I want to run in honor of Kalia D. Davis and continue her legacy. I did not know Kalia personally, but I am a track and field athlete, and I run cross country just the same as Kalia. I am more of a sprinter, though, and I love field events, like hurdling and jumping. I tried cross country for the first time this year, and boy-oh boy, some of those races are tough! I hold 8 school records at my school and I qualified for my state competition for the triple jump. Athletes like Kalia are, of course, talented, but it is the daily grind, the hours of practice, showing up early, staying late, travelling those extra miles for an opportunity like a clinic, a specialized coach, or a motivational speaker that can make the elite stand out even more. If you know, you know. Being a dedicated athlete with a rigorous schedule requires unbelievable time management and organizational skills. When I'm not in class, or at practice/competition, I am studying, doing my work, or working on self care so that I can be the best version of myself. Because of the time I spend on my studies I have earned my spot on the National Honor Society and will graduate in the top 10 in my class. I am a math and English tutor for students in younger grades during my free periods, and, of course, I find my way down to the gym whenever I can to help out with an activity because I love being active. On the weekends I work a part time job, spend time with my loved ones, and I volunteer as a faith formation assistant teacher at my church on Sundays. While running and athletic competition is a large part of who I am, and I can tell running was extremely important to Kalia, there is so much more to life. I enjoy making a difference in the lives of children, and I want to learn more about science and medicine. I wish to attend college for pre-pharmacy and eventually become a doctor of pharmacy. While attending school I hope to maintain my athletic abilities, work as a volunteer with a non profit organization, and participate in medical mission trips in both my college community and internationally. While I have the drive and focus to achieve my dream career, I do not qualify for financial aid. A scholarship would help to defray the cost of my education.

I am the reason for the “no concoctions” rule at my house. Concoctions, you might ask??? Yes, concoctions.Think: slimes, goops, foams, floams, potions, and oobaleks. As early as I can remember I was mixing shampoos, conditioners, and lotions during bathtime to make the most perfect miracle mixture. Then came the slime craze where kids across America rushed to their local Walmart to buy Elmer’s glue, contact solution, shaving cream, and laundry detergent to create a fantastic stretchy manipulative that would coat and then slide through my fingertips. My experiments didn’t cease when that trend faded. Health and beauty concoctions made of mashed fruits, honey, coffee grounds, sugars, and spices fulfilled my young teenage years. There were solutions for acne, glowing, dewy skin, a cure for a mosquito bite itch, or an under eye dark circle remedy. My experiments were most always messy. My mother would inquire about her missing containers and kitchen bowls, and she would grumble as the contents were found molding in random drawers or hidden away in a bathroom cabinet, under my bed, staining the countertops, destroying the carpet and caking up paint brushes, plastic straws and kitchen spoons with barnacles of…random concoctions. I didn’t mean any harm; I just needed an outlet for my creativity. I am pretty sure she deemed me a problem-child, but as a descendant of a family of teachers, my mother knew just what to do. First, she made a no concoctions rule for the house. Then, she signed me up for science camp at our local community college. She bought me kid-friendly books on the periodic elements, physics, and natural science topics, and she entered me into the science fairs at school. She introduced me to cooking and baking where I learned about food chemistry. Christmas and birthday gifts were sure to include an educational toy or hands-on craft, although I cannot promise that I read all the directions, and most likely made up my own instructions for experimentation. The packaging never held up for storage because it would be used for project enhancements, or a fine place for practicing with glue guns, scissors, paint, and hand tools. I have never been one for unanswered questions. I am somewhat of a risk taker and more of a “let’s find out” type of person. And, I do not intend to portray a mad scientist persona, because although I excel in math and science, for me it’s not so much the minutiae of those subjects, but finding the why and how in everything that I do. It’s about the solution, the purpose, the finite answer; I need to know the reason behind every rule, and “just because” has never been an acceptable answer to me. Someone once said, “question everything, or fall for anything.” I want to be informed. I like to research, theorize, calculate, prove, innovate, create, concoct, and perfect my work to my satisfaction. So how does all of this fit into my post secondary education? It is evident that I want to work in healthcare, but I do not see myself treating patients directly. When I began exploring college programs, the idea of medical research, pharmacology, chemistry, biology, and making a difference by synthesizing my knowledge by tried and true methods feels the most like me. I would feel proud if my work could have a positive effect on others and their health and well being, and marvel at how my curiosity helped to generate appreciation. I have matured, or moved on, from leaving behind surprise messes for my mother to discover. I want to study pharmacy.

