My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. I was born in Japan where I was raised until I was nine before moving to Vicenza Italy where I still reside. Growing up overseas in a military community is part of my identity and the diverse experiences have shaped my perspective of the world. I have always been surrounded by kindness. While it is a biased opinion I think my mother is the kindest person I have aver met. She is a phycologist at our local middle school. Everyday she is constantly changing the lives of her students by helping them through their struggles and never failing to put their needs before her own. I have two other siblings and she has raised each of us with endless love and care teaching us the same qualities we love so much in her. My dad is a fifth grade teacher at our elementary school. I had the honour of being in his class, and have grown up with some other students that had the pleasure of being taught by him. Every time I pass the middle school I get asked if I am "Mr. Sparlings daughter?" they say, how much they enjoyed his class, and he constantly comes into my room to read me messages from past students on how large of an effect he had on their lives. I owe a great deal of my achievements to my parents. They have raised me to become the person I am today, teaching me to spread kindness as well as they have. Growing up overseas has allowed me to constantly meet new people and adapt to every new location despite language barriers. “Bend like bamboo,” is a saying in Japan where I was raised encouraging flexibility and the ability to go with the flow. When I was six years old, I helped start a fundraiser called “Helping Hands for Haiyan” after a typhoon killed more than 6000 people in the Philippines. Several of my classmates had lost family members. I drew and sold pictures to raise funds, donating my toys to the local orphanage, remembering how helpful I felt raising my first couple of donations. I wanted to be helpful, our life had been impacted by natural disasters but we were okay and others weren’t. Later when my family transferred to Italy, I wanted to continue helping my new community. When I made it into middle school I was recommended to join a a peer-to-peer support program mo mother started. The clube was called CARES and it was dedicated to take kind leaders recommended by other teachers, and teach them how to become peer mediators. Sometimes students feel more comfortable talking to their peers rather than adults, so we thought this would be a good way to encourage students so come forward with any issues they had. I became experienced on how to help others through crises such as suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and abusive parents. I became a frequent mediator called down by my peers, and was even approached by one of my classmates who told my that I got him to quit drinking. This inspired me to join an Active Minds chapter started in my high school to focus more on health and wellness. I take a stand for issues or concerns I have, and my exposure to cultures and extensive travels make me more sensitive to the experiences of others. I’m a leader in my community and organisations. My group and I raised more that $500 every friday that we donated to suicide prevention hotlines, and I joined NJHS to participate in community service activities. I am now a senior in high school. I am a part of Active Minds, National Honors Society, Model United Nations, KeyStone, and serve as an Italian Ambassador. All of these clubs aside from Model UN are dedicated to helping the community. To be able to take more of an active roll in spreading kindness I became an office of all the organisations. I have completed more than 600 hours of community service, and continue to provide random acts of kindness throughout my school. Although I attend an American high school, I am constantly volunteering to host Italian students as their guide. Because of my understanding of Italian, I have been the school's cultural ambassador as a guide for Italian students, and have attended an Italian school as part of a study trip for a week on multiple occasions. My ability to communicate with students both American and of other cultures has given me the chance to grow as both a communicator and a leader. As I move into college I will take the passion, and kindness my parents raised me with and use in in everything I do.

