I began to notice a pattern while tutoring younger students at my local learning center. Many of the students I helped were capable and motivated, but they struggled because they lacked access to the right coursework and guidance. Whether it was understanding basic academic concepts or learning practical life skills, they didn’t have a system to consistently support them. This realization motivated me to take a more active role in addressing the problem. Through my involvement in the Young Men’s Service League, I took on leadership roles, including Class President and President of the Life Skills Committee. In these positions, I helped organize and lead initiatives focused on teaching practical life skills such as financial literacy and time management. I also broke down complex topics into simple, actionable steps for the younger members of our chapter, so they could build confidence and independence. Beyond just YMSL, I became a Chi Changemaker through volunteering with groups such as Kids Matter and the Grapevine Community Center, where I worked directly with students from diverse backgrounds. Each opportunity helped me connect with different groups of people and better understand the needs within my community. Looking ahead, I plan to expand my impact through computer science by creating an online learning platform that combines both academic education and practical life skills. My goal is to build a website that not only helps students succeed in school but also prepares them for real-world challenges. By using AI, this platform could adapt to each individual’s needs, providing personalized guidance in a way that traditional websites cannot. By combining my experience in leadership and service with my passion for computer science, I hope to be a Chi Changemaker beyond my local community and make meaningful learning accessible to more people.

I remember sitting in my bed, typing away at my computer late at night, staring at the lines of code that refused to work. My zombie survival game kept breaking in different ways. Zombies wouldn’t move correctly, the progression system kept failing, and nothing was behaving the way I intended. It was extremely frustrating, but instead of quitting, I kept fixing bugs. I taught myself how to code in Luau and began developing a Roblox game from scratch. What started as a simple passion project became a complex game featuring enemy AI, experience-based progression, and weapon unlock systems. Building each feature came with a unique challenge. My zombies needed to track players, so I experimented with movement logic. However, after weeks of debugging, every zombie kept walking into walls. My XP system broke multiple times before I understood how to structure it properly. I relied on YouTube tutorials and my willingness to learn. Through trial and error, I not only finished my game but also developed persistence and confidence in solving problems independently. While computer science is a central part of my life, my goals extend beyond programming. I am committed to serving my community and leading others. One of the most important parts of my high school experience has been my involvement in the Young Men’s Service League, where I have completed nearly 200 service hours and held leadership roles, including Class Vice President, Class President, and President of the Life Skills Committee. Through these roles, I have organized service events, mentored younger YMSL members, and helped guide initiatives that support both our organization and the broader community. During my community service, I volunteered with amazing organizations such as Kids Matter, the Grapevine Community Center, and Wreaths Across America. Each opportunity helped connect me with different groups of people and better understand the needs within my community. Through my time volunteering at learning centers, especially while helping tutor younger students, I began to notice a pattern. Many of the kids I worked with were capable and motivated, but they lacked access to the right learning resources. Whether it was understanding a concept in school or learning practical life skills, the issue was rarely the ability of the students, but rather that they didn’t have the course material to learn or practice. Seeing this gap made me realize how uneven access to knowledge can shape someone’s opportunities. This realization shaped my goals outside of computer science. I want to bridge that gap by making learning more practical. My non-computer science goal is to continue mentoring others and creating opportunities for people to build confidence in both academic and real-world skills. My future lies at the intersection of these two passions. I plan to pursue a degree in Computer Science, focused on artificial intelligence, while continuing my commitment to education and service. My ultimate goal is to create an online learning platform that goes beyond traditional education. I want to build a system that teaches academic subjects and helps users navigate challenges like financial literacy, time management, and decision-making. By using AI, this platform could adapt to each individual’s needs, providing personalized guidance in a way that traditional websites cannot. Giving back has shown me that impact doesn’t come from solving problems, but from solving the right problems: those that improve people’s lives. Whether through technology, leadership, or service, I want to make a positive impact by helping others solve problems. Just as I stayed up fixing a broken game until it worked, I will continue applying that same persistence and purpose to the communities I hope to serve.

