Although I have always been somewhat of an introvert, COVID forced me to lose interest in many activities I always loved, such as soccer, softball, and piano lessons making me even more of an introvert who lacked any sense of purpose. I found it difficult to discover new passions until I began volunteering and working for the greater good of my community. In such a way, I began getting involved in many service and leadership-oriented activities to help my community. Through my volunteer work with several different nonprofits, including the NEST Community Learning Center (CLC) and the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, and my leadership as a candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, I uncovered an ability to help others that will stick with me for the rest of my life. This year, in particular, I became heavily involved as a volunteer for the NEST CLC. NEST is a local nonprofit that recruits volunteers to help children living in underprivileged environments through nutrition, education, and recreation support. One of my friends asked me to volunteer for NEST knowing that I had a lot of free time. After volunteering once, I loved the mission and how I could make a difference in terms of connecting my small community. Thus, I became a summer employee and worked with NEST every day this past summer. By traveling to low-income apartment complexes and supporting these children, I recognized the power of working together to make a difference. Additionally, I also became more involved with the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund this year. The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund was a nonprofit founded by a local family who lost their son, Ben, to suicide in 2021. Although I never knew Ben, I have become close to his family and their mission. Since the start of this year, I have volunteered at a golf outing, a booth at the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, several mental health football and basketball games, and even received an award that recognizes students who live Ben's Way; those who exhibit acceptance, kindness, and encouragement throughout our high school. As a volunteer for the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, I help reduce the stigma around mental health in our community. Finally, my favorite way that I became more involved in my community this year is through my leadership alongside two other students and a team of 25 high school team members in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Student Visionaries of the Year (SVOY) campaign. The SVOY campaign is a 7-week fundraising campaign that consists of motivated students looking to make a difference in the world of blood cancer. Even though I was unsure of my role in this campaign as it would require a lot of public speaking, community outreach, and leadership, I experienced strides of personal growth and, once again, became more connected to my community. Following months of planning events, requesting sponsorships, recruiting team members, and printing t-shirts, the 7-week campaign flew by. In the end, my team raised $214,301 and beat the Ohio fundraising record. I could have never imagined that getting involved in my community in this way would allow me to become a more developed leader and perseverent person. Collectively, all of these service opportunities have made me a more outgoing person who is willing to take risks for the good of others. In my college community, I plan to continue getting involved as I know that it can not only benefit others but also myself, and I am looking forward to new service opportunities.

Mrs. Connor, my favorite teacher, is a natural leader who makes my school culture one of inclusivity and possibility. Mrs. Connor is not like many other teachers, however, who work only for a paycheck and a high student success rate on state tests. Instead, Mrs. Connor is a teacher who is incredibly dedicated to helping students strive, influencing our character, and using her sense of creativity to inspire us all through a unique class at Loveland High School: Adaptive PE. Several years ago, Mrs. Connor recognized a need for Adaptive PE when students in the special needs classroom were excluded from many components of a typical gym class. As a selfless and innovative leader, Mrs. Connor stepped up and created Adaptive PE which serves as a gym class with ten nominated mentors and over ten students with disabilities. From personal experience as a mentor in this class, Adaptive PE is a truly impactful class that demonstrates the acceptance and patience that our world needs more of. In my first few days as a mentor, I realized that Mrs. Connor is the perfect example of these characteristics and creates a safe and positive environment. No matter the day or the circumstance, Mrs. Connor always knows how to include people. For instance, Mrs. Connor always asks each of her students to work with their mentors and make a mini golf hole for a fundraiser that she hosts in the gym during the school day. Immediately, I turned to work with one of my favorite students in the class, Olam, who is nonverbal and cannot walk. Shortly after, Mrs. Connor pulled me aside and gave me an idea that modeled her quick thinking and instinct to include everyone. Knowing that Olam loved baseball, she gave me the idea to get a foam ball and have players throw the ball at the hole, instead of putting it with a club. This was the perfect idea because it would be significantly easier for Olam to throw a ball from his wheelchair than to putt it. It is ideas like these and numerous other actions that make Mrs. Connor an inspiring and unforgettable educator. In fact, Mrs. Connor was so influential that she helped me decide my future career path. In such a way, Mrs. Connor consistently asked if I was going to work with people who have disabilities through physical therapy or a related field, and she never forgot to tell me how incredible I would be in one of these careers. In this way, she instilled a sense of confidence in me and helped me understand the importance of individuals who have the patience and drive to help people with disabilities, very much like herself. Therefore, Mrs. Connor's character in Adaptive PE inspired me to either become an occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist, and I can only hope to be half the individual that she is when I am older. In all, I am beyond thankful for the gift of having her as a teacher and mentor.

Growing up, my family was always very service-oriented. From planning an annual 5k race to support a local nonprofit to volunteering weekly at a foodbank, I was always surrounded by an unwavering urge to help others. It was not until my high school career, however, that I understood the importance of putting others above myself: a true American value. When the club fair came to my high school in 2020, I discovered the perfect club that would allow me to draw upon this value and begin a life of service. This club is known as Tigers in Service. Because I knew that I would need many volunteer hours for the National Honor Society and other application-based organizations, I immediately signed up. Little did I know that this club would spark a passion and help me understand my values and purpose. Throughout the last four years of high school, Tigers in Service has inspired me to help others, much like my parents did during my childhood. Through hundreds of hours of service consisting of blanket-making projects, events for the SPCA dog shelter, local garden work, and much more, I learned that I can help others while also feeling personally fulfilled and learning things about myself. For instance, I learned that connectivity is one of my core values. I learned that when a community lacks connection, I must step forward and make a difference. Such was the case when I learned about an area of my community heavily impacted by poverty. Furthermore, I learned about a nonprofit called NEST Community Learning Center that supports young students affected by the academic and nutritional barriers rooted in their financial situations. Learning about how these students face a major disconnect from the rest of their peers academically influenced me to begin volunteering. After volunteering several times during the summer of 2021 and loving the mission, I eventually became an employee. Volunteering and working for NEST is just one example of how service teaches me the value of connection and helping others. Tigers in Service also inspired me to assume much greater projects, as well. After receiving a nomination to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 2023 Student Visionaries of the Year (SVOY) campaign, I started a new journey in helping others in the world of blood cancer. The SVOY campaign is a 7-week leadership program consisting of motivated high school students fundraising and advocating for a world without cancer. My commitment to help others manifested itself as I spent 6 months preparing for this campaign with my two co-candidates planning fundraising events, securing sponsorships, recruiting 25 team members, connecting with local business owners, printing t-shirts, and more. After 6 months of planning and the 7-week fundraising campaign, my team raised over $214,301 under my leadership. It is this teamwork, drive, and desire to help others that makes me proud to be an American. If I learned one thing from service, it is that our country needs to work together and be more selfless. Although each of these service projects was different, one thing stayed consistent: when selfless people work together, true change can happen. In this sense, I hope to start in my community and inspire others to work for causes greater than themselves. In fact, I have already starting doing exactly this by convicing peers to join the SVOY mission and fundraise for the next campaign. Additionally, I will continue to promote the importance of helping others and lead by example as I pursue more service projects and missions.