I’ve been a fan of Billie Eilish since her song "Ocean Eyes". It was a defining moment for me and my family, as we would dance in the kitchen to her songs all the time on Alexa. My sister who is only eight is already a big fan. She loves the song, "Bad Guy" and always has us play it on the way to school. My family and I all agreed that we enjoyed her music so much because how different she sounds compared to most other music artist. There’s something about her sound thats very unique and how she created music with her brother makes it that much more compassionate. As I grew older, Billie’s music took on a different meaning for me. Her songs have evolved alongside my own experiences, speaking to deep internal struggles and the challenges of navigating a complex world. The top three Billie Eilish songs that resonate with me most are "Everything I Wanted," "What Was I Made For," and "Not My Responsibility". 1. "Everything I Wanted" This song speaks directly to feelings of self-doubt and the internal pressure to live up to others' expectations. As I approach major life transitions like starting college, I often find myself wondering if I’m good enough—whether I’m smart, talented, or capable enough to achieve my goals. Billie’s lyrics captures that anxiety and the need for validation, but also the importance of having people who support you, like her brother does for her in the song. It reminds me to appreciate the people in my life who are always there for me, and it gives me the strength to face my fears. 2. "What Was I Made For" In this song, Billie explores the concept of purpose and identity, which resonates deeply as I think about my own future. What is my purpose? Am I making the right choices? As I navigate the stress of growing up and moving forward, I relate to the song’s message of uncertainty about who I’m supposed to be and what I’m meant to do. It’s comforting to know that even someone as successful as Billie feels this way, which helps me feel less alienated in my own journey. 3. "Not My Responsibility" As a young woman, I’ve often felt judged for my appearance, and the pressures to conform to beauty standards can be overwhelming. Especially after hitting puberty I suddenly was very self aware of my looks and cared what others though about them too. "Not My Responsibility" Is an empowering message that has inspired me to be more confident and unapologetic about who I am.

I am a huge fan of Olivia Rodrigo. As a 17 year old navigating the challenging array of teenage love, school, college, beauty standards, and fitting in to the standards of todays generation, Olivia's songs have always relatable. Throughout her songs she turns the struggles of teenage adolescents into something to listen to. The GUTS album especially was one of her albums that really resonated with me at this point in my life. A line in Olivia Rodrigo's song "Pretty Isn't Pretty" hit home. The lyric, "'Cause pretty isn't pretty enough anyway." really emphasises the social pressures especially in todays age of social media, adhering to the constant unrealistic beauty standards. Through your teen years when gorgeous, idealistic images are thrown at you from every direction. This line really captures this deep sense of inadequacy that lots of teenagers, including me, experience. As I reached puberty, I became increasingly aware of how much physical appearance was scrutinised. Growing up, standards of beauty projected by society on platforms such as instagram seemed unreachable a number of times. Even to this date, the media, social platforms, and even peer comparisons tend to portray that the definition of "pretty" is slim. This keeps pressuring everyone relentlessly that no matter how much one tries to live up to these standards, it is never enough. This realisation brings an individual or at least me, a sense of awkwardness, like you are constantly out of place. Every time someone looks at you, you think they are judging you on your appearance, and unfortunately in some cases thats the truth. It's hard to bear the struggle for self-acceptance. This line voiced in "Pretty Isn't Pretty" really voices this internal struggle that beauty expectations are not only unrealistic but also greatly flawed. This speaks to the larger struggle of adolescence, where identity and self-worth are so often dictated by superficial standards. This song has taught me to be more aware of these standards and question them since true worth is in individuality and authenticity, not in meeting standards or expectations placed on people by others. Rodrigo's music gives voice to those emotions and helps with the shift from valuing external validation toward an appreciation for self-worth. The rest of the song continues with, "You can win the battle, but you'll never win the war You fix the things you hated, and you'd still feel so insecure And I try to ignore it, but it's everything I see It's on the poster on the wall, it's in the shitty magazines It's in my phone, it's in my head, it's in the boys I bring to bed It's all around, it's all the time, I don't know why I even try" What really inspires me about these lyrics is the power of vulnerability within it. A lot of girls including myself face the challenges of being a girl wand wanting to feel pretty. This strive to become a different version of yourself can even lead to long term problems such as eating disorders, mental health issues, ect. Its an aspect of society that needs to be changed. Having related to how Rodrigo described the struggles, I have learned self-acceptance and the rejection of illogical standards placed upon us. "Cause pretty isn't pretty enough anyway." Mirrored my personal experience and the general teenage narrative in some ways, urging us to redefine beauty by our own standards and to take confidence in our uniqueness, rather than giving in to the pressures of society.

