My name is Anthony Wick. I am 18 years old and I just graduated from New Smyrna Beach High School in central Florida. I think many young people applying for scholarships say that they have always "dreamed of being a . . ." but I think they aren't telling the complete truth. I'm not going to be a game designer because I like to play video games or become a game analyst because I love watching football. It has taken me quite some time to find a career field that I am both interested in and where I know I can excel. It is not a secret to anyone who knows me that I struggled in school when I was younger. After a rough few years and a change of schools in order to receive testing, I discovered I have a learning disability. There are some subjects that come more easily to me than others. But with my IEP and a strong advocate, I have come to realize that my learning disability cannot hold me back. Though it can take me longer to understand a complicated reading passage, I have learned strategies to help me overcome that difficulty. Each year I have raised my GPA. I even took honors history in both my junior and senior years. Ninth-grade Anthony would never believed that could happen. Last year, I decided that I needed to get an after-school job. My parents are very generous with what they can help with, but I can't rely on my parents for gas or tuition because my dad is on disability and they deal with a lot of medical expenses. I got my first job as a dishwasher at a pizza restaurant a year ago. I had no idea what I was doing but I learned pretty fast! Since that time, I saved over $3000 and fixed up my dad's car that was broken down and needed new tires. I paid for those repairs myself and drive myself to school and work every day. I have earned and learned the value of the dollar. In the spring, I heard of a vocational field trip to Northwest Lineman College and a small group of us were able to go to the school, meet the teachers, tour the campus, and learn about all the different potential jobs that you can have when you graduate from lineman school. I could make repairs on the poles, work with underground power, be a bucket truck driver, work with wind turbine energy, or even be certified to work with drones! For the first time, I felt like I found a career field that fit with my interests and my strengths. The full cost of the tuition is $28,000 and even though I'm saving and applying for scholarships I definitely need assistance. I think that vocation/trade school is worth the expense. I want to work with energy because it won't be replaced by AI and I'll be helping people!

My name is Anthony Wick and I am a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. I have been accepted for the fall session at Northwest Lineman College. I am probably not like most applicants who have always "known" what they want to be or who have an above average GPA. My hope is that you see students who have academic challenges can still be successful, help others, and achieve their dreams. When I was in elementary school, I struggled with reading. My standardized test scores were low. Reading impacts all other subject areas so I was put into low-track classes and my confidence reflected that. When I was in fifth grade, I moved to a new school and got the testing I needed. I learned that I have a reading comprehension learning disability and with that documentation, I received an IEP. My IEP includes accommodations that help me succeed, but it also includes goals. At first, I didn't put forth much effort because I was so used to receiving poor grades. For some reason, when you get low grades, many teachers think you are a problem. And I didn't think too highly of myself either. I hung around other kids who were in a similar situation to me. When I got to high school, I realized that I had to work towards those goals in my IEP. I had to take responsibility for my work and how I manage my time. I had to learn to advocate for myself and many times I had to ask for my accommodations. You would be surprised to know that even though they are required to do so, not many teachers actually read their students' IEPs. If I needed extra help or extra time, I had to have enough confidence to approach the teacher and tell them what I needed. I started to think about my future and I honestly was not sure what kind of job or career I was interested in. I investigated many different careers and was lucky enough to get a spot to attend a vocational field trip to NLC. I met instructors, toured the campus, and learned about all of the different jobs you receive training for at lineman college. That really appealed to me because there are so many different opportunities within that field. I could be a lineman that makes repairs on the pole. I will receive my commercial driver's license while in school so I can drive the vehicles or operate a bucket truck or crane. I could work with underground power or be a lineman that services wind turbines. There are even drone operators in the lineman field. I have also had to overcome personal challenges in addition to my learning disability. My family experienced a devastating loss in 2018 when my aunt was murdered by her own son, my cousin. My aunt Gail is my mom's younger sister and my cousin was only 15 when he murdered his own mother. Our whole family dynamic changed. Its almost as if my life is split in two parts; before that night and now everything after. I was only in fifth-grade but my family was on the evening news for a long time and then the national and international news. My parents discouraged me from looking it up on the internet, but as I have gotten older, I have seen videos of my cousin's 911 via bodycam footage and watched his interrogation on YouTube. My aunt is my mom's younger sister and she asked long ago if my mom would take care of my cousin if something happened to her. My mom said yes and my aunt put that in her will. I'm sure neither one of them ever thought that become reality, but suddenly my mom went from raising five kids and working full-time to managing all that and going to court every few weeks. She spend countless hours on the phone talking with attorneys and taking my grandmother to visit my cousin in jail and then in prison. In fact, she was just there last weekend. During this time of great stress for my family, everyone was in a different mental and emotional space. Some family members were angry. We were all sad. I was really missing my aunt and it was scary that someone I had looked up to was a murderer. I had his Spiderman comforter on my bed when that happened. I had tubs of Legos from my cousin and had hand-me-down wrestlers and Star Wars figures that used to belong to him. I didn't even want to look at them afterwards. We used to gather at their house every year on Christmas Eve. For the past seven years all family gatherings have been splintered. My parents have struggled and my cousin's name is still a constant presence. I know how much my mom misses her sister and I miss my aunt who always wanted to know what video games I was playing, what I was building or drawing, and was always ready to go outside and play. I don't tell this so you will feel sorry for me. It is possible to overcome our own internal struggles (like my learning disability) and life-changing struggles (like violently losing someone you love). I am getting ready to graduate and I think a lot about my aunt. I know that she would be so proud of me. I know she would be sitting next to my mom shouting and clapping when they call my name to cross the stage. Making her proud is what motivates me. Of course I'm nervous to start something I've never done before. Lineman school is a huge financial investment and I will have to find ways to adapt to the learning environment. But one thing is certain, I will succeed and I will help others. I will become a man that makes my family proud.

