Kindness in Action. Being the new kid on the block is one of the most intimidating situations that a young women can go through and that is what happened last season. A freshman girl transferred to our school and decided to join the wrestling team. She was quiet, unsure of herself, and clearly intimidated. Wrestling can be overwhelming for anyone, but as a female in a traditionally male-dominated sport, the pressure can feel even heavier. I saw myself in her from four years ago, the nerves, the fear of not being good enough, and the silent question of whether she truly belonged. Instead of just giving her advice, I made a commitment to support her consistently. I partnered with her during drills, stayed after practice to review technique, and reminded her that growth in wrestling is built through repetition and resilience. Before her first match, she admitted she was afraid of embarrassing herself. I told her that stepping onto the mat already made her brave. Courage isn’t about winning; it’s about showing up. As the season progressed, I watched her confidence grow. She became stronger, more vocal, and more willing to take risks. By the end of the year, she was mentoring other new athletes. That experience reminded me that leadership is not always loud , it is shown through action and empathy. Helping her believe in herself was just as meaningful as any personal achievement I have earned. Boldly, Unapologetically Me. Choosing to wrestle was my first real act of resisting pressure to conform. When I joined the team, I was stepping into a space where girls were still a minority. I heard comments like, “Why don’t you pick a different sport?” or “Wrestling isn’t really for girls.” It would have been easier to choose something more socially accepted. Instead, I chose what challenged me. Wrestling demanded physical strength and mental toughness. It required discipline, accountability, and the willingness to fail publicly and try again. There were moments when I felt underestimated or overlooked, but rather than shrinking, I worked harder. I refused to let stereotypes dictate what I could achieve. Qualifying for the state wrestling championships four consecutive years, including my senior year, became a symbol of that decision. It was proof that I belonged , not because someone gave me permission, but because I earned it. Wrestling taught me that being different can be powerful. I do not need to apologize for being competitive, strong, or ambitious. Being unapologetically myself has shaped how I approach everything else in life. I embrace challenges instead of avoiding them. I pursue goals that push me outside my comfort zone. Most importantly, I have learned that authenticity builds confidence, and confidence creates opportunity.

My “pie in the sky” dream is to represent Wales on the international rugby stage. It’s a dream that feels both beautiful and terrifying to say out loud because it means everything to me. It’s not just about playing rugby at the highest level. It’s about proving to myself, my family, and every young girl who feels overlooked that strength can come from pain, and that dreams can survive even when life feels like it’s falling apart. I first fell in love with rugby when I realized it was a place where I didn’t have to explain who I was. On the field, I felt fearless. I wasn’t judged for being too aggressive, too competitive, or too strong. Instead, those things became my greatest strengths. As I grew in the sport, I started learning more about my Welsh heritage and the passion that rugby holds in that culture. Something about it felt like home, even though I had never been there. When I was given the opportunity to pursue evaluation opportunities in Wales, it felt like my heart was being pulled toward something bigger than myself. For the first time, my dream felt real, but it also felt overwhelming, like standing at the bottom of a mountain and realizing how far you still have to climb. This dream became even more personal after the hardest year of my life. Watching my dad suffer a near fatal heart attack, multiple strokes, and a traumatic brain injury broke something inside me. He had always been the strongest person I knew, the one who never stopped working for our family. Suddenly, I was watching him struggle to relearn how to walk, talk, and read. There were moments I felt helpless, scared, and angry that life could change so quickly. But I also watched him fight harder than anyone I’ve ever known. He never gave up, even when progress was slow and painful. At the same time, my mom worked three jobs just to keep our family steady. Seeing both of them sacrifice everything forced me to grow up faster than I was ready for. There were days when I wanted to quit chasing big dreams because they felt selfish when my family was hurting. But my parents never let me give up. They reminded me that sometimes chasing your dream is the greatest way to honor the people who believe in you. I know reaching my dream will require more than talent. It will take early mornings when my body is sore and my mind is exhausted. It will take balancing school, training, travel, and family responsibilities. It will take believing in myself on days when doubt feels louder than confidence. I have already started pushing myself by playing with elite teams, traveling across the country, and constantly working to improve my skills, fitness, and leadership. But I also know the hardest training happens mentally,learning to stay strong when life feels uncertain. If I am lucky enough to reach this dream, I want it to mean something bigger than me. I want young girls to see someone who faced fear, heartbreak, and obstacles but kept going anyway. I want them to believe they are allowed to be strong, bold, and different. My dream may still feel just out of reach, but maybe that’s what makes it worth chasing. Because every time I step on the field, I carry my family’s strength with me and that reminds me that even the biggest dreams are possible when your heart refuses to quit.

