Growing up within my community has been nothing short of rewarding. Living in this wonderful town has allowed me to grow closer to my community. With the help of many people inside my community, I have committed to playing softball at The College of New Jersey in the fall where I will get my masters in Elementary Education. I owe a lot of my success to my Manahawkin community. Throughout my high school career, I have very much enjoyed giving back and volunteering within my community. This has impacted me in many ways, allowing me to grow a deeper appreciation for my hometown. I have many favorite local community events. I love giving back to my community through various events and programs. I volunteer annually at the Stafford Township Police Department’s annual Gobble Wobble Race. This is a fun day of community interaction. I'm also heavily involved within Stafford Recreational Softball. I assist with clinics, tryouts, and practices—giving back to the league where I grew up. This specifically I believe has made me a better person in countless ways. Additionally, I love to volunteer at Southern Regional’s Challenger Sports Day. This day supports special education students through P.O.A.C., a charity close to my heart. Another favorite event of mine is the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade, where I enjoy spreading holiday cheer to the community. I also love participating in clubs at my high school, such as David’s Dream & Believe, where I impact others' lives from the cards I make at meetings. It is heartwarming to know that by small acts of kindness, you contribute to be a small part of their whole life. I believe that volunteering in my community has shaped me into the person I am today. Giving back has taught me the importance of connection, selflessness, and the power of small acts of kindness. Through being heavily involved in Manahawkin and beyond, I’ve witnessed how a strong community can uplift and support one another. I am proud of the connections I’ve built and the lives I’ve impacted. I hope to impact many more as a future educator. My community is a very positive place that I hope continues to live up to that standard. I love my community and I hope it remains to its traditional values, but more events start to help bring the community together more than ever. Right now there are no negatives about my community and I hope it stays that way.

My name is Emily Evans, and I’m a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Throughout my life, I’ve been driven to succeed in both academics and sports. This determination has earned me a place in advanced courses, multiple honor societies, several academic and athletic awards, such as my school representative for the NJSIAA Women in Sports Day, and my acceptance to The College of New Jersey, where I will continue both my academic journey and play softball. While at The College of New Jersey, I will major in Elementary and Special Education. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has inspired me to pursue this path, and I am eager to continue learning and growing in this field. But above all my biggest obstacle in life has allowed me to realize how much I want to pursue teaching. The biggest obstacle I have ever had to face in my life is my anxiety. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has essentially been known to take over my life in several ways. It affects everything from social interactions to my athletic/academic performances. Anxiety has pushed me to the point of overthinking, making the simplest concepts seem daunting. I’ve learned that, for me, anxiety isn’t just something I can "turn off." My stomach will always have that uneasy feeling much like butterflies. Sometimes the butterflies fly much quicker than other times. The butterflies are a part of who I am, and over time, I’ve had to develop strategies to cope with it and keep moving forward. The impact that anxiety has had on me can be difficult to explain. Despite my strong personality, there’s only a handful of people that get to see that. Compared to other people, I find comfort in being alone. It allows me to recharge and regain control over my thoughts and emotions. While this challenge is always present, to say it has taught me things is an understatement. I have not only learned many things about myself, but many things about other people. My empathy has become my strongest trait because I have a close connection to emotion. This I believe has helped me better understand other people and give them advice when needed. On this new journey to The College of New Jersey and beyond I know my anxiety will always be a lingering feeling. However, my goal is to use the empathy and emotion I have developed from my anxiety to one day connect with my future students and have a positive impact on their lives. I have always wanted this future. And I can say with no anxiety, I’m heading in the right direction. Thank you for taking the time to read this and learn more about me. Anxiety is a disorder that isn’t discussed enough. I know there are plenty of more children like me out there that deal with the same thing. But I have a plan for my anxiety. I will strive and help my future students beat their anxiety. Whether it's with a minor task, or something even greater. There is no greater feeling than beating anxiety. Anxiety has taken over my life since I was young, but I try to not let it prevent me from living my life to the fullest.