1. My name is Anthony Wick. I am currently a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School and have been accepted to the fall program at Northwest Lineman College here in Edgewater, FL. I am pursuing the trade of lineman because I'm interested in working with my hands, learning skills that will last me a lifetime, being a part of a team, and helping others. I have grown up in Florida and been through many hurricanes. We have lost power for long periods of time on several occasions. If I can be part of helping people when they are going through a tough time, that would make me feel like I'm contributing to my community or whatever community I've been sent to. I think most people who say that they know what they want to do for their career when they are only 17 or 18 years old are probably not telling the complete truth. But I have toured NLC and met some of the instructors. I make time each day to watch videos on the website to help me prep for school and I have started the recommended workout program. I'm ready to get started learning and setting myself up for future success! 2. After I graduate from lineman school, I feel that I will have many opportunities for work and even to travel. The instructors said at the end of the program, companies send representatives to talk about job openings and apprenticeships. I'm willing to go pretty much anywhere to gain knowledge and experience. I know that graduating from a university is no guarantee of employment. After graduating from NLC, I feel that I will be prepared to start working and building my future right away! Lineman crews are called to assist all over the country and even in Puerto Rico. I don't know many people my age who will be able to have lifelong skills and earn enough money to be independent and start saving at 19 years old. That is my goal. . . to support myself and help others. 3. I struggled when I was in elementary school and finally got testing and an IEP in fifth grade. Academics were always a challenge for me and because I struggled, I often did not try. I thought I would just fail. When you see yourself in that light, others do as well. In middle school, most of my teachers were not encouraging. I did not receive much positive feedback and I hung around other kids who were in the same boat as me. But when I got to high school, I met some new people and realized that the way I viewed myself was not setting me up for success. By tenth grade, I had migrated away from people who were skipping school and failing classes. By eleventh grade I was taking honors history. In my junior and senior years I have made honor roll every quarter. Each year my GPA has gone up. I got a job a year ago and saved money to fix up my dad's car which needed a lot of work. I now drive myself to school and work every day and am saving again for school. I am grateful for the support of my mom who consistently advocates for me and helped me explore educational and vocational opportunities. I have come to understand that my learning disability can't hold me back. I learned to adapt and work around my educational challenges and I feel that is something that will make me successful in lineman school and my career!