One of my favorite memories as a referee happened during a youth rugby match that honestly started like any other Saturday game. It was a U14 match with players who were still learning the sport and figuring out their confidence. Halfway through the second half, a hard but completely legal tackle occured, and one player got frustrated and shoved the opponent. Within seconds, players from both teams were arguing, emotions were high, and parents on the sidelines started yelling. I was afraid I was about to loose control of the whole game if I didn’t do something soon. In that moment, I realized being a referee is about way more than just enforcing the laws. It is about being a leader and setting the tone for the game. I blew my whistle, separated the players, and brought both teams together. Instead of immediately handing out cards, I talked to them. I explained that rugby is built on respect, respect for opponents, teammates, referees, and the game itself. As someone who plays rugby, that lesson has been drilled into me from my very first practice. Respecting the referee is one of the core fundamentals of rugby, and it is something that makes our sport special. Becoming a referee made me understand just how important that respect really is because referees are there to protect players and keep the game fair through the laws. A big part of why I chose to start refereeing comes from watching my dad referee over the last ten years. I grew up standing on the sidelines watching him walk into intense, competitive environments and still earn respect from players, coaches, and even fans. He never lost his composure, even when people disagreed with him or emotions were running high. Watching him showed me that officiating is not just about knowing the laws ,it is about integrity, confidence, and staying calm when things get stressful. When I started refereeing, I carried those lessons with me and tried to be the same kind of leader I watched him be for so many years. During that youth match, I reminded the players that it is okay to feel frustrated or emotional, but how they respond to those feelings shows their character. You could actually see them calm down and reset mentally. The game continued, and both teams finished playing with more respect and sportsmanship than they had before. After the match, one of the coaches thanked me, not for enforcing the laws correctly, but for helping teach his players a life lesson. A parent later told me their child talked all the way home about learning how to control their emotions during competition. That moment stuck with me because it made me realize that referees do not just impact games ,they impact people. Playing rugby and refereeing have helped shape who I am. Rugby taught me discipline, teamwork, and respect, while refereeing has taught me accountability, communication, and emotional control. Referees are constantly in high-pressure situations where people may disagree with decisions, and learning to stay calm and confident has helped me grow both as an athlete and as a person. In the future, I hope to continue refereeing higher-level matches and eventually mentor younger referees who are just starting out. I want to help create an environment where athletes feel safe, respected, and supported while playing the sport they love. Officiating allows me to give back to rugby, which has given me so much, and I hope to stay involved in the sport for many years.

