I don’t know if every school is like mine, but there's an obvious pattern in my school's athletic performances. The best track & field athletes are wrestlers. The best football players are wrestlers. The best baseball players are wrestlers. The best soccer players are wrestlers. And the best wrestlers are— not the best students, but that’s because it becomes your entire life. In fact, it makes everything else seem VERY easy. Next time you wake up early for football scrimmages in full padding, try a wrestling practice. Next time you run, try a wrestling practice. Next time you do something you think is hard, think again, and try a wrestling practice. You'll feel so refreshed knowing that whatever your previous task happened to be, was not like being attacked in a sauna. That is because wrestling is different. Especially at my school. It's like getting crushed by a mountain 100 times without ever stopping to breathe. Then, running to another one in the middle of an Arizona heat wave. And doing it again and again every single day, for hours, just for fun. Crazy. Until you decide to become the mountain and embrace the heat. We all learn that the hard way. When I first started wrestling, it was the middle of the season, January 1st, junior year. My only previous experience as an athlete included my extremely mediocre performance in cross country and track, where I was a distance runner—lacking in every kind of muscle. Little did I know, the ability to run forever without lacking air was actually. . . incredibly useless when you have no skill. The first time I walked into the wrestling room, it felt like stepping into a furnace. The heat was suffocating—at least 90 degrees—and the air was thick with intensity. I could barely breathe, let alone run, as we were promptly yelled at to do. And then, practice REALLY started. I was not ready. And everyone made sure I knew that too. The entire time I got completely annihilated. Boys, girls, 100 pounds, 200 pounds—it made little difference as all felt absolutely terrible. Still, to this day, I am not ready to go in there because the pain is similar and different every time. Yet, I still go because wrestling means that I can do anything. Honestly, to me, wrestling means that the hardest parts of your life are always going to be determined by your mindset. Nobody forces you to be at these practices. Nobody expects you to be there. Nobody cares about your feelings. Nobody cares about your pain. Nobody cares about your goals. It is like the real world. Where everything is solely your responsibility. Teaching you how to develop passion. Passion being something I'll never give up now that I have found it.

During the U.S. Olympic Trials, every sports enthusiast I knew was on the edge of their seats. We witnessed some of the most thrilling and historic trial performances for the would-be American Olympic Team Roster. From the world record breaker Sydney McLaughlin to the 16-year-old 400-meter runner Quincy Wilson, there was not a second where these athletes had the time to be unprepared or noncompetitive. As an aspiring Division 1 athlete, watching these performances is incredibly inspiring, which is where my favorite athletes for Team USA come in. My favorite athletes are the ones I can relate to the most, specifically those who are my age, like Quincy Wilson and Sadie Engelhardt. Seeing them excel on such a grand stage shows athletes like me that anything is possible. It's not just about talent; it's about hard work, dedication, and having the confidence to set big goals. Quincy Wilson being so new to the stage might make some people think our support for him is just a bandwagon, and for some it may be, but any athlete knows that reaching that level of performance is something to be proud of. Despite his age, Quincy carried himself with professionalism throughout the trials. He didn't lack confidence, he trusted his training, and he showed American athletes that you don't need eight-plus years to become an Olympian; you need the performance. Although we do not know whether he will preform in the 4x400, I hope he does and I will be proudly supporting either way. Next is Sadie Engelhardt. Sadie Engelhardt is arguably the best high school girls distance runner in the country. Being in the class of 2025, she is a professional distance running athlete before she even has a high school diploma! Unfortunately she did not actually make it to the Olympic team, but my entire cross country team has watched her performances throughout this entire year in awe. We love her <3 AND FINALLY! Valerie Constien. The 3000 Meter Steeplechase is not a high school event, so the hype about it for people my age is not nearly as extreme, however, after watching her INSANE performance in the Olympic trials, she has become the number one distance athlete that I look forward to cheering on and supporting at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I absolutely loved watching these track athletes and they remind me of the many lessons I have learned this year. My favorite, "Success comes from setting ambitious goals". Thank you so much for considering my application! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

