Hello, my name is Declan Nadeau. I am honored to be a Baseball Umpire with the FHSAA and the Chief of Officiating Operations for the Marion County NFL FLAG Football League. Out of all the memories I can recall, my favorite is probably serving as a selected official for the Youth Flag Football World Championships on ESPN back in Febuary of 2025. I have worked many upon many of youth flag football games, with countless teams, coaches, and officials. However, I realized this is something much different. Being on ESPN teaches you lessons you never thought it would a big one being, "It is just another game." This quote gets thrown around especially with "Big" Games, however I genuinley understood it. The night before I was scared, nervous, thinking "What if I mess up?", "What if I blow a call?", and any other nervous thing anyone could probably say. The day of the games, our CC straight up says "Listen, yes we are on TV, its cool, but remember, IT IS JUST ANOTHER GAME." This soothed my nerves not because it was my CC saying it but because he was RIGHT. It taught me that any game I work I should officiate as if I am the White Hat on a National Championship or CC of a College World Series. Being a sports official has taught me a lot especially in the sectors of character, leadership and personal growth. When I first started I was 12 now being 17 I have realized the complete change in my mind. I realized that yes I may be young but this has nothing to do with it anymore because in the eyes of the assigners, I am just another official no matter age. It has also taught me that leadership is a big piece of it no matter position on or off the field. I have been allowed to teach others the things I was taught by some of the best officials I call my mentors. Being an Official has also just taught me to be a better person. It allows me to look at things from a non-bias view even in the hard times as well as handle difficult or stressful situations. It allows me to be quick-thinking when put into a predicament. It helps with conflicts on and or off the field, while also helps in discussion. Being an offical has changed me as a person especially my character. I knew going in, I could not be an immature 12 year old never knowing the countless opportunites I would gain from just maintaining professionalism throught the years, as well as maintenence of appearence, I crease pants, hats, iron shirts, shine shoes, etc... I would've never thought of the immense amout of time really goes into being an official and the immense amout of lessons that I've been taught whether that's from mentors, other officials, or just being an official all in itself. My future goals are to eventually get into Law Enforcement, however with that being said my officiating journey will not stop there. I would eventually like to attend high-level baseball and football collegiate officiating clinics and make my way to SEC/ACC D1 College Baseball and Football. It will be hard but it is definetly something I wanna work towards one assignment at a time! Thank you for looking over this essay