Since I was a young as I could remember, God has always been part of my life. My family went to church and I went to a small Christian school in my hometown. With the support of my family, school, and church I came to know Jesus was my Savior and know that He has plans for my life that I don't understand just yet. While I have experienced great joy in my life because of my relationship with Jesus, I have also experienced heartache. God has put this heartache in my life to show me something about my path. January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On that day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. Ultimately, he died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death has had a profound impact on my life. He was a person of integrity, he was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In Fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual views. College is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career, however my purpose lies beyond this. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life by God, and it is my job to serve Him like Tony did. I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also how to provide emotional well-being. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology to develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while keeping Christ at the center. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love through my actions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered with scholarships. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony as I learn about compassionate care while pursuing my passion to serve others in the medical field.

Crouched behind the plate, sifting dirt through my fingers, I have learned lessons of leadership behind the mask. As a softball catcher, I am quarterback, cheerleader, a wall, and field director, though most of this comes with little glory. Instead, I have sore knees, dirt everywhere, and the privilege of supporting my whole team as the only player to see the entire field. Behind the mask, I have learned to manage my emotions in front of umpires, act with poise, and motivate my teammates when the play doesn’t go right. I am the intermediary between the field and my coach and I control the pace of the game. I have learned to be confident, think quickly under pressure and know when it is time to take a moment and observe the field of play. When I contemplate these things, they are metaphors for life. Behind the mask, I have learned to persevere through pain, frustration, disappointment, and defeat. I have learned that without work, there's no foundation to overcome obstacles. My chest protector and shin guards are my armor to go out into the world and snag every wild pitch out of the dirt to make the play. Behind the mask, I have learned to evaluate the situation and communicate with teammates, coaches, and officials. I offer quiet support and encouragement to my pitcher with every throw both in words and hand signals. There is nothing better than celebrating the end of a great inning by meeting my pitcher as she comes in from the mound. Though the work and skill are hers, I love the feeling I get from supporting her in her game. We have a mutual trust and a bond that can only be known by people whose work depends on the confidence and skill of their partner. Behind the mask, I have learned mental toughness when that inning just won’t end and your pitcher is struggling. You can cover up the frustration that allows a chance to push forward through not only the physical pain and pressure of blocking the next pitch or tagging the runner at just the right time. I have learned that managing my emotions and focus has created a mental toughness in me which I have transferred to other parts of my life such as when I have a tough exam to prepare for or a conflict to work through. Behind the mask, I have worked to solidify my technical skills as a catcher. When all eyes are on you as you drop that pitch or don’t make the tag out for a winning run, you learn humility quickly. Each time the ball cracks my glove, I know that I have another chance to learn from my mistakes and grow. Not only have I grown as an athlete, but developing a growth mindset has helped me to tackle things like college courses as a high school student. I have learned that with grit and determination, I can work hard for results even though they might not always look the way I expect them to. Behind the mask, I have learned countless lessons that are preparing me for the future. My time as a catcher has shaped me. It will be hard to repay the game for everything that I have learned as I pursue my academic and professional goals. As I enter college at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, I will use these skills while studying biochemistry and psychology and playing collegiate softball. I hope to become an orthopedic surgeon who makes use of these life lessons who serve's others.