I LOVE CONNECTIONS!!! I live in Colorado so I am basing my connections based off of that. I made two. This one is the easy one: 1. Tourist Attractions (Red Rocks, Estes Park, Mesa Verde, Vail) This section is for people who do not live in Colorado to help them get a hint! 2. Colorado Sports Teams (Nuggets, Broncos, Avalanche, Rockies) These sports teams are very notable. The Denver Nuggets had their first NBA championship in the 22-23 season, additionally they are a team that consists of many star NBA plays. For example, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Micheal Porter Jr, etc. The Denver Broncos are very notable for being absolutely terrible, I cannot lie. I love football, it is my favorite sport to watch, but WOW Russel Wilson? Really? Next is the Colorado Avalanche. Since getting to the playoffs in the 2022 season there was a gigantic hockey bandwagon and their success with the Stanley cup that year has very recently expanded their fan base. Finally the Colorado Rockies. I do not watch baseball- I sleep through it- but they are a Colorado team. 3. Colorado Cities (Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Fort Collins) These are the most popular cities in Colorado and they are the ones that I frequently visit. I went to Fort Collins every week for 2 months for Track season, it gets very cold. 4. Colorado Mountains (Mount Elbert, Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, Longs Peak) What else is Colorado known for!!!! THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. I thought this would be a great addition to the game because we would be absolutely nothing without our mountain range. Colorado is known for skiing, hiking, rock climbing, etc. This is the more difficult one: 1. Colorado Sports Teams (Mammoths, Rapids, Avalanche, Nuggets) 2. Colorado Cities (Aspen, Breckenridge, Littleton, Golden) 3. Colorado Mountains (Mount Elbert, Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, Longs Peak) 4. National Parks: (Black Canyon, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain) These would be a little more difficult if you don't live here. Thank you for reviewing my game :)

"Nobody Cares, Work Harder" I don’t know if every school is like mine, but at Prairie View, there's an obvious pattern in our athletic performances. The best track & field athletes are wrestlers. The best football players are wrestlers. The best baseball players are wrestlers. The best soccer players are wrestlers. And the best wrestlers are—well, probably not the best students, but that’s beside the point. The point is, once you start, you realize that everything else is VERY easy. Next time you wake up early for football scrimmages in full padding, try a wrestling practice. You'll feel so refreshed knowing that it’s 70 degrees outside and you only get tackled for a split second. Wrestling is different. It's like getting crushed by a mountain 100 times without ever stopping to breathe. Then, running to another one in the middle of an Arizona heat wave. And doing it again and again every single day, just for fun. Crazy. Well, that’s what it feels like at first. Until you decide to become a mountain and embrace the heat or 'til you just laugh because you want them to think you are insane. When I first started wrestling, it was the middle of the season, January 1st, junior year. My only previous experience as an athlete included my extremely mediocre performance in cross country and track, where I was a distance runner—lacking in every kind of muscle. Little did I know, the ability to run forever without lacking air was actually... incredibly useless when you have no skill. I learned that the hard way. The first time I walked into the wrestling room, it felt like stepping into a furnace. The heat was suffocating—at least 90 degrees—and there were about 30 sweaty bodies crammed into this tiny space. The air was thick with intensity. I could barely breathe, let alone run, as we were promptly yelled at to do. And then, practice REALLY started. I was not ready. And everyone made sure I knew that too. The entire time I got completely annihilated. Boys, girls, 100 pounds, 200 pounds—it made little difference as all felt absolutely terrible. I wanted to quit when I was in that room, but every time I left, I felt like I accomplished something that many others wouldn't be able to. I was in too deep at that rate, and as time went on, I felt like I had something to prove. The girls were venomous. They looked at me like I was prey, whispering and laughing like hyenas. Every day, they would remind me that I could easily go back to my comfortable, fun, and friendly distance running environment. But that was absolutely not going to happen, especially not after being embarrassed every day. By the end of the season, I had a good record, 19-13, and I placed top 4 in every tournament. Most of those girls could still pin me any day, but they are nice now, seeing how much effort I put into it. Being an underdog wasn’t easy, but it made me who I am today. I took that role and used it to fire up my passion, pushing myself toward my goals with everything I had. Wrestling taught me that no matter how tough things get, I’ve got the strength to rise above it. Now, heading into my senior year, I’m ready to take on any challenge that comes my way. And although I don't plan on wrestling in college, my goal is to go to state this year in all my sports. Afterall, nothing else is harder than wrestling.

"Nobody Cares, Work Harder" I don’t know if every school is like mine, but at Prairie View, there's an obvious pattern in our athletic performances. The best track & field athletes are wrestlers. The best football players are wrestlers. The best baseball players are wrestlers. The best soccer players are wrestlers. And the best wrestlers are—well, probably not the best students, but that’s beside the point. The point is, once you start, you realize that everything else is VERY easy. Next time you wake up early for football scrimmages in full padding, try a wrestling practice. You'll feel so refreshed knowing that it’s 70 degrees outside and you only get tackled for a split second. Wrestling is different. It's like getting crushed by a mountain 100 times without ever stopping to breathe. Then, running to another one in the middle of an Arizona heat wave. And doing it again and again every single day, just for fun. Crazy. Well, that’s what it feels like at first. Until you decide to become a mountain and embrace the heat or 'til you just laugh because you want them to think you are insane. When I first started wrestling, it was the middle of the season, January 1st, junior year. My only previous experience as an athlete included my extremely mediocre performance in cross country and track, where I was a distance runner—lacking in every kind of muscle. Little did I know, the ability to run forever without lacking air was actually... incredibly useless when you have no skill. I learned that the hard way. The first time I walked into the wrestling room, it felt like stepping into a furnace. The heat was suffocating—at least 90 degrees—and there were about 30 sweaty bodies crammed into this tiny space. The air was thick with intensity. I could barely breathe, let alone run, as we were promptly yelled at to do. And then, practice REALLY started. I was not ready. And everyone made sure I knew that too. The entire time I got completely annihilated. Boys, girls, 100 pounds, 200 pounds—it made little difference as all felt absolutely terrible. I wanted to quit when I was in that room, but every time I left, I felt like I accomplished something that many others wouldn't be able to. I was in too deep at that rate, and as time went on, I felt like I had something to prove. The girls were venomous. They looked at me like I was prey, whispering and laughing like hyenas. Every day, they would remind me that I could easily go back to my comfortable, fun, and friendly distance running environment. But that was absolutely not going to happen, especially not after being embarrassed every day. By the end of the season, I had a good record, 19-13, and I placed top 4 in every tournament. Most of those girls could still pin me any day, but they are nice now, seeing how much effort I put into it. Being an underdog wasn’t easy, but it made me who I am today. I took that role and used it to fire up my passion, pushing myself toward my goals with everything I had. Wrestling taught me that no matter how tough things get, I’ve got the strength to rise above it. Now, heading into my senior year, I’m ready to take on any challenge that comes my way. And although I don't plan on wrestling in college, my goal is to go to state this year in all my sports. Afterall, nothing else is harder than wrestling.

