Growing up in Oregon the community that shaped me the most was the soccer environment I was part of for over eleven years. I played for both club and school teams, and through that experience I was exposed to two very different communities: Pelada Football Academy and Eugene Metro Football Club. Pelada, where I started, was more relaxed and focused on enjoying the game, while Metro was highly competitive and serious. There was a clear divide between the two, not just in skill level but in culture. Metro players were often seen as more elite and established, while Pelada players were more like underdogs compared to them. Even parents and players tended to stay within their own groups. Growing up in Pelada, I valued the friendships, teamwork, and love for the sport that defined that community, even if it didn’t push me as hard competitively. It was a place where I felt comfortable, supported, and able to grow at my own pace, which made me truly enjoy being part of a team. As I got older, I realized I wanted to improve, which led me to switch to Metro during high school. The transition challenged me in new ways. I found myself surrounded by players who had trained at a higher level for years, and I began comparing myself to them. While this pushed me to work harder, it also showed me the importance of confidence and resilience. I had to adjust quickly to a more intense environment where expectations were higher and mistakes felt more noticeable and looked down upon. Despite becoming a team captain both in club and on my high school team, I faced setbacks, including not making varsity my junior year. One moment that stands out was losing in the finals of a tournament after being placed in an unfamiliar position. Although I felt disappointed, that experience taught me to move forward, learn from failure, and continue improving. Being part of these different soccer communities shaped my mindset and my goals for the future. I learned discipline, leadership, and how to work with people from different backgrounds and skill levels. I also developed a strong internal drive to succeed, even with setbacks, whether on the field or in the classroom. This competitive mindset now carries over into my academic goals, where I strive to perform at my best and pursue a degree in accounting. Although I no longer play soccer, the lessons I gained from that community continue to influence how I approach challenges and opportunities. These experiences have positioned me to work hard, stay focused, and build a successful future.

Growing up as a child of a parent in the military has shaped who I am in ways I didn’t fully understand when I was younger. My dad serves in the Army, and when I was six and a half years old, he was deployed to Afghanistan for nearly a year. At that age, I didn’t completely understand what it felt like to miss him. I remember sitting at a desk in my mom’s dining room, waiting for Skype calls that would freeze or cut out because of a bad connection. Sometimes I would just stare at the screen, hoping his face would come back. There was always a sense of uncertainty and waiting that became part of my daily life, even if I didn’t fully realize it at the time. The moment he came home is still one of the clearest memories I have. I saw him standing in his uniform at my elementary school and instantly ran to him without thinking. After being gone for so long, it felt like everything was finally back to normal. I remember feeling proud walking around with him, introducing him to other kids, and just being able to hold his hand again. That experience made me realize how much I value the people close to me and how important it is not to take time with them for granted. It also gave me a strong sense of pride in my dad and in those who serve, something that has stayed with me as I’ve grown older. Even outside of his deployment, being part of a military family has influenced my everyday life. I’ve grown up constantly moving between my mom’s and dad’s houses each week, which has taught me a level of independence that not everyone develops at a young age. Managing schoolwork, packing what I need, and adjusting to different environments has forced me to stay organized and responsible. It hasn't always been easy, especially when I've had to carry everything I need back and forth, but It's made me more adaptable and self-reliant. Because of my dad’s influence and the structure that comes with a military background, I've also developed a strong sense of discipline and a “get it done” mindset that pushes me to stay focused and follow through on my responsibilities. Overall, my experience as the child of a parent in the military has taught me independence, discipline, and appreciation. I’ve learned to approach challenges with a level head, think logically, and push through situations even when they aren’t easy. It has also given me a deep respect for those who serve and the sacrifices that military families make. While I may not have fully understood everything as a child, I now recognize how much those experiences have prepared me for the future and motivated me to keep working toward my goals with determination and resilience.

One of my favorite memories involving my dad is the day he came home from his deployment in Afghanistan. It was near the end of my first grade year, sometime in late May of 2015. I was about seven years old, and even though I was really young, that moment is still very clear in my mind. I remember walking through the fifth grade hallway at my elementary school for some reason. I honestly don’t remember exactly why I was there, maybe I needed to go to the office for something, but I do remember how cool I felt walking through that hallway. The fifth graders were the oldest kids in the school, and when you’re little, the older kids always seem like the “top dogs.” As I walked toward the office, I could see the front desk area from down the hallway. Standing there was a man wearing an army combat uniform. The moment I saw his face, I immediately realized it was my dad. Without a second thought, I ran straight into the office and yelled “Dad!” I jumped into his arms and hugged him so tightly. He lifted me up and held me there. My mom was there too, recording the whole thing on her phone. My dad had brought a teddy bear for me. After being gone for almost a year, it felt like the best surprise ever. At one point I remember telling him that I had to go back to class, but the school ended up letting me stay with him until recess. When recess finally came around, I felt so proud and excited that my dad was there. I remember wanting to show him off to everyone. A bunch of kids gathered around us because they thought he looked really cool in his uniform. Some of them asked him questions, and others just wanted to hang out with us. My favorite part of that whole day was when we walked out to the track just beyond the playground. My mom was still nearby filming everything. I held my dad’s hand while we walked around the track, but at some point I would run off with the other kids and then come back again. At one point I even convinced him to run with us for a little bit. I remember feeling so full of energy and excitement just because he was finally back. My dad had been gone for a whole year, and at six or seven years old I didn’t fully understand the kind of danger he was in. I just knew that he was far away and that I missed him a lot. While he was deployed, he would send letters and we would talk on Skype whenever we could. I remember we’d often have bad connection and I would just stare at a frozen picture of him waiting for it to connect again, hoping it would connect again. Even now, every time I hear that old Skype ringtone, it instantly brings me back to that time in my life. I can picture myself sitting at the desk in my mom’s dining room with the warm overhead light on, waiting for my dad to answer the call or for the ringtone to stop and his face to appear on the screen. It’s strange how certain sounds can trigger memories so strongly. That whole period of time, and especially the day he came home, is something I will always remember. It reminds me not only of how much I missed him, but also of how proud I’ve always been of him.