It was the first day of 3rd grade and the first day of soccer practice. My mom was the coach and practice had just started. Dribbling down the field, I rolled my foot over the ball and tumbled head over heels. I knew immediately that I was hurt. Our family was, and still is, really into sports so I knew that the first thing my mom would say was "Get up, you're fine." We always have had this saying, "Are you hurt, or are you injured?" Well today, I knew that I was injured, but my mom figured I was just hurt. Now, to give her a little bit of credit, she is a third grade teacher and listens to kids talk about being hurt all day long...and it was the first day of school. Thinking back, I understand why she assumed there was no real injury. I picked myself up off the pitch and tried to continue down the field. Now, I am pretty tough, but this time I knew I would have to convince my mom that I wasn't just hurt. As I headed over to her, I saw another parent pull her to the sideline and whisper something that made her face blanche immediately. She came right over to me and asked if I was okay at which point I burst into tears saying "I'm injured, I promise!" She believed me though because that parent who pulled her aside told her that they did indeed hear my bone crack. Of course, you might be thinking that my mom must be a really hard-core soccer coach, but actually today I can appreciate how she helped me to develop mental toughness in my sports career and therefore transferring it to my life. She isn't really that heartless, she just always wanted me to work to my fullest potential even though we joke that she definitely didn’t win parent-of-the-year that day. I tell you this story because this was the day I discovered my fascination with the medical field. Indeed I had broken my arm and this was my first opportunity to see the inside of the emergency room. While my arm hurt, I was completely entranced by the environment and the hospital staff. During my next couple of days at home recovering, I wanted to learn all I could about becoming a doctor. At first, I was certain that I would be a radiologist since they were able to diagnose my injury. As I got older, I came to understand that I loved the idea of being a surgeon that could help heal sports injuries. This led me on the path of orthopedic surgeon. Unlike my friends, I enjoyed dissection days and have found the inner-workings of the human body to be fascinating. In addition to this, the study of the sciences actually makes me feel alive and energized. I have known that this is my passion with every step I have taken in my education and I can't wait to continue this in the university setting. In addition to loving the science, I have always felt called to help people in some significant way. I have dreams of medical mission trips where I can help people in underserved communities with my skills. In the fall of 2025, I plan to start my education at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, a Christian college that focuses on spiritual and character development in order to go out into the world and make a difference. I am hoping to take my love of sports, medicine, and serving others my life's work.

The crack of the bat, the smack of the ball as it hits my catcher's glove are the sounds and sensations of my childhood. As a 5-year-old, I had just as much fun pouring dirt through my glove as playing the game. Over the years, softball became more than a sport to me; it's a source of relationships that I would never have experienced. My parents never realized how impactful this game would be when they signed me up for t-ball. Softball is a game of struggle. I remember being on my first 8U travel team, the Hallie Stars, while at our tournament in Minnesota. We were thoroughly unprepared, wearing shorts and tall socks with sliding pads for our poor knees. We saw our first pitching machine and discovered that you can win and lose games without either team getting a single hit! Here, I discovered that I wanted to be a catcher. I realized the best way to touch that yellow ball was to be part of every single pitch...a catcher was born! To this day, I spend every spare moment perfecting my game. Being a catcher is a good fit because I love the strategy. Coaches would call me the "field general" as I usually direct the game. Just shy of 5' 5" and 125 pounds, I have worked to break stereotypes about softball players. By putting time in the weight room and on the field, I have become known as the "best underrated catcher" according to the announcers at the WIAA state championships. I have loved developing both the physical ability and game strategy to play well. Here is what I know about being a catcher: Being underrated is part of the job. I love supporting my pitcher. Some of my most important relationships have developed with pitchers and coaches. On the field, it often feels like it is just the two of us and we have an incredible bond. Like the game, these relationships have shaped my life. We develop the ability to speak the truth to each other and hold one another accountable. I have learned to advocate for myself and my teammates and receive feedback. I have loved developing relationships in the dugout as much as on the diamond. The dugout is where I learned the art of teamwork and developed mental toughness. This game has as many setbacks as successes, especially when younger. In the dugout, setbacks take perspective. I have learned that walking off the field with my chin up is one of the most important life lessons. Hold your chin high, support your teammates, and go try again. I have learned that time and dedication tips the balance of successes over setbacks. To date, the most rewarding softball experience was winning the 2024 state championship. I have no doubt that it will be a core memory that I tell my grandchildren. That success led me to be able to find my next steps. In 2025, I will begin my collegiate career at University of Northwestern, St. Paul. I'm excited to continue my journey in a place that shares my values. I'm eager to contribute to the team's success under with these coaches. While pursuing my collegiate dreams, I plan to coach youth teams and umpire to give back to the game.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the phone call that he wasn't going to make it. That call changed our lives. On this day, I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble. Ultimately, he died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death has profoundly impacted my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In the fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual view. My purpose is to become a physician who will show the care and kindness that I hope Tony received in his final moments. I want to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this meant to me. I now understand the burden physicians bear. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also the human condition in healthcare. Success in school is a priority. In my high school class I am the only female who has pursued college course credits as a dual enrollment student in our local university. This has not come without challenges where I needed to overcome roadblocks to succeed. While preparing for my college calculus course, I started to doubt my understanding of mathematics. I was balancing learning from my teacher and an online calculus course and struggled. I reached a point where my grade was at a dangerous low refusing help because I was embarrassed. I couldn't accept that academic strategies I had been using my whole life weren’t working. I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to complete my course on my own, and found a college tutor who changed my life. Jess (my tutor) taught me that it is normal to struggle. She taught me to quiet negative thoughts surrounding and focus on the logical aspects of the mathematics. Jess boosted my confidence and didn’t allow doubt to creep in but helped me to show persistence and confidence. I brought my grade up, but more importantly, I learned that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. This female tutor, helped me to understand that I too could make an impact like she did in my life. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology to develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while keeping Christ at the center while advocating for women. While females are typically underrepresented in the sciences, I plan to hope to be part of changing that stereotype. As a woman in healthcare, I will care for my patients unconditionally and highlight Christ’s love in their most difficult moments.At Northwestern University in St. Paul, MN, my spiritual development will impact who I become as a surgeon. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony, but also women in healthcare as I pursue my passion to serve others in the medical field.

As a high school student, there is no shortage of opportunities to witness the challenges that my peers have had with mental health issues. Whether struggling from the aftermath of COVID, to the loss of a parent, to mental abuse; I have counseled close friends through tricky situations, long before I had adequate experience to do so. With each of these experiences, I have begun to think about Christ's life and ministry as one of sacrificial love and how that impacts the way in interact with people around me. The knowledge of this truth impacts my worldview, relationships, and goals. I strive to live a life like Christ in all facets of my life. I believe that Christ died for me, and Scripture defines how I am to live. Therefore, I approach issues from a perspective of love, compassion, and understanding as instructed by Scripture. In all relationships, I try to approach people based on how Jesus would love that person. With this in mind, I have decided that as a future surgeon, I want to become a healthcare practitioner who has the ability to care for the whole person rather than the physical ailment alone. To do this, I feel that in order to physically heal one's body, addressing the underlying mental conditions can either support or hinder recovery. While in school, I hope to develop an understanding of mental health issues and their impact on surgical success. I have interest in learning about clinical studies that provide correlations between PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse causing complications with post-operative success. While this all sounds very clinical, it stems from my interactions with friends and family early in life and watching how the healing process unfolds differently for people who have underlying mental health concerns. With this knowledge, I am interested in learning how to interact with patients prior to surgical procedures to develop a plan for the best surgical outcomes by connecting patients to the necessary mental health resources prior to a major surgery. I recognize that this is counter to today's healthcare model and I would like to be a person who promotes change in my future place of work by showing how to combine compassion and care for the whole person. To fulfill this plan, I will be attending the University of Northwestern, St. Paul where I will be challenged in my spiritual, emotional, and academic development. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology as part of my pathway towards medical school and ultimately becoming a surgeon. While naturally, it is important to have masterful understanding of the physical sciences of the human body, I believe that a solid foundation within the discipline of psychology will prepare me to become a more engaged health practitioner. This combined with my spiritual beliefs will help me to understand the needs of my patients while showing them compassion and care.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. The phone call that came changed the course of our lives. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On that day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. He died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to say he was coming home soon. I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death had a profound impact on my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. I have always wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In Fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual view. College is for developing future careers. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life by God, and it is my job to serve Him like Tony did. I want to learn to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also how to provide emotional well-being. I want to become a healthcare practitioner who cares for the whole person rather than the physical alone. To physically heal one's body, addressing the underlying mental conditions can support or hinder recovery. I hope to develop an understanding of mental health issues and their impact on surgical success. I have interest in learning about clinical studies that provide correlations between PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse causing complications with post-operative success. I am interested in learning how to interact with patients prior to surgical procedures to develop a plan for the best surgical outcomes by connecting patients to the necessary mental health resources prior to surgery. I would like to be a person who promotes change in my future place of work by showing how to combine compassion and care for the whole person. To prepare for this work, I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology to develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while keeping Christ at the center. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love through my actions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered with scholarships. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony as I learn about compassionate care while pursuing my passion to serve others in the medical field.

