My name is Ethen Curtain, and I am a senior at Middle Creek High School in Apex, NC. I am happy to share with you my personal history, and educational and career goals as I prepare to move on to the next chapter of my academic journey at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. Throughout my high school years, I have worked to balance academics with active participation in extracurricular activities. With a current cumulative grade point average of 3.29, I have consistently applied myself in the classroom while also representing my school with pride on the football and track and field teams (sophomore and junior years). These experiences have instilled in me a strong work ethic and discipline and have also supported a deep sense of teamwork and qualities that I believe are needed for success. Beyond athletics, I have found joy in working with my community and peers through various social activities and services. Whether it be playing basketball with friends, participating in The Kappa League Leadership Academy, or supporting fellow student-athletes as part of the Middle Creek High School Sports Medicine team (senior year), I enjoy finding opportunities to connect with my peers. Additionally, over the years, I have volunteered at Oak City Cares to feed the homeless and donated clothes through our church youth program, Young Lions for Christ. These experiences have further enriched my understanding of the importance of helping others through service and community. In addition to my extracurricular activities, I have gained personal and character growth through employment opportunities at Burlington Coat Factory during my junior year and most recently at my local YMCA as a Youth Counselor in Apex, NC. I have earned valuable skills in communication, leadership, and time management. These experiences have helped me as well as others in my community. There are several times that I have encountered setbacks or challenges in my academic career. Through these challenges, I have learned perseverance, work ethic, and to lean on others who are there to support me. For example, when I had difficulty in one of my math classes, I took the initiative to attend study hall, work with a tutor, increase my study time and retake assessments. Through these actions, I was able to increase my overall grade in the class and pass the EOC. My high school math teacher and my parents were instrumental in helping me to be successful during a time I was facing an academic setback. I am interested in attending an HBCU to further my education because both of my parents are HBCU graduates and I would like to continue our family legacy. I appreciate your time and consideration in reviewing my application for scholarship consideration. If granted the scholarship, my commitment is to work hard and earn the opportunity to represent your organization in the best way possible.