Playing sports throughout high school can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with its own set of challenges and valuable lessons. I initially thought playing sport through high school would be easy however I found there to be additional pressure caused by my coach and the need to maintain my academic grades. Initially it sounds like the dream however the reality is very different as it involves long days, travelling, etc. Time Management: Balancing academics, sports, and personal life is extremely demanding. As a student-athlete I found that I often have to juggle practice schedules, games, and homework, which can lead to stress and burnout. I have tried to find more appropriate methods to manage this but it can still be a challenge. The risk of injury is always present in sport, and any sort of injury can sideline athletes for extended periods, affecting both my physical and mental health. Injuries can happen in and outside of the sport so there is always the additional stress of trying to avoid this but accidents happen and are uncontrollable. Academic Pressure is a huge pressure as falling grades not only impacts my school work but can also impact my place on the team, no matter how good of an athlete I am my place is always overshadowed but my academic abilities. Maintaining good grades while committing to a sport can be tough. The pressure to excel in both areas regularly leads to anxiety and stress. I often may face peer pressure to perform well and meet expectations from coaches, teammates, and even family members. There are a lot of expectations as a student-athlete to exceed however there is often very little support, it is difficult to complain to others who don't see the pressure this causes. The stress of competition, fear of failure, and the pressure to perform can impact my mental health. It’s important for me to have support systems in place however I am my own worst enemy as I place such high expectaion on myself that not achieving this is failure. Being a student-athlete teaches you how to manage your time effectively and stay disciplined. These skills are invaluable in both academic and professional settings. Sports foster a sense of teamwork and help develop leadership skills. Working with teammates towards a common goal teaches cooperation and communication. Overcoming setbacks, such as injuries or losses, builds resilience. Learning to persevere through challenges is a key life skill. The dedication required to succeed in sports translates to a strong work ethic in other areas of life. Hard work and commitment are essential for achieving goals. Achieving success in sports can boost confidence and self-esteem. This positive self-image can carry over into other aspects of life. Being a student-athlete can shape you into a well-rounded individual, equipped with skills and experiences that are beneficial long after high school.

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in healthcare by helping individuals recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and improve their overall physical function and mobility. It can significantly enhance the quality of life for patients by reducing pain, preventing disability, and promoting overall wellness. Helping people recover from injuries is one of the most rewarding aspects of physical therapy. By guiding patients through their recovery process, I can make a significant impact on their lives, helping them regain their independence and return to their daily activities. Here are a few ways I can contribute as a physical therapist: -Personalized Treatment Plans: Developing customized rehabilitation programs tailored to each patient’s specific needs and goals. -Hands-On Therapy: Using manual therapy techniques to improve mobility and reduce pain. Patient Education: Teaching patients exercises and techniques they can do at home to continue their recovery. -Emotional Support: Providing encouragement and support to help patients stay motivated throughout their recovery journey. My main area of interest is Sports-related injuries. These injuries are common, and athletes often need specialized care to get back to their peak performance. As a physical therapist working with sports injuries, I can help athletes recover from injuries such as: -Sprains and Strains: Common in sports, these injuries affect ligaments and muscles. -Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons, often due to overuse. -Fractures: Broken bones that require careful rehabilitation. -Dislocations: Joints that have been forced out of their normal position. -ACL Injuries: Common in sports like soccer and basketball, requiring extensive rehab. I can also work on preventive care, helping athletes improve their strength, flexibility, and technique to avoid injuries in the first place. I am also specifically interested in learning more and specilaizing in Injury prevention as this is crucial for athletes to maintain peak performance and avoid setbacks. As I am an athlete I want to ensure I am as fit and healthy as possible to prevent injury which could impact my future career. Physical and mental health are equally important as well as nutrition. Here are some effective strategies: -Proper Warm-Up and Cool-Down: Always start with a warm-up to increase blood flow to muscles and prepare the body for exercise. Cool down after workouts to gradually reduce heart rate and relax muscles. -Strength Training: Incorporate strength training to build muscle endurance and support joints. Focus on balanced workouts that target different muscle groups1. Flexibility Exercises: Regular stretching improves muscle flexibility and reduces the risk of strains and sprains. Include both static and dynamic stretches in your routine. -Use Proper Equipment: Ensure you have the right gear, including shoes that provide adequate support and protective equipment specific to your sport. Hydration and Nutrition: Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet rich in nutrients to support overall health and muscle function. -Rest and Recovery: Allow time for rest and recovery between training sessions to prevent overuse injuries. Adequate sleep is also essential for muscle repair. -Technique and Form: Learn and practice proper techniques for your sport to avoid unnecessary strain on your body. This includes correct posture and movement patterns. -Cross-Training: Engage in different types of physical activities to avoid overworking the same muscle groups. This helps in overall conditioning and reduces the risk of injury. By incorporating these strategies, athletes can significantly reduce their risk of injuries and enhance their performance.

ASD has given me a different outlook on life. I view and experience things differently to my peers which can be both a positive and a negative. Negatively I struggle to make and maintain friendships, I struggle with social cues and have experienced bullying in the past which led to extensive mental health symptoms. I try to fit in and conform but it is difficult to maintain all of the time. I have very few friends that I can rely and and as I have gotten older realised that people I thought were friends are actually acquaintances. I have been easily led in the past leading me to get into trouble for other people. I have also had some positive impacts in my life through my ASD. I have been involved with services which created opportunities for me to interview doctors, mental health nurses and emotional resilience staff. I have been involved in training, giving my perspective on situations, learning materials, etc. I struggled with high school education as a typical classroom environment isn’t for me as I prefer practical experiences. I thrive when supported however at high school this can be challenging for teachers to provide. There is a lack of understanding and support within the education system making children and young people feel like they are failing however it is the system that doesn’t fit for us. I love learning but learn in my own way and in my own time but we are not encouraged to this instead we are forced into a box and expected to perform and when we do not there are consequences. I was voted by my peers in high school to be a leader which in the UK is called head boy despite getting into trouble regularly throughout high school for not sitting still, not listening and talking too much. This made me proud as staff could see that I wasn’t a bad person just struggled in a classroom environment. I have participated in public speaking for school, local golf club and represented the boules team as mascot for an international tournament. My parents have always supported and encouraged me to give everything a go and not let my ASD hold me back. They encourage me to try as there is always the option of stopping at anytime if it’s too much but once the opportunity has passed I might regret it. My ideal job is a professional golfer. I love being outdoors, I love my parents being proud of me as they are very encouraging and supportive. I enjoy the camaraderie and banter that golf brings as well as the travelling and opportunities that are available.

I have a multitude of complex health conditions which have allowed me to adapt and participate in golf. Golf is becoming an extremely inclusive sport and there is already a disabled golf league in England to encourage further participation. I want to make bigger changes and encourage disabled children to become involved with a child disability golf league. Golf can be very supportive, you can build confidence, gain skills and make friends. I hope to grow the sport of golf and encourage disability participation by challenging out of date and discriminatory rules and regulations that some golf clubs still have. Golf clubs need to move with the times and become more inclusive and progressive rather than elitist.

My main sport is golf and I have accomplished a lot in the 8 years since I started the sport, my handicap has reduced from 54 and is currently at 3.6. I have competed in multiple local and national competitions as I am passionate about undertaking this as a future profession. I am an excellent team player, and I can inspire and encourage my teammates making me an excellent asset for any team, my happy and honest personality reflects my character and makes my team feel at ease. It has become clear to me that being able to successfully juggle my academic studies, as well as my passion for developing my skills in Golf are equally important. This has allowed me to develop a relentless self-governed culture of hard work and determination to succeed, as well as being my own biggest critic. As a personal future goal, a career in professional golf is truly within my sights, with my personal and professional attributes being truly aligned with this. I display grit, curiosity, self-control, social intelligence, zest, optimism, and gratitude which are vital for any team sports. I am aware that being a part of the team and maintaining a high level of academics will be challenging, however, I am prepared to devote the required time for this. I want to continue on this pathway to try and achieve my ultimate dreams. I have made some amazing friends at university from my room mates to my golf team to classmates everyone has been extremely welcoming and supportive. I am a young carer for my mother who has multiple health issues. I myself have multiple health issues including autism and mental health issues. I volunteer for a local charity that advocates for young people with mental health issues and disabilities. I donate and volunteer regularly for a local food bank. Being awarded this scholarship will ease some financial burden on my mother who is supporting me on this journey. She works extremely hard in a full-time job despite her health conditions to ensure I am given the best opportunities and changes available. I have been humbled by the accomplishments I have made in my golf career. Prior to moving to America for my studies, I was the junior golf team captain where I had an amazing team, we worked closely together and supported each other whether we were playing or caddying to encourage each other.

My dream house will be a large 6-bed mansion on a lake or river. It will have a golf course so that I can practice when I'm not competing. I will have space for several high-end sports cars. I will have an elaborate walk-in wardrobe to store my sneakers, caps, and watches, it will also have a 6-foot-tall mirror so I can check my appearance. I will have floor-to-ceiling windows to make sure there is a lot of light in the house making me feel happy. the view I will have from my living room and kitchen will be amazing. I will have an open-plan kitchen with a large island so friends and family can stand or sit talking to me and each other while I cook. I love cooking and would have all of the modern appliances. I would have a skylight in my bedroom so that on clear nights I can lie on my bed and gaze at the stars and moon which makes me feel peaceful and content. I would have a roll-top bath that's large enough to lie down in and has jacuzzi jets. I will have a separate double shower that I can share with my partner. I will have his and hers sinks so we can spend time together without getting in each other's way. I would also have a state-of-the-art gym and weight room to enhance my physique and skill for golf. I would have a golf simulation for when the weather is poor and I can still practice. I would have a sauna room and an ice bath as both help my recovery from sports.