"You are not here to sit idly and have an education done TO you. If you do not actively participate in TAKING an education from this place, then you will leave here every bit as unenlightened and uninformed as you entered." ~ Eric Bierbauer Eric Bierbauer, my recently retired high school math teacher, has had a significant impact on my life. He helped shape my goals for my college education and unintentionally taught me the value of strong relationships, especially with teachers, making this scholarship opportunity particularly meaningful to me. I met Mr. Bierbauer during my sophomore year, just like meeting any other teacher. He taught my third-period math class, and over time, we developed a friendship because of my growing interest in mathematics. He was the first teacher who took the time to help me understand difficult concepts, even if it meant explaining them again… and again. My sophomore year marked a big change for me, largely due to relationships like the one I had with Mr. Bierbauer. When I first entered high school, I struggled with mental health issues, mainly depression. This kept me from joining sports, extracurricular activities, or even being around large groups of people. I had only two friends, and we unfortunately fueled each other's problems. I felt unsupported and stuck in a negative cycle—an unoriginal story, but nonetheless true. Some of my teachers urged me to join a sport, which I was reluctant to do since it wasn’t my thing, but eventually, I gave in and joined Cross Country. This opened my mind to new experiences and interests. One day in Mr. Bierbauer’s class, after helping a classmate with math, he asked me about my plans after high school. I didn’t have any since I didn’t really care about my future until that conversation. He suggested I consider becoming a teacher. Although I had heard this suggestion many times before (like every single year since 6th grade) this time it resonated because I was more open-minded and less stubborn. By my junior year, Mr. Bierbauer signed me up to be an Instructor Aide, a new option for students interested in teaching. I taught his third-period class for the entire year. Initially, it was exciting, but that excitement faded as I faced the reality that you can’t teach people who don’t want to learn. I wanted to quit within the first month because of the disrespect from some students, not just towards me but towards Mr. Bierbauer as well. Despite this, I stayed the whole year. Their attitudes didn’t change, but mine did. I realized I truly wanted to be a teacher. Now, I plan to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. In addition to finding my career path, I have overcome my mental health challenges. I’ve discovered new interests, and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. I am grateful to God for helping me through a struggle that many don’t overcome.

"You are not here to sit idly and have an education done TO you. If you do not actively participate in TAKING an education from this place, then you will leave here every bit as unenlightened and uninformed as you entered." ~ Eric Bierbauer Eric Bierbauer, my recently retired high school math teacher, has had a significant impact on my life. He helped shape my goals for my college education and unintentionally taught me the value of strong relationships, especially with teachers. I met Mr. Bierbauer during my sophomore year, just like meeting any other teacher. He taught my third-period math class, and over time, we developed a friendship because of my growing interest in mathematics. He was the first teacher who took the time to help me understand difficult concepts, even if it meant explaining them again… and again. My sophomore year marked a big change for me, largely due to relationships like the one I had with Mr. Bierbauer. When I first entered high school, I struggled with mental health issues, mainly depression. This kept me from joining sports, extracurricular activities, or even being around large groups of people. I had only two friends, and we unfortunately fueled each other's problems. I felt unsupported and stuck in a negative cycle—an unoriginal story, but nonetheless true. Some of my teachers urged me to join a sport, which I was reluctant to do since it wasn’t my thing, but eventually, I gave in and joined Cross Country. This opened my mind to new experiences and interests. One day in Mr. Bierbauer’s class, after helping a classmate with math, he asked me about my plans after high school. I didn’t have any since I didn’t really care about my future until that conversation. He suggested I consider becoming a teacher. Although I had heard this suggestion many times before (like every single year since 6th grade) this time it resonated because I was more open-minded and less stubborn. By my junior year, Mr. Bierbauer signed me up to be an Instructor Aide, a new option for students interested in teaching. I taught his third-period class for the entire year. Initially, it was exciting, but that excitement faded as I faced the reality that you can’t teach people who don’t want to learn. I wanted to quit within the first month because of the disrespect from some students, not just towards me but towards Mr. Bierbauer as well. Despite this, I stayed the whole year. Their attitudes didn’t change, but mine did. I realized I truly wanted to be a teacher. Now, I plan to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. In addition to finding my career path, I have overcome my mental health challenges. I’ve discovered new interests, and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. I am grateful to God for helping me through a struggle that many don’t overcome.