My name is Emily Evans, and I’m a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Throughout my life, I’ve been driven to succeed in both academics and sports. This determination has earned me a place in advanced courses, multiple honor societies, several academic and athletic awards, such as my school representative for the NJSIAA Women in Sports Day, and my acceptance to The College of New Jersey, where I will continue both my academic journey and play softball. While at The College of New Jersey, I will major in Elementary and Special Education. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has inspired me to pursue this path, and I am eager to continue learning and growing in this field. But above all my biggest obstacle in life has allowed me to realize how much I want to pursue teaching. The biggest obstacle I have ever had to face in my life is my anxiety. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has essentially been known to take over my life in several ways. It affects everything from social interactions to my athletic/academic performances. Anxiety has pushed me to the point of overthinking, making the simplest concepts seem daunting. I’ve learned that, for me, anxiety isn’t just something I can "turn off." My stomach will always have that uneasy feeling much like butterflies. Sometimes the butterflies fly much quicker than other times. The butterflies are a part of who I am, and over time, I’ve had to develop strategies to cope with it and keep moving forward. The impact that anxiety has had on me can be difficult to explain. Despite my strong personality, there’s only a handful of people that get to see that. Compared to other people, I find comfort in being alone. It allows me to recharge and regain control over my thoughts and emotions. While this challenge is always present, to say it has taught me things is an understatement. I have not only learned many things about myself, but many things about other people. My empathy has become my strongest trait because I have a close connection to emotion. This I believe has helped me better understand other people and give them advice when needed. On this new journey to The College of New Jersey and beyond I know my anxiety will always be a lingering feeling. However, my goal is to use the empathy and emotion I have developed from my anxiety to one day connect with my future students and have a positive impact on their lives. I have always wanted this future. And I can say with no anxiety, I’m heading in the right direction. Thank you for taking the time to read this and learn more about me. Anxiety is a disorder that isn’t discussed enough. I know there are plenty of more children like me out there that deal with the same thing. But I have a plan for my anxiety. I will strive and help my future students beat their anxiety. Whether it's with a minor task, or something even greater. There is no greater feeling than beating anxiety. Anxiety has taken over my life since I was young, but I try to not let it prevent me from living my life to the fullest.

I’ve dreamt of becoming a teacher since childhood. I recall countless hours in my imaginary “classroom”, making lesson plans and teaching happily, even when my “students” were imaginary. Playing in my playroom fostered a dream that's becoming a reality. There are many occupations that a woman can choose in today’s society. However, the idea of teaching in my future has never left me. From a young age, I have wanted to change the younger generation’s lives. Being able to empower and inspire my students is an opportunity I cannot pass up. My goal to become a teacher has been deeply personal. I have faced lifelong challenges with anxiety. When I was in elementary school, my anxiety made school overwhelming, but during my struggles, some teachers saw me. They created spaces where I felt I was more than my fears. Their kindness didn’t just help me, it inspired me. I want to be that teacher for students who may be fighting battles no one else sees. It seems surreal that I am one step closer to becoming that teacher I have aspired to be. This fall, I’ll attend The College of New Jersey to continue my academic and athletic careers playing softball. I will be majoring in Elementary Education/Special Education while specializing in the content area of History. After graduation I want to return home and teach 4th grade. I am looking forward to the day the “full-circle” moment arrives. The main contribution I hope to make for my students is that even in the face of adversity, anxiety, or doubt, they can achieve greatness, just like I did. By sharing my journey with anxiety, I hope to inspire, make a positive impact, and ignite a love for learning in every child I teach. I also hope that to my students, learning makes sense. I want students to feel unashamed if they struggle in school. It is my job to positively make them understand the curriculum. As the teaching profession as a whole, I hope to motivate my coworkers to take an interest in all of their students. School shouldn’t be scary. It should be a place full of love, hope, and potential. Learning should be fun, not overwhelming. I hope by the time my mark on teaching is done, I can say with confidence I made a positive impact on each of my students' lives. This scholarship wouldn’t just support my education, it would encourage my dream of giving back to the younger generation. Receiving this scholarship would push me to follow my dream of becoming an educator. I have big aspirations, but first I must complete my education. This scholarship would mean a lot to my family and I, and it would be a driving factor of turning my childhood dream into a reality.