My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. I was born in Japan where I lived until I was nine before moving to Vicenza Italy where I still reside. My current field of choice is international communications or public relations, with a minor in journalism and broadcasting. Growing up only living overseas has not only exposed me to endless culture but also diplomacy. I have traveled to over 50 countries, each one further developing my passion for exploration. My only dream has ever been to travel, however I want to do so in a way that benefits the world. I would love to serve as a public figure, a leader, a representative that is able to make a difference. I have had much experience with public speaking, leadership, and serving as an ambassador which has only increased through my years of high school. I am a dual athlete being a starter and captain on both my varsity volleyball and soccer teams. Throughout my season I was awarded All-Tournament and All-Europe player awards out of all Dodea Europe teams for soccer; and was recommended for our All-Stars advanced-level camp for volleyball. I run camps before school and run tutoring before practice. Not only am I a leader on the field but also in my school. From sixth to eighth grade I was president of our school's CARES club dedicated to learning peer mediation and helping our struggling students. I was also the president of our National Junior Honors Society chapter and completed over 300 hours of community service. Stretching into my high school years I have balanced being a multi-sports athlete along with having stellar academics. I am now a part of the high school's National Honors Society as a treasurer with over 400 hours and am running for president this term, while also pursuing Model UN. I have maintained a 4.1 GPA my entire high school career despite taking AP classes, dual sports, and extracurriculars. I intend to continue excelling in both my sports as well as my academics, and clubs, while also pursuing to play on a college club team for soccer, and get the best education I can. These are just a few examples of how my passion and goals for my field have flourished. Writing and reading have always been my passions outside of sports, and one day I hope to take the skills I have learned from my years as a student-athlete to become a leader able to make a positive change in the world, just like John Young. Although his journey was cut short his service will always be remembered and forever appreciated. His remembrance through this scholarship continues to help and inspire fellow fellow high achievers by supporting them in their academic careers and would be greatly appreciated for further education.

My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. I was born in Japan where I was raised until I was nine before moving to Vicenza Italy where I still reside. To me personal development is important because there is always room for improvement, you can always strive to become a better version of yourself, and even by making little changes, you are closer and closer to becoming your best self. I am working to become the best version of myself by creating long-lasting relationships, and striving to progress in sports while receiving the best education I can. I am a dual athlete being a starter and captain on both my varsity volleyball and soccer teams. Since I was five years old I have been playing soccer and I always knew that it was something I wanted to get good at. I have been a part of many Italian club teams, attended Olympic Development Programs, and am the captain of my varsity team. Throughout my season I was awarded All-Tournament and All-Europe player awards out of all Dodea Europe teams. I am also the captain of our varsity volleyball team, which I have been on for four years. I run camps before school and run tutoring before practice. Growing up overseas has given me the greatest opportunity to travel Europe playing various sports teams, and challenging me to constantly meet new people and adapt to every new location despite language barriers. Although I attend an American high school, I constantly serve as my school's cultural ambassador as a guide for Italian students. My ability to communicate with students both American and of other cultures has given me the chance to grow as both a communicator and a leader. However, I also think the only way to become the best version of yourself is to help others do the same. This is why I took my skills beyond sports. From sixth to eighth grade I was president of our school's CARES club dedicated to learning peer mediation and helping our struggling students. I was also the president of our National Junior Honors Society chapter and completed over 300 hours of community service. I am now a part of the high school's National Honors Society as a treasurer with over 200 hours and am running for president this term, while also pursuing Model UN. I have maintained a 4.1 GPA my entire high school career despite taking AP classes, dual sports, and extracurriculars. I also competed in speech and debate all years of middle school, and when moving to the high school was asked back to serve as an annual mentor and judge for the younger students following that passion. Being on a sports team and being a captain has taught me leadership both on and off the field. Being a student-athlete is always hard, trying to maintain your physical skills and excelling on the field, while also maintaining grades and extracurriculars. Being a student-athlete has shaped how I want to grow in the future. I intend to continue excelling in both my sports as well as my academics, and clubs. While continuing to find the little things to work on. Only living overseas I have developed a passion for diplomacy and journalism. I hope to take the skills I have learned from my years as a student-athlete to become a leader able to make a positive change in the world.

