Most teenage boys have a growth spurt between the ages of 12 and 15. Not me. At first, I thought I was just a late bloomer. Sure, I had constant back pain and headaches that seriously affected my ability to play lacrosse, but I was led to believe they were just growing pains. For three years, this sport was the center of my world. The feeling I would get while playing was unlike anything else. Everything changed after an MRI revealed leaking brain fluid into my spinal cavity due to a birth defect called Chiari Malformation. The operation thwarted the start of my high school experience. I had a month-long recovery, but I was optimistic about returning to lacrosse. The end of freshman year brought sudden news, I’d need a second, even bigger surgery. The news hit hard, as I knew my life wouldn’t be the same. I would have limited mobility of my head due to the 8 screws that would remain in my neck forever. I told myself it was for the better, that it would let me move forward without the pain, and that helped ease my anxiety. Due to the surgery's complexity, recovery was lengthy. Part of my esophagus had swollen, leaving me unable to swallow and on a feeding tube. This experience was hard because I could not eat solid foods for two months until the doctor told me to practice eating again. The following year, I wasn’t able to play lacrosse as I had originally planned. Unbeknownst to me, a small third surgery early sophomore year would seal my fate. After three long days at the hospital, the doctor told me I would never be able to play contact sports again. My dreams of playing lacrosse were over, despite the many seasons that I had dedicated to it throughout my life. Losing lacrosse made me feel like I lost a part of myself. Suddenly, I had to face the fact that while my chronic pain was gone, I’d need to reimagine my future. When I was finally able to return to school, I faced a different set of challenges. Missing a large part of the semester made it hard to keep up my grades and build friendships. My freshman year grades suffered, especially while recovering and trying to catch up on missing work. I found myself struggling, dealing with the loss of lacrosse, and falling behind my peers. But I had gotten through the surgeries and the rough recovery, so I could get through this as well. I met with my teachers every day after school to learn the lessons I missed while recovering from the surgeries. I was committed not just to excelling in school, but to finding a new sense of community. I tried to make the most of the situation by finding a sport that I hadn’t played before. Tennis caught my eye, it fit my doctor’s restrictions, and a few of my friends played. Eventually, I was playing at school practices and with friends, striving to catch up to my peers. I learned to accept my new reality by adopting a new mindset where I didn’t take my health for granted and appreciated the opportunities available to me. My journey through multiple surgeries and the loss of lacrosse was unforeseen, but it ultimately forged a stronger version of myself. It taught me to find passion in new pursuits and to approach academic challenges with determination. Today, free from chronic pain, I carry these lessons forward, embracing new opportunities with a deeper appreciation for my health and resilience.

Tennis was never really meant to be my game. Lacrosse was my world for most of my life. Lacrosse was the first thing I thought of every morning and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day long. Then my doctor told me I had to stop playing contact sports. It was like a sport I based my entire life around was gone. I had lost sight of myself. Athletes are not very good with sitting still, I was no different. So I had to take up tennis, a sport I started purely out of desperation and with no great hopes for its future. Something had to be done. What I didn’t realize was that I was making one of the best decisions of my life. One of the first lessons tennis has taught me is to have humility. I sucked. I had felt like a top athlete of my sport and now that was gone, and I lost to the people I least expected to lose to. I never gave up and kept moving forward. There is something to the sport that is pure and something that, one does not really experience with any other sport. It is literally just you against the other player, with no one else to rely on. It is every man for himself. It also changed the way I think off the court. In lacrosse, tough times would be worked through as a team. In tennis, the tough times on the court I had to work through by myself. Now, instead of obsessing on lost points, I try to work on my mistakes during a tough point. I also learned a really important skill that wasn't necessarily skill based, it was that instead of thinking about a bad point the rest of the game I need to move on. Just because you’re playing bad doesn’t mean you’re going to play bad for the rest of the match. This is an important skill I use every single day. Another important skill I acquired was that of competing alone. In lacrosse, there is always someone motivating you whether it is your teammate, your coach, the crowd. In tennis, when you are down in the set and things are going terribly wrong, the only person you hear is yourself. I also learned the skill of competing alone. The biggest lesson a game of tennis has taught me is the skill of adapting. Tennis did not give me lacrosse, it took it from me. For some time, I saw this as an obstacle. Tennis gave me the realization that an unplanned path will change you more than any other path. Tennis showed me that the path you don’t plan on is the path that changes you the most and that I learned more about myself as a person from having to start over than I did from having everything go my way. I know that life will not always go accordingly to my plans. I have learned from tennis that starting over doesn’t mean failing, but moving on. If a kid who had neck surgery can find a new sport and a better person in him, then I can face whatever life offers me.

