Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I did some research and learned I wasn’t alone as of the world's 8 billion+ people, only 10% actually enjoy public speaking. I read up on public speaking best practices and I started practicing myself by accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this important social issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. The outcome was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students eight years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ and https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, helped me solidify my decision to open my own event planning company, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

When I was seven years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending invitations, baking the cake and hanging decorations – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I have been working toward the goal of becoming a professional event planner. My interest and commitment have escalated from coordinating school events in my ‘tween years, to starting my first paid hospitality job at 14 scooping ice cream. Since then I have taken on increasingly-responsible positions and I am currently working part-time as an associate event planner with one of Philadelphia’s top companies. In addition, I was voted as the president of the Drexel Hospitality Society and also named the Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware National Association for Catering Events (NACE) first-ever “Student of the Year.” This video shows the work I have done to start my career: https://youtu.be/aANQFwhkBVQ I am motivated by the idea of developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and find solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can improve people’s lives. I’d like to share an example of how my work planning major events has already made a difference. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. Through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. So, I developed the free public speaking training event called “Speak Out!” for low-income middle school students eight years ago. I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. As for financial need, my family has been facing crushing debt since April 11, 2017. That was the day my older brother was hit by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He has made amazing progress, but much of his rehab was not covered by insurance and instead paid for with our college savings and our parents’ retirement investments. All worth it, but I do have a significant need.

April 11, 2017. I started the day off great with a college visit and ended it seeing my older brother, Van, on the operating table, about to undergo neurosurgery for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Just that morning he had gotten word that, in addition to receiving an academic scholarship at his chosen college, he would also be getting a partial athletic scholarship to play baseball for them. It was great news, but sadly short lived. While he was riding his bicycle home later that evening after a baseball workout, Van was hit by a car a block from home and rushed by ambulance to the area’s closest shock trauma unit. Van survived, but recovery was not easy. He was in a coma for 24 hours, and in the ICU for nearly two weeks. After a few painful days, he could walk and somewhat talk, so was sent via ambulance to an acute rehab facility directly from the ICU. There, he had intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy and, again, made great progress. The doctors and staff were amazed and chalked it up to youth, being an athlete and a desire to come back 110%. Barely a month after the accident, he was sent home with my family -- wearing a helmet for the next three months because part of his skull was stored in a bone bank freezer while his brain was still swelling and decompressing. He underwent three more surgeries and ended up with a titanium prosthetic skull piece in his head. It’s been nearly seven years since the accident and it has been hard for Van and our family. However, I have learned so much from watching my brother, my role model, recover. A huge lesson he has taught me through this experience is that things may not always turn out as you planned, but with some flexibility, perseverance, determination, compassion and humor, you can not only make the best of it, but sometimes have unexpected and amazing results. For example, when Van learned that he would have to have his original skull piece removed for a second time because it was being rejected by his body and disintegrating, he was just three weeks from finally starting college. He knew he did not want to wait another year – but he also did not want to wear the hospital-recommended helmet that screamed “You’ve been damaged” to his first semester at school. So, being the creative guy he is, he bought a very cool-looking snowboarding helmet and converted it into a TBI helmet. As a result of his inventiveness, he has since been invited by his Johns Hopkins surgeons to speak to 100+ international neurosurgeons at Harvard Medical School and other conferences to share his story. He also changed his college major from architecture to medical product design, transferred to Drexel University, and we shared an apartment until his graduation last June. He is now working in the field of medical product design and recently got a patent for his helmet concept so it can be available for all TBI patients. Over these past nearly-seven years, I have watched Van grow from a good kid into a great man. He taught me that in addition to being physically healthy, it is also important to keep a great mental outlook – especially after a traumatic life event. Through him, I have learned that every day is a gift, and while faith and luck play a huge role, having the drive of an athlete and, more importantly, the heart to forgive, are equally important to recovery.