My mental health is incredibly important as I have lived experiences of poor mental health which resulted in some very dark, scary and lonely episodes. I maintain poor and good mental health by ensuring I look after my physical and mental health. I am conscious about the foods I eat as I am aware that poor constant eating habits leads to a decline in my mental health. I work out regularly to improve my mental health which takes a lot of effort and energy on days where I would rather hide under the covers. I have experienced poor mental health from both parents who try their best to manage their own physical and mental health however this is proving extremely challenging especially when my mother has a rare form of depression. She has tried a variety of options and the only one left is surgery. I experienced a very challenging situation a few years ago when my mother had a large seizure leading to her falling down the stairs resulting in multiple serious injuries requiring surgery. I had a lot of flashbacks and separation anxiety worried that something would happen to her when I wasn’t around. My mother left the family home separating from my father which made me feel lonely, unloved and abandoned which took me a long time to forgive her. I have now hardened myself to emotions but this is now my coping mechanism. I am currently studying and living in America away from all family and friends which means on certain occasions I feel lonely and have no one to talk to as the time difference is so vast. I have made some amazing friends at university who I am extremely close to. I can talk to my new friends about anything and they can help me through my difficult times. There are some other international students who are experiencing similar feelings. I try to keep myself busy to manage my mental health because I am distracted and don’t have any free time to think about episodes that upset me. I also suffer with hemiplegic migraines which are very scary when I have one sided paralysis, no speech, sight and vomiting can feel very lonely and isolating. People usually just dismiss the severity of my migraines until they witness the deterioration and how much this impacts my life. Then people are very supportive and understanding but this is frustrating as people dismiss this until they witness them.

The thing I most enjoy in life is playing golf. The fact I get to play regularly with my Dad makes it all the more enjoyable. We compete a lot in doubles competitions as well as playing casually. My Dad got me into the sport when I was 9 years old and has helped me with my game as well as driving me to lessons and competitions all over the country. Even when the weather is bad, he still comes out to either play a game or to help me sharpen up my game with practice routines and drills. Having my Dad watching and supporting me alongside encouraging me is one of the best things I could ask for. I know that whether I have had a good or bad game, he will always be able to focus on the positives and get me to work on my negatives, so that I can keep improving. Without his support and enthusiasm, I would not be the person I am today.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Having been the victim of bullying at times in my life, not just at school but in my outside interests as well, I always try to do the right thing and speak up and defend people who are getting treated poorly. There are a few individuals in my class and golf network who, for some reason, feel they need to point out other peoples 'flaws' and make fun of them. I always speak to both the bullies and the victims separately, the bully will be made to see that they are harming someone either physically or mentally and that nothing is gained from this sort of treatment and I urge them to change their behaviour. I actively encourage the victim to look to their strengths and to pay no attention to what others say and do my utmost to make sure they are included in all activities, sessions and social events so that they know they are wanted and valued. We need to be better, each and every one of us.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Having been the victim of bullying at times in my life, not just at school but in my outside interests as well, I always try to do the right thing and speak up and defend people who are getting treated poorly. There are a few individuals in my class and golf network who, for some reason, feel they need to point out other peoples 'flaws' and make fun of them. I always speak to both the bullies and the victims separately, the bully will be made to see that they are harming someone either physically or mentally and that nothing is gained from this sort of treatment and I urge them to change their behaviour. I actively encourage the victim to look to their strengths and to pay no attention to what others say and do my utmost to make sure they are included in all activities, sessions and social events so that they know they are wanted and valued. We need to be better, each and every one of us.

The thing I most enjoy in life is playing golf. The fact I get to play regularly with my Dad makes it all the more enjoyable. We compete a lot in doubles competitions as well as playing casually. My Dad got me into the sport when I was 9 years old and has helped me with my game as well as driving me to lessons and competitions all over the country. Even when the weather is bad, he still comes out to either play a game or to help me sharpen up my game with practice routines and drills. Having my Dad watching and supporting me alongside encouraging me is one of the best things I could ask for. I know that whether I have had a good or bad game, he will always be able to focus on the positives and get me to work on my negatives, so that I can keep improving. Without his support and enthusiasm, I would not be the person I am today.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Having been the victim of bullying at times in my life, not just at school but in my outside interests as well, I always try to do the right thing and speak up and defend people who are getting treated poorly. There are a few individuals in my class and golf network who, for some reason, feel they need to point out other peoples 'flaws' and make fun of them. I always speak to both the bullies and the victims separately, the bully will be made to see that they are harming someone either physically or mentally and that nothing is gained from this sort of treatment and I urge them to change their behaviour. I actively encourage the victim to look to their strengths and to pay no attention to what others say and do my utmost to make sure they are included in all activities, sessions and social events so that they know they are wanted and valued. We need to be better, each and every one of us.

I believe the true meaning of life is to be successful. Being successful is not just about how much money you have and the things you own. I believe it is about being happy, being surrounded by people who want the best for you and who support you and love you. If you can lead a happy life, help others around you and show compassion and care, then that's the sort of legacy you want to leave behind. Knowing what you want from life and what you are able to give back gives you goals to aim for and achieve, we all want to be happy, healthy and to be surrounded by those we love and who we love back. Making the right decisions will make us happy and leave ourselves being more fulfilled in every way, this means we will smile more and be more willing to go out of our way to help others and I believe this comes back to making us happier.

The thing I most enjoy in life is playing golf. The fact I get to play regularly with my Dad makes it all the more enjoyable. We compete a lot in doubles competitions as well as playing casually. My Dad got me into the sport when I was 9 years old and has helped me with my game as well as driving me to lessons and competitions all over the country. Even when the weather is bad, he still comes out to either play a game or to help me sharpen up my game with practice routines and drills. Having my Dad watching and supporting me alongside encouraging me is one of the best things I could ask for. I know that whether I have had a good or bad game, he will always be able to focus on the positives and get me to work on my negatives, so that I can keep improving. Without his support and enthusiasm, I would not be the person I am today.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

The thing I most enjoy in life is playing golf. The fact I get to play regularly with my Dad makes it all the more enjoyable. We compete a lot in doubles competitions as well as playing casually. My Dad got me into the sport when I was 9 years old and has helped me with my game as well as driving me to lessons and competitions all over the country. Even when the weather is bad, he still comes out to either play a game or to help me sharpen up my game with practice routines and drills. Having my Dad watching and supporting me alongside encouraging me is one of the best things I could ask for. I know that whether I have had a good or bad game, he will always be able to focus on the positives and get me to work on my negatives, so that I can keep improving. Without his support and enthusiasm, I would not be the person I am today.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. We both know that getting myself and hopefully my father to America will give us a fresh start and a more positive outlook and lifestyle. I have been told from the time I took an interest in golf that I will never be good enough to make a career out of golf, those same people said I would never get down to a single figure handicap. I have achieved this already, not to prove them wrong but to prove myself right and to prove my fathers' belief in me. All I want is my father to be happy again, this would make me happy.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 5.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. I hope to be able to become a professional golfer on the P.G.A. and realise my dreams.

When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. We both know that getting myself and hopefully my father to America will give us a fresh start and a more positive outlook and lifestyle. I have been told from the time I took an interest in golf that I will never be good enough to make a career out of golf, those same people said I would never get down to a single figure handicap. I have achieved this already, not to prove them wrong but to prove myself right and to prove my fathers' belief in me. All I want is my father to be happy again, this would make me happy. I know if I was not around to listen to him and my dad being there to listen to me, we both would not be here.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. I have also been involved with fund-raisers and food banks.

I hope to be able to make life easier for anyone I can.Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted, even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues, as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have, so they have an escape from their everyday lives. I have been offered a fantastic opportunity to go to college in America. Where I can learn and progress into hopefully one day becoming a professional. Whilst I understand it is not easy, they believe in me and believe I have the capability to put my dream into reality. I have been told by numerous colleges that I would be their number one pick for the golf team based on my abilities. This is a chance in a lifetime; however, I do not get funding with it being in America. My mam works really hard, and my dad has given up his job so that he can take care of my mam after she was diagnosed with epilepsy as well as multiple other health issues. I have severe Hemiplegic Migraines, Dyspraxia and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, so he needs to be on hand if we need to go to hospital. He is working towards his diploma in proofreading in order to help financially, but at this moment we only have one salary coming in which means I need any help I can get in order to further my dream. Now that my Mother has left my Father we are really struggling financially. This has caused all sorts of problems but together my dad and myself are working through it.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. We both know that getting myself and hopefully my father to America will give us a fresh start and a more positive outlook and lifestyle. I have been told from the time I took an interest in golf that I will never be good enough to make a career out of golf, those same people said I would never get down to a single figure handicap. I have achieved this already, not to prove them wrong but to prove myself right and to prove my fathers' belief in me. All I want is my father to be happy again, this would make me happy.

The thing I most enjoy in life is playing golf. The fact I get to play regularly with my Dad makes it all the more enjoyable. We compete a lot in doubles competitions as well as playing casually. My Dad got me into the sport when I was 9 years old and has helped me with my game as well as driving me to lessons and competitions all over the country. Even when the weather is bad, he still comes out to either play a game or to help me sharpen up my game with practice routines and drills. Having my Dad watching and supporting me alongside encouraging me is one of the best things I could ask for. I know that whether I have had a good or bad game, he will always be able to focus on the positives and get me to work on my negatives, so that I can keep improving. Without his support and enthusiasm, I would not be the person I am today.

