I have found that my calling in life is to make a difference in this world in some way no matter the size of the contribution, but of course, I want to stride to great measures. I used to want to be in the military like my uncles or a law enforcement officer like my dad and step-father, but my hearing loss has stripped me of that opportunity. So I continued looking, and have found that I love interacting with people and being a positive change in their lives whether it’s through being an open ear, good advice, being a role model, or teacher/coach. This is how I found my desire to be a teacher so that I can love my job and make an impact on future generations. I understand that there needs to be a boundary between a student and a teacher, but I would like to be a teacher that is personable. I find that students respond better to that and that it makes students more interested in coming to class because they feel like they can relate to that teacher and trust them. I also know that not every student is equal, but not every teacher these days understand that. Some students some more help than their peers or maybe even some more attention or less attention to making them comfortable in their working environment. While others are in class and get bored because they need a little bit more of a challenge, which I would like to deliver by challenging them in their work if they accept it. I find that understanding the students that you have is the most effective way to teach because you know what each student needs in order to succeed. As a teacher, the main goal is to educate and support your students in the best way possible because their success is what matters. I believe that education plays a pivotal role in if societies thrive or not because knowledge is power, which gives you easier access to self-betterment. We need to learn key skills so that we can go into society and be important contributors to our community. I think a good teacher goes beyond that and encourages kids to not stop learning and to expand their horizons so that they can better themselves and reach their full potential, which is what I plan to do with my degree that I will get with the help of the scholarship.

My senior year has been pretty rough. It started with the loss of my step-dad who raised me for the last thirteen years to stage four pancreatic cancer. Four days later my little sister Felicia LoAlbo- Melendez took her life in school. In a matter of two weeks, my life had split open. While my sister was in the hospital for a few days on life support, I continued attending school. I didn't know what else to do, but it was definitely a good distraction. News of the incident spread fast around the schools in our area from the middle schools on up. With the suicide happening in the bathroom, there were many unknowns for the case, medical treatment, and what actually happened. It led to rumors within minutes of it happening. I saw it all over my social media and news thread for months, and there was no escape from it in school once the students and the teachers realized it was my sister. I got looks from students and teachers, the type of look you give to a hurt animal or a crying baby. I understand that it's just people feeling sympathetic or curious, but it still bothered me because I don't want that type of attention and I'm not helpless. I have an amazing support system through my family and friends to talk to, I tried journaling and painting with the help of my teachers. I didn't stick with it though. I've never really thought about how I got through my senior year, I just put my head down and kept moving forward. I believe that it's ok to take a minute, an hour, a day, maybe even a week to take a step back and breathe, grieve, and process what's going on and how my life is changing. But taking myself out of the playing field of life was never an option in my eye. I went to school every day that I could, I went to work, and I kept living my life. I knew that I had to keep my college selection process going, keep my grades up, and participate in my sport. I miss my sister more than I show it, and sometimes it may make me look like a jerk, but I'm reminded about her in school, events, and trinkets in stores, and it's a bittersweet feeling. My advice to anyone who loses or losses a loved one to suicide would be to feel your emotions and take your time to grieve and process. Make sure you have an outlet and find a support system, it really does help. Most important would be to keep going, if you have a job, go to work, if you go to school, go to school and study like it's another weekday, if you have something fun planned, go do it. You are allowed to live your life so your loved one wouldn't be upset with you. It's what they would want for you, they wouldn't want you to sit there in the dark miserable, they'd want you to keep moving forward and take advantage of the life you have because they didn't have the opportunity to. Remember them in beautiful moments, and keep their memory positive. At least that's what I'm doing, and I go to school, and I'm going to college. I persevered through the loss of my little sister by living my life with more gratitude and a desire to continue my pursuit of happiness.

Wrestling at Rancocas Valley Regional Highschool has impacted my life in many positive ways over the last four years. I have learned self-control, perseverance, leadership, consistency, adaptability, and the importance of respect. I use all of these key aspects in how I train in the offseason, how I practice during the season, and then go beyond to apply it to matches and life outside of wrestling. I believe that they are good traits and lessons to learn that help you succeed in life; because for many highschool athletes, after their senior year is over, participating in sports is over. I can't imagine what my physical and mental health would be like without wrestling in my life during my time in highschool. I joined my freshman year looking like skin and bone, and through this program I've gained muscle and grown tougher, but it went beyond that. My want to succeed more and more each year and the addiction to thought physical stimulus made me want to go to the gym, and run and come back bigger every year. Without that fire being lit within me from wrestling, I think I would definitely be a different person. It also helped with my mental health, even though I still get nerves before every match. Going through a pandemic, where people were isolated and apart isn't healthy for an individual, let alone a nation. Looking back, being able to go into a room where I had time to exercise, compete, and socialize while still still having the percautions to keep everyone healthy, was such a relief for me mentally. My coaches are being when it comes to a sense of togetherness when it comes to a team. We are supposed to treat each other like family, not talk down to each other, and support each other because we are the only one's that know the triles and tribulations of what it takes to wrestle competitively at a high standard. I truly felt the sense of community that was built over the last decades by the former coaches and wrestlers that came before me. I am grateful for my teammates, for which I've grown to view as brothers and sisters no matter how long they are in the program for. I am extremely grateful for my coaches who have helped build me as a competitor from the ground up , and I am especially grateful for the impact that my head coach Thomas Callahan has had on me. I view him as more than a head coach, He's a mentor and like a second father. It's very hard to put into words the impact wrestling at my highschool has played, But I will forever appreciate the friends and mentors I have gained along my journey. I look forward to see what comes from my final season, and I hope to be a positive impact on the young incoming wrestlers.