Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through teamwork in athletics, I've learned to be a disciplined, committed and courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. Currently, I am a senior that has played varsity softball for four years and varsity lacrosse for 3 years. Softball and lacrosse have taught me a lot about discipline through mental toughness, commitment and teamwork through the love of team sports. Being selected as my high school's student-athlete representative has provided me with the leadership skills to change the environment of athletics positively. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as a student leader on the Hampton High School Student Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student-athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. In addition to representing my school, I have also earned a seat at the county level. The Henry County Schools Athletic Student Advisory Council has been a major impact on me and my fellow student-athletes. Through the council, I have been able to attend leadership workshops at the county and state level as provided by the Georgia High School Association. My leadership skills have been passed along to my peers through my example as an approachable leader, a dedicated honor student and a decorated athlete. My peers and I have been given a voice through the opportunities for me to serve them locally and at the county level on their behalf. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams through the years. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness, and positively impact student-athletes through team sports. This is why I'm interested in earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Commitment, teamwork and discipline keep me focused on my goals in school, sports and day-to-day life. Without them, I would not have come as far as I have in the classroom and on the playing field. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to learn what these characteristics truly mean. I look forward to growing in these areas as I grow in college and beyond.

Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through teamwork in athletics, I've learned to be a disciplined, committed and courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. Currently, I am a senior that has played varsity softball for four years and varsity lacrosse for 3 years. Softball and lacrosse have taught me a lot about discipline through mental toughness, commitment and teamwork through the love of team sports. Being selected as my high school's student-athlete representative has provided me with the leadership skills to change the environment of athletics positively. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as a student leader on the Hampton High School Student Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student-athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. In addition to representing my school, I have also earned a seat at the county level. The Henry County Schools Athletic Student Advisory Council has been a major impact on me and my fellow student-athletes. Through the council, I have been able to attend leadership workshops at the county and state level as provided by the Georgia High School Association. My leadership skills have been passed along to my peers through my example as an approachable leader, a dedicated honor student and a decorated athlete. My peers and I have been given a voice through the opportunities for me to serve them locally and at the county level on their behalf. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at camps and clinics. I also coach recreational youth teams. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness, and positively impact student-athletes through team sports. This is why I'm interested in earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Commitment, teamwork and discipline keep me focused on my goals in school, sports and day-to-day life. Without them, I would not have come as far as I have in the classroom and on the playing field. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to learn what these characteristics truly mean. I look forward to growing in these areas as I grow in college and beyond.

Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through teamwork in athletics, I've learned to be a disciplined, committed and courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. Currently, I am a senior that has played varsity softball for four years and varsity lacrosse for 3 years. Softball and lacrosse have taught me a lot about discipline through mental toughness, commitment and teamwork through the love of team sports. Being selected as my high school's student-athlete representative has provided me with the leadership skills to change the environment of athletics positively. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as a student leader on the Hampton High School Student Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student-athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. In addition to representing my school, I have also earned a seat at the county level. The Henry County Schools Athletic Student Advisory Council has been a major impact on me and my fellow student-athletes. Through the council, I have been able to attend leadership workshops at the county and state level as provided by the Georgia High School Association. My leadership skills have been passed along to my peers through my example as an approachable leader, a dedicated honor student and a decorated athlete. My peers and I have been given a voice through the opportunities for me to serve them locally and at the county level on their behalf. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams through the years. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness, and positively impact student-athletes through team sports. This is why I'm interested in earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Commitment, teamwork and discipline keep me focused on my goals in school, sports and day-to-day life. Without them, I would not have come as far as I have in the classroom and on the playing field. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to learn what these characteristics truly mean. I look forward to growing in these areas as I grow in college and beyond.