As a future event planner and business owner, I’ve always believed sustainability, organic agriculture and ecopreneurism will be important to my business. As I’m learning more about these topics through my college courses, I’m even more convinced. For example, although some may think that the concept of farm-to-table dining is a new one, the movement has been around for quite some time. Chez Panisse, the Berkeley, CA, restaurant opened by Chef Alice Waters in 1971 is credited as one of the first to embrace the use of produce from local organic farms. Chef Waters still sees the benefit of farmers, growers, food producers, restaurants and grocers working together today. I believe there are many positives when it comes to local farmers and restaurants working together, which is why I practice farm-to-table eating as much as possible in my daily life. Some of the overall benefits include: • The restaurant benefits by: o Using fresh and delicious produce that’s more flavorful and often less costly. o Having the ability to request signature produce be grown especially for them -- ie: certain olives or tomatoes grown for a specific Italian restaurant; grapes for a brand wine. • The farmer benefits by: o Growing their business. o Being credited by restaurants, which can lead to more local business for the farmer. o Less shipping and travel costs. • The environment benefits by: o The creation of a smaller carbon footprint, because the produce is not shipped long distances. The farm-to-table movement is the perfect example of the “think global/act local” way of life. No one single person can change the environment single handedly (except perhaps Greta Thunberg!), but working together to support local farm-to-table initiatives allows each of us to contribute. In addition to my organic agriculture example, I think it’s also important to touch on the advances being made in ecopreneurism tools, which the hospitality industry is using to prevent waste, improve sustainability and reduce our carbon footprint. The following are just a couple of trends I’ve been learning about that I believe will make the world of hospitality a more eco-friendly place: Predictive Analytics. This technology, which uses algorithms to predict future outcomes based on historical data, is already in use by food producers and restaurants. For example, restaurant managers can use this technology to predict headcount on a given time of year, day of week and time of day, when it is raining versus sunny – all in support of stopping the waste of food. Drone Technology. Before the food even gets to the table, technology is playing a role in how it’s grown or produced. For example, drones are being used to improve farming practices and make them more eco-friendly related to irrigation, crop health assessment and growth, crop spraying, crop screening, planting, and analysis of field or soil. In Closing: When I was 7 years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending invitations, hanging decorations, ordering the food and entertaining the crowd – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I’ve been working toward the goal of opening my own event planning business. Although I’ve only been working in the industry for eight years, I’ve seen so many changes related to my field when it comes to sustainability and ecopreneurism. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead and the advances that will be made in my lifetime that I can employ as a business owner.

“To whom much is given, much is expected” is the adage I live by. I appreciate the gifts I have received and feel a responsibility to use them for the good to help others. It's my belief that community service is the number one way to pay back for all we have been given. While I have had many great experiences because of my volunteer activities – from teaching children living in poverty in the Dominican Republic to read, to writing and winning grants for my community food pantry, to serving as president of my college hospitality industry organization, there is one community leadership activity I am most proud of that I created and developed myself which I plan to describe here. However, I’d like to share the backstory of how it came to be first. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I researched what it takes to be a professional public speaker and then put my knowledge into action by practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. The outcome is the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students eight years ago called “Speak Out!” “Speak Out!” combines a kick-off presentation with a six-month after-school public speaking club that culminates in an end-of-year speech competition. The goal is for all participants to walk away more confident, more articulate and enjoy, not fear, public speaking. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” into an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. I believe it is important to help others because you can change their lives for the better. “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it has helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By the time I reached middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I did qualitative and quantitative research, started practicing and accepted requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. Through my research, I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. The outcome of my effort was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students eight years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ websites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, solidified my decision to open my own event planning company upon graduation, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

