I have always been the kid who reads a sentence twice, sometimes three times, and still misses a word. I have dyslexia, which makes school a challenge in ways most people do not see. On the surface, I am involved in multiple sports, I have friends, and my grades look fine. But behind the scenes, every assignment and every test takes extra effort. It is easy to feel invisible when you struggle silently, and it is easy to assume others have it easier than they really do. That perspective has shaped how I approach life, how I treat people, and what I hope to achieve in the future. I have learned early that the people who notice and care make the biggest difference. That lesson has carried over into my own actions. One of the moments that meant the most to me happened in the cafeteria. I saw a student with special needs sitting alone, laughing at his phone. Most people would have walked past without thinking. I left my table and joined him. I asked him questions, laughed with him, and treated him like anyone else. I did not do it for recognition. I did it because I realized that small choices to include others can have a ripple effect. It helped me more than it helped him because it showed me the kind of person I want to be. Being a student with dyslexia has also taught me discipline, persistence, and empathy. I am the captain of my varsity tennis team and a multi-sport athlete. Leading my teammates requires patience, listening, and responsibility. I help organize practices, encourage my teammates, and take ownership of mistakes without needing applause. I try to approach everyone with respect, whether it is a teammate, a student struggling in class, or someone online who needs a kind word. These experiences have made me aware of how small gestures of inclusion can make a difference in a community. Looking ahead, I am preparing to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy and pursue a career as a ship pilot. I know the path will be demanding, and it will require focus, perseverance, and continual growth. I want to use this education not only to build a stable and meaningful career but also to give back to the communities around me. Whether it is mentoring, advocating for peers with learning differences, or simply modeling respect and inclusion in every environment, I hope to create the same kind of support I needed. Receiving this scholarship would be an investment, not a handout. The funds would go directly toward my education, ensuring I can focus on learning and contributing rather than worrying about costs. I plan to pay it forward, using the opportunities it provides to lift others, improve my community, and make the world a little kinder, a little fairer, and a little more inclusive. I have learned that challenges like dyslexia do not define your limitations. They define your perspective. They teach you to notice the small struggles others face, to act with patience, and to value persistence. If I can carry those lessons forward while pursuing my education, I hope to make a lasting impact, both on the people around me and on the communities I am part of.

Every morning, I saw him before any teacher or coach. He was the first person to greet me, always wearing the same grin, no matter how early it was or how tired he might have been. Our school bus driver was not a classroom teacher, but he became one of the most influential people in my high school life. He taught me lessons that went far beyond academics, lessons about kindness, joy, and the kind of person I want to be. He was an older man, quiet but deliberate, and he had a way of noticing each kid as they climbed aboard. You could tell he remembered names, remembered the little details, and genuinely wanted to see every student succeed in their own way. It was easy to underestimate him. On paper, he was just the bus driver. In practice, he was a mentor, a friend, and a model of humanity. When I told him I looked up to him, he laughed and shrugged it off, but I meant it. Watching him go about his day taught me more about leadership and personal responsibility than any class ever could. What made him so inspiring was not a grand gesture or a single dramatic act. It was his consistency. He showed up every day with a smile, treated everyone with respect, and carried himself with a quiet pride that made others want to mirror it. Even when things went wrong on the bus, even when students were rowdy or grumpy, he remained patient and calm. That patience taught me to slow down, to pay attention, and to remember that how you treat people in ordinary moments is just as important as how you perform under pressure. I realized that being a good citizen, a good teammate, and a dependable person is about small, repeated choices. Whether I am helping a teammate improve in tennis, taking responsibility for a loss, or simply including someone who feels left out, I try to carry his example forward. He showed me that influence is not always about having authority or being in the spotlight. It is about showing up, noticing others, and choosing to act with kindness and integrity every day. He also reminded me to find joy in the little things. Riding the bus was early and sometimes cold, but he made it fun. He laughed with us, shared stories, and celebrated small victories. That joy reminded me that being disciplined and responsible does not mean being serious all the time. I want to bring that same energy into my life. I want to make people feel seen, safe, and respected. I want to be the kind of person who inspires others, not with words, but with quiet consistency and genuine care. I never expected to find a teacher on a school bus, but that is exactly what I found. He influenced how I approach life by teaching me to value people, to act responsibly, and to show kindness without expecting anything in return. He reminded me that even small gestures can have a lasting impact, and that those lessons are worth carrying everywhere you go. For that reason, he is one of the people I look up to most, and his example continues to shape the person I am becoming.