When I was younger, my grandfather was a constant presence in my life, even though we lived in different countries. He moved to the United States when I was born to help take care of me, and after that, he would visit for three months every year. I also saw him whenever I traveled to India. Some of my earliest memories were spending time with him, and as I got older, our connection only got stronger. During second grade, I learned that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was already stage four, and my family knew that he did not have much time left. I took about a month off from school and traveled to India to be with him. At that age, I couldn’t fully grasp the severity of the situation, but I could feel that something was very wrong. When I first saw him, he was in a bed with a breathing mask and a long metal canister that was larger than me. He was struggling to speak, and I could remember how difficult it was for him to get words out. During the first couple of weeks I was there, I would sit next to him and read Diary of a Wimpy Kid out loud. He didn’t understand some of the jokes or Greg Heffley's pessimistic attitude towards life, but it was still a way to connect. As his condition worsened, he eventually lost his ability to talk completely, but I still kept reading to him and spending time by his side. Over time, his body began to shut down. He became almost completely paralyzed, and it kinda hit me that he didn’t have much time left. While there had been a clear shift in the atmosphere, we all tried to keep our spirits up as his birthday approached. We celebrated his birthday, sang to him, and tried to create a moment of happiness in the middle of something incredibly difficult. The very next day, he passed away. That experience of loss shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. It was the first time I had lost someone close to me, and it was the first time I had to confront the fragility of life and the darkness of death. It felt like there was a void within me, and it never truly went away. As I’ve grown older, I learned that the experience of losing my grandpa didn’t just leave a negative impact on me. The experience taught me the importance of being present. I learned that showing up for someone, whether that's sitting with them, reading to them, or just simply being there, can matter more than anything you say. I also learned not to take family and friendships for granted. Every moment with your loved ones is a blessing, and being thankful for that connection is important. Losing my grandfather was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but it taught me the importance of not taking life for granted. His loss has pushed me to approach every day with happiness, kindness, and resilience.

The movie that has had the greatest impact on my life is The Pursuit of Happyness. I had expected the film to portray a rags-to-riches success story; however, what moved me most was the portrayal of the struggle, rather than the ultimate happy ending. The film shows what it looks like to fail and still keep moving forward. Chris Garder’s situation is dire. He is losing his home, facing constant rejection, trying to sell broken machines, all while taking care of his son. What stayed with me wasn’t just how difficult his life became, but how he responded to it. He didn’t wait for a handout or better conditions; he kept working, even when it seemed like nothing was going to change. One line in the movie that completely shifted my perspective was: “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something.” Before watching it, I used to let doubt influence my decisions. I hesitated when something felt uncertain or out of reach. That line made me realize that doubt doesn't disappear on its own. You have to push through it and decide to believe in yourself. Throughout my life, I’ve had times when I questioned whether my effort was enough, especially when things didn’t go my way. Seeing Chris continue despite repeated setbacks changed how I think about those moments. It made me realize that failure isn’t a stopping point, but an opportunity to rebound. The relationship between Chris and his son added another layer to the story. One scene that resonated with me is when they have to sleep in a subway bathroom. Instead of letting his son feel how desperate the situation really is, Chris turnt the moment into a story. He tells him they’re hiding from dinosaurs and that they have to stay quiet to avoid being found. Even while holding the door shut and fighting back tears, he keeps his son calm. That moment stood out to me because it showed how Chris’s responsibility as a parent doesn’t disappear when life gets difficult. Even at his lowest point, he chose to create a sense of safety for his son. Since watching the film, I’ve started approaching my goals differently. I pay more attention to consistency and effort, and I don’t focus as much on immediate results or compare my progress to others as often. Even if I’m not sure how things will turn out, I’m still willing to take a chance. This movie didn’t change my life overnight. It did, however, teach me an important lesson on persistence. Success feels less like a distant finish line and more like something built over time through small, steady choices. That idea has stayed with me, and it continues to shape how I approach my future.

