One area of need where I felt most driven to have an impact was mental health awareness. As a student-athlete, I have felt and witnessed the pressures teens face every day. Academic requirements, athletic commitments, family struggles, and social expectations can be overwhelmingly stressful. With this in mind, a few guys on my lacrosse team and I worked together to secure donations for a “Buddy Bench” and landscaping materials that we installed on our school campus. The bench serves as a safe place to reflect and seek support. We used the school newsletter to make it known that if anyone is sitting on this bench, it’s an outward sign that they need a friend. Equally important, everyone was encouraged to be a lifeline to someone who may feel defeated. Beyond mental health, I have dedicated countless hours to serving my community through food bank and Holiday donation initiatives and even given venison to families from my deer hunting success. I’ve also enjoyed coaching and mentorship. I volunteered to coach a girls’ basketball church team, assisted with the JV boys’ lacrosse program at Blythewood High, and most recently coached the men’s lacrosse team from Legion Collegiate Academy for off-season scrimmages. These experiences taught me the importance of compassion and reminded me that acts of kindness can have a profound impact on someone else’s life. As a lacrosse defenseman, I’ve earned many honors. However, the achievements I value most are those that reflect my character. One honor is the Charlotte, NC Lacrosse Sportsmanship Award. Being recognized for sportsmanship reminded me that character leaves a lasting impression. My commitment to serving others is rooted in my upbringing. My mother provided me with every opportunity to succeed and taught me the value of integrity, respect, and personal responsibility. Most importantly, watching her overcome challenges as my sole guardian while continuing to put others first inspired me to approach life with the same mindset. Kindness is contagious. Now when I think about my impact on the community, I think about the kid who may sit on the reflection bench and realize they are not alone, the athlete who gained confidence because I helped them improve their skills, and families who felt supported during a challenging time. Those moments may seem small individually, but together they create stronger communities. The lessons I learned from my community service have shaped my desire to pursue a career in the justice system. I will study criminology at Coker University and ultimately hope to serve in Hostage Rescue for the Coast Guard or FBI S.W.A.T teams. I have tested surprisingly high in the public service/military areas of career aptitude tests since I was 8 years old. So I guess you could say that being a protector and defender is in my natural makeup. I consider it an honor to have a positive impact on someone's life.