My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. Growing up as part of an educational household I was always surrounded by books. My father is a fifth-grade teacher, and my mother is a school psychologist and intern a lot of my free time was spent in their office at the school. Having a room full of books reading became my favorite pastime. Constantly being surrounded by educators including librarians I became close friends with everyone and literature was a popular topic. My favorite subject is English. I participate in all honors and advanced placement English classes so I am constantly learning the ways of literature. I was even awarded top of my class for my advanced placement English language class. My dream is to become a journalist or be involved in a career that allows me to share my ideas through the written word. I was published in the SUN literary magazine two years in a row, and a contender for the patriots pen essay. I love to write and even more, I would love to write in a way that inspires people. Reading is the biggest motivation for my love of writing. When reading I am transported to a completely different world. It is also such a creative way to share ideas, speak out, and create real change. It can be a way of release and expression that can reach across the world. In eighth grade, I was able to open up and write about an instance of sexual harassment. The poem I wrote ended up being loved by my teacher and she encouraged me to speak out more about it. My friend and I decided to take it upon ourselves to spread awareness and present in each classroom during sexual harassment awareness month. The words gave courage to some of my classmates to speak up about past instances they experienced. It was at this time I realized how impactful the written word can be. It can reach certain people in a way you would’ve never imagined. This is what books are. It is an amazing experience to be able to quietly escape into an imaginary world. As a National Honours Society student, I completed a lot of community service hours, a lot of which took place in our school library. I reorganized books, helped with shelving, and made sure everything was in the right place. I became very close with our school librarian Miss. Burtran a family friend and companion that would recommend me the best books. My favorite artists are Stephen King, Tahereh Mafi, and Laini Taylor who wrote amazing pieces of literature. It's books like these that never fail to entrap me and lead me down a rabbit hole of imagination. I feel like it is destiny that I came across this scholarship because I am named after my mother's favorite book, “Anne of Green Gables”. I was named after the town of Avonlea. Barbara sounds like an amazing woman and I would've loved to hear her views on what she thinks is the best genre of literature. Although her journey was cut short her remembrance through this memorial continues to help and inspire fellow readers by supporting them in their academic careers. This scholarship would be greatly appreciated as attending a good university so far away from my family will be financially impactful, and this scholarship would greatly lessen the burden.

My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. I was born in Japan where I was raised until I was nine before moving to Vicenza Italy where I still reside. Growing up overseas has allowed me to constantly meet new people and adapt to every new location despite language barriers. Although I attend an American high school, I am constantly volunteering to host Italian students as their guide. Because of my understanding of Italian, I have been the school's cultural ambassador as a guide for Italian students, and have attended an Italian school as part of a study trip for a week on multiple occasions. My ability to communicate with students both American and of other cultures has given me the chance to grow as both a communicator and a leader. Starting in middle school I was one of eight students in my school to attend the Junior Leadership Seminar. After undergoing an entry essay, recommendations, and an interview I was selected to attend the seminar in Oberweasel Germany for an entire week. There the select students from all around Europe met to train in leadership tactics. I carried these new skills back with me and became the President of our school's Child Adolescence Resiliency Program and president of our National Junior Honours Society. I was a participant and president of these organizations for three years, completing over 300 hours of community service, teaching peer mediation, and was honored to win the Outstanding Achievement Award along with a $500 scholarship towards my education, for my many community service hours and endless participation in the club. I am now treasurer of my high school's National Honors Society which I have been a part of for three years. This chapter I intend to run for president, and pursue Model UN. I also annually participate as a guest public speaker for the following years of the Junior Leadership Seminar. I have a big passion for sports, I have played soccer for over ten years and am currently captain of our varsity team. I led our team to the championship where we were awarded second place. I was awarded all Europe and Tournament player out of all Dodea Europe schools; and was selected to attend the Olimpic Development Program. I am also captain of my school's varsity volleyball team, which I have played on for four years. Not only have I shown leadership in my extracurriculars, but I have also shown dedication to my education. While maintaining my leadership in my clubs, dual sports, and tutoring, I have maintained a 4.1 GPA. I participate in both honors and Advanced Placement classes keeping all A’s. I also competed in speech and debate all years of middle school, and when moving to the high school was asked back to serve as an annual mentor and judge for the younger students following that passion. I have never lived in the States so my dream is to attend a university there, where I can earn a higher education and better myself to make change in the world. I have a big passion for reading and writing. I would love to pursue a career that utilizes my leadership and communication skills in diplomacy and international relations. This scholarship would be greatly needed as attending a good university so far away from my family will be financially impactful, and this scholarship would greatly lessen the burden.

