Swinging for Equality A day on the golf course can give you a lot to think about. One day on the course a figure approached me. Removing me from my deep thought and concentration, I heard a voice say, “Wow, you can hit that pretty far, for a girl”. The last part is what hit me deep, “for a girl” he had said. My nervous laugh kicked in as I politely said “thank you” to the older gentleman. At first when this happened I didn’t think much of it. I was new to the sport of golf and simply enjoyed going out and practicing. As I got better and started competing in tournaments, I realized that women are the underdog in the sport of golf. Golf is a male dominated sport, especially in the small town I am from in Minnesota. When I tried to convince my friends to join the golf team at school, they immediately declined when they heard we practiced with the boys. Being in a male-dominated sport can be very intimidating, perhaps this is why there are not as many women playing golf as there are men. When I golf, I feel a strong drive to excel, to show that women can golf just as good as a man can. I hope in the future there are more women that feel empowered to join the sport. Being a female in the game of golf can be isolating. You need stamina to push yourself to practice every day, with many days being the only female golfer on the course. When women like myself don’t have strong female role models in a sport, it can be hard to visualize your own success. There is a slim chance that if I went to the courses in my area right now, that I would be able to find a female golfer practicing. This is why we need more women in golf, to be role models for future young girls and to create a fellowship among other female golfers. To me golf is more than a hobby. I fell in love with golf because of what it taught me not only on the course but off it, the life lessons of perseverance, patience, and self-composure. In golf it is important to stay resilient. It’s easy to let a bad shot, a bad practice, or a bad round get to you. I have quickly learned no two rounds of golf are truly the same. Practicing daily, even when you aren’t doing so hot, is a life skill needed in order to become the best version of yourself. This is the main life skill golf taught me. Even on bad days, I am grateful to be outside in nice weather and to learn something new with each round. Yes, golf is a game of numbers, but if you put the numbers behind you and just go out and play, golf can become your passion as it has been for me. Every chance that I get, I will continue to try to bring more women into the game of golf and show that it can be a place for both sexes to enjoy. I want more females to fall in love with the sport of golf, the same way I did. I’m determined to be the best golfer I can be, to show women can succeed in a male dominated sport, and to enjoy the sport I hold so close to my heart.

My total tuition cost will be roughly $76,000. I strategically planned this number by choosing a more affordable school for me and my family. I have already been working 30+ hours a week at multiple jobs well attending school to make this a reality.I will keep working well attending college to make that possible. I have also been applying to scholarships since I was a junior in high school. I have applied to 25+ as of right now. Although I have not won one yet I will not give up. I plan to graduate college with a 3.65 grade point average or better while balancing being a collegiate athlete. I am playing on my college's golf team next year. Golf will allow me to learn networking skills to use in my future career after I graduate. I plan to use my grit, perseverance, and hard working skills learned in the sport to maintain good standing both on the course and in the classroom. I have always struggled with math in school and will use the accessible tutors and math center my college has for help when in need. Another goal of mine is to get involved in various clubs and activities while in school to make me a well rounded student. I plan to partake in multiple internships throughout college to help prepare me for a job once I graduate. My top internship would be at the Minnesota State Capital in the communications area. I plan to apply for this after my first year. Having an internship in this field with help me foster into a career straight out of college. My future goal is to graduate from college with a degree in public relations and a minor in public advocacy and change. With this degree my goal is to use my voice to help create and inspire change in our world. I aspire to be the voice for those who have been silenced. I want to speak for those who are too scared to speak. After college I will move back with my parents for a short time to save money for a place of my own. My plan is to be working for the government in the public relations and communications area. I will start with those entry level jobs to work my way up to my dream job. My ultimate long term goal is working at the capital as the press secretary for the governor's office. If that job is not available for me, I would like to work for a political candidate whose goals and morals best align with mine. In the future I plan to go back to school and get my master’s degree in communications as well to help advance my skill set.