This puzzle will cause players to think about different types of games with words that are highly interchangeable. Listed below are several of the connections that could be made across the categories. On the initial screen, I would organize the words in this manner: Pony Fields Rush Compulsive Handheld Stake Spring Pony Young Gaming Online Bet Love Pay Ante Board NFL Quarterbacks: Love, Young, Rush, Fields (Using words that are homophones of names of QB's. These words are homophones for other words that could be used to connect with other items in the puzzle. For example, someone might see a connection between Fields, Stake, and Pony. They also may see a connection between Young, Love, and Online. Finally players might find a connection between Compulsive and Rush.) Gambling Terms: Stake, Bet, Gaming, Compulsive (These terms could be widely confused with Pay, Ante, and Pony as ways to settle a debt. There are many combinations that could be made incorrectly. Additionally Online and Bet would likely be paired together.) Ways to Settle a Debt: Spring, Pay, Ante, Pony (The term ante woud likely be confused as a gambling term due to placing a bet before the play such as "ante up") Types of Games: Online, Video, Handheld, Board (These terms are connected to gambling with the word gaming. Players would be likely to select Online, Video, Handheld, and Gaming while leaving Board to connect with Spring.)

In pursuit of an eventual career in medicine, I have decided to pursue a double major of biochemistry and psychology at a Christian college to better serve my future patients with both their mental and physical health while also helping people along their spiritual journey. As a high school student, there is no shortage of opportunities to witness the challenges that my peers have had with mental health issues. Whether struggling from the aftermath of COVID, to the loss of a parent, to mental abuse; I have counseled close friends through difficult situations long before I had adequate experience to do so. With each of these experiences, I have begun to think about Christ's life and ministry is one of sacrificial love. The knowledge of this truth impacts my worldview, relationships, and goals. I strive to live a life like Christ in all facets of my life. I believe that Christ died for me, and Scripture defines how I am to live. Therefore, I approach issues from a perspective of love, compassion, and understanding as instructed by Scripture. In all relationships, I try to approach people based on how Jesus would love that person. With this in mind, I have decided that as a future surgeon, I want to become a healthcare practitioner who has the ability to care for the whole person rather than the physical ailment alone. To do this, I feel that in order to physically heal one's body, addressing the underlying mental conditions can either support or hinder recovery. While in school, I hope to develop an understanding of mental health issues and their impact on surgical success. I have interest in learning about clinical studies that provide correlations between PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse causing complications with post-operative success. With this knowledge, I am interested in learning how to interact with patients prior to surgical procedures to develop a plan for the best surgical outcomes by connecting patients to the necessary mental health resources prior to a major surgery. I recognize that this is counter to today's healthcare model and I would like to be a person who promotes change in my future place of work by showing how to combine compassion and care for the whole person.