I have been playing golf since I was 9. Over the years I have progressed and am now the vice-captain on my local team at Beamish Park Golf Club. My parents have put everything into my golf, taking me to competitions, games – all over the UK, they have always put me first. I have worked so hard at school and at golf to help me reach my goals. When I am unable to play or practise golf, I use most of my social time watching instructional videos, the Golf Channel, basically everything related to golf. I have been offered a fantastic opportunity to go to a boarding school in America. Where I can learn and progress into hopefully one day becoming a professional. Whilst I understand it is not easy, they believe in me and believe I have the capability to put my dream into reality. I have been told by numerous colleges that I would be their number one pick for the golf team based on my abilities. This is a chance in a lifetime; however, I do not get funding with it being in America. My mam works really hard, and my dad has given up his job so that he can take care of my mam after she was diagnosed with epilepsy as well as multiple other health issues. I have severe Hemiplegic Migraines, Dyspraxia and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, so he needs to be on hand if we need to go to hospital. He is working towards his diploma in proofreading in order to help financially, but at this moment we only have one salary coming in, which means I need any help I can get in order to further my dream. Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted, even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues, as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have, so they have an escape from their everyday lives. I practise golf three times a week and play 18 holes another 3 days per week. When I am unable to go to the practise area, I go through drills from my coach at home. This has helped my putting with regard to pace and alignment. I watch instructional videos so that I can tweak certain things and always strive to be a more accomplished and well-rounded golfer. I am currently studying Triple Sports Science at college, and I am pushing for my predicted grades of triple distinction. I picked this subject as I believe this will help me in looking and understanding all facets of what I can do and, what I need to do in order to be the best that I can, so I can reach my goals as well as helping others to reach theirs. When I get to America, I want to further my knowledge and major in sports studies, where they have a wider array of techniques and equipment. I also think my golf game would improve further if I am able to access coaches on a daily basis and where I can compete at a higher level, both as an individual and as a team member. Playing golf is the most important thing to me. It allows me to believe in myself and to push me to be the best that I can be. No matter what discipline you are in, I am of the belief that you can always do better. If you want something so bad that it is all you think of, you put in the effort and the practise, then you can achieve your dreams.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I have been playing golf since I was 9. Over the years I have progressed and am now the vice-captain on my local team at Beamish Park Golf Club. My parents have put everything into my golf, taking me to competitions, games – all over the UK, they have always put me first. I have worked so hard at school and at golf to help me reach my goals. When I am unable to play or practise golf, I use most of my social time watching instructional videos, the Golf Channel, basically everything related to golf. I have been offered a fantastic opportunity to go to a boarding school in America. Where I can learn and progress into hopefully one day becoming a professional. Whilst I understand it is not easy, they believe in me and believe I have the capability to put my dream into reality. I have been told by numerous colleges that I would be their number one pick for the golf team based on my abilities. This is a chance in a lifetime; however, I do not get funding with it being in America. My mam works really hard, and my dad has given up his job so that he can take care of my mam after she was diagnosed with epilepsy as well as multiple other health issues. I have severe Hemiplegic Migraines, Dyspraxia and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, so he needs to be on hand if we need to go to hospital. He is working towards his diploma in proofreading in order to help financially, but at this moment we only have one salary coming in which means I need any help I can get in order to further my dream. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Being a friend means being there to support people you care about. Whether this is emotionally, mentally or in any other way that they need it. We all go through rough patches in life where sometimes you just need a sympathetic ear, some guidance, advice or just someone to be there for you knowing that they will always try to make it better for you. I have had struggles where my friends have stayed up until the early hours of the morning just chatting and letting me vent my anger and frustrations at what has recently been happening in my life. Sometimes you need someone to talk to, rather than your parents or partner, that won't judge and just listen to you pour your heart out. I have younger golfers coming to me with their problems, whether it be golf related or they are having problems at school or anything in general. I always do my best to help them in their needs. There is nothing better than helping to solve a problem, knowing that the person you have helped feels like there is a solution and better times ahead. Always try to make people smile, make them laugh and be happy. I love helping people. I don't know if it comes from my father being caring or because of the struggles I have faced with being disabled, or a mixture of all those. Whenever people need a hand, whether it's to do something or they need a shoulder to cry on or just some words of encouragement, I always try to do the best I can to help out and be available for them. This is very important to me as I love to make people laugh, smile or just feel good about themselves. It has come to the fore even more so now that I am junior captain at my golf club. We have a lot of younger children who are taking up the game. There are times when they get down on themselves as they think they aren't playing well or because they can't hit it as far as some of the more experienced players. I always pull them to one side and tell them what I was like when I first started playing and try to make fun of myself so that they cheer up and give them some advice on what can be improved. I find generally because they are laughing and having fun they tend to play better and rather than criticizing their mistakes, I point out when they have hit good shots. If we all were friendlier and a bit more empathetic, then I think we would all be happier and would pay what we have received forward to others.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. I hope Mental health will be taken more seriously in the future. I hope my Father can survive . Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted, even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues, as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have, so they have an escape from their everyday lives. I want everyone, regardless of their size, ability or background, to be able to have dreams and to be able to realise them. I also want there to be a broader spectrum of help available. Rather than just being told to move on with life and to get over it people need to be more aware of their actions and the pain it causes. I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my Father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything, and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I just want my father to be happy again.

When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer.. We both know that getting myself and hopefully my father to America will give us a fresh start and a more positive outlook and lifestyle. I have been told from the time I took an interest in golf that I will never be good enough to make a career out of golf, those same people said I would never get down to a single figure handicap. I have achieved this already, not to prove them wrong but to prove myself right and to prove my fathers' belief in me. All I want is my father to be happy again, this would make me happy.

If you care,share.I always try to help people. No matter whether it is with schoolwork, golf or just giving support and friendship and showing them that there is always someone who cares. I come from a family that has struggled to make ends meet, yet because of this I appreciate it more when we get to do something special. I see some people who have the best of everything and gloat about it and make fun of those who are less fortunate. I do not understand why people have to feel or act mean towards others. Time is free just as manners are, I always try to make sure my friends from both inside and outside of golf know that I am always there for them, no matter what time or what issue they are facing. If we could all appreciate each other more and support each other then maybe there would be a better balance and people would be happier.

One of the most inspiring songs ever written, Lose yourself by Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem) has not only reinvented the way the world sees rap and it's artists and made it more mainstream to the wider audience but, he has also shown that no matter how many defeats you face, how many times you get rejected, how poor you are and how bad your experiences have been, you can become a success and follow your dreams. I grew up in a poor environment where money was always an issue and because of my background that I would never make it or realise my dreams, every time I get told this or start to doubt myself I think of how far Marshall has come. No matter what he did, said worked at or put himself out there, no one wanted to take a chance on him and nobody would give him the time of day. Even through all the struggles, fights and abuse, he never gave up. Yes at times he was so dejected with how his life was going, but he pushed and pushed so that he could explore every avenue to try and get a foot in the door. When you listen to some of the lyrics from his more serious songs, there are messages of looking for hope, reaching your goals and achieving your dreams, never give up no matter who tells you that your ambition is impossible to reach.

realising my dream it what keeps me motivated every day, no matter the conditions or anything else.Since I started playing golf when I was 9 years old, all I have wanted to do is make it to the highest level. Watching the professional golfers on tour and hoping one day my name will be up there and competing for majors is a phenomenal dream, one that I hope to realise in the next few years. I work hard at my game and hope to come to America where I can attend college (hopefully on a scholarship) and enhance both my game and my chances of getting on the Korn Ferry Tour. From there, I hope to go onto the PGA Tour. It would enable me to buy a car, my own house and take care of my parents. Hearing your name called out by the fans and them cheering for you is a something I dream about, and hopefully one day it will be a reality. It wouldn't matter how you played, they would still be wanting your autograph and getting their picture taken with you. Making someone's day by giving them a piece of your equipment or even just a handshake would be so special. Plus, the advantages of going all over the world and seeing places I wouldn't otherwise see and meeting my idols would be amazing.

No matter what challenges I face, I always look towards the end goal. In the 9-years I have been playing golf, I have had to accept difficult challenges and road blocks. I started off with a 54 handicap not really knowing how to play, then I set myself a goal of scoring 1 better than my last round. I steadily grew better with the help of a great coach who undertook extra learning to beat help me with my disabilities and weaknesses. After 3-years I was down to a low 20s' handicap, I hit a rough spell when my coach moved away, and I had coaching from people who didn't use the same approach and who wanted me to use a more 'traditional' swing. This put my game and my confidence back ten-fold. I started getting down on my abilities before I found a coach who coached me on my strengths and weaknesses. I understood it was going to be a hard battle to get down to a single figure handicap, but kept it in my head that if I wanted to go to America I would have to practise every aspect of my game in order to achieve my goals. I eventually got down to a 4 handicap this year but have hit some bumps which I am working through, knowing what the outcome could be as long as I keep pushing myself to do better.

No matter what challenges I face, I always look towards the end goal. In the 9-years I have been playing golf, I have had to accept difficult challenges and road blocks. I started off with a 54 handicap not really knowing how to play, then I set myself a goal of scoring 1 better than my last round. I steadily grew better with the help of a great coach who undertook extra learning to beat help me with my disabilities and weaknesses. After 3-years I was down to a low 20s' handicap, I hit a rough spell when my coach moved away, and I had coaching from people who didn't use the same approach and who wanted me to use a more 'traditional' swing. This put my game and my confidence back ten-fold. I started getting down on my abilities before I found a coach who coached me on my strengths and weaknesses. I understood it was going to be a hard battle to get down to a single figure handicap, but kept it in my head that if I wanted to go to America I would have to practise every aspect of my game in order to achieve my goals. I eventually got down to a 4 handicap this year but have hit some bumps which I am working through, knowing what the outcome could be as long as I keep pushing myself to do better. I want to leave the legacy of kindness and working hard to realise your dreams.

I love helping people. I don't know if it comes from my father being caring or because of the struggles I have faced with being disabled, or a mixture of all those. Whenever people need a hand, whether it's to do something or they need a shoulder to cry on or just some words of encouragement, I always try to do the best I can to help out and be available for them. This is very important to me as I love to make people laugh, smile or just feel good about themselves. It has come to the fore even more so now that I am junior captain at my golf club. WE have a lot of younger children who are taking up the game. There are times when they get down on themselves as they think they aren't playing well or because they can't hit it as far as some of the more experienced players. I always pull them to one side and tell them what I was like when I first started playing and try to make fun of myself so that they cheer up and give them some advice on what can be improved. I find generally because they are laughing and having fun they tend to play better and rather than criticizing their mistakes, I point out when they have hit good shots. If we all were friendlier and a bit more empathetic, then I think we would all be happier and would pay what we have received forward to others.