Whether physical or mental health is the more important factor in enjoying a happy and successful life is irrelevant – a balance between both is necessary. Yet, although billions of our national budget dollars are dedicated to finding the cure for various physical ailments, it was not until the past decade that mental health really came to the forefront. Approximately 20% of all U.S. adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year. However, even today the topic is still something of a dirty little secret and, whether imagined or actual, the subtle eye roll that often accompanies the conversation is often the biggest reason those suffering put off seeking treatment. It is because of this ingrained stigma in society that I believe in addition to the 21st Century Cures Act passed in 2016, we also need to make teaching young people about emotional health part of the curriculum at a young age through the schools. This is similar to the national campaigns enacted in decades past regarding wearing a bicycle helmet, buckling a seatbelt or just saying no to drugs. I’d like to present a concept for addressing this issue of working with schools to help overcome the stigma with students at the earliest ages as I believe it is key to success and has been somewhat ignored. I have had great success developing a free public speaking program for low-income middle school students called “Speak Out!” and believe my model would work well for addressing how best to overcome the stigma of mental health issues in schools as well. It is one of the things I do to maintain my own mental wellness while also building confidence in others. I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ and https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A. The first step to starting the program to reach and educate students is to formulate a strategy and toolkit to work with schools’ counseling departments. This would be a grassroots effort that allows any volunteer who is interested to download the kit and make it go live at their school. The kit will contain research on mental health, stigma and suicide, so when volunteers talk to a counselor, they’ll see they’ve done their homework. Most counselors will be happy to bring this deserving cause to the attention of the principal and teachers. Kids are our future. In addition to making sure there is legislature that backs up those with mental health issues, we need to teach young people about the importance of mental health and the warning signs of mental illness. If we can make our way engaging enough, perhaps the stigma won’t exist beyond the current generation. Much like we all wear our seatbelts without thinking about it, perhaps learning when to ask for help or when to offer someone support at a young age can save lives and make life more bearable for those already struggling. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship.

Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By the time I reached middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I did some research, started practicing and accepted requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. Through my research, I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. The outcome of my effort was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students eight years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, solidified my decision to open my own event planning company upon graduation, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

When I was seven years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending invitations, baking the cake and hanging decorations – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I have been working toward the goal of becoming a professional event planner. My interest and commitment have escalated from coordinating school events in my ‘tween years, to starting my first paid hospitality job at 14 scooping ice cream. Since then I have taken on increasingly-responsible positions and I am currently working part-time as an associate event planner with one of Philadelphia’s top companies. In addition, I was voted as the president of the Drexel Hospitality Society and also named the Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware National Association for Catering Events (NACE) first-ever “Student of the Year.” This video shows the work I have done to start my career: https://youtu.be/aANQFwhkBVQ I am motivated by the idea of developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and find solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can improve people’s lives. I’d like to share an example of how my work planning major events has already made a difference. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. Through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. So, I developed the free public speaking training event called “Speak Out!” for low-income middle school students eight years ago. I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. As for financial need, my family has been facing crushing debt since April 11, 2017. That was the day my older brother was hit by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He has made amazing progress, but much of his rehab was not covered by insurance and instead paid for with our college savings and our parents’ retirement investments. All worth it, but I do have a significant need.

Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. While this did not make me unique at all, as of the world’s 8 billion+ people, only 10 percent actually enjoy public speaking, I believe my actions to get over my fear and, as a result, help others, is different from the norm. Back to my story… By the time I reached middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I did some research, started practicing and accepted requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. Through my research, I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. The outcome of my effort was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students eight years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, solidified my decision to open my own event planning company upon graduation, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one. According to comedian and noted observer of human nature, Jerry Seinfeld, most people would rather be the guy in the coffin that the one giving the eulogy. Thanks to “Speak Out!” there are now hundreds fewer who feel that way and I believe that is pretty unique.

Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I did some research and learned I wasn’t alone as of the world's 8 billion+ people, only 10% actually enjoy public speaking. I read up on public speaking best practices and I started practicing myself by accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this important social issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. The outcome was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students seven years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ and https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, helped me solidify my decision to open my own event planning company, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very stressful. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. The outcome was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students seven years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it built my leadership skills, helped me solidify my decision to open my own event planning company, and most important, helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.