Imagine a young child, excited to go to the public library, to enjoy the endless possibilities every time she opened a book. Ever since I was a child, the public library was my wonderland, a place where I could escape by reading about the lives of others and exploring new places. In elementary school, I devoured the Who Was? book series. Through those autobiography books, I was able to read about inspiring people and places. In middle school, I got lost in reading Rick Riordan, James Patterson, and Jason Reynolds. My love for reading started young and continues with me today. Through years of being behind a book, I also fell in love with writing. In the 5th grade, I got asked to participate in a young authors conference put on by a local program. My English teacher saw the passion I held for reading and writing and recommended I attend. Without much knowledge of what the conference was, I went. During the conference I was able to experience multiple writing workshops and meet with various authors. This opened my eyes to the possibilities that writing could create. This moment was unforgettable for me. As a middle schooler at the event, being around like-minded students who also enjoyed writing, supported me to continue my passion. I felt like I belonged. I felt inspired from that day forward, knowing I would always want to write. Writing for me is a stress reliever. Whether it's an essay for AP lang, college public speaking, a scholarship application, or even just a simple birthday card, I absolutely love writing. It is the feeling of sitting at my desk, with an empty document before me, that inspires me to get creative with words, letting my imagination run wild on the page. Filling up a blank space with your thoughts and passion has shown me that you can have a voice and be heard. When you compose your story, your words construct the world you describe. Writing has the capability to immerse someone else into your perspective and worldview. Writing can break the stereotypes that have been set on different people, places, and things. This phenomenon is what I love about writing. The change it can create. Anyone has the power to inspire change through their narrative. I am excited to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications this fall. Although this is a broad field, it will allow me to use my writing to share news, communications, or even inspire others. I will continue to translate my voice onto the pages I will create. I look forward to seeing if my passion for writing could one day turn into a novel of my own. I am truly grateful for discovering the art of writing. Without it, I don’t know where I would be today and the person I am.

Ever since I was little, I have always been vocal, someone who was unafraid to speak their mind. This trait has empowered me to step up to everyday challenges and become a great leader in various events. My past experiences have strengthened me to use my voice. I decided to pursue a field in communications after my high school public speaking teacher recognized my potential and encouraged me to consider this area as a career. This pivotal moment inspired me to major in public relations. I have also been inspired by witnessing women excel in government roles, such as the mayor of my local town, whom I admire. When I turn on the TV and see reports of terrible things going on in the world, I want to hear a voice of hope. I want to use my voice to help create and inspire change in our world, especially during these difficult times when our country can feel so divided. I aspire to be the voice for those who have been silenced. I want to speak for those who are too scared to speak. I plan to work for the government in the future, potentially at the state capital. I will achieve this goal by maintaining a strong work ethic and never giving up when faced with hard challenges. I realize my career and professional dreams will take time and perseverance, but I will appreciate everything I learn along the way. Each piece of new knowledge and each step forward will make me grow as a better person and improve my future.

A day on the golf course can give you a lot to think about. One day on the course a figure approached me. Removing me from my deep thought and concentration, I heard a voice say, “Wow, you can hit that pretty far, for a girl”. The last part is what hit me deep, “for a girl” he had said. My nervous laugh kicked in as I politely said “thank you” to the older gentleman. At first when this happened I didn’t think much of it. I was new to the sport of golf and simply enjoyed going out and practicing. As I got better and started competing in tournaments, I realized that women are the underdog in the sport of golf. Golf is a male dominated sport, especially in the small town I am from in Minnesota. When I tried to convince my friends to join the golf team at school, they immediately declined when they heard we practiced with the boys. Being in a male-dominated sport can be very intimidating, perhaps this is why there are not as many women playing golf as there are men. When I golf, I feel a strong drive to excel, to show that women can golf just as good as a man can. I hope in the future there are more women that feel empowered to join the sport. Being a female in the game of golf can be isolating. You need stamina to push yourself to practice every day, with many days being the only female golfer on the course. When women like myself don’t have strong female role models in a sport, it can be hard to visualize your own success. There is a slim chance that if I went to the courses in my area right now, that I would be able to find a female golfer practicing. This is why we need more women in golf, to be role models for future young girls and to create a fellowship among other female golfers. To me golf is more than a hobby. I fell in love with golf because of what it taught me not only on the course but off it, the life lessons of perseverance, patience, and self-composure. In golf it is important to stay resilient. It’s easy to let a bad shot, a bad practice, or a bad round get to you. I have quickly learned no two rounds of golf are truly the same. Practicing daily, even when you aren’t doing so hot, is a life skill needed in order to become the best version of yourself. This is the main life skill golf taught me. Even on bad days, I am grateful to be outside in nice weather and to learn something new with each round. Yes, golf is a game of numbers, but if you put the numbers behind you and just go out and play, golf can become your passion as it has been for me. Every chance that I get, I will continue to try to bring more women into the game of golf and show that it can be a place for both sexes to enjoy. I want more females to fall in love with the sport of golf, the same way I did. I’m determined to be the best golfer I can be, to show women can succeed in a male dominated sport, and to enjoy the sport I hold so close to my heart.