I remember sitting in my bed, typing away at my computer late at night, staring at the lines of code that refused to work. My zombie survival game kept breaking in different ways. Zombies wouldn’t move correctly, the progression system kept failing, and nothing was behaving the way I intended. It was extremely frustrating, but instead of quitting, I kept testing and fixing bugs. I taught myself how to code in Luau and began developing a Roblox game from scratch. What started as a simple passion project became a complex game featuring enemy AI, experience-based progression, and weapon unlock systems. Building each feature came with a unique challenge. My zombies needed to track players, so I experimented with movement logic. However, after weeks of debugging, every zombie kept walking into walls. My XP system broke multiple times before I understood how to structure it properly. All I had were YouTube tutorials and my willingness to figure things out. Through trial and error, I not only finished my game, but I also developed persistence and confidence in solving problems independently. The same mindset extends beyond coding and into how I serve my community. One of the most important parts of my high school experience has been my involvement in the Young Men’s Service League, where I have completed nearly 200 service hours and held leadership roles, including Class Vice President, Class President, and President of the Life Skills Committee. Through participation in these roles, I have been able to organize service events, mentor younger YMSL members, and help guide initiatives that support both our organization and the broader community. During my community service, I volunteered with amazing organizations such as Kids Matter, the Grapevine Community Center, and Wreaths Across America. Each opportunity helped connect me with different groups of people and better understand the needs within my community. My commitment to service also led me to co-found a fundraising team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where we raised over $11,000 for blood cancer research and patient support. While raising money, I partnered with local businesses such as Panera Bread to have days of giving back, and I engaged with my community to raise awareness and donations. This experience showed me the power of collaboration, as well as the importance of supporting a cause that extended beyond myself. In the future, I plan to study Computer Science and eventually pursue a master’s degree to deepen my understanding of artificial intelligence. I want to use technology to improve people’s lives by creating systems and software that make everyday tasks easier and more accessible. AI has the power to transform healthcare and education, and I hope to be part of that change. I want my work to have purpose behind it, and I want to create tools that genuinely help people and improve their quality of life. Giving back has shown me that impact doesn’t come from solving problems, but from solving the right problems: those that improve people’s lives. Whether through technology, leadership, or service, I want to make a positive impact by helping other solves problems and live better lives. Just as I stayed up fixing a broken game until it worked, I will continue applying that same persistence and purpose to the communities I hope to serve.

My name is Ethan Menezes, and I am a high school senior who has developed a strong commitment to leadership, service, and community impact. Throughout high school, I have focused not only on academic success but also on finding meaningful ways to contribute to the people around me. I plan to pursue a degree in Computer Science, and I intend to create systems and software that improve people’s lives. One of the most important parts of my high school experience has been my involvement in the Young Men’s Service League, where I have completed nearly 200 service hours and held leadership roles, including Class Vice President, Class President, and President of the Life Skills Committee. Through participation in these roles, I have been able to organize service events, mentor younger YMSL members, and help guide initiatives that support both our organization and the broader community. These experiences have strengthened my ability to lead, communicate, and take initiative. In addition to YMSL, I have also been active in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where I helped co-found a fundraising team that raised over $11,000 for blood cancer research and patient support. While raising money, I partnered with local businesses such as Panera Bread to have days of giving back, and I engaged with my community to raise awareness and donations. This experience showed me the power of collaboration, as well as the importance of supporting a cause that extended beyond myself. During my community service, I volunteered with amazing organizations such as Kids Matter, the Grapevine Community Center, and Wreaths Across America. Each opportunity helped connect me with different groups of people and better understand the needs within my community. In the future, I plan to study Computer Science and eventually pursue a master’s degree to deepen my understanding of artificial intelligence. I want to use technology to improve people’s lives by creating systems and software that make everyday tasks easier and more accessible. AI has the power to transform healthcare and education, and I hope to be part of that change. I want my work to have purpose behind it, and I want to create tools that genuinely help people and improve their quality of life. One adversity I have had to overcome was learning how to push through frustration and self-doubt when facing difficult challenges. As someone who has taught themselves coding, I often ran into problems I didn’t know how to solve. There were moments when my projects broke, and progress felt impossible. One example was when I was building a zombie survival game from scratch on Roblox. The enemy AI would not work properly, constantly running itself into walls, instead of moving towards the player. I had no teacher walking me through the process, so I had to rely on patience and the willingness to keep going. Overcoming that taught me resilience and showed me that growth often comes through failure, and that persistence is one of the most valuable skills a person can have. My goal is not only to succeed in my career, but also to give back to my community. Whether through technology, leadership, or service, I want to make a positive impact by helping other solves problems and live better lives.

