In the fall of 2024 I will be attending Florida Southern College for a bachelors, hopefully masters as well, degree in Sports Business Management. I knew throughout my time in high school that I for sure wanted to go into the sports world in some form. Towards the end of my junior year, I was granted the opportunity to manage the varsity boys' soccer team the following school year. This was my first time managing a sports team, and it was a truly humbling and important experience. I took statistics, assisted the head coaches, supported players, attended to on field injuries, helped the boosters club, and engaged with opposing teams' players and coaches. I spent over 100 hours with the team, whether it was at a practice or game. This experience really gave me an insight on the business side of the sports world, and is now what I would like to pursue as my future career. As a woman, more specifically a women pursuing a sports degree, I completely realize the intense reality I am about to face: a male dominated industry. A moment I distinctively remember when touring Florida Southern College was that I was the only girl in my major group. Knowing in my head that these men could be my future classmates, and even possibly my competition, really struck me. One of my biggest inspirations is Rachel Balkovec. Rachel is the manager for the New York Yankees' minor league team, the Tampa Tarpons. I remember when she first got the position, and received intense backlash from fans. "A women shouldn't have such a high position for a MENS' team." Amidst the hate, Rachel rose above it and is truly my role model. I am so grateful that there are influences in my life like Rachel that inspire me to pursue sports business. I hope that one day I too can manage a professional league team, and inspire girls such as me to work in the sports industry. I plan to make a difference in the sports industry, and help break the stigma of women working in it. I am a first generation college student, and deeply depend on scholarships and aid to help me get through college. In October of 2023, my mother lost her job, and in December of 2023, my father made the tough decision to leave his second job. This drastically changed our income from 3 jobs to 1, which leaves us dependent on my father, who is a firefighter. For me to be able to attend Florida Southern all 4 years, I will need over 100,000 dollars in tuition and other fees, which in this moment, is unattainable. Receiving this scholarship will help pay for my college experience, and will also lift a weight that has been on my shoulders for months. Thank you so much!

Growing up, attending a spring training MLB or hockey game was common with my family. Now a teenager, frequenting the ESPN app or any sports-related website is practically a part of my daily routine. Going into high school, I was introduced to the world of jobs and lifestyles. It didn't take long for the stress to unfold as a tiny freshman already trying to get my future together. Now entering my senior year in the fall of 2023, I have spent countless hours researching career paths and finding colleges that will cater to what I am looking for. With my familiar knowledge of the sports industry, I was extremely eager to find out that most colleges in my area offer a business degree in sports management. I immediately knew that sports management was the route I wanted to take. During the winter season of my final year in high school, I assisted the varsity boys' soccer team by being their team manager, where I learned just some of what it takes to manage a sports team. In the long run, I hope that receiving this scholarship will aid me in attending my future college to study business management in the sports world. In the future, I hope to be working on a management team for a major league team in Florida, preferably a hockey or baseball team. Along with that, I hope to collaborate with local businesses to promote women in the sports business. One of my role models is Rachel Balkcovec, the recently appointed lead manager of the Yankees' minor league team, the Tampa Tarpons. There was a bit of controversy regarding her being chosen to have a lead position but to me, Rachel is an inspiration. I desire that one day I as a female will be able to have the upper hand in sports management and be able to work to my fullest potential. At my high school, I am a part of the marching band's Majorettes, a baton-twirling team. Going into my first year twirling, I was aware that I often had fainting spells when I got too hot or wasn't feeling good. All was great that year and I had no indications that I would pass out while twirling on and off the field. The following year, during the school day before a football game, I noticed that I was about to faint, and I did. Being rushed out of class would've been an embarrassing moment for me if I had remembered what was happening. I blacked out, and was escorted by the school's resource officer to my mom who was contacted. One doctor visit later and I was told that I wasn't passing out because I was too hot, I was passing out because I have a heart condition. The condition I have is called Neuro-cardiogenic Syncope, or Vasovagal Syncope. When my heart rate suddenly drops, it causes a reaction in my brain that makes me pass out. I learned that eating better and exercising regularly outside of Majorettes would help me increase my health and cause fewer syncope episodes. Having this condition set me back physically by being told not to twirl at games where I wasn't feeling my best and to sit out at practices on days when it was too hot. Since then, I have successfully trained my body and became more healthy. I would like to say thank you to the Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation for allowing me to speak about my hopeful future in business and considering me for this scholarship.