I love helping people. I don't know if it comes from my father being caring or because of the struggles I have faced with being disabled, or a mixture of all those. Whenever people need a hand, whether it's to do something or they need a shoulder to cry on or just some words of encouragement, I always try to do the best I can to help out and be available for them. This is very important to me as I love to make people laugh, smile or just feel good about themselves. It has come to the fore even more so now that I am junior captain at my golf club. WE have a lot of younger children who are taking up the game. There are times when they get down on themselves as they think they aren't playing well or because they can't hit it as far as some of the more experienced players. I always pull them to one side and tell them what I was like when I first started playing and try to make fun of myself so that they cheer up and give them some advice on what can be improved. I find generally because they are laughing and having fun they tend to play better and rather than criticizing their mistakes, I point out when they have hit good shots. If we all were friendlier and a bit more empathetic, then I think we would all be happier and would pay what we have received forward to others.

My favourite book is The Corsican by William Heffernan. Not only does it tell a great story and captures your imagination, it also tells us of a new way to look at life, goals, dreams, morality, respect and the importance of family. It is based on a milieu of tightly-knit alliances within both the family structure and friends and workers. It shows that no matter what your background is you can become successful as long as you have desire, determination, drive and are capable of showing and receiving loyalty. It tells us how important values are and how to maintain those values, yes it is based on gangsters and their view on what is right and wrong, but it shows that if we want to get anywhere in life we have to work hard every day. With the perks of success, there also comes responsibility and the need to do right by the people that trust you, to support them and provide for them. It constantly gets the message across, about how you have to protect and uphold your family, loyalty and stay true to yourself. Some content can be a bit graphic, but I feel this adds to the depth and tone of the story, making you realise that people go through hardships and face tough times. With those times comes tough decisions, do we go down that path or this path, who do we trust and who will remain loyal and help us achieve our goals. I would recommend anyone over the age of 12 to read this as I believe you can take a lot away from the story, not only entertainment but perhaps a way to view certain things in your life from a different angle.

My favourite scientific discovery is the global warming effect. This might sound strange at first but bear with me. If we had not of discovered what damage we are doing to the earth and the consequences that it will bring about, how ever would we know what measures we could take to not only stop the damage but to accomplish everything we can to repair it. As a mass we are becoming more aware of the danger we are posing not just ourselves but also future generations. As we become more technologically advanced we are finding better, safer and less destructive ways of living on this planet. Because we are limiting over-fishing, using less harmful toxins, recycling everything and doing a host of other things, we can help the earth to heal itself. This will help with severe weather phenomena, the melting of the ice caps and its inherent dangers, as well as making the very air we breathe better. We only have one planet (so far) we need to look after it better. You wouldn't set your house on fire every day...why should the planet be any different.

Being a friend means being there to support people you care about. Whether this is emotionally, mentally or in any other way that they need it. We all go through rough patches in life where sometimes you just need a sympathetic ear, some guidance, advice or just someone to be there for you knowing that they will always try to make it better for you. I have had struggles where my friends have stayed up until the early hours of the morning just chatting and letting me vent my anger and frustrations at what has recently been happening in my life. Sometimes you need someone to talk to, rather than your parents or partner, that won't judge and just listen to you pour your heart out. I have younger golfers coming to me with their problems, whether it be golf related or they are having problems at school or anything in general. I always do my best to help them in their needs. There is nothing better than helping to solve a problem, knowing that the person you have helped feels like there is a solution and better times ahead. Always try to make people smile, make them laugh and be happy.

I practice self-care in a number of ways. I go to the gym 4 times a week doing a mixture of cardio and weights, this helps my balance, core, physique and strength, and it makes me feel better about myself when I get the endorphins flowing. This also helps my self-esteem knowing that I am toning my body whilst also making sure my body is fit and healthy. I play golf 3 times a week and practice 3 times per week. This helps with building up my confidence in my game and when I am out on the golf course I am focused but also relaxed. It gives my brain a chance to switch off from external things. I also like to spend an hour per day just lying down relaxing, listening to my music and getting absorbed in the songs, so my mind can just drift away from all of the problems in my life. I almost always come away feeling refreshed and ready to face my challenges.

There are so many historical figures I could name that has relevance to my situation and beliefs, however, one of my idols is still around. Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem) has not only reinvented the way the world sees rap and it's artists and made it more mainstream to the wider audience but, he has also shown that no matter how many defeats you face, how many times you get rejected, how poor you are and how bad your experiences have been, you can become a success and follow your dreams. I grew up in a poor environment where money was always an issue and because of my background that I would never make it or realise my dreams, every time I get told this or start to doubt myself I think of how far Marshall has come. No matter what he did, said worked at or put himself out there, no one wanted to take a chance on him and nobody would give him the time of day. Even through all the struggles, fights and abuse, he never gave up. Yes at times he was so dejected with how his life was going, but he pushed and pushed so that he could explore every avenue to try and get a foot in the door. When you listen to some of the lyrics from his more serious songs, there are messages of looking for hope, reaching your goals and achieving your dreams, never give up no matter who tells you that your ambition is impossible to reach.

My favourite book is The Corsican by William Heffernan. Not only does it tell a great story and captures your imagination, it also tells us of a new way to look at life, goals, dreams, morality, respect and the importance of family. It is based on a milieu of tightly-knit alliances within both the family structure and friends and workers. It shows that no matter what your background is you can become successful as long as you have desire, determination, drive and are capable of showing and receiving loyalty. It tells us how important values are and how to maintain those values, yes it is based on gangsters and their view on what is right and wrong, but it shows that if we want to get anywhere in life we have to work hard every day. With the perks of success, there also comes responsibility and the need to do right by the people that trust you, to support them and provide for them. It constantly gets the message across, about how you have to protect and uphold your family, loyalty and stay true to yourself. Some content can be a bit graphic, but I feel this adds to the depth and tone of the story, making you realise that people go through hardships and face tough times. With those times comes tough decisions, do we go down that path or this path, who do we trust and who will remain loyal and help us achieve our goals. I would recommend anyone over the age of 12 to read this as I believe you can take a lot away from the story, not only entertainment but perhaps a way to view certain things in your life from a different angle.

I believe everyone should have access to an education, whether it be high school, college or attending university. I come from a family that has struggled financially and where we rarely have money to spare. This has meant that my parents have been unable to save a vast amount for me to realise my ambitions in attending college or university in America. The cost of tuition in the United Kingdom can be very expensive and would leave me in a lot of debt. I hope to be able to go on a scholarship to America, where not only is it cheaper, but the scope for me realising my potential and dreams is a far greater reality. With how much taxes and costs that there is, I do not understand why education is not free, no matter what level you are at or what level you wish to attain. Surely, governments could better utilise money that is spent elsewhere on providing everyone the opportunity to succeed in life. This would bring about fewer people claiming benefits and would help advance the goal of ending poverty in every country. The scholarship programs over in the United States is a great idea, however I think they should be universally awarded to those that come from low-income areas so that we are not stuck in a vicious cycle where depending on bank balances, academics or where you live ascertains what sort of education you have access to. I know that there are financial aid packages available that greatly reduce the cost of education in America and I do not understand why this is not used all over the world. I have learned a great deal about just how much furthering my education and also my sporting dreams will cost. I have been approached by quite a few academies and coaches where I have built up a rapport with them, only to find out they either don't give scholarships or the cost of attending is way out of mine and my parent's financial bracket. I don't believe anyone should have to forfeit their dreams of succeeding in life and trying to make their life better at such a huge price. I believe everyone should have the same chance in life, whether they choose to take it is their choice.

Since I started playing golf at the age of 9, I have had the dream of becoming a professional golfer and playing at the highest level in the PGA Tour. The first year of playing I was off a 54 handicap and always came last in competitions. The following year I reduced my handicap down to the high 20's and won a total of 17 local and national competitions, the highlight of this was the county finals in the Srixon Junior Tour where I scored the best nett to help my team take home the trophy. From that point on, I started learning how to improve my game and utilise my practice time, so I could continually get better. I had some health issues which slowed my game progress down, and I still deal with those issues to this day. I suffer with hemiplegic migraines which, when are at their worst, affects me similar to a stroke. This has affected both my educational and sporting life. However, I have pushed myself to get back up to speed so I can achieve my dreams. The first step to my dream was getting good grades and getting myself down to a single figure handicap. The people at my first golf course said I would never make it to America and I would never get down to single figures. I am happy to report that 2 years ago I achieved this even in the limited time at golf due to covid. I have served as captain of the junior team at my first course, and this year I am captain at my new course and vice captain of my college team. I managed to get down to a 4 handicap this year, as well as winning the best nett trophy in a scratch event held at a local golf course. I was competing against some of the best golfers from all over the north-east. Unfortunately since then I have struggled with my golf when my mother had an affair and then left myself and my father to pick up the pieces. My father has been at his lowest point and has twice attempted suicide, which thankfully I was able to stop. We are slowly getting back on track and due to this and the fact I want to make my father proud and show him all dreams can be achieved I have started to improve again and get my golf back on track. I am constantly striving to improve and I am currently applying to a lot of colleges in America to see if I can get a scholarship. So far I have had quite a lot of interest and have had some great coaches show interest in me and am now starting to send away for applications.

The most important lesson I have learned when it comes to money is this, if you want something-earn it. I used to spend my pocket money on sweets and going to the cinema or treating friends. When I started wanting better equipment or more expensive balls for golf, I started saving up so that my parents didn't have to fork out for something I really wanted. This has taught me the importance of money and that you should never just expect it to be handed to you. If you want something in life you must work for it, and it will always feel more important to you if you have earned it yourself. I know some very privileged friends who, because they have money will throw or snap clubs, throw a tantrum and know that it doesn't matter as their parents will just buy new equipment for them, I just don't understand the thought process behind that. When will they ever learn the importance of taking care of things and having to do things for yourself?.