When I first started high school, I never envisioned myself as an athlete or someone deeply involved in school activities. I struggled with depression and felt disconnected from my surroundings. However, my journey took a significant turn during my sophomore year when I decided to join the Cross Country team. Despite my initial reluctance, this decision marked the beginning of my new, exciting High School life! Joining Cross Country opened my eyes to the joy and fulfillment that comes from being part of a team and pushing myself both physically and mentally. In my first year, I wasn’t particularly skilled, but the excitement of participating kept me going. Over time, I realized that simply being comfortable was holding me back. My mindset shifted during the track preseason when I discovered that I could excel if I put in the effort. By junior year, my hard work paid off. I improved my time significantly and was named team captain. Being a team captain was both an honor and a challenge. It caused some friction among teammates who had been on the team longer and felt overlooked. This experience taught me that leadership is not about titles but about leading by example and making others feel valued and included. My coach’s words, "I want a team of champions, not just a group of bubbly kids," reinforced the importance of hard work and commitment. Sports have become a central part of my life, teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience and leadership. Joining the Girls Wrestling team was one of the toughest challenges I faced. The team environment was initially unwelcoming, a stark contrast to the supportive Cross Country team. However, my determination to push through and not give up led to an amazing season. The lessons I learned in wrestling—such as our infamous mantra, "Nobody Cares, Work Harder"—have been instrumental in shaping my mindset. Wrestling taught me that excuses only hold you back and that pushing through challenges is the key to growth. These lessons translated into my running as well. I became stronger, more disciplined, and more determined to succeed. As I prepare for my senior year, my goal is to go to state in all three sports: Cross Country, Wrestling, and Track. These ambitions drive me to push my limits and inspire my teammates to do the same. Throughout this journey, I’ve learned that personal development is a continuous process. Sports have taught me the value of resilience, hard work, and leadership. I am committed to constantly improving myself and helping others along the way. My experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, and they strongly influence my future goals. This scholarship would be incredibly meaningful to me as it would provide the financial support necessary to pursue my dreams of higher education. Full-ride athletic scholarships are rare, and hard to come by. It would allow me to focus on my studies and athletic goals without the added stress and would also help prove to my teammates that hard work pays off. Ultimately, I aim to make a positive impact as a mentor and a role model, helping others realize their potential just as my coaches and teammates have helped me. Right now, I am going to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. I can't wait to come back as a coach as well! Thank you for considering my application.

When I first started high school, I never thought I'd be an athlete, but sophomore year, I joined the cross country team just to be part of something. I wasn’t great—in fact, I was the epitome of a JV girl—but the excitement of being there was enough to keep me going. Looking back on that first year, I realize I felt extremely comfortable. Something that I now know was holding me back. My team consistently told me that it was about finishing the race, which is partially true, however, I see now the biggest difference between my first year and my current year. That spring, I decided to try track - and during preseason, my entire mindset changed. I had this epiphany: I could be good at this if I put in the effort. I started taking it seriously, training hard, and building a solid foundation in running and by junior year, everything clicked. My cross country season my second year was incredible. I improved my time from 27:00 to 21:00 and was named team captain. I didn't really care much for the title because we were a very cohesive team, where everyone seemed to be a leader. But it turned out not everyone was happy about it, despite it making no change to our daily activities. The other girls, who had been on the team longer, thought it was unfair and it created an air of jealousy. It honestly hurt to see such a small thing ruin some of my friendships, especially since I didn't even care much to be a captain, but I stayed committed, showed up everyday, and proved my worth through my performance. When I asked my coach why she chose me, she said she wanted a team of champions, not just a group of bubbly kids. Being a great athlete isn’t about luck; it’s about hard work and commitment. Leading the team, despite the drama, taught me patience. And I lived by a motto: "The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win" ~ Kobe Bryant At first this was simply a motivational quote, but deeper into the season I learned how true it was to my sports, cross country especially! When track season rolled around again, it was a breath of fresh air. The team spirit was incredible, and my teammates looked up to me because they saw how hard I worked. My times improved drastically, and I felt stronger than ever. This was the same year I joined Girls Wrestling. (It was rough, but that is a story for another day). Wrestling had made me tougher, and I brought that strength back to track. I was determined to push my limits and inspire my girls to do the same! Now, as I prepare for my senior year cross-country season, I have big goals. I want to go to state in all three sports: cross country, wrestling, and track. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m ready for the challenge. I am ready to challenge others as well. My journey has been one of constant personal development. They’ve shaped me into the person I am today and strongly influence my interests as well! I mainly plan to impact others this year as a mentor. Teaching them things I wish I knew when I first started. Namely: Cross Country is a TEAM sport! Excuses affect you, not us. (and of course...) ... cross country is about your strength to pass people in front of you, varsity races are not for participation awards, or (in technicality) times.