In the fall of 2024 I will be attending Florida Southern College for a bachelors, hopefully masters as well, degree in Sports Business Management. I knew throughout my time in high school that I for sure wanted to go into the business world in some form. Towards the end of my junior year, I was granted the opportunity to manage the varsity boys' soccer team the following school year. This was my first time managing a sports team, and it was a truly humbling and important experience. I took statistics, assisted the head coaches, supported players, attended to on field injuries, helped the boosters club, and engage with opposing teams' players and coaches. I spent over 100 hours with the team, whether it was at a practice or game. This experience really gave me an insight on the business side of the sports world, and is now what I would like to pursue as my future career. As a woman, more specifically a women pursuing a business degree, I completely realize the intense reality I am about to face: a male dominated industry. A moment I distinctively remember when touring Florida Southern College was that I was the only girl in my major group. Knowing in my head that these could be my future classmates, and even possibly my competition, really struck me. One of my biggest inspirations is Rachel Balkovec. Rachel is the manager for the New York Yankees' minor league team, the Tampa Tarpons. I remember when she first got the position, and received intense backlash from fans. "A women shouldn't have such a high position for a MENS' team." Amidst the hate, Rachel rose above it and is truly my role model. I am so grateful that there are influences in my life like Rachel that inspire me to pursue sports business. I am a first generation college student, and deeply depend on scholarships and aid to help me get through college. In October of 2023, my mother lost her job, and in December of 2023, my father made the tough decision to leave his second job. This drastically changed our income from 3 jobs to 1, which leaves us dependent on my father, who is a firefighter. For me to be able to attend Florida Southern all 4 years, I will need over 100,000 dollars, which in this moment, is unattainable. Receiving this scholarship will help pay for my tuition and fees, and will also lift a weight that has been on my shoulders for months. Thank you so much!

Growing up, attending a spring training MLB or hockey game was common with my family. Now a teenager, frequenting the ESPN app or any sports-related website is practically a part of my daily routine. Going into high school, I was introduced to the world of jobs and lifestyles. It didn't take long for the stress to unfold as a tiny freshman already trying to get my future together. Now entering my senior year in the fall of 2023, I have spent countless hours researching career paths and finding colleges that will cater to what I am looking for. With my familiar knowledge of the sports industry, I was extremely eager to find out that most colleges in my area offer a business degree in sports management. I immediately knew that sports management was the route I wanted to take. During the winter season of my final year in high school, I will be assisting the varsity boys' soccer team by being their team manager, in hopes that I will learn just some of what it takes to manage a sports team. In the long run, I hope that receiving this scholarship will aid me in attending my future college to study business management in the sports world. In the future, I hope to be working on a management team for a major league team in Florida, preferably a hockey or baseball team. Along with that, I hope to collaborate with local businesses to promote women in the sports business. One of my role models is Rachel Balkcovec, the recently appointed lead manager of the Yankees' minor league team, the Tampa Tarpons. There was a bit of controversy regarding her being chosen to have a lead position but to me, Rachel is an inspiration. I desire that one day I as a female will be able to have the upper hand in sports management and be able to work to my fullest potential. At my high school, I am a part of the marching band's Majorettes, a baton-twirling team. Going into my first year twirling, I was aware that I often had fainting spells when I got too hot or wasn't feeling good. All was great that year and I had no indications that I would pass out while twirling on and off the field. The following year, during the school day before a football game, I noticed that I was about to faint, and I did. Being rushed out of class would've been an embarrassing moment for me if I had remembered what was happening. I blacked out, and was escorted by the school's resource officer to my mom who was contacted. One doctor visit later and I was told that I wasn't passing out because I was too hot, I was passing out because I have a heart condition. The condition I have is called Neurocardiogenic Syncope, or Vasovagal Syncope. When my heart rate suddenly drops, it causes a reaction in my brain that makes me pass out. I learned that eating better and exercising regularly outside of Majorettes would help me increase my health and cause fewer syncope episodes. Having this condition set me back physically by being told not to twirl at games where I wasn't feeling my best and to sit out at practices on days when it was too hot. Since then, I have successfully trained my body and became more healthy. I would like to say thank you to the Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation for allowing me to speak about my hopeful future in business and considering me for this scholarship.