My name is Avonlea Sparling, I currently reside in Italy as part of a military-connected family. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected overseas. This is part of the reason why I am so connected to the Love Island series. I love how it takes people from all over the world and connects them with people they would've otherwise would've never met. I have been a fan of Love Island for years. I have seen every season from Love Island so I have a great knowledge of all the challenges. Each new season of the reality show progressively gets more entertaining with more drama and romance, which is why I love it so much. My favorite part of the show is the friendship that grows between the contestants. I think this year's season six of Love Island is the best so far, not just because it had the most theatrics, but because of how connected the group stayed even after the season ended. By far the best challenge in Love Island I would have to say is the heart race challenge. I love seeing how creative the contestants get to raise the other's heart rate. When reading this scholarship I wanted to come up with a challenge never seen before on the show and I have an idea that would be both entertaining and also bring the couples closer together. To start the challenge, there will be a bowl of childhood movies like Cinderella, Alladin, Tinkerbell, etc. For the sake of explaining the game, I will use the Harry Potter movie as an example. Each couple will take turns, reaching into the bowl and picking out a childhood movie and showing it to the group, the goal of this challenge is to reenact a scene from the movie with your partner while making it as intimate and scandalous as possible. This way, the couples can get closer with one another working creatively to come up with a funny skit while also being entertaining for the viewers. Each couple will perform in front of the group and at the end all couples will collectively decide which team had the funniest and dirtiest reenactment. Costumes will be provided to match the movie's theme to enhance the entertainment. For example, a full run-through of what this would look like would be Leah and Miguel one of the finalist couples from this year's season picking Harry Potter from the bowl. The pair could pick a specific scene from the movie or make one up dressed in the movie's theme. They can make up their lines or choose ones from the movie but have to make it as steamy as possible. They will perform it in front of the group with all the necessary props. For example, Miguel could dress as wizard Ron Weasley and Leah as Hermione Granger and the two could make up a funny love scene. This allows the pairings to open up more in a more silly manner with their partner while having some romantic aspects. I think this challenge is perfect because it's a competition that would be enticing to watch. Even if the couples did a horrible job performing, it would be really fun to see what they come up with creatively, while also being incredibly comedic. This challenge is an out-of-the-box idea that has never been used, and I think would make a great addition to the show. I'm so thankful to have been given the opportunity to share these ideas.