My name is Anthony Wick and I am a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. My school district has an initiative this school year to show mental health videos each quarter to raise awareness and help students feel like they are not alone. I don't think the videos make much of a difference, but if they help even one person, I think they are worth showing. I would usually not share about my experience with mental health issues, but if answering this prompt helps even one person, I'm willing to give it a shot. I have several family members who have dealt with or are currently struggling with mental health issues. My father has had two heart attacks, two strokes, has diabetes, and has severe arthritis in his back. He is on disability, but he also struggles with depression. The physical aspect of his struggles are easy to see. They are easier to address because my mom takes him to so many doctors and he is on loads of medications for all of these health issues. But he suffers from depression because after his stroke, he feels like he lost his purpose in life. He can't work anymore. He can't coach volleyball anymore. He doesn't drive or go to any appointments alone. My mom brings him his coffee every morning because he is so unsteady on his feet that carrying liquid is dangerous. His sleep schedule is off because he is not active during the day. I have heard him say that he doesn't feel like a man. I have heard him say that he is as useless as a dirty dish rag. He focuses on what he has lost and what he cannot do because that is how depression works. He can't just decide to feel more positive. He refuses counseling and stays away from any social gatherings, unless they are at our house. Even then, he hides in the bedroom and tells my mom to let people know he just "isn't up for visiting." My mom is one of the strongest people I know, but even she has her breaking point. Four years ago she took a handful of pills and didn't come to pick me up from school. It wasn't until my older sister went to check on her that she and my dad realized what my mom had done. They rushed her to the hospital and she was voluntarily admitted to the psych ward. the put her on anti-depressants and she started therapy (again). Being a full time care-giver to a person who is incredibly negative wears a person down. I'm so grateful that my mom recovered and is back to herself, but I can see when she starts slipping into crisis. It usually happens when my dad goes in the hospital or if something throws her out of her routine. Being responsible for a household, a disabled husband, five kids, and working full time can be overwhelming and I wish I could take some of that off her plate. My siblings and I try to be a support for my mom but it has also made me think about my relationships. I want to be in a healthy relationship where communication is open and honest. I don't think one person should be responsible for handling all tasks and being the support person for everyone in the family. I think therapy is very helpful and I wish it was free. I think that there is still a huge stigma around having a therapist or even taking anti-depressants. My dad calls them his "crazy pills." I wonder how that makes my mom feel because she had to be on anti-depressants after her hospital stay. Living in a household with a chronically sick person who lives with crippling depression and a parent who carries the full weight of the house on their shoulders is a reminder to me that everyone is dealing with something hard...even if we can't see it from the outside. It is a reminder to me to be kind and understanding. I realize that sometimes medication is necessary and therapy can be life-saving. When I realized that I had become the sole mental and emotional support person for my girlfriend, I talked to her about telling her parents how stressed she is. I'm only 18 and I am not a therapist. It is important to have professional help when struggling with mental health issues. This also makes me think about the people I will be attending lineman school with. Everyone has struggles and I am prepared to lean into the team part of my education. Knowing I'm not alone and that during school and afterwards, that we can support each other is a lesson I have learned. I am working and saving money for lineman college. It is expensive and I do not want to place any more burden on my parents. This scholarship would be a huge help to me in learning skills and achieving certifications I will have for life. Thank you for considering me.

I'm sure there are former inmates who can write about their experiences with incarceration and how they could really use assistance to pursue their education now that they have been released. But I'm writing to you today as a family member not only of a person who is incarcerated, but as the family member of a homicide in which that family member is responsible. You may have seen the story of my aunt and cousin on the news. It is pretty hard to escape. My cousin, Greg, was fifteen when he strangled my aunt to death in 2018. He has been incarcerated first in the county jail for several years, and then at a series of prisons. He is now serving time at Tomoka Correctional Institution which is about twenty-five miles from where I live. This horrible event changed everything for my family. There are some family members who do not talk to Greg at all. But my aunt had asked my mom to be Greg's custodian in case anything ever happened to her. My mom agreed. I'm very sure my aunt did not know that she would be murdered by her own child. But my mother has taken responsibility for Greg. She attended every single court hearing, even the ones that the defense or the co-defendants did not attend. She gave three victim's impact statements and filed court documents to officially be listed as Greg's custodian. I'm applying for college and working to save money. I'm very lucky to have my mom's help to navigate that process. Inmates who want to take classes for credit definitely need someone on the outside to help them. My mom has gotten Greg's transcripts, helped him apply to Blackstone Career Institute, and purchased the classes and course materials. She helped him apply to the CEP program through Stetson and he is currently auditing classes. Next semester, he will begin taking classes for credit. When he has taken all available free courses, he will transfer to Bethune Cookman because they allow incarcerated students to take classes for credit. My mom will be the one to pay for those classes. I apply for scholarships and grants every day. Sometimes, it seems as if there are more scholarships for people who have lost a parent or sibling than there are for people who want to attend a trade school. It took me a long time to figure out what my strengths are and what career would be a good fit. I applied and was accepted to Northwest Lineman College here in Edgewater, Florida. I am working and saving at least 2/3 of every check towards my tuition. I think it is great that my cousin has opportunities to pursue his education. My mom says it would be shameful to be that smart and waste it. I think my aunt would be proud that he is taking college classes. Please help me achieve that same goal.

