I had a teacher in the 5th grade by the name of Mrs. Freeman. At that time, I was obsessed with books; the year prior, my parents were told by my teachers that I would spend my time reading in the back of the class while they were teaching math. I didn't read the usual fictional pieces that kids my age read. I loved things that were real, like sports and history, but nobody before my 5th grade year really batted an eye towards me, maybe because my English was not the strongest; I had come from Puerto Rico to the United States two years before my 5th grade year. Mrs. Freeman saw something in me that nobody else saw. One day, she encouraged me to read a book about idioms, and every day, she challenged me to find a new one to tell her every single day. I read that book every night to help me fall asleep, and whenever I saw Mrs. Freeman, I would tell her a new idiom, such as "beat around the bush" and "hit the hay," the latter of which was my favorite. That idiom book subconsciously taught me that words are devices which can be twisted and played with in different ways to convey ideas that we would be otherwise unable to. This realization stuck with me from 5th grade all the way to right now. I'm currently a sports journalist that has received credentials to cover Major League Soccer, international soccer competitions such as the Concacaf W Gold Cup, and so much more. These achievements don't come easy; in life, but especially in the media world, it's easy to fall behind or get stuck. You have to provide something new to a world that is used to the same jargon, and books are one of the best resources for imaginative and unique words and phrases. I'm really big into non-fiction articles and books, in fact, my favorite book is Bloody History of America by Kieron Connolly, which showcases that while this country has provided so much for so many, it has also, for most of its history, drawn away privileges for others. These books not only expose me to new ideas, but also to new words and places of thought which I apply to my current role and to daily life. When we're exposed to different ideas, we also used different words too. I'm now a person who has ambition to help others get exposed to new things.

In professional sports, especially soccer, general managers of their respective franchises work in cycles, each one lasting about three years. The first year of the cycle is all about retooling a roster, the second year is all about bringing in the difference makers, and the third year is focused on trying to win a championship or some sort of achievement. You could say that I also work in cycles. When I started my journey into sports media, I had two sizeable goals: cover some of my favorite or best soccer teams in the world, including FC Barcelona, the Venezuelan national team, and my hometown club, Houston Dynamo FC, and then use those experiences as a stepping stone to cover the FIFA World Cup in 2026. That second goal would line up with me getting an education in college and making sports media my full-time job, more specifically in public relations. In about 1.5 years, I've already knocked off half of my goal list thanks to a bit of luck, but also due to a lot of hard work. I started covering the Houston Dynamo FC reserve team in July of 2023 after emailing their media staff. I wasn't expecting much, but I knew I had to start at some point, and while the third division of professional soccer isn't particularly glamorous, it was my first experience at the professional level. Just a couple of months later, I would get the chance to cover the first team due to my performance and coverage with the reserves. Since that point, I've attended almost every Dynamo match since as credential media. That was the first step of my plan. All at just 16 and 17 years of age. I am currently in the second step of the cycle. I've gotten consistent professional experience, but in order to cover the World Cup, I needed to get experience covering international teams and other clubs with name recognition. My first international experience was covering the Concacaf W Gold Cup, which then transitioned into covering a Venezuela friendly match against Guatemala, and most recently, just a couple days ago at the time of writing, I was able to cover the U.S Women's team playing against Colombia. This past August, I also covered FC Barcelona Femeni in Dallas, a team that is considered by many to be the best women's team in the world. Looking back, there were a lot of circumstances that allowed me to cover these matches. I'm lucky FC Barcelona Femeni went on a tour of the USA, I'm lucky both Venezuela and the USWNT decided to play matches in a stadium that I had extensive experience in, and I'm lucky that the media staff at Houston Dynamo FC gave me the opportunity to get my first experience in professional journalism. However, I still need more experience, and more importantly, the financial flexibility to pursue this further. My equipment is a multiple-year-old laptop, a mini mic that cost 5 dollars, and a notebook with pencil. Any recordings I do are alongside my coworkers at Foxtrot Media. If I want to do this full-time, getting a good video camera around the 300-800 range, a better computer, and a microphone that muffles outside sounds would definitely help, but I am also aware that journalists have to be flexible, and not every situation needs an expensive set-up in order to be successful. As of now though, the next step in my journey is doing well in college, and this scholarship would help get some of the financial burden off of me.