Baton twirling, an activity characterized as a performance sport, has had a hold on my life since 2020. While my side of the world was still pre-pandemic, the transition to high school was around the corner. High schools held "freshmen nights" to encourage incoming ninth graders to visit the schools and see what extra-curriculars and courses were available. When the time came for my current high school's freshmen night, I was nervous that finding the right after-school activity would be a struggle. An old friend who I had done sports with in the past, who is a year academically ahead of me, was at a booth for the school's Majorette team, a baton twirling group a part of the marching band. She had encouraged me to sign up and to practice with the team when I got the chance. Later, I did research about the sport and purchased my first baton. Learning how to twirl was both a battle and a victory. Little accomplishments like achieving not dropping the baton every time I threw it in the air made me believe I could do anything, yet making one mistake would take me back to step one. Practice, practice, practice, every single day. Because of the pandemic, tryouts for the Majorette team were not held, and it prevented me from doing the one sport I had a growing interest in. Freshman year was filled with attending school football games and eyeing the twirling team while they performed on the field. Seeing them do what they loved in a national crisis like the virus inspired me to pick up my baton every day and twirl. I watched YouTube tutorials on tricks I saw them do, and watched videos of their performances weekly. Over the course of the year, I increasingly grew fond of the sport and was determined to join the team— being the best twirler I could be. Come sophomore year, I earned myself a place on the Majorettes. The girls on the team had become my second family on and off the field. They showed me what it was like to be passionate about a sport and something you really love. While baton twirling physically can take a toll on my arms, it also takes a toll on my mental health. Finding myself stuck in mental blocks and discouraging myself came often. Watching my teammates catch a new trick or understand the choreography in times when I couldn't were upsetting moments for me. Over time, I confided in myself and practiced outside of team practices and conditioned myself to be a better twirler and teammate. This sport has taught me that not everything in life will be easy, whether it's throwing a metal rod in the air or not, and if you really want something to work, you have to put in the effort. I've learned to be confident while performing and to always have a smile on my face. Thinking back, if I never learned to twirl, I would have never learned about true sportsmanship or confidence. There is not a moment in my life where I wish I never bought my first baton or wish that I never tried out for the team. Majorettes has taught me so much physically and mentally and plays one of the utmost important roles in my life to this day.