My name is Anthony Wick. I am 18 years old and a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School in central Florida. I think many young people applying for scholarships say that they have always "dreamed of being a . . ." but I think they aren't telling the complete truth. I used to want to design video games because I like playing video games. But I haven't "dreamed of" having that job. In fact, it has taken me quite some time to find a career field that I am both interested in and where I know I can excel. It is not a secret to anyone who knows me that I struggled in school when I was younger. After a rough few years and a change of schools in order to receive testing, I discovered I have a learning disability. There are some subjects that come more easily to me than others. But with my IEP and a strong advocate, I have come to realize that my learning disability cannot hold me back. Though it can take me longer to understand a complicated reading passage, I have learned strategies to help me overcome that difficulty. After ninth grade, it clicked in my brain that I am going to need to work hard, harder than many others, in order to be successful. Each year I have raised my GPA. Every quarter since the beginning of my junior year I have been on the honor roll. I even took honors history in both my junior and senior years. Ninth-grade Anthony would never believed that could happen. Last year, I decided that I wanted to get an after-school job. My parents are very generous and I do not have to pay for my car insurance or cell-phone. But I wanted to be able to go off-campus for lunch, take my girlfriend on dates, and do fun things with my friends. I couldn't rely on my parents for those things too! I got my first job as a dishwasher at a pizza restaurant a year ago. I had no idea what I was doing but I learned pretty fast! Since that time, I have continued to work at least 15 hours a week (required by my on the job training program at school) and oftentimes more. I saved over $3000 and fixed up my dad's car that was broken down and needed new tires. I paid for those repairs myself and drive myself to school and work every day. I have earned and learned the value of the dollar. I have been promoted a few times at my job, but I don't want to work at a pizza restaurant for my career. You also asked if there was a challenge I have faced and how I overcame it. This is not something I share with most people but it is an important event that has shaped who I am as a person. In 2018, my aunt was murdered. She was a woman of deep faith and conviction. I miss her terribly and she is always as the front of my mind when I am making choices. The summer after she passed, I attend Camp San Pedro in Orlando, Florida. My aunt had sent my cousin there every year so I had mixed feelings about attending. I wanted to go because it seemed like so much fun, but I wondered if people would know what happened with my aunt and treat me differently. I'm so glad I made the choice to go. I had an amazing experience and I have had the blessing to attend every summer. Going to camp, hearing the witness talks from the counselors, and being unplugged and present with God for a week has been the best experience of my life. I volunteered as a counselor-in-training there last summer for two weeks when I wasn't attending my own week as a camper. Now that I will have graduated, I can no longer attend as a camper, but I had an interview last week to be a camp counselor there this summer. While I was preparing to be Confirmed into the Catholic church, I began attending youth group and volunteering or doing acts of service. We have stocked the food pantry, distributed food on the days when the food share is scheduled, shopped for the needy at Christmas, served at the fish frys to raise money for youth group, and I even dressed up as the Easter bunny last year to help the kids celebrate Easter. I go to Church every Sunday evening after youth group. Even when I'm tired, I know I can give God an hour for all he has given me. That is how I approach my daily life as well. I think of what God has done for me and how I can help others. This will be very important in lineman school as we work together as a team. I see my faith as my strength and comfort. I am applying for as many scholarships and grants as possible because completing the full course at Northwest Lineman College costs about $28,000. My dad has had two heart attacks and two strokes and is now on disability. My mom takes care of my dad full time and works full time. I have been saving money towards school and will continue to do so until tuition is due in September. You have no idea how much winning this scholarship would mean to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay.

If I was applying for this scholarship a few years ago, I don't know if I would have much to say that would have impressed the judging panel. But my faith has become a central part of my daily life in the past few years. I'm always happy to share about that experience. I was raised Catholic, but like most little kids, I found church boring and did anything I could to entertain myself during Mass. But in 2018, my aunt was murdered. She was a woman of deep faith and conviction. I miss her terribly and she is always as the front of my mind when I am making choices. The summer after she passed, I attend Camp San Pedro in Orlando, Florida. My aunt had sent my cousin there every year so I had mixed feelings about attending. I wanted to go because it seemed like so much fun, but I wondered if people would know what happened with my aunt and treat me differently. I'm so glad I made the choice to go. I had an amazing experience and I have had the blessing to attend every summer. Going to camp, hearing the witness talks from the counselors, and being unplugged and present with God for a week has been the best experience of my life. I volunteered as a counselor-in-training there last summer for two weeks when I wasn't attending my own week as a camper. Now that I will have graduated, I can no longer attend as a camper, but I had an interview last week to be a camp counselor there this summer. One of the questions they asked in my interview is what I thought I could bring to the campers. I told the interview panel that I really hoped to help young campers as for many of them this is their first time at sleep-away camp. I want them to have the same kind of experience that I did. I want to help them grow in their faith and use that to apply to real life situations to make good choices. I also decided to make my Confirmation. I asked one of the counselors to be my sponsor. My younger sister and I were Confirmed together in January of 2025. After the blessing from the bishop, I truly felt like I had been anointed to do good and share my experiences with others. I know most people don't want a religious speech or lecture at work, but I think the best way to show others your faith is my your actions. I can show the kind of person God has helped me become by making good choices, encouraging others, being inclusive and kind, showing gratitude, and being generous. If someone asks about my faith journey, I would invite them to come to church with me. I'm not afraid to talk about what I believe in. During the preparation period for my Confirmation, my sister and I started to attend youth group at our parish. We continue to volunteer whenever there are service opportunities with youth group. We have restocked the food pantry, loaded up cars on the days the food share truck comes to distribute food, shopped for the needy at Christmas, served at the fish frys that raise money for youth group, and I even dressed up as the Easter bunny to help kids have a fun Easter egg hunt. I also had the opportunity to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis last November. We had a virtual Q&A with the Pope! We met hundreds of other kids who are living their faith out in the world. It was an amazing experience. I go to Church every Sunday evening after youth group. Even when I'm tired, I know I can give God an hour for all he has given me. That is how I approach my daily life as well. I think of what God has done for me and how I can help others. This will be very important in lineman school as we work together as a team. I see my faith as my strength and comfort.