People often assume I have it all figured out. I play multiple sports, have friends, and usually do well in school. The truth is, I work hard just to keep up. I have dyslexia, which makes reading and writing take more effort than most people realize. Balancing school, sports, and social life can be overwhelming, but it has also taught me patience, persistence, and the importance of noticing when others might need support. One moment that shaped how I think about community happened in the cafeteria. I noticed a student with special needs sitting alone, laughing at his phone. Most people probably walked by without thinking twice. I decided to leave my table and sit with him for the rest of lunch. I did not do it to be praised or seen. I did it because it felt like the right thing to do. That small choice reminded me that the most meaningful impact is often quiet and everyday rather than dramatic. Being the captain of my tennis team has taught me about responsibility and humility. I face the toughest opponents as the first singles player, and when I lose, I try to reflect on how I could have helped my teammates more. I organize practices and encourage everyone to improve, but I know I do not have all the answers. Leadership is not about telling people what to do. It is about listening, supporting, and trying to set an example while accepting that I will make mistakes. I try to apply the same approach online. Cyberbullying and exclusion affect students in ways people do not always see. I make an effort to treat others respectfully, to discourage negativity, and to include people who might feel left out. I do not always succeed, but I try to make small choices that show care and respect. I believe that even these quiet actions matter. Looking ahead, I plan to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy and pursue a career as a ship pilot. It is a demanding path, and I know it will require discipline, focus, and continued learning. I am fortunate to have my family’s support, but I also know that financial resources are limited. Scholarships like this one can make a real difference in allowing me to continue growing as a student and a member of my community. In the end, I hope to be the kind of person who notices when someone is left out, encourages others to do their best, and takes responsibility for my actions both on and off the field. I try to approach life with humility and a willingness to learn, knowing that I will make mistakes along the way. The most important work we do is often quiet, unseen, and small, but it can still make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around us. That is the community I want to be part of and the person I hope to become.

The movie that has had the greatest impact on my life is Remember the Titans. On the surface, it looks like a football movie, but the older I get, the more I realize it is really about discipline, leadership, and learning how to grow alongside people who are different from you. The first time I watched it, I paid attention to the wins and losses. Now, what sticks with me are the moments when characters are uncomfortable, challenged, and forced to see beyond themselves. Coach Boone does not just demand effort on the field. He demands accountability, respect, and unity, even when it is difficult. That idea has followed me throughout high school, especially in athletics and leadership. I am a multi sport varsity athlete and the captain of my tennis team, and I have learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice. It is about setting standards and living by them. As the first singles player, I face the toughest opponent every match. When I lose, I own it. When the team struggles, I ask what I could have done better. Like in Remember the Titans, success is never just about individual performance. It is about whether the group believes in one another and shows up consistently. One of the most impactful lessons from the movie is that real growth happens when no one is watching. That idea reminds me of a moment at lunch when I noticed a mentally challenged student sitting alone. I left my table and spent the rest of lunch talking with him. I did not do it for attention or credit. I did it because it felt like the right thing to do. That moment helped me understand that impact does not always come from grand gestures. Sometimes it comes from simply choosing empathy. Education plays a major role in why this movie matters to me. I have dyslexia, which makes school more challenging than it appears from the outside. Reading and writing take extra effort, and keeping up academically while competing in sports year round has not been easy. Watching characters in Remember the Titans push through discomfort and resistance reinforced the idea that growth comes from persistence. I learned early on that I could not rely on talent alone. I had to rely on discipline, structure, and a willingness to work harder than expected. That mindset is why I plan to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy and pursue a career as a ship pilot. I am drawn to structured environments where responsibility matters and where learning never stops. On the water, mistakes have consequences, and preparation is everything. Education, to me, is not just about earning a degree. It is about becoming someone others can trust under pressure. What Remember the Titans ultimately taught me is that leadership, education, and impact are connected. When you commit to learning, hold yourself accountable, and treat others with respect, you become part of something bigger than yourself. That is the big picture I try to live by, both on and off the field, and it is the perspective I will carry with me into college and beyond.