When I was seven years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending invitations, hanging decorations, baking the cake and entertaining the crowd – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I have been working toward the goal of becoming a professional event planner. I have also been living with Lyme disease. After the pain and fatigue, the most difficult part of having Lyme in my life is working around the many food constraints that are required to maintain an anti-inflammatory diet. As you can imagine, my job as an event planner involves food. And I mean good food that is hard to resist. Much of my day is spent helping others make food choices for their events. I don’t know if I would say that having an autoimmune disease has shaped me into who I am today. However, I would say it has made me a more compassionate person and understanding of others’ issues and frailties. It has also inspired me to help in ways I may not have had I not been living with Lyme. For example, growing up I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. Through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. So, I developed the free public speaking training event called “Speak Out!” for low-income middle school students six years ago. I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ websites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000 people so far. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize some of the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. In closing, “Speak Out!” came to be only because I was open to the needs of others due to my own struggles of living with Lyme. Through my experience with this autoimmune disease, I have learned to be more compassionate toward others and in this case, I was able to help them find their voices when they believed they did not have one.

April 11, 2017. I started the day off great with a college visit and ended it seeing my older brother, Van, on the operating table, about to undergo neurosurgery for a traumatic brain injury. Just that morning he had gotten word that, in addition to receiving an academic scholarship at his chosen college, he would also be getting a partial athletic scholarship to play baseball for them as well. It was great news, but sadly short-lived. While he was riding his bicycle home later that evening after a baseball workout, he was hit by a car a block from home and rushed by ambulance to the area’s closest shock trauma unit. My mom got the call from the EMTs and we raced to the hospital. Upon arrival, we were ushered into the operating prep room and told to say our goodbyes as his chances of surviving were about 50%. The priest gave him last rites, and surgery began. Van fought like a tiger and survived. I realize this scholarship is for those who have suffered the death of a loved one, however, I am applying as I believe that although Van physically survived, he lost so much of what his life was like before that it truly was like a death for all of us. Van was in a coma for 24 hours, and in the ICU for nearly two weeks. He lost 45 pounds, but was making progress. After those painful weeks, he could walk and somewhat talk, so was sent via ambulance to an acute rehab facility directly from the ICU. There, he had two more weeks of intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Barely a month after the accident, he was sent home with my family -- wearing a helmet for the next three months because part of his skull was stored in a bone bank freezer while his brain was still swelling and decompressing. He underwent three more surgeries and ended up with a titanium prosthetic skull piece in his head. During his time of recovery at home, I cared for him and helped him learn how to walk and talk again. The most important point of this story is that my brother beat all odds and is working toward living his life fully. His recovery has been so miraculous that his neurosurgeons from Johns Hopkins have invited him to speak at Harvard Medical School and other neurology conferences. It has been a rough five-plus years for our family. BUT, I have learned so much from helping my brother and watching him recover. A huge lesson he has taught me through this experience is that things may not always turn out as you planned, but with some flexibility, perseverance, determination, compassion and humor, you can not only make the best of it, but sometimes have unexpected and amazing results. The experience has helped me confirm my career choice in hospitality management as I have learned firsthand what it takes to make people feel comfortable and cared for in all situations. In the year my brother was home recovering instead of heading away to college, we got even closer than we were and I watched him grow from a good kid into a great man. He taught me that in addition to being physically healthy, it is also important to fight to keep a great mental outlook as well – especially after a traumatic life event. Through him, I have learned that every day is a gift, and while faith and luck play a huge role, having the drive of an athlete and, more importantly, the heart to forgive, are equally important to recovery. I am applying for this and other scholarships because my family has been facing crushing debt since my brother’s accident. As I described, he made a miraculous recovery, but because much of the treatment he received was not covered by insurance, the equity in our home, as well as the majority of what my parents saved for our college educations and their retirement was used to pay for it. Sadly, since he can no longer play baseball, my brother lost his scholarship. He also had to change his major from architecture because the math that once came easy to him became too difficult since his accident. These are the death-like losses I was referring to earlier in this essay – the giving up of dreams, but fighting to build new ones. Van ended up leaving his original college and joined me at Drexel University where we share an off-campus apartment so I can help him as needed. I’m proud to say he will graduate in June with a degree in medical product design so he in turn can help others in need. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship. It is appreciated.

