My plans for the future are to take the education and experiences I gain at Dallas Baptist University and use them to make a positive impact on the next generation. I am pursuing a degree in Sports Management because I believe sports can be much more than competition. Sports can teach discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and character. I want to use my career to create opportunities where young people can learn these lessons and become the best versions of themselves. My own life has been shaped by the people who took the time to invest in me. Through sports, mentors, my stepfather, books, and most importantly my faith in God, I have learned lessons that have helped me become the young man I am today. Because of the impact others have had on my life, I want to be able to give that same encouragement and guidance to the next generation. But give it in a way that is positive and life-building and life-giving in a world that is so negative. My goal is to build a career in sports management where I can work with athletes, teams, organizations, or youth programs and create environments that develop young people both on and off the field. I want to be someone who not only focuses on winning games, but also on developing character and helping young athletes understand that their identity and future are bigger than a scoreboard. What happens off the field or court is sometimes more important than what happens in the game. So many athletes' identities are found in their sport or their skill, and what an honor it would be to be able to let them know that there is so much more that they can do and give. This scholarship would help me continue pursuing that goal by providing financial support toward my education at Dallas Baptist University. I am the first in my family to go to college, and as my parents are home with younger siblings, this scholarship would allow me to help take some of the financial burden off of them. They have at times had to pay an electric bill or help me with my payments for college. This would help them out so they don't have to make that decision. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus more of my time and energy on my studies, leadership opportunities, and gaining the experience I need to become successful in my future career. It would also be an investment not only in my education, but in the people I hope to impact through my career. I do not take the opportunity to attend Dallas Baptist University for granted and know that it is an honor and a privilege that I am very blessed to have. I believe God has placed me here for a reason, and I want to make the most of the opportunity I have been given. My goal is to take what I learn and eventually pour it back into others. I want my education to become more than a degree; I want it to become a tool that allows me to serve, lead, and help shape the next generation. Receiving this scholarship would help me take another step toward that purpose and allow me to continue building a future where I can make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

Throughout my life, I have read many books that have taught me lessons about life, leadership, and the consequences of good and bad decisions. However, the book that has guided me the most is the Bible. Its lessons have helped shape the person I am becoming and have given me direction through some of the most difficult experiences in my life. One of the biggest challenges I have faced was growing up without my biological father being present in my life. He left my mom, my two younger brothers, and me, and his absence affected our family in many ways. When he eventually decided to come back into our lives, he caused chaos and hurt and deeper wounds. I had to learn at the age of 10 what it is to make changes in my life; I had to learn something that was difficult for most people, and some can't even do today: forgiveness. Through God's Word and the guidance of my mother and stepfather, I began to understand that forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened or pretending that it did not hurt. It means choosing and choosing daily to let go of the bitterness, allowing God to work in my heart, and remembering that my father deserves the grace that God shows us and teaches us in his word. His return also made me realize that I wanted to break the chains of addiction and unhealthy patterns that had affected my biological family. To learn this, my mom and stepfather knew we had to be educated in this, and so we started reading books together. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom was a big one that hit me and had me realize that I, too, can forgive and set a new path for not just me but my little brothers and sister to be better. I knew that if I wanted to lead others, I first had to allow God to change me. God also blessed my life by placing a stepfather in it who showed me what unconditional love truly looks like. He helped guide me through God's Word and taught me lessons that went far beyond what I could learn from a book. Through sports, conversations, discipline, and the example he set, he helped me become the young man I am today. He also introduced me to books that challenged me to grow in leadership and character. Books such as Help! I’m a Student Leader by Doug Fields have taught me practical ways to lead and serve others. I have been able to take those lessons and apply them to my own life, while also discussing them with people in my community and at college. Still, I believe the Bible is the foundation that gives those lessons their true meaning. My faith has guided me through my past, my relationships, my leadership, and my education. I believe God has used both the difficult experiences and the people He placed in my life to shape me. Without the Lord, I do not believe I would be where I am today or have the opportunity to receive the education I have at Dallas Baptist University. I am grateful for how God has guided my path and continues to do so through His word, and I hope to continue becoming a man who leads by example, serves others, and helps break negative cycles for the generations that come after me.

Baseball has been one of the biggest influences in my life, shaping me into the hardworking and determined person I am today. It has taught me lessons that go far beyond the game, including perseverance, responsibility, leadership, and the importance of supporting others. Every practice, game, and challenge has helped prepare me for my future, both on and off the field. One of the greatest lessons baseball has taught me is that success comes through hard work. There are no shortcuts to becoming a better player. Whether it is spending extra time hitting, fielding ground balls, or improving my strength and conditioning, I have learned that consistent effort leads to improvement. Baseball has also shown me that failure is part of the journey. Even the best players strike out, make errors, and lose games. Instead of letting those moments discourage me, I have learned to stay positive, work harder, and use every setback as motivation to improve. The people I have met through baseball have had a lasting impact on my life. My coaches have challenged me to be disciplined, respectful, and accountable for my actions. They believed in me, even when I doubted myself, and encouraged me to always give my best effort. My teammates have taught me the value of trust, communication, and working together toward a common goal. Baseball has shown me that no one succeeds alone, and that supporting those around you is just as important as achieving personal success. The lessons I have learned through baseball have also influenced my plans. After completing my education, I hope to start my own business while also building a successful cattle company. Running a business and raising cattle will require dedication, responsibility, and perseverance—the same qualities I have developed through years of playing baseball. I know there will be challenges, but baseball has taught me to face adversity with confidence and determination instead of giving up. As I move forward, I hope to carry the values of hard work, teamwork, and leadership into everything I do. I want to give back to my community by encouraging young athletes, just as my coaches and mentors encouraged me. Whether I am leading my business, working on my cattle operation, or helping others achieve their goals, I will continue to live by the lessons baseball has taught me. The game has shaped my character, strengthened my work ethic, and inspired me to build a future that reflects the values of perseverance, mentorship, and community that the Brett Brakel Memorial Scholarship represents.

