Biology, Stem Cells & Orthopedic Medicine I know many people my age are still trying to figure out what their college major will be, but for me, I have known since I was fifteen that I wanted to major in Biology and eventually become an Orthopedic Surgeon. But, along the way I have also found significant interest in stem-cell research and what that could mean for orthopedics. I have been playing competitive baseball since I was three years old. Unfortunately, the summer before my sophomore year in high school I had a shoulder injury that required me to see an orthopedic surgeon. Luckily, the doctor I saw really understood how devastating an injury can be for an athlete and took the appropriate steps to help me heal. The whole experience was completely eye-opening and intrigued me. I started researching the field of orthopedic medicine and quickly realized that I wanted to become a doctor who specializes specifically in shoulders and elbows. I have a dream to help children like me be able to live out their aspirations and help adults build a quality of life that they may not have otherwise. Over the course of high school, I have increasingly become more interested in stem-cell research and what it could mean for orthopedics. Stem cells can generate healthy cells to replace damaged or diseased cells. This means they potentially can grow to become new tissue for possible transplants or complex surgeries (specifically on the shoulders or elbows). Furthermore, until recently researchers thought adult stem cells could only create similar types of cells, which now they know is not the case. This really broadens the horizons of what stem cells could mean for the future of medicine. I really would love to be involved in more research to test the potential of stem cells in healing life-altering injuries, which is why I am going into college as a Biology major before eventually proceeding into Medical School. Ultimately, I would love to pave the way for stem-cell science to bring miracles to life in medicine. I have a strong desire to help those who have debilitating injuries that keep them from doing what they love such as athletics or even just everyday activities such as buttoning a shirt or lifting a gallon of milk. I want to find a way to be that difference that allows people to heal and maintain a life where they can find happiness and thrive!

I think most of us can agree Covid-19 has affected everyone’s life significantly. Our world has been shut down almost a year and for me personally, I lost half of my Junior year and so far, all my Senior year of high school. After earning the CY Young award for baseball last year, I was on the path toward a baseball scholarship, but unfortunately, without being seen by college coaches I have had to reconsider my pathway to college. Even with the academic scholarships being offered by the college of my choice I still need close to $20,000 to supplement my college experience which is why I am working so hard on scholarship applications. My stepfather also had his hours cut due to COVID-19 which has put more stress on my mother to work harder and ensure the bills continue to be paid. Recently, she took on a second job to try to help me pay for college. Currently, I'm finishing up my senior year then I'll also start working as much as possible throughout the summer to make up the difference. Honestly, I'm trying to do everything I can to earn enough money so my mother doesn't have to continue working 60-80 hours a week to try to take care of the household and worry about me. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Biology, Stem Cells & Orthopedic Medicine I know many people my age are still trying to figure out what their college major will be, but for me, I have known since I was fifteen that I wanted to major in Biology and eventually become an Orthopedic Surgeon. But, along the way I have also found significant interest in stem-cell research and what that could mean for orthopedics. I have been playing competitive baseball since I was three years old. Unfortunately, the summer before my sophomore year in high school I had a shoulder injury that required me to see an orthopedic surgeon. Luckily, the doctor I saw really understood how devastating an injury can be for an athlete and took the appropriate steps to help me heal. The whole experience was completely eye-opening and intrigued me. I started researching the field of orthopedic medicine and quickly realized that I wanted to become a doctor who specializes specifically in shoulders and elbows. I have a dream to help children like me be able to live out their aspirations and also help adults build a quality of life that they may not have otherwise. Over the course of high school, I have increasingly become more interested in stem-cell research and what it could mean for orthopedics. Stem-cells can generate healthy cells to replace damaged or diseased cells. This means they potentially can grow to become new tissue for possible transplants or complex surgeries (specifically on the shoulders or elbows). Furthermore, until recently researchers thought adult stem cells could only create similar types of cells, which now they know is not the case. This really broadens the horizons of what stem cells could mean for the future of medicine. I really would love to be involved in more research to test the potential of stem cells in healing life-altering injuries, which is why I am going into college as a Biology major before eventually proceeding into Medical School. Ultimately, I would love to pave the way for stem-cell science to bring miracles to life in medicine. I have a strong desire to help those who have debilitating injuries that keep them from doing what they love such as athletics or even just everyday activities such as buttoning a shirt or lifting a gallon of milk. I want to find a way to be that difference that allows people to heal and maintain a life where they can find happiness and thrive!

