"Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see." This quote by Mark Twain has been repeated to me many times over the years by my father. I do my best to live by these words. I am a junior at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee. I have been working extremely hard to achieve outstanding academic performance, reflected by my GPA of over 4.0 from rigorous honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment classes. I was also elected by the student body to be a junior representative of the Brothers Leadership Council. The Brothers Leadership Council creates optimal conditions for students to reach maximum potential in service of others, enhance school pride, ensure collaboration with the faculty, connect every student to his community, create leaders for the betterment of society, and develop character. I had my first job this summer. I was a day camp counselor at St. Agnes St. Dominic School. I was working with rising first through sixth graders helping them experience adventures through weekly scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, sports, field trips, and more. I thoroughly enjoyed working as a day camp counselor this summer, but my passion is helping and spending time with my fifty-one-year-old aunt, Chrissy. Aunt Chrissy had a difficult birth where she lost oxygen for a long period. Because of this, she is mentally disabled and has the IQ of a twelve-year-old. She lives with my grandmother, and I visit her often. Growing up with Aunt Chrissy seemed very normal. We played board games and X-Box games and watched funny movies together. I participate in community initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. In addition to volunteering with the Catholic Charities of Memphis, I am now the President of Best Buddies at my high school. Best Buddies is an organization that creates opportunities for friendships, leadership development, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We partner with the Madonna Learning Center to establish lifelong bonds for everyone involved. Madonna Learning Center provides a nurturing faith-based educational and social environment that empowers children and young adults with special needs to reach their full potential. Best Buddies recently attended a bowling event with the students of Madonna Learning. The smiles and overall joy on their faces gave me an indescribable feeling. I volunteered my extra time with the students of Madonna Learning this summer. Supporting Aunt Chrissy and her friends and being a part of Best Buddies has influenced my life and given me a passion for advocacy and care. I realize college holds a profound significance in shaping my future and being chosen for the Once Chance Scholarship will allow me to attain my goals of maturing intellectually while being provided an environment to explore academic learning through the mentorship of professors. This will ultimately lead me to have a successful career and continued effort to support others in everyday life.

“Don’t be afraid of failure. This is the way to succeed.” This quote by LeBron James is framed and hung on the wall in my bedroom. He exemplifies what it means to be an inspiring and great athlete on and off the court. The combination of LeBron’s IQ, leadership, athleticism, and longevity in the game of basketball is unmatched, and I believe he is the greatest basketball player of all time. LeBron James’ basketball career needs to be recognized. He has played for several teams throughout the years, each year adding to his legacy. He began with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2010. He then moved to the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014 arguably playing the best basketball of his career. He then returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2018. He then moved to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and continues to play for them today. He made a remarkable impact on each team he played for, reinforcing my belief that LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. LeBron is a versatile player whose offensive and defensive skills make him a dominant force in basketball. He is renowned for his all-around game. As a scorer, he can drive to the basket with explosive athleticism finishing with finesse and accuracy. His mid-range jumper and three-point shooting are reliable making him a constant threat anywhere on the court. LeBron’s playmaking ability is phenomenal. He is a Jedi at reading defenses, using his knowledge, versatility, and passing skills to set up easy scores for his teammates. Despite him typically playing forward positions, LeBron’s court vision and precision make him as good as any point guard that has ever played the game. He operates as a primary ball handler and his ability to create shots for himself is unparalleled. When playing as a small forward, he uses his size and speed to exploit mismatches, driving to the rim, or pulling up for jumpers. Equally, as a power forward, his strength and basketball IQ allow him to dominate in the post. As good as LeBron is offensively, he is just as good defensively. He is capable of guarding multiple positions from point guards to power forwards. His defensive instincts are quick and powerful. He reads the game like an expert, anticipates plays, and utilizes his speed, strength, and seven-foot wingspan to disrupt his opponents. LeBron’s shot-blocking ability is nothing short of spectacular, and his on-ball defense is scary. LeBron’s achievements go beyond his offensive and defensive skills. His leadership on the court has transformed teams and made his teammates better. His off-court contributions display him as a role model because of his philanthropy and community outreach. Whether it’s LeBron’s offensive versatility, defensive presence, or off-the-court leadership, he has impacted the game of basketball like no other. As much as he has achieved professionally in the NBA, James helped the Olympic Team USA bring home the gold medal at the age of 39. This is his third gold medal in the Olympics. LeBron is a master of his craft, and his excellence and influence extend on the court and off. Because of this, and all the reasons above I believe LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time.

"Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see." This quote by Mark Twain has been repeated to me many times over the years by my father. I do my best to live by these words. I am a sophomore at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee. My fifty-one-year-old aunt, Chrissy, had a difficult birth where she lost oxygen for a long period. Because of this, she is mentally disabled and has the IQ of a twelve-year-old. She lives with my grandmother, and I visit her often. Growing up with Aunt Chrissy seemed very normal. We played board games, X-Box, and watched funny movies together. She attended a special school called Martha’s Manor and had many friends there. Even at a young age, I volunteered at her school often. I got to know her friends and we would color together and make crafts. Once I was old enough to read, I read to her class too. Volunteering was a rewarding experience and taught me a lot about helping others. Now that I am almost seventeen years old, I actively participate in community initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. In addition to volunteering with the Catholic Charities of Memphis, I am now the President of Best Buddies at my high school. Best Buddies is an organization that creates opportunities for friendships, leadership development, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We partner with the Madonna Learning Center to establish lifelong bonds for everyone involved. Madonna Learning Center provides a nurturing faith-based educational and social environment that empowers children and young adults with special needs to reach their full potential. Best Buddies recently attended a bowling event with the students of Madonna Learning. The smiles and overall joy on their faces gave me an indescribable feeling. This journey has shaped my values and motivated me to continue to be involved with special need individuals. I plan to remain involved in community outreach and advocacy through high school, college, and beyond. By collaborating with local organizations, I hope to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and improve accessibility. I hope to major in accounting or finance with a minor in disability services. Enrolling in relevant courses, obtaining certifications, and participating in internships will enhance my knowledge and skills. This educational foundation will enable me to provide high-quality care and development solutions to the challenges faced by the mentally disability community. Supporting Aunt Chrissy and her friends and being a part of Best Buddies has influenced my life and given me a passion for advocacy and care. I realize college holds a profound significance in shaping my future and being chosen for the JT Lampert scholarship will allow me to attain my goals of maturing intellectually while being provided an environment to explore academic learning through the mentorship of professors. This will ultimately lead me to have a successful career and continued effort to support others in everyday life. Thank you for your consideration.

“Love is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” I’m sure my dad did not coin this phrase, but he has repeated this to me many times throughout my life. This quote reminds me of my favorite book, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. If I could recommend anyone to read just one book it would be this one. This novel is about two Migrant workers, George Milton and Lennie Small. George assumes the role of Lennie’s caretaker because Lennie is mentally challenged. I believe the book carries the theme of love and how love has different points of view for each main character. First, the novel explores the love and friendship George and Lennie have for one another. George sacrifices many things in his life to ensure Lennie is protected. This is demonstrated throughout the book and in the end where George is faced with the decision to kill Lennie himself. George feels like this is his responsibility and doesn’t want Lennie killed by Curly’s men. Second, Steinbeck’s story introduces us to Candy and the long-lasting love he has for his dog. His dog is old, smelly, and half blind; however, Candy still loves him dearly. Candy’s bunkmates can no longer stand the smell of the dog, and eventually one of the men takes Candy’s dog outside and shoots him. Candy is devastated, and the novel reveals the love and emotional bond Candy has for his pet. Third, we see a depiction of romantic yet jealous love of Curly and his wife. Curly’s wife feels as if she is trapped in a meaningless marriage and flirts with other men on the farm. She longs for affection and attention that she is not receiving from her husband. Curly’s wife’s actions wind up getting her in trouble with Lennie causing George to come to his rescue once again. In conclusion, Of Mice and Men is a story of love where each character deals with their own insecurities, empathy, and compassion. In the end, George finds himself on the run having to escape another unbearable situation Lennie has gotten them into. George feels he must kill Lennie out of love. George compares this situation with someone else shooting Candy’s dog. Candy told George he wished he would have shot his own dog, so George feels justified in Killing Lennie because Lennie is inconsequential like Candy’s dog.