I fell in love with writing during my 5th grade year. Mrs. Freeman was my favorite teacher, and her smile was contagious and constant. She challenged me personally to learn about idioms, a concept that was tough to grasp as a Spanish-first student. I was happy that a teacher actually took personal interest in my development, so my parents bought me a book about idioms that I would read every night. Each day, I would come back and tell her one in a sentence. In all honesty, I am not as strong on my idioms as I used to be, but my writing was forever changed by this exercise. What I love the most about writing is the limitless amount of nuance that can be conveyed to the reader. As I've gotten older, my ability to add substance to my work has improved, and my storytelling keeps becoming more unique. In a way, my love for idioms has fueled my zest for writing stories. With this scholarship, I'll be able to pursue a degree in Public Relations, a field which centers around telling stories, in a similar way to journalism, which I am well versed in. I've been able to interview World Cup winners, Olympians, and head coaches through Major League Soccer as a member of the media. That experience has given me the ability to see my name on a byline while also meeting several mentors who have guided me in the competitive sports industry. That's another reason I love writing; it has given me the chance to work in soccer, my favorite sport in the world. 10-year-old me would be so happy knowing that this is the path I took, and it's all because I have the ability to type words on a computer. But most importantly, I love using writing as an escape. In my spare time, I've been working on a book project, not with the goal of publishing, but rather to gather my experiences in journalism in a massive document. With each addition, I feel a sense of accomplishment and personal growth. Yet, I'm also filled with a hunger to get even better. I can't do that if I don't pursue a higher education, and attending college would allow me to truly reach another echelon, a level that would make my current writing look mediocre. While that might sound harsh, that's the result that comes with improvement. Older versions of yourself are meant to be out phased, and I'm excited for that process to continue, one step at a time.

When I was a child, my dream was to become a professional athlete. I fell in love with the idea of having a stadium filled with thousands of people chanting my name. Some might call that dream egotistical, but it was most likely a result of watching way too many sports documentaries growing up; the theatrics are what I sought after. Sometime in middle school, I realized that the athletic career field was not going to be viable for me; my legs weren't strong enough to last 90 minutes in a competitive soccer match. But I couldn't stand the thought that such important part of my childhood would become a hobby the moment I became a functioning adult. I wanted sports to be my life. So, technically, I am still on the same career path that I wanted to venture when I was younger, but it just looks a little differently. My parents always told me that I was good with words. Whenever we would watch soccer or baseball games, I would commentate on the game as if I was in the booth. When I entered high school, my dad pushed me to sign up for the journalism class. That decision might have been the most important one of my life. I fell in love with telling stories, specifically ones about sports. What made this path different from one that would lead me to a professional athletic contract was that I could start instantly. Journalism and storytelling can be done by anyone. That doesn't mean that it's easy, but I could start getting professional experience in the field sooner. All I had to do was find a professional sports team that could offer me credentials. As a 16-year-old with no connections, my chances were pretty slim, but I found an opportunity to cover Houston Dynamo 2, the reserve team of Houston Dynamo FC who play in the third division of professional soccer in the U.S. My first match covering the team wasn't glamorous; the stadium was sparsely filled and the theatrics I was looking for didn't exist there. However, I met people that would connect me to the big leagues. After a couple more games of proving to the media coordinators and myself that I could function in a professional environment, I got credentials to cover the first team at Shell Energy Stadium. Unlike the reserve team matches, the stakes were palpable; and I could feel myself being filled with adrenaline and excitement. That's when I realized that I found my calling. I felt at home inside the press box and press conference room, asking questions to head coaches and players... the main characters. As it turns out, I'm living out my childhood dream. I get to be in the rooms where things happen; I'm taking part in a sports documentary in a sense; I get to broadcast emotion, suspense, achievement, and make it into a story that fans can enjoy. I'm writing the stories that can inspire others who felt the same way I did when I was younger. I always wanted to work in sports, but it wasn't until high school that I realized that this was the route I was going to take, but I'm thankful that I'm able to live out that dream so early on in my career. I'm sure, however, that things will keep getting better from here.

