Education has been the single most grounding force in my life, providing not only direction but also purpose during some of my most uncertain moments. As an undergraduate double majoring in computer science and national security and intelligence with a focus on cybersecurity, and minoring in a foreign language, my academic journey has shaped how I see the world, how I respond to adversity, and how I define success. More than a pathway to a career, education has given me the resilience to rise when circumstances made it easier to stop. My interest in technology and security did not begin in a classroom. It grew out of curiosity about how systems work, how they fail, and how those failures impact real people. I was drawn to computer science because it rewards logic and persistence, and to national security because it asks broader questions about responsibility, trust, and protection. Cybersecurity sits at the intersection of those disciplines, where technical skill meets ethical decision making. Through my coursework, I have learned that protecting systems is ultimately about protecting people, especially those who may not have the resources or knowledge to protect themselves. While education has opened doors for me, it has not been a smooth or uninterrupted journey. I live with Crohn’s disease, a chronic illness that has required frequent hospitalizations and forced me to confront physical limitations during critical points in my academic life. There were semesters shaped not by exams or projects, but by recovery schedules, medical uncertainty, and learning how to advocate for myself in environments that were not always designed with chronic illness in mind. These experiences tested my discipline and my resolve, but they also reshaped my definition of strength. Rather than allowing illness to derail my goals, I learned to adapt. I became meticulous with my time, intentional with my energy, and deeply aware of how invisible challenges affect performance. This perspective now informs how I approach both education and cybersecurity. Systems that work only for the healthiest or most privileged users are incomplete systems. True security, like true access to education, must be inclusive, flexible, and resilient by design. My challenges have sharpened my focus and reinforced my commitment to building solutions that account for real world complexity rather than ideal conditions. Outside of academics, my education has been shaped just as strongly by community and family. Some of my most meaningful learning has taken place outdoors with my grandfather, where we spend time archery shooting, cross country skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and building wooden birdhouses that are donated to local parks. These moments have taught me patience, craftsmanship, and respect for the natural world. They have also reinforced my belief that stewardship matters, whether it is caring for shared outdoor spaces or safeguarding digital environments that people rely on every day. I have also volunteered as a youth sports coach, an experience that has shown me the power of mentorship and encouragement. Coaching taught me how confidence is built slowly, how leadership requires empathy, and how small moments of belief can have lasting effects. As my four year old nephew begins participating in athletics, I look forward to continuing that role, helping young people develop discipline, teamwork, and self trust. These experiences have shaped my long term goal of giving back through mentorship and service, using my education to create opportunities for others rather than simply advancing myself. The Dream BIG, Rise HIGHER Scholarship resonates deeply with my story because it recognizes that ambition alone is not enough. Progress requires perseverance, belief, and support. Like many students, I have faced obstacles that were not visible on the surface, yet demanded strength every day. Education gave me a sense of direction when uncertainty threatened to take it away, and it continues to be the tool I use to rise above circumstances I cannot control. Looking forward, I hope to use my education to build a career in cybersecurity that prioritizes ethical responsibility, accessibility, and long term impact. I am particularly interested in protecting critical systems and vulnerable populations, ensuring that security measures consider both technical integrity and human experience. I want to be part of a future where technology serves as a stabilizing force, not a barrier, and where security solutions are informed by diverse perspectives and lived realities. Receiving this scholarship would provide more than financial support. It would allow me to focus fully on advanced coursework, research opportunities, and skill development that are essential for my field. More importantly, it would affirm that perseverance matters and that who we are becoming is just as important as where we are going. Education has shaped my goals, strengthened my resolve, and clarified my purpose. It has taught me that rising higher does not mean avoiding hardship, but learning how to move forward through it with intention and integrity. I am committed to using what I have learned to create a better future, not only for myself, but for the communities and systems that depend on thoughtful, resilient leadership.

I’ve been told many times when playing golf that missed hits are just practice swings. I was not young when I finally began to take up golfing, and it did not come easy for me. I played many other sports, some as early as 3 years old, but golf certainly was the most challenging for me. Sure, I had played on putt putt courses countless times growing up, as it was an activity my parents and grandparents enjoyed with me as a family. But it was on an actual 18 hole course that I began to learn what patience and discipline actually meant. It’s far easier with a poor hit to just want to throw the club, which I saw a few men do here and there, and less easy to focus on form and follow through and wait for that perfect hit. I began to play golf out of the need to find some peace in my life and create an outlet for my grief. My maternal grandmother had been diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer, and after years of her courageous battle, she eventually passed, at the young age of 60. My grandmother and I were extremely close and she was a tremendous influence in my life. I struggled mentally after her passing, and after considering taking my own life to end the pain, I decided to forge a new path in my life. I focused more of my time into volunteer work and poured my heart into finding something that would allow me to clear my mind and begin to ease my sadness. That’s when I found golf. Though I will never be league worthy or win any awards, I found a wonderful peace being outside with my own thoughts. There I gave much thought to a promise I made to my grandmother and it is a promise I intend to keep. In the fall, I will be attending The University of Mount Union for biochemistry, specializing in viral science, so that I may obtain a career in a research lab. I intend to find better treatments and cures for diseases, such as cancer and many others, that at the present time do not have one. It is my intention to give back to our society and make a true difference in this world. In a lab, much like in my golf swing, it will take extreme patience to find just the right combination that creates a success story. In every sport I play, my education, my career path, and in my life in general: failure is not a word in my vocabulary, I may just find a million ways that do not work. "The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." —Thomas Edison.