When I was 7 years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending the invitations, hanging the decorations, baking the cake and entertaining the crowd – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I have been working toward the goal of opening my own event planning business. My interest and commitment have escalated from coordinating school events in my ‘tween years, to starting my first paid hospitality job at 14 scooping ice cream. Since then, I have taken on increasingly-responsible positions and I am currently working part-time as an associate event planner with one of Philadelphia’s top companies. I am motivated by the idea of developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and finding solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can make a difference that can improve lives. Like you, I have always believed it is important to keep growing all the time. However, I was not always intentional about how this growth would happen. This past year I had an awakening while reading up on entrepreneurship when I learned that according to stats researched by Inc. magazine, only 4% of all small businesses survive the 10-year mark. That was an eye-opener for me as I just always believed if I built a business, they would come (misquote stolen from “Field of Dreams.”) Reading that article woke me up and made me realize the need to be more deliberate about how I am spending my time when it comes to planning for my career. While I have been focused in the past, I have become more so now. For example, I stepped up my extra-curricular involvement in my industry business organization and was voted as the president of the Drexel Hospitality Society. I worked harder as a student participant at an outside industry group and was named the Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware National Association for Catering Events (NACE) first-ever “Student of the Year.” I applied for a competitive six-month paid event planning internship with one of the top hotel chains in the Caribbean and am fortunate enough to be starting there this spring. I attribute these career successes to my more intentional approach and willingness to work harder and step out my comfort zone. While I know it is a long road ahead to earning my bachelor’s degree, I also know from all I have learned through my schooling so far (and what I will learn in my remaining college years ahead), that my commitment to hard work and being open to new experiences will pay off in a successful event planning career. Thank you for making this scholarship opportunity available. It is appreciated.

When I was 7 years old, I helped plan my grandma’s 70th birthday party. I had my little hands all over it – sending invitations, hanging decorations, baking the cake and entertaining the crowd – no task was too big or small. And it may seem crazy to know what you want to do from such a young age, but since that time, I have been working toward the goal of opening my own event planning business. My interest and commitment have escalated from coordinating school events in my ‘tween years, to starting my first paid hospitality job at 14 scooping ice cream. Since then I have taken on increasingly responsible positions and I am currently working part-time as an associate event planner with one of Philadelphia’s top companies. In addition, I was recently voted as the president of the Drexel Hospitality Society and also named the Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware National Association for Catering Events (NACE) first-ever “Student of the Year.” My knowledge of the field is growing so much and I am more committed than ever to my career path. The video linked here gives you an overview of the work I have done to start my career: https://youtu.be/aANQFwhkBVQ While I would agree that not all professions require a college degree, in this industry it makes no sense to run the risk of ruining your reputation before you have even begun simply because you didn't get the education you needed to succeed. According to stats researched by Inc. magazine, only 4% of all small businesses survive the 10-year mark, so I believe the money I will pay for a college education where I will learn most of what I need to know in a mere five years or less is well worth the investment. While it is possible I could be successful in this business without a college education, I can launch my company so much faster and more efficiently by learning from, and making connections through, the professionals at one of the nation’s top hospitality management programs. I am motivated by the idea of developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and finding solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can make a difference that can improve lives. This scholarship would be helpful to me because getting a degree in hospitality management is an expensive proposition. The annual tuition and living expenses at my college (Drexel University in Philadelphia) run close to $80,000 per year – Yikes! While I know it is a long road ahead to earning my bachelor’s degree, I am convinced that my willingness to learn and commitment to hard work will pay off in opening my own successful event planning business following college graduation.