If I was applying for this scholarship a few years ago, I don't know if I would have much to say that would have impressed the judging panel. But my faith has become a central part of my daily life in the past few years. I'm always happy to share about that experience. I was raised Catholic, but like most little kids, I found church boring and did anything I could to entertain myself during Mass. But in 2018, my aunt was murdered. She was a woman of deep faith and conviction. I miss her terribly and she is always as the front of my mind when I am making choices. The summer after she passed, I attend Camp San Pedro in Orlando, Florida. My aunt had sent my cousin there every year so I had mixed feelings about attending. I wanted to go because it seemed like so much fun, but I wondered if people would know what happened with my aunt and treat me differently. I'm so glad I made the choice to go. I had an amazing experience and I have had the blessing to attend every summer. Going to camp, hearing the witness talks from the counselors, and being unplugged and present with God for a week has been the best experience of my life. I volunteered as a counselor-in-training there last summer for two weeks when I wasn't attending my own week as a camper. Now that I will have graduated, I can no longer attend as a camper, but I had an interview last week to be a camp counselor there this summer. I also decided to make my Confirmation. I asked one of the counselors to be my sponsor. My younger sister and I were Confirmed together in January of 2025. After the blessing from the bishop, I truly felt like I had been anointed to do good and share my experiences with others. I know most people don't want a religious speech or lecture at work, but I think the best way to show others your faith is my your actions. I can show the kind of person God has helped me become by making good choices, encouraging others, being inclusive and kind, showing gratitude, and being generous. If someone asks about my faith journey, I would invite them to come to church with me. I'm not afraid to talk about what I believe in. During the preparation period for my Confirmation, my sister and I started to attend youth group at our parish. We continue to volunteer whenever there are service opportunities with youth group. We have stocked the food pantry, distributed food on the days when the food share is scheduled, shopped for the needy at Christmas, served at the fish frys to raise money for youth group, and I even dressed up as the Easter bunny last year to help the kids celebrate Easter. I go to Church every Sunday evening after youth group. Even when I'm tired, I know I can give God an hour for all he has given me. That is how I approach my daily life as well. I think of what God has done for me and how I can help others. This will be very important in lineman school as we work together as a team. I see my faith as my strength and comfort.

If I was applying for this scholarship a few years ago, I don't know if I would have much to say that would have impressed the judging panel. But my faith has become a central part of my daily life in the past few years. I'm always happy to share about that experience. I was raised Catholic, but like most little kids, I found church boring and did anything I could to entertain myself during Mass. But in 2018, my aunt was murdered. She was a woman of deep faith and conviction. I miss her terribly and she is always as the front of my mind when I am making choices. The summer after she passed, I attend Camp San Pedro in Orlando, Florida. My aunt had sent my cousin there every year so I had mixed feelings about attending. I wanted to go because it seemed like so much fun, but I wondered if people would know what happened with my aunt and treat me differently. I'm so glad I made the choice to go. I had an amazing experience and I have had the blessing to attend every summer. Going to camp, hearing the witness talks from the counselors, and being unplugged and present with God for a week has been the best experience of my life. I volunteered as a counselor-in-training there last summer for two weeks when I wasn't attending my own week as a camper. Now that I will have graduated, I can no longer attend as a camper, but I had an interview last week to be a camp counselor there this summer. One of the questions they asked in my interview is what I thought I could bring to the campers. I told the interview panel that I really hoped to help young campers as for many of them this is their first time at sleep-away camp. I want them to have the same kind of experience that I did. I want to help them grow in their faith and use that to apply to real life situations to make good choices. I also decided to make my Confirmation. I asked one of the counselors to be my sponsor. My younger sister and I were Confirmed together in January of 2025. After the blessing from the bishop, I truly felt like I had been anointed to do good and share my experiences with others. I know most people don't want a religious speech or lecture at work, but I think the best way to show others your faith is my your actions. I can show the kind of person God has helped me become by making good choices, encouraging others, being inclusive and kind, showing gratitude, and being generous. If someone asks about my faith journey, I would invite them to come to church with me. I'm not afraid to talk about what I believe in. During the preparation period for my Confirmation, my sister and I started to attend youth group at our parish. We continue to volunteer whenever there are service opportunities with youth group. I go to Church every Sunday evening after youth group. Even when I'm tired, I know I can give God an hour for all he has given me. That is how I approach my daily life as well. I think of what God has done for me and how I can help others. This will be very important in lineman school as we work together as a team. I see my faith as my strength and comfort.

