March 11, 2026 at 11:50 pm, my stepdad lost his battle with kidney and lung cancer. At this time, I am in my second term of the Spring Semester, finishing up my Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Technology. I have been interning at a law firm during the Spring Semester while taking 4 classes in the A-term and 3 in the B-term. Mom had a heart attack and stroke back in the early fall which led to several complications and has left her disabled with severe balance issues that have led to two separate instances where she fell and broke her hip and then her hand. At one point, both of my parents were in the hospital at the same time. Not only was I faced with the possibility of losing them both, but I also had to shoulder the burden of taking care of my three teenage nephews, who all take behavioral medications and are not the easiest to deal with. At the same time, I am enduring a financial crisis, which has been a challenge to overcome while only working part-time. Typically, I make enough to buy gas and groceries. I had to pay last month's rent with a credit card to prevent my family from being evicted. Sadly, I was not left with a trust fund or any financial gain from a life insurance policy after losing my stepdad. I am simply left picking up the pieces and carrying on. After taking a week off from work to grieve, my youngest sister called the cops to put me in jail where I endured dehydration and starvation for two days and nights. Once I was released, I came home only to face the same problems I had already been dealing with. Since I work at a law firm, my first day back was different. I noticed the looks I got upon my return. The key code had been changed. I couldn't log into my computer. It appeared as if I was walking into a dreadful meeting to discuss the end of my employment. Fortunately, that was not the case. Since then, I have been aiming to put in extra hours to make more money. I can't afford the rent and need to move due to issues with the neighbor smoking pot and no matter how many times I call the law or notify the property manager, nothing changes. I refuse to live like this. However, I am in no position to change these conditions I am under. I feel trapped.

Before I started the paralegal program at Forsyth Tech, I completed an Associate in Science in May 2024. Since then, I began contemplating my options over the following Summer. I was gravitating toward the possibility of attending UNC-Chapel Hill, a well-known and highly respected institution. While aiming to become a collegiate wrestling coach, my interests aligned with majoring in Exercise & Sports Science with a minor in Coaching Education. Since UNC-Chapel Hill is a public university, I found it to be much more affordable in comparison to the University of Miami, a private institution that I have been considering for a long time. As I gained momentum with research efforts, I learned UNC-Chapel Hill was doing away with the Coaching Education minor. As I continued digging, I noticed UNC's discriminatory policy against second bachelor degree seekers which prevents someone like myself from obtaining a second bachelor degree. According to their policy, if I completed all course requirements, I would still walk away empty handed. I thought, what a waste of time and money. Yet, I struggled to walk away. This was now my goal! I lifted my voice through the power of a carefully crafted letter that I boldly sent to UNC-Chapel Hill's policy & ethics department, pleading for policy reform. The valid attempt to ignite change was extinguished with a smothering blanket of silence. Ultimately, I recognized UNC-Chapel Hill was not an option and I had no choice but to walk away. I decided to return to Forsyth Tech and initially looked at the teacher prep program which I would have completed in one semester. That became the plan! Once I enrolled, I was offered an opportunity as a student ambassador which promised free tuition, books, and fees. The only drawback was I would have to be enrolled for both Fall/Spring semesters. I chose to accept the opportunity to serve as a student ambassador which forced me to change my program to emergency management which I knew I could complete in two semesters. Upon accepting my role as a student ambassador, I was immediately promoted as a lead student ambassador due to having a strong leadership background. As the Fall semester approached, all three Lead Ambassadors were gathered in a meeting to learn more about our roles and responsibilities. At the end, I discovered the scholarship award we were promised was nonconsensually reduced. The new amount did not cover the full costs of my books, much less the added expense of tuition and fees. Using my prior knowledge of contracts which extended from previous courses in Business Law, I confronted leadership by advocating for all 17 student ambassadors to retain the benefits and privileges we were promised in good faith. After grappling over the fine details, the decision was made to honor the initial agreement. When others sunk in their chair and showed me they were willing to accept this injustice, I chose to stand up and fight back. My success with advocating for others pushed me to enter the paralegal program which creates an opportunity to capitalize on my passion for helping others by leading with the courage and confidence gained through my experience as a wrestling leader. A legal career offers a rewarding outcome much like a coaching career, only I hope it pays better. I plan to use my paralegal experience as a springboard to gain entry into Miami Law School at Coral Gables, Florida. Looking at the long picture, I justified taking this path because it provided a direction towards success. When I graduated from Campbellsville University with a Bachelors in Business Administration, I often ran into one wall after another, seeking employment that didn't feel like a life-sucking wormhole. I truly believe I have a purpose and working at Walmart and Target somehow doesn't feel like I belong there. I believe I was meant for much more than stocking food on shelves or standing behind a cash register to greet customers and assist with payment options. Some would say it was a means to an end but realistically, there was no end. I was barely getting by. Success is a feeling I get anytime I am actively chasing my dreams which has often involved achieving A's, winning gold medals in wrestling, and working towards greater health & fitness. Outside of that, I want to influence others as a Wrestling Coach and develop a thriving community that is enriched with opportunities to elevate others. I want to leave an everlasting impact and I plan to do that using my education and experience.