The future is inevitable. With what we know about time travel—which is little to nothing—the future is also unpredictable. In my future, I want to see big things. Working for a major-league sports team, managing a minor-league team, working behind the scenes for a popular sports magazine. Those are just a few of the professions I have set my sights on. I would like for my future to be full of the things I love, while getting to have a job that I might just love even more. I knew what I wanted to do in college ever since I was a sophomore in high school: major in sports management. Now an upcoming senior graduating in 2024, I have to start planning for what exactly I want to do regarding that major. Going to sporting events has always been one of my favorite pastimes. My father and I both share an unconditional love for hockey (go Rangers), and attend games every year. As I grew older, I started to take notice of the management and marketing teams walking around the stadiums, either interacting with fans or handling business. I quickly started to take interest. I would spend my study hall period at school researching all about the sports media industry, which teams had internships, and which colleges offered sports management as a major. With that in my mind, I realized that I had my eyes set on what I wanted to do. In my future, I want to be a manager for a major-league sports team. When I conducted research about the industry, I found that not a lot of women were represented, and that only in these past few years did women get to be a major part of the industry. This did frustrate me at first, but I soon concluded that if I put my mind to it, everything would be fine. While looking into colleges and their sports media programs, I noticed that most colleges and universities in Florida offer the opportunity to manage one of their sports teams. I am the most excited to get first-hand experience at managing a team and learning about leadership in the industry. As well, some colleges also offer internships with local major-league teams. In the future, I plan to intern for a team, and eventually end up working for them on their management team. I want to make the most out of my future career and get started as soon as possible, not just in college. Because I will be a senior for the next school year (2023-2024), I have the opportunity to manage one of the varsity sports at my high school. I am aiming to manage the boys' soccer team, and learn as much as I can. I feel that this chance will be good for me and what I want to do when I'm older. Overall, I would like my future to be full of new opportunities to help me get to the position of being a sports manager. With this scholarship, I will be able to use the money to go toward my college career. It will help me afford tuition and living costs. I want to make the most out of my college experience, without the stress of money. Without scholarships, I wouldn't be able to pursue my career goals, let alone afford to attend college at all. In order to seek my future goals, getting through college is a need, not a want. With this scholarship, accomplishing my dream will be easier and less challenging.

Leadership is defined as "the action of leading a group of people or an organization." Being a leader can consist of being a CEO, a teacher, or even a parent— yet to me, a leader is a person who shows credibility, is responsible, and demonstrates what it really means to lead. All of these characteristics can belong to anyone, not just to someone of higher authority. Being a true leader comes from what you stand for and what you represent, which is why it is so important to practice these qualities in order to live up to your full potential. A credible leader is someone you should be able to count on, someone with experience, and is a leader for the right reasons. A credible leader is confident, and shows the utmost integrity while helping others. They always have a clear vision in mind, and is always open to new ideas. Having experience in leadership and being able to show what you know when leading others is one of the most important ways someone can be credible. For example, attending leadership camps or workshops can increase one's ability to be a leader, while also giving them experience in leading others, initially increasing credibility. Another component of being credible is being able to build relationships based on trust and communication. Communicating to others about what you think and being open with them can allow you to be seen as trustworthy. People will support a leader who will listen to what they have to say, and can show that they are credible. Ultimately, being a credible leader is about building relationships, leading by example, and also inspiring others. A responsible leader is someone who recognizes the impact of their decisions and takes ownership of their responsibilities. They are able to prioritize others' interests and well-being while also creating a stable environment to lead in. A responsible leader is committed to continuing to learn and grow alongside those they lead. They are focused and transparent, and can take accountability when things go wrong. Within their group, a leader should be able to empower others to be responsible themselves and to take ownership of their work or actions. For instance, when something goes wrong in a group, the leader should think critically to resolve it. This will show how being responsible can make someone a good leader. Overall, a responsible leader is always looking out for everyone and is dedicated to influencing their group for the better. From my personal experience with leadership, I believe that I was able to demonstrate being credible and responsible. I served as an Auxiliary Lieutenant for my high school's marching band. Being a lieutenant meant that I had to fill in when the captain of our Majorette team was gone, take attendance, attend leadership meetings, and to report when anything out of line happens. Before marching season started, it was required to attend a week-long leadership workshop. This workshop taught me how to lead others, and allowed me to get comfortable with the leadership team. We worked on team-building exercises and had seminars about what it means to be a leader in a band setting. During marching season, I was able to use what I learned and was credible and responsible on and off the marching field. A leader to me is someone you can trust and rely on, and having the ability to lead is a great characteristic to have.

The dream version of my future self is a successful sports marketer who is working for a major league team, while also providing for and supporting a loving family, and navigating through life's tough challenges with power and determination.