The number one question you’re asked as a child is always, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always responded with “I don’t know I’m too young.” But the truth was I always knew. There are many occupations that someone can choose in today’s society. However, the idea of being a teacher in my future has never left me. From a young age, I have wanted to change the younger generation’s lives. Being able to empower and inspire my students one day is an opportunity I cannot pass up. My goal to become a teacher has been deeply personal. I have faced lifelong challenges with anxiety. When I was in elementary school, my anxiety made school overwhelming, but during my struggles, some teachers saw me. They created spaces where I felt I was more than my fears. Their kindness didn’t just help me, it inspired me. I realized I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to be that teacher for students who may be fighting battles no one else sees. It seems surreal that I am one step closer to becoming that teacher I have aspired to be. This fall, I’ll attend The College of New Jersey. I will be majoring in Elementary Education/Special Education while specializing in the content area of History. I will also be continuing my athletic career while at The College of New Jersey. I’ve played softball since I was a little girl and my lifetime goal was to play at the collegiate level. Now that I have accomplished that goal every time I step onto the field in college, I will continue to play for that little girl who fell in love with the game. After my playing time is done and I graduate, my goal is to return home and teach 4th grade. I am hopeful that one day I will obtain the “full-circle” moment. The main contribution I hope to make for my students is that even in the face of adversity, anxiety, or doubt, they can achieve greatness, just like I did. By sharing my journey with anxiety, I hope to inspire, make a positive impact, and ignite a love for learning in every child I teach. I also hope that to my students, learning makes sense. I want students to feel unashamed if they struggle in school. It is my job to positively make them understand the curriculum. As the teaching profession as a whole, I hope to motivate my coworkers to take an interest in all of their students. School shouldn’t be scary. It should be a place full of love, hope, and potential. Learning should be fun, not overwhelming. I hope by the time my mark on teaching is done, I can say with confidence I made a positive impact on each of my students' lives. All in all, I am confident that I will obtain my career goals in teaching. I have big aspirations to one day become the best teacher I could possibly be. I am so close to achieving my goal that was formed from such a young age. Now the question has shifted to “What are you majoring in?” I confidently respond with Elementary Education. It doesn’t bother me how some may perceive my response. Because deep down, that is all I ever have wanted to be.

The number one question you’re asked as a child is always, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always responded with “I don’t know I’m too young.” But the truth was I always knew. There are many occupations that someone can choose in today’s society. However, the idea of being a teacher in my future has never left me. From a young age, I have wanted to change the younger generation’s lives. Being able to empower and inspire my students one day is an opportunity I cannot pass up. My goal to become a teacher has been deeply personal. I have faced lifelong challenges with anxiety. When I was in elementary school, my anxiety made school overwhelming, but during my struggles, some teachers saw me. They created spaces where I felt I was more than my fears. Their kindness didn’t just help me, it inspired me. I realized I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to be that teacher for students who may be fighting battles no one else sees. It seems surreal that I am one step closer to becoming that teacher I have aspired to be. This fall, I’ll attend The College of New Jersey. I will be majoring in Elementary Education/Special Education while specializing in the content area of History. I will also be continuing my athletic career while at The College of New Jersey. I’ve played softball since I was a little girl and my lifetime goal was to play at the collegiate level. Now that I have accomplished that goal every time I step onto the field in college, I will continue to play for that little girl who fell in love with the game. After my playing time is done and I graduate, my goal is to return home and teach 4th grade. I am hopeful that one day I will obtain the “full-circle” moment. The main contribution I hope to make for my students is that even in the face of adversity, anxiety, or doubt, they can achieve greatness, just like I did. By sharing my journey with anxiety, I hope to inspire, make a positive impact, and ignite a love for learning in every child I teach. I also hope that to my students, learning makes sense. I want students to feel unashamed if they struggle in school. It is my job to positively make them understand the curriculum. As the teaching profession as a whole, I hope to motivate my coworkers to take an interest in all of their students. School shouldn’t be scary. It should be a place full of love, hope, and potential. Learning should be fun, not overwhelming. I hope by the time my mark on teaching is done, I can say with confidence I made a positive impact on each of my students' lives. All in all, I am confident that I will obtain my career goals in teaching. I have big aspirations to one day become the best teacher I could possibly be. I am so close to achieving my goal that was formed from such a young age. Now the question has shifted to “What are you majoring in?” I confidently respond with Elementary Education. It doesn’t bother me how some may perceive my response. Because deep down, that is all I ever have wanted to be.