Mental Illness and Personal Growth I almost drowned in my freshman year of high school. It was an emotional and stressful time for me and my family. I was shaken by the experience as it caused me anxiety, depression and PTSD. The panic attacks affected my school work, friendships, sports and my life, day and night. I had sleepless nights for months due to night terrors. I could not eat due to loss of appetite so I lost muscle and weight that I did not need to lose. It was a terrible time that I thought I would never get through. With help from counseling, my family and church, I was able to overcome all of it eventually. I came out of the experience as a stronger person. It also helped me to be more understanding of others who suffer from mental illness. It made me more aware of the struggles that so many people go through daily. I started having conversations with friends about mental illness. My circumstances helped build me back up to be a stronger person mentally, physically and emotionally. It also allowed me to learn to have a growth mindset to succeed. Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life as well. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through athletics and my difficult circumstance, I've learned to become a courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. Currently, I am a senior that has played varsity softball for four years. Softball has taught me a lot about mental toughness and courage through failure. Being selected as my high school's (softball) student-athlete representative has provided me with the leadership skills to change the environment of athletics positively. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as a student leader on the Hampton High School Student-Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student-athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at softball camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams through the years. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness and positively impact team sports. This is why I'm interested in earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College. Through my circumstances, I've learned that the world is full of challenges. I can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how I succeed in life. Failure is one of the best teachers I can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If I fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that I am trying. Giving my best will ultimately lead me to success. This is especially true in academics. The assistance from this scholarship will help me reach my dream of earning a Bachelor's degree and playing NCAA DIII softball. I will also earn more experience and knowledge to continue to impact lives in the community by becoming a great coach with mental health awareness and advocate for future student-athletes.

Participation in sports during my high school years has been a major influence on my life through personal reflection and growth. “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination...until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student-athlete, I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently, I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play a national softball schedule with my high-level travel team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has a .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at-bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one of the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not a failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student-athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow. Participation in sports has influenced my career goals. I love being around sports, especially team sports. It's hard to imagine life without sports after playing in college. Being around the dynamic of a team is a great feeling. I have assisted and participated in softball clinics, camps and recreational youth teams through the years. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I have learned so much from every coach I've worked with, whether it was a positive or negative experience. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve team environments. These are just a few of the reasons why I am considering a coaching minor in college. I want to become the best coach I can be in the future and for the future.

Overcoming Mental Illness I almost drowned in my freshman year of high school. It was an emotional and stressful time for me and my family. I was shaken by the experience as it caused me to have anxiety, depression and PTSD. The panic attacks affected my school work, friendships, sports and my life, day and night. I had sleepless nights for months due to night terrors. I could not eat due to loss of appetite so I lost muscle and weight that I did not need to lose. It was a terrible time that I thought I would never get through. With help from counseling, my family and church, I was able to overcome all of it eventually. I came out of the experience as a stronger person. It also helped me to be more understanding of others who suffer from mental illness. It made me more aware of the struggles that so many people go through daily. I started having conversations with friends about mental illness. My circumstances helped build me back up to be a stronger person mentally, physically and emotionally. It also allowed me to learn to have a growth mindset to succeed. Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life as well. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through athletics and my difficult circumstance, I've learned to become a courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as a leader on the Hampton High School Student-Athlete Advisory Council has helped all athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. I have served the community by volunteering to instruct kids at softball camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness and positively impact team sports. This is why I'm interested in earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College. Through my circumstances, I've learned that the world is full of challenges. I can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how I succeed in life. Failure is one of the best teachers I can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If I fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that I am trying. Giving my best will ultimately lead me to success. This is especially true in academics. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my circumstances and failures, converting my weaknesses into strengths. Being a student-athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow and succeed. The assistance from this scholarship will help me reach my dream of earning a Bachelor's degree and playing NCAA DIII softball. I will also earn more experience and knowledge to continue to impact lives in the community by becoming a great coach with mental health awareness and advocate for future student-athletes.