My name is Ethan Menezes, and I am a high school senior who has developed a strong commitment to leadership, service, and community impact. Throughout high school, I have focused not only on academic success but also on finding meaningful ways to contribute to the people around me. I plan to pursue a degree in Computer Science, and I intend to create systems and software that improve people’s lives. One of the most important parts of my high school experience has been my involvement in the Young Men’s Service League, where I have completed nearly 200 service hours and held leadership roles, including Class Vice President, Class President, and President of the Life Skills Committee. Through participation in these roles, I have been able to organize service events, mentor younger YMSL members, and help guide initiatives that support both our organizations and the broader community. These experiences have strengthened my ability to lead, communicate, and take initiative. In addition to YMSL, I have also been active in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where I helped co-found a fundraising team that raised over $11,000 for blood cancer research and patient support. While raising money, I partnered with local businesses such as Panera Bread to have days of giving back, and I engaged with my community to raise awareness and donations. This experience showed me the power of collaboration, as well as the importance of supporting a cause that extended beyond myself. During my involvement in community service, I was able to volunteer with amazing organizations such as Kids Matter, the Grapevine Community Center, and Wreaths Across America. Each opportunity helped connect me with different groups of people and better understand the needs within my community. Alongside my service, I have been actively involved in DECA and BPA, where I competed as a state qualifier in DECA for Business Finance and in BPA for Cybersecurity. Through DECA, I overcame my fear of public speaking, giving presentations to Business experts, and finding solutions in high-pressure environments. In BPA, I applied my technical knowledge to analyze cybersecurity concepts and strengthen my problem-solving skills. These experiences pushed me to think critically and perform at a higher level. My interest in technology has continued through my involvement in the Computer Science Club. During club time, I explored my passion for programming more deeply. I built my own Roblox game and helped teach other students Java and Luau. This experience not only strengthened my technical skills but also showed me how much I enjoy sharing knowledge and helping others learn. If I were to start my own charity, I would focus on providing underserved students with access to education through the means of technology. Volunteers would mentor students online, teaching them fundamentals in math, science, and reading. They would guide them through hands-on projects such as building games or websites. In addition, the charity would host workshops on digital literacy while partnering with schools to provide the necessary technology. Aserina Hill’s legacy of generosity reflects the values I strive to uphold. Through my experience in leadership and service, I hope to continue creating opportunities for others and make a lasting impact on my community.

I remember sitting in my bed, typing away at my computer late at night, staring at the lines of code that refused to work. My zombie survival game kept breaking in different ways. Zombies wouldn’t move correctly, the progression system kept failing, and nothing was behaving the way I intended. It was extremely frustrating, but instead of quitting, I kept testing and fixing bugs. That moment captured what made me unique. I learn by building, failing, and improving systems until they work. I taught myself how to code in Luau and began developing a Roblox game from scratch. What started as a simple passion project became a complex game featuring enemy AI, experience-based progression, and weapon unlock systems. Building each feature came with a unique challenge. My zombies needed to track players, so I experimented with movement logic. However, after weeks of debugging, every zombie kept walking into walls. My XP system broke multiple times before I understood how to structure it properly. All I had were YouTube tutorials and my willingness to figure things out. Through trial and error, I not only finished my game, but I also developed persistence and confidence in solving problems independently. My enjoyment of failure extends beyond coding. When I built my own PC, I spent months troubleshooting issues that seemed impossible to fix. Instead of giving up, I researched and tested, while learning from each mistake I made. That same problem-solving approach shapes how I lead my community. As a leader in the Young Men’s Service League, I help teach practical life skills, such as managing finances, scheduling doctor appointments, and even showing how to fold clothes. I approach teaching these lessons the same way I approach coding. I break the problems down, simplify them, and help others improve. I plan to pursue a degree in Computer Science to deepen my understanding of technology, especially in areas like artificial intelligence. Creating systems that improve people’s lives is another thing that draws me to CS. For me, computer science is not just about writing code. It is about creativity and building something meaningful from nothing. This scholarship would directly support my CS journey. I would use the funds toward tuition and to invest in better equipment and software that allow me to continue building and learning. Having access to stronger tools would help me take on more advanced projects and push my skills further. What sets me apart is not what I have built, but how I approach challenges. I am someone who embraces failure and is willing to explore the unknown. I am committed to improving both myself and the systems around me. Just as I stayed up fixing a broken game until it worked, I will continue applying that same persistence and curiosity to my education, my career, and to any future adventures.