If there any teacher who has influenced me or changed how I approach my life it would be Mr. Porter. Mr. Porter is the Digital Video Technology teacher at my high school. I had him for class last year and this year I am an TA for him during my free period. I cannot stress enough how much it means for me to have a trusted adult that I can talk things over with. Students don't like Mr. Porter because he is an easy teacher. They like him because he treats us like human beings. He listens. He encourages. He gives us opportunities. When we mess up, he doesn't give up on us. We talk about where we went wrong and what we need to do to fix it. I'm not sure why more teachers aren't like Mr. Porter. Don't people decide to teach because they are interested in the subject and they like kids? It seems to me that a lot of my teachers are so worried about standardized test results or checking off boxes for their curriculum, that they forget they have actual students in the desks. Mr. Porter makes me feel like if I am worried about something, I can share that with him. I'm always welcome in his classroom. That might not seem like much, but if you have been to any high school lately, knowing that you have a safe space to be yourself and be treated with respect is a pretty big deal. Mr. Porter is aware of my reading comprehension learning disability and he actually read my IEP. Though all teachers are required to read IEPs and 504s and make those accommodations, you would be surprise to know how many of my teachers have never even looked at my IEP, much less acknowledged that I have a right to my accommodations. I know that when I graduate from high school, that there will not always be an opportunity for me to have my accommodations met. But I have learned that there are ways to work around my struggles and Mr. Porter encouraged me to challenge myself. I signed up for OJT last year and that means I get out of school early to go to work. I work 3-5 days a week and saved enough money to fix up my dad's old car. Mr. Porter even told me he would help me car shop online when I'm ready. I don't have any other teachers who are willing to do those kinds of things that fall outside their "normal" job duties. I hope Mr. Porter will come to my graduation from Northwest Lineman College. I want him to be proud of me and see that I can be successful. I intend to write him a letter before graduation letting him know how much he has meant to me as a mentor and a teacher. I wanted to write it in a letter so if he is having a tough day, he can read it and remember he helped me more than he ever knows! Because of Mr. Porter, I want to work hard and show that I can overcome areas where I struggle. I want to help other people in my class because teamwork is the way to get things done.

My name is Anthony Wick and I am a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. I come from a big close-knit family. I have one older brother, two older sisters, and I go to high school with my little sister who is a freshman. My mom also has a big family. She has five siblings, so you can imagine what its like when we all get together. In 2018, my mom's younger sister, my aunt Gail, was murdered by her own son. You may have even heard about it on the news. He was only fifteen years old and a sophomore in high school when he strangled my aunt to death. I was in fifth grade when that happened but my whole life changed because of that one night. I should clarify that there were no signs that my cousin had any violent tendencies. He is incredibly smart and was in boy scouts, did tae kwon do, and was in the police Explorers program. My aunt was the absolute best. Whenever we would get together, which was often because my mom's family is very close, my aunt Gail would immediately find the kids and ask us all about what we liked, who are friends were, what we were looking forward to; and she would get down on the floor and play with us. She was always the one to take us outside to play. She was never bored coloring, building Legos with me, or painting my sisters' nails. Now that I'm older, I have asked my mom the details of what happened. She is always honest with me and tells me what I need to know. She and my aunt were the closest in age and my mom was the matron of honor at her wedding. They talked and laughed over the phone. They had stories and inside jokes. And my aunt asked my mom to take care of my cousin if anything ever happened to her. My mom said yes and my aunt put that in her will. So, my mom became my cousin's custodian. You can imagine how hard that has been. I can't say it would be easier if my aunt was killed by someone she didn't know. But my cousin calls to talk to my mom every week. She takes my grandma to go visit him. I know my grandma is almost 90, and she is doing what she thinks is right, but its been hurtful and really eye-opening to see how people act and react when something like this happens. I decided I want to do everything I can to make my aunt proud of me. I go to camp every summer where she used to send my cousin. I know she would love that. I applied to be a counselor there this summer to help save money for school. I applied to lineman college because I like to work outside and be part of a team. I also know she would think that was a good fit for my personality and my strengths. I turned towards my faith instead of anger because I know that would make her so sad if she thought I was carrying hate in my heart. So, a year ago January, my younger sister and I were Confirmed and we go to youth group and church regularly. I try to be a good person and honor her in all things. I hope I make her proud by being the person she knew I could be.

