To me, selflessness means giving your time and effort to someone else without expecting anything in return. Some of the experiences I am most proud of are not awards I have won or accomplishments on the football field. They are the times when I have been able to use what I have learned to help someone else. One of the best examples has been volunteering at a youth football camp throughout high school. As a four-year varsity offensive lineman and two-time team captain, football has given me opportunities that I am extremely grateful for. Volunteering gave me a chance to give some of that back. I worked with younger offensive linemen, teaching them techniques and helping them become more confident players. There were kids who would become frustrated when they could not perform a technique correctly. I could have simply demonstrated it and moved on, but I remembered being their age and having coaches who were patient with me. I would stay with them, break the technique into smaller steps, and explain it differently until they understood. Seeing a kid finally get something right and become excited about it was more rewarding than I expected. Those moments taught me that sometimes making an impact on someone requires nothing more than giving them your time and attention. My community service has also extended beyond football. I have helped with food distributions in my community, including assisting at the Barberton Food Ministry and helping distribute turkeys through the Native American Indian Cultural Center. Those experiences showed me a different side of service. You may never know the full story of the person receiving the food, but you know that giving a few hours of your day can make their life a little easier. Perseverance has also been an important part of pursuing my own passions. While in high school, I balanced being a student-athlete, working, volunteering, and taking college courses through an early college program. At 18, I earned my Associate of Arts degree from the University of Akron. There were plenty of days when I was exhausted and still had assignments to finish, practices to attend, or responsibilities to handle. I kept going because I knew what I wanted my future to look like. I am now continuing my education while playing college football at Gannon University and pursuing my goal of becoming a history teacher. My experiences serving others have strengthened that goal. Coaching younger players showed me how fulfilling it is to teach someone something and watch their confidence grow. Community service taught me that helping people does not always require a huge gesture. Sometimes it means showing up consistently and being willing to give your time. I want to carry those lessons into my career. As a teacher, I will have opportunities every day to help young people who may be struggling academically or personally. I want to be the teacher who stays a few extra minutes to help a student understand something, recognizes when someone needs encouragement, and reminds students that someone believes in them. I cannot make the world better by myself, but I can make a difference in the lives of the people around me. Whether I am helping a young athlete, serving families in my community, or eventually teaching students in my own classroom, I want my actions to show that success means more when you use it to help someone else succeed too.

My plan for the future is to become a history teacher and use my career to make a difference in the lives of young people. As a Native American and first-generation college student, earning my degree means more to me than preparing for a career. It means becoming the first in my family to take this path and creating an example that future generations of my family can follow. My college journey actually started while I was still in high school. Through an early college program, I began taking college courses while balancing high school, football, work, and responsibilities outside of school. There were long days when I would go from school to football practice and still have college assignments waiting for me afterward. Despite those challenges, I continued pushing myself. At 18 years old, I earned my Associate of Arts degree from the University of Akron. That accomplishment showed me that even when the path is difficult, I am capable of achieving the goals I set for myself. I am now continuing my education at Gannon University while playing college football and pursuing my goal of becoming a history teacher. Some of the biggest influences in my life have been teachers and coaches who believed in me, held me accountable, and helped me see potential in myself. I want to become that person for my future students. My Native American heritage also gives my career choice a deeper meaning. As a future history teacher, I want to make sure my students are exposed to the stories and perspectives of people who have not always been fully represented in the way history is taught. I want students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to see that their history matters and that their background can be a source of pride. Being a first-generation college student also means navigating an experience that is new for my family. At the same time, finances have created another obstacle. My mother is the primary source of income supporting me, while my father is on disability and unable to work. Playing college football also makes maintaining a traditional job during the school year difficult because my days are filled with classes, practices, workouts, meetings, games, and studying. Receiving this scholarship would relieve some of that financial pressure and allow me to put more of my attention toward succeeding academically. It would mean less financial stress on my family and less debt standing between me and the career I have worked toward. I want to graduate from college knowing that I accomplished something bigger than myself. Being a first-generation college graduate would allow me to create a new standard for my family. Becoming a teacher would allow that impact to go even further. One day, I hope a student who comes from an underrepresented or financially struggling family can look at me and realize that college is possible for them too. This scholarship would help me get closer to becoming that example.