I live by faith each day as I press forward, refusing to give up. Quitting is not an option. I have learned life is hard either way we go. Struggling with obesity is hard. Enduring the grind to get fit is hard. Ultimately, we have to choose which hard we would rather have. Wrestling has taught me to never quit and never give up no matter how hard things get but I know that is easier said than done. At the age of eight, I lost my father to suicide. After my father's untimely departure, I chose to learn from his mistakes by not smoking, not drinking, and not experimenting with drugs. I also removed suicide off the table, recognizing that is not a solution to my problems. The loss of my father has taught me the grief one carries is only passed on to the loved ones left behind. For years, I carried this heavy burden. As time marched on, the loss of my dad became a constant reminder that anchored me to the floor as I desperately reached for a father who wasn't there. Now, I am 38 years old and still dealing with the financial hardships that have plagued my family. Seeking a way to overcome financial adversity, I have enrolled into Forsyth Technical Community College to study in the Paralegal Technology Program which has only been possible through the support of scholarship donors. Since joining the program, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA which has allowed me to make the President's List for three consecutive semesters while completing a high course load. I am in my fourth semester as of Fall 2025 and will complete the program with an Associate in Applied Science by May 2025. I am currently seeking a position as a legal assistant or paralegal with the hope of building skills and strengthening my legal acumen. I aim to put money aside to invest in my future with hopes of attending Law School. My education and experience should allow me to stand above the competition when it comes time to submit my Law School application to the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. I want to study Sports and Entertainment Law with a specialization in dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration, and negotiation. As I walk in faith, I plan to use the gift of advocacy to change my life and to help others change theirs.

If there was ever a scholarship that I wanted to win, this is the one. It's not just about the money, it's about what this scholarship represents. It says I started from the bottom and climbed up. It depicts strength of character and displays perseverance against all odds. I've been in this game long enough to know not all wrestlers are built the same. Many are motivated, and few are driven. When you're the underdog, you've got nothing to lose but a whole lot to prove. This is my underdog story. Growing up, I was overweight and out of shape which made me an easy target for bullies. I have struggled with childhood obesity and depression since age 7. By age 8, I lost my father to suicide. We uprooted and relocated many times throughout the years due to financial hardships. This adversely affected childhood relationships and prevented me from having any kind of normal upbringing. Mom remarried a year later. Soon after, child protective services entered the picture and pull me and my siblings out of our home due to domestic violence. It was one of those situations where the kids get penalized for the parent's misguidance. From age 10 to 12, I was pulled left and right from one foster family to the next due to unavailable space. Eventually, I was settled into a group home for troubled youth in Thomasville, NC for the remainder of time until I could be reunited with my family permanently. By age 13, I entered High School. Up to this point, I had been turned away from playing sports because of my size. This was the same year I encountered George who was a senior bully. He would run up behind me to clinch a chokehold and wouldn't release me until I tapped out. After being attacked not once, not twice, but three times, I decided to fight back. My distressed appearance must have given it away. Once I returned from lunch break, my teacher Mr. Barnes covertly called the front office and sent me to meet with the Vice Principal. Choosing to keep my integrity intact, I confessed to the whole thing. It was my first school fight. I remember being fearful of being expelled or suspended; I would've been ineligible to play sports. Given the chance to have a clean slate, we agreed to shake hands and go our separate ways. Taking initiative, I moved inside during the lunch period. While sitting alone, members of the wrestling team joined me at the table. Not long after, I was recruited for the Varsity Heavyweight spot. The first season, my coaches questioned if I'd stick with it. I remember having these conversations and telling them I'm no quitter. Their response was, "Only time will tell." Getting through the first year was no small task but there was no way I was quitting. Nobody thought I would become one of the most successful wrestlers to exit Glenn High School. My success on the mat propelled me to the next level where I would become a 4-year starting Heavyweight for Campbellsville University where I earned a bachelor's degree as a first-generation college graduate. My passion for wrestling pushes me to continue pursuing excellence as a Professional Athlete and Coach. My setbacks have set me up to become a highly relatable Coach who has struggled so others don't have to. As I trek forward on this path, I'm still having to overcome financial hardships and adversity. With your financial support, I'm able to stay in the fight and will pay it forward by helping others.