My favorite scientist is Shinya Yamanaka who won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for their discovery that mature (adult) somatic cells can be converted into stem cells with regenerative properties. Yamanaka received his Ph.D. from Osaka City University Graduate School, after which he conducted a residency in orthopedic surgery at National Osaka Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease. This really hits home for me because my goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon and I truly believe stem cells are the future of medicine.

The Baseball Life I grew up playing baseball from the age of 3 and by eight years old it was all I could think about. By ten years old I proudly announced to my family that I was going to be the next star of Major League Baseball (MLB). Of course, now that I’m approaching 18, I’m just hoping to make it onto a college team as this sport has truly shaped every aspect of my life. Due to my mom’s financial situation and my dad living 3,000 miles away, I was not able to have a parent coach me or pay for baseball academies that some of my friends were able to utilize. I learned very quickly that if I wanted to get to the top in baseball, I would have to work twice as hard as anyone else just to get seen. This meant forgoing fun activities with friends so I could continue training and agility, waking up early to run, or even just ensuring my grades were high enough to stand out among my peers. This mentality quickly became a part of who I am just as much as catchers gear is a natural part of my wardrobe. In California, baseball is not just a sport, it is a way of life. I have been playing on teams since I was 3 years old and we literally practice five days a week for eleven months of the year. In my 7th grade year, I tried out for the school baseball team and felt very confident my tryout was successful. So, when they posted the team roster on what happened to be my 13th birthday, I was sure my name would be on it. Unfortunately, that was not the case and to say I was devastated would be an understatement. Although this hurt deeply, I dusted myself off and used this as motivation to work harder than ever before. That year I spent a lot of time fine-tuning my skills on and off the field so I can make an impression during my 8th-grade tryout. When the time came, I did end up on the 8th-grade team. However, I spent a lot of time trying to prove my worth and was a second-string on the bench. But I refused to give up and when my Freshman year came around, I earned a starting spot. That year, I ended up winning MVP and by my Junior year, I was the Varsity Pitcher of the Year. This is one of my greatest accomplishments because it truly would have been easy to walk away but instead, I pushed myself to rise above expectations. “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” (Christopher Reeve). While I realize that I will more than likely never be in the MLB headlines, baseball has shaped my life and made me who I am. From my discipline and determination on and off the field to my desire to become an Orthopedic Surgeon that works directly with athletes. I’m very proud of the sport that has made me who I am. Overall, winning this scholarship would mean the world to me as it will help pave my way towards the tuition at Willamette University and allow me to major in Biology while still playing baseball. I have always been driven and have a track record of being able to overcome failures. So, being able to afford college is just the next hurdle of my life that I will overcome.