I remember sitting in my bed, typing away at my computer late at night, staring at the lines of code that refused to work. My zombie survival game kept breaking in different ways. Zombies wouldn’t move correctly, the progression system kept failing, and nothing was behaving the way I intended. It was extremely frustrating, but instead of quitting, I kept testing and fixing bugs. That moment captured what made me unique. I learn by building, failing, and improving systems until they work. I taught myself how to code in Luau and began developing a Roblox game from scratch. What started as a simple passion project became a complex game featuring enemy AI, experience-based progression, and weapon unlock systems. Building each feature came with a unique challenge. My zombies needed to track players, so I experimented with movement logic. However, after weeks of debugging, every zombie kept walking into walls. My XP system broke multiple times before I understood how to structure it properly. All I had were YouTube tutorials and my willingness to figure things out. Through trial and error, I not only finished my game, but I also developed persistence and confidence in solving problems independently. My enjoyment of failure extends beyond coding. When I built my own PC, I spent months troubleshooting issues that seemed impossible to fix. Instead of giving up, I researched and tested, while learning from each mistake I made. That same problem-solving approach shapes how I lead my community. As a leader in the Young Men’s Service League, I help teach practical life skills, such as managing finances, scheduling doctor appointments, and even showing how to fold clothes. I approach teaching these lessons the same way I approach coding. I break the problems down, simplify them, and help others improve. I plan to pursue a degree in Computer Science to deepen my understanding of technology, especially in areas like artificial intelligence. Creating systems that improve people’s lives is another thing that draws me to CS. For me, computer science is not just about writing code. It is about creativity and building something meaningful from nothing. This scholarship would directly support my CS journey. I would use the funds toward tuition and to invest in better equipment and software that allow me to continue building and learning. Having access to stronger tools would help me take on more advanced projects and push my skills further. What sets me apart is not what I have built, but how I approach challenges. I am someone who embraces failure and is willing to explore the unknown. I am committed to improving both myself and the systems around me. Just as I stayed up fixing a broken game until it worked, I will continue applying that same persistence and curiosity to my education, my career, and to any future adventures.

I am a high school senior dedicated to discipline, growing, and serving others. During my high school years, I made a conscious effort to take full advantage of every opportunity. My academic performance stayed at a GPA higher than 3.0, while simultaneously taking part in different kinds of sports and being actively engaged in various community-related events and volunteering. Such an approach helped me shape up as a person who knows how to work hard, is resilient, and is always ready to lend a hand. Sports were crucial for shaping me as a person. Years spent training and competing helped me understand that discipline, consistency, and perseverance can bring great results regardless of your motivation level at any moment. Also, through sports, I learned how to overcome challenges and deal with pain, as well as cope with success and failure. What's important, all of the mentioned aspects have affected my life outside sports, helping me become better in every area. Community service was another essential aspect of my high school years. Being a member of multiple voluntary organizations gave me an opportunity to be actively engaged in the development of my community, helping needy families and taking part in numerous projects. At present, I hold an administrative position in one of my organizations. In other words, I participate in organizing events and developing various life skills in volunteers. After graduating from high school, I intend to pursue a Computer Science degree because I believe that I will be able to contribute to society. In particular, I am interested in developing new software and technologies that are able to facilitate our lives, such as artificial intelligence. Of course, in my spare time, I will try to continue doing service work. The scholarship would greatly assist me with my academic activities, relieving me from financial burdens of college and freeing up some additional time for personal development. However, the scholarship would also be a way to value my contribution and efforts, encouraging me to do my best in the future. The values of Kalia D. Davis's story resonate greatly with mine. In particular, hard work, ambition, and generosity play a key role for me. Therefore, it is very important for me to continue living in accordance with these principles. Receiving a scholarship will be a wonderful incentive for me to move forward. I hope to one day achieve my goals in my field and make my family proud.

When I was younger, my grandfather was a constant presence in my life, even though we lived in different countries. He moved to the United States when I was born to help take care of me, and after that, he would visit for three months every year. I also saw him whenever I traveled to India. Some of my earliest memories were spending time with him, and as I got older, our connection only got stronger. During second grade, I learned that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was already stage four, and my family knew that he did not have much time left. I took about a month off from school and traveled to India to be with him. At that age, I couldn’t fully grasp the severity of the situation, but I could feel that something was very wrong. When I first saw him, he was in a bed with a breathing mask and a long metal canister that was larger than me. He was struggling to speak, and I could remember how difficult it was for him to get words out. During the first couple of weeks I was there, I would sit next to him and read Diary of a Wimpy Kid out loud. He didn’t understand some of the jokes or Greg Heffley's pessimistic attitude towards life, but it was still a way to connect. As his condition worsened, he eventually lost his ability to talk completely, but I still kept reading to him and spending time by his side. Over time, his body began to shut down. He became almost completely paralyzed, and it kinda hit me that he didn’t have much time left. While there had been a clear shift in the atmosphere, we all tried to keep our spirits up as his birthday approached. We celebrated his birthday, sang to him, and tried to create a moment of happiness in the middle of something incredibly difficult. The very next day, he passed away. That experience of loss shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. It was the first time I had lost someone close to me, and it was the first time I had to confront the fragility of life and the darkness of death. It felt like there was a void within me, and it never truly went away. As I’ve grown older, I learned that the experience of losing my grandpa didn’t just leave a negative impact on me. The experience taught me the importance of being present. I learned that showing up for someone, whether that's sitting with them, reading to them, or just simply being there, can matter more than anything you say. I also learned not to take family and friendships for granted. Every moment with your loved ones is a blessing, and being thankful for that connection is important. Losing my grandfather was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but it taught me the importance of not taking life for granted. His loss has pushed me to approach every day with happiness, kindness, and resilience.

