I never wanted to be looked at as ill or a burden, but lately it feels like that is how I am seen. My name is Freya Blatz, and I am in the process of being diagnosed with a chronic heart problem. I do not have a confirmed diagnosis yet, but I want to share my struggles and honor Jules. I was a star goalkeeper, ranked second in all of Pennsylvania, and I was recruited to play at the University of Akron. This is my freshman year, and I am surviving it by coming home almost every weekend. My biggest challenge used to be balancing schoolwork with soccer, but now it is getting through a day without passing out. I worry that I will lose my athletic scholarship because my coach no longer wants a goalie who is sick or weak. Losing this scholarship would put my education at risk because I do not have another way to pay for school. Academically, I have never struggled more. On days when I have a flare up, getting out of bed feels impossible, and sometimes I cannot even pick up a pencil. I hesitate to tell my teachers about my health, but I wonder what they think when I am frequently absent for doctor appointments. Despite this, I do not believe in excuses. The athlete and hard worker in me insists that even on the worst days, completing one assignment is better than none. On my good days, when I feel healthy and full of energy, I take full advantage. I spend hours in the library working on assignments and preparing for future deadlines. This allows me to stay ahead and reduces stress on the days when my illness takes over. I have learned to manage my workload strategically, embracing every opportunity to set myself up for success. I have not given in to this illness, although my old life feels like it is slipping away. Friends avoid social outings because they fear being responsible if I faint. My all-star soccer career is slowly vanishing, and with it, my vision of a college athletic career. All my ambitions and passions feel distant, but I am determined to press on and create new goals. Returning to work has been a significant step for me. Receiving this scholarship would give me financial stability and allow me to focus on my studies and long-term career goals. I aspire to have a successful career in marketing, leading projects and creating campaigns that make an impact. I am ambitious and dedicated, and I am learning to adapt to this new chapter in my life. I am trying not to see this challenge as a curse but as an opportunity to refocus my priorities, discover true friendships, and envision a future that accommodates both my health and my ambitions. I wrote this essay two months ago and I finally revisiting it to finish it and I am to glad to finally be diagnosed and on medication. I am diagnosed with Dysautonomia and have been prescribed medication and advised on more lifestyle changes and it seems to be working well. I still have my off days but now I have more good days than bad days and I feel hope for my next soccer season that I will actually be playing this year.

Taking on a leadership role, especially as a woman, can be both empowering and challenging. One of the most pivotal experiences that shaped me was leading my high school soccer team to the quarterfinals. This journey taught me about perseverance, strategic thinking, and the deeper meaning of leadership. It was not just about scoring goals or making plays. It was about handling the pressure and responsibility of guiding a team toward a common goal. When I first became team captain, I did not fully understand the weight that came with the position. Being a leader meant more than being a skilled player or a source of motivation. It required balancing the needs of every teammate, making difficult decisions, and staying calm during intense moments. Our success came from unity, not just individual talent. At times the responsibility felt overwhelming, but it also offered valuable insight and growth that I could not have gained otherwise. One of the most eye-opening parts of this experience was gaining a deeper appreciation for my coaches. Before stepping into a leadership position, I saw them mainly as authority figures who managed the game from the sidelines. Once I was responsible for organizing and motivating the team, I realized how hard it is to manage different personalities, build strategies, and keep everyone focused. This gave me a new level of empathy and respect for those who lead, including my coaches. Empowerment comes with its own challenges, especially for women in leadership roles. As I took on more responsibility, I began to face criticism that was not always constructive. Some teammates disagreed with my decisions, and occasionally, people made disrespectful comments. It became clear that leadership does not always come with approval or praise. I had to learn to stand firm in my choices and continue doing what I believed was best for the team, even when it was difficult. Through these challenges, I discovered that true empowerment is not about being liked by everyone. It is about having the confidence to trust your vision, even in the face of disagreement. I remained focused on supporting my team and building a positive environment. The progress we made, both on and off the field, showed me that leadership is about consistency, integrity, and helping others grow alongside you. This experience also taught me that leadership is not about having the loudest voice or always being at the forefront. It is about knowing when to step up and when to step back, when to take charge and when to listen. I learned to lead by example, to offer support when it was needed most, and to recognize the strengths of others. Empowerment comes from that balance of strength and empathy, decisiveness and flexibility. Leading my soccer team was more than a role or a title. It was a powerful learning experience that shaped how I view leadership and what it means to empower others. I now carry these lessons with me in every team, group, or situation where leadership is required. I understand that empowerment is not always met with applause or immediate approval. Instead, it often shows itself through resilience, mutual respect, and the courage to stand by your beliefs even when it is hard. This journey gave me confidence not only in my ability to lead but in my ability to grow from challenges. It showed me that empowerment is not a destination. It is a mindset, a commitment to self-awareness, and a dedication to lifting others as you rise.