Extracurriculars such as baseball and golf have kept me focused throughout my life and will help me achieve my post-secondary educational and career goals. These activities have taught me how to be a leader, an overachiever, a motivator, a goal setter, and how to stay focused on the finish line. These traits have become instilled in me over the years and will not only help me achieve my post-secondary goals, but they also will help me with life in general. Due to these passions, I also have a good amount of competitiveness in me that I bring to everything I do. I go at 110% into everything I do so I can be the best possible version of myself in everything I do. This will greatly help me achieve my goals because I know I am gonna want them more than anyone else. My education has significantly helped me achieve my goals since I have been awarded the academic honor roll every semester of high school. This achievement has allowed me to be accepted into many great 4 year universities. Redwood High School has prepared me for college and allowed me to define the path I want to take with my post-secondary education. I realize the path I want to take is a long one as my ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon. This is why education is so important to me because I want to get the best education possible so I can set myself up to be the best orthopedic surgeon that I can possibly be and help people sustain a quality of life they wouldn’t otherwise have. The first four years of my college experience is honestly just the beginning for me. I also need to get into medical school and apply for a residency. Not to mention, I don't just wish to be a doctor, I want to be a specialized surgeon in my field so I can help those who otherwise wouldn't be able to have a quality of life. My ultimate goal is to be able to change the lives of those who are less fortunate for the better. My family has really shown me significant support throughout this journey. Unfortunately, during these tough times paying for college is a very difficult task. So, it would mean the world to myself and my family if we could win this scholarship as it would put me one step closer on my journey to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Being an Overcomer “Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” (James A. Michener). It is easy to give up if you fail the first time, but most often the greatest success is built through failures. In my life I often have had to jump hurdles to reach for the stars. Being cut from the baseball team, struggling to afford a college that will help me pave the path to success and COVID-19 are just a couple examples of some of the obstacles I have had to overcome. In California, baseball is not just a sport, it is a way of life. I have been playing on teams since I was 3 years old and we literally practice five days a week for eleven months of the year. My 7th grade year I tried out for the school baseball team and felt very confident my tryout was successful. So, when they posted the team roster on what happened to be my 13th birthday, I was sure my name would be on it. Unfortunately, that was not the case and to say I was devastated would be an understatement. Although this hurt deeply, I dusted myself off and used this as motivation to work harder than ever before. That year I spent a lot of time fine tuning my skills on and off the field so I can make an impression during my 8th grade tryout. When the time came, I did end up on the 8th grade team. However, I spent a lot of time trying to prove my worth and was second string on the bench. But I refused to give up and when my Freshman year came around, I earned a starting spot. That year, I ended up winning MVP and by my Junior year I was the Varsity Pitcher of the Year. This is one of my greatest accomplishments because it truly would have been easy to walk away but instead, I pushed myself to rise above expectations. I know many people at my age are still trying to figure out what their college major will be, but for me I have known since I was fifteen that I wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. I had a shoulder injury the summer before my sophomore year that required me to see an orthopedic surgeon who really understood how devastating an injury can be for an athlete and took the appropriate steps to help me heal. The whole experience intrigued me, and I started researching the field and quickly realized that I wanted to become a doctor who specializes specifically in shoulders and elbows. I want to not only help kids like me be able to live out their dreams, but also help adults build a quality of life that they may not have otherwise. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I am very driven and already know the steps I need to take to make this a reality, starting with applying to a 4-year college and majoring in Biology. Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle I am facing right now is being able to afford a college. Even with the academic scholarships being offered by the college of my choice I still need close to $20,000 to supplement my college experience which is why I am working so hard on scholarship applications. I think most of us can agree Covid-19 has affected everyone’s life significantly. Our world has been shut down almost a year and for me personally I lost half of my Junior year and so far, all my Senior year of high school. After earning the CY Young award for baseball last year, I was on the path toward a baseball scholarship, but unfortunately without being seen by college coaches I have had to reconsider my pathway to college. In addition, since my Freshman year, I have helped teach and coach baseball to elementary age students which I am currently not able to do with social distancing. My stepfather also had his hours cut due to COVID-19 which has put more stress on my mother to work harder and ensure the bills continue to be paid. Beyond the obvious toll this is taking on our economy and lifestyles, it is also just taking a toll on everyone’s mental health. Not being able to see friends and family that you used to see daily or have the routines at school that we are all comfortable with has been life changing. I have taken this opportunity to take up a couple new hobbies such as fishing and golf where social distancing is not an issue. But I am looking forward to the day when we can all be together at a local restaurant and celebrate the end of this pandemic. “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” (Christopher Reeve). Overall, winning this scholarship would mean the world to me as it will help pave my way towards the tuition at Willamette University and allow me to major in Biology while still playing baseball. I have always been driven and have a track record of being able to overcome failures. So, being able to afford college is just the next hurdle of my life that I will overcome.

Although I laugh every time I see this meme it also fits my life personally. My biological father lives in Tennessee while I reside in California and therefore I barely know him. I have had a step father in my life since I was 11 years old and I know him far better than I know my actual dad. Playing baseball, it's been a standing joke that "I don't have a father" so this meme fits that bill pretty well. But, don't be sad, my life hasn't been bad and these experiences have made me who I am today!

The Baseball Life I grew up playing baseball from the age of 3 and by eight years old it was all I could think about. By ten years old I proudly announced to my family that I was going to be the next star of Major League Baseball (MLB). Of course, now that I’m approaching 18, I’m just hoping to make it onto a college team as this sport has truly shaped every aspect of my life. Due to my mom’s financial situation and my dad living 3,000 miles away, I was not able to have a parent coach me or pay for baseball academies that some of my friends were able to utilize. I learned very quickly that if I wanted to get to the top in baseball, I would have to work twice as hard as anyone else just to get seen. This meant forgoing fun activities with friends so I could continue training and agility, waking up early to run, or even just ensuring my grades were high enough to stand out among my peers. This mentality quickly became a part of who I am just as much as catchers gear is a natural part of my wardrobe. I am determined that my skill will set me apart on and off the field. I have gone from being cut from my 7th-grade baseball team to being the pitcher of the year for the Redwood Rangers Varsity team my Junior year in High School. I went from being overlooked by everyone to being looked to by my peers for guidance on the sport. While I realize that I will more than likely never be in the MLB headlines, baseball has shaped my life and made me who I am. From my discipline and determination on and off the field to my desire to major in Biology and overtime become an Orthopedic Surgeon that works directly with athletes. I’m very proud of the sport that has inspired me to become the man I am today.