I almost drowned my freshman year of high school. It was an emotional and stressful time for me and my family. I was really shook by the experience as it caused me to have anxiety, depression and PTSD. The panic attacks affected my school work, friendships, sports and my life, day and night. I had sleepless nights for months due to night terrors. I could not eat due to loss of appetite so I lost muscle and weight that I did not need to lose. It was a terrible time that I thought I would never get through. With help from counseling, my family and church, I was able to overcome all of it eventually. I came out of the experience a stronger person. It also helped me to be more understanding of others who suffer from mental illness. It made me more aware of the struggles that so many people go through on a daily basis. I started having conversations with friends about mental illness. My circumstances helped build me back up to be stronger person mentally, physically and emotionally. It also gave me the opportunity to learn to have a growth mindset in order to succeed. Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life as well. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through athletics and my difficult circumstance, I've learned to become a courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. Currently I am a senior that has played varsity softball for four years. Softball has taught me a lot about mental toughness and courage through failure. Being selected as my high school's (softball) student athlete representative has provided me with the leadership skills to change the environment of athletics in a positive manner. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as student leader on the Hampton High School Student Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. In addition to representing my school, I have also earned a seat at the county level. The Henry County Schools Athletic Student Advisory Council has been a major impact on me and my fellow student athletes. Through the council, I have been able to attend leadership workshops at the county and state level as provided by the Georgia High School Association. The leadership skills have been passed along to my peers through my example as an approachable leader, dedicated honor student and decorated athlete. My peers and I have been given a voice through the opportunities for me to serve them locally and at the county level on their behalf. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at softball camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams through the years. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness and positively impact team sports. This is why I'm interested earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College. Through my circumstances, I've learned that the world is full of challenges. I can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how I succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Once I started private lessons and workouts I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. Failure is one the best teachers I can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If I fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that I am trying. Giving my best will ultimately lead me to success. This is especially true in academics. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my circumstances and failures, converting my weaknesses into strengths. Being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow and succeed. The assistance from this scholarship will help me reach my dream of earning a Bachelor's degree and play NCAA DIII softball. I will also earn more experience and knowledge to continue to impact lives in the community by becoming a great coach and advocate for future student athletes.

I almost drowned my freshman year of high school. It was an emotional and stressful time for me and my family. I was really shook by the experience as it caused me to have anxiety, depression and PTSD. The panic attacks affected my school work, friendships, sports and my life, day and night. I had sleepless nights for months due to night terrors. I could not eat due to loss of appetite so I lost muscle and weight that I did not need to lose. It was a terrible time that I thought I would never get through. With help from counseling, my family and church, I was able to overcome all of it eventually. I came out of the experience a stronger person. It also helped me to be more understanding of others who suffer from mental illness. It made me more aware of the struggles that so many people go through on a daily basis. I started having conversations with friends about mental illness. My circumstances helped build me back up to be stronger person mentally, physically and emotionally. It also gave me the opportunity to learn to have a growth mindset in order to succeed. Participation in high school sports has had a huge impact on my life as well. I was extremely shy and lacked confidence as a freshman. Through athletics and my difficult circumstance, I've learned to become a courageous leader on and off the field. It has also given me the tools to make eye contact and speak openly with my family members, coaches, teachers and peers. I've helped improve the culture of team sports at my high school through open communication and inclusiveness. My position as student leader on the Hampton High School Student Athlete Advisory Council has helped all student athletes by giving them a voice to communicate their needs and share ideas to improve morale. Being selected by my school's Athletic Director to represent my high school is an honor. I have served the community by volunteering to help instruct kids at softball camps and clinics. I have also assisted in coaching recreational youth teams through the years. I plan to continue serving the community in this manner. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve mental toughness and positively impact team sports. This is why I'm interested earning a minor in coaching at Agnes Scott College. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Once I started private lessons and workouts I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my circumstances and failures, converting my weaknesses into strengths. The assistance from this scholarship will help me reach my dream of earning a Bachelor's degree and play NCAA DIII softball. I will also earn more experience and knowledge to continue to impact lives in the community by becoming a great coach and advocate for future student athletes.

Influence From Sports Participation in sports during my high school years has been a major influence on my life through personal reflection and growth. “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self- examination...until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play a national softball schedule with my high level travel team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow. Participation in sports has influenced my career goals. I love being around sports, especially team sports. It's hard to imagine life without sports after playing in college. Being around the dynamic of a team is a great feeling. I have assisted and participated in softball clinics, camps and recreational youth teams through the years. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I have learned so much from every coach I've worked with, whether it was a positive or negative experience. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve team environments. This is just a few of the reasons why I am considering a coaching minor in college. I want to become the best coach I can possibly be in the future and for the future.