Without hesitation, Sydney McLaughlin Laverne is my favorite athlete to cheer for on Team USA. She has been a role model of mine and an inspiration for young teenage athletes. Like me, Sydney is a track and field athlete specializing in sprinting and hurdling. She was named a world champion at age 15 and qualified for the Olympics at the young age of 16. She is determined to succeed, and I find great satisfaction in observing her success. Hurdling is by far one of the most challenging track and field events one can participate in. Not only must one be fast, but they must traverse obstacles in their path all the while listening to the clatter of a equally talented competitor breathing down your neck. This requires timing, pace, strategy, and jumping form. It really is an art. One false move and you can be flat on your face and tangled in a hurdle in front of a crowd. The pressure is insurmountable. But time and again, Sydney comes out on top. She is also a sprinter in the 400m. This is my favorite race to both watch and to train for. I could only wish to be as fast as Sydney and would sacrifice for a chance to train with her. She is a four-time gold medalist, and what I love the best about her is that she is not boastful. She is a woman of faith. In all of her humbleness she states that God is everything that she is and that she lives through Him daily. She is not successful by luck, chance or by good graces, but through Him. She also knows that hard work is part of the equation and is constantly looking for opportunities to improve herself. Sydney has served as an inspiration of mine through the past few years. We run the same events and we share similar feelings when it comes to our faith. When I watch the Olympics, I always take pause and hush the room to watch Sydney blow the competition out of the water. I even wrote a poem about her for my English class called "Hurdles." Her success at such a young age and her determination to be the best version of herself make her an idol in my eyes.

I always wondered why when I try so hard to be a good student, an outstanding athlete, and a giving person that I have not been recognized as “student of the month” and I have not received a “kid of character award” since the 2nd grade. I have come to the conclusion that circumstances beyond my control have contributed to the loss of recognition. While my outer appearance exudes strength and confidence, I am really anxious and self-conscious within. As a high achieving student and oldest in my grade level, I became a frequent victim of bullying. In a small school with only 46 students in my graduating class, upperclassmen were threatened by someone in a lower grade “stomping on their turf.” As an 8th and 9th grader on a varsity team, I was not accepted right away. And a few students at my grade level bullied me as well for overachieving. I experienced verbal, physical, and cyber bullying from the 8th to the 10th grade. I can recall a few events where bullies threw shoes and boots over freestanding lockers to land on me just to be funny. I was once shanked in the back with a pencil by a girl who didn't like me because we were different. Another time some one slapped my face with a Clorox wipe. Then there were the online insults, "No one likes you" or "You're a snitch!" How could I be doing the good things that my teachers and parents wanted me to do in school and still be the target of abuse? Most people picture the person being bullied as a weaker person being bullied by a stronger or more popular student. I was being bullied by those who were jealous of my success or by those who felt I would be taking the attention away from them. There were frequent trips to the principal’s office to settle an issue, calls from my parents to teachers to find out what happened, and removal from class to speak to a counselor. Subjectively speaking, the scenario doesn’t look good for someone hoping to be recognized as student of the month. Objectively, the abuse that I have endured during my time in middle/high school has had a lasting affect on me in both good and bad ways. There is no doubt that these experiences have contributed to my anxiety and depression, which is something I am medically treated for. Every now and then I struggle to complete my work, start a new task, or motivate myself to try something outside my comfort zone. I get caught up in the what ifs instead of the let’s find outs. But, enduring and learning to cope with the effects of bullying has strengthened me to advocate for others. I am a frequent supporter of the underdog. I do not tolerate the bullying of others, and I am honored when I hear an underclassman call me a role model. That compliment means more to me than any student of the month award ever could.

