I have been playing sports all my life. I started around the age of 6, I played soccer and softball every summer. Then when I was old enough I started playing sports for my school, I played soccer in the fall and basketball in the spring and in high school I started tennis. I stopped playing soccer after 10th grade because I was constantly getting injured. Sports have greatly impacted my life, it has given me my friends and it has helped me build my work ethic and has helped me a lot with my mental health. Basketball is a huge part of my life, my sisters and my mom all play or played. It is something that has brought us together and a closer family. In my high school career my stat line isn't very impressive, I didn't care about my points I cared about how my team did. So, I lead my team in assists blocks and rebounds and deflections. I did everything I could to help, I was the teams "communication center" I talked so much some games I didn't have a voice the next day. I gave everything I had to the team for the four years I played and left everything on the court. My coach always said leave it all out on the floor and that was my goal every game, I didn't want to go home regretting how I played. I went home every night knowing I did everything I could to help my team. My whole life isn't just basketball, I go to CVTEC which is a technical high school where you can specialize in trades. I go for culinary; food has been a passion of mine my whole life, its where I can relax and use my creativity. Coming from a big family my sisters and I do a lot of the same activities, but we all have something that makes us different from each other. For me its food, I love cooking for people it brings me so much joy when I can cook for someone, and it makes them happy. My favorite thing to do is ask someone what their favorite food to eat and I can make it for them. Seeing the joy on their face is all I need to keep going and never get tired of cooking. After college I want to have my own business as a personal chef. In an ideal world I would be in Boston but I would be happy anywhere. I have confidence that I can achieve all the goals I have set for myself because I have worked hard in high school, and built a work ethic through sports. I know that if I work hard enough and stay focused I can do it. Another thing sports has given me is another family, nothing can break the bond I have with my team. They are like sisters to me and I never thought I would want more sisters, but I wouldn't trade my team for the world. They have helped me through very rough times in my life, and I was there for them when they were struggling. The support system I have is what is going to keep me going and help me succeed in anything I do.

I've loved cooking since I was little. I have always wanted to go to culinary school and it always just made sense to me. Food has allowed me to build a stronger relationship with my family. For example my sister Aoife does not like cooking and while she was living at home she would ask me to cook for her and I would gladly do it. This made me realize what my dream job is, to be a personal chef on the coast. The part about being on the coast isn't important but its just always been my dream to live on the beach. For the past two years I have been attending CVTEC for their Culinary Arts Program. This program has taught me many things from cashing people out at the register for our student run cafe to how to run dish deck to making food for caterings. I have also gotten many certifications through this program such as OSHA, Work Readiness, and First Aid and CPR. Culinary school has always been a dream of mine I want to learn anything and everything about food and how the industry works. Food is my life and has always been, Since I was little I've always wanted to have my own business what that business is has changed as I've grown and my culinary preferences have matured. It started as a full blown restaurant then changed into a bakery then eventually turned into a cafe and now, I want to be a personal chef. I started liking baking when I was watching the show The Great British Bake Off with my dad. I fell in love with the complexity of how the recipes can change and how personalized they made their food. Being able to personalize food is one of my favorite things about cooking. Another thing I loved about the show is the connection people felt to the food they were making and how they would come up with flavors or little tweaks to the recipes just because it reminded them of their family. I believe food is much better when its catered to the specific person that is eating the food. Which is why I figured being a personal chef would fit me best, food should be nostalgic and it should be an experience rather than just something you are eating. Another thing I love about food is being able to cook for people, its one of my favorite things to do. I love bringing people food and seeing their faces light up when they eat it. It brings me joy to be able to give other people that feeling. Getting this scholarship would mean a lot to me because although I want to go to college it isn't financially possible for me. My dream college is SUNY Cobleskill I've wanted to go to this college since I was in 10th grade. I've worked very hard in school and I've been working after school and on the weekend to save up to go here, but it isn't enough. It would mean the world to me if I received this scholarship so I can make my dreams come true and eventually get my personal chef business on the coast.