Influence From Sports Participation in sports during my high school years has been a major influence on my life through personal reflection and growth. “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self- examination...until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play a national softball schedule with my high level travel team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow. Participation in sports has influenced my career goals. I love being around sports, especially team sports. It's hard to imagine life without sports after playing in college. Being around the dynamic of a team is a great feeling. I have assisted and participated in softball clinics, camps and recreational youth teams through the years. I find it extremely rewarding to work with kids. I have learned so much from every coach I've worked with, whether it was a positive or negative experience. I want to share my experiences and skills with others to help improve team environments. This is just a few of the reasons why I am considering a coaching minor in college. I want to become the best coach I can possibly be in the future and for the future.

Personal Growth “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow.

How Artificial Intelligence Has Improved Our Lives Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the use of machines to perform tasks typically completed with human intellect. AI imitates human behavior such as speech recognition, language processing, image processing, object and image recognition and continuous learning. Artificial Intelligence is used on a daily basis to help improve our lives tremendously. There are many examples of artificial intelligence, these are just a few: digital assistants, security, social media, shopping and transportation. Digital assistants such as Google and Siri have made our lives much simpler. Google assistant can interact with Android by voice command to do a variety of tasks such as calling, playing music, setting alarms, texting and web searches. Like Google assistant, Siri uses voice recognition to do many tasks like reading email, calendaring, making calls, texting and setting alarms on iOS platforms. Security is very important in the digital world and depends heavily on artificial intelligence. Facial recognition is used abundantly to keep data and assets safe. From the smartphone's facial unlock function to the points of entry for businesses, AI makes the process safer. Many social media applications use artificial intelligence for multiple uses. Snapchat uses face detection to detect facial features to apply the filters accordingly. Twitter and Facebook identifies hate speech by language processing. Instagram and Facebook uses machine learning to find the user’s interests. Online shopping apps have become a staple in society. Food ordering apps use AI to record and learn a user's meal times, favorite restaurants, food interests and can provide suggestions for similar cuisine. A user may even receive notifications from the app around the recorded meal times to entice the user to place an order. Like food ordering apps, online shopping apps such as Amazon record and learn a user's interests and record purchases. A user may receive price change notifications about a product the consumer has purchased in the past or simply browsed online. The process also keeps the user engaged with the online business and helps the business retain repeat customers. Through artificial intelligence, technology has definitely made life easier. From a simple 'Hey Siri' or 'Okay, Google' we can do just about anything we want. They can help us reach out to our family and friends, perform searches, tell us the current events, weather and so much more. I'm thankful for today's technology and the simplicity it brings to everyday life.

Mental Health - Personal Growth “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow.

Personal Growth Through Learning “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to learn and grow.

Personal Reflection/Growth “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow.

Self-discovery through personal reflection and growth “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. A year ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow.

Personal Growth “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination…until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” This quote by Iyanla Vanzant speaks out to me as I am living through my teenage years. The world is full of challenges. You can choose to overcome failures; or give up. Having a growth mindset will determine how you succeed in life. As a student athlete I have adapted the growth mindset through challenges. When I fail in my sport, I can not be afraid to try again. My parents taught me that I need to work hard at something to become skilled. It has taken me a while to truly understand this. Nevertheless, once I started pitching/hitting lessons I became a better softball player. Now I can see the difference in my skill level on the field and truly appreciate what my parents taught me. Currently I am a senior that has been playing high school varsity softball for four years. Furthermore, I play with a high level travel ball team. Six years ago I would not have imagined that I would be this successful in the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about success and failure. In other words, you will fail more than you succeed. For example, a great hitter has an .300 batting average. He/She only has success on three out of ten at bats. Therefore, he/she fails on the other seven attempts. Failure is one the best teachers you can have in life. It is one of the best tools for learning. If you fail by putting in the effort, then it shows that you are trying. Giving your best will ultimately lead you to success. “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” However, this only applies if you learn from your mistakes. This is especially true in academics. Most people in today’s society view failure in a negative way. Students are discouraged by getting failing grades. More often than not the failing grade is a result of not understanding the material or not putting forth the effort. Having a growth mindset will determine my success. Both inside and outside the classroom I have to work hard. It is through dedication and wanting to do my best that will ultimately lead to my success. I am learning from my failures and converting my weaknesses into strengths. So far being a student athlete has taught me to control my attitude and effort. In doing so, I will continue to grow.