Three key moments in my life have reminded me of the fragility of life. The first was on September 11, 2001. My father, a police officer in Jersey City, was mobilized to Ground Zero, where he helped evacuate civilians and restore order. While I may not have been alive at the time, the attack still plays an unfortunate role in my life and my father's. The second time was on December 10, 2019, when my father was injured in a domestic terror attack in Jersey City, severely enough to require surgery. Hearing his voice on the radio in live news reports was indescribable. The third time was in March 2024, when my father was diagnosed with a rare cancer due to his response to the 9/11 attacks. I consider my father my greatest influence. Throughout my life, he has pushed me to go the extra mile and go above and beyond in everything I do. He has always been my number one supporter, constantly driving me to improve. He is proud of being an Army Veteran, has dedicated his life to public service, and instills these values in me through his example. My father is an essential part of our family, and a major fear of mine soon became, “What would we do without him?” Then other questions followed: could we afford to keep the house? Pay the bills? Continue paying for school? Imagining life without my father was terrible. This was a dose of reality I was unprepared for. I had to take on a lot of my father’s responsibilities to support him during his cancer treatment. I helped my mother deal with the emotional struggle and supported my younger brother in doing for him what my dad would normally take care of. I had to change schools and try not to let it affect me. After the diagnosis, my thoughts changed from “I had to” help my family to “I needed to.” Simultaneously maintaining a high GPA, competing in varsity sports, improving my ACT scores, and completing my Eagle Scout Award has taught me that nothing comes easy, that life and time with loved ones are precious, and that it’s imperative to never give up or quit fighting. While these things could devastate any family, a testament to my father’s drive and strength was that his only concern was for the well-being of his family and how this would affect my college applications. I am determined not to let any part of the application process derail my intention to attend college. For some, I am sure this process is easy, but I understand that I may have to do more to realize my goal. My family has struggled to succeed against adverse conditions, injuries, and illnesses. I have personally witnessed my father’s determination going through cancer treatments to rise above and fight to return to work. It is in living these experiences that I will find the drive to succeed, no matter the odds.

Growing up in New Jersey, specifically North Jersey, has shaped my identity in more ways than I can count. I have visited the Southeast several times, exploring different colleges for my intended career path, and every time, people instantly ask, “Are you from New York?” to which I reply, “No, I’m from Jersey.” Everything from the way I dress in dark colors (which is a staple from this area) to the way I talk and how I conduct myself are all telltale signs that my state has had a major impact on my life. Jersey is a unique place. From its fast pace to its diverse population, Jersey has been a place that constantly challenges you to be sharp, resilient, and open-minded. It’s where I learned how to speak up for myself, meet people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, and embrace the idea that hard work is often the greatest equalizer (as is our amazing local cuisine). New Jersey doesn’t let you stay under the radar. Whether it’s in the classroom, on a wrestling mat, or in conversations with friends and mentors, you’re expected to hold your ground—but also to listen. I’ve grown up surrounded by people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, and that has helped me understand that no two people's experiences is the same while also teaching me the importance of empathy and justice. Those values are what pushed me toward pursuing a career in law and public service. From a young age, I’ve been drawn to the idea of fighting for those who can’t always fight for themselves. Jersey, especially in its urban and suburban areas (where I grew up), shows you the best and worst of society side by side: wealth next to poverty, opportunity next to struggle. It opened my eyes to the inequalities that exist, and it made me want to make some serious change. This is why I plan to pursue a pre-law track in college and eventually become a Judge Advocate General officer (JAG; the Army’s lawyers) in the United States Army. I want to combine my passion for justice with my desire to serve my country—two values that New Jersey, in its own way, has helped instill in me. My relationships have also been deeply influenced by where I grew up. New Jersey is about loyalty, family, and community. Whether it was through wrestling, school, or my Eagle Scout project—a toy drive for children as young as two years old who have never left the Hoboken University Medical Center—I’ve been surrounded by people who taught me the importance of showing up for others, even when life is hard. That lesson became especially real when my family faced financial struggles during my father’s cancer diagnosis due to the role he played as an officer of the Jersey City Police Department during 9/11. The people I met helped me through that extremely difficult time in my life, which involved transferring high schools. In the end, New Jersey taught me to think critically, act with purpose, and never forget where I came from. And wherever I go—into law, the military, or beyond—I’ll carry those lessons with me.