Managing real estate properties with Holmes Property Investments helped me discover my two passions: real estate and finance. Working with the management team and learning different aspects of the business has helped me build valuable connections in the field. I’ve had the opportunity to shadow brokers, finance directors, and real estate agents. By shadowing a finance director at Avera, a commercial real estate, construction, and development company, I learned foundational finance concepts that can be widely applied and gained an understanding of development and building plans. Through these connections, I was able to expand my knowledge and work with real estate manufacturers, gaining valuable hands-on experience. My work with Holmes Property Investments extended into finance management and learning how to use different databases to track financial growth and patterns. My involvement with the company has grown over the years, further solidifying my interest in business and real estate. These experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, someone who is confident in learning new things and applying them to different situations. I plan to pursue a business major at The University of Texas at Austin, where I can gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a significant impact in the field. With UT Austin being one of the top business schools, I believe I can fully leverage its resources and the diverse backgrounds of its students to learn from their unique strengths and perspectives. I aspire to own my own real estate company in the near future, combining the knowledge gained from my work experience and studies to shape my own career path. Ultimately, I am excited to take the next step in my journey, turning my early exposure and passion into a lifelong career of innovation, leadership, and impact in the real estate world. My goal is to make my business successful but more importantly to give my community have a positive effect from it. From all of my experiences in the field I have learned that real estate is about more than just monetary transactions, it is about a future vision and relationships that will come from the real estate and the good that will come from it. I am ready to continue with these ideals throughout college and for the rest of my life to make a difference in my community and I will use the many resources that have been provided to me to be a leader and a successful innovator.

When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was only six years old. I did not understand what cancer was, and my parents had to be very thoughtful about how they explained what was happening. I did not know how dangerous it was, nor the statistics about diagnosis and survival. Her cancer was very severe. I did know that something was seriously wrong because of what I saw, such as her spending long periods of time in the hospital. The moment that affected me most was seeing my mother lying in a hospital bed. It was the only time I had ever seen her look weak. Whenever I walked into a room and family members were talking about her, the atmosphere would change, and I knew something was wrong. Everyone was trying to shield me from the truth because I was so little. They told me that she had “bugs” inside of her that the doctors needed to get out. In hindsight, the timeframe of this shaped how I view my mom's strength and courage to push through. Although I was very young, this experience still had a lasting effect on me that I will carry for the rest of my life. My mother endured a level of pain I can only imagine. My father, who was the only other person in our immediate family, became a primary caregiver for both of us, a responsibility I know must have been incredibly difficult. Watching how cancer affected my parents showed me that when a disease like cancer enters a family, it does not change just one person’s life, but the lives of everyone connected to them. My mother’s perseverance taught me how to face challenges in my own life, a lesson I continue to use every day. When I got older, I began to understand what really happened. I realized that my mom pushed herself as hard as she did for many reasons, and one of those reasons was to see me become the best man that I can be. This gives me the motivation to give my all in everything I do because I know I am doing it for my mom. My parents also went through financial instability to get through it, which taught me to prepare financially for anything that could be thrown my way. It showed me that I always need to have a long-term plan. This is why my interest in Commercial Real Estate was sparked at a young age, as I wanted to prepare for the future and ensure that I was ready for the real world. The reason isn’t to flaunt my wealth or drive fancy cars, but to achieve stability and provide for my family. I also want financial stability to make sure that if someone in my family had a medical emergency like cancer, that I am ready for it, as my mom and dad were, which helped me understand how they got through it. A strong work ethic means to show up and give your best effort because you don’t know what curveball might be thrown at your family. Although my mom is still alive and is a survivor, the experience left a permanent mark on my life and the way I go about it. My career’s future in Commercial Real Estate is to give my family security and support my family’s aspirations.

