At a time when almost everything felt uncertain, I was confident I had one constant. My dance studio has always felt like home, however, it wasn't just the hours spent there or choreography learned. Rather, it was the strong relationships developed in my most formative and vulnerable years. Within this dance family, my relationship with one mentor stands out significantly. Her support for my passion, paired with understanding and encouragement in all areas of my life, have not only shaped the person I am, but the person I strive to be. I hid behind my mother’s legs, gripping her pants tightly. My shiny leotard decorated with teddy bears drew attention compared with the pink and black leotards the other girls wore. Only about five years old, I refused to enter the classroom of my first jazz class. As I peered inside, a familiar face from the studio waved me in with a grin. After further reassurance from my mom, I followed through and felt the comfort of my mother’s closeness slip further away. Joining the circle of girls, I was met with greetings and encouragement as I began to gain confidence, following along with the class's movements. Twelve years later, that same teacher watched as I knotted the ribbon on my pointe shoes and prepared to dance the lead as Clara in the Nutcracker for the fourth year in a row. After recognizing my strong passion for dance, there were very few days that went by not spent at the studio. I valued my time at dance not only for the incredible learning opportunities but also the welcoming and encouraging environment my teacher created. As I grew older, we developed a more personal relationship. I learned that over the past few years her husband had continued to battle cancer. As a mother of two, and a mentor to many at dance, her strength and resilience were unmatched, as I never noticed a difference in the way she treated her students, regardless of her hardships. She took notice of my personal strengths, weaknesses, and goals, and did whatever she could to foster a supportive environment. Over time, I began to trust her fully with the skills I attempted and progress I wished to make as a dancer. Her dependability and consistency as a dance coach were amplified by her character as a listener and mentor beyond dance. During spring of my junior year of high school, my little brother was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his arm. In turn, this meant countless visits to the doctor and trips to Boston Children's Hospital. Only a month or two prior, my father had also experienced a severe heart malfunction, where he required a heart monitor and later a pacemaker. As a high school student, I became overwhelmed with uncertainty and the obligation to mature faster than I could keep up with. During this time, dance was no longer a lighthearted passion of mine, but simply another stressor. When she learned about what I had been experiencing outside of dance at the time, she was transparent in a way I had not seen her before. After asking how my brother and father were, she took the time to ask how I was, a question I had not heard nearly as often. She expressed her understanding that being a supporter of a loved one experiencing hardship meant significant responsibility and mental obstacles as well. After witnessing her vulnerability and hearing her advice, I appreciated our relationship as significantly more than teacher and student but two people who truly loved and looked out for each other. My relationship with my dance teacher has taught me that vulnerability does not make you weak. Her understanding and ability to continue to push me allowed me to feel heard but not viewed as someone who needed to be pitied. She constantly gave me opportunities to push beyond my comfort zone while making sure I didn't place too much pressure on myself. Her consistency and unwavering support from the time I was three years old until eighteen has displayed the importance of showing up for those you care about and nurturing growth along the way. My majors in dance and psychology next year are greatly inspired by our relationship, and the values it has taught me. I am eager to utilize both of these platforms to create similar relationships and positive spaces for other children as well.