Participating in sports allows athletes to develop fundamental skills that go far beyond physical capabilities. In any team sport, you learn to be a team player which innately involves consistent communication, commitment, and discipline. First, you have to show up. Not half the time or most of the time but EVERY time. Then, you need to do your job. When others depend on you to follow through, you are developing trust among your peers by simply doing what you say you'll do. As we work together, we develop attributes such as strength, confidence, and character. In my experience, sports attract people from different backgrounds and allow us to find common ground which in turn, provides an opportunity to learn from one another. Not every player is physically or mentally on the same level and that's OK. It's part of the challenge but I've learned through respect and understanding, we ALL can rise. That's growth! Playing sports has taught me to become a leader. It's forced me to step out of my comfort zone to face failure and overcome fear. Without sports, I'm not sure where I'd be. Having Coaches/Teammates allowed me to reach higher and achieve more than I thought was possible. One of the many lessons I've learned was the value of working as a team. Some of the greatest leaders aren't the ones who strive to do it all themselves but those who delegate positions to others who can perform well at that position. That is exactly what football coaches do. They take massive players and put them in the frontlines to defend the Quarterback. They find tall players who have long limbs to serve as wide receivers because they typically have a height/reach advantage over defenders. The smaller, quick and agile players become your ball carriers since they can move in and out of tight spots with a low center of gravity which helps them maintain their balance while dodging tackles. All of these positions are strategically filled by players who can perform well at the given assignment. In essence, that's sport management. It's understood that nobody wins them all. That said, losses impact players the most. It pushes players to do better by learning from their mistakes. It also shows us the importance of remaining humble. Not everyone understands this but those who do know that no matter what, in victory or defeat, staying humble shows great sportsmanship and character. Sports have significantly impacted my life. With my father's early absence, participating in sports taught me how to be a man of character. It helped me find my purpose. Sad to say, I've encountered coaches who I would describe as poor role models. Having this experience led me to believe I can do better than they did. As an FCA Wrestling Assistant Coach (Volunteer), I've had the pleasure of working with kids (ages 8-18), teaching skills to maximize scoring potential and minimize risk. My coaching philosophy is this, "I struggled so others don't have to." Having a passion for wrestling, health/fitness, and community outreach, I realized my calling was to become a Coach which is one of the many reasons why I'm pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology. By gaining higher education, I know I'll be of greater service to others. Upon completion of my educational goals, I hope to work beside Top Professionals at the highest level. It's my dream to make a difference by impacting many lives in more ways than one. I hope to empower communities and enrich others through health/fitness and I aim to give back to the sport of wrestling.