Since I started playing golf when I was 9 years old, all I have wanted to do is make it to the highest level. Watching the professional golfers on tour and hoping one day my name will be up there and competing for majors is a phenomenal dream, one that I hope to realise in the next few years. I work hard at my game and hope to come to America where I can attend college (hopefully on a scholarship) and enhance both my game and my chances of getting on the Korn Ferry Tour. From there, I hope to go onto the PGA Tour. It would enable me to buy a car, my own house and take care of my parents. Hearing your name called out by the fans and them cheering for you is a something I dream about, and hopefully one day it will be a reality. It wouldn't matter how you played, they would still be wanting your autograph and getting their picture taken with you. Making someone's day by giving them a piece of your equipment or even just a handshake would be so special. Plus, the advantages of going all over the world and seeing places I wouldn't otherwise see and meeting my idols would be amazing.

I love helping people. I don't know if it comes from my father being caring or because of the struggles I have faced with being disabled, or a mixture of all those. Whenever people need a hand, whether it's to do something or they need a shoulder to cry on or just some words of encouragement, I always try to do the best I can to help out and be available for them. This is very important to me as I love to make people laugh, smile or just feel good about themselves. It has come to the fore even more so now that I am junior captain at my golf club. WE have a lot of younger children who are taking up the game. There are times when they get down on themselves as they think they aren't playing well or because they can't hit it as far as some of the more experienced players. I always pull them to one side and tell them what I was like when I first started playing and try to make fun of myself so that they cheer up and give them some advice on what can be improved. I find generally because they are laughing and having fun they tend to play better and rather than criticizing their mistakes, I point out when they have hit good shots. If we all were friendlier and a bit more empathetic, then I think we would all be happier and would pay what we have received forward to others.

Since I was 6-months old I was diagnosed wrongly with Epilepsy, I was on strong medication for two and a half years before they realised it was a behavioural tic. I believe being on the medication is what has then developed into hemiplegic migraines, which I have suffered with since the age of 3. When I suffer a bad attack it acts similar to a stroke, causing numbness, paralysis, slurred speech, sickness and aggressive pain. Dealing with this while being at school has been such a hardship, as I have unfortunately missed days when people who are affliction free can continue their education. Before my parents and health advisors had a SEN plan in action, my teachers used to either ignore when I had an attack or worse send me out the room for being disruptive. I have been bullied by other students because they see me as different, especially after witnessing a bad attack where I couldn't speak or use any of the left side of my body. They would make fun, saying I was a freak and called me some horrible names, this lead me to closing down and trying to hide when I had an attack. I quickly learned this was not a good idea as then the severity of the attack became paralysing to the point where, on my way to reception, I collapsed whilst going down the stairs. Luckily I formed a good group of friends in my senior school, when they knew what signs to look for they would alert the teacher and this helped in getting my medication faster and resulted in me not missing as much time away from my education. I have still had to play catch up on assignments etc. but with the support of my friends and parents I achieved good grades (not as good as I wanted but still find this a pretty good achievement). Since the age of nine I started playing golf and quickly improved and learned the love of competing and being driven by a passion. I have been hooked since, with the thought of going to America to further my education and my chances of becoming a professional golfer. I have been told by both adults and other junior golfers I would never make it as I wasn't good enough. I am pleased to say I got accepted into my college of choice whilst also attending the golf academy program they have there. Not only that, but I am now captain of my local junior team at my golf club, and I am serving as vice captain on my college team. I have and will always keep pushing, so I can realise my dream. If I can be successful I hope to start a foundation and golf tour to enable disabled and underprivileged children to have the opportunities that they otherwise wouldn't be able to access. Going to America, where there is so much more opportunity to further my learning but to also play a higher standard of golf, has been my ambition for years. While Others my age want to play computer games or go out partying, I have always been out practising or playing golf, so I know I have done everything possible to help me achieve my goals. A typical day for me entails going to college on a morning, having lunch then going to the golf academy where I spend on average 2-3 hours practising all aspects of my game. I then come home, change into my golf gear, then go and play a round of golf (weather permitting). When the course is closed, I go to a driving range where I can use the monitor to see what my swing is doing and hone my speed and accuracy. After golf, I then do any assignments from college, have a meal with my father then either watch the PGA Tour or instructional videos. The last hours before bed are spent messaging coaches and sending my applications to colleges in America.

Being independent means taking care of yourself, financially, mentally and emotionally. I suffer with hemiplegic migraines which can leave me in a state of distress and confusion. I am responsible for making sure i take my medication daily and have learned to recognise the onset of an attack, meaning I can put my action plan into place, therefore hopefully reducing the severity of my symptoms. I have been through some tough times lately with the separation of my parents, and I have had to stay strong to support my father. I have taken a more active role within the household, helping with chores, and I am currently learning to drive, this means for my golf competitions and going to college I can independently take myself therefore taking away some of the stress from my father. This will also allow me freedom to go out for a drive when I am feeling overwhelmed or just want a day out somewhere without relying or asking other people. I hope to attend college in America, where I will be responsible for keeping my scholarship and maintaining a high level in golf.

I always try to help people. No matter whether it is with schoolwork, golf or just giving support and friendship and showing them that there is always someone who cares. I come from a family that has struggled to make ends meet, yet because of this I appreciate it more when we get to do something special. I see some people who have the best of everything and gloat about it and make fun of those who are less fortunate. I do not understand why people have to feel or act mean towards others. Time is free just as manners are, I always try to make sure my friends from both inside and outside of golf know that I am always there for them, no matter what time or what issue they are facing. If we could all appreciate each other more and support each other then maybe there would be a better balance and people would be happier.

Generosity means being kind, being open and sharing what you have with anyone who needs it. It doesn't just mean financially, however most people take it to mean that. When I was in high school I used to have a family member who hated packed lunch. His parents would always give him the same thing every day, and each day it went in the bin. I couldn't see him go hungry, so I used to use my money to buy him lunch, even though it left me with no lunch at times. There were kids who would be picked on for not having the best clothes or phones. If I witnessed it I would always go to the people who were bullying and try to get them to stop, we have enough stress in our lives without others adding to it. If people could just be kind and share what they have to those who struggle, whether it be money, food or friendship, then there would not be the poor-rich divide, not just financially but, how much friendlier would we all be if we all supported each other and didn't take advantage of those who are disadvantaged. If you saw your grandma fall down in the street, you would go over and pick her up, why cant we do that with everybody, both physically and emotionally.

Loyalty is the most important aspect of any person, whether it is being loyal to yourself or others. Once loyalty is no longer there, it destroys trust in all forms of relationships.I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. I hope my Father can survive. My mother hasn't just been disloyal to my father, she has also done the same to me, breaking my trust and faith that she will always do the right thing and always be there for me. I have stayed living with my father as we both need each other and I know he would never abandon me. I can be open with him about how I am feeling because I trust him and know he will do whatever it takes to make me happy. Without loyalty there is no respect, if you cant respect someone you can't ever have a functioning relationship.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. I hope my Father can survive . I know that as long as we support each other and continue to keep pushing one another, we will be happy again. We both know that getting myself and hopefully my father to America will give us a fresh start and a more positive outlook and lifestyle. I have been told from the time I took an interest in golf that I will never be good enough to make a career out of golf, those same people said I would never get down to a single figure handicap. I have achieved this already, not to prove them wrong but to prove myself right and to prove my fathers' belief in me.

I have learned that no matter who or what you think in your life will remain constant, this is not the case. My mother left myself and my father for another man earlier this year, this left us devastated both mentally and emotionally. I always thought my mother would be there every night to kiss me goodnight and there every morning to see me off to college. I have learned the hard way that sometimes you cannot depend on the people you need most. I have had to try and help my father to get back his smile and to make him proud. He has supported me throughout and now is helping me focus on achieving my dream of going to play golf in America. Because he knows I feel let down by my mother, he is even more focussed on helping me with college applications, grants and scholarships so that I can have a successful life. This has shown me that loyalty is one of the best traits you can have and that no matter what knocks you take you have to keep fighting.

I have been a part of a young mental health group, giving ideas and feedback on what we need to do to help children and young adults who are going through a tough time to be able to access support and guidance when they need it most. I have helped with food banks and local charities so that disadvantaged families can survive and provide themselves with enough food to stop them from going hungry. I am captain of my junior golf team and make sure that all of my team know that whether it's a golf issue or they just want to talk or are struggling at school that all they have to do is message me at any time of the day and I will make time available so that I can help them in whatever way I can. I hope that this will encourage them to pay it forward as they get older and can try to keep not only their fellow teammates happy and cared for but others in their life too.

This year has been the toughest of my life so far. My mother had an affair and left myself and my father heartbroken when she left the family home. I have watched my father sink into depression to the point where twice I have had to stop him from taking his own life. Gradually we have started to come through the other side, mainly by focusing on the end goal of myself attending college, hopefully getting a scholarship to America. This goal has allowed both of our minds to have relief from the heartache we have been through, mine by doing everything I can to achieve my goal and my fathers' mind by doing all he can to guarantee I can be successful and realise my dream, with the hopes that he can work over in America to be there to support me. Even though we have been through hell, we have tried our best to look forward, pushing ourselves and exploring every avenue to make our dreams a reality. there will be light at the end of our tunnel as long as we can stay strong and support each other.

If and when I achieve my goal of becoming a professional golfer, I hope to start a foundation, giving people from a poorer background opportunities they would otherwise not have access to. In my area golfing juniors are on the decline due to the cost of equipment, travelling to competitions, unfair stigma and people not accepting that just because your family does not have lots of money that you can't make something of yourself and achieve your dreams. When I first started playing golf there was a huge difference in the equipment I was using compared to some of the other children and when they were looking at my clubs etc. they then didn't take me very seriously. I proved them wrong by beating them at county games. Just because you come from a poor area or family shouldn't mean you should be disadvantaged. If we can show equality throughout sport and put in place chances for underprivileged families to achieve their ambitions then I think we would be taking a huge step in the right direction.

Everyone is different, however, society and culture tries to mould us into a clone of what they think we should be. How to dress, look, speak and act. We are expected to conform to the ideal person when really we need more individuality. It would be a boring world if everyone was the same, with the same talent same style and same way of thinking. Since I started playing golf and wanting to attend America I have been told I will never make it, that I don't have the right standing, swing, talent or skill set to achieve this. This coming from fellow golfers, peers and teachers. I can proudly say I am now at a level of playing which surpasses all my critics. I have not conformed to a traditional swing or way of playing yet because I had belief in what I wanted to achieve, I am closer than ever to my goal. If you allow people to always hold you back then how in the world will you ever move forward.