My name is Emily Evans, and I’m a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Throughout my life, I’ve been driven to succeed in both academics and sports. This determination has earned me a place in advanced courses, multiple honor societies, several academic and athletic awards, such as my school representative for the NJSIAA Women in Sports Day, and my acceptance to The College of New Jersey, where I will continue both my academic journey and play softball. While at The College of New Jersey, I will major in Elementary and Special Education. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has inspired me to pursue this path, and I am eager to continue learning and growing in this field. But above all my biggest obstacle in life has allowed me to realize how much I want to pursue teaching. The biggest obstacle I have ever had to face in my life is my anxiety. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has essentially been known to take over my life in several ways. It affects everything from social interactions to my athletic/academic performances. Anxiety has pushed me to the point of overthinking, making the simplest concepts seem daunting. I’ve learned that, for me, anxiety isn’t just something I can "turn off." My stomach will always have that uneasy feeling much like butterflies. Sometimes the butterflies fly much quicker than other times. The butterflies are a part of who I am, and over time, I’ve had to develop strategies to cope with it and keep moving forward. The impact that anxiety has had on me can be difficult to explain. Despite my strong personality, there’s only a handful of people that get to see that. Compared to other people, I find comfort in being alone. It allows me to recharge and regain control over my thoughts and emotions. While this challenge is always present, to say it has taught me things is an understatement. I have not only learned many things about myself, but many things about other people. My empathy has become my strongest trait because I have a close connection to emotion. This I believe has helped me better understand other people and give them advice when needed. On this new journey to The College of New Jersey and beyond I know my anxiety will always be a lingering feeling. However, my goal is to use the empathy and emotion I have developed from my anxiety to one day connect with my future students and have a positive impact on their lives. I have always wanted this future. And I can say with no anxiety, I’m heading in the right direction.

A major challenge that student-athletes face is their mental health. Commonly, athletes get trapped in a cycle in negative thoughts. I will tell about when my mind-opening moment occurred and how much that impacted my time playing high school sports. When I was selected to represent Southern Regional High School softball at its annual Sportsmanship Day, I had no idea how much it would deepen my gratitude for SRHS sports. Sportsmanship Day is when high school athletes talk to and inspire local elementary students. The sound of their cheers brought me back to where it all began - my younger self, dreaming of one day wearing the SRHS jersey. This day allowed me to realize how much my experience within SRHS sports has meant to me and how far I have come. It wasn’t until Sportsmanship Day that I realized how much pressure I had put on myself to be perfect, losing sight of the love I had for the game. I didn’t realize how much of an impact SRHS sports had on me. However, Sportsmanship Day gave me the chance to see the bigger picture of SRHS sports. The elementary students didn’t care if we stumbled or made mistakes. They still looked at us like we were superheroes. But with that thought came another, bittersweet truth. My time playing for the community that shaped me, the one I’ve proudly called home, is slipping away far too quickly. My love for SRHS sports isn’t limited to softball. I still play basketball for SRHS and over the past four years, I played field hockey and even ran cross country. Each sport has taught me its own special thing about being a teammate but I also learned many things about myself. Whether it’s competing on the field or cheering on my classmates from the stands, being part of the SRHS sports community has been one of, if not the best thing, to happen to me in high school. While my time as an SRHS athlete is ending, the lessons I’ve learned will guide me in every challenge I face, on and off the field. I am honored to play softball at The College of New Jersey, where I will face new challenges and opportunities. No matter what lies ahead, I will always play for the girl who fell in love with the game and for the community that shaped me. I want to thank SRHS sports for shaping me into the athlete and person I am today. I will forever and always remember my time as a high school athlete.

