In my freshman year of High school, I made it to the state golf tournament for the first time and I was so excited to attend, play and prove myself to everyone. The night before the tournament, my dad and I decided to go to our hotel gym and get a simple workout in before we headed to bed. I mistakenly sat a free weight down on a bench for a second and that 35-pound dumbbell rolled and fell onto my big toe, smashing it. We went to a local clinic and found out that my toe was not broken but that my toenail needed to be taken off as blood was compounding underneath my toenail. We decided to wait and have that done by our own doctor back home, however, it was very difficult and painful to walk or put any kind of pressure on my toe so we had a situation. I told my parents that no matter what, I was going to play and compete in the state tournament. It was extremely difficult but I fought through the pain and played, finishing both days of the tournament. Due to my injury, I was not able to play as well as I would have liked, but I was proud that I persevered and was able to play both days of the tournament with the injury I had and the pain I was in. Unfortunately after the tournament, I was disappointed with my situation and not being able to put up my best scores at state, so I told myself I was going to work hard to make it back to state again. Leading up to next year's district tournament, I began to practice more regularly which yielded great results. I was able to card a couple of rounds under par and my golf game overall began to drastically improve. That year at the district tournament I won by more than 15 strokes! This gave me confidence going into the regionals tournament because I had been playing some really good golf and I felt good about every aspect of my golf game. I won first place at regionals after a scorecard playoff and earned my way back into the state tournament to get a shot at redemption. Through this experience, I learned to never give up on an opportunity because, with some hard work, perseverance and determination, you can achieve what you strived to achieve....it just might take some additional time. Patience is truly a virtue.

In college, I plan to study sports management with a minor in entrepreneurship with the goal of one day opening my own business. While I have not yet decided exactly what I would like to do with my sports management degree, I do know that whatever I do will have something to do with sports or athletics, as that is my passion and it brings me joy. My dream would be to open my own gym for young athletes to train, with a primary focus on young golfers. My gym would have three sectors of learning to focus on - the three most important aspects of the golf game; mental, strength and form. We would have PGA certified teachers to help with clinics and classes, sports psychologists to help with players' mental learning and development of their thinking game, and then trainers to help players gain strength and agility in the appropriate ways for their golf game. My gym would be a place for golfers to come and improve every aspect of their game. I want to create a community to be able to continue the game for youth athletes especially, as well as create greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. Through free community clinics and free first-time player lessons for underprivileged youths, I hope I could make a difference. Playing golf my whole life, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation among minorities. I feel as though this is mainly due to access to resources which I hope to change with my career in the future. Through my future career, I can help spread my love for the game as a minority golfer myself, helping other young kids that look like me to explore the great game of golf and what it has to offer and give people the opportunity to learn the game. I love to help people achieve their goals and do better for themselves in their lives, so I think with my college learning path and dreams of owning my own business I'll be able to create growth and change through my love and passion for my sport. I really look forward to learning and growing as an individual while I play college sports and pursue my dream of helping others. Owning a business, sharing my passion and giving back to my community will bring me fulfillment and joy.

Maintaining my personal wellness allows me to continue to succeed in my sport and lets me keep my mind clear for both my academic and athletic career. For the most part through college, I will continue to keep doing many of the steps I have put in place to maintain my mental health and personal wellness. The first and one of the most important steps for me is physical fitness and exercise. I got into working out daily during the quarantine and I have continued to make it a practice ever since, as it allows me to clear my mind and it is beneficial to my sport and overall mental performance. During quarantine, I had a lot of extra time, and I used that time and energy to not only better myself through exercise but to also educate myself on how to fuel my body. I taught myself about the breakdown of muscles and how to grow them but also about the essentials of nutrition and how I need to eat and take care of my body in partnership with food to maintain the strength of my body and mind. I taught myself about macronutrients and how important it is to eat the correct number of calories in order to process and break down foods properly for what you are trying to achieve. This self-education changed the way I ate and the way I viewed my meals. I've been able to put all of this knowledge into practice and continue guiding my own nutritional and exercise journey. Another large part of my personal wellness is getting enough sleep in order to function at a high level every day. I try to get 8 hours of sleep every day because when I get enough sleep, I feel good and feel prepared for my day. Another key factor for me is keeping a good circle of friends and family to support me in all of my endeavors. Whether it's through athletics or it's my academics, my friends and family are always there to support me, which contributes greatly to my mental health. Having a support system is probably the #1 wellness tip I would recommend to anyone to succeed as a student. My physical and mental well-being will continue to help me succeed as a student as I move on to college and I can't wait to keep improving on all of the things that I have put into practice.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside. If I could, it would be my dream to wake up and play golf all day long. I love smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. The game of golf has given me so much over the 13 years I have been playing and I plan to continue my passion for the game and try to give back what golf has given me. My goal is to open a golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I want to also create a community outreach program to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes, as well as create greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. Offering free clinics, equipment and access to try a sport out early on could ignite the love for such a rewarding and beautiful game for other brown kids just like me. I would love to share my passion and give back to the game that gave me so much by teaching and raising up my community, one child at a time.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so challenging and rewarding all at the same time. I've taken what I learned on the golf course, from dedication and perseverance to focus and patience and applied it to the rest of my life. I've gone above and beyond to be successful as both a student and an athlete. I've maintained a 4.0+ GPA throughout high school while taking IB, AP, and Honors courses and competed in my sport since I was 7 years old. My dream has always been to play college golf so I have gone above and beyond to be the best athlete and student that I could be to make this dream a reality. I look forward to continuing to apply my hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom throughout college as a student-athlete in my pursuit of a Sports Management degree. I've always dreamed of a career in golf and can't imagine not having it play a role in my future career. My love of the game, plus my degree, would allow me to accomplish my ultimate goal of one day opening a golf training facility. I want to be able to share my passion for the game with the next generation, but also teach all of the things necessary to be a success beyond just a nice swing to make athletes successful. From the balance, both mental and physical, strength and flexibility, to the rules, manners, focus and fortitude necessary. I would also like to open up my facility to underprivileged minorities to introduce them to the game. As a minority athlete, I have felt the impact of being underrepresented in my sport and want to do everything that I can in the future to make a positive contribution toward introducing the game to more minority children that may not have the opportunity to explore golf otherwise. I think it's important to give back not only to my community but to also help further the game that has given me so much.