My sister was always the academic one and I live every day feeling like an idiot next to her. We are both division one athletes for soccer and had great accomplishment for athletics, we were raised to be competitive with one another but in academics I could never win. I am no idiot but I desire being equal to my older sister when it came to being school. A subject I could never grasp was physics and I would clench my desk and grit my teeth awaiting the bad score to be dropped onto my desk and act like it didn't anger me that my sister was far more successful. I left that class to go to my next period and this was something my sister could never understand. It was a beginner pottery class, an entry level art class. I hated this new thing that I couldn't succeed at. But yet, I had this competitive urge to get better from the way I was raised. I had to win in this art class, be the best potter a ceramic artist could have ever seen. Weeks past by and I have finally made my first pot. The rim is wobbly and the walls are un even and its only a mere 5 inches tall yet I showed it to my ceramic teacher. Instead of him saying that student did better or your pot is horrible he looked me in the eyes and told me he was so proud of all the hard work I have been putting in and art is up to interpretation. He told me to not be done since I have made one but to keep striving for improvement and focus on my own art style. Mr. Hooton words changed my outlook on art and my academics. It didn't matter if my sister got only A pluses while I had low As and high Bs. As long as I was trying my best and putting maximum effort in I am succeeding. I found an escape in pottery and I stopped focusing on all the flaws in each pot but instead all of the improvements. I stopped going to the cafeteria to each lunch and stopped going to my study halls just so I could spend freeing bliss in the pottery room. My senior year of highschool everything started making sense in the world of pottery. My vases started getting a foot tall and I began throwing with larger amounts of clay. The slip of the clay weaves through my finger like warm butter and I can form whatever comes to mind. There is no grade for this school work just pure peace. I started bringing my headphones to the ceramics studio and its like it was just me and the clay in this whole world. No more pressure from my parents or being competitive with my peers or my sister. I learned to admire others work as well as my own. If I continue to compare my work with others I will never be satisfied with anything I do in my life. This last weekend I went to my first art show to sell my pottery. I was amazed that other people wanted my pottery other than my mother. I saw a booth two stations down but instead of comparing my pieces and feeling like a failure I remembered the different beauties each of our pots have. I've decided that even though this isn't my final career I can not loose the peace of pottery. This is why I am choosing to pursue a minor in pottery.