My success in school is a priority, and I have always taken pride in my academics. I worked to stay at the top of my class and wanted to be valedictorian since I was in fourth grade. I have chosen to challenge myself with difficult courses causing a great deal of stress. I am learning that I need to take proactive steps to protect my mental health and recognize warning signs during high times of stress. In the past, I have always found that working harder allows me to feel successful which comes at the cost of good sleep or emotional dysregulation. Usually, these moments pass, and I can rebound quickly with rest and recovery. This was all true until AP Calculus my junior year. Throughout the first semester, I started to doubt my understanding of mathematics, and I was concerned about my ability to pass the exam. While exploring my options, I found I could transfer to an online AP Calculus course at the beginning of the second semester. I had to weigh the fact that I would leave the traditional classroom setting, therefore receive no help from a teacher, against the idea that the online course would give me a better content knowledge. I made the switch leaving the classroom to learn on my own. For the first two months, I struggled teaching myself, and I reached a point where my grade was at a dangerous low. I was embarrassed by my inadequacies and refused to ask for help. I knew that I was heading down a rabbit hole of self-doubt that I found more challenging to control with each day. I struggled accepting the fact that the strategies I had been using my whole life weren’t working anymore. Finally, towards the middle of the third quarter, I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to complete the course on my own, so I asked for help and found a college tutor who changed my life. I would like to say that I willingly considered getting a tutor because, in hindsight, accepting help sooner would have saved me a lot of stress and anxiety. In the end, my mom pushed towards tutoring when I was at my lowest. She knew that I was no longer using good judgement. Ultimately my tutor taught me not everything is going to come easily, and that struggle is normal. She taught me to quiet negative thoughts and to focus on the logical aspects of mathematics. She boosted my confidence, showing me that even though she wasn’t always able to solve problems correctly the first time, she didn’t allow doubt to creep in, but showed persistence and confidence in her ability to overcome challenges. In the end, I brought my grade up and finished the class with an A while also passing the AP Calculus exam. However, more importantly, I learned that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it shows humility and maturity. With this learning, I have come to understand that taking care of yourself means that you must be aware of the physical signs of distress that your body begins to show when stress and anxiety take over. As I enter college in the fall, I know that these feelings will take over every now and then. I am aware that I need to be prepared to find ways to release stress and anxiety and have the humility to know that seeking help is not defeat, but a normal reaction to dysregulation. I can proactively seek counsel from friends, family members, or professionals.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On this day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. Ultimately, he died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. I connected with entering the medical field as well as applying for this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death has had a profound impact on my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In the fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual view. College is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career, however my purpose lies beyond this. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life by God, and it is my job to serve Him like Tony did. I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also how to provide emotional well-being. While academics are a large component of my future training for the medical profession, my true purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love through my actions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I feel strongly that the place to pursue both ideas is at Northwestern University in St. Paul, MN. I feel that the spiritual and character development I will gain at Northwestern will directly impact who I become as a surgeon one day. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered with scholarships. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony, but also Maxwell Tuan Nguyen as I learn about compassionate care while pursuing my passion to serve others in the medical field.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On this day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. Ultimately, he died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death has had a profound impact on my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In the fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual view. College is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career, however my purpose lies beyond this. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life by God, and it is my job to serve Him like Tony did. I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also how to provide emotional well-being. I have always known that my success in school would be a priority, and I have always taken pride in my academic success. In order to pursue my dreams of becoming a physician, I have worked to stay at the top of my class and have dreamed of becoming valedictorian since fourth grade. To achieve my dreams, I chose to challenge myself with difficult courses, but since I attended a small rural school, I discovered a few roadblocks due to limited opportunities. In the past, having success in my courses had not been a challenge until I started AP Calculus in my junior year of high school. Throughout the first semester of my junior year, I started to doubt my understanding of mathematics, and I was seriously concerned about my ability to pass the AP exam in the spring. While exploring my options of what to do, one option was to transfer to an online AP Calculus course at the beginning of the second semester. I had to weigh the fact that I would be taken out of the traditional classroom setting, therefore receiving no help from a teacher, against the idea that the online course would give me a better understanding of the content. I decided to make the switch at the beginning of the second semester, leaving the classroom and setting off to learn on my own. For the first two months, I