Wrestling has been a major part of my life from the time I picked the sport up in the second grade, and from the moment I stepped on the mat, I was hooked. I started in my town’s recreation program, where I quickly developed a love for the sport’s intensity and discipline, as well as a demand for self-improvement. In the sixth grade, I joined a wrestling club that pushed me to grow even further, helping me discover my physical and mental limits and push past them in ways I would never have expected. I went through a period of losing initially; that’s when I learned to hold myself accountable, learn from my mistakes, and even start watching what I put into my body. These changes in my life and demeanor have helped me to grow into the person I am today. And because of my hard work, I competed in tournaments, winning several and placing in nearly all of them. It was in that club where I not only improved technically but learned how to push myself to new heights. Unfortunately, during my sophomore year, the club had to close its doors. At the same time, my family was facing serious challenges. After my father’s cancer diagnosis, our financial situation changed drastically, and I had to transfer high schools. It was a difficult and emotional time, but wrestling gave me something to hold onto. It helped me to realize that this was just like a wrestling match; I just needed to push through and blast-double the situation to adjust. At Nutley High School, I earned a spot as a varsity starter in my junior year, which was my first year in public school. I put my all into the team, regularly going above and beyond in practice and teaching my teammates different techniques along the way. My hard work paid off; I had qualified for the district tournament. My senior season followed a similar path—I performed well, but a knee injury prevented me from competing at districts. Still, the lessons I’ve taken away from wrestling aren’t based solely on wins and losses. Wrestling built my character. It taught me perseverance, mental toughness, and how to dig deep when everything in me wanted to quit. The sport helped turn a chubby little kid with low confidence into a strong, confident, and driven young man. Wrestling has shaped me into the person I am today, and I fully intend to continue competing in college. Beyond that, I hope to use the discipline and determination I gained from wrestling to earn an undergraduate law degree. My goal is to advocate for others—especially those who feel overlooked or powerless—just like wrestling once empowered me. When I needed a place to belong, wrestling was there. When I needed to prove something to myself, wrestling gave me the chance. Now, I want to pay that forward and use everything the sport gave me to help others find their own strength. This scholarship would not only support my education but also help me continue that mission.

Good citizenship involves more than following the law or paying taxes. It involves an active participation in your local community, usually by keeping informed, acting responsibly, and caring about your neighbors. A good citizen does not sit back or act only at times of convenience. Instead, he gets involved in the community, lends a helping hand to the needy, and takes initiative when faced with situations that need to be changed. Whether it’s through community service, involvement in local issues, or meaningful conversations about national policy, active citizenship requires both awareness and action. It’s about understanding that your voice matters, from your town hall to the Capitol. One of the most important responsibilities of a citizen in a free nation is to vote. Voting is the foundation of democracy and the most direct way we influence the future of our country. Each election, from the local school board to the presidency, directly impacts us, the people, in one way or another. We tend to think of voting mainly in national politics (like the presidency), but it comes down to your state and local governments too, including the city you reside in. By keeping informed and voting in every election, we make sure that our voice has an impact. By doing so, we keep our congressmen, senators, and even the president in check by ensuring that they do what they promised to. Not voting is the same as giving away your voice, and by extension, your power to make change politically. The exact opposite of what the founding fathers intended. The Constitution, as I see it, is a living document that defends our rights and limits the government's power. It's the foundation of our democracy and the reminder that freedom isn't free. The rights we enjoy today—speech, religion, assembly, and the right to vote—were fought and bled for, and it's up to us to preserve them by staying engaged and politically involved. My commitment to citizenship has taken various forms. As an Eagle Scout, I organized a toy drive for kids who reside in a children’s wing of a hospital, soliciting and delivering hundreds of toys to provide the gift of comfort for patients as young as two years old in unbelievably trying times. I have also been Class President, standing up for student rights and assisting in the planning of events that enhance school spirit and unity. In my AP Government and Politics class, I participated in a mock election and helped develop campaign materials as well as public opinion polls to engage my peers in the democratic process. These activities have taught me the lesson that leadership and civic responsibility are very closely connected. I intend to carry on this tradition of service in public leadership in my future career that begins with military service. Whether through local government, national defense, or volunteerism, I feel that staying involved is not a choice; it’s a necessity to protect our freedom. Keeping the torch of freedom lit is every citizen’s civic duty, including my own, and I intend to do just that.