I believe that I have stayed optimistic through tough times in many different ways. One of the ways I can do this is if I am in a rough spot, I look for a friend to help keep me on track. I go to my friend and tell them what is bothering me. They can calm me down and steer me back in the right direction. I have always been very thankful for my friends, and I always know they have my back and how I have theirs. There are instances when my friends are busy, so I have to do something else to help me stay optimistic. Another thing I do is watch inspirational videos on youtube or any social media outlet. This helps me see other people being successful and understand that if I keep a positive mindset I also can achieve a prosperous lifestyle. One last thing I do to stay optimistic is to go on walks. This helps me out a lot since I get time to myself just to think about things. Cardio is very therapeutic in its own way. Staying optimistic is key to living a healthy lifestyle.

Mental health is very important, and it can be easy to forget that. Most people do not take others seriously when they say they need a mental health day. Giving yourself a break every once in a while will be beneficial. The way I relax when I am stressed is to sit down and listen to music. Music is a way that takes my mind off of almost anything in an instant. I become engulfed in the lyrics and fall into what feels like a trance. I become fully relaxed, and my mind runs free. Recently I have been listening to a lot of music with my eyes closed, just to be able to escape from the stress of all of the finals I had for my sophomore year of college. Another great thing about using music to relax is the different genres to choose from depending on the mood you are in. I am very thankful for music and how it keeps me calm.

Hello, my name is Kaylee Madey and I am from right outside of Pittsburgh. The reason why I am applying for this scholarship is that I have been an athlete since I was a kid. Growing up watching my brother, who is two years older than me, go through swim lessons made me want to take them as well. About two years later, I was also sent through the same lessons and caught on quickly after watching nick. When my brother was about 6, he joined a summer team, and about a year later I joined it with him. I always had him by my side, and over the years, I also grew close with friends in my school district. I met my best friend by joining my summer swim team. Flash forward a few years, and middle school was not easy for me. I quit swimming about three times in three years. How my best friend was able to convince me to join the middle school team, and I cannot thank her enough for it. I swam all four years of high school, with freshman year being the worst of them all. After that year, I contemplated quitting the team for a final time, but I realized that it wasn't the sport that made freshman year so difficult it was the current seniors. Sophomore year I had a much better mindset, and I started to excel in all of the events I swam. The same year, my brother was a senior and about to leave, and he only had one thing on his mind. His big goal his senior year was to win our districts meet overall and compete at state championships, in which he later succeeded. After watching him do that, I tried to also get into that same mindset the following year. To this day, my junior year swim season was a life-changing experience for my swim career. Not only were my times continuing to get better, but my team also won the district's meet, and I was also able to compete in our state championships and medal alongside three of my teammates for our relay. My senior year was fun, but it still feels like there is a missing part in my timeline due to COVID-19. My teammates and I were in our vans on the way to the state championship meet when a tweet that was published by the PIAA stating they were postponing the meet due to the outbreak that was hitting Pennsylvania at the time. I was devastated because my teammates and I worked so hard just for the whole world to be shut down. Going into quarantine, I still was not sure what college I wanted to go to. I had only done a few visits, and none of them truly felt like home, which made me nervous. During the first few months, I did in-depth research on each college I had been excepted to find more information about them to make my decision easier. About two weeks before decision day, I finally landed at Westminster College, located in New Wilmington, PA. This was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have made so many friends from all over, and not to mention I am still able to be a part of a swim team while balancing academics. If it wasn't for the sport that has gotten me all throughout my childhood, I probably would be the person I am today, and I cannot be more thankful for that.