Resilience is a quality that I have developed through the strongest adversity I have had to face: anxiety. Anxiety has been an obstacle that I have faced my whole life. Essentially, anxiety has shaped me into who I am today. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has taken over my life in several ways. It affects everything from social interactions to my athletic and academic performances. Anxiety has pushed me to the point of overthinking, making the simplest concepts seem daunting. I’ve learned that, for me, anxiety isn’t just something I can "turn off." My stomach will always have that uneasy feeling much like butterflies. The butterflies are a part of who I am, and over time, I’ve had to develop strategies to cope with it and keep moving forward. Navigating anxiety has been no easy task. However, it has taught me the importance of resilience. I’ve developed many strategies to manage my emotions. I’ve realized I find comfort in being alone because it allows me to recharge and reflect. As you can see, this process hasn’t been about overcoming anxiety, it has been about learning to grow alongside it. I know I will never overcome anxiety. Although, the way I have learned to cope with it, in my eyes, shows true resilience. Through gaining resiliency through the adversity I’ve faced, I’ve achieved accomplishments I once doubted were possible. As a senior at Southern Regional High School, my determination academically and athletically has earned me a place in advanced placement courses, multiple honor societies, and several academic and athletic awards. In the classroom, I am ranked 26/505 students. Athletically, I am a two-sport varsity athlete that participates in basketball and softball. On the softball field, I have earned multiple all-conference titles and been selected as a sportsmanship representative for my school. But above all my most recent accomplishment is being chosen as my school representative for the NJSIAA National Women in Sports Day, an honor that I believe is a great outcome of the tough obstacles I have been through. My anxiety has also deepened my empathy and connection to others. It has helped me understand emotions on a different level. Because of anxiety, I am more aware of the struggles of those around me. This is especially important to me as I pursue a career in Elementary and Special Education at The College of New Jersey, where I will also be playing softball. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has been fueled by my ability to understand the emotions of those surrounding me. This I believe will allow me to have a great future working with my future students. Therefore, the adversity I faced through my anxiety has not only shaped my character but has also solidified my purpose. I have turned negatives into positives and will continue doing so. The lessons I’ve learned through resiliency have allowed me to turn my greatest anxieties into my greatest strengths. I am looking forward to earning a college degree. This shows that in the midst of facing anxiety, anything is possible.