My name is Anthony Wick and I am a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. I have applied to Northwest Lineman College and have been accepted for their fall term. I have decided to pursue a vocational career rather than go the route of pursing a university degree. I know many applicants will not admit that they have ever struggled in school or that they have had difficulty deciding what career path to take. I guess that makes me a little different. I was diagnosed with a reading comprehension learning disability when I was in fifth grade. Even after understanding that I think and learn differently than the average student, I struggled to make school a priority and didn't receive much positive feedback. But after ninth grade, I took a long hard look at what my future would be if I continued down that path. In the past three years, I have come to understand that my learning disability is a challenge I can work around in order to be successful. There are tools and learning aids that have helped me adapt and become successful in school. In fact, I have made honor roll every quarter since the beginning of my junior year. I even took honors history both my junior and senior years and am doing well. I also learned a lot about myself. I am not the kind of person who enjoys sitting behind a desk all day. I like being outdoors. I enjoy teamwork and comradery. I had the opportunity to attend a vocational exploration day at NLC and met the instructors. I learned about all of the different jobs that are available after I graduate from NLC. They even have companies come to every graduating class to offer apprenticeships and job offers. At NLC I will learn skills and earn certifications that will help me no matter what job I choose to do in the future. There will always be a need for workers in the energy and electrical field. These are not jobs that can be replaced by AI. And as a Florida native, I have been through many hurricanes where my family was without power for an extended period of time. I like the idea that I can help other people who are going through what may be one of their worst experiences. The cost of the full program with all certifications, including my CDL, is $28,000 for the fall term. I got a job at a local pizza restaurant a year ago and saved enough money to get my dad's old car fixed up. I drive myself to school and work every day. Now I am saving towards the cost of my tuition. I apply for scholarships and grants daily. I would love to graduate without debt. My dad is disabled and my parents cannot help much with the cost of my program. This scholarship would be a huge help and deeply appreciated.

1. My name is Anthony Wick and I am a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School. I have applied to Northwest Lineman College and been accepted for the fall session. I hope to work in the energy field after my lineman training. After visiting the campus, I learned that there are many different jobs that I can do with the skills and certifications I will earn when I complete my program. It is exciting to know that energy is a filed where there are many different paths I can follow. 2. I'm interested in being a lineman or working in the energy trade because this is a field that cannot be replaced with AI. I enjoy being outside and have always been curious about how things work. I also enjoy helping people and as a lineman, I will be able to directly see the effects of my work. There are so many roles to explore such as: repairs on the poles, working with underground power, being a bucket truck driver, working with wind turbine energy, or even being certified to work with drones! For the first time, I felt like I found a career field that fit with my interests and my strengths. 3. Working in the trades definitely requires thinking outside the box on how to accomplish projects. My work experience so far has not been in skilled trades but I do work at a restaurant. When I got that job a year ago, I didn't know anything. When I started, they said, "You'll be washing dishes. Good luck!" It was dirty work and I really wanted to quit after my first few days. But I learned pretty quick and I really liked getting paid. I opened a checking and savings account and started putting money away to fix up my dad's old car. I saved $3000 and paid for all the repairs. Now I drive myself to school and work every day. I have had two promotions and each one has come with a raise. I have earned and learned the value of a dollar and am now saving towards my NLC tuition. I also assemble complicated Lego sets in my free time. After a struggling start in high school, I have now made honor roll every quarter since the beginning of my junior year. I even took honors classes last year and this year. For a person who has a reading comprehension learning disability, learning how to work around this challenge in order to be academically successful is one way I have learned to problem solve. I realized that a learning disability doesn't have to hold me back. I just have to find ways to work around the conventional ways of learning. I know when to ask for help and have discovered work-arounds to help accomplish my goals when traditional learning wasn't working for me. 4. My plan after graduating from high school is finally settled. I have applied to and been accepted to Northwest Lineman College. I will continue to work at the restaurant to save money for school and hopefully I will get the position as camp counselor for the summer to gain more teamwork experience and continue to save for school as I will have minimal expenses. NLC has people from many different companies come in at the end of each semester to present opportunities for apprenticeships. I am willing to relocate in order to secure a job. I'm not sure which specific position will be available to me at that time, but I'm willing to try different jobs to find the best fit. I want to make a good living, support myself, acquire lifelong skills that will open a variety of opportunities for me. I grew up in Florida and have been through many hurricanes and have often been without power for days. I know how scary it can be and how devastating for people who lose their homes. I'm glad I found a path that is a good-paying career where I get to help people. That is the most satisfying goal I can imagine! 5. If you wanted to speak with an adult who knows me well and would recommend me for this scholarship you could contact Mr. Dalton Porter. He is the Digital Video Technology teacher at my high school. I have taken his class and I am a TA for him this year in my free period. He would recommend me for this scholarship because he knows what my strengths and challenges are. He knows I need financial assistance to attend NLC and he knows how much I work at my job now and that I'm saving. I talk to him about the things I'm interested in and I feel he knows me and supports me 100%.