Morality. Curiosity. Perseverance. These are the three personal qualities by which I have lived my life, launched my education and will rely upon to build a successful career. It is perseverance which I will talk about today. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. So, I conducted some informal research and learned I wasn’t alone with my public speaking discomfort. Of the world's 7 billion+ people, only 10% actually enjoy public speaking. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak out and it was very uncomfortable. I decided then that if I had to be a public speaker, I persevere and do whatever it took to become a good, if not a great, one. I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at events ranging from a fundraiser for my local food pantry to my middle school graduation. Through hard work and perseverance, I conquered my fear. I decided I wanted to help solve this global mental health issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age too. Again through research, I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. The outcome is the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students seven years ago called “Speak Out!” I led “Speak Out!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, podcasts, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event has reached more than 200,000. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it not only solidified my decision to pursue my dream of opening my own event planning company to help solve the world’s hardest issues (think Live Aid, Race for the Cure, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, etc.), but it also helped me find my voice and teach other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one. Leading “Speak Out!” has proven to me that perseverance truly does pay off. I am paying my own way through college by working and earning scholarships. Thank you for considering me.

Snake bites. Plane crashes. The dentist’s drill. Death. On Top 10 lists of things that terrify humans most, these fears come AFTER public speaking. To quote comedian and noted observer of human nature Jerry Seinfeld, most people would “rather be the guy in the coffin than the one giving the eulogy.” To me, the inability to speak publicly, advocate for one’s beliefs and logically discuss controversial issues and solutions is the biggest issue in business (and the rest of the world) today. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Through qualitative and quantitative research, I learned that at some point in their life, nearly everyone is called upon to speak publicly, yet only about 10% of the world's 7 billion people actually enjoy it. That 10% group experiences no fear and is genuinely excited about talking in front of a large crowd. However, for the remaining 90% of those in the world, public speaking is a problem – and about 10% of those (called glossophobics) actually become physically ill at the prospect. Growing up, I was shy and was definitely one of those people who didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. I decided I would rid myself of this fear, so I did some research on how to be a better speaker. I started practicing and accepting requests to present at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I healed myself of this phobia and realized I could help others get over their fear as well. I decided I wanted to work with ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears as I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. With that in mind, I developed the free public speaking training program called “Speak Out!” for low-income middle school students seven years ago. “Speak Out!” combines a kick-off presentation with a six-month after-school public speaking club that culminates in an end-of-year speech competition. The goal is for all participants to walk away more confident, more articulate and enjoy, not fear, public speaking. A secondary goal is to help students with a financial need earn speech scholarships to the school of their choice. I led “Speak Out!” for the four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters, podcasts and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 200,000 people. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out!” successful: and http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/march_2017.pdf (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ and https://youtu.be/zKnRbePKC8A. Upon starting college and being faced with a global pandemic shortly thereafter that would make teaching middle school students in a face-to-face setting impossible, I decided to retool “Speak Out!” to an online event and offer it to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a much shorter time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers through groups such as Drexel Women in Business and Drexel Hospitality Society, as well as business organizations such as Rotary International. Much like my event for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. Thanks to “Speak Out!” I am more committed than ever to my goal of starting my own event planning company after graduating from college. Whether in person or online, I am dedicated to developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and find solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. Because of “Speak Out!”, I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can make a difference that can improve people’s lives. The following link summarizes the work I have done to build my career so far: https://youtu.be/aANQFwhkBVQ. My experience with “Speak Out!” has had a huge influence on my life and also my career choice. Teaching people how to find their voice when they believed they did not have one is a gift I plan to continue giving throughout my career as a business owner in the future.

