Commitment, teamwork and discipline are all core to who I am as a person - both while playing lacrosse, at school and in my personal life. Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. While in the 3rd grade, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD after struggling with learning to read at the same pace as my fellow students. I knew even at that young age that life would be different for me and I may have to work harder and differently than some to achieve my goals. The same year of my diagnosis, I fell in love with the sport of lacrosse. As the years ticked by my passion grew even deeper. I joined travel teams, and committed to practice schedules and tournaments, but never lost sight of the fact that without good grades, I would not be able to achieve my biggest goal to date - to play at the collegiate level. As I prepare to graduate from high school, I am proud to say I am maintaining a 3.7 GPA while playing for my high school and travel lacrosse teams. I also am participating in my high school work-based-learning program which allows me the opportunity to work 20 hours per week as a shift supervisor at a local golf course. This supports my goals in learning skills I hope to apply one day as a future business owner, learn what it means to be a good employee and make money so I can save for upcoming college expenses. I am fortunate to have the support of my school to allocate my time in such a way that I can attend and fully participate in all school lacrosse practices and events, as well as my supervisor who understands my priorities and future goals. Circling back to 3rd grade and my ADHD diagnosis; practicing discipline is the thread that has allowed me to stretch to reach my goals. I have learned to capitalize on the positive aspects of this difference in the way my brain works. Among those positive things are creativity and resilience in the face of change. In my personal life, one of the biggest ways I've channeled my creativity has been through starting my own business. I am the proud owner and designer of Harrison's Wood Shop. The primary products I create are wooden American flags which I sell through social media during my free time. I must manage my time carefully to ensure I place the right priority on my focus. As I mentioned, school and study time must always come first. Without success academically, all the other pillars of my life will not succeed without it. Resilience also has a big part to play in life and lacrosse in terms of not allowing failure to stop progress. I have found that I must pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward regardless of the situation.

My Journey with ADHD I am a high school student working through the daily challenges of balancing school, sports and work, all while wrestling with ADHD. My journey has been defined every day by showing courage. Each day I work hard to strive toward doing my best in each of my roles with determination and perseverance. I was first diagnosed with ADHD in 3rd grade. At first I was so afraid of what it meant, but always knew I felt different from what others described as "normal." I knew how easily I was distracted and how difficult it was for me to stay on-task made others look at me like a difficult child, a weird kid or even sometimes defiant. I had to make a choice even at that young age to choose to become depressed and withdrawn, or find courage in the struggles ahead of me. I chose courage. Showing courage is something I was determined to do then and throughout my life. Each day I battle through these distractions, impulsivity and often restlessness which often places a strain on my mental health. Working through these challenges requires a level of courage which is invisible to others. Each moment of focus is a milestone, every completed assignment is a victory, every moment of self-doubt overcome brings quiet joy and every important decision or conversation is a moment of self-mastery. Continuing my education beyond high school is very important to me. Through therapy and education, I have learned that my ADHD is not really a hindrance, but a kind of gift that gives me a different perspective and allows me to approach challenges in creative ways. I have learned to adapt, come up with innovative solutions and appreciate small victories in all aspects of my life. These bring me feelings of joy and accomplishment. One of my most treasured accomplishments has been starting my own wood working business during the pandemic. It has given me an outlet for my creativity and energy in ways I did not expect. It has also allowed me to experience acceptance from my community in ways I would never have anticipated when I was first diagnosed. Receiving a scholarship to continue my education into college would be a validation of my hard work and effort thus far. It would help provide the opportunity to continue to grow and evolve into a leader. It would also be received with a grateful heart as a symbol of recognition of the battles I’ve silently fought and all the accomplishments I know I can achieve.

