I became a Morgan’s Message ambassador as a freshman in high school, driven by a desire to spread awareness about Morgan Rodgers’ story and make a positive impact on my school community. Morgan’s Message is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within student-athlete populations. Morgan’s Message was created after Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University lacrosse player, died by suicide in 2019. While I expected to advocate for mental health awareness, I did not anticipate the profound impact my involvement would have- not only within my school but throughout my local community. As an ambassador, I have organized dedication games, one of which included a vendor fair that was planned by my co-president and I where we collaborated with Morgan’s Message and local mental health organizations to provide valuable resources to our community. Through these events, I had the opportunity to network with professionals across various mental health fields, all eager to offer support-not just to athletes, but to anyone in need. Creating spaces where these experts could engage directly with athletes, school leaders and community members seemed like a simple initiative, yet the outreach and impact were far greater than I had imagined. These events facilitated critical conversations, increased visibility for mental health resources, and fostered a more supportive environment. My involvement with Morgan’s Message has been transformative, both in expanding my understanding of mental health and in my personal growth. I have become more comfortable initiating difficult conversations, more adept at creating safe spaces where my peers feel supported, and more committed to advocating for causes I believe in. As I continue this work in college, I look forward to connecting with other ambassadors across the country and the globe to expand my network which will allow me to collaborate on initiatives that promote mental health in sports on a broader scale. I hope to contribute to efforts that drive real change-whether through raising awareness, influencing policy to increase funding for athlete wellness programs, or expanding access to mental health resources within collegiate athletics. These lessons and experiences will serve me well as both a student-athlete and a member of a campus community. Beyond college, I am confident that the connections I make, both through this organization and as an athlete, will continue to expose me to continued education and open doors for me to create meaningful change in the communities that I am a member of.

I became a Morgan’s Message ambassador as a freshman in high school, driven by a desire to spread awareness about Morgan Rodgers’ story and make a positive impact on my school community. Morgan’s Message is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within student-athlete populations. Morgan’s Message was created after Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University lacrosse player, died by suicide in 2019. While I expected to advocate for mental health awareness, I did not anticipate the profound impact my involvement would have- not only within my school but throughout my local community. As an ambassador, I have organized dedication games, one of which included a vendor fair where m co-president and I collaborated with Morgan’s Message and local mental health organizations to provide valuable resources to our community. Through these events, I had the opportunity to network with professionals across various mental health fields, all eager to offer support-not just to athletes, but to anyone in need. Creating spaces where these experts could engage directly with athletes, school leaders and community members seemed like a simple initiative, yet the outreach and impact were far greater than I had imagined. These events facilitated critical conversations, increased visibility for mental health resources, and fostered a more supportive environment. My involvement with Morgan’s Message has been transformative, both in expanding my understanding of mental health and in my personal growth. I have become more comfortable initiating difficult conversations, more adept at creating safe spaces where my peers feel supported, and more committed to advocating for causes I believe in. As I continue this work in college, I look forward to connecting with other ambassadors across the country and the globe to expand my network which will allow me to collaborate on initiatives that promote mental health in sports on a broader scale. I hope to contribute to efforts in my community that drive real change-whether through raising awareness, influencing policy to increase funding for athlete wellness programs, or expanding access to mental health resources within collegiate athletics. These lessons and experiences will serve me well as both a student-athlete and a member of a campus community. Beyond college, I am confident that the connections I make, both through this organization and as an athlete, will continue to expose me to continued education and open doors for me to create meaningful change in the communities that I am a member of.

My purpose in making sacrifices and maintaining a dedication to my academic and extra-curricular endeavors throughout high school was to ultimately attend college, specifically Bentley University, and pursue a major and career that I am passionate about. I have always been interested in, skilled at and challenged by Math throughout my high school career. Additionally, I have always been interested in and comfortable with leadership positions. As a result, I knew that I would like to combine these aptitudes and pursue a Business related major/career. As such, I will be pursuing a major in Corporate Finance and Accounting. I do plan to pursue a Master’s degree and at this time, and hope to work as a Forensic Accountant with the intention of protecting my future clients against fraud and various other financial crimes. I believe that my academic preparation that includes Honors, AP and Dual Enrollment courses will prepare me well for the academic rigors to come. Through my internship with Solid State Lacrosse, I gained firsthand experience in event planning, marketing strategy, and administrative operations, specific to social media and communications; all of which sharpened my attention to detail and organizational skills. These are the same competencies required in corporate finance and accounting, where accuracy, data analysis, and clear communication are critical. Collaborating with various professionals in a business setting also gave me valuable insight into real-world operations and client interaction, further solidifying my interest in pursuing a finance-oriented career. As a Morgan’s Message Ambassador, I have developed skills in leadership, outreach, and advocacy; coordinating awareness campaigns, hosting events, and facilitating conversations around mental health. These experiences have taught me how to navigate sensitive topics with empathy, while staying organized and goal-focused. In the corporate finance world, strong interpersonal skills, ethical leadership, and the ability to connect with diverse stakeholders are just as essential as analytical expertise. I am confident that my ambassadorship has helped me grow into a thoughtful communicator and a proactive problem-solver. Throughout my academic and extracurricular experiences, I have developed a strong foundation of skills that I believe will serve me well in a finance-oriented career. My strengths lie in my attention to detail, organizational abilities, and proactive communication; skills sharpened through my internship with Solid State Lacrosse. Additionally, my role as a Morgan’s Message Ambassador has strengthened my leadership, empathy, and advocacy skills, particularly when navigating sensitive conversations around mental health. While I pride myself on being highly driven and committed, I’ve also recognized that managing multiple responsibilities at once can, at times, lead to stress and emotional strain. This is something that I need to be mindful of as I move forward in my education and look to get involved in my campus community. However, I continue to grow by learning to balance ambition with self-awareness, and I view challenges as opportunities to further develop both personally and professionally. I believe my ability to reflect, adapt, and persevere makes me a strong candidate for this scholarship.