As kids, we are encouraged to start thinking about what we want to be when we grow up. At an early age, we want to be ballerinas, astronauts, and firefighters. As we get older, the ideas of what we want to be when we grow up change. Mine changed a lot. When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer and later an occupational therapist. I later had dreams of being a surgeon. I changed my mind numerous times before finally knowing what I wanted. Children look up to their parents, watch their every move, and strive to be like them someday. For years, I strived to be like my mom. She is strong, hardworking, empathetic and has accomplished many things. I would be honored to grow up to be like her. However, on the other hand, I strive to be like my father. He is hardworking, helpful, compassionate, and goes after what he wants. For years, he sat behind a desk working as a computer programmer. One day, he decided to pursue his dream of teaching. His actions made me think about my own life. My father's bravery inspired me and pushed me toward what I would soon determine to be my dream. I had been babysitting for a few families for a couple of years. I enjoy working with kids and love seeing their faces light up when they understand something they didn't before. Throughout my twelve years of school, I have had numerous teachers. Many of which I will remember for years. One teacher inspired me more than others. My freshman-year History teacher changed my perspective on teaching. Some teachers are there for the paycheck, while others teach because it's what they love. My history teacher was there because he loved History and helping kids grow, learn, and mature. He once asked me to describe the best teacher I had ever had. The best teacher I've ever had was honorable, compassionate, knowledgeable, and optimistic. Something I strive to be like. Both this teacher and my father have taught me what true passion is. In addition to teaching, my history teacher would also announce our high school football games. He participates in numerous school activities, spreading school spirit. He gives back in every way he can in and out of the classroom. My father gives back by coaching three sports and helping out when and where he can, ultimately impacting the lives of hundreds of kids. Seeing my teachers putting time in and outside the classroom to better their students has inspired me. It pushed me to coach an all-girls youth practice, help with summer school, and attend elementary character assemblies with our school mascot. When I become a teacher, I plan to participate in school functions and give back to the wrestling community. This past year, Women's Wrestling became sanctioned in Wisconsin. In addition to teaching, I want to coach. I hope to inspire young men and women inside and out of the classroom. I will do this by setting a positive example. Working with kids is what I want to do. I want to help them be the best version of them. I want to help them become extraordinary people and unlock their true potential. I love learning new things and becoming a better me. I will help students become better people by becoming a better person myself.

I’m currently a high school senior and have been officiating for 3 years now. It’s not uncommon that while I am at tournaments I hear complaints from participants, parents, and other spectators. They complain and make statements that the officials are terrible. I often hear, “That's not a takedown,” or “That's 3” even when its clearly not. Sometimes I ask myself why even do it. Why show up? Why officiate? Why care? Sometimes all of the negativity, the complaints, the hate, and harshness makes a person forget the importance of what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. I recently wondered why I started officiating in the first place. Why did I sign myself up to be treated in such a way. That is until it became clear while I was officiating a match at the New London Dave Murphy Youth Classic. Before this match I had some irritating matches with poor sportsmanship and arrogant kids. During the 3rd round of the tournament I was officiating a match between the two girls. As the one girl walked out to the center with me and had a look of terror on her face. She put on her ankle band and looked at me with fear in her eyes and said, “I’m scared!” The other little girl looked at her, and then me. I looked down at the scared little girl and said, “It’s okay to be scared. All you have to do is try your best.” She smiled up at me and my heart melted for her. It brought me back to my early days of wrestling. I started young and I remember being scared. The other little girl was good. She could have easily taken this girl down and pinned her in 10 seconds. However, she was kind, courteous, and demonstrated high character. She worked her moves while allowing the other girl to gain confidence and practice her moves as well. She allowed the other little girl to believe in herself. This was exactly what happened to me in this very gym at my first Dave Murphy Youth Classic. When I was scared and the girl I wrestled was a youth state champion. She could have easily embarrassed me and pinned me in 10 seconds but she worked her moves and showed me kindness. She was a kid with high character. A lesson I carried with me during my time on the mat. Those two little girls helped me remember why I officiate. I officiate to be a part of these moments, and allow young kids the opportunity to wrestle and grow the same way I was. To give kids a reason to believe in themselves and the opportunity to develop good sportsmanship and character. Officiating has helped me with confidence, and helped me grow as a person. I have learned to tune out the noise and stand up for what I know to be true. Similar to competing, while officiating you are alone making the calls and you have to be confident in yourself. These invaluable lessons that are the reason that I plan to continue officiating in college and beyond. My high school days of competing as a wrestler are over, but my time on the mat is not done. I will compete in college and when that comes to and end I will still not be ready to give up wrestling. Officiating will allow me to stay connected to wrestling until I decide it is time for my last match. Then and only then will my time with wrestling truly be over.