My name is Anthony Wick. I am 18 years old and a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School in central Florida. I think many young people applying for scholarships say that they have always "dreamed of being a . . ." but I think they aren't telling the complete truth. I used to want to design video games because I like playing video games. I realize now that isn't going to be my career. In fact, it has taken me quite some time to find a path that I am both interested in and where I know I can excel. Luckily, I attended a vocational field trip to Northwest Lineman College. A small group of us were able to go to the school, meet the teachers, tour the campus, and learn about all the different potential jobs that you can have when you graduate from lineman school. You could make repairs on the poles, work with underground power, be a bucket truck driver, work with wind turbine energy, or even be certified to work with drones! For the first time, I felt like I found a career field that fit with my interests and my strengths. I have applied to NLC and been accepted for the fall semester. I realize that working as a team is critical when doing the job of a lineman. I am looking forward to the comradery aspect of training at NLC. I know that working as a team is often better than going at challenging tasks solo. Last summer, I volunteered as a counselor in training at the summer camp I have attended since sixth grade. I have applied to work there as a counselor this summer. When we work together as a team, none of the kids get left out. We can help them find an activity they are interested in, introduce them to something new, share our personal experiences, and support them as this is the first time many of them are away from home for a week. We get up early to make sure the day goes smoothly for the campers and we stay up late to recap each day and see if there is anything we need address. If we are doing our job as a team, we look like ducks gliding across the water, but below, we are all kicking hard to make it look easy.

My name is Anthony Wick. I am 18 years old and a senior at New Smyrna Beach High School in central Florida. I think many young people applying for scholarships say that they have always "dreamed of being a . . ." nut I think they aren't telling the complete truth. I used to want to design video games because I like playing video games. I used to think I wanted to be in the military because it is a job that conveys honor and duty. Those are values that are important to me. But I haven't "dreamed of" having those jobs. In fact, it has taken me quite some time to find a career field that I am both interested in and where I know I can excel. It is not a secret to anyone who knows me that I struggled in school when I was younger. After a rough few years and a change of schools in order to receive testing, I discovered I have a learning disability. There are some subjects that come more easily to me than others. But with my IEP and a strong advocate, I have come to realize that my learning disability cannot hold me back. Though it can take me longer to understand a complicated reading passage, I have learned strategies to help me overcome that difficulty. After ninth grade, it clicked in my brain that I am going to need to work hard, harder than many others, in order to be successful. Each year I have raised my GPA. Every quarter since the beginning of my junior year I have been on the honor roll. I even took honors history in both my junior and senior years. Ninth-grade Anthony would never believed that could happen. Last year, I decided that I wanted to get an after-school job. My parents are very generous and I do not have to pay for my car insurance or cell-phone. But I wanted to be able to go off-campus for lunch, take my girlfriend on dates, and do fun things with my friends. I couldn't rely on my parents for those things too! I got my first job as a dishwasher at a pizza restaurant a year ago. I had no idea what I was doing but I learned pretty fast! Since that time, I have continued to work at least 15 hours a week (required by my on the job training program at school) and oftentimes more. I saved over $3000 and fixed up my dad's car that was broken down and needed new tires. I paid for those repairs myself and drive myself to school and work every day. I have earned and learned the value of the dollar. I have been promoted a few times at my job, but I don't want to work at a pizza restaurant for my career. Luckily, I heard of a vocational field trip to Northwest Lineman College through my high school. A small group of us were able to go to the school, meet the teachers, tour the campus, and learn about all the different potential jobs that you can have when you graduate from lineman school. You could make repairs on the poles, work with underground power, be a bucket truck driver, work with wind turbine energy, or even be certified to work with drones! For the first time, I felt like I found a career field that fit with my interests and my strengths. I want to work with energy because it won't be replaced by AI and I'll be helping people!