When I started high school, joining a sport was the last thing on my mind. I wasn't into sports or social activities at all. Fast forward to my senior year, and now I am the school spirit, playing sports year-round. They've become my whole life! Most recently, I've faced both physical and mental challenges head-on. This year, I decided to join the Girls Wrestling team for the first time. Wrestling is undeniably one of the toughest sports for high school girls, and to make matters harder, my team wasn’t very welcoming. Coming from the friendly and fun cross-country team, I felt out of place. Every day, I thought about quitting and going back to running, but I didn’t. My resilience kept me showing up to wrestling practice, and I ended up having an amazing season. These few months made me a better athlete, not just in wrestling but in running too. One huge lesson I learned is that nobody cares about your excuses. "Nobody Cares, Work Harder" ~ the Wrestling Room Poster This is quoting a poster in our wrestling room. At first, the posters seemed harsh, but after going through practice every day, I found them incredibly motivational. Our wrestling team goes to state every year, and it’s not by accident. They teach you that you set your own goals and you're the only one who can achieve them. Nobody else makes those decisions, and, frankly, nobody else cares. And speaking of memos like "Nobody Cares", you also learn that if you don't have haters, you must not be successful enough. When I was named Team Captain last year, it caused some drama. The other girls had been on the team longer and thought it was unfair. I understood; I was surprised too since it was my second year. But when I asked my coach why she chose me, she said she wanted a team of champions, not just a group of bubbly kids. Being a great athlete isn’t about luck; it’s about hard work and commitment (haha, aka "grit"). This mindset isn't just for sports. It is about constantly pushing yourself to be better, overcoming challenges, and working hard towards your goals. I plan to keep this up, always striving to be the best version of myself. "Obsession will beat talent every time. You can have all the talent in the world, but are you obsessed?" ~ Adam Sandler

"You are not here to sit idly and have an education done TO you. If you do not actively participate in TAKING an education from this place, then you will leave here every bit as unenlightened and uninformed as you entered." ~ Eric Bierbauer Eric Bierbauer, a recently retired high school math teacher, has had a significant impact on my life. He helped shape my goals for my college education and unintentionally taught me the value of strong relationships, especially with teachers, making this scholarship opportunity particularly meaningful to me. I met Mr. Bierbauer during my sophomore year, just like meeting any other teacher. He taught my third-period math class, and over time, we developed a friendship because of my growing interest in mathematics. He was the first teacher who took the time to help me understand difficult concepts, even if it meant explaining them again… and again. My sophomore year marked a big change for me, largely due to relationships like the one I had with Mr. Bierbauer. When I first entered high school, I struggled with mental health issues, mainly depression. This kept me from joining sports, extracurricular activities, or even being around large groups of people. I had only two friends, and we unfortunately fueled each other's problems. I felt unsupported and stuck in a negative cycle—an unoriginal story, but nonetheless true. Some of my teachers urged me to join a sport, which I was reluctant to do since it wasn’t my thing, but eventually, I gave in and joined Cross Country. This opened my mind to new experiences and interests. One day in Mr. Bierbauer’s class, after helping a classmate with math, he asked me about my plans after high school. I didn’t have any since I didn’t really care about my future until that conversation. He suggested I consider becoming a teacher. Although I had heard this suggestion many times before (like every single year since 6th grade) this time it resonated because I was more open-minded and less stubborn. By my junior year, Mr. Bierbauer signed me up to be an Instructor Aide, a new option for students interested in teaching. I taught his third-period class for the entire year. Initially, it was exciting, but that excitement faded as I faced the reality that you can’t teach people who don’t want to learn. I wanted to quit within the first month because of the disrespect from some students, not just towards me but towards Mr. Bierbauer as well. Despite this, I stayed the whole year. Their attitudes didn’t change, but mine did. I realized I truly wanted to be a teacher. Now, I plan to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. In addition to finding my career path, I have overcome my mental health challenges. I’ve discovered new interests, and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. I am grateful to God for helping me through a struggle that many don’t overcome.