Most teenage boys have a growth spurt between the ages of 12 and 15. Not me. At first, I thought I was just a late bloomer. Sure, I had constant back pain, numbness in my toes and fingers and headaches that seriously affected my ability to play golf and lacrosse or concentrate in school, but I assumed these symptoms were growing pains. Everything changed after an MRI revealed leaking brain fluid trapped in five inches of my spinal cord as a result of advanced Chiari Malformation. I finally had an answer for my stunted growth and chronic pain, but it came at a cost—I would need surgery on my brain and neck to correct the flow of fluid and add bone to hold my brain in place which was slipping into my neck. The first operation thwarted the start of my high school experience. After a month-long recovery, I was optimistic about returning to sports, including golf, and normal high school student activities. Alas, the end of freshman year brought disappointing news—I would need a second, more complicated brain surgery. The news hit hard, as I knew my life would not be the same. I would have limited mobility of my head due to the eight permanent screws installed on both sides of my neck. I told myself it was for the better, that it would let me move forward without being in constant pain. Due to the surgery's complexity, recovery was lengthy and did not go as planned. Part of my esophagus had unexpectedly swollen, leaving me unable to swallow and on a feeding tube for six weeks. Unbeknownst to me, a small third surgery was required only a few weeks later. After three long days at the hospital, the doctor told me the devastating news that my dreams of playing lacrosse in college were over, despite the many years I had dedicated to it. Suddenly, I had to face the fact that while my chronic pain was gone, I would need to reimagine my future. Fortunately, having my neck fixed in place helped my golf swing and precision even more. While it was too late to try out for the school golf team, I enjoy regularly playing with my friends and trying out different courses around town. My favorite time to play is when we are on vacation, especially in the mountains. I especially enjoy meeting new people while we are on the course. Service is another one of my passions that I could focus more time on now that I have to give up most sports. I regularly volunteer after school at a local community center. I like interacting with the children and helping in any way I can. I enjoy helping others and utilizing my unique skills to make a difference. This also helps me to build community, connect with others and foster independence in myself and the children. I can more easily accept that I will not be the athlete I aspired to be and be grateful to be able to use my energy to pay it forward within my community. My journey through multiple surgeries and the loss of lacrosse was unforeseen, but it ultimately forged a stronger version of myself. It taught me to find passion in new pursuits and to approach academic challenges with determination. Today, I carry these lessons forward, embracing new opportunities with a deeper appreciation for my health and resilience.

Most teenage boys have a growth spurt between the ages of 12 and 15. Not me. At first, I thought I was just a late bloomer. Sure, I had constant back pain, numbness in my toes and fingers and headaches that seriously affected my ability to play lacrosse or concentrate in school, but I assumed these symptoms were just growing pains. Everything changed after an MRI revealed leaking brain fluid trapped in five inches of my spinal cord as a result of advanced congenital Chiari Malformation. I finally had an answer for my stunted growth and chronic pain, but it came at a cost—I would need surgery on my brain and neck to correct the flow of fluid and add bone to hold my brain in place which was slipping into my neck. The first operation thwarted the start of my high school experience. After a month-long recovery, I was optimistic about returning to lacrosse and normal high school student activities. Alas, the end of freshman year brought disappointing news—I’d need a second, more complicated brain surgery. The news hit hard, as I knew my life would not be the same. I would have limited mobility of my head due to the eight permanent screws installed on both sides of my neck. I told myself it was for the better, that it would let me move forward without being in constant pain. Due to the surgery's complexity, recovery was lengthy and did not go as planned. Part of my esophagus had unexpectedly swollen, leaving me unable to swallow and on a feeding tube for six weeks. Unbeknownst to me, a small third surgery was required only a few weeks later. After three long days at the hospital, the doctor told me the devastating news that my dreams of playing lacrosse in college were over, despite the many years I had dedicated to it. Losing lacrosse made me feel like I lost a part of myself. Suddenly, I had to face the fact that while my chronic pain was gone, I’d need to reimagine my future. Service is another one of my passions. Because I had to quit playing sports, I regularly volunteer after school at a local community center. I like interacting with the children and helping in any way I can. I enjoy helping others and utilizing my unique skills to make a difference. This also helps me build community, connect with others and foster independence in myself and the children. I can more easily accept that I will not be the athlete I aspired to be and be grateful to be able to use my energy to pay it forward within my community. My main life goal is to graduate with an MBA in Finance. Afterward, I plan to own and manage a real estate firm in Texas, while continuing to give back through community service. To achieve this, attending college will give me the chance to leverage resources and the diversity of students to gain knowledge from their individual talents and viewpoints. Furthermore, managing properties at Holmes Property Investments fueled my passions for real estate and finance. Through collaborating with the management team and exploring different facets of the business, I was able to establish valuable connections in the field. My journey through multiple surgeries and the loss of lacrosse was unforeseen, but it ultimately forged a stronger version of myself. It taught me to find passion in new pursuits and to approach academic challenges with determination. Today, I carry these lessons forward, embracing new opportunities with a deeper appreciation for my health and resilience.