Snake bites. Plane crashes. The dentist’s drill. Death. On Top 10 lists of things that terrify humans most, these fears come AFTER public speaking. To quote comedian and noted observer of human nature Jerry Seinfeld, most people would “rather be the guy in the coffin than the one giving the eulogy.” To me, the inability to speak publicly, advocate for one’s beliefs and logically discuss controversial issues and solutions is the biggest issue in business (and the rest of the world) today. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Through qualitative and quantitative research, I learned that at some point in their life, nearly everyone is called upon to speak publicly, yet only about 10% of the world's 7 billion people actually enjoy it. That 10% group experiences no fear and is genuinely excited about talking in front of a large crowd. However, for the remaining 90% of those in the world, public speaking is a problem – and about 10% of those (called glossophobics) actually become physically ill at the prospect. Growing up, I was shy and was definitely one of those people who didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. I decided I would rid myself of this fear, so I did some research on how to be a better speaker. I started practicing and accepting requests to present at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I healed myself of this phobia and realized I could help others get over their fear as well. I decided I wanted to work with ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears as I learned that the best presenters are those who got comfortable speaking publicly early – before the fear set in. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs. With that in mind, I developed the free public speaking training program called “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for low-income middle school students six years ago. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” combines a kick-off presentation with a six-month after-school public speaking club that culminates in an end-of-year speech competition. The goal is for all participants to walk away more confident, more articulate and enjoy, not fear, public speaking. A secondary goal is to help students with a financial need earn speech scholarships to the school of their choice. I led “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for the four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 100,000 people. The newspaper article, magazine article and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/se0JSkG4k-M and March 2017 (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college two years ago, I decided to offer “Speak Out!” to adults to help them heal themselves of their public speaking fears as well. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a compressed time frame and now offer it to my college peers through organizations such as Drexel Women in Business and the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, as well as business organizations such as Rotary International. Much like my program for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming -- even during the pandemic, so I offer it online. Thanks to “Speak Out!” I am more committed than ever to my goal of starting my own event planning company after graduating from college. Whether in person or online, I am dedicated to developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and find solutions for those in need. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. Thanks to my experience with “Speak Out!”, I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can make a difference that can improve people’s lives. The following link summarizes the work I have done to start focusing on my career: https://youtu.be/ZefCzgU7fXE My experience with “Speak Out!” has had a huge influence on my life and also my career choice. Teaching people how to find their voice when they believed they did not have one is a gift I plan to continue giving throughout my career as a business owner in the future.

“To whom much is given, much is expected” is the adage I live by. I appreciate the gifts I have been given, and feel a responsibility to use them for the good. I have been supporting my community through philanthropic endeavors for many years, and I plan to continue during my college years and beyond. While I have had many great experiences because of my involvement, there is one project I feel exemplifies my commitment to helping others in my community, and I’d like to share it with you now. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not great, one. I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help other ‘tweens and early teens conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. The outcome was the free public speaking training program I created for low-income middle school students six years ago called “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” I led “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 100,000 people during my time leading it. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/se0JSkG4k-M and March 2017 (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college a few years ago, I decided to offer “Speak Out!” to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum and now offer it to my college peers and business people through professional organizations. Much like my program for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming – even through the pandemic, so I offer now it online. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it helped me find my voice and teach others how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one. I believe it is a good example of how one person and make a difference in the lives of many in a positive way. Thank you for considering me for your scholarship.

“To whom much is given, much is expected” is the adage I live by. I appreciate the gifts I have been given and feel a responsibility to use them for the good. I’ve been supporting my community and beyond for many years through my volunteer activities, and I plan to continue to do so. While I have had many great experiences because of my involvement, (including traveling to the Dominican Republic to teach reading through music to local children; supporting senior citizens in Camden, New Jersey; and marketing and writing grants for a local food pantry in my hometown to name a few), there is one activity I am most proud of that I created and developed myself. This is my story…. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t confident enough to do so. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I’d do whatever it took to become a good, if not great, one. I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. As a result, I created a free public speaking training program for low-income middle school students six years ago called “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” I led it for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 100,000 people during my time leading it. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/se0JSkG4k-M and March 2017 (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college last year, I decided to offer “Speak Out!” to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. Much like my program for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming – even through the pandemic, so I offer it online. My major in college is hospitality management with a focus on event management. My goal after college is to start my own event planning company. I’m motivated by the idea of developing events that resolve hard issues through creative solutions that work. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world and that is something I want to be a part of and lead.

