meet new people and to build relationships. Everyone at some point or another has needed help and finding that helping hand can make a great difference. It is very gratifying every time I have volunteered to feed the homeless. I remember I used to do it quite often as part of my family church and although I don’t do it as much anymore due to limited schedule flexibility on both sides after I started high school, I do my best to stay involved and continue to give back even if on a different capacity. I have alternatively joined and regularly volunteer to service at The Second Harvest Food Bank where the opportunity to volunteer is more flexible with more availability. Although it is not the same as personally feeding the less fortunate, I support on the backend by unloading trucks and sorting and organizing the donated provisions which ultimately go to help feed the less fortunate. I also really enjoy volunteering at Give Kids the World. I guess a lot has to do with being a kid myself and seeing the smiles on those precious children when they ride the carousel while I operate it is just great. It is sometime tough to volunteer at GKTW because it reaps my hearts out to see so many sick children, many with terminal illnesses yet with such innocence that spares them from feeling the sorrow their personal situation can transmit. At the same time coming together to create a magical time for them brings me the strength to silence my sadness and transmit the happiness I wish they experience. I must say volunteering at GKTW is quite fun especially during the holidays, times I have many times forgotten the reason these children go there. I am passionate about giving back to my community, playing baseball and becoming a pilot. I am mostly passionate about being able to create positive change in society. I have been playing baseball since I was five years old and I plan to continue to play baseball in college. At the same time aeronautic science is a great passion of mine and becoming a pilot would be my ultimate goal. Both, through baseball or through creating scientific innovation, I hope to continue to support my community through my career and hopefully reach the financial success that will allow me to not just volunteering though community services but to have the ability to do so financially. I must credit my passion for giving back to the way my parents have raised me, who despite being from modest means have strongly believed that getting involved with our community and embracing a sense of service to the less fortunate should be promoted at all times independently of financial levels.

WOW! This definitely brings me back to some good times growing up playing baseball in Central Florida since I was just five years old. I guess it all started with my parents being from the Dominican Republic and from Puerto Rico where baseball is part of the culture that categorizes these countries and the blood that pumps through every one of us who share such rich heritage. I was born in New York however my parents relocated to Central Florida looking for better academic opportunities for me including better sports programs specifically for baseball when I was just two years old and they found the right place I must say. I have enjoyed baseball for most of my life and it has become part of who I am. Although I did not play baseball through elementary school I did so at the little league, Pony League and Babe Ruth league levels until I was ten years old. I then moved on to competitive travel baseball staying focused in school and in training diligently. I can humbly say that working hard and staying disciplined to my baseball program while keeping my academics strong has paid off. I joined the varsity team my freshman year at Freedom High School and has been part of it ever since into my current senior year when I have been named team captain. My goal is to further my education and continue to play baseball at a collegiate level. It truly does not get better than that. Well, I reconsider that to say that it does get better than that once I am selected to receive the College Athlete Advantage Baseball Scholarship which will put me closer to my college goals. Thank you so much in advance!