Commitment, teamwork and discipline are all core to who I am as a person - both while playing lacrosse and in my personal life. Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. While in the 3rd grade, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD after struggling with learning to read at the same pace as my fellow students. I knew even at that young age that life would be different for me and I may have to work harder and differently than some to achieve my goals. The same year of my diagnosis, I fell in love with the sport of lacrosse. As the years ticked by my passion grew even deeper. I joined travel teams, and committed to practice schedules and tournaments, but never lost sight of the fact that without good grades, I would not be able to achieve my biggest goal to date - to play at the collegiate level. I am proud to say I am maintaining a 3.7 GPA while playing for my high school and travel lacrosse teams. I also am participating in my high school work-based-learning program which allows me the opportunity to work 20 hours per week as a shift supervisor at a local golf course. This supports my goals in learning skills I hope to apply one day as a future business owner, learn what it means to be a good employee and make money so I can save for upcoming college expenses. I am fortunate to have the support of my school to allocate my time in such a way that I can attend and fully participate in all school lacrosse practices and events, as well as my supervisor who understands my priorities and future goals. As a lacrosse defenseman, great teamwork is a critical skill I must practice at all times. Communication among our defensive line is what allows our squad to pursue excellence during all practices and games. On the occasions that communication breaks down, the results are clear with missed opportunities and even the difference between winning and losing a game. That said, it's very important to me to support my lacrosse brothers in both scenarios. I try to be encouraging in difficult times, and humble during great times. I have found this skill set I began learning back in 3rd grade also yields results in my work life as well as my personal life. Circling back to 3rd grade and my ADHD diagnosis; practicing discipline is the thread that has allowed me to stretch to reach my goals. I have learned to capitalize on the positive aspects of this difference in the way my brain works. Among those positive things are creativity and resilience in the face of change. In my personal life, one of the biggest ways I've channeled my creativity has been through starting my own business. I am the proud owner and designer of Harrison's Wood Shop. The primary products I create are wooden American flags which I sell through social media during my free time. I must manage my time carefully to ensure I place the right priority on my focus. This scholarship would help me with the additional boost I need to obtain my degree and achieve my goal of entrepreneurship in the future.

My name is Harrison Greene and I am from Woodstock, GA. Striving for excellence in academics and sports, all while managing my wide varied interests is core to who I am. I was diagnosed with ADHD in the third grade, so becoming "friends" with my diagnosis was a process of realizing being multi-dimensional was actually a good thing. First and foremost, I am a student. Making the best possible grades and learning as much as I can are very important to me. There was a time early in my education when this was also my biggest challenge. Part of my ADHD is difficulty remaining focused for long periods of time. This is where my love of lacrosse comes in. Lacrosse entered my life at the best possible time. Through learning my sport, practicing drills repetitively, and managing my schedule I developed mental muscles and techniques which also helped me in the classroom. Over time, as my skills developed I found I truly loved the sport and wanted to continue to play through college. I play on my high school team in the spring and club travel teams in the summer months. This schedule keeps my mind strong as well as my skills improving year after year. I am currently in the process of talking with several college coaches and hope to be recruited to play for a college team as I pursue a degree. In addition to maintaining my grades and playing lacrosse, I opened my own woodworking business during the pandemic. I began by building custom American flags, then expanded into college logos and military motifs. What began as a way to make extra money, really turned into both a true business venture and a creative outlet for me. I have learned order management, production scheduling and expanded my communication skills working with customers. Three years later, I manage a thriving business and am learning skills that will help me as I approach college and seek a business management degree. On top of the activities mentioned, I also have several hobbies I enjoy as free time allows. I am an avid bow hunter, snowboarder, fisherman, and camper and enjoy playing golf with my friends. With the help of my family and teachers, I'm proud to say I have maintained a 3.7 GPA through high school, received several awards of recognition with my lacrosse teams for both performance and leadership, and also manage to do some volunteering with my church small group.