Taking the gavel from the President of the Class of 2025, it dawns on me the amount of responsibility I hold. As I walk back to my table, 40 other kids look at me, as if wondering what the first thing I would do as president. I knew I couldn’t let them down. Being president of my Young Men’s Service League meant leading by example. So the first thing I did as president was clean up the plates of chicken fingers and cookies off the table. In my head, I imagined all the other kids following suit, yet to my surprise, only my best friend helped me clean the mess. “Maybe this leadership thing isn’t for me…” At the first meeting of the year, I came in early to help set up the chairs, trying to live up to the president of the previous year. My classmates slowly trickle in, sitting in their self-designated chairs, talking within their friend group. When the clock hits the hour, I clear my throat to signal that the meeting is starting. “I am going to take attend-” Everyone was still talking. So I take the gavel, hit it as quietly as I can to signal that the meeting is starting. Still, the majority of the room remains talkative. I banged the gavel three times as hard as I could and said “Quiet!” in a tone that surprised even me. I feel a little embarrassed; however, I knew I had to move out of my comfort zone to lead the meeting. Our first team event was cleaning a community park. I had picked that park because it was the location where community service was done, such as free camps for kids, and a place where toys were collected for the less fortunate. As the rest of the boys arrived, I stood in front of them and explained how important this park was and that it was worth cleaning. With that, we got to work. 30 minutes later, I saw a couple of boys sitting on a park bench playing the immensely popular game Clash Royale. “Maybe they're just taking a break, and they’ll get to work soon.” I convinced myself of that answer and turned away. As I almost walked out of sight, something inside me felt off. If I, the President, couldn’t hold others responsible, would anyone else in my group do the same? So I went back, with my head high, and talked to them. “I know you want to play Clash, but can you hold off just for another 30 minutes. Then we can take a break and eat the snacks I brought.” I fully expected a rebuttal or to be called a no-fun Nancy, but to my surprise, they got up(although a bit unenthusiastically) and got back to work. We were able to finish 30 minutes ahead of schedule since all of the trash was picked up in the surrounding area, and I felt proud of my classmates and what we were able to accomplish. That day, I found my voice, and it made becoming president all worth it. My role has made me confident in who I am, and the lessons, such as communicating with others, leading groups, and planning, will help me in all walks of life.

I started my high school sports journey as a football player before dedicating most of my time to wrestling. As a freshman, I felt undersized on the football field. Competing against bigger and stronger players made me question if football was the sport for me. That feeling led me to wrestling. Weight classes leveled the playing field, and I realized that my success depended more on discipline and technique than size alone. Wrestling quickly shaped who I am. It is one of the most demanding sports, both physically and mentally. The season was filled with early morning practices, intense conditioning, constant weightlifting, and weekend tournaments that lasted the whole day. Balancing it with schoolwork required strong time management skills, which I had to learn the hard way. Freshman year was rocky, with my grades dropping as the football season began and the wrestling season ended. However, despite the struggles, I learned to use every available moment productively. I studied quizlets on the bus, brought textbooks to tournaments, and used downtime between matches to review material. Even after learning time management skills, balancing schoolwork and wrestling often felt overwhelming. During my junior year, I challenged myself academically by taking five AP classes while also stepping into a leadership role on the team. I held myself accountable and set an example for younger teammates. There were countless long nights after exhausting practices, with hours of work still to complete, leaving me feeling completely demotivated. Yet, wrestling had taught me how to push through discomfort. I learned to rely on discipline rather than motivation, approaching academics with the same mindset I developed in wrestling. Over time, I became a stronger student and a more confident leader. I learned accountability. I began to realize every match and grade reflected preparation. Outside of school, I served as my Young Men's Service League class president and earned the presidential award through sustained philanthropy and over 200 service hours. I organized and led community service events, directed chapter meetings, and oversaw philanthropy selection. I co-founded a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Student Visionaries group called Team Cancer Cancer and raised $11,000 for cancer research and patient support. I launched and managed SLC detailing, supervising two part-time employees, often fitting clients' cleaning needs between morning and afternoon wrestling practices over the summer. I also remained committed to attending after-school events such as DECA, BPA, and the Computer Science club. By far, the most challenging responsibility to balance with wrestling was my job at Jersey Mikes. There were times when I packed my work clothes to tournaments, quickly changing in the store bathroom while still sweaty from my last match. Sometimes, when I couldn't make it to work, I would desperately call coworkers to get my shifts covered. While balancing a job, wrestling, and school was stressful, it taught me how to problem-solve quickly and how to coordinate with others, such as teachers and coworkers. Balancing academics, athletics, work, and philanthropy pushed me to my limits, but it helped me grow as a person. Wrestling became more than just a sport. It taught me how to handle pressure, stay disciplined, take responsibility, and how to commit time to reach a goal. These lessons will stay with me as I continue to pursue my goals in college and beyond.