Being a good citizen means understanding that your role in a community carries responsibility, whether or not you are formally in charge. For me, citizenship has never been about titles or recognition. It has been about showing up, representing others fairly, and doing the right thing when no one is forcing you to do so. Throughout high school, I have been involved in student affairs primarily through athletics and leadership roles that required me to represent my peers and contribute to the culture of my school. As a varsity team captain and first singles tennis player, I serve as a liaison between teammates and coaches and help set expectations for effort, behavior, and accountability. I organize offseason and preseason training, encourage participation, and make sure every teammate feels included and valued. These responsibilities taught me that being involved in school life means more than attending events. It means taking ownership of the environment you are part of and working to improve it for others. One moment that shaped my understanding of citizenship happened outside any official role. During lunch one day, I noticed a mentally challenged student sitting alone, laughing at his phone. Without thinking much about it, I left my table and spent the rest of lunch talking with him. I did not make it a big deal or expect anything in return. I simply treated him like anyone else. That experience reminded me that being a good citizen often comes down to small, quiet decisions that reflect empathy and respect. It reinforced my belief that community begins with how we treat individuals, especially those who are overlooked. Voting is integral to remaining a free nation because it is the most direct way citizens participate in shaping their government. Just as a team cannot succeed if players stop showing up, a democracy weakens when people disengage. Voting ensures accountability and preserves the idea that leadership is chosen, not imposed. Even when one vote seems insignificant, it represents a commitment to the collective responsibility of maintaining freedom. Participation is what keeps power in the hands of the people. The Constitution represents the foundation that makes this participation meaningful. To me, it is a document built on balance. It protects individual rights while limiting the reach of authority. I am drawn to structure and discipline, which is why I plan to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy and pursue a career as a ship pilot. In maritime life, rules exist to protect lives and ensure order in unpredictable conditions. The Constitution serves a similar purpose for our nation by providing stability while allowing growth through amendments and interpretation. My ambition and drive come from a desire to be trusted and relied upon. I have learned through leadership, academics, and personal challenges, including dyslexia, that progress comes from consistent effort and accountability. Citizenship, like leadership, is something you practice daily. It requires involvement, responsibility, and care for the community you are part of. Those are the values I strive to carry forward as I prepare for adulthood and continued civic participation.

When I think about what shaped my goals for the future, nothing has had a greater impact than watching my dad fight cancer. From 2013 to 2018, my dad went through one of the hardest battles a person can face. I was young and did not fully understand what cancer meant, but I understood enough to know that it could take him away from me. Those years felt like a long storm that never seemed to end. I watched him leave for treatments, come home exhausted from chemo, and push through pain that no child ever wants to see their parent experience. It was the scariest time of my life. Even though I did not understand every detail back then, I understood fear. I understood uncertainty. I understood what it meant to hope that someone you love does not disappear from your life. Seeing him go through that changed me in a way nothing else ever has. It made me grow up faster. It taught me what real strength looks like, not the kind you show in sports or school, but the kind that keeps a family together when everything feels unstable. My dad owns a construction business and a flooring store, and even through his treatment he somehow found a way to keep going. Some days he could not get out of bed, but other days he showed up and worked because he wanted his family to have a future. Watching him fight for us taught me the value of hard work and responsibility. It showed me how powerful determination can be. Seeing him push through the toughest years of his life made me want to push myself in everything I do. His battle with cancer also changed the way I see my future. It made me realize that I want a career where I can lead, solve problems, and build something that lasts. I want to study business because it feels like a way to honor the example he set for me. He taught me that success is built through long hours, sacrifice, and never giving up, even when life tries to knock you down. His strength is something I carry with me every day, in school, in sports, and in the way I treat the people around me. Going through this experience also helped me understand the importance of helping others. During my dad’s treatment, I saw how much a simple kind word or gesture could mean. I saw nurses and doctors who treated him with kindness and respect. I saw friends and family step in to support us. Because of that, I want to be someone who brings the same kind of support and leadership into the world. I want a career where I can guide people, work hard, and make a difference. My dad’s cancer changed my life, but it also shaped my strength, my goals, and my future. His fight showed me what resilience looks like, and because of that, I am more motivated than ever to pursue my education and build a life that reflects the courage he showed every day. This scholarship would help me take the next step toward that future, carrying the lessons he taught me forward.