Growing up as 1 of 5 children who lived on a single source low-income, I had to learn to share everything and believe me, I didn't want to. Money was hard to come by. Dad worked as a self-employed landscaper while mom stayed home with us kids. My dad was the hardest worker I had ever known and seeing him come home drenched in sweat showed me what hard work looked like. At the age of 7, I was taught the pain of working hard as mom and dad persuaded my brother and I to spend a day with dad at work; it'll be fun they said. Dad put us both to work as his helpers. We hustled to clear up the logs and limbs, piling everything into the bed of dads truck. Looking back, I'm grateful for that experience. It gave me a greater appreciation for what it took to put food on the table and taught me a valuable lesson. On that day, my eyes were opened to the reality that if you want something, you've got to work for it. "Money doesn't grow on trees," I heard that a lot in my household. It sounds strange coming from a man who cuts down trees for a living but once I discovered the aches and pains that come with chasing a dollar, those words took on a whole new meaning. Confronted with childhood obesity, I recall being turned away from playing little league football for being too heavy. My dreams were shot out of the sky as I stood on the sidelines watching others have all the fun. I entered Karate and Taekwondo classes but money seemed to always get in the way. While athletics was something I gravitated to, it was always put on hold. Once I reached High School, I no longer had these restrictions to hold me back. The first sport I participated in was wrestling. Pushed past exhaustion and overcoming adversity, I kept coming back. Every day was harder than the last. While faced with the urge to quit, I chose to persevere. Wrestling guided me into the weight room which became the genesis of my strength transformation. I was no stranger to hard work and I carried that over into everything. By senior year, I was a two-sport Team Captain and North Carolina 3-A Heavyweight State Champion in Wrestling. I set a new school record for "Most wins in a Season" and finished as a 4-year Varsity starter with 113 career wins. I set 2 school records in weight lifting for push-press and squat. My success allowed me to earn an athletic endowment which propelled me to compete at the next level as a 4-year Heavyweight Varsity Wrestling Starter at Campbellsville University. I graduated in May 2009 as a First-Generational College Graduate with a Baccalaureate Degree in Business Administration. Fast forward, I'm currently tackling transfer credits at a local Community College to alleviate the financial burden of going "All-In" to tackle a second undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology at the University of Miami. With your support, I know I can do this! Athletics has shaped the person I am today. As a confident leader, I want to give back to those who share my passion for health and fitness. As I move to effect change, I'm calling on your support. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Chad

While there are no guarantees in life, many of us understand that if we want to live a long and prosperous life, having good health is a must. As someone whose struggled with life-long obesity, I have made multiple concerted efforts to practice healthy habits revolving around diet and exercise. My experience has left me asking more questions. Anyone who is driven towards achieving good health most likely understands the journey will take consistency, discipline, commitment, and a conscious effort, both physically and mentally, to follow a regular fitness plan and practice healthy eating habits. As an overweight adolescent, I followed outdated and inaccurate advice that made me believe I had to exchange pizza for salmon and limit many of my available options. Needless to say, I was on an unsustainable path that only led to failure but as a fed up kid with weight troubles and pent up aggression, I was willing to try anything. I trudged from one extreme to another, battling uncontrollable urges that often got the best of me. I felt defeated and the stress seemed to pour on which beget a storm of unconscious overeating habits. This is what the beginning of the end looked like for me. Ultimately, I gained all of weight back and then some which threw me back into the uncomfortable light as the target of every fat joke you could imagine. It's not fun being mocked, made fun of, and gawked at for being abnormally larger than everyone else. Living with obesity has caused me significant pain and mental anguish. I'm left with a negative self-image which forces me to fight through depressing lows that plant seeds of torment and self-loathing hatred towards my body. Under the surface, I'm fighting an endless battle with insecurities and lacking confidence. Consequently, the fear of rejection stirs around inside my head to prevent me from pursuing a relationship with anyone. These days, I continue to struggle with obesity. However, I've become enlightened to understand that developing healthy eating habits begins with finding balance. I believe we have to attack the heart of the matter by targeting a better relationship with food which requires us to change our mindset. As a passionate student, I plan to pursue a higher education in health and fitness. Determined to lead by example, I want to acquire the necessary knowledge to be successful so I can guide others as a leading light through the dark wilderness. I intend to prepare a path for those who choose to follow my footsteps as we journey towards better health. I'm genuinely looking forward to overcoming adversity and many of the challenges put in front of me. Winning this scholarship allows me to continue reaching for personal development and I plan to pay it forward by helping others do the same.