As kids, we are encouraged to start thinking about what we want to be when we grow up. At an early age, we want to be ballerinas, astronauts, and firefighters. As we get older, the ideas of what we want to be when we grow up change. Mine changed a lot. When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer, then an occupational therapist. I later had dreams of being a surgeon. I changed my mind numerous times before finally knowing what I wanted. Children look up to their parents, watch their every move, and strive to be like them someday. For years, I strived to be like my mom. She is strong, hardworking, empathetic and has accomplished numerous things. I would be honored to grow up to be like her. However, on the other hand, I strive to be like my father. He is hardworking, helpful, compassionate, and goes after what he wants. For years, he sat behind a desk working as a computer programmer. One day, he decided to pursue his dream of teaching. His actions made me think about my own life. My father's bravery inspired me and pushed me toward what I would soon determine to be my dream. I enjoy working with kids and love seeing their faces light up when they understand something they didn't before. Throughout my twelve years of school, I have had numerous teachers. Many of which I will remember for years. However, one teacher inspired me more than others and changed my perspective on teaching. Some teachers are there for the paycheck, while others teach because it's what they love. This teacher was there because he loved History and helping kids grow, learn, and mature. He taught me what true passion is. Growing up, math gave me confidence and helped me grow academically and as a person. I enrolled in advanced math courses to challenge myself and even began volunteering to tutor students who struggled with math. I plan to use my passion for the subject to positively impact the lives of young students. I want to help them gain confidence and feel good about themselves, just as math has done for me. In addition to math, my desire to learn was inspired through science classes. I thoroughly enjoy learning about muscles, bones, tendons, fascia, veins, arteries, organs, and how the body functions as a whole. I find it fascinating to study hormones and glands and engage in dissections discovering parts of the body that I never thought I would see. These experiences have been incredibly exciting for me, enhancing my love of science. I plan to use my enthusiasm for the human body and science to educate and encourage younger generations to try different things and find what they are passionate about. When I become a teacher, I plan to participate in school functions and give back everywhere I can. In addition to teaching, I want to coach. I hope to inspire young men and women inside and out of the classroom. I want them to be the best version of themselves, become extraordinary people, and unlock their true potential. I love learning new things and becoming a better me. By becoming an educator, I hope to inspire young minds the way my teachers inspired me.

Have you ever had a place that makes you feel at home? Where you feel special. A place you know you can do anything. Where you know you will be great. A place you call your home but don't live. I do. That place for me is my wrestling room. I grew up there. When I was seven, my little brother brought home a wrestling flier. He was always more adventurous than me and wanted to join. I was hesitant and decided to stay in my safety bubble. I watched him wrestle for a year before I got the courage to try it. When I finally did, I had fun, but I lost every match in my first year. That didn't stop me. Despite countless losses and being pinned numerous times, I never gave up. I just worked harder. When asked, often people say it was traumatic events and losses that changed them. However, for me, it was sports. Sports shaped and molded me into the young woman I am today. I have learned hundreds of facts from teachers in school. Some I remember, and some I don't. Some I'll use forever, and some I'll never think about again. School taught me about numbers, colors, grammar, wars, and battles. Wrestling has taught me humility, integrity, communication, hard work, and dedication. Wrestling led me to take responsibility for my actions. It's only me on that mat. I can't blame the setter for setting the ball too low. Or the goalie for not stopping the ball. I can't blame the line for not blocking or the quarterback for throwing too low. It's me and only me on the mat. I am the offense and the defense. It's all on me. Beyond the competition, wrestling gave me a second home and a second family. Wrestlers have a unique bond where they can beat up their teammates one minute and help them up with unwavering support the next. We love and support each other through thick and thin because that is what wrestlers do. I love my teammates, and I never would have met them without the sport of wrestling. Some people ask me why I wrestle. They think I do it because my dad is the coach, and my brother wrestles. In a way, they are right. I started because of my brother, but I wrestled for me. I wrestle because the sport of wrestling means everything to me. I wrestle because I feel at home when I do. Before matches, I get incredibly nervous. I can't eat, and I feel nauseous. That is until the second I step on the mat. When I step on that mat, it all goes away. All the worry. All the doubt. Everything. All I can think about is my opponent and the match I'm in. Wrestling makes me me. Wrestling is more than just a sport to me. It's a home, a family, and a community. But most of all, it is a way of life.

Every four years, nearly 600 American athletes compete in the Olympic games. With 592 athletes in 32 sports, I struggle to pick a favorite to watch and cheer on, especially with athletes such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Helen Maroulis, Kyle Dake, Katie Ledecky, Noah Lyles, and many more. The US has outstanding athletes in every sport, making everyone a blast to watch. However, of all the athletes, one athlete has always been a blast to watch. I have never been very flexible or good at gymnastics. I'm not athletically talented or jacked. I have to work hard for everything I have. My hard work and dedication have gotten me where I am today. Therefore, I can relate to the Olympians, which I enjoy watching. I still remember the first time I ever watched the Olympics. It was the 2016 Olympics in Rio. I was 8 or 9, and I was sick. I was lying on the couch watching TV, and the Olympics were on. I remember catching bits and pieces of water polo and swimming. But the one event I watched more than any other was Gymnastics. Those athletes had arms four times the size of mine and tree trunk legs. I saw numerous phenomenal gymnasts from the US and other countries. But for some reason, I remember watching Simone Biles compete. I remember thinking how amazing she was and feeling lucky to witness her success. I always admired Simone's build. She is a strong, jacked, and beautiful athlete with a kind heart. Ever since the Olympics in Rio, I always tune in to the Olympic gymnastics and follow along when unable to watch on TV. Simone is a wonderful woman who is an inspiration on the floor, bar, beam, and in life. Watching Simone's hard work pay off for her has pushed me to work hard myself to achieve great things. I love watching Simone because she loves what she is doing. All Olympic athletes do. However, Simone was the first Olympian I remember watching, and I will always say that she is my favorite to cheer on because of her talent, hard work, dedication, and her love for her sport. Simone is an inspiration for young girls all over the world, and I am happy to say that I look up to her and hope to be a happy, successful, and gorgeous woman just like she is.