"You are not here to sit idly and have an education done TO you. If you do not actively participate in TAKING an education from this place, then you will leave here every bit as unenlightened and uninformed as you entered." ~ Eric Bierbauer Eric Bierbauer, a recently retired high school math teacher, has had a significant impact on my life. He helped shape my goals for my college education and unintentionally taught me the value of strong relationships, especially with teachers, making this scholarship opportunity particularly meaningful to me. I met Mr. Bierbauer during my sophomore year, just like meeting any other teacher. He taught my third-period math class, and over time, we developed a friendship because of my growing interest in mathematics. He was the first teacher who took the time to help me understand difficult concepts, even if it meant explaining them again… and again. My sophomore year marked a big change for me, largely due to relationships like the one I had with Mr. Bierbauer. When I first entered high school, I struggled with mental health issues, mainly depression. This kept me from joining sports, extracurricular activities, or even being around large groups of people. I had only two friends, and we unfortunately fueled each other's problems. I felt unsupported and stuck in a negative cycle—an unoriginal story, but nonetheless true. Some of my teachers urged me to join a sport, which I was reluctant to do since it wasn’t my thing, but eventually, I gave in and joined Cross Country. This opened my mind to new experiences and interests. One day in Mr. Bierbauer’s class, after helping a classmate with math, he asked me about my plans after high school. I didn’t have any since I didn’t really care about my future until that conversation. He suggested I consider becoming a teacher. Although I had heard this suggestion many times before (like every single year since 6th grade) this time it resonated because I was more open-minded and less stubborn. By my junior year, Mr. Bierbauer signed me up to be an Instructor Aide, a new option for students interested in teaching. I taught his third-period class for the entire year. Initially, it was exciting, but that excitement faded as I faced the reality that you can’t teach people who don’t want to learn. I wanted to quit within the first month because of the disrespect from some students, not just towards me but towards Mr. Bierbauer as well. Despite this, I stayed the whole year. Their attitudes didn’t change, but mine did. I realized I truly wanted to be a teacher. Now, I plan to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. In addition to finding my career path, I have overcome my mental health challenges. I’ve discovered new interests, and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. I am grateful to God for helping me through a struggle that many don’t overcome.

"You are not here to sit idly and have an education done TO you. If you do not actively participate in TAKING an education from this place, then you will leave here every bit as unenlightened and uninformed as you entered." ~ Eric Bierbauer Eric Bierbauer, my recently retired high school math teacher, has had a significant impact on my life. He helped shape my goals for my college education and unintentionally taught me the value of strong relationships, especially with teachers, making this scholarship opportunity particularly meaningful to me. I met Mr. Bierbauer during my sophomore year, just like meeting any other teacher. He taught my third-period math class, and over time, we developed a friendship because of my growing interest in mathematics. He was the first teacher who took the time to help me understand difficult concepts, even if it meant explaining them again… and again. My sophomore year marked a big change for me, largely due to relationships like the one I had with Mr. Bierbauer. When I first entered high school, I struggled with mental health issues, mainly depression. This kept me from joining sports, extracurricular activities, or even being around large groups of people. I had only two friends, and we unfortunately fueled each other's problems. I felt unsupported and stuck in a negative cycle—an unoriginal story, but nonetheless true. Some of my teachers urged me to join a sport, which I was reluctant to do since it wasn’t my thing, but eventually, I gave in and joined Cross Country. This opened my mind to new experiences and interests. One day in Mr. Bierbauer’s class, after helping a classmate with math, he asked me about my plans after high school. I didn’t have any since I didn’t really care about my future until that conversation. He suggested I consider becoming a teacher. Although I had heard this suggestion many times before (like every single year since 6th grade) this time it resonated because I was more open-minded and less stubborn. By my junior year, Mr. Bierbauer signed me up to be an Instructor Aide, a new option for students interested in teaching. I taught his third-period class for the entire year. Initially, it was exciting, but that excitement faded as I faced the reality that you can’t teach people who don’t want to learn. I wanted to quit within the first month because of the disrespect from some students, not just towards me but towards Mr. Bierbauer as well. Despite this, I stayed the whole year. Their attitudes didn’t change, but mine did. I realized I truly wanted to be a teacher. Now, I plan to go to college to study math and become a college math professor. In addition to finding my career path, I have overcome my mental health challenges. I’ve discovered new interests, and my relationship with God is stronger than ever. I am grateful to God for helping me through a struggle that many don’t overcome.