Living with dyslexia has shaped my entire experience as a student. For a long time I felt like I had to work twice as hard just to keep up with everyone around me. Reading took longer. Writing took longer. Even simple assignments sometimes felt like climbing a hill that never ended. But as I grew older, I started to understand that dyslexia was not something that made me less capable. It was something that taught me how to fight for the things I wanted. It forced me to be patient with myself. It taught me how to stay calm, keep pushing, and find my own way to learn. Throughout high school I balanced classes with varsity soccer and varsity tennis, where I eventually became the captain of the tennis team. Sports taught me discipline and mental toughness, but my dyslexia taught me something those sports never could. It taught me persistence. Every test and every essay required more time, more effort, and more focus. I would watch other students finish assignments quickly while I stayed longer, reread, and rewrote. The extra work never made me weaker. It made me stronger and more determined to succeed. Working at Larsons Marina for three years also shaped who I am. Since I have been around boats my whole life, the marina felt like a second home. I learned how to help customers, handle stressful moments, and talk to all different kinds of people. Those experiences showed me that I am good at staying calm under pressure and that I enjoy working in environments where I can help others directly. They also helped me understand that I want my future career to involve people, service, and leadership. My motivation for pursuing higher education comes from wanting to prove to myself that my learning disability does not define my limits. I want to take the confidence I have built and use it to create a future where I can make an impact. Being a student with dyslexia has made me more understanding of people who struggle quietly. It helped me realize how important support and encouragement are. I want to continue my education so I can grow, challenge myself, and eventually guide others who feel held back by something they cannot control. I believe I am a strong candidate for the Dylans Journey Memorial Scholarship because I share the same type of determination that guided Dylan through his life. He continued to learn and pursue his goals despite every obstacle he faced. His story speaks to me because I know what it feels like to push through something difficult day after day. I know what it feels like to succeed when the path is not easy. I also know how powerful it is to show others that their disability does not have to stop them from dreaming. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial support. It would remind me that people who learn differently still deserve big opportunities. It would push me to continue showing others with learning challenges that they can achieve just as much as anyone else. I want to honor Dylans message by staying ambitious, working hard, and proving that real strength comes from never giving up.

rowing up, I was forced to realize quickly that when we are born, not everyone is starting on the same playing field. When I was young, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It was at this moment I realized the magnitude of this disability. I got pulled from classes away from friends just to learn things everyone else somehow already knew. Before high school, I remember kids laughing at the way I read out loud. I can recall certain teachers calling on me to read out loud, even when I was sweating, staring down at my desk hoping they would skip over me. I just wanted to feel normal. I quickly realized I just needed to work twice as hard. I stayed after school almost every day. I asked for extra help from teachers even when it felt embarrassing. I spent hours on reading and spelling at home, sometimes late into the night. I worked this hard because I didn’t want dyslexia to decide my future. Over time, my hard work started to pay off. I went from being separated from classes and friends to a student with a 3.8 GPA and distinguished honors. Sports have always been a place where I can feel like myself. Soccer is the reason I feel confident in who I am. I’ve been a four-year varsity starter for Ocean City High School and scored 35 varsity goals, the second most anyone has in the past 10 years. I plan to attend SUNY Maritime College to study marine transport and play soccer, taking everything I’ve learned from my challenges to build my future. Marine transport has always been the goal. I seem to have a connection to the water. It's a safe space for me. It doesn't judge you, but tests you. Every wave is an obstacle. I am sure there will be a lot of waves for me to tackle in college. This is why college is so important to me. I will build my character and skills. After college, I would like to work as a tugboat driver. Navigating waterways and learning how to dock cargo ships will help me with my eventual goal: to become a ship pilot. There is no better way to deepen my connection with the ocean than to work with it. My mom motivated me to continue my education. She also has the same disability and has always been my inspiration. Above everything I just want to make her proud and follow in her footprints. This scholarship would take pressure off my family and allow me to focus on college studies. It would give me a fair shot at higher education and prove that dyslexia doesn’t get to decide my future.