Being a force for good in my community and beyond is a core value for me. My plan involves pursuing a college education, volunteer work, networking, and continuous learning. My education is the key and starting point to this foundation. During high school, I enjoy doing volunteer work through my church small group with an organization called Goshen Valley Boy’s Ranch. Goshen Valley supports young men coming from difficult circumstances to help them get through school and ultimately jobs upon graduation. It is a residential setting based in the beautiful Georgia foothills. It's based on a cluster home concept with a central barn and other shared facilities. I found a connection to these young men through teaching them my sport – lacrosse, as well as spending time helping clean the barn, even organizing their food pantry and making welcome baskets for the residents. Once that connection was established, I ultimately learned I benefitted perhaps more from their friendship than they ever did from me. I plan to become even more involved with this organization upon my college graduation. Networking is a new skill I have begun learning through my paid work. Learning good communication and negotiation skills have been and will continue to be key in my life. I hope to weave these skills into my future business, as well as grow into a contributor in my community. I have found the more people you get to know beyond the surface level, the more you find ways to help those people using your own unique skills. Once networks are established, they grow organically through connecting others when they need resources. Learning from experiences and people, and finding new ways to amplify collective impact will be a central part of my plan to continue to be a force for good. Lastly, I'm committed to continuous learning and adaptation. The world is constantly changing, and I want to stay informed and open to new ideas. This could be through formal education, social learning opportunities and even technology options. I aim to remain a lifelong learner, staying flexible and adjusting my strategies as I gain more experience and insight. In conclusion, I'm determined to demonstrate ambition and self-drive to be a force for good in my community. Education, volunteer work, networking, and continuous learning are the pillars of my plan. Despite my young age, I'm confident that with the help of my community, we can create a wonderful future for our community and beyond.

If you haven't seen Sweet Tooth, clear your weekend calendar now and grab some popcorn! The first two seasons of this show follow the adventure of a little boy born part human and part deer as he navigates life after losing the person he believes to be his mother and the man who raised him as his father. I know this sounds a bit silly, but it is amazing and contains so much feel-good messaging. The world has experienced a complete meltdown after the release of a horrible virus and evil forces are all around. We find out there are many of these part-animal children; all of whom are being hunted for testing in the hopes that their blood will stop the virus. The main character in this series, Sweet Tooth, befriends a man who was formerly hunting these hybrid children. Together, they travel cross country in hopes of finding family and community. During their travels, they find a community of hybrid children being raised by a single woman. They have converted a former zoo to be their home which must be defended at all times from the hybrid hunters. Once you get into the series, the strange feeling you may have at the beginning about the fact that the children are part deer, skunk, alligator and many others begins to fade away. You begin to appreciate that they are all part of humanity and simply want to live as part of the world without judgment. This is the real reason I love the show. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of action, suspense and danger for any thrill-loving movie fan, but at the core of the show, it's really about the same everyday battles we all face seeking to be accepted, wanted and loved. Season two leaves you knowing most of the hybrids have escaped after a battle at the zoo, however, the woman who has protected them has died. This leaves the band of hybrid children on their own to plan their next move. Gus, the deer child, has found the woman who he believed was his mother is still alive and now lives in Alaska. Season three promises to follow this group on their trek to find Sweet Tooth's mother and help her find a cure for the horrible virus that started it all. When I first learned about this series, I truthfully rolled my eyes. However, after the first 20 minutes, I was hooked! I think you might be, too.

Drunk driving is a widespread problem that I witness regularly as a high school student. It tears apart families and communities in senseless ways. I work at a golf course in my extra time to earn money to put toward attending college next year. I often see golfers spend the day drinking and enjoying the game and then expect to drive home. As a cart barn attendant, I know many of these people personally and have obtained permission from my supervisor to offer them a ride home. I believe if more people were open to both giving and receiving rides, this problem could be greatly reduced. As alcohol consumption is a problem in my school, as I mentioned I see this often among high school students as well. I believe in many cases, parents should make it clear to their children that should they need a ride, they are encouraged to call them without an argument to get home safely. I am blessed my parents have this agreement with both my sister and myself, as well as our friend group. While I do not drink alcohol at this point in my life, it makes me feel very lucky to know this is an option for my friends. Life is incredibly short anyway and it's so important to care for each other. This is one way I am grateful to have the opportunity to show I care.