When I started high school, I never considered joining a sport. I wasn’t into sports or social activities at all. Fast forward to now, my senior year, I am full of school spirit, playing sports year-round, and they’ve become my whole life! Most recently, I’ve learned to push through physical and mental barriers. This year, I joined the Girls Wrestling team for the first time. Wrestling is hands down the toughest sport for girls in high school, and to top it off, my team wasn’t very friendly. Coming from the fun and welcoming cross country team, I felt out of place. Every day, I thought about going back to running, but I didn’t. My resilience kept me going back to wrestling practice, and I ended up having an amazing season. Just these couple of months made me a better athlete, not just in wrestling but in running too. To be more specific, One big lesson I learned is that nobody cares about your excuses. There’s a poster in our wrestling room that says, "Nobody Cares, Work Harder." At first, the posters in the room seemed harsh, but after going through practice everyday, you’ll realize they’re super motivational. Afterall, our wrestling team goes to state every year and it is not by chance. They teach you that the only person that can set your goal is you and the only person that can reach your goals is you. Nobody else makes those decisions, and even better, nobody else cares. As an athlete, I’ve picked up some important lessons, but being a team captain taught me even more. Leadership is about making people feel comfortable and welcome and leading by example. I mention this because of a recent argument involving team captains. We have so many great personalities and since I joined cross country, I’ve seen a lot of people miss out on amazing opportunities because they weren’t committed. When I was made Team Captain last year, it caused some drama. The other girls had been on the team longer and thought it was unfair. I understood; I was surprised too. But when I asked my coach why she chose me, she said she wanted a team of champions, not just a group of bubbly kids. Being a great athlete isn’t about luck; it’s about hard work and commitment. This mindset isn’t just for sports. Personal development is about constantly pushing yourself to be better, overcoming challenges, and working hard towards your goals. I plan to keep this up, always striving to be the best version of myself. "Obsession is going to beat talent every time. You got all the talent in the world, but are you obsessed? Let's face it. It's you against you out there." ~ Adam Sandler, Hustle (2022)

I used to think about the effects of technology on my generation a lot, and though it coincides, I now fear the freedom of “identity”. I'll admit, not too long ago I was the same as everybody else. Lost and not finding answers. Until I defined identity for myself. The first part of your image is what you can’t control -- the part that you need to accept and appreciate. Your race, your relatives, and your physical body. The second part is how you want the world to see you -- how you build onto yourself. Educated…loving…adventurous…exciting. For a fact, I am biracial, female, 5'0, and not that muscular. If you could see me, it would be obvious this information is true. However, if I said I’m a high achieving ballroom dancer, you’d look at me funny and want me to prove it. These non-manipulative descriptions are basic parts of me that I've learned to be proud of. If you asked me two years ago what my biggest struggle was, I'd tell you it was being biracial. I was confused about where I fit in at school, and what was okay for me to do. People would say I'm "too white" for speaking grammatically correct or I'm "too black" for my heightened interest in certain activities. I would ask myself "how do I avoid being interested in 'white people things' or 'black people things'". Except, that should have never been the question. So I started to ask myself why people exclude themselves from appreciating different cultures. With that, I recently realized that it’s not just race that defines you. Its self-acceptance. Over the past year I've built who I am based on knowing both God and myself. Now everyday I am growing onto the basic things I know about me. Not trying to change them. Multiple times I've been told I'm one of the most unique people a person has met. While it's a flattering compliment -- it's simple to do. I've stopped letting the world tell me what I like, and my personal life experiences and relationships have expanded my interests beyond the point of people saying I'm too *insert race here*. It increased my life-satisfaction and self-worth knowing that I am not occupied with managing other people's opinions. When I applied for my first job, the application didn't have a multi-race option. So I had to choose. Truthfully, I changed my answers so many times, I'm not sure now what I selected. But I spent all that time thinking about how it affected my chances in employment. Though unavoidable in that specific instance, I’ve realized I don’t need to pick sides anymore. In the future I plan to study to become a teacher in business and math, while trying to help my community by being a supporter of highschool students. The people who have had the most impact on my life have been my teachers and friends, so I hope to have the same impact on others.

Getting a college degree plainly indicates you have a passion for your field of study. For that reason, I am not getting a degree in math simply because it is "my passion”. I am getting this degree because it is my future. Most times I see adults unmotivated towards their jobs because the lack of satisfaction. They said it takes too much time, too much money, or too much work in order to persue their true interests at that point. When I am an adult, I do not want to feel the need to justify unsatisfaction. Therefore, I am currently doing all in my power to become the person I want to be. As recommended, I have spent highschool learning my dislikes and interests, as well as weaknesses and strengths. I love learning, mentoring, sports, math and so on. With highschool coming to an end I made the decision to pursue what I want — becoming a secondary math teacher. Though school is difficult in many ways, it’s always been a place I have felt most comfortable. I love the environment of instruction, dedication, and curiosity. Teachers have always been my number one support and different students have showed me the fluidity of personality. This path also gives me the opportunity to stay involved in my favorite team sport, cross country. Using bold.org has already helped me so much during this summer. The obvious is that it creates potential financial help. However, through the process of writing my profile and essays, I have answered so many questions I didn’t find important to put thought into. It has been less than two months since starting and I know my dream majors, colleges, and careers!! Learner has also helped me better express my love for math with their many essay prompts. I am a low-income student planning to major in business and minor in math, or double major in math and business.