Growing up, I was forced to realize quickly that when we are born, not everyone is starting on the same playing field. When I was young, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It was at this moment I realized the magnitude of this disability. I got pulled from classes away from friends just to learn things everyone else somehow already knew. Before high school, I remember kids laughing at the way I read out loud. I can recall certain teachers calling on me to read out loud, even when I was sweating, staring down at my desk hoping they would skip over me. I just wanted to feel normal. I quickly realized I just needed to work twice as hard. I stayed after school almost every day. I asked for extra help from teachers even when it felt embarrassing. I spent hours on reading and spelling at home, sometimes late into the night. I worked this hard because I didn’t want dyslexia to decide my future. Over time, my hard work started to pay off. I went from being separated from classes and friends to a student with a 3.8 GPA and distinguished honors. Sports have always been a place where I can feel like myself. Soccer is the reason I feel confident in who I am. I’ve been a four-year varsity starter for Ocean City High School and scored 35 varsity goals, the second most anyone has in the past 10 years. I plan to attend SUNY Maritime College to study marine transport and play soccer, taking everything I’ve learned from my challenges to build my future. Marine transport has always been the goal. I seem to have a connection to the water. It's a safe space for me. It doesn't judge you, but tests you. Every wave is an obstacle. I am sure there will be a lot of waves for me to tackle in college. This is why college is so important to me. I will build my character and skills. After college, I would like to work as a tugboat driver. Navigating waterways and learning how to dock cargo ships will help me with my eventual goal, to become a ship pilot. There is no better way to deepen my connection with the ocean than to work with it. I hope to one day start my own scholarship specifically for students with a disability. Helping my community further it's education. This scholarship would take pressure off my family and allow me to focus on college studies. It would give me a fair shot at higher education and prove that dyslexia doesn’t get to decide my future.

Growing up, I was forced to realize quickly that when we are born, not everyone is starting on the same playing field. When I was young, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It was at this moment I realized the magnitude of this disability. I got pulled from classes away from friends just to learn things everyone else somehow already knew. Before high school, I remember kids laughing at the way I read out loud. I can recall certain teachers calling on me to read out loud, even when I was sweating, staring down at my desk hoping they would skip over me. I just wanted to feel normal. I quickly realized I just needed to work twice as hard. I stayed after school almost every day. I asked for extra help from teachers even when it felt embarrassing. I stopped caring what people thought of me. I spent hours on reading at home that would’ve taken other kids 10 minutes. However, I didn’t care. I worked on my spelling late at night to the point my mom had to tell me to go to sleep. I worked this hard because I didn’t want dyslexia to decide my future. I don’t know if it was because of embarrassment or pride, but for some reason, I never told anyone of my friends I had dyslexia. Only my family ever knew it. I wasn’t ashamed. Maybe before high school people could tell I was dyslexic, but overtime my hard work started to pay off. I went from being a kid that was separated from his classes and friends, to a student with a 3.8 GPA and distinguished honors. Sports have always been a place where I can feel like myself. Soccer has not been my escape from the classroom, but my partner with it. Soccer is the reason I feel so confident in who I am. When I’m on the field nothing feels wrong with me. I’m not a student that reads slow and needs extra help. I’m just a player doing everything he can to improve and win every game. I’ve been a four-year varsity starter for Ocean City High School. Not only that, I’ve scored 35 varsity goals in one of the hardest divisions around, which is the second most anyone in Ocean City has scored in the past 10 years. I’ve earned many awards, but I’m most proud that my learning disability never held me back from achieving my goals. In my household, school always came first. Whether that meant taking a break for a season of soccer to study or leaving it altogether. But by working hard, I was always able to juggle both and give my all no matter what. I’ve never lost sight of that dream and plan to attend SUNY Maritime College. I plan to play soccer there, work hard, and study marine transport. I want to take everything I’ve learned throughout my life and struggles to help build my future as high as I can possibly get it. This scholarship would help level the playgrounds. It’s the final straw to prove to myself that a disability is something you can be proud of. It would take pressure off my family and allow me to focus my time on studies in college. I’ve always had to work twice as hard just to be average. This scholarship would mean I got a fair shot at college. No matter what, I will continue to keep proving to myself that dyslexia doesn’t get to decide my future. I will never let it stop me or slow down my dreams.