Commitment, teamwork and discipline are all core to who I am as a person - both while playing lacrosse and in my personal life. Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. While in the 3rd grade, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD after struggling with learning to read at the same pace as my fellow students. I knew even at that young age that life would be different for me and I may have to work harder and differently than some to achieve my goals. The same year of my diagnosis, I fell in love with the sport of lacrosse. As the years ticked by my passion grew even deeper. I joined travel teams, and committed to practice schedules and tournaments, but never lost sight of the fact that without good grades, I would not be able to achieve my biggest goal to date - to play at the collegiate level. As I prepare to close out my junior year of high school, I am proud to say I am maintaining a 3.7 GPA while playing for my high school and travel lacrosse teams. I also am participating in my high school work-based-learning program which allows me the opportunity to work 20 hours per week as a shift supervisor at a local golf course. This supports my goals in learning skills I hope to apply one day as a future business owner, learn what it means to be a good employee and make money so I can save for upcoming college expenses. I am fortunate to have the support of my school to allocate my time in such a way that I can attend and fully participate in all school lacrosse practices and events, as well as my supervisor who understands my priorities and future goals. As a lacrosse defenseman, great teamwork is a critical skill I must practice at all times. Communication among our defensive line is what allows our squad to pursue excellence during all practices and games. On the occasions that communication breaks down, the results are clear with missed opportunities and even the difference between winning a losing a game. That said, it's very important to me to support my lacrosse brothers in both scenarios. I try to be encouraging in difficult times, and humble during great times. I have found this skill set I began learning back in 3rd grade also yields results in my work life as well as my personal life. Circling back to 3rd grade and my ADHD diagnosis; practicing discipline is the thread that has allowed me to stretch to reach my goals. I have learned to capitalize on the positive aspects of this difference in the way my brain works. Among those positive things are creativity and resilience in the face of change. In my personal life, one of the biggest ways I've channeled my creativity has been through starting my own business. I am the proud owner and designer of Harrison's Wood Shop. The primary products I create are wooden American flags which I sell through social media during my free time. I must manage my time carefully to ensure I place the right priority on my focus. As I mentioned, school and study time must always come first. Without success academically, all the other pillars of my life will not succeed it. Resilience also has a big part to play in life and lacrosse in terms of not allowing failure to stop progress. I have found that I must pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward regardless of the situation.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in the 2nd grade. This diagnosis has been a challenge in many ways, but one of the things that's great about it is the resulting creativity and energy that results! I channel the excess energy into my interests and many hobbies including fishing, kayaking, and outdoor sports of all sorts. I love building legos to help me focus, enjoy playing for 3 lacrosse teams throughout the year, and started my own business during the pandemic to keep my mind and hands busy. I started my business building wooden American flags in my spare time which has grown into a specialty business with new and custom designs each week. I use this platform to give back to my community by donating flags for charity events, and to police stations to raise morale and even designed a custom cross flag to honor our service members. A great side effect of my business is the ability to begin making money before starting an hourly job. With this benefit, I have been able to save money toward purchasing my first truck. Having the option to work in my spare time gives me plenty of time to study on schedule, attend lacrosse practices, and learn the important skill of managing my time. I have also learned how to manage my money, how to keep an inventory of supplies and calculate profits. I credit my mother a lot for encouraging me to do this and enjoy working side-by-side with her when she is available. ADHD typically comes with difficulty with impulse control and difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand, but I have been blessed to find and enjoy activities that help me develop concentration. Building flags is a strong example of this due to the steps required to complete a build. ADHD does not have to define me, but it has helped me develop a broad range of interests, so for that I'm grateful. Moving forward in life, I plan to continue to give back to my community through my flag business for fundraising and awareness of important causes. I would also like to find a way to volunteer to work with children who may be facing a diagnosis similar to mine and help them see that it does not define them and that it's possible to channel their energy into positive things. Thank you for the opportunity to share a little about me and what makes me unique.