“To whom much is given, much is expected” is the adage I live by. I appreciate the gifts I have been given, and feel a responsibility to use them for the good. I have been supporting my community through philanthropic endeavors for many years, and I plan to continue during my college years and beyond. I believe that is what leaving a legacy is all about – putting your knowledge and expertise to work to help others become their best selves. While I have had many great experiences because of my involvement, there is one project I feel exemplifies my commitment to helping others and it is the legacy I believe I am leaving behind as of this point in my life. I’d like to share the history of how it came to be with you now. Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t always comfortable making my point in a crowd. Through qualitative and quantitative research, I learned that at some point in their life, nearly everyone is called upon to speak publicly, yet only about 10% of the world's 7 billion people actually enjoy it. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was very uncomfortable. It was then I decided that if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not great, one. So, I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs as well. I decided I wanted to make a difference and help solve this issue by teaching ‘tweens and early teens to conquer their public speaking fears at a young age. Oprah Winfrey, John F. Kennedy, and Brad Pitt are just a few examples of people who learned the power of public speaking through their school speech clubs and I thought this might be a great outlet for young people in schools that currently did not have such a club. I decided to create a free public speaking training program for low-income middle school students called “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” I led “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 100,000 people during my time leading it. The magazine and newspaper articles and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/se0JSkG4k-M and March 2017 (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college two years ago, I decided to offer “Speak Out!” to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum and now offer it to my college peers and professional organizations. Much like my program for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming – even through the pandemic, so I offer it online. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it helped me find my voice and teach more than 100 other young people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one. This is the legacy I am leaving behind.

April 11, 2017. I started the day off great, but ended it watching my older brother get wheeled into the operating room to undergo neurosurgery for a traumatic brain injury he received when hit by a car while riding his bicycle. My brother left the house that morning a college-recruited athlete a month from high school graduation and ended it with a 50% chance of survival. And while he did make it, it has come at a great cost. The most important point of this story is that my brother beat all odds and after a month in the ICU/acute rehab, and a year of intense physical, speech and occupational therapy, he has survived and is working toward living his life fully. The downside is that many of the treatments that have gotten him to where he is today were not covered by insurance and it has been expensive. The majority of what my parents saved for our college tuition and their retirement has gone for his therapies. Finances have also been affected because my parents are both self-employed and had to take time away from their businesses to help him recover. I have shared my brother’s situation with you to explain why financial assistance is important to me. However, that is not my story about the adversity I have personally overcome to be successful and, more importantly, to help many others do the same. I will share that now… Growing up, I was shy and didn’t like talking in public. There were many times I wanted to speak up, but I wasn’t at ease making my point in a crowd. By middle school, I was participating in groups that required me to speak publicly and it was uncomfortable. It was then I decided if I had to be a public speaker, I would do whatever it took to become a good, if not great, one. I started practicing and accepting requests to speak at everything from my middle school graduation to serving as a church lector in front of 500 people regularly. I spoke about the work of a local food pantry for fundraising. I entered a high school public speaking competition and won a scholarship. In short, through hard work and determination, I conquered my fear – and realized I could help others conquer theirs too. I developed the free public speaking training program called “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for low-income middle school students five years ago. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” combines a kick-off presentation with a six-month after-school public speaking club that culminates in an end-of-year speech competition. The goal is for all participants to walk away more confident, more articulate and enjoy, not fear, public speaking. A secondary goal is to help students with a financial need earn speech scholarships to the school of their choice. I led “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” for four years while I was in high school, devoting 600+ hours and training more than 100+ middle-school participants, seven of whom earned tuition scholarships. “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” was promoted on schools’ web sites, newsletters and in the local media. Word of the event reached more than 100,000 people during my time leading it. The magazine article and five-minute video links here summarize the work I have done to make “Speak Out for ‘Tweens!” successful: https://youtu.be/se0JSkG4k-M and March 2017 (page 35) and https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2019/top-teens/5/ Upon starting college this fall, I decided to offer “Speak Out!” to adults to help them overcome their public speaking fears too. I redesigned my curriculum to fit into a compressed time frame and now offer it for free to my college peers and business organizations such as Rotary International. Much like my program for ‘tweens, the requests keep coming. My goal after college is to start my own event planning company. I am motivated by the idea of developing events that resolve hard issues through creative solutions that work. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world. In closing, “Speak Out!” has meant a great deal to me as it has helped me overcome my fears and against all odds, find my voice while teaching other people how to find theirs when they believed they did not have one.