I am definitely a “YOU GOT IT GIRL” because of the way I live life and overcome difficulties. My strong nature provides the resilience needed to keep trying and navigate the unknown. My passion for people allows me to connect with others and learn from their experiences, either positive or negative. This Scholarship will definitely motivate me to push harder and will bring my dream of getting a college degree closer. My favorite sport is volleyball, although I played basketball and softball in high school. I started volleyball when I was 10 due to heart failure. The doctor said that if we were able to control the issue with exercises, we could avoid surgery. My mom decided that we would dedicate all our efforts to avoid the surgical intervention, and that's how we started at the YMCA. I spent a lot of time practicing and exercising to the point that I earned a place on the junior varsity team. At the same time, the results of my heart came back negative, and I had the clearance to practice high-intensity sports without concern. After those results, I decided to join different clubs in my area. and I had the opportunity to travel around the United States for events and received multiple awards as MVP, Best Defense, Best Offense, and the Coaches Award. My junior year of high school volleyball was very difficult because of an ankle injury I got in the second game of the season. As a result, I stayed away from the court for several games, watching my team play from the bench. My coach decided to keep me seated until the playoffs, which created great anxiety and disappointment on the team. I was frustrated and angry with myself for not recovering fast enough and with the coach for not putting me in the game. However, I knew I had to keep my strength and keep motivating and leading my team like a good captain. As time passed, I realized my foot needed time to heal, and the downtime would only benefit the recovery. Fortunately, I did play during the playoffs, and my team ended second in the region. I was also recognized with a mention as Best Defense of the conference. The experience taught me to be patient and always look at things from a wider perspective to obtain better results. It also developed the resilience one needs in moments of uncertainty when people need you the most. My mom is definitely someone I admire. She is strong and never gives up. She had taught me to persevere and stay happy even when things don't go so well. She loves sports and lives to the fullest, and her passion makes me stay focused and positive about my goals and how to achieve them. This scholarship will help me fulfill my dream of going to college to play volleyball and pursue a career in International Business. I would love to travel around the world as an entrepreneur and create great business opportunities for the United States. So far, I have been accepted into some universities, but I am trying to make my decision based on budget and career advancement. My first option is the Rome City Institute, which is part of Jacksonville University. They offered me a volleyball scholarship, but I am still looking for assistance considering their high costs. The idea is to spend one year in Italy, re-evaluate my situation for my sophomore year, and decide if I come back or finish my degree there.