My name is Juan Pereira, and my plan for post-graduation is to enroll in an accredited university to pursue a degree in public relations. I was born in Puerto Rico, an United States territory stationed in the middle of the Carribean. Having Venezuelan parents, I grew up speaking Spanish but learned English in school. When I moved to Fulshear, a place that at the time was made up of a mostly white population, everything felt out of place. My Spanish didn't belong in a place full of people who didn't understand it. Still to this day, I rarely use the first language I ever learned in school. Another drawback to speaking both English and Spanish is that my words can sometimes get jumbled together. The syntax is different, and my brain refuses to constantly switch between the two forms. This can lead to some lapses in my speech that make me feel uncomfortable whenever speaking in public. My perception of being bilingual changed when I got into high school and began to do actual sports journalism outside of school. Sports in Houston, specifically soccer, have a vibrant Hispanic community of people that enjoy them. When I became credentialed media for Houston Dynamo FC, having a high fluency in both languages made it easier for me to interact with players, other media, and fans. For example, when I talk to players post-game, if the player's primary language is Spanish, I can just ask them the question in their native tongue without needing a translator. It also helps build a small bond due to me and the player sharing a similarity. A lot of people working in soccer media also speak Spanish, so like the players, speaking the same language fluently at least enables me to set up a proper line of communication. For the vast majority of people I speak to, there is no communication barrier. Learning English as a second language was an interesting experience due to the fact that, as I got better, words in English slowly became like words in Spanish: they just...are. When you're first learning a language, it's difficult to directly translate phrases or words to your native language, but as time went on, I began to realize that my brain would do it subconsciously. These just were a few of the thoughts I would experience growing up as I began to learn about what it means to be human. I consider myself to be a thinker; I like to figure out what makes us what we are. My experiences shape my understanding, and learning English is just one of many formative experiences that have made me into me. So, while the second-grade version of me didn't like how I didn't fit the average monolingual mold that most of my classmates fit into, I have now learned through my experiences, good and bad, that being bilingual is a blessing, because it's part of my identity. I wouldn't be able to communicate with people at work, school, or in day-to-day life nearly as well as I do now if I wasn't bilingual. It's that simple: Being bilingual is part of being Juan Pereira, a kid with a dream.

There's something special about seeing your name on a byline under an article you've always wanted to write. I remember getting media credentials to cover FC Barcelona Femeni's friendly match against Dallas Trinity FC during their U.S tour this past August. Growing up as a Barcelona fan, I remember wanting to go to a game during my lifetime. Later, that dream developed to being involved in a game as a reporter. When the opportunity to apply came up, I had to take it. And when I got approved, me and my dad made the four-hour trip from Houston to Dallas in order to make it on time. I remember sitting down in the historic Cotton Bowl press box with my Google Document open as the game was going. While I was working, I took a second to realize what I was doing and my promise to my younger self. This article that I was writing was the culmination of years of dreaming and work. Journalistic writing is concise, and my job that day was to write a very short story (slightly over 300 words) to describe the match and its importance. My other job was to interview one of the Barcelona players in order to get a quote for the article (it helps our company look good if players answer our questions) and fulfill a bucket list moment for myself. The article itself didn't take too long. What I spent most of my time at the game working on was how I would be able to get the interview. There were many writers, reporters, and media people at the game with the same goal as mine. I'm also not the lengthiest person or the loudest, so being able to ask the questions I wanted to ask without getting overblown by another eager reporter was going to be tough. Even though the media team records all the answers to questions, which meant that I could use one of the quotes provided by the team, I wanted to use my own questions for this article. I pursued journalistic writing to tell stories, and I wanted to decide what would be on this one. As the game ended, I scurried to the press area, and I successfully set myself in the front. Being in the front of the pile was big, as that would mean that the players would be able to hear from me clearly. However, if I wasn't the first person to ask a question, my positioning wouldn't matter. As the first Barcelona player passed by, I didn't hesitate. I asked my one question, and she gave me the answer I needed. I had the story. This was the first professional women's soccer match ever in Dallas, and the support was big. The players could feel it, and it was an emotional scene. I had the story. Me and my dad went back to a friend's house, and I plugged in the quote into the article. I had the story. The next day, the article was published, and seeing it go up on the website once again reminded me why I love writing. I had the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of mine in a way that was worth something for other people. I was able to spread my love for soccer to an audience, and that's meaningful. Life without meaning is like rice with no condiments. Writing, specifically journalistic writing and experiences for me, is the condiment that helps give my life some flavor.