struggled to learn by teaching myself, and I reached a point where my grade was at a dangerous low. I refused to ask for help because I was embarrassed that I couldn’t figure out the content on my own. I struggled with accepting the fact that the academic strategies I had been using my whole life weren’t working anymore. Finally, towards the middle of the third quarter, I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to complete my course on my own, so I asked for help and found a college tutor who changed my life. I would like to say that I prayerfully considered getting a tutor because, in hindsight, accepting my inadequacies and getting a tutor sooner would have saved me a lot of stress and anxiety. I should have trusted that the Lord would help me instead of relying on my judgment to make a big decision. Jess (my tutor) taught me that not everything is going to come easily and that it is normal to struggle. She taught me to quiet the negative thoughts surrounding the situation and to focus on the logical aspects of the mathematics I was struggling with. Jess boosted my confidence by showing me that even though she wasn’t always able to solve problems correctly the first time, she didn’t allow doubt to creep in but showed persistence and confidence in her ability to overcome challenges. In the end, I brought my grade up and finished the class with an A while also passing the AP Calculus exam in May. However, more importantly, I learned that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it shows humility and maturity. Today as a high school senior, I am taking a level 2 calculus course at my local university. By continuing my math education at the university level, I am preparing to pursue my medical degree with the understanding that math is a key component to success. Though math has been a major focus of my time in high school, I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology to develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while keeping Christ at the center. I am hopeful that my understanding of mathematics will help me to pursue the academic components with biochemistry and the data/statistical analysis necessary for my degree in psychology. While academics are a large component of my future training for the medical profession, my true purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love through my actions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I feel strongly that the place to pursue both ideas is at Northwestern University in St. Paul, MN. I feel that the spiritual and character development I will gain at Northwestern will directly impact who I become as a surgeon one day. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered with scholarships. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony, but also Ms. Adams as I learn about compassionate care while pursuing my passion to serve others in the medical field.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain from the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On that day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. Ultimately, he died alone in the hospital. We didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. His death has had a profound impact on my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? In Fall of 2025, I will start college at a Christian university to challenge my spiritual view. College is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career, however my purpose lies beyond this. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life by God, and it is my job to serve Him like Tony did. I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing. I want to understand the scientific approach, but also how to provide emotional well-being. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology to develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while keeping Christ at the center. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love through my actions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I have worked to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 GPA and have 1/3 of my tuition covered with scholarships. This scholarship would allow me to honor Tony, but also Mr. Young and the Cochener family as I learn about compassionate care while pursuing my passion to serve others in the medical field.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain. I remember the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our connected lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On this day, I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. He died alone in a hospital room from a blood clot that couldn't be stopped. His family didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. When considering applying for this scholarship, I connected with this scholarship when thinking of Tony's final days. Though he wasn't a teenager at the time of his death, I was, and his death has had a profound impact on my life. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. Since his death, I have wondered if Tony felt cared for. Did the staff show him loving kindness in his last moments and help him not feel afraid? While we don't lay blame, the feeling of doubt has always been in the back of my mind that things could have been different. I will be starting my college journey in the fall of 2025 at a Christian university where I know my spiritual views will be challenged. On the surface, college is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career. However, my purpose lies beyond career development. My purpose is to become a physician. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life on earth by God, and it is my job to serve Him in all walks of life like Tony did. As a physician, I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of compassion and dignity. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing practices to their patients. I want to be the type of physician who understands not only the scientific approach, but also the emotional well-being of my patients. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology so that I develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while learning how to keep Christ at the center of my views and actions. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love and grace through my actions and interactions. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with care and understanding in the most difficult moments. I have worked hard to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 weighted GPA. So far about one-third of the cost of my education has been covered. This scholarship would allow me to not only honor Tony, but also Norman Nelson as I learn about compassionate care.