I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen, I have never lived in the United States, only as a part of military families connected abroad. I was born in Japan before moving to Vicenza, Italy when I was eight. I have always, loved sports. I am a dual athlete, and captain of my varsity volleyball and soccer teams. Since I was five years old, I have played sports. Growing up overseas has given me the greatest opportunity to experience other cultures and various sports teams, challenging myself to different levels of sport. I have been on Italian club teams, attended Olympic Development Programs, and made cherished friends from other countries. This year, I was awarded All-Tournament and All-Europe player out of all Dodea Europe teams. I am a huge fan of Team USA especially when it comes to women's soccer, and so many athletes inspire me when it comes to professionally competing. One of the biggest role models that continues to amplify my passion for soccer is Trinity Rodman. Whenever I have free time, I watch professional women's soccer, to take in the techniques and skills used at that level. Recently, my family and I traveled to the 2024 Paris Olympics where we watched the USA women's soccer game versus Germany. I even made it on the world-televised Olympic big screen for my zealous cheering during the game. The player I always pay attention to and my personal favorite is Trinity Rodman number five in the Olympics and number two outside. Rodman is a forward for the Washington Spirit who has been playing soccer since she was four years old. At only eighteen years old she became the youngest player ever drafted in the history of the National Women's Soccer League in 2021. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games and was amazing to watch. Her constant determination throughout the game never giving up the ball, and fighting for it back if she lost it shows her amazing passion for the sport. She had multiple assists during the game and when it came for her chance to shoot, she passed off the ball to allow new substitutes to score. In my opinion that is the best quality in a player. Being unselfish with the ball and yet still has a huge impact on the game showing her character, loyalty, and teammanship. With her speed and technicality, she filtered the ball flawlessly to the center setting up two out of the four goals. Trinity Rodman is my biggest inspiration when it comes to soccer, watching her be a leader on the field is an inspiring example, motivating me to improve. She is an offensive player however does not limit herself to that one position. Rodman is an amazing offensive force while also having the speed to drop and play defense. I am a center-back defender and love being the last on the line to defend the goal, however, I also love scoring. Watching Trinity be both an offensive and defensive player encourages me that I can do the same. I will forever be a Team USA fan and will take Rodman's determination with me into every game. This scholarship would mean so much to me, as it will help fund my college education where I intend to learn as much as possible and work on a degree in diplomacy while hopefully being a part of the school's athletic program. I have always wanted to play soccer at an elite level, and this scholarship will help me get there.

My name is Avonlea Sparling I'm the daughter of educators supporting the American Military abroad. While I am a US citizen I have never lived in the United States and lived only as a part of military families connected abroad. I was born in Japan where I was raised until I was nine before moving to Vicenza Italy where I still currently reside. For as long as I can remember I have loved sports. I am a dual athlete being a starter and captain on both my varsity volleyball and soccer teams. Since I was five years old I have been playing soccer and you couldn't get me to sit still. Growing up overseas has given me the greatest opportunity to travel Europe playing various sports teams, and challenging myself to different levels of soccer. I have played soccer for twelve years now, it has become more than just a hobby but a skill I work tirelessly to improve. I have been a part of many Italian club teams, attended Olympic Development Programs, and am the captain of my varsity team. Throughout my season I was awarded All-Tournament and All-Europe player awards out of all Dodea Europe teams. I am also the captain of our varsity volleyball team, which I have been on for four years. I run camps before school and run tutoring before practice. I was recommended for our All-Stars camp where a few of the best players from each school get selected to play against one another in an advanced-level camp. Not only am I a leader on the field but also in my school. From sixth to eighth grade I was president of our school's CARES club dedicated to learning peer mediation and helping our struggling students. I was also the president of our National Junior Honors Society chapter and completed over 300 hours of community service. Stretching into my high school years I have balanced being a multi-sports athlete along with having stellar academics. I am now a part of the high school's National Honors Society as a treasurer with over 400 hours and am running for president this term, while also pursuing Model UN. I have maintained a 4.1 GPA my entire high school career despite taking AP classes, dual sports, and extracurriculars. As much as I love staying active and participating in sports, my academics and education are just as important. Being a student-athlete is always hard, trying to maintain your physical skills and excelling on the field, while also maintaining grades and extracurriculars. Being a student-athlete has shaped how I want to grow in the future. I would love to play on a college club team for soccer, and get the best education I can. I intend to continue excelling in both my sports as well as my academics, and clubs. Being on a sports team and being a captain has taught me leadership both on and off the field. Only living overseas I have developed a passion for diplomacy and journalism. Writing and reading have always been my passions outside of sports, and one day I hope to be able to write pieces that make a difference and inspire others. I hope to take the skills I have learned from my years as a student-athlete to become a leader able to make a positive change in the world, just like Anthony Bruder. Although his journey was cut short his remembrance through this memorial continues to help and inspire fellow student-athletes by supporting them in their academic careers.