The number one question you’re asked as a child is always, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always responded with “I don’t know I’m too young.” But the truth was I always knew. There are many occupations that someone can choose in today’s society. However, the idea of being a teacher in my future has never left me. From a young age, I have wanted to change the younger generation’s lives. Being able to empower and inspire my students one day is an opportunity I cannot pass up. My goal to become a teacher has been deeply personal. I have faced lifelong challenges with anxiety. When I was in elementary school, my anxiety made school overwhelming, but during my struggles, some teachers saw me. They created spaces where I felt I was more than my fears. Their kindness didn’t just help me, it inspired me. I realized I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to be that teacher for students who may be fighting battles no one else sees. It seems surreal that I am one step closer to becoming that teacher I have aspired to be. This fall, I’ll attend The College of New Jersey. I will be majoring in Elementary Education/Special Education while specializing in the content area of History. I will also be continuing my athletic career while at The College of New Jersey. I’ve played softball since I was a little girl and my lifetime goal was to play at the collegiate level. Now that I have accomplished that goal every time I step onto the field in college, I will continue to play for that little girl who fell in love with the game. After my playing time is done and I graduate, my goal is to return home and teach 4th grade. I am hopeful that one day I will obtain the “full-circle” moment. The main contribution I hope to make for my students is that even in the face of adversity, anxiety, or doubt, they can achieve greatness, just like I did. By sharing my journey with anxiety, I hope to inspire, make a positive impact, and ignite a love for learning in every child I teach. I also hope that to my students, learning makes sense. I want students to feel unashamed if they struggle in school. It is my job to positively make them understand the curriculum. As the teaching profession as a whole, I hope to motivate my coworkers to take an interest in all of their students. School shouldn’t be scary. It should be a place full of love, hope, and potential. Learning should be fun, not overwhelming. I hope by the time my mark on teaching is done, I can say with confidence I made a positive impact on each of my students' lives. All in all, I am confident that I will obtain my career goals in teaching. I have big aspirations to one day become the best teacher I could possibly be. I am so close to achieving my goal that was formed from such a young age. Now the question has shifted to “What are you majoring in?” I confidently respond with Elementary Education. It doesn’t bother me how some may perceive my response. Because deep down, that is all I ever have wanted to be.

My name is Emily Evans and I am a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, NJ. The number one question you’re asked as a child is always, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always responded with “I don’t know I’m too young.” But the truth was I always knew. There are many occupations that someone can choose in today’s society. However, the idea of being a teacher in my future has never left me. From a young age, I have wanted to change the younger generation’s lives. Being able to empower and inspire my students one day is an opportunity I cannot pass up. My goal to become a teacher has been deeply personal. I have faced lifelong challenges with anxiety. When I was in elementary school, my anxiety made school overwhelming, but during my struggles, some teachers saw me. They created spaces where I felt I was more than my fears. Their kindness didn’t just help me, it inspired me. I realized I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to be that teacher for students who may be fighting battles no one else sees. It seems surreal that I am one step closer to becoming that teacher I have aspired to be. This fall, I’ll attend The College of New Jersey. I will be majoring in Elementary Education/Special Education while specializing in the content area of History. I will also be continuing my athletic career while at The College of New Jersey. I’ve played softball since I was a little girl and my lifetime goal was to play at the collegiate level. Now that I have accomplished that goal every time I step onto the field in college, I will continue to play for that little girl who fell in love with the game. After my playing time is done and I graduate, my goal is to return home and teach 4th grade. I am hopeful that one day I will obtain the “full-circle” moment. The main contribution I hope to make for my students is that even in the face of adversity, anxiety, or doubt, they can achieve greatness, just like I did. By sharing my journey with anxiety, I hope to inspire, make a positive impact, and ignite a love for learning in every child I teach. I also hope that to my students, learning makes sense. I want students to feel unashamed if they struggle in school. It is my job to positively make them understand the curriculum. As the teaching profession as a whole, I hope to motivate my coworkers to take an interest in all of their students. School shouldn’t be scary. It should be a place full of love, hope, and potential. Learning should be fun, not overwhelming. I hope by the time my mark on teaching is done, I can say with confidence I made a positive impact on each of my students' lives. All in all, I am confident that I will obtain my career goals in teaching. I have big aspirations to one day become the best teacher I could possibly be. I am so close to achieving my goal that was formed from such a young age. Now the question has shifted to “What are you majoring in?” I confidently respond with Elementary Education. It doesn’t bother me how some may perceive my response. Because deep down, that is all I ever have wanted to be.

