Character Formation and Accomplishing Life Goals From Planning Growing up, I always loved school. I liked creating relationships with my friends and teachers. As I got older, I started to play sports and create bonds with my coaches and teammates. I would like to attend Shippensburg University in the fall of 2025. I have applied and been accepted into their middle-level science education program. Through this program, I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science in Education. My tentative plan upon college graduation is to start my dream career as a teacher. I would love to come back to my hometown, Selinsgrove, and teach the children of the community that I grew up in. Additionally, I would like to become the head coach of the Selinsgrove girls varsity wrestling team. I would also like to stay involved in my community through philanthropic programs that benefit both children and veterans. Growing up in my family, I am the only daughter, and I have four older brothers. Every weekend, as a child, I was toted to a boy’s wrestling event. I would watch my brothers compete; thus, this started my fascination with wrestling and my quest to become a female wrestler. I started my wrestling career in seventh grade and I have enjoyed the sport since that day. I chose the sport because I knew the hard work and dedication my brothers put into the sport, and I wanted to feel the same way, and maybe show them up as the little sister. Wrestling has taught me to be disciplined as well as hardworking. It has taught me to never give up in times of disparity. When I first started wrestling, there were only two girls in the mat room. Even at competitions, I would only wrestle with boys. These “tom-boy” moments have transferred into my student life. During high school, I took several classes that would be considered “masculine.” Being the only female in the class, I made sure to stay strong and defy the stereotype that women are weak. One such class was small engine repair, this class culminated with a competition involving four other schools. I won this competition defeating the other school’s most knowledgeable men. This class, along with my wrestling abilities, has shown me that I can accomplish anything if I learn, apply, practice skills, and persevere. Because of these skills learned in wrestling, I plan on taking down my life-long goals and dreams by accomplishing them. I have always dreamt of being the first person in my family to attend college and to become a teacher. Define Your Dream Scholarship would allow me to achieve my academic and lifelong goals. I grew up in a financially challenged family and this scholarship would allow me to flourish with less monetary anxieties. In addition to your financial support, receiving this scholarship would build my confidence, knowing that my dreams are one step closer to becoming a reality.

As the Key Club President of my high school, I am no stranger to serving my community. After finding this community-engaging organization, I became aware of my community's needs. Many people within my community need help purchasing personal care items. These items range from nail clippers, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. I was able to donate, package, and distribute these items to various parts of my community. I also learned that there is a need for interaction between veterans and people who appreciate their past sacrifices for our country. I have become very appreciative of these people in my community. I have written letters to various veterans in local hospitals battling their illnesses, to show my appreciation. I would like to expand my efforts by educating members of my community about the need and opportunities to help people. I don't think many people realized that people are in need, in our very own community. I wanted to bring enlightenment to my community members when they are in times of need. I feel a sense of joy helping people I don't know and hoping that it makes a difference in their lives. In the future, I will continue my relationship with my community and these brave individuals upon graduating.

Advocating, Defying Lineage, and Serving My Community Advocating has been a big part of my youth. Growing up as one of the few girls in the state to wrestle, I have grown up against the stereotypical aspect of many things. I advocated for girls wrestling to become a sport at Selinsgrove Area School District and for the whole state of Pennsylvania. I have also challenged myself by taking college-level courses while still in high school. When I first started wrestling, there were only two girls in the mat room. Even at competitions, I would only wrestle with boys. These “tom-boy” moments have transferred into my student life. During high school, I took several classes that would be considered “masculine.” Being the only female in the class, I made sure to stay strong and defy the stereotype that women are weak. One such class was small engine repair, this class culminated with a competition involving four other schools. I won this competition defeating the other school’s most knowledgeable men. This class, along with my wrestling abilities, has shown me that I can accomplish anything if I learn, apply, practice skills, and persevere. I would like to attend Shippensburg University in the fall of 2025. I have applied and been accepted into their Middle-Level Science Education program. Through this program, I hope to earn my Bachelor of Science in Education. Growing up, I always loved school. I liked creating relationships with my friends and teachers. As I got older, I started to play sports and create bonds with my coaches and teammates. In five to ten years I see myself teaching and helping young students. I have always loved the school setting and making relationships with friends and teachers. As a teacher, I hope to create these same relationships with my students. I will be able to better the future of my community. I will be teaching the future of our society and teaching them very important things. Like myself, these students will help, serve, and advance our community. The Valerie Rabb Scholarship will allow me to achieve my academic and lifelong goals. Since I was a child, I wanted to become the first person in my family to attend and graduate college. Growing up as a financially challenged student, there have been some times when college seemed out of reach. After completion of my college education, I hope to become a mentor and leader for my community. I would love to come back to my hometown, Selinsgrove, and teach the children of the community that I grew up in. Additionally, I would like to become the head coach of the Selinsgrove Girls Varsity Wrestling team. I would also like to stay involved in my community through philanthropic programs that benefit both children and veterans.

Physical and Mental Gains Through Wrestling At an early age, I  began competitive go-kart racing. I fell in love with the adrenaline rush, the sounds of the track, and the extreme joy of winning. This was the beginning of my athletic career. As I grew, I kept the racing fever, but I added wrestling to my rapport. I began wrestling in middle school at the age of 12. I continued wrestling throughout high school. The love of the sport has made me become a stronger person, a more compassionate player, a leader, and an excellent time manager.  My strength has greatly improved because of wrestling. The strength is not only physical but it is also mental strength. I had to build muscle to improve and dominate my opponents on the wrestling mat. However, I found that my mental strength was many times more difficult to improve. As a female wrestler, I had to develop a resiliency to accept that many classmates, adults, and coaches did not always accept me being on the wrestling mat competing against boys. I had to build myself up against the stigma that I was in it “just to get attention”. My happiness peaked last year when girls' wrestling was officially sanctioned by the PIAA.  Being a wrestler has also allowed me to become a more compassionate player and teammate. I have found that girls' wrestling has had the biggest influence on my ability to be compassionate. As a freshman, I only had eight matches in the entire year against fellow female athletes. I could see the same fire in their eyes as I had. We had undergone the same struggles with our teammates, coaches, and peers fighting against the stigma. This year as a senior, I have only competed against females and it has made me happy to see a different fire in their eyes. Now they show strength and power in being an accepted female wrestler. This transformation in wrestling has allowed me to help build up future generations of female wrestlers by showing my passion for the sport and my talents in my techniques. Athletics in general, has provided me the opportunity to demonstrate my leadership abilities. I was selected by my teammates to be the captain of the girl's wrestling team for the past two years. This leadership role has allowed me to be more confident and sure-footed in all aspects of my life. I am an excellent student and I hold the presidential position in Key Club International and I am an officer in the FFA. I do not think I would have had the internal strength to run for these esteemed offices without the confidence and time management skills I learned through wrestling.