The Baseball Life I grew up playing baseball from the age of 3 and by eight years old it was all I could think about. By ten years old I proudly announced to my family that I was going to be the next star of Major League Baseball (MLB). Of course, now that I’m approaching 18, I’m just hoping to make it onto a college team as this sport has truly shaped every aspect of my life. Due to my mom’s financial situation and my dad living 3,000 miles away, I was not able to have a parent coach me or pay for baseball academies that some of my friends were able to utilize. I learned very quickly that if I wanted to get to the top in baseball, I would have to work twice as hard as anyone else just to get seen. This meant forgoing fun activities with friends so I could continue training and agility, waking up early to run, or even just ensuring my grades were high enough to stand out among my peers. This mentality quickly became a part of who I am just as much as catchers gear is a natural part of my wardrobe. I am determined that my skill will set me apart on and off the field. I have gone from being cut from my 7th-grade baseball team to being the pitcher of the year for the Redwood Rangers Varsity team my Junior year in High School. I went from being overlooked by everyone to being looked to by my peers for guidance on the sport. While I realize that I will more than likely never be in the MLB headlines, baseball has shaped my life and made me who I am. From my discipline and determination on and off the field to my desire to major in Biology and overtime become an Orthopedic Surgeon that works directly with athletes. I’m very proud of the sport that has inspired me to become

“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” (James A. Michener). It is easy to give up if you fail the first time, but most often the greatest success is built through failures. In my life I often have had to jump hurdles to reach for the stars. Being cut from the baseball team and struggling to afford a college that will help me pave the path to success are just a couple examples of some of the obstacles I have had to overcome. In California, baseball is not just a sport, it is a way of life. I have been playing on teams since I was 3 years old and we literally practice five days a week for eleven months of the year. My 7th grade year I tried out for the school baseball team and felt very confident my tryout was successful. So, when they posted the team roster on what happened to be my 13th birthday, I was sure my name would be on it. Unfortunately, that was not the case and to say I was devastated would be an understatement. Although this hurt deeply, I dusted myself off and used this as motivation to work harder than ever before. That year I spent a lot of time fine tuning my skills on and off the field so I can make an impression during my 8th grade tryout. When the time came, I did end up on the 8th grade team. However, I spent a lot of time trying to prove my worth and was second string on the bench. But I refused to give up and when my Freshman year came around, I earned a starting spot. That year, I ended up winning MVP and by my Junior year I was the Varsity Pitcher of the Year. This is one of my greatest accomplishments because it truly would have been easy to walk away but instead, I pushed myself to rise above expectations. I know many people at my age are still trying to figure out what their college major will be, but for me I have known since I was fifteen that I wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. I had a shoulder injury the summer before my sophomore year that required me to see an orthopedic surgeon who really understood how devastating an injury can be for an athlete and took the appropriate steps to help me heal. The whole experience intrigued me, and I started researching the field and quickly realized that I wanted to become a doctor who specializes specifically in shoulders and elbows. I want to not only help kids like me be able to live out their dreams, but also help adults build a quality of life that they may not have otherwise. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I am very driven and already know the steps I need to take to make this a reality, starting with applying to a 4-year college and majoring in Biology. Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle I am facing right now is being able to afford a college. Even with the academic scholarships being offered by the college of my choice I still need close to $20,000 to supplement my college experience which is why I am working so hard on scholarship applications. “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” (Christopher Reeve). Overall, winning this scholarship would mean the world to me as it will help pave my way towards the tuition at Willamette University and allow me to major in Biology while still playing baseball. I have always been driven and have a track record of being able to overcome failures. So, being able to afford college is just the next hurdle of my life that I will overcome.

“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” ―James A. Michener This has absolutely been the motto of my life. Every time life knocks me down it gives me the strength to push forward and try harder. It's easy to try again the first time you fall, but with each failure self motivation becomes a little more difficult. However, throughout history most great things were created after hundreds of failures. My intention is to dissect my failures to understand the little pieces of success that is hidden within them and build upon that until I reach my goals.