I always wondered why when I try so hard to be a good student, an outstanding athlete, and a giving person that I have not been recognized as “student of the month” and I have not received a “kid of character award” since the 2nd grade. I have come to the conclusion that circumstances beyond my control have contributed to the loss of recognition. While my outer appearance exudes strength and confidence, I am really anxious and self-conscious within. As a high achieving student and oldest in my grade level, I became a frequent victim of bullying. In a small school with only 46 students in my graduating class, upperclassmen were threatened by someone in a lower grade “stomping on their turf.” As an 8th and 9th grader on a varsity team, I was not accepted right away. And a few students at my grade level bullied me as well for overachieving. I experienced verbal, physical, and cyber bullying from the 8th to the 10th grade. I can recall a few events where bullies threw shoes and boots over freestanding lockers to land on me just to be funny. I was once shanked in the back with a pencil by a girl who didn't like me because we were different. Another time some one slapped my face with a Clorox wipe. Then there were the online insults, "No one likes you" or "You're a snitch!" How could I be doing the good things that my teachers and parents wanted me to do in school and still be the target of abuse? Most people picture the person being bullied as a weaker person being bullied by a stronger or more popular student. I was being bullied by those who were jealous of my success or by those who felt I would be taking the attention away from them. There were frequent trips to the principal’s office to settle an issue, calls from my parents to teachers to find out what happened, and removal from class to speak to a counselor. Subjectively speaking, the scenario doesn’t look good for someone hoping to be recognized as student of the month. Objectively, the abuse that I have endured during my time in middle/high school has had a lasting affect on me in both good and bad ways. There is no doubt that these experiences have contributed to my anxiety and depression, which is something I am medically treated for. Every now and then I struggle to complete my work, start a new task, or motivate myself to try something outside my comfort zone. I get caught up in the what ifs instead of the let’s find outs. But, enduring and learning to cope with the effects of bullying has strengthened me to advocate for others. I am a frequent supporter of the underdog. I do not tolerate the bullying of others, and I am honored when I hear an underclassman call me a role model. That compliment means more to me than any student of the month award ever could.

I wanna key his car (I want to get him back) I wanna make him lunch (but then I, I want to get him back) I wanna break his heart (but then I, I want to get him back) And be the one to stitch it up (but then I, I want to get him back) Wanna kiss his face (but then I, I want to get him back) With an uppercut (but then I, I want to get him back) I wanna meet his mom (but then I, I want to get him back) Just to tell her her son sucks (but then I, I want to get him back) Some people say, LOVE IS LOVE, and while that statement has a little bit of truth, teenage love definitely has it's own category. Having a teenage relationship is more of a game with the illusion of love where instead of a winner there are two losers. There is no denying that attraction, affection, comfort, and joy are all part of the connection game, but in this messed up game there are twists, turns and surprise players we didn't even know were playing. The goal of the game is to obtain a fantastical undetermined ending which in reality is a messy break up, a try again, and another break up. And to get there, each person involved finds themselves pushing the boundaries of their own emotions and personal values to WIN at the expense of losing. I'm no stranger to the game. I fell for the whimsy and charm of a guy who appeared to care about me, and for the sake of understanding teenage love, we will say that as a human being, he probably does CARE about my physical well being, but anything beyond that is passionate warfare. I soon became aware of the influences of friends, relatives, and frenemies who were also in our relationship. Their opinions, jealousies, and need to be involved triggered emotions in me I didn't know I had. I can recall silent treatments, phone hang ups, walking away in a huff, and instigating a fight, and then in only a few hours later sharing a cute Snap, a private joke, sneaking out for a hug. Olivia's line, "I wanna meet his mom, just to tell her her son sucks" is extremely relatable. Meeting a boys mother means something in a relationship, right? A boy that lets a girl into his life and allows her to connect with most influential person in his life has to be in a good spot, right? A mother's approval is a definite win, right?! But then, when her son acts like a jack ass and the relationship is crumbling, there are strong feelings to want to tell mom she must have done something wrong to raise the little monster and that she should get his ass in line and teach him how to treat someone he is supposed to care about with respect. That criticism won't make me a favorite for sure. The irony is killing me This teenage love game is exhausting.