The best way to live a long life is to be happy. If you are happy with your body shape, stamina levels, strength and fitness, then your mind will be healthy. Eating the right type of foods with the occasional treat allows you to maintain a good physique whilst also indulging in the things you like most as long as it is in moderation. Exercising is a big part of my life which helps me to work on my body but also on my mindset. I play golf 3 times a week, walking on average 4 miles per round. I also practise twice a week for 2 hours, burning a lot of calories. I supplement this with attending the gym 4 times a week, doing weights and cardiovascular exercise so that whilst building muscle tone I am also strengthening my heart body and mind. If you let the body start to decline, I find that the mind does not seem as active, which leaves me feeling lethargic and unhappy.

No matter what challenges I face, I always look towards the end goal. In the 9-years I have been playing golf, I have had to accept difficult challenges and road blocks. I started off with a 54 handicap not really knowing how to play, then I set myself a goal of scoring 1 better than my last round. I steadily grew better with the help of a great coach who undertook extra learning to beat help me with my disabilities and weaknesses. After 3-years I was down to a low 20s' handicap, I hit a rough spell when my coach moved away, and I had coaching from people who didn't use the same approach and who wanted me to use a more 'traditional' swing. This put my game and my confidence back ten-fold. I started getting down on my abilities before I found a coach who coached me on my strengths and weaknesses. I understood it was going to be a hard battle to get down to a single figure handicap, but kept it in my head that if I wanted to go to America I would have to practise every aspect of my game in order to achieve my goals. I eventually got down to a 4 handicap this year but have hit some bumps which I am working through, knowing what the outcome could be as long as I keep pushing myself to do better.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on.. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. We all need to be kinder and supportive.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide/attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face.

The importance of patience has played a huge factor in my golf game. Having to learn the correct technique, posture and timing has been, so far a 9-year journey. Obviously in any sport you want to be faster, stronger, longer and better than everyone else. You want the best equipment, coaches and environment so that you can succeed to the best of your abilities. My family have not got a lot of disposable income, so I know I have to save up and wait for when we can afford a new club or other equipment. In golf, you always want more yards and straighter shots, but this takes time and hard work. Having to be patient and wait for the extra distances and more control can be frustrating but when you keep at it, keep practising and know that you are making gains, it all becomes worth it. I have been set on going to college in America for years, and now I hope my hard work and patience will pay off.

Every person lives within a circle, for some the circle is small and for others the circle is big. Within each circle there are paths to take and choices to make. This doesn't mean that a person cannot be successful, they just have to choose the right paths and know when to make the right choices. Life becomes harder and more dangerous when a person tries to go out from their circle and to try to take too much. I took this as a way to look at my life and those around me. I have seen people succeed and be happy with what they have and to hold on to what they want to achieve and what they believe in. I have also seen people who have tried to succeed and always want more, no matter what the cost to themselves or those around them. I have witnessed people who do not want to earn anything honestly and expect the world to just hand things on a plate to them. I have always been taught that if you want something, and it means everything to you, you have to give everything in order to achieve it. Chase your dreams and try to make your life and goals mean something.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. I hope my Father can survive. I know that we are there for each other and that through all this it has made our relationship stronger. I know that he is so proud of me for the way I have handled everything but I hope to make him proud of what I hope to achieve. Getting to America and making it onto the golf team would make him so happy. I have learnt that life just throws you curveballs and no matter how hard it is you have to keep pushing, you have to keep surviving and you have to keep chasing your dreams.

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, however the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. Be compassionate

I hope that in time, suicide reasons and rates fall. I have experienced the brutality and desperation that suicide and suicide attempts can bring not just to the person wanting to commit suicide but also the effect it can have on close friends and family. When my mother had an affair then left myself and my father, it brought horrific consequences. It left me heartbroken to see my Mother leave me, However the effect it had on my father was worse. He had lost the love, support and companionship that they had shared for 19 years. Seeing my Father go through the pain he has and having to stop him twice from ending it has had a huge impact on my own attitude to relationships and towards life. I have always seen him as a strong person who no matter what happens he will always carry on. To see him in the amount of pain and knowing that there was nothing I could do to make it right for him or to take the pain away has been horrendous. He accessed support such as mental health therapy and anti-depressants, however after harsh words from both sides, everyday I see my father losing more weight, being more tired and crying when he doesn't think I can hear. He believes he isn't worth anything and I know if I wasn't here he would be dead. I hope that in the future he can be happy, I hope he can one day be loved again by my mother. I hope he can get better and be the man I have always known him to be, smiling, laughing, confident and funny. He tries so hard to make sure I have everything and that I can make it to America, so I can be successful and live my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I hope that one day I can put a smile back on his face. I hope Mental health will be taken more seriously in the future. I hope my Father can survive .

Never loan friends money, it can sour a friendship if they keep asking for more and more. always try to avoid getting things on credit terms as interest rates and the actual value of your purchase doesn't match up. Always earn your money instead of borrowing it, that way when you want something you can go get it knowing that you are not going to be paying for it for years to come.

I have witnessed first hand the effect of poor mental health. I have struggled with depression from an early age and thanks to my parents I have had access to CAHMS. and other organisations. However, unfortunately there is a time issue with all organisations. They seem to be over-worked as there is generally a long delay in being seen, then after a certain time they expect you to manage so they push you out the door to get onto their next case. Governments need to do more to provide better and efficient services that are readily available to anyone who is suffering, no matter what the issue. If people could access support when they need it most I personally think there would be a lot less suicides. People need to care more and show support.

Financial freedom means my parents not having to worry about being able to pay the bills every month. All my life my parents have tried to give me everything I need and now that it has come to hopefully attending college in America I know the financial burden that is affecting them. Hopefully I can one day pay them back and give them more of a carefree life if I can achieve my dream of becoming a professional golfer.

I hope to achieve my dream of becoming a pro golfer. I have grown up in an area where there has been drugs raids, drug abuse, vicious dealers and their victims and know of at least 2 people who have died in connection with drugs. People don't seem to realise the effect what they are doing has on their children when they are under the influence, I have seen 2-year-old children wandering the streets because their parents are only concerned about getting high. When I become successful, I hope to start a foundation for underprivileged families to break their cycles and to help them realise their dreams.

I want my life to change for the better and be successful, i want to break out of the near poverty my family has always been in. Becoming a successful golfer would greatly improve mine and my family's life. I would love to be able to pay my parents back for all the faith, dedication, support and love they have shown me. Like many other pro golfers, it is my goal to start a foundation where I can give underprivileged children and families support to achieve their goals and dreams, whatever they may be.

I love the Gears of War characters and storyline. Not only is it a great game and franchise, it shows us how we should always look out for one another and to try and protect the things we love. It shows that whether male or female we have to be strong and fight for what we believe in so that everyone can live a better and more peaceful life.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 4.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 4.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

I have many examples of showing up for individuals and my community my most recent time is when I was head boy at secondary school. I applied along with other applicants, we had to give a speech to our year group and then our peers voted for the person they would most like to represent them for the whole year. I was voted as head boy and the next best contender I promoted to my deputy head boy. I made this choice based on the fact he was confident enough to put himself forward as a candidate, he had a strong speech and he had similar views and passions as myself. We managed a whole year group of 300 students alongside the head girl and deputy head girl. My initial inspiration for applying for the role was to ensure all students had a voice and the underrepresented felt included. I am a strong advocate for special needs and mental health, so we ensured as a group they were our main focus points to work on in school for the year. I loved the experience it was challenging at times due to covid, all our planning for prom was wasted as we were unable to go ahead with this event due to national lockdown until August 2020 and then there were still local lockdowns in place and large gatherings are still not allowed in July 2021 in England so it could not be postponed. This was disappointing not just for the committee but for all our peers as well. We considered having a joint prom with the year below the following year, but we were unable to find a suitable venue to accommodate more than 600 students and teachers. This was an extremely challenging time, and we were only given 2 days’ notice that our last day would be in March 2020 and not June 2020 as planned so we quickly arranged a leavers ceremony in a very short space of time with the help from teachers to try and make it special for my peers. I was passionate about this role and took it very seriously and spent additional hours at school to liaise with teachers and at weekends I would spend time planning and organising events for the next week. I love new lessons and personal growth as the Coronavirus taught me just how important communicating, socialising and how quickly adaptations can be made in tough situations. It also showed me how willing people are to come together to support each other. A scholarship is not just an award; it is an investment in my future. I plan to continue being involved in leadership activities in the future, which includes being vice-captain for my local golf team and applying for captain for my school golf team in September 2021 as I love being part of something big and sharing my experiences, knowledge and being able to make an impact on someone else’s life. I am aware that head boy and golf captains are fairly short commitments but I have been in a leadership role since I was 12 which is when I first became vice-captain. I am also an advocate for disabled children and children with mental health with is a more impactful role where I can make a significant difference as I am extremely passionate about these topics. I take joy from helping others, I have the excitement of trying something new and enjoy the opportunities to form relationships with others.