Jack Terry’s story inspires me because it shows how someone can go through unimaginable loss and still choose to live with strength and purpose. After losing his entire family during the Holocaust and surviving multiple concentration camps, he came to the United States as a teenager with no English skills and little education. Instead of letting his trauma define him, he worked hard, built a career, served his country, and spent his life helping others and sharing his story to inspire hope. His life reminds me that even when someone faces overwhelming hardship, they can still choose to keep moving forward. That lesson connects deeply with my own life and the challenges my family and I have faced. This past year has changed me in ways I never expected. My dad suffered a near-fatal heart attack, followed by a traumatic brain injury and multiple strokes. I remember sitting in the hospital feeling scared, confused, and completely helpless. Watching someone who had always been strong and protective suddenly fighting just to survive was heartbreaking. There were moments when I did not know if he was going to come home, and those memories would stay with me forever. It felt like my childhood changed overnight. One of the hardest parts was watching my dad relearn how to do things most people take for granted. I watched him struggle to walk again, slowly relearn how to read, and work through speech therapy just to communicate clearly. Seeing him frustrated, exhausted, and sometimes discouraged was incredibly painful, but it also showed me what true strength looks like. He never gave up, even on days when progress felt small. Watching him fight to rebuild his life taught me more about perseverance than anything else ever could. At the same time, my mom became the strongest person I have ever known. She took on multiple jobs to keep our family financially stable while still trying to be emotionally strong for all of us. Watching her leave early in the morning, coming home exhausted, and still making sure we were okay was both heartbreaking and inspiring. Seeing my parents go through so much made me realize that I could not just focus on being a kid anymore. I had to grow up quickly and become someone my family could rely on too. Balancing school, athletics, and family responsibilities has been extremely challenging. There were nights when I felt overwhelmed and scared about what the future would look like for my family. But those struggles pushed me to become stronger and more determined. I learned how to stay focused even when life felt unpredictable and how to keep working toward my goals. Rugby has played a huge role in helping me get through this challenging time. When I am on the field, it feels like I can finally breathe and focus on something positive. Rugby has taught me discipline, resilience, and how to trust the people around me. It has helped me build confidence and shown me that I am stronger than I sometimes believe. The sport has also taught me leadership and teamwork, reminding me that no one succeeds alone. These experiences have taught me empathy, perseverance, and gratitude. I plan to use my education to mentor younger athletes and students who may be facing their own hardships. I want to show them that their circumstances do not define their future and that they can achieve their goals.

Being labeled an underdog is something I have experienced throughout both my wrestling and rugby careers. It is not a title most athletes want, but it is one I have learned to embrace because it has shaped my determination, resilience, and passion for competition. My experience as an underdog became especially clear during one of the most challenging times in my life. Over the past year, my father suffered a near-fatal heart attack, followed by a traumatic brain injury and multiple strokes. He went from being one of my biggest supporters to someone fighting for his own recovery. At the same time, my mother had to work multiple jobs to support our family. Watching my parents carry that weight forced me to grow up quickly and take on responsibilities far beyond what most teenagers face. During this time, wrestling became one of the first places where I learned how to embrace being underestimated. As a female wrestler, I often stepped onto the mat knowing people doubted me before the match even began. Wrestling is one of the most mentally and physically demanding sports because it is just you and your opponent. Early in my wrestling career, I faced losses against stronger and more experienced competitors. Those moments were discouraging, but they taught me discipline, accountability, and mental toughness. Wrestling showed me that improvement comes from persistence and preparation, not natural advantage. Those lessons carried directly into my rugby career. Rugby gave me a new challenge where I had to earn my place on a team while learning a completely distinctive style of play. While rugby is built on teamwork, the grit and confidence I developed through wrestling helped me become fearless in contact situations and push myself past physical and mental limits. Balancing both sports while helping support my family emotionally and maintaining academics was overwhelming at times, but I refused to let my circumstances define my potential. Instead of allowing challenges to hold me back, I used them as motivation. I trained harder, stayed after practice to improve my skills, and focused on becoming stronger both mentally and physically. That mindset helped me earn opportunities to compete at higher levels, including playing for Atlantis on multiple occasions across the country against elite competition. One of the most meaningful opportunities that has come from embracing my underdog mentality is the chance to travel to Wales to be evaluated for the Welsh U18 National Team. As someone with Welsh heritage, this opportunity represents more than athletics. It represents honoring my family, their sacrifices, and the resilience they have shown during some of our hardest moments. The opportunity to represent Wales motivates me to continue pushing myself beyond what others may expect. Both wrestling and rugby have shaped me into the athlete and person I am today. Wrestling taught me individual accountability, mental strength, and perseverance. Rugby taught me leadership, teamwork, and how to trust and support those around me. Together, they have shown me that being an underdog is not about being lower level player, it is about using doubt as motivation to work harder and chase goals with everything you have. Coach Frank believed in underdogs because they carry heart, grit, and determination that cannot be measured by rankings or expectations. Being an underdog has not limited me, it has pushed me to grow stronger, work harder, and continue pursuing my dreams with passion and resilience.