Taking the gavel from the President of the Class of 2025, it dawns on me the amount of responsibility I hold. As I walk back to my table, 40 other kids look at me, as if wondering what the first thing I would do as president. I knew I couldn’t let them down. Being president of my Young Men’s Service League meant leading by example. So the first thing I did as president was clean up the plates of chicken fingers and cookies off the table. In my head, I imagined all the other kids following suit, yet to my surprise, only my best friend helped me clean the mess. “Maybe this leadership thing isn’t for me…” At the first meeting of the year, I came in early to help set up the chairs, trying to live up to the president of the previous year. My classmates slowly trickle in, sitting in their self-designated chairs, talking within their friend group. When the clock hits the hour, I clear my throat to signal that the meeting is starting. “I am going to take attend-” Everyone was still talking. So I take the gavel, hit it as quietly as I can to signal that the meeting is starting. Still, the majority of the room remains talkative. I banged the gavel three times as hard as I could and said “Quiet!” in a tone that surprised even me. I feel a little embarrassed; however, I knew I had to move out of my comfort zone to lead the meeting. Our first team event was cleaning a community park. I had picked that park because it was the location where community service was done, such as free camps for kids, and a place where toys were collected for the less fortunate. As the rest of the boys arrived, I stood in front of them and explained how important this park was and that it was worth cleaning. With that, we got to work. 30 minutes later, I saw a couple of boys sitting on a park bench playing the immensely popular game Clash Royale. “Maybe they're just taking a break, and they’ll get to work soon.” I convinced myself of that answer and turned away. As I almost walked out of sight, something inside me felt off. If I, the President, couldn’t hold others responsible, would anyone else in my group do the same? So I went back, with my head high, and talked to them. “I know you want to play Clash, but can you hold off just for another 30 minutes. Then we can take a break and eat the snacks I brought.” I fully expected a rebuttal or to be called a no-fun Nancy, but to my surprise, they got up(although a bit unenthusiastically) and got back to work. We were able to finish 30 minutes ahead of schedule since all of the trash was picked up in the surrounding area, and I felt proud of my classmates and what we were able to accomplish. That day, I found my voice, and it made becoming president all worth it. My role has made me confident in who I am, and the lessons, such as communicating with others, leading groups, and planning, will help me in all walks of life.

The room is quickly filled with the clicking and clacking of keyboards. I type away attentively, working on my lab. I hit Ctrl-R. “Syntax Error: Line 33. I nod my head in frustration and begrudgingly walk over to my teacher for the fifth time that day. I ask for help and brace myself for the impending disappointment from Mr.Stovall, the computer science teacher. Instead, he grinningly says, “You're going to make a great coder one day.” Surprised, I ask, “What do you mean, I’ve failed over 5 times now?” “Failed?” He responds, “No, you haven’t failed, you’ve merely eliminated 5 ways how you shouldn’t do it. I want you to keep eliminating each possibility until you reach your solution.” I go back to the desk confused, yet confident to tackle the problem ahead of me. He was right. I had eliminated 5 ways to do it. Now it was time to eliminate every other possibility. Ctr-R: Parse Error. Ctr-R: Out of Bounds error. About 15 times later, the code finally ran. To my dismay, instead of summing up every number from 0 to the number inputted, it summed up every other number. Still, it was progress. That night, I decided to keep on working on the code. It was like a puzzle, and I was determined to solve it. After a couple of video tutorials, 10 searches on Oracle, and 30 minutes of analyzing the teacher's slides, I was beginning to understand the concepts. So I went back to my lab and started again. I laughed at my previous mistakes, which seemed obvious now. I attacked the problem with a newfound confidence. Now, for the test, I input 48, my lucky number. The code ran, and a few seconds later, the numbers 1176. Now mad at myself that I picked such a hard number, I whipped out Desmos and used the summation formula. “48.. N equals 0..and..” 1176. A wave of relief, satisfaction, and accomplishment rushed through my body. Although I had struggled so hard to figure it out, that feeling of success, that had been earned through hard work, felt addictive. Each lab in Computer Science was its unique puzzle. It had the simplicity of Math, yet allowed for a structureless creativity found in English. It has taught me to attack problems in my life in the same way, to create creative yet simple solutions. So as I move forward, I hope to make mistakes. I hope to make mistakes in college and work. It just means that I am getting closer to the solution.

