I grew up in a big family. I'm the second oldest of 5 boys. Growing up I spent many days at the ball fields next to my Dad watching him coach. People would call me his little shadow. He coached for the local Middle School where I eventually attended. It was always my dream to play for his football and baseball team. Unfortunately, Covid shut down the schools the years that I would have had this opportunity. My Dad never had the chance to return to his classroom or football and baseball fields. He passed away suddenly on December 20th, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. I was in 8th grade at the time. I attended the same school where he had taught. Later in the school year, we returned to in-person learning. I faced the challenge of having to return to the same school and hall where my Dad had taught me in 7th grade. I had to walk the halls every day to the reality that he wasn't there anymore. My teachers and coaches had worked alongside my Dad daily. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and coach like my Dad. He was always the "cool" guy. My friends went to him and confided in him. Now I had an opportunity to experience the love and care that my teachers and coaches had for me. They gave me rides home and went out of their way to watch out for me. I wouldn't have thrived that year without them. This drives me even more to follow in my Dad's footsteps. Football and baseball have been a part of my life since a very young age. I couldn't imagine never getting to play on my Dad's Middle School teams. I did though and made him proud. Thankfully, some great coaches jumped in to carry on the legacy that my Dad set. I dream of having the same impact on students and athletes one day. I can hear my Dad in my head when I play. I know I can always do more than I think if I just keep at it. This gives me the drive to always keep doing my best even when life is hard. Football has been always been my favorite sport. I am 6'4" and play on the offensive line. I have dreamed about playing in college for years. My high school team hasn't earned the best record though over my high school years. So, I haven't really been noticed by many colleges. I've reached out to several schools in hopes of gaining some college money to help my family pay for my degree. Even though I've learned that life isn't easy, I won't ever give up. I will attend college to study Math Education. My dream is to also use my teaching position to coach various sports one day. Through teaching and athletics, I plan to use my influence to positively impact young people in and out of the classroom as my teachers and coaches have impacted me over the years.

I'm the second oldest of 5 boys. Growing up I spent many days at the ball fields next to my Dad watching him coach. He was a teacher also and I had the opportunity to be in his class in 7th grade. My friends thought he was a cool guy because he saw each of them as a special person. He got to know us and wanted to know how to help them in more than the classroom. I've always known that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be a teacher and coach. In December of 2020, schools were teaching remotely due to Covid-19. My family was exposed and my Dad tested positive. He was teaching from home while quarantined in his room. He hated being away from his students. He felt like he wasn't making a difference from home. He needed to be in his classroom face-to-face. My Dad never had the chance to return to his classroom. He passed away suddenly on December 20th, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. I was in 8th grade at the time. I attended the same school where he had taught. Later in the school year, we returned to in-person learning. I faced the challenge of having to return to the same school and hall where my Dad had taught me in 7th grade. I had to walk the halls every day to the reality that he wasn't there anymore. The teachers at my school, who had worked with him daily, had a huge impact on me that year. They let me arrive early since my mom had to drop me off before getting my brothers to their schools. One teacher, in particular, waited for me to arrive each morning and let me in the side door. She always had a smile and a task to keep me busy until the bell rang. It was comforting to know that if I needed anything there was an entire team of teachers that could be my "school moms". I wouldn't have thrived that year without them. These teachers realized that teaching isn't just about learning the academic stuff. It's about meeting the students where they are and helping them grow. That entire school year was the hardest of my life, but my Dad's team of teachers walked with me to be successful not just in my classes, but in life. This entire experience has challenged me to reach even more for my goal of teaching. I plan to attend college to study Math Education. I hope to also use my teaching position to coach various sports. Through teaching and athletics, I think I could have a positive impact on young people as my teachers and coaches have impacted me over the years.