The moment I realized how quickly life can change was the day my father collapsed from a near-fatal heart attack. In the months that followed, he suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to work, and my family’s world shifted overnight. I watched my mother take on multiple jobs to keep our family afloat, and I quickly learned that childhood does not always follow a predictable timeline. That experience forced me to grow up faster than I expected, but it also shaped my resilience, determination, and desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. During one of the most uncertain times in my life, rugby became my anchor. Rugby and Wrestling have been two of the most influential forces in shaping who I am today. Rugby is unique because it requires individuals with different strengths, personalities, and backgrounds to work together toward one goal. Through years of training and competing at high levels, I have developed discipline, accountability, leadership, and perseverance. Rugby has taught me how to stay composed under pressure, support teammates through adversity, and push beyond limits I once believed were impossible. I have had the opportunity to compete with elite teams across the country, including playing for Atlantis on multiple occasions. These experiences introduced me to diverse communities and helped me grow as both a player and a person. Rugby has also opened doors for future opportunities, including the chance to travel to Wales to pursue evaluation for the Welsh U18 National Team. These opportunities represent more than athletic achievement; they represent years of commitment, sacrifice, and personal growth. While rugby has brought incredible opportunities, balancing athletics with family challenges has not been easy. Watching my parents fight through medical and financial hardships motivated me to work harder academically, athletically, and personally. I understood that success was not just about my own goals, but about honoring the sacrifices my family made to support me. Rugby provided structure and stability when life felt unpredictable, and my teammates and coaches became a second family that helped me stay focused and determined. Through these experiences, I have discovered my passion for helping others overcome obstacles and reach their potential. In my future career, I hope to work in a field that allows me to mentor and support young people, particularly those facing adversity. I believe sports, education, and community involvement can create life-changing opportunities for young athletes who may not otherwise have access to positive outlets. I want to help build programs and environments that encourage confidence, leadership, and resilience. I strive to lead by example. The challenges my family and I have faced have taught me that adversity does not define a person’s limits; it strengthens their character and shapes their purpose. I am determined to use the lessons I have learned through hardships and athletics to inspire others to persevere through their own challenges. By continuing to pursue excellence in academics, athletics, and service, I hope to give back to the communities and mentors who have supported me. My goal is to create opportunities for others, just as rugby created opportunities for me, and to make a lasting and positive impact on the world.