When considering applying for this scholarship, I connected with the idea of Mr. Gilroy as a source of inspiration to others while taking a systematic approach to reach one's goals successfully. I have known since I was very young, that I wanted to become a surgeon who is able to help people heal from serious injuries or conditions that need a surgical approach. I have committed to start my college journey in the fall of 2025 at a Christian university where I know my spiritual views will be challenged. The annual tuition will be $36,980 of which I have already earned $18,000 per year in Presidential scholarships for my high school academic achievements. Knowing that this only covers approximately 1/2 of my tuition, I have also worked hard to take dual enrollment credits at my local university while still in high school. Upon completion of these credits, I will have earned 30 credits that will be used towards my general education credits next fall effectively allowing me to graduate in 3 years. Due to planning ahead and taking the maximum credits allowed as a dual student, I will save one year's tuition in addition to getting an early start on my medical school studies. Not only is it important to develop a plan to pay for college, it is even more imporant to consider how to succeed in a future career. Though my purpose is to become a physician someday, that is not the only thing that drives my actions. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life on earth by God, and it is my job to serve Him in all walks of life. As a physician, I want to learn how to approach medicine in a way shows others dignity and compassion. After having experienced COVID and it's effects as a high school student, I am beginning to understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing practices to their patients. As a result, I have selected a Christian university so that I will not only receive training in the sciences to prepare me for medical school, but also spiritual and character development to be a compassionate practitioner of medicine. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology so that I develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while learning how to keep Christ at the center of my views and actions. With my early start to college while in high school, I will also be able to minor in Spanish in the hopes that I can use my second language in the medical world. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love and grace through my actions and interactions with patients. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with dignity and compassion with a well-rounded approach. I have worked hard to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 weighted GPA. So far about 1/2 of the cost of my tuition is covered. This scholarship would allow me to honor Mr. Gilroy as I learn about compassionate care. Though I have not kept this plan on a notecard in my pocket, I feel that careful planning during high school and into my college years will lead me to becoming the physician I know I can become while honoring Mr. Gilroy's desire to help students pursue their dreams.

January 21, 2021 will forever be seared in my brain. I remember the moment my mom got the phone call that she needed to get to the hospital because he wasn't going to make it. That phone call came from our best family friend and changed the course of our connected lives from that moment forward. To help you understand the importance of this family connection, you would need to know that we did everything together from vacations, to school, to Thanksgiving and New Year's traditions. On this day; I didn't lose my dad, but my best friend did, and I lost someone who was like family. Tony had been admitted to the hospital earlier that week and was being treated for the effects of COVID. Nobody could visit, nobody would confirm that he was in trouble until it was too late. Ultimately he died alone in a hospital room from a blood clot that couldn't be stopped. His family didn't get to say goodbye even though earlier that day, he texted me to let me know that he was coming home soon. When considering applying for this scholarship, I connected with the idea of Mr. Coots being a devoted father who spent his life serving others. This was Tony. He was my coach, a police officer, my best friend's dad, the person who picked me up off the path when I crashed my bike on the mountain. Since his death, I have wondered what would have happened if Tony would have had a more holistic approach to medicine. While we don't lay blame with the health care workers, the feeling of doubt has always been in the back of my mind. I will be starting my college journey in the fall of 2025 at a Christian university where I know my spiritual views will be challenged. On the surface, college is for developing knowledge to succeed in a future career however, my purpose lies beyond career development. My sense of purpose is to become a physician someday. However, that is not the only thing that drives my actions. I am driven by the fact that I was gifted with my life on earth by God, and it is my job to serve Him in all walks of life like Tony did. As a physician, I want to learn how to approach medicine with the lens of holistic health and healing. Prior to Tony's death, I had not considered what this would mean to me. Now, I deeply understand the heavy burden physicians bear in providing care and healing practices to their patients. I want to be the type of physician who has an understanding of not only the scientific approach, but also alternative options for patients and families to consider. I plan to double major in biochemistry and psychology so that I develop a well-rounded approach to medicine while learning how to keep Christ at the center of my views and actions. My purpose in the workplace will be to care for my patients unconditionally and further highlight Christ’s love and grace through my actions and interactions with patients. God has called me to serve Him as my purpose in doing so, I will learn to treat patients with dignity and compassion with a well-rounded approach. I have worked hard to earn scholarships from academic honors with a 4.0078 weighted GPA. So far about 1/3 of the cost of my education is covered. This scholarship would allow me to not only honor Tony, but also Mr. Coots as I learn about compassionate care.