As kids, we are encouraged to start thinking about what we want to be when we grow up. At an early age, we want to be ballerinas, astronauts, and firefighters. As we get older, the ideas of what we want to be when we grow up change. Mine changed a lot. When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer and later an occupational therapist. I later had dreams of being a surgeon. I changed my mind numerous times before finally knowing what I wanted. Children look up to their parents, watch their every move, and strive to be like them someday. For years, I strived to be like my mom. She is strong, hardworking, empathetic and has accomplished many things. I would be honored to grow up to be like her. However, on the other hand, I strive to be like my father. He is hardworking, helpful, compassionate, and goes after what he wants. For years, he sat behind a desk working as a computer programmer. One day, he decided to pursue his dream of teaching. His actions made me think about my own life. My father's bravery inspired me and pushed me toward what I would soon determine to be my dream. I had been babysitting for a few families for a couple of years. I enjoy working with kids and love seeing their faces light up when they understand something they didn't before. Throughout my twelve years of school, I have had numerous teachers. Many of which I will remember for years. One teacher inspired me more than others. My freshman-year History teacher changed my perspective on teaching. Some teachers are there for the paycheck, while others teach because it's what they love. My history teacher was there because he loved History and helping kids grow, learn, and mature. He once asked me to describe the best teacher I had ever had. The best teacher I've ever had was honorable, compassionate, knowledgeable, and optimistic. Something I strive to be like. Both this teacher and my father have taught me what true passion is. In addition to teaching, my history teacher would also announce our high school football games. He participates in numerous school activities, spreading school spirit. He gives back in every way he can in and out of the classroom. My father gives back by coaching three sports and helping out when and where he can, ultimately impacting the lives of hundreds of kids. Seeing my teachers putting time in and outside the classroom to better their students has inspired me. It pushed me to coach an all-girls youth practice, help with summer school, and attend elementary character assemblies with our school mascot. When I become a teacher, I plan to participate in school functions and give back to the wrestling community. This past year, Women's Wrestling became sanctioned in Wisconsin. In addition to teaching, I want to coach. I hope to inspire young men and women inside and out of the classroom. I will do this by setting a positive example. Working with kids is what I want to do. I want to help them be the best version of them. I want to help them become extraordinary people and unlock their true potential. I love learning new things and becoming a better me. I will help students become better people by becoming a better person myself.

Of all the scholarships available, one stood out to me over others. It centered around a remarkable man with a deep passion for wrestling, a sport that has been central to my own life. My journey with wrestling began at the age of seven, and little did I know then that it would become the defining experience of my childhood. As a young girl, I was short and chubby and lacked natural athletic prowess. I lacked coordination, balance, and any semblance of hand-eye coordination. Wrestling was a challenge right from the start. In my first year, I struggled at every practice and did not win a single match, getting pinned often. Throughout my wrestling journey, I was always the underdog. Being a female in a male-dominated sport meant I faced physical disadvantages and often felt like a rag doll on the mat. I was frequently told to 'weather the storm, fight hard, and give it my all. Despite these challenges, my love for wrestling and determination to achieve greatness fueled my perseverance. I became accustomed to being underestimated and rarely expected to win. However, this fueled my drive to excel not only in wrestling but in my academic pursuits and everyday life. It pushed me to be greater and helped me be a better version of myself.  When I began wrestling in 2014, women's wrestling was not established yet, so I competed against boys for seven years. Despite countless losses and being pinned numerous times, I never gave up. My commitment to the sport remained unwavering. By the time I reached high school, the landscape began to change. Wisconsin held its first state tournament for girls, though most participants had only three months of experience compared to my eight years of wrestling against boys. During my sophomore wrestling season, I was the only girl on my wrestling team. It was a lonely and often disheartening experience, and there were moments when I considered quitting. Yet, being the sole female representative of New London wrestling motivated me to push harder. I dreamed of establishing a women's wrestling team and achieving extraordinary feats. Now, after a decade of dedication, wrestling has become an integral part of my life. I transformed from a novice who couldn't win a match into a three-time Wisconsin State champion. The years spent as an underdog, grappling with physical disadvantages, have shaped me into the athlete and person I am today.