Rugby has been more than just a sport in my life, it has been a place where I found strength, confidence, and purpose during some of the most difficult moments my family has faced. I first started playing rugby with the Scottsdale Wolves Youth Rugby Club when I was ten years old, and over the years it has become a second home for me. I have continued to grow with the Wolves throughout high school while also competing with teams such as the Arizona Bobcats, Hawkeyes Elite, and Atlantis Rugby, traveling across the country to compete against top talent. I have also attended elite training opportunities like the Colorado Raptors camp and participated in USA Rugby pathway events. Most recently, I will be travelling to Wales to be evaluated and try out for the Welsh U18 National Women’s Team, which is an incredible honor and dream opportunity. Playing for the Scottsdale Wolves is where I fell in love with rugby and learned what it truly means to be part of a team, Rugby is built on trust, every time you step on the field, you are putting your body on the line for your teammates and trusting them to do the same for you. That bond has taught me how to be dependable, supportive, and accountable. I have played multiple backline positions including scrum half, fly half, and center, which has challenged me to become more adaptable and understand the game from multiple perspectives. I quickly learned that success in rugby is not about individual moments, but about how well you work together as a unit. Some of my most meaningful growth came through high-level competition, especially competing at the Tropical 7s tournament with Hawkeyes Elite and traveling nationally to play with Atlantis Rugby. Playing against some of the best athletes in the country pushed me far outside of my comfort zone. There were moments of exhaustion, frustration, and self-doubt, but those moments taught me how to keep fighting and trust my preparation and teammates. These experiences showed me how much I value hard work and how determined I can be to keep improving myself. While rugby has challenged me physically, it has also helped me grow emotionally. Over the past few years, my family has faced serious medical hardships. My father suffered a near-fatal heart attack, multiple strokes, and a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to work. Watching someone who had always been strong suddenly become vulnerable was incredibly difficult. At the same time, my mom worked multiple jobs to support our family. During that period, I had to mature quickly and find ways to support my family while balancing school, athletics, and life as a teenager. Rugby became my outlet and safe place. It allowed me to release stress, refocus, and remind myself that I could overcome challenges. Rugby has taught me resilience, mental toughness, and how to stay strong even when life feels overwhelming. It also taught me leadership by showing up every day ready to work, support my teammates, and give my best effort regardless of what I was facing off the field. Rugby is not just something I play, it is part of who I am. It has shaped my character, strengthened my confidence, and taught me perseverance and gratitude. I am proud of the player and person rugby has helped me become, and I am excited to continue pursuing my goals and representing my teams with pride.

Rugby family means everything to me. I have been playing rugby for over ten years, and nearly every important person in my life has come from this sport,including my Datcu (grandfather), Mom & Dad. While many people think I play for the physical contact or competition, I play because of the people. Through rugby, I have met teammates who became friends, and friends who became family. These relationships have shaped who I am, and I would not be where I am today without my rugby family. My rugby family has supported me through the hardest moments of my life. In 2020, my dad suffered a near fatal heart attack, and my teammates and their families immediately stepped in to help us. They prepared meals so my mom could focus on being at the hospital with my dad, and they organized a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses, raising over $17,000. Their kindness during such a difficult time showed me that rugby is more than just winning games, it’s about standing by each other and being “with you” when it matters most. That support continued when my dad later experienced a stroke, a brain bleed after a fall, and weeks of rehabilitation. During each setback, my rugby family continued to check in, help my family, and remind me that I was never alone. Whether it is spending holidays together, going to concerts, or helping families in need, we always show up for each other. Rugby has taught me what true community, loyalty, and compassion look like. As a family our way of giving back to others was to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children. One person who represents this bond is my best friend Lucy, who I have known for over ten years. We met when I was in second grade and she was in first, and we started playing rugby together. I see her almost every day, and she has supported me through everything from my dad’s medical emergencies to the loss of my childhood dog. She is someone who can make me laugh when I am struggling and also be there for the deepest conversations when life feels overwhelming. Lucy is just one example of how rugby has changed my view of relationships in sports and in life, she will be a sister for life. As I look toward college, my goal is to continue playing the sport I love while earning my degree. I have been given great opportunities to play college rugby, but finances are the biggest obstacle for my family. My dad is unable to work because of his brain injury, and my mom works three jobs to support us. Without rugby scholarships/opportunities, I would likely attend community college, but rugby has given me the motivation to pursue higher-level programs and a dream of one day playing professionally. Many professional opportunities come from strong college rugby programs, and I want the chance to compete, grow, and represent my community at that level. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve financial pressure on my family and allow me to focus on my education and athletic development. More importantly, it would allow me to continue being part of the rugby community that has shaped my character, taught me resilience, and shown me the power of teamwork and support. Rugby has given me a second family, strength during the hardest times of my life, and hope for my future. With the support of this scholarship, I hope to continue working hard, giving back, and honoring the people who have helped me become who I am today.