Most teenage boys have a growth spurt between the ages of 12 and 15. Not me. At first, I thought I was just a late bloomer. Sure, I had constant back pain and headaches that seriously affected my ability to play lacrosse, but I assumed these were just growing pains. For three years, this sport was the center of my world and one of my passions. The feeling I would get while playing was unlike anything else. I found a community outside of school and planned to play through high school. Everything changed after an MRI revealed leaking brain fluid into my spinal cord due to a birth defect called Chiari Malformation. I finally had an answer for my stunted growth and chronic pain, but it came at a cost—I would need surgery on my brain and neck to correct the flow of fluid. This operation thwarted the start of my high school experience. I had a month-long recovery, but I was optimistic about returning to lacrosse. Alas, the end of freshman year brought sudden news—I’d need a second, even bigger surgery. The news hit hard, as I knew my life wouldn’t be the same. I would have limited mobility of my head due to the eight permanent screws installed in my neck. I told myself it was for the better, that it would let me move forward without being in constant pain. Due to the surgery's complexity, recovery was lengthy and did not go as planned. Part of my esophagus had swollen, leaving me unable to swallow and on a feeding tube for six weeks leaving me weak and hungry. The following year, I wasn’t able to play lacrosse as I had originally planned. Unbeknownst to me, a small third surgery early sophomore year was required. After three long days at the hospital, the doctor told me I would never be able to play contact sports again. My dreams of playing lacrosse were over, despite the many years I had dedicated to it throughout my life. Losing lacrosse made me feel like I lost a part of myself. Suddenly, I had to face the fact that while my chronic pain was gone, I’d need to reimagine my future. My journey through multiple surgeries and the loss of lacrosse was unforeseen, but it ultimately forged a stronger version of myself. It taught me to find passion in new pursuits and to approach academic challenges with determination. Today, free from chronic pain, I carry these lessons forward, embracing new opportunities with a deeper appreciation for my health and resilience. Service is another one of my passions. I enjoy helping others and using my unique skills to make a difference, however I can. This also helps me build community and connect with others. I believe that’s a big part of the human experience—it’s one of the best ways to truly engage with others. Intellectual inquiry matters because, as humans, we should use the resources we’re given to grow smarter and become better people. I used these skills while working towards my Eagle rank in Boy Scouts of America for the Parish School in Houston, Texas. During this project I used my leadership and motivation skills to ensure all my volunteers stayed on task and were assigned tasks based on their skillset and moved around to each project to anticipate questions from the volunteers. I managed 16 volunteers over a total of three days to complete the project before transporting the finished furniture pieces to the school. The greatest reward was observing the students' excitement about the new furniture for the outside classroom.

This past semester, I took the time to volunteer at Family Point Resources, an institution that provides disadvantaged children a safe environment after school to take part in outdoor sports and receive help with their homework. I loved being able to interact with the children and help them in any way I could. I remember going to Family Point Resources during elementary school. It helped me form a community through the track team and receive individualized academic support. To this day, these connections have remained a steady and important part of my life. When I first started volunteering, one particular child who made an impression on me was Mustapha. When I first met him, he was shy and would avoid interacting with others. On my first day, walking up to the soccer field, I saw him kicking a soccer ball by himself with tears in his eyes. I went over to ask him if I could play with him, and we played the entire time I was there. The next afternoon, he shyly sought me out to play with him again. By the end of the week, he would run up to me with a big smile, ready to play. Soon, I started to help Mustapha with his homework. We also played board games with other kids so that he could make friends. Over the next several months, I noticed him use what he learned with his newfoundconfidence to create a more welcoming space for other kids that might be shy or scared because they were new to the group. He did this by including them and asking them if they wanted to play a card game with him or making sure they were included on the team when it was time to play outside. I recognized he learned this from watching me from when we first met. I looked forward to coming back each day for another chance to make a difference in the lives of these children like I did with Mustapha. Watching them grow and improve over time showed me just how powerful a little compassion and one-on-one connection can be. My experience with Mustapha highlighted my ability to create an inclusive environment and build a connection with several of the kids. I do not like seeing people feel excluded or lonely because they are too afraid to talk to others. It makes me happy to include everyone I can and help them have a better time. I plan to continue using what I learned during my community service while in college, both in the relationships I build and with other students that may need my help.