The bulk of people I talk to can agree that math is definite and organized. Though it’s basic, the explicit distinction between correct and incorrect answers is what makes me love math. When I started highschool, I realized that our learning changed into something more elaborate. The analysis of certain subjects was too extensive. For instance, English became a guessing game, and you’d know this to be true if you ever had to interpret a Shakespeare piece. No matter the question or the text, there is no definite answer. As long as you can use the author’s work to prove the argument — you can deem it true. That also means you can have two “correct” yet contradicting answers. Math is more precise in the sense that you rarely see conflicting answers when there is more than one outcome. I feel the same about other subjects because of their lack of validity. Authors and researchers agree upon history, which is why there are many versions of our past. South Korea is a country popularly known for rewriting history. If there are different outcomes of the same story, how do you know which is true? It makes history unreliable. In previous conversations, people have questioned the absoluteness of math in comparison to the history argument because of the other methods or versions. “What about the systems of math in different societies?” However, it’s not the same. Though societies have different math systems, the existence of one does not make the other untrue or ineffective. American mathematicians and Canadian mathematicians may use different techniques and measurements. Yet, the answer would be the same (translated), given they correctly solved it. That includes if the societies didn’t believe the other method to be true. In summary, I find math to be black and white and everything else to be abstract.

“You don’t know anything!”. This is something my parents used to tell me all the time and despite it being true, it always made me sad. As a child just starting school, learning had become a passion of mine and I felt obligated to tell all those who would listen exactly what I knew. School is no longer new to me, but my love for it has not wavered. Especially math. Over the course of human existence, we have discovered so much - yet we don’t understand even half of the things the universe holds. That’s why math is so vitally important. The growth and development of the world has depended on it and will continue to do so. As more problems are found, its important that we have a basic understanding of what mathematics has done for the world. Everything created and everything understood has involved it. It could be the construction of furniture in a room, or the comprehension of natural elements that make up Earth. No matter how simple or complex - math is the gateway to knowledge. Curious people who are dedicated to finding answers are the reason we have remarkabely changed the standards of life among ourselves and other living things. We don’t know everything, but we have migrated and adapted like no other species. Able to live in extreme cold and extreme heat by understanding energy, able to control disease through chemistry and medicine, and able to create structures unaffected by natural disaster through engineering and design. This is made possible by the understanding of math. Trying to imagine a world without it would be difficult. Math is arguably the most important topic in all education. It makes up science, records history, and is the language of the new world. With technology advancing in all areas of life, people should be striving to learn as much as possible. Even if you don’t plan on becoming a scientist or engineer you can change the world. I love learning math because it helps me get one step closer to knowing everything. In the future I intend to get a degree in both business and math to teach highschool students. My job as a teacher won’t just be to help them master the subject, but to appriciate it. Through the generations I wish for my love of math to help develop successful analytical-thinkers, and make curious students potential stamps in history.

The first time I heard of him, it was bad. In fact, everytime I heard of him somebody had something mean to say. Mr. Bierbauer is a middle aged white man with a foot-long, stark-white beard. Sound familiar? He’s often compared to Dumbledore from Harry Potter. However, nobody would say he is very…“kind.” He’s known not only for his looks, but for wandering the hallways and yelling at the loud girls in the bathroom across from his class. That was before we formally met. Afterall, comments aren't too reliable in highschool. The first day I met him I was on a mission, not to get anybody in trouble, or ask for my Hogwarts acceptance letter, but to plead my case. The day after freshman orientation I made my way to the counselor’s office and requested to be put in Honors math. I was denied with no reason other than, “You didn’t take Integrated 1 last year.” I didn’t even know what Integrated 1 meant; my math classes prior to highschool had normal names like “pre-algebra.” I was not sad when this happened though. I felt wronged. The next year, 10th grade, there was no way I was going to take no for an answer. I went into the counselors office and I asked to be moved. Then again, was promptly denied. “You already have too many challenging classes this semester to try and take this on,” the counselor said, “unless you can get an upper-class teacher who wants to take you.” I left, calm and determined, walking down the hallway into a classroom I had never been in before. I remember seeing all the individual desks facing forward. The room was as clean as a romanticized hospital room. There, I found who I was looking for. In the back corner was the “wizard.” He looked at me strangely, obviously wondering who I was, and why I was in his classroom. I started promptly before his potential yelling could break my confidence. “I was just wondering if I could be in your class. I already took freshman math and it was too easy.” “What’s your name?” he asked, interested. “Lyric, Lyric Lewis.” He searched me up on his computer quickly and, after a few moments, bursted with energy. “Oh of course! I would never deny a student who ASKS to be in a math class.” His voice was very cheery and it immediately broke the awkward tension between two strangers. I was so thrilled. The first day the desks were in perfect order and I was so happy I had finally made it. Since that experience, I have spent lunch every school day with the teacher who had faith in me. I looked forward to his class the entire semester and made a friend who is technically obligated to help assist me with my homework. It sounds like a basic experience, but it was life changing. Before that class, I didn’t have a passion for anything in particular. Every time somebody suggested I be a teacher, I'd scoff. Now I'm determined to change somebody's life — like he did mine — through pursuing teaching business and mathematics. Thank you Mr. Bierbauer for supporting me as I pursue my educational goals.