The room is quickly filled with the clicking and clacking of keyboards. I type away attentively, working on my lab. I hit Ctrl-R. “Syntax Error: Line 33. I nod my head in frustration and begrudgingly walk over to my teacher for the fifth time that day. I ask for help and brace myself for the impending disappointment from Mr.Stovall, the computer science teacher. Instead, he grinningly says, “You're going to make a great coder one day.” Surprised, I ask, “What do you mean, I’ve failed over 5 times now?” “Failed?” He responds, “No, you haven’t failed, you’ve merely eliminated 5 ways how you shouldn’t do it. I want you to keep eliminating each possibility until you reach your solution.” I go back to the desk confused, yet confident to tackle the problem ahead of me. He was right. I had eliminated 5 ways to do it. Now it was time to eliminate every other possibility. Ctr-R: Parse Error. Ctr-R: Out of Bounds error. About 15 times later, the code finally ran. To my dismay, instead of summing up every number from 0 to the number inputted, it summed up every other number. Still, it was progress. That night, I decided to keep on working on the code. It was like a puzzle, and I was determined to solve it. After a couple of video tutorials, 10 searches on Oracle, and 30 minutes of analyzing the teacher's slides, I was beginning to understand the concepts. So I went back to my lab and started again. I laughed at my previous mistakes, which seemed obvious now. I attacked the problem with a newfound confidence. Now, for the test, I input 48, my lucky number. The code ran, and a few seconds later, the numbers 1176. Now mad at myself that I picked such a hard number, I whipped out Desmos and used the summation formula. “48.. N equals 0..and..” 1176. A wave of relief, satisfaction, and accomplishment rushed through my body. Although I had struggled so hard to figure it out, that feeling of success, that had been earned through hard work, felt addictive. Each lab in Computer Science was its unique puzzle. It had the simplicity of Math, yet allowed for a structureless creativity found in English. It has taught me to attack problems in my life in the same way, to create creative yet simple solutions. So as I move forward, I hope to make mistakes. I hope to make mistakes in college and work. It just means that I am getting closer to the solution.

The room is quickly filled with the clicking and clacking of keyboards. I type away attentively, working on my lab. I hit Ctrl-R. “Syntax Error: Line 33. I nod my head in frustration and begrudgingly walk over to my teacher for the fifth time that day. I ask for help and brace myself for the impending disappointment from Mr.Stovall, the computer science teacher. Instead, he grinningly says, “You're going to make a great coder one day.” Surprised, I ask, “What do you mean, I’ve failed over 5 times now?” “Failed?” He responds, “No, you haven’t failed, you’ve merely eliminated 5 ways how you shouldn’t do it. I want you to keep eliminating each possibility until you reach your solution.” I go back to the desk confused, yet confident to tackle the problem ahead of me. He was right. I had eliminated 5 ways to do it. Now it was time to eliminate every other possibility. Ctr-R: Parse Error. Ctr-R: Out of Bounds error. About 15 times later, the code finally ran. To my dismay, instead of summing up every number from 0 to the number inputted, it summed up every other number. Still, it was progress. That night, I decided to keep on working on the code. It was like a puzzle, and I was determined to solve it. After a couple of video tutorials, 10 searches on Oracle, and 30 minutes of analyzing the teacher's slides, I was beginning to understand the concepts. So I went back to my lab and started again. I laughed at my previous mistakes, which seemed obvious now. I attacked the problem with a newfound confidence. Now, for the test, I input 48, my lucky number. The code ran, and a few seconds later, the numbers 1176. Now mad at myself that I picked such a hard number, I whipped out Desmos and used the summation formula. “48.. N equals 0..and..” 1176. A wave of relief, satisfaction, and accomplishment rushed through my body. Although I had struggled so hard to figure it out, that feeling of success, that had been earned through hard work, felt addictive. Each lab in Computer Science was its unique puzzle. It had the simplicity of Math, yet allowed for a structureless creativity found in English. It has taught me to attack problems in my life in the same way, to create creative yet simple solutions. So as I move forward, I hope to make mistakes. I hope to make mistakes in college and work. It just means that I am getting closer to the solution.