The coronavirus has impacted my life in a positive way as I now realise that people can help each other and come together in times of crisis which made a huge impact on my local community. I learnt that I can arrange events at short notice when we were told we had two days remaining at school in March 2020 and would be unable to have a leavers assembly or Prom however I managed to rally my peers and teachers to create a special event at short notice so that all students could be recognised for their hard work and effort over the years. It made it more enjoyable and personal as everyone appreciated the last-minute effort that I made and as we were in a unique situation that no one has ever experienced before making the event all the more significant and something that will be told to generations in years to come. It has also shown me that you never know what is around the corner and to live your life how you want, reach for your dreams and work hard to achieve what you want. You never know if an event like that could ever happen again and I want to be working towards my goals. It has also given me the determination to continue to work hard for my dreams and the Coronavirus has made me realise that life is too short to worry about things outside of my control. I completed additional studies during lockdowns as I had spare time due to no longer being in education and golf was not playable for months. I also learnt some practical skills such as changing a car tyre, replacing the oil, checking and replacing the screenwash, etc. I loved learning these skills from my parents which may not have occurred if we did not have the spare time that they could dedicate to assisting me. The pandemic also taught me that everyone deals with challenging situations differently and people have various levels of resilience and we need to look out for each other more. A lot of people only engage with family and friends at significant vents during their life and always promise to check in with each other more however the pandemic made that a reality where more families were connecting remotely, creating their own games and using technology in a positive way that just would not have been possible 20-30 years ago. More people were using their technology to their full potential, I learnt new skills during the pandemic that I would otherwise not have started let alone completed as I have to manage my time carefully due to full-time education, practising golf techniques twice per week, competing twice per week and having a practice round once per week to work on my techniques and perfect my techniques. It also allowed me to connect with friends who I may otherwise not have stayed in contact with as new apps allowed me to be able to maintain a high level of communication. It also allowed me to continue my advocacy work for young people with mental health issues and young people with disabilities to ensure their voices were heard during challenging circumstances.

I am 17 years old and live in the North East of England, UK. I have multiple complex health issues and disabilities which significantly impact my daily life. I also have a severely disabled parent who has uncontrolled epilepsy and requires neurosurgery to try and help control her seizures but despite her difficulties, she continues to work full time. My father has some health needs and requires additional support especially as his illness progresses over the years and he requires additional treatment to help him manage. I currently reside with my father following my parents separating a few months ago and they are in the process of divorce proceedings. Due to my father's health and him being my main carer his only income is unemployment and disability benefits which cover priority bills and not much for anything extra meaning my journey to America is challenging when financial assistance is a large requirement. My mother saves as much as she is able but when the broken family is running two separate households it leaves very limited spare funds for my education in America however they are unable to live together. I am an only child therefore my parents can focus on my education, hobbies and health. They are able to support me together and individually ensuring that I am progressing to the best of my ability. These are all challenging circumstances alongside living in a deprived area where unemployment is high due to a lack of opportunities. My plans for the future are to attend a college in America to study sport alongside varsity golf, then progress onto the Korn Ferry Tour and/or PGA tour. This is a unique and rare opportunity as most people in my area generally stay in the area as there are limited funds and training opportunities to move to another area. I have wanted to pursue a career in golf for the past few years and as the opportunities are nearing my dreams are becoming more of a reality. I have applied to a college in America and have been liaising with a golf coach to be part of their team. My future education includes me completing a 4-year degree in Sports Management. I would use the scholarship towards the costs of studying and this will allow me to achieve my future endeavours as an athlete or in a sports management position. I will add the scholarship funding to my American savings fund which will ease some pressure on my parents and ensure I am able to achieve my goals. This is such an amazing opportunity to study in America and the help of a scholarship will ensure my journey will be accomplished.

The quote that means a lot to me is from Muhammad Ali "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". This quote says to me that I can be calm and rational like a butterfly but also I can be firm, authoritative and stand my ground like a bee. I feel like this quote describes me in one sentence. It also says casting off what is unnecessary and picking up what is useful why is a lifelong lesson especially in life when dealing with others and in employment. It means I can continue to adapt and grow in areas of my life by letting go of anything unnecessary such as people, skills, etc. By letting go of the unimportant I can focus on important things that allow me to grow as a person and as an athlete. A lot of things in life require mental strength and resilience and as I want to compete as a top athlete I need to be able to let go of the previous bad shot/hole so that I can allow growth to not let it ruin the rest of my game. It also means that I am letting go of anything that could distract me or negatively impact my game and decision making. The quote is special as Muhammad Ali was a world-class athlete and overcame a lot of controversies including the famous situation when Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War. He was then found guilty of draft evasion and he faced 5 years in prison and was stripped of his boxing titles. He stayed out of prison as he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, but he had not fought for nearly four years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete which was a difficult time in his career but he was willing to sacrifice his career for his beliefs and refused to be pressured or convinced otherwise and stood firm for what he believed in. He managed to return to greatness which shows how strong he is as a person and how resilient he is with his determination to continue in his sport that snubbed him for his beliefs and came back to show everyone why he is the greatest boxer of all time.

I am 17 years old and live in the North East of England, UK. I currently live with my father following my parent's separation a few months ago and they are currently in the process of a divorce. I am an only child, I love playing golf and currently studying Sport at Sixth Form. I am due to graduate in July 2022 with expected Distinction, Distinction, Merit. My other hobbies besides golf include football and rugby, I am a huge Newcastle United fan and watch all of their matches and attend live games of football and golf when finances allow. My long term goals involve studying Sport in America alongside playing on the college golf team. I then hope to progress onto the Korn Ferry Tour and ultimately the PGA Tour. I currently compete locally, nationally and internationally to a high and consistent standard. I play individual golf as well as part of a team for my local golf club and part of the school team at sixth form. I play competitively at least twice per week, practice techniques twice per week and have a practice round to implement my techniques. I have a golf lesson once per month to keep me on track and to make any tweaks if necessary to allow my game to improve game by game. My plan to achieve this involves me getting the relevant grades to access a placement at a college in America, apply to colleges in America, liaise with coaches at colleges in America, play competitive golf and keep my score in the low to mid 70's, attend college in America and then progress onto either the Korn Ferry Tour and/or the PGA tour. What excites me most about the world is the never-ending possibilities and opportunities that are available around the world. There is always more than one avenue to achieve your goals it may be harder, more challenging and test your limits but working hard, focus and determination can keep you on the right track. I plan to give back to others and my community by organising charitable events, fundraising, inspirational school talks and spending days with children in need. I am already involved in giving back to the community as I have been involved in a number of charitable events over the years to help others this has included raising money and food for a local food bank and collecting teddy bears for children in intensive care. I am a young advocate for young people with mental health and for young people with disabilities this allows me to give back to the community by ensuring the most vulnerable in our society have a voice and this is heard. To allow me to continue in this role I attend monthly meetings, speak at events and attend additional meetings where the NHS and clinical commissioning group listen to our views and suggestions which has allowed us to implement some vital changes into services. I enjoy giving back, sharing my experiences, knowledge and skills. I have been involved in giving back to the community through school, golf and community placements. I love seeing people happy with something that I have done or been involved in as it makes all of the stress, organisation and effort worth it for the end result. A lot of people appreciate small gestures it does not always have to be something huge to make a positive impact on someone else's life. If something I can do or be involved in helps just one person I am satisfied with this as it could mean that one person has accessed the help or support they may not otherwise have been able to. I believe in kindness, support and loyalty. Being non-judgemental in all situations allows me to connect with more people as they are more willing to open up without fear of any preconceived ideations or judgemental comments. A lot of people are destitute and rely on Foodbanks in the UK with statistics showing that most working-class people are two wages away from poverty so anyone could find themselves in a difficult situation needing support as has been proved during Coronavirus which has hit families and the economy hard.

I need this scholarship to help me to achieve my goals of studying sport in America, playing for the college golf team and ultimately progress to the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour. America has more opportunities than the UK but coming from a low-income single-parent family. My parents have recently separated and in the process of divorce therefore money is tighter than it was previously due to increased healthcare costs and my parents running two separate households. My mother has significant health needs which greatly impact her daily life but she continues to try and work full time despite needing brain surgery in the near future. My hemiplegic migraines cause additional financial pressure on the family as during these episodes I need to be collected by car due to the paralysis it is too risky to use public transport and increased hospital costs when I have to be admitted or even just assessed to ensure I have not had a stroke or a brain aneurysm. Sometimes my migraines are so severe that I require oxygen to open the blood vessels in my brain and ease some of the pressure which could result in a number of days in the hospital. My father is unwell at the moment and needs some additional support, he is unemployed and the money in the household is very tight as we can just manage meeting the payments for priority bills that there is hardly any spare money left for additional items. I need some additional support to allow me to achieve my dreams and to allow them to become a reality. I have a potential golf team placement if I can raise enough funds to study in America. The scholarship would take some additional financial burden from my parents who are both trying their best to fund my studies in America as well as ongoing costs for golf in the UK such as replacement equipment when needed, competition fees and golf lessons. I live in a deprived socio-economic community and there are few opportunities to leave the area due to underfunding, poor health, poor training, poor opportunities and low paid jobs. The scholarship would significantly increase my chances of being able to play and study in America. There are high levels of unemployment in my local area, there are few opportunities for growth, experience, and financial security. I believe I can achieve all of these with the assistance of this scholarship by improving my life, increase independence and reduce the risk of unemployment.

I have many examples of leadership but my most recent is being head boy at secondary school. I applied along with other applicants, we had to give a speech to our year group and then our peers voted for the person they would most like to represent them for the whole year. I was voted as head boy and the next best contender I promoted to my deputy head boy. I made this choice based on the fact he was confident enough to put himself forward as a candidate, he had a strong speech and he had similar views and passions as myself. We managed a whole year group of 300 students alongside the head girl and deputy head girl. My initial inspiration for applying for the role was to ensure all students had a voice and the underrepresented felt included. I am a strong advocate for special needs and mental health, so we ensured as a group they were our main focus points to work on in school for the year. I loved the experience it was challenging at times due to covid, all our planning for prom was wasted as we were unable to go ahead with this event due to national lockdown until August 2020 and then there were still local lockdowns in place and large gatherings are still not allowed in July 2021 in England so it could not be postponed. This was disappointing not just for the committee but for all our peers as well. We considered having a joint prom with the year below the following year, but we were unable to find a suitable venue to accommodate more than 600 students and teachers. This was an extremely challenging time, and we were only given 2 days’ notice that our last day would be in March 2020 and not June 2020 as planned so we quickly arranged a leavers ceremony in a very short space of time with the help from teachers to try and make it special for my peers. I was passionate about this role and took it very seriously and spent additional hours at school to liaise with teachers and at weekends I would spend time planning and organising events for the next week. I love new lessons and personal growth as the Coronavirus taught me just how important communicating, socialising and how quickly adaptations can be made in tough situations. It also showed me how willing people are to come together to support each other. A scholarship is not just an award; it is an investment in my future. I plan to continue being involved in leadership activities in the future, which includes being vice-captain for my local golf team and applying for captain for my school golf team in September 2021 as I love being part of something big and sharing my experiences, knowledge and being able to make an impact on someone else’s life. I am aware that head boy and golf captains are fairly short commitments but I have been in a leadership role since I was 12 which is when I first became vice-captain. I am also an advocate for disabled children and children with mental health with is a more impactful role where I can make a significant difference as I am extremely passionate about these topics. I take joy from helping others, I have the excitement about trying something new and enjoy the opportunities to form relationships with others.

