Being awarded the Joan Free Thompson scholarship will help me to further my education by allowing me to cover the cost of my attending my college of choice, The University of Central Arkansas. Throughout my high school career, I have worked hard in academics, extracurricular activities and community service. I was enrolled in not just high school but also concurrent credit courses to give myself a head start for college. I was a part of the McGehee High School football, basketball, tennis, baseball and track teams. I was also active on the Robotics team for several years where I learned to read and write code as well as program robots. I have been a volunteer reader at the local elementary school, helping with community breast cancer events, back-to-school drives, food giveaways, and soup kitchens just to name a few. I have always tried to put forth my best effort in anything I have been a part of and I plan to continue on that path in college. Being provided with financial assistance through this scholarship will allow me to continue to focus on my academics and service to others. In addition, being the youngest child of a single mother who will have two children in college, I want to do everything I can to minimize the financial burden on her. I know that college is expensive and my goal is to do my part to help offset that cost.