Staring at the ceiling in my hospital room facing uncertainty and the unknown, I found purpose and meaning in an unlikely place. Since the summer of 2022, I’ve been battling issues with my lungs collapsing, from a condition called spontaneous pneumothorax. Overall, I’ve had four collapsed lungs and each time, I’ve spent over two weeks in the hospital for surgeries on both lungs. This experience challenged me physically, mentally, and spiritually. This situation made me appreciate and value life more and recognize that I am here for a purpose. One positive that I’ve gained from my time away from sports is that it has given me an opportunity to develop as a scholar and explore future opportunities. Although I spent a month in the hospital this past spring, I achieved a high GPA, and I made the North Hennepin Community College Dean's list as a full time PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) student. This is an accomplishment I’m very proud of, and it also increased my academic self-confidence to another level. I’ve also been developing a strong work ethic for the last 4 years as an employee at Chick-Fil-A. I am currently learning what everyone’s responsibility is, so that one day I can be an owner/operator of my own. The current owner has been mentoring me, in addition to other shadow opportunities from other local entrepreneurs and executives. Majoring in business management or business administration may be a route I desire to take. The other potential major is English or Political Science as a pathway to the field of Law. I’ve always been fascinated by the impact attorneys have in the courtroom and how some have influence on policy decisions. From my observation, the best leaders are those who try to be well-rounded and able to have a conversation with anyone. In addition to striving for academic excellence, I really enjoy playing basketball, baseball and singing. In my faith community, I’ve been able to sing with a community choir called Known MPLS as well. I also enjoy traveling, listening to music and spending time with my family. Spiritual formation with a heart for service is why I desire to be at your university, on my way to making a positive impact from my time of growth on your campus. In addition to working hard, I would like to be on a campus where I will have some fun as well. In summary, I recognize that to whom much is given, much more is required and expected. At first, I withdrew from those expectations because of the pressure. Then I later realized that pressure is a privilege. The pressure exists because those who care the most for me believe that I have something positive and great to contribute to those around me. I would like the experience of being a student at your university to be a part of that contribution.

Staring at the ceiling in my hospital room facing uncertainty and the unknown, I found purpose and meaning in an unlikely place. I began to become numb to the frequent visit of doctors, nurses, lung specialists and support staff taking my vital signs. Since the summer of 2022, I’ve been battling issues with my lungs collapsing, from a condition called pneumothorax. And over the past year I’ve been unable to play sports and participate in some other activities due to my lung issues. Overall, I’ve had four collapsed lungs and each time, I’ve spent over two weeks in the hospital for surgeries on both lungs. The most recent experience was in the spring of 2024, where I was hospitalized for a month. This experience challenged me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was concerned for my health and also my academics because I knew it was a pivotal year for college preparation. During my time at the hospital, I was battling depression and questioning why this was all happening to me. But every time I was feeling down, I had family members and friends that kept me encouraged from their joyful visits and FaceTime calls. This situation made me appreciate and value life more and recognize that I am here for a purpose. It was difficult to hear the doctors tell me that I wasn’t cleared to return to sports for a few months. Simultaneously, I knew that there were kids who had more severe health challenges and would never exit the hospital. This experience has given me great life perspective and taught me to be grateful for every breath I breathe. One positive that I’ve gained from my time away from sports is that it has given me an opportunity to develop as a scholar and explore future opportunities. Although I spent a month in the hospital this past spring, I achieved a high GPA, and I made the North Hennepin Community College Dean's list as a full time PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) student. This is an accomplishment I’m very proud of, and it also increased my academic self-confidence to another level. During this same hospital stay, I had an interview for an internship through Genesys Works/INROADS for a summer opportunity at UnitedHealth Group. Throughout my entire time being in the hospital, I struggled with accepting that God would have me go through this, not once, not twice, but four times. But I realized this adds to my story and my testimony. I learned that these trials don't come to make me weaker, but they make me stronger, and they make me how I'm supposed to be. Through prayer, reading the Bible, I was able to come out of depression and all of those negative feelings I was experiencing. By accepting this trial and using it to get closer to God, he showed me favor in the hospital with the internship and allowing me to achieve Dean's list at school. This experience was a strong addition in my decision to pursue higher education because it showed me what I am capable of when I apply myself to learn.