Starlet the beagle doesn't know the meaning of social distancing. No matter where she goes or where she lays her fan club isn't far behind. Our family always jokes that we don't have pet cats, Starlet does. But, she's also the queen of the dogs in our household too. While Starlet is featured in all of the pictures, you'll also meet Kit (striped tabby), Fluffy (gray long hair), Copper & Trinket (red beagles) and Lucifee (the siamese mix) you can find me on Instagram at chase_banks_21

They say before you can love someone else, you must love yourself. In some aspects thats true because you can't fully give yourself to someone if you don't appreciate yourself to begin with. However, I have found it easier to love myself because of those I love. They raise me up when I am down and give me strength when I am weak. Most importantly my relationships with those I adore have made me realize I am worthy of love from not only them, but myself. As I have a new awareness of my love for myself it has had a positive impact on my beliefs, relationships and goals. I believe in myself more than ever before. I believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I believe I can make my family proud of the man I am and will become. But, mostly I believe that I will be proud of the man I will become. My relationships are stronger than ever because as I know love for myself I can better accept love from them. I also have become more aware that flaws in ourselves and others are truly the gifts that make us unique. When we're aware of these flaws we can work at improvements and acceptance of once anothers differences which also helps make relationships stronger. Finally, by believing in myself it has giving me the strength to reach for my goals. I have always aspired to be something that I perceive as successful. I've never wanted to sit by and watch my life pass me by. I have always dreamed big and unfortunately that means you have to have a lot of patience in order to reach those dreams. My goal is to be an orthopedic surgeon and while I have a long road ahead of me, I know I will get there. I've taken the time to research all the steps necessary and broken them down into baby steps and I have the determination to reach each milestone piece by piece. While you can have positive relationships and large dreams without a significant amount of confidence, everything comes easier when you take the time to appreciate the person you are. Sometimes we dwell on so much negativity that we forget to take the time to realize we bring our own unique footprint to this world and we can make a difference.

At one point or another everyone will fail, experience a setback, or face some sort of challenge. That is just the reality of life. However, these failures should not define you. How you learn from these experiences and rise up beyond the obstacles you face will determine who you are. For me, life threw me a curve ball in 7th grade and I was really put to the test. February 27, 2016, is a day that changed my life. It was my 13th birthday and I was so excited to go to school and see my name on the board announcing that I made the baseball team. I was beyond confident that I had made the team, I've been playing baseball since I was 3- why wouldn't I? So when my name was no where to be found I was devastated. I didn’t even want to celebrate my birthday because I was just so disappointed in myself. That evening, I managed to pull myself together and decided then and there I was going to use this as an opportunity to advance my skills instead of let it bring me down. This one mishap would not make me give up on baseball but instead motivate me to prove everyone wrong. I was going to take this opportunity to work 10 times harder than anyone else because one thing about being at the bottom, the only choice you have is to work your way up! Moving forward to 8th grade year, I made the team but was still had to prove my worth and spent a lot of time on the bench. So, I continued to put in extra time behind the scenes working on my skills. Freshman year rolls around and it was my year to dominate. I ended up earning MVP for the Freshman team, but it still wasn’t where I wanted to be (varsity). Sophomore year I did great, though when I was beat out by one of my extremely worthy teammates for MVP which just gave me the encouragement to work harder than ever before! Finally, my Junior year I finally made varsity and I earned the number two spot in the pitching rotation behind a Long Beach State commit. With a lot of determination and patience, I managed to prove myself as worthy of the number one spot in the pitching rotation and brought home the only wins in our very short (Covid-19) season. I was even honored with the Cy Young award for the 2019/2020 season! Overall, this shows how I am able to face adversity, learn from my failures and transform them into accomplishments. I bring this same competitive mentality to everything I do from athletics to academics and even work ethics. I strive to be the best I can be and my defeats just give me the motivation to work harder in order to become a better athlete, and person in the long run.

Everyone always says you can't win against Buchanan. Somehow their baseball team is made of giants with the power of Zeus which of course puts fear in all who dare to play against them. They are good, I will give them that, but no team is invincible. As I took my place on the mound, I took a deep breath and blocked out the trembling as I released the pitch to this god-like batter. STRIKE 1! No, we didn't win that day, but I did pitch 3 no-hit innings and guess what? There's always next season.