Going to college means much more to me than simply earning a degree or finding a good job. As a Native American student, college represents an opportunity to build a better future for myself, make my family and community proud, and show others what is possible through education. I understand that students from underrepresented backgrounds can face additional obstacles when pursuing higher education, which makes earning my degree even more meaningful to me. My college journey actually began while I was still in high school. Through an early college program, I took college courses while completing high school, playing varsity football, working, volunteering, and handling responsibilities outside of school. Balancing everything was not always easy. There were nights when I completed assignments after long football practices and mornings when I had to get up and do it all again. Those experiences taught me that accomplishing something meaningful requires discipline and sacrifice. At 18 years old, I earned my Associate of Arts degree from the University of Akron. That is one of my proudest accomplishments because I know how much work went into earning it. I did not see my associate degree as the finish line. Instead, it showed me what I was capable of and motivated me to continue my education. I am now continuing my education at Gannon University while playing college football and pursuing my goal of becoming a history teacher. Football has taught me leadership, accountability, perseverance, and how to keep working when things become difficult. I know those qualities will be important not only throughout college but also when I eventually have a classroom of my own. My Native American heritage has given me an additional reason to pursue history education. History is filled with stories and perspectives that have not always received the attention they deserve, including those of Native American people. As a teacher, I want my students to understand that history is more than memorizing names and dates. It is about understanding people, cultures, struggles, accomplishments, and perspectives that have shaped the world we live in today. I also want to make an impact beyond academics. Some of the most influential people in my life have been teachers and coaches who believed in me, challenged me, and held me accountable. Their influence showed me how much one person can affect the direction of a young person’s life. I want to provide that same support for my future students, especially those who may feel overlooked or unsure of what they are capable of achieving. Ultimately, earning my college degree is not only about improving my own future. I want to use my education to serve others and create a positive legacy. One day, I hope to stand in my own classroom and encourage students from every background to take pride in where they come from while believing in where they can go. If I can help my students recognize their potential and pursue opportunities they once thought were out of reach, then my education will have accomplished something far greater than earning a degree.

Being a football player has profoundly shaped my character, teaching me lessons that extend far beyond the field. As a four-year varsity offensive lineman and a two-time team and coach award recipient, I have learned that success requires more than talent—it demands discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the ability to persevere through challenges. Football has pushed me physically, mentally, and emotionally, and the skills and values I have developed through the sport have influenced how I approach school, work, and life as a whole. One of the most important lessons football has taught me is resilience. Over the years, I have faced injuries, including an MCL tear and a dislocated shoulder, that forced me to step away from the game temporarily. Recovering from these setbacks required patience, dedication, and a mindset focused on growth rather than defeat. These experiences reinforced my understanding that obstacles are opportunities to improve and strengthen both character and resolve. I carry this lesson into every challenge I face, whether in academics, employment, or personal goals. Football has also taught me the value of teamwork and leadership. On the field, every player must trust and support their teammates, communicate effectively, and put the team’s objectives above personal accolades. These lessons extend into my daily life as well. Whether collaborating with classmates on projects, balancing responsibilities at work, or mentoring younger athletes, I have learned that leadership is not simply about giving instructions—it is about setting an example, encouraging others, and fostering an environment where everyone can succeed. My teammates have taught me that a strong team is built on respect, accountability, and a shared commitment to excellence. In addition, football has instilled discipline and time-management skills that have been critical in balancing academics, athletics, and work. Practices, games, and workouts have taught me how to prioritize tasks, stay focused under pressure, and commit to consistent effort even when it is difficult. These skills have allowed me to maintain academic success while working jobs to support myself and my family, proving that dedication and organization can create opportunities even in challenging circumstances. Ultimately, football has helped me grow into a resilient, disciplined, and empathetic individual. The sport has shaped not only my physical abilities but also my character, my leadership skills, and my perspective on perseverance and teamwork. I plan to carry the lessons I have learned on the field into my future career as an educator, inspiring and guiding students to overcome challenges, work collaboratively, and reach their full potential. Football has prepared me to face life’s obstacles with determination, and I am confident that the values it has instilled will continue to guide me for years to come.