In terms of goals, I have two fields that have currently drawn my attention. This year marks three years of working at Chick-Fil-A. I am currently learning what everyone’s responsibility is because one day I aspire to be an owner/operator of my own. The current owner has been mentoring me, in addition to other shadow opportunities from other local entrepreneurs and executives. Majoring in business management or business administration may be a route I desire to take. Last summer, I attended Minnesota Business Venture, which is a weeklong business and career development summer camp that brings together students in grades 9-12 to learn business, leadership and financial literacy skills. I am a William R. Harvey leadership program scholar as well and both of these programs taught me a lot about business. Some examples would be, how to start a company and what each role is that plays a huge factor in starting a company or running one as well. Another example would be the way management works in business and how important decisions have to be made and they teach you to make decisions that are for the benefit of your business or management. The other potential major is in the field of law. I’ve always been fascinated by the impact attorneys have in the courtroom and how some have influence on policy decisions. To learn more about the field up close, I’ve had an opportunity to shadow and speak with: County Attorneys, Judges; Minnesota Attorney General; Minnesota Senate President, National Football League Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. As I learn more about both fields, there may be a possibility of blending the two at some point. If I didn't choose to incorporate both for my career, then for law specifically, I would want to be a corporate lawyer. Being a lawyer for businesses have always caught my attention. The way the lawyers act and think quickly and the way they are always able to think of many possible outcomes is amazing to me and something that I'm working on doing as well. That's how learning chess will help me to achieve my goals. They key to winning in chess and how it connects to real life is making the opponent think they have you in a spot of defeat, then counter with a move that is significantly impactful. But this part is where most people don't succeed. They don't know what to do after the opposing side knows what's coming and hits them where they don't see it. Your mission is to be 3 steps ahead of them every time and that is how I have succeeded while playing chess. In fourth grade, I won second place in a chess tournament that consisted of the best players in middle school. Chess is a thinking game, and you have to learn to be able to be a quick thinker and also, a thinker that has ideas and knows what to do way before they happen. Chess will allow me to think of both positive and negative outcomes of the decisions I make, and chess will help me to become a critical thinker as well.

The past two years have been very challenging, because I was dealing with a major health issue with my lungs collapsing. I recall sitting in the hospital bed for weeks recovering from surgery, and unable to see the sun and walk outside. One positive that came from this time is that I was able to really focus on academics and think a lot about my future and what I would like to accomplish. I've heard many times that it's important to find something that you care about that is bigger than yourself. It's easy to take our freedoms for granted. It's in the simple things, such as going to the mall, catching a movie or attending a Major League Baseball game. There are a large number of great uncles who enlisted in the armed services right out of high school because that was their only opportunity to progress. There are numerous educational and career opportunities through the armed forces that I'm beginning to learn about. I really enjoy traveling and learning new things, so the military would provide this opportunity. To whom much is given, much more is required and expected. This is a quote that I’ve heard the majority of my life through my faith community and at home. At first, I withdrew from those expectations because of the pressure. Then I later realized that pressure is a privilege. The pressure exists because those who care the most for me believe that I have something positive and great to contribute to those around me. I’m now in a place of constantly thinking about my future and completing practical daily steps to get there. Your contribution will provide a good return of investment in my future. The personal development and sense of belonging are also major benefits of being in the service. In terms of goals, I have two fields that have currently drawn my attention. This year marks three years of working Chik-Fil-A. I am currently learning what everyone’s responsibility is, so that one day I can be an owner/operator of my own. The current owner has been mentoring me, in addition to other shadow opportunities from other local entrepreneurs and executives. Majoring in business management or business administration may be a route I desire to take. Last summer, I attended Minnesota Business Venture, which is a weeklong business and career development summer camp that brings together students in grades 9-12 to learn business, leadership and financial literacy skills. The other potential major is in the field of law. I’ve always been fascinated by the impact attorneys have in the courtroom and how some have influence on policy decisions. To learn more about the field up close, I’ve had an opportunity to shadow and speak with: County Attorneys, Judges; Minnesota Attorney General; Minnesota Senate President National Football League Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page As I learn more about both fields, there may be a possibility of blending the two at some point. From my observation, the best leaders are those who try to be well-rounded and able to have a conversation with anyone. In addition to striving for academic excellence, I really enjoy playing basketball, baseball and the piano. From time to time in my faith community, I’ve been able to sing with a choir as well. I also enjoy traveling, listening to music and spending time with my family. Thank you for considering investing in me. Please be assured, that investing in me are funds well spent.