My name is Emily Evans, and I’m a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Throughout my life, I’ve been driven to succeed in both academics and sports. This determination has earned me a place in advanced courses, multiple honor societies, several academic and athletic awards, such as my school representative for the NJSIAA Women in Sports Day, and my acceptance to The College of New Jersey, where I will continue both my academic journey and play softball. While at The College of New Jersey, I will major in Elementary and Special Education. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has inspired me to pursue this path, and I am eager to continue learning and growing in this field. But above all my biggest obstacle in life has allowed me to realize how much I want to pursue teaching. The biggest obstacle I have ever had to face in my life is my anxiety. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has essentially been known to take over my life in several ways. It affects everything from social interactions to my athletic/academic performances. Anxiety has pushed me to the point of overthinking, making the simplest concepts seem daunting. I’ve learned that, for me, anxiety isn’t just something I can "turn off." My stomach will always have that uneasy feeling much like butterflies. Sometimes the butterflies fly much quicker than other times. The butterflies are a part of who I am, and over time, I’ve had to develop strategies to cope with it and keep moving forward. The impact that anxiety has had on me can be difficult to explain. Despite my strong personality, there’s only a handful of people that get to see that. Compared to other people, I find comfort in being alone. It allows me to recharge and regain control over my thoughts and emotions. While this challenge is always present, to say it has taught me things is an understatement. I have not only learned many things about myself, but many things about other people. My empathy has become my strongest trait because I have a close connection to emotion. This I believe has helped me better understand other people and give them advice when needed. On this new journey to The College of New Jersey and beyond I know my anxiety will always be a lingering feeling. However, my goal is to use the empathy and emotion I have developed from my anxiety to one day connect with my future students and have a positive impact on their lives. I have always wanted this future. And I can say with no anxiety, I’m heading in the right direction. Thank you for taking the time to read this and learn more about me. Anxiety is a disorder that isn’t discussed enough. I know there are plenty of more children like me out there that deal with the same thing. But I have a plan for my anxiety. I will strive and help my future students beat their anxiety. Whether it's with a minor task, or something even greater. There is no greater feeling than beating anxiety. Anxiety has taken over my life since I was young, but I try to not let it prevent me from living my life to the fullest.

My name is Emily Evans, and I’m a senior at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Throughout my life, I’ve been driven to succeed in both academics and sports. This determination has earned me a place in advanced courses, multiple honor societies, several academic and athletic awards, such as my school representative for the NJSIAA Women in Sports Day, and my acceptance to The College of New Jersey, where I will continue both my academic journey and play softball. While at The College of New Jersey, I will major in Elementary and Special Education. My passion for working with children, particularly those with special needs, has inspired me to pursue this path, and I am eager to continue learning and growing in this field. Being a student athlete has tremendously made my time in high school amazing. A time I truly valued being a student athlete was when I was selected to represent Southern Regional High School softball at its annual Sportsmanship Day, I had no idea how much it would deepen my gratitude for SRHS sports. Sportsmanship Day is when high school athletes talk to and inspire local elementary students. The sound of their cheers brought me back to where it all began - my younger self, dreaming of one day wearing the SRHS jersey. This day allowed me to realize how much my experience within SRHS sports has meant to me and how far I have come. It wasn’t until Sportsmanship Day that I realized how much pressure I had put on myself to be perfect, losing sight of the love I had for the game. I didn’t realize how much of an impact SRHS sports had on me. However, Sportsmanship Day gave me the chance to see the bigger picture of SRHS sports. The elementary students didn’t care if we stumbled or made mistakes. They still looked at us like we were superheroes. But with that thought came another, bittersweet truth. My time playing for the community that shaped me, the one I’ve proudly called home, is slipping away far too quickly. My love for SRHS sports isn’t limited to softball. I still play basketball for SRHS and over the past four years, I played field hockey and even ran cross country. Each sport has taught me its own special thing about being a teammate but I also learned many things about myself. Whether it’s competing on the field or cheering on my classmates from the stands, being part of the SRHS sports community has been one of, if not the best thing, to happen to me in high school. While my time as an SRHS athlete is ending, the lessons I’ve learned will guide me in every challenge I face, on and off the field. I am honored to play softball at The College of New Jersey, where I will face new challenges and opportunities. No matter what lies ahead, I will always play for the girl who fell in love with the game and for the community that shaped me. I want to thank SRHS sports for shaping me into the athlete and person I am today. I will forever and always remember my time as a high school athlete.