I've always wanted to be in the rooms where things happen. Growing up, I would watch NFL draft documentaries to get a sense of the tension and emotion that professional sports teams feel on important nights. During my time covering Houston Dynamo FC as credentialed media, I loved going to the designated press areas and seeing the players, coaches, and executives travel from room to room, making constant decisions, just like you would see in a sports documentary. If it isn't obvious, I like sports, and I like the theatrics around them. The storylines, wins, and losses. In my short time actually being under the curtain, I've realized that I want to play a role in how journalists tell these storylines. I've been on the journalist side of the coin, and I can say that the PR people that I've interacted with have had an important role as to how I perceive stories that I'm interested in telling. I've always believed in the power of putting checkpoints between long term goals to have a sense of progression. That's how I went from covering the 3rd division of U.S Soccer to covering FC Barcelona Femeni in the historic Cotton Bowl in a little bit over a year. My long-term PR goal is to work for one of the biggest sports teams in the world. That opportunity could either come abroad or in the United States. To do so, I have to begin university, keep getting media opportunities, excel in class, find a PR internship opportunity (places like San Antonio FC, Houston Dynamo, Houston Texans are all options), and other viable options. My hope is to keep on building on my lengthy CV to attract the eyes of some of the biggest sporting companies in the world. I'm sure that there will be different hurdles to get across, but I am confident in my ability to adapt to the circumstances that are handed to me. One of my personal reasons for pursuing this passion is because of my father. He's one of the few people who I am confident likes sports more than I do. He's the one who taught me how to kick a football, throw a baseball, and make a layup. When I was younger, he would help coach the teams that I would play in, giving us ample bonding time. When I started working in sports media, he was one of my biggest supporters, driving me as far as Dallas for a game I had to cover. I know many people would die for a dad like that, so by pursuing my live mission, I'm helping repay just a fraction of the things my dad has done for me. But most importantly, this is a career path that I want to do. Nobody has forced me to go down this path. It combines communications with sports, and it allows me to finally be in the room where things happen.

Basketball fan culture, at least on the internet, has always confused me. People have agendas, narratives, or beliefs that are based on a singular player's performance. Fans cherry-pick statistics to fit their argument, and then other fans counter with other cherry-picked stats. The only player who is immune to this type of treatment is Lebron James, who I believe is the greatest basketball player of all time. The main criticism I see of Lebron is his lack of NBA titles compared to a player like Micael Jordan, who many consider to be the GOAT. This is because nobody else can see any other fault in his game. Three-point shooting? He's got it. Attacking the rim? He's got it. Defense? He's got that too. Ironically, most of the people who hate on Lebron James are those who have lost important games to him. Lebron has probably destroyed your favorite team at some point in time, and that has led to some unneeded resentment towards him. I find the treatment towards Lebron similar to how Rockets fans treat Steph Curry: We really don't like him, but we cannot deny his greatness. Another reason why Lebron should be considered the GOAT is his consistency. Rarely does a player in his late 30s lead the U.S to another gold in the Olympics. Although it would be naive to argue that Lebron is the same player he was before, you can see that he still has the talent to play for a couple more years. Most importantly, Lebron was simply the best player in the NBA when I was growing up. I can understand why someone who grew up watching MJ still believes that he is the superior basketball player. They simply built a special bond with him because he was their example of someone who was a level above the rest. For me, Lebron was that guy for most of my life. And as Lebron's career enters its final chapter, I appreciate what he has done for the sport. From the outside looking in, Lebron cared about his teammates and was a shining example of what a leader looks like. And the sadness that I'll feel when he eventually retires just goes to show the impact he's had during my lifetime. I'm proud to say that I was born just in time to watch Lebron James play basketball, the greatest to ever play the game.