Seek Discomfort! If there's one thing life has taught me, it would be that nobody achieves greatness without facing failure. Failure is essential for human development, it's how we learn and grow. Recognizing that has allowed me to understand that nothing in life would be worth doing if it came easy. The obstacles we all face are put there for a reason. Hard times build strong people and the lessons learned makes us all the wiser. Show me a person who's never failed and I'll show you a person who's never tried. I do not wish for an easy life. I only wish for the strength and patience to overcome the challenges laid in front of me. Most of us grow impatient and expect immediate results but that's not how it works. Slow progress will always be more gratifying than quick success. When chasing mountains of success, you can't skip over the climb and fully appreciate the view if all it took was a snapshot from a camera. Sometimes you've got to experience the grind to fully appreciate what it took to get there. As we move forward, we are confronted with the most readily available option to stop short and give up. Those who choose this option have truly failed. The ancient proverb that says "quitters never prosper" is still true and relevant. Once you decide to drop out of the fight, quitting suddenly becomes an option for the next struggle you endure. Soon one decision becomes several. As creatures of habit, we have to remember to develop good healthy habits. Our habits reflect our character which determines how the rest of the world perceives you. Do you want to be seen as a quitter or winner? Entering high school in 2001, I found the courage to join the VARSITY wrestling team with no prior experience. It was here, I learned the true definition of "HARD". My coaches would ask me throughout my first year if I thought about quitting, "Yes, absolutely" but that's as far as it went. Quitting was not an option, not for me. Pushing beyond my own limitations, I found euphoria. This after-effect made me gravitate to wrestling. With exuberance, I was willing to go through hell and back. Pairing a winners mindset with good healthy habits allowed me to chase down goals that seemed impossible in the beginning. 22 years later, I'm continuing to pursue excellence by seeking a second bachelors degree from the University of Miami. As I ascend towards a new peak in academia, I'm prematurely halted by the overwhelming financial barrier to entry. While exhausting all options, I aim to stay in the fight by seeking scholarship assistance to avoid the stranglehold of student loans. Moving forward with a scholarship would allow me to tackle a higher education in exercise physiology. This positively impacts my life in so many ways. It offers personal enrichment. With a knowledge base in nutrition and exercise, I'd have the opportunity to enhance my health and fitness, improving the overall quality of my life. It's a foundation that supports life changing results to strengthen and impact others through fitness and sports. Continuing my education contributes to a professional coaching career that enables me to obtain financial stability and satisfaction. As a community leader, my education affords me the credibility that comes with being an expert which I believe is essential when modeling leadership. We all have mountains to climb but none of us have to climb them alone.

As a 13 year old High School Freshman, I found the courage to try something new by trying out for the wrestling team in 2001. The team needed a Varsity Heavyweight and I was being recruited for the position. Being the most unfit wrestler on the team, I started miles behind everyone else. Keeping up with team workouts was extremely challenging but I gave it my best. Throughout the year, my coaches would ask me if I thought about quitting- "Yes, everyday!" The thought of quitting certainly infiltrated my thoughts but that's as far as it went. Quitting wasn't an option. I didn't have it in me to turn my back on my coaches and team. I had to finish what I started. Going from the sofa, where pizza and video games were life, to competing against the biggest and best; I recognized the urge to change my habits. This pivot is where my strength training journey emerged. I began weight-lifting each year and set 2 school records in weight-lifting for Push Press (315 lbs) and Squat (595 lbs). In wrestling, I went from having 7 wins my first year to scoring the Most Wins in a Season. I compiled 113 career wins as a 4 year Varsity Starter at Glenn High School. As a rising Junior, I suffered a knee injury at a Summer Wrestling Camp which required surgery and 6 months of rehab. Due to my medical condition, I was forced to sit out of competition for one month into wrestling season. With 8 more wins or two weekend tournaments, I could've captured the school record for Most Career Wins. Instead, I finished ranked among the Top-5. I graduated High School as a North Carolina Academic Scholar, National Honor Society Member, a NCHSAA 3-A Regional/State Champion, and an AAU National Champion. I was the recipient of the Distinguished Athlete Award presented by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and awarded the 2005 Upper Weight Wrestler of the Year Award in the Piedmont Triad Conference. My successful performance in academics/athletics positioned me to obtain a scholarship to wrestle at the next level for Campbellsville University where I became a 4-year starter, 3-Time National Qualifier, and 2007 NAIA Champion of Character. I earned my Bachelors in Business Administration as a First Generational College Graduate. My passion transitioned into coaching. From 2009-2014, I served as a Volunteer Coach for a High School wrestling team. Since June 2021, I've been serving as a Volunteer Coach for an FCA Wrestling Club which requires a 2-hour commute per practice. I've decided to matriculate to the University of Miami as a Transfer Undergraduate to major in Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry/Nutrition. I plan to gain a higher education in Health and Fitness to ascertain credentials that will contribute to a sports coaching career. I intend to get involved with coaching/leadership activities at the University while pursuing a second bachelors degree. As an athlete, I understand the importance coaches play on an athletes development. From building confidence and teaching discipline to developing fundamental skills to maximize your potential, coaches lead the way! As a coach, I've come full circle to witness the impact players have on coaches. Coaching is not a seasonal position but is often treated that way. Athletes are investments that require coaches to sacrifice time, energy, money, and often relationships to dedicate their lives to helping others pursue their goals. As a coach, you learn it's not about wins/losses. It's certainly not about the money. It's about serving a greater purpose. Coaches sacrifice everything to serve others. If that's not God's work, what is?