Ever since I was little I’ve loved watching how things move from one place to another, especially by water. I would stand and watch the boats in Sea Isle and wonder how everything made it safely across the ocean. That curiosity turned into a real interest in marine transport. Now I want to study it in college so I can help make the way goods move safer, smarter, and better. What really drives me is knowing that new ideas can make a difference, but only if you think about the people and the environment too. You can have the best plan or idea, but if you don’t think about the impact, it can cause problems. I try to remember that in everything I do, whether it’s on the soccer field, school projects, or my job as a dock hand in Sea Isle. I was lucky enough to get to mirror my uncle who is a Chesapeake Bay pilot. This was the greatest experience of my life. We were transported to a huge cargo ship by boat where I had to climb up the side of a 600 foot cargo ship. His job was nothing shoot of amazing. This is something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. There was also another kid mirroring him at the same time. Spence this was my second time I got to help him and build his confidence. Spence I was in his shoes my first time it was easy for me. I shewed him how to climb the huge latter and how the ship runs. He accomplished something that day that may not seem like much. But helping that kid climb that latter actually helped him climb his way top his future. Seeing that and knowing I helped him feel ready made me realize that being a leader is really about helping others succeed while still getting things done. In the future I hope to bring new ideas to marine transport that make it faster and more sustainable without ever cutting corners on safety. I want to be someone who cares about people and the environment as much as results. I want to lead by example and show that you can be ambitious and creative while still being responsible. Improving things while helping others and making a real difference is what motivates me every day. That’s why I want to study marine transport and eventually help build a stronger, safer industry.

During one of the toughest periods my family has ever faced, tennis turned into my saving grace. Upon learning of my dad's cancer diagnosis, my immediate impulse was to find a way to bring light into his life and help him remember the happiness and beauty that still existed. This took me hours alone crying in my room to find. eventually I remembered my Christmas present when I was 8 when my dad got me a blue tennis racket that I keep in my closet today. All I could think about in that moment was the smile on his face every time he tried teaching me to play. I ran up to him with my racket in hand and watering eyes and asked him to play. I will never forget the smile he gave me after that one question. As we grabbed our rackets and stepped onto the court hand in hand, time seemed to slip away as we giggled worked on our serves and created memories that briefly lifted the heaviness of his sickness. At the start it wasn't about being the victor in a game of tennis but it was about having hope building a stronger bond and knowing we had someone there for us. Playing tennis not only served as a means of supporting my father but also as a way to boost his spirits and demonstrate that during tough times we could still discover happiness side by side. Having tennis around allowed for me to give my dad the support he needed to lift his spirits and to remind him that even in tough times we could still find a way to share joy. Playing on the court I came to realize how deeply tennis could embed life lessons within me discover the value of patience in enduring those drawn-out rallies understand the power of persistence when faced with errors and recognize the significance of turning up each day regardless of the obstacles in my way. As I saw my father refusing to give up in every game no matter how weary or hurt he was, I gained a deep understanding of what it means to be brave and strong. Tennis transformed from a simple sport into a powerful symbol showing me the unwavering perseverance my dad showed me day in and day out. The teachings I've received have played a huge role in forming my identity by making me a person who is more attentive and considerate of others My identity has been deeply influenced by the knowledge I've gained being transformed into a more concentrated individual by these teachings Following my father getting better, we've taken up tennis as our special thing - a way to mark the preciousness of life and the moments we spend side by side; with every set we see how far we've come and every game is a tribute to the closeness we've built on the court. Every time a serve flies across the net, every back and forth of a rally, and every second spent on the court by his side are moments I hold close knowing they will be part of me always. Playing tennis has been more than just a game, it's shown me that the true wins in life come not from scoreboards or titles, but from the bonds we build, the obstacles we conquer, and the deep affection that guides us through it all.