I play both baseball and football, and being a multi-sport athlete has had a significant impact on how I approach my responsibilities both on the field and in the classroom. Participating in two demanding sports has taught me the importance of discipline, time management, and perseverance. Balancing athletics with academics is challenging, but the lessons I’ve learned through baseball and football have helped me grow into a more focused and motivated student. Football is a physically intense sport that requires constant effort, preparation, and teamwork. Practices are demanding, and game days often involve long hours of preparation, film study, and recovery. Baseball, while different in pace, requires a high level of mental focus, patience, and consistency. The long season and attention to detail push me to stay mentally strong and committed. Managing the expectations of both sports while maintaining my academic performance has required me to be organized and intentional with my time. To balance my schoolwork with athletics, I rely heavily on planning and prioritization. I create schedules that help me stay on top of assignments, practices, and games, and I make it a point to complete schoolwork as early as possible. I use downtime efficiently, whether it’s studying during study hall, reviewing notes on bus rides, or completing homework between practices. Communication has also been key; I make sure to talk with my teachers ahead of time when athletic commitments conflict with deadlines so I can stay accountable and prepared. There are moments when the workload becomes overwhelming, especially during weeks filled with games, practices, and exams. However, participating in baseball and football has actually helped me perform better academically. Sports provide structure to my day and teach me how to stay disciplined even when I’m tired or under pressure. Knowing that my eligibility depends on my academic performance motivates me to stay focused and put forth my best effort in the classroom. Playing baseball and football has also taught me resilience. There are losses, setbacks, and moments of frustration, but those experiences have shown me how to respond positively to challenges. That same mindset carries over into my schoolwork, where I’ve learned to push through difficult subjects and seek improvement rather than give up. Overall, balancing baseball, football, and academics has been demanding, but it has helped shape my character. The lessons I’ve gained as a student-athlete—hard work, responsibility, and determination—will continue to guide me both in my education and in life beyond sports.

I didn't have debates, but I have a lot of family members who do. Like my grandpa, he is suffering from type 1 diabetes, and he already had to cut his toe off, and now he is off from work because of his diabetes, and also he has to take a shot every morning so his blood pressure doesn't rise, which affects our family and me because he is really special to me and my family and he is getting more helthy every day and alos my step mom has dibeates and she just got it and nothing major happen yet with her dibates but i dont have t but i have alot of people in my family who struggles with it every day and it sometimes doesnt help when they do it makes them sometimes have to miss stuff bcause it to much and there blood pressure is high or sometimes they cant eat certain foods because it has to much sugar on it like what i said . It is that my family struggles with it, and sometimes, when it is a big, heated moment, my stepmom needs to remove herself from it because it will get bad, and she begins to have an effect. But my other grandfather almost had a heart attack, and it was scary for our family because we almost lost him. After all, he didn't know he had diabetes and then knew he needed a shot every morning, and also he always has medicine he needs to take every day for his health. So those three people that have affected my family and not just people that are my family but who I am very close with in my life, and they help me to become a better person every day, so I am really thankful that my family is still safe. But I do not have type 1 diabtes but it has effected me in some type of way, and some challenges that i had to oversome is when i am outwith them i have to watch what they eat and do stuff and keeo more ona eye of them because if they do the wrong thing, it can mess them up, and like with my stepmom. I need not raise my voice and put her in situations where her blood pressure rises. So this is how type 1 diabetes affected my family and me.

Throughout high school, I consistently went above and beyond what is expected of most students by committing myself to excellence in sports while developing into a leader both on and off the field. I viewed athletics not just as an extracurricular activity, but as an opportunity to grow mentally, physically, and emotionally while positively influencing those around me. As a student-athlete, I dedicated countless hours to improving my performance through extra training, conditioning, and film review beyond scheduled practices. I held myself to a higher standard, understanding that my effort directly affected my team’s success. When challenges arose—whether injuries, losses, or pressure-filled moments—I chose to respond with resilience and determination. Rather than becoming discouraged, I used setbacks as motivation to improve and encouraged my teammates to do the same. This mindset helped create a culture of accountability and perseverance within the team. My leadership extended beyond personal performance. I made it a priority to support and mentor younger or less experienced teammates, helping them build confidence and feel valued. I often stepped into a leadership role by communicating positively during games, motivating others during difficult moments, and setting an example through my work ethic and sportsmanship. I learned that leadership is not defined by a title, but by the willingness to take responsibility and uplift others. Outside of athletics, I carried these leadership qualities into my school and community. I actively participated in school organizations and initiatives that allowed me to serve others and contribute to a positive school environment. I took initiative when problems arose, volunteered my time, and collaborated with peers to achieve shared goals. Balancing academics, athletics, and leadership roles required strong time management and discipline, skills I developed through consistent effort and commitment. In the classroom, I applied the same dedication that I brought to sports. I maintained focus on my academic responsibilities while managing a demanding schedule, often helping classmates when they needed support. I learned how to prioritize tasks, stay organized, and remain motivated even when under pressure. These skills strengthened my ability to lead effectively and responsibly. Going above and beyond was never about recognition; it was about growth and impact. Through sports and leadership, I developed confidence, resilience, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility. I learned how to lead by example, work collaboratively, and remain committed to my goals despite obstacles. These experiences shaped me into a well-rounded individual who strives to make a positive difference wherever I am. By challenging myself beyond what was expected, I became not only a stronger athlete, but also a leader prepared to contribute meaningfully in future academic, athletic, and professional environments