My name is Jordan Messing, and for most of my life, basketball was the goal that shaped every decision I made. The training I went through to prepare myself to play college basketball from middle school to high school was grueling every single day and taught me so much more than a sport. I was taught discipline, perseverance, and the people that you need in your corner want the same things you do. However, after years of putting in 8+ hours a day during the summer and 10 hours a week while in season, I was not able to make my goal. After tearing my ACL and meniscus this past year, I had to officially hang it up, even after being approached by some lower-division schools. Although the end of my athletic career was difficult to bear, the lesson that it taught me was more profound than any of my accolades. What you work for doesn't always get you the results you want, but it gets you ready for what's next. Basketball has taught me commitment despite slow growth and has taught me how to get through failure, even if that is what I feel like doing in the moment. As the end of this dream of mine had come, my new dream became apparent to me. I would be studying finance in the Kelley School of Business and my goal is to pursue an MBA afterwards in pursuit of an investment banking/private equity career, where I hope to create jobs and be beneficial to growing businesses. What I am excited about with this career path is my desire to solve problems and enable others to reach their full potential. My pursuit throughout my high school career has been to excel academically and non-academically, as evidenced by my membership in the NHS, NSHS, and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society. I also founded my school's business club and am the secretary of the fishing club, and with the opportunities I was given to organize internships and tournaments, I came to realize that success comes with more than achievement. Rather, the positive impact that you can leave on others is what is most important. I have been inspired by the story of Chris and his career, in which he always put others before himself. Through the creation of business opportunities for small businesses, a value that I find extremely important, considering that in the pursuit of business, I started an NIL agency designed to help young athletes navigate the world of financial literacy and name, image, and likeness deals. With this venture, I have learned how to communicate with clients and peers, solve problems in a fast-paced environment, and provide value in many different ways to others, and just how business can empower others. I would like to emulate his successful career but also maintain a strong commitment to other people and to their ability to meet their potential. A scholarship for the Kelley School of Business will help me mitigate the extensive cost of being a resident outside of the state of Indiana and will enable me to fully dedicate myself to the opportunities that come along at the Kelley School. In time, I hope that my education will enable me to aid businesses in growing and to mentor others to find success in similar ways as my mentors helped me. A scholarship will not only be beneficial to my education but also a step towards a career filled with impact.

Golf has always been an important part of my life. Ever since I was around three years old, my father would take me to the course while he played with my grandpa and uncle. Eventually, when I was old enough to start playing myself, I fell in love with both the game and its peacefulness. Golf has shaped my connection to my community through the relationships it has created. Unlike other sports I’ve played, such as basketball and soccer, golf gives you hours to talk and share experiences with the people around you, whether they are strangers or lifelong friends. Playing golf has allowed me to meet so many new people at my local course and connect with others through school tournaments. I’ve found that some of the best conversations happen between shots, whether they are about school, life, or the challenges we face both in golf and in our day-to-day lives. Beyond the social aspect, golf has made me appreciate the environment and the beauty of the world around me. Spending hours outside and walking through different types of terrain has made me more aware of nature. Golf courses are maintained with incredible care, and being on them regularly has helped me notice details that are often overlooked, such as the way the wind affects both the game and the landscape or how the grass and trees change throughout the seasons. Despite all the positives I have experienced through golf, I recently had to take a break from the game after tearing my ACL and meniscus during a basketball game. Not being able to play has made me realize just how much I love and miss golf. It showed me that golf is truly unlike any other sport because it is something I will be able to enjoy for the rest of my life. The injury also made me even more excited for the future, especially the opportunity to attend Indiana University and play some of the nicest courses in the country. Looking ahead, I hope to continue building on the connections golf has given me in meaningful ways. Recently, I attended my middle and elementary school senior reunion, where I reconnected with people I had not spoken to in years. I discovered that many of them had picked up golf, and naturally, I invited them to play. Now, we already have rounds planned for this week and next week. Experiences like this remind me of how golf brings people together in a unique way. With my grandpa working at a golf course, I have also gained a deeper appreciation for the amount of work and dedication required to maintain a course. Seeing the upkeep firsthand has inspired me to contribute to my own community by helping preserve and improve these spaces. Whether it is organizing tournaments and events, mentoring younger players, or helping make the game more affordable and accessible to less fortunate individuals, I want to have a positive impact on the people and environment around me. Ultimately, golf has shaped the way I connect with people, my community, and the environment. It has taught me to slow down, be present, and appreciate the relationships I have made and will continue to build. As I look toward the future, I hope to carry these lessons with me and continue growing both as a golfer and as a person.