“Glenburn Man Running for every Fallen Soldier Since Revolutionary War.” This is the headline of an article from my local news, that only scrapes the surface of my father’s dedication to patriotism and his community. My father’s display of leadership through his entrepreneurial experiences, as well as discipline through his military service, has not only shaped my character but has also influenced my willingness to embrace challenges and persevere despite discomfort. The values my father instilled in my life through service and leadership stem greatly from his time spent in the Army National Guard. After serving for ten years and leaving the Army as a Staff Sergeant, his hard work and dedication have been reflected in many parts of his life. My most prominent memory of my father's patriotism is his journey running while holding a heavy 3x5 ft American flag. Starting in 2017, he ran 1,010,000 steps to honor every fallen soldier who had died since the Revolutionary War. Although he faced a serious back injury that left him needing surgery, he didn’t let that prevent him from reaching his goal. After fully recovering, he picked up training where he had left off and completed his mission, one of the most inspiring memories I have of my father. His sense of pride in his country, love for helping others, and exemplary work ethic can be seen through his passions for carpentry and woodworking as well. Although my father already works as an engineering manager, he works to take on second jobs utilizing these passions, to provide opportunities for my family, engage in service, and express his patriotism. He spends time remodeling houses, decks, and kitchens for those in need, as well as crafting wooden U.S. flags as gifts to loved ones. Growing up with a father so engaged in devotion to his country greatly influenced the dynamic of my childhood. My drive in academics and extracurricular passions was fueled by my father's lessons in work ethic, responsibility, and initiative. Within communities of mine, such as school and dance, I aimed to model after my father by challenging myself in often difficult circumstances. I often participated in service opportunities with him, such as cleaning and placing flags on the gravestones of fallen soldiers, as well as never missing an annual Veterans Day parade. As I grew older, I noticed the number of participants declined significantly. My father reminded me often that if you refuse to take action just because other people aren't, no change will ever be made. After recognizing the importance of what my father had told me, I began to find areas where those needs needed to be met in my personal life as well. With a passion for destigmatizing mental health and creating safe spaces for youth, I utilized the values my father shared with me. I worked with my school counselor to reintroduce the “Yellow Tulip Club”, an organization within our school centered around youth mental health. My father's work ethic inspired me in my successes through dance as well to remain hardworking, respectful, and recognize that perfection isn't required, but effort is necessary in order to succeed. As I one day hope to be a counselor, as well as teach students dance, these core values my dad raised me to know will assist me in my journey by recognizing leadership, community, and respect. As I work to independently support myself financially in order to reach these goals through school, I am driven by the motivation instilled in me by my father.

Often, service is simply looked at as hours logged into a book. However to me, the value of service means far more than numbers on paper. To me, service can be defined as the ability to prioritize another's needs over your own. My involvement in service has greatly shaped my current values and drive, which I will continue to carry with me into this next chapter of my life. I am incredibly grateful for my family's involvement in our local church, as it has fostered a sense of community, service, and leadership that I have applied in other areas of my life. I've been a member of our Youth Ministry group since sixth grade. This has allowed me to participate in volunteer activities such as yard work at our church properties, packing snacks and birthday boxes for the homeless, and cooking and serving meals at the homeless shelter. My dad’s involvement in the Knights of Columbus as well as my mom working for the church has also provided me with many opportunities to participate in volunteer events. Since middle school, I've continued to help set up, serve, and clean up at events such as our local Catholic Schools Alumni Reception, Marriage Preparation course, Advent by Candlelight, and the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner. I've also had opportunities to ring the Salvation Army bell and help with the Tootsie Roll drives for special needs causes. Since middle school I’ve also participated as a camp counselor for both Vacation Bible School and Totus Tuus, two summer camps within our parish. I assisted with helping lead groups of kids, set up activities, and make food. My participation in our church has also encouraged my growth and involvement in other areas of my life. This idea of giving back to the community has been utilized in other passions of mine such as dance, health care, and working with children. My Junior year I became involved in our school's health care club, working as the communications coordinator for the past two years. We have been heavily involved with Northern Light Hospital, as well as local nonprofit organizations. This past summer I also had the opportunity to teach classes at my dance studio, Robinson Ballet. I worked with ages ranging from five to eleven, offering instruction and mentoring in different styles of dance. Since this summer, I've continued to teach classes at the studio and choreograph for younger students. This opportunity solidified my goal to use dance to provide a safe and welcoming space for students. Similarly, my Sophomore and Junior year, I returned to my middle school to speak to the eighth grade classes. In these discussions, I shared how to prepare well for high school, make friends, stay organized, and maintain your faith when being challenged in a different environment. I was also a participant for the past three years in my school's Step Up Days and Freshman Orientation. Creating encouraging and uplifting communities for all people, especially kids, is something that is extremely important to me. I hope to use my majors in psychology and dance to provide safe, encouraging spaces. My involvement in school, church, and extracurricular activities has helped to highlight and reinforce just how important these values are. Since my parents are not able to help me pay for college, I'm working hard to earn and save money and trying to find scholarship opportunities to help fund my degrees. I truly hope to leverage this scholarship to make my dream of helping people through dance and therapy become a reality