My father is more than just my biological dad—he is my coach, my driving instructor, my biggest supporter, and the person who always has my back. He has shaped me into the person I am today, and I couldn’t imagine life without him. He taught me what hard work and sacrifice truly mean. Even while juggling two demanding jobs—one as a teacher and the other as a soccer coach—he never failed to provide for our family. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time for me. Growing up, all I wanted to do was play soccer with my dad and my sister. We would spend hours at the fields, kicking the ball around with our dog running beside us. In those moments, nothing else mattered. As we grew older, soccer became more than just a game—it became our passion. My sister and I were both competitive, constantly striving to improve, so we begged our dad to bring us to his training sessions with his boys' teams. Without hesitation, he dedicated his weekends to teaching us everything he knew, shaping us into the athletes we are today. When COVID-19 shut down our soccer league, my dad refused to let our progress stall. He snuck us into our soccer club’s field, bringing back the carefree joy of our childhood. But this time, we weren’t just playing for fun—we were training harder than ever. Those long hours of practice paid off. When soccer returned, my sister and I emerged as stronger, more skilled players, prepared to take on the next level. His unwavering support led me to achieve something I had always dreamed of—I am now ranked the 24th player in Pennsylvania and committed to play Division I soccer at the University of Akron, while my sister went on to play at the University at Buffalo. We owe our success to our father, not just because he coached us, but because he believed in us, pushed us, and never let us give up. Beyond soccer, my dad has also given me unforgettable experiences that have strengthened our bond. One of the greatest moments of my life was during my junior year of high school when he surprised me with a trip to England to watch my favorite soccer team, Everton. Over those two weeks, we made memories I will cherish forever. From stepping into his favorite team’s stadium and feeling the energy of the roaring crowd to witnessing live matches alongside passionate fans, it was nothing short of incredible. But the best surprise was yet to come. When it was finally time to see my team play at Goodison Park, my dad revealed his ultimate gift—box seats right above the players. The match itself was thrilling, but what happened next left me speechless. My dad nudged me to walk three seats down, and to my shock, my favorite player, Jordan Pickford, and his family were sitting right there. Overwhelmed with emotion, I ran back to my dad with tears in my eyes, shaking with excitement, and hugged him tighter than ever. In that moment I got to meet my idol, take a picture with him, and even receive a signed jersey—a moment I will treasure forever, all thanks to my dad. Words cannot fully express how much love, admiration, and gratitude I have for my father. He has not only helped me develop into the soccer player I am today but also the person I have become. His sacrifices, his encouragement, and his endless support have shaped me in more ways than I can count.

From the moment I could walk, soccer has been an unbreakable part of my life. My parents, both former Division I soccer players, introduced me to the game at a young age, but it was goalkeeping that truly captured my heart. At nine years old, I stepped into the position for the first time when my team’s goalkeeper was absent. I conceded 13 goals in a single half, but instead of discouraging me, it ignited something deep within—a desire to improve, to protect the net, to be the last line of defense. From that day forward, I knew exactly where I wanted to be. By my sophomore year, my passion had translated into tangible success. I was ranked the 24th player in Pennsylvania and the 4th goalkeeper in the state, a critical time for recruiting in girls’ soccer. However, the pressure of balancing elite-level athletics with rigorous academics began to take a toll. In the midst of this, an unexpected passion found its way into my life—pottery. What started as a required elective quickly became something more. Sitting at the pottery wheel, shaping clay with my hands, and watching my work transform into beautiful, glazed pieces of art became an escape from the relentless demands of soccer and school. I never imagined I could feel the same drive and fulfillment outside of soccer, but pottery gave me a new way to express myself. Suddenly, I was juggling three major commitments: intense training, honors coursework, and my newfound love for ceramics. Late-night practices and out-of-state weekend games were non-negotiable, but I found myself sacrificing study time for extra hours in the pottery studio. As a result, I started struggling in my math class and completing English essays at midnight. I realized I needed to find balance—not by giving anything up, but by learning to manage my time more effectively. I adjusted. I began attending tutoring sessions during study hall and emailing college soccer coaches during lunch instead of spending those hours in the ceramics room. While it was difficult to step away from something I loved, I knew prioritizing my academics was necessary. My hard work paid off—I brought my grades back up to straight A’s, maintained my soccer performance, and still managed to create pieces of pottery that I was proud of. Now, as a senior, I have committed to playing Division I soccer at the University of Akron, where I plan to double major in Business Management and Marketing with a minor in Ceramics. I have earned multiple accolades, including All-Section (three years in a row), BIG 56 Honorable Mention, and selection for the Senior All-Star Game. Beyond soccer, I am also an active member of DECA (a student-led organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, both in high school and college), where I have placed 5th and 1st at the state level over the past two years. Balancing athletics, academics, and my personal passions has not been easy, but I have learned that success is not about choosing one passion over another—it’s about making space for them all. This scholarship represents the very values I have worked to embody: dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence across multiple disciplines. I am honored to apply and to continue Anthony’s legacy of curiosity, balance, and perseverance. Thank you for your time and consideration.