All my life my parents have supported me in the pursuit of becoming a professional golfer. Both parents have worked long and hard hours to provide me with opportunities so that I have access to different competitions. My dad drives me all over to compete and have coaching and to support and cheer me on whether I am competing locally or further afield and whether I am playing team events or solitary competitions. Without the love and support of my parents, I wouldn't have been able to continue my journey, they have given me everything that I could ask for but now unfortunately the financial situation is having an impact on my chances at going to college/university in America. I am hopingwith financial aid, bursaries, scholarships and the money we have managed to save will allow me to continue my dream.

I want to see a fairer opportunity given to those who come from a poorer background. I come from a family who have struggled all their life to make ends meet, and this has had a detrimental effect on my opportunities. I take part in childrens mental health groups, food banks and have helped in charity events since I was 12. I hope to be able to follow my dream of going to America and becoming a P.G.A. Professional on tour. Hopefully with grants and student aid I can achieve this then start local tours and events to help underprivileged children with my own foundation.

I want to pursue higher education as I would like to receive a degree in sports management and psychology which will help me on my career pathway. I think the opportunity to pursue higher education in America is a unique opportunity and journey that if I stayed in the UK to study. There are limited options in the UK compared to America. My aspirations include living and working in America and I feel that studying in America for 4 years will give me the opportunities and insight that I need before making a permanent move. I want to experience student life in America and I think this will be different to the UK and extremely exciting. I feel like it will give me an alternative perspective on student and adult life in America as it will provide additional life challenges as I will be away from home for large periods of time which will enable me to build my resilience and improved well being as I will be studying something that I love. Golf is the thing I am most passionate about, I play competitively three to four times per week and practice at least twice per week. I love golf and everything with it, I enjoy watching others, I enjoy learning, I enjoy teaching and most importantly I enjoy playing. My goals and aspirations are to pursue golf as a full-time career on the PGA Tour. I enjoy following professionals and non-professionals on social media learning new tips and skills. I enjoy following golf colleges as I am interested in their journey, scores and how they are progressing in the league. I am supportive of my peers in their golf, I play for my home team and school team therefore I have a lot of experience in supporting each other through our journey. Golf can be a team and individual sport and I enjoy both aspects of golf as it gives me an alternative playing format and playing conditions as we are not competing against each other but instead together.

There is one teacher at sixth form who is helping me to pursue my higher education in America. The education system between America and England is very different and he has first-hand experience of this himself when he studied abroad many years ago. He is also responsible for many athletes achieving their dream of studying and playing sports n America. He is very dedicated to his students and will support us as much as he can. He gives me ideas on funding opportunities, other routes to explore and to ensure my grades and athletic ability are not falling below an acceptable level. He provides me with excellent support when my health issues and disabilities make it difficult to access education to ensure I do not fall too far behind which could cause additional stress and anxiety. He has familiarity with my journey and is supportive as he has ensured my peers before I have kept their goals insight to achieve their dreams. Mr Miller has had a positive impact on my journey by encouraging me to pursue my goals of attending higher education alongside a sport. He is clear on the journey pathway that is needed and supports me on how to achieve this, to make small targets, to be prepared, plan in advance and ensure deadlines are not missed. He advised that I need to collect relevant information in my second final year of sixth form that when I am in my final year and deadlines open I am fully prepared to make my applications and have all of the necessary information readily available. He gives me confidence that I can achieve my hopes and dreams, he inspires me to continue, I look up to him as a teacher and a person as his ambition is admirable.

I feel like my greatest achievement was when I was in my last year of secondary school where I was voted head boy by my peers and teachers following a speech between myself and other candidates. Following my nomination and acceptance, I chose the other male candidate as my vice head boy who could step in my absence. I made this decision based on the fact he was dedicated enough to present a speech and to be nominated for the role. This was an excellent decision and we worked extremely well together as we both had similar ideas and were equally dedicated to the cause. This role was important to me and I enjoy advocating on behalf of others, I like to ensure everyone has an equal voice and can be heard. During my year as head boy, I learnt teamwork, compassion, organisation, planning and was able to campaign for change. I was responsible for planning prom (which never happened due to Covid), I was responsible for arranging activities on the last day of school at extremely last notice as we were only given 2 days notice from the government there would be a full national lockdown. in the UK. I learnt a lot about myself in this role about how much I enjoyed advocating on behalf of my peers, there is still a lot I could achieve even in a small setting and how much we can support local services in the community when we work together such as local food banks. I enjoyed my time in the role which was varied and gave me another perspective regarding the school and it also allowed me to develop alternative relationships with the teaching staff. My hopes for the future are to study sport at College in America alongside golf, I have the possible opportunity to potentially attend York College of Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2022 . My aim is to then progress to become a PGA golf professional in America and play on tour, this would be my ultimate goal and I am dedicated to trying to make this a reality.

A legacy means leaving your influence on people for the better, when life gets you down you can take inspiration from someone who has been through similar challenges. Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. My parents work hard and sacrifice so much to allow me to be able to play and compete in the sport I love, however, financially they cannot afford the fees for college/university in America. I know this has had an effect on my parents as they want to be able to provide the best opportunities for me and they feel like they are capping my potential due to this. I know if they could they would sell their souls to allow me the chance to realise my dreams. I want to leave a legacy of a foundation to support low income/deprived children to allow them to achieve their goals without being hampered by money worries, knowing that just because you are poor does not mean you will not be the best you can be and that you can still have the same opportunities in life that people with wealth have.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives.

This is me holding the Montrose Links trophy. I went up to Scotland in August 2019 to compete in a 3-day golf event. Even though I had never played the course before, I played 6-under my handicap over the course of the 3 days. Playing against some strong opposition, both locally and from further afield, I managed to hold my nerve even while I had a bad run of holes, fighting back I ended up 4 shots clear of the closest opponent.

Since I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines at the age of 7, I started to suffer from Mental Health issues. This was due to distancing from my fellow pupils when I took poorly and had to leave classes/school, so I was seen as different from normal people. I suffered at times from bullying both from pupils and teachers even though they were made aware of my health issues from my medical reports that were given to the school. In order to feel accepted, I took up golf at the age of 9. I started playing with a 54 handicap and through determination and desire, I have now got down to a 7.6 handicap. I play for both my local club team as well as my college team. Playing golf both as an individual pursuit and as a team member has allowed me to feel more socially accepted even though at times my autism and other medical issues have hampered my playing. I have been a children's mental health advocate since I was 14, volunteering in this role helps me express what I think could and should be done to improve services. This has given me insights into what I can do if I turn into a professional golfer. I hope to be able to start a tour for the disabled and people with mental health issues as well as giving deprived children chances that they would not normally have so they have an escape from their everyday lives. Hopefully, this would enable them to have better coping mechanisms alongside being in groups of like-minded people who are going through similar circumstances, thus allowing them to feel accepted and valued instead of them having an outsider mindset. The stigma and bullying, around the mental health of all ages, need to change!

I suffer from hemiplegic migraines and it affected me from the age of 7 but really came into force when I was in secondary school. I had to be taken out of many classes and put into special rooms to be able to cope with the migraines, as I am affected by light and noise which is massively present in a secondary school. This has also prevented me from attending school, which has resulted me in falling behind in school and then preventing me from achieving in school as much I would have liked to, the lack of attending and being pulled out of class made me feel like a misfit because I was always asked where I had been the day before and why I had to leave class and it was a very stressful situation to be in quite often. I also couldn't go out with my friends as often as I would have liked to which meant that I was then questioned about why I wasn't able to go out and play football or just hang out with them. This shaped my dreams by having to participate in individual sports as I couldn't participate in team sports because I wasn't very good at team sports which meant I couldn't play for the school which also made me an outcast. This means that I now have my own personal goals which I can achieve with the right amount of support from the right people and I will change the world by exposing this common condition so that more people are aware of the symptoms and it's affects.

I think it is important for people to be involved in communities because if you help them then they will help you in your times of need. Also it is good to help the people around you because they could be less fortunate than yourself and if you help your community you are then slowly improving your community by help feed the homeless or give fresh nappies to struggling parents. It is also good to help your community to be able to know who is in your community and who you can interact with other people and make some new friends. I have helped my community by raising money for local charities, collecting food and toiletries for the less fortunate and giving presents to families who don't have enough money to be able to give their children presents around Christmas so that the kids have something to open and play with on Christmas day and then weeks of there. In my future career I want to help community by giving back by donating money, toiletries and food to the people who need it and try and give families a better lifestyle who aren't given everything on a plate and be able to help other kids and families a chance to give themselves opportunities.

I want to study Mechanical Engineering in College/University this is because engineering interests me and so does the mechanics of objects such as cars and sustainable energy providers, this is because I love cars, I love to see how they work, how a 6 cylinder is different to an 8 cylinder how torque can heavily affect a cars performance. I am also intrigued by sustainable energy sources as we will need them in the not to distant to power most of the planet from houses to streetlights to powerplants and I want to be a part of something that is going to make the world last even longer.

Golf is my greatest inspiration in my life, it is what gives me purpose, what drives me to become something greater and also gives me a chance to give back to everybody like JuJu has. To be able to help kids with their college tuition, help the people who need helping and be able to give people of all ages chances that they never thought they would get like being able to go to college, going to certain event that are for certain people and A-listers and turn people from lower socio-economic background into whatever they want to be, lawyers, CEO's, Athletes and much more, to give people the opportunities they deserve. A pathway that drives me is going to university and then progressing onto the PGA Tour.