I think I would be a great fit for this scholarship since I implement and resemble a lot of qualities that Mr. Hartley personified. As a golfer for all four years of high school, I know that there are very few things in this world that I can't accomplish, the game of golf has allowed me to develop my determination and focus on tasks of all shapes and sizes. The game has allowed me to develop my social skills as I use golf to make connections with people from all walks of life on and off the golf course. I know that golf has forced me to become a much more focused and driven individual than I was before I started playing at the beginning of the pandemic. The peace that a round of golf brings makes me a better person overall in my day-to-day life. I know this game has helped me become a better person in all facets of life, both to myself and others, I find myself much more forgiving and understanding of the shortcomings of myself and those around me, because I understand how difficult it can be to learn new skills or execute more challenging tasks. All because of the life-changing lessons I have learned on the golf course. I have learned not just to enjoy life and all of the aspects involved with it through these experiences in golf. I have found a surplus of joy and happiness in life every year once golf season comes around, not only because I can continue to play the game that I love, but also because I get to spend time with people who feel the exact same way. This last year, as a senior and a captain of my school's golf team, I was given the opportunity to embrace a leadership role that had gone unfilled the previous year with the absence of any seniors on the team. I rose to the occasion, leading the younger golfers from all different skill levels and backgrounds not only to become better golfers but also better human beings as well. The team became a respectable force through our skills on the golf course in tournaments, but also through the way that we conducted ourselves which wasn't evident the years prior. Taking a leadership role in golf allowed me to see the impact I have on people around me. I use the lessons I learned and taught over the years in golf every day to try and be the best person I can be while making the world the best that I can make it, and I owe it all to this beautiful game.

I would say that the most important and impactful life lesson that I have learned through the game of golf would be patience, not only with myself but with others as well. When starting I used to often get frustrated with my play and I would routinely get down on myself. I would become irritable and wouldn't be very receptive to the help that others offered me. I came to learn that being patient and calm often resulted in both my attitude being better, but also my play as well. As I became better at golf, I started to become frustrated with those who were more inexperienced and those who caused slower play. When these situations arose, I made sure to remind myself of all the patience I had to practice when I was the one causing the slow play. I found that making sure to give not only yourself but also others grace through times of frustration. This has allowed me to make many strides both in school and my personal life, as I know that when things don't go exactly as I plan them, it isn't the end of the world, and I just have to keep on trying. When other people don't follow instructions or misunderstand a task, I make sure to give them the benefit of the doubt and explain to them more clearly my instructions to ensure there aren't any more misunderstandings regarding my intentions for them. The opportunities to practice patience are never scarce, in real life or in golf. This incredible sport has drastically improved my ability to interact with people throughout my life, along with those on the course. Without it, I would likely still be the easily frustrated, negative person that I was before I decided to indulge in golf, but with it, I have simply just become a better person, both to myself and to others. People enjoy being around me more with my increased amounts of patience and tolerance, as they help me to be much more difficult to irritate. I now enjoy being by myself as well, since I am now much easier on myself when negative things occur. I never used to be able to handle much adversity, but through the lessons and practices I have developed through golf, I am now able to endure much more negativity and remain levelheaded when negative events happen to occur. People have begun to view me as a leader, and it's all thanks to just learning patience on the golf course.