1. I am a proud member of three community service organizations (SOCO - Serving Our Community Outreach, National Honor Society, HOSA - Future Healthcare Workers) where we have projects to participate in both at school and out in the community. Whether we are encouraging recycling on campus or volunteering at a local food bank, giving back alongside my peers has been important and very rewarding to me. 2. My love for the game of golf, plus my degree in Sports Management will hopefully allow me to accomplish my ultimate goal of one day opening a golf training facility. I want to be able to share my passion for the game with the next generation, but also teach all of the things necessary to be a success beyond just a nice swing to make athletes successful. From the balance, both mental and physical, strength and flexibility, to the rules, manners, focus and fortitude necessary. I would also like to open up my facility to underprivileged minorities to introduce them to the game. As a minority athlete, I have felt the impact of being underrepresented in my sport and want to do everything that I can in the future to make a positive contribution toward introducing the game to more minority children that may not have the opportunity to explore golf otherwise. I think it's important to give back not only to my community but to also help further the game that has given me so much. 3. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding but also hard work. I would describe myself as a very dedicated scholar and look forward to continuing to apply my hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom throughout my college journey as a student-athlete pursuing a degree in Sports Management. My greatest accomplishment as a high school student would probably be the balance I have shown throughout my high school career with balancing golf, work, home life and my academics. I have been able to maintain a 4.0+ GPA throughout high school while taking IB, AP, and Honors courses and look forward to upholding this high standard in college as well. 4. Being a recipient of this scholarship would assist with the financial burden of college overall. I will be attending school out of state at a private university to be able to compete at the level I desire, so any assistance would be helpful. Thank you for the opportunity and your consideration.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. I grew up playing almost every sport there was, but I played basketball and golf competitively. Basketball was really fun but golf is where my passion drove me and I wanted to focus. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. Putting in hours of work to improve consistency in an attempt to lower your average has taught me that dedication and hard work pays off. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding but has also been hard work. I would describe myself as a very dedicated scholar and look forward to continuing to apply my hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom throughout college in my pursuit of a Sports Management degree. I've always dreamed of a career in golf and can't imagine not having it play a role in my future career. My love of the game, plus my degree, would allow me to accomplish my ultimate goal of one day owning my own business - a golf training facility. I want to be able to share my passion for the game with the next generation, but also teach all of the things necessary to be a success beyond just a nice swing to make athletes successful. From the balance, both mental and physical, strength and flexibility, to the rules, manners, focus and fortitude necessary. I would also like to open up my facility to underprivileged minorities to introduce them to the game. As a minority athlete, I have felt the impact of being underrepresented in my sport and want to do everything that I can in the future to make a positive contribution toward introducing the game to more minority children that may not have the opportunity to explore golf otherwise. I think it's important to give back not only to my community but to also help further the game that has given me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside. If I could, it would be my dream to wake up and play golf all day long. I love smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Golf has also taught me patience. When I was young I was very impatient when it came to taming my emotions on the course. Through the years, golf has made me much more aware of controlling my emotions, keeping a level head and staying calm in tough situations. I've learned that a deep breath can clear my mind and help me recenter myself and my thoughts. I've been able to take this into other parts of my life and it's proven very beneficial. I actually now incorporate meditation before big tournaments or tests at school to ground myself before what would otherwise be a stressful situation. My ultimate goal is to open my own business - a golf training facility for athletes to learn and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to enhance their golf game. I want to create a community to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes, as well as create greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. I would love to share my passion and give back to the game that gave me so much.

My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding but has come with a lot of challenges. The biggest challenge for me was learning to balance school, golf and my overall time management. I used to procrastinate studying and wait until the last minute to do assignments that were due the next day. That pressure was too much and did not mix well with the need to practice and compete in my sport. It has taken some time and dedication but I have learned to use my time more wisely when it comes to practicing and getting all of my schoolwork done. Every morning during the school year, I wake up at 6 am and get some form of practice for 30 minutes before school. I've incorporated a planner to schedule when I have things due, upcoming tests and can work ahead to ease my load. I've also learned that balance between your physical game and mental game is key. I have incorporated meditation and yoga into my routine to aid with the overall mobility of my body and keep me agile as well as being able to control my mind. It has become the most crucial part of balancing golf and school. My plan is to major in Sports Management and have a future in golf. I would love to open an elite golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I also want to create a community outreach program to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes and provide greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. Golf has given me so much and I would love to see that for other minority kids. Thank you for the opportunity. I would love to share my passion and give back to the game that gave me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. It is my true passion. I'm confident that I will be able to overcome the obstacles presented to succeed as a collegiete student-athlete. Academics are just as important to me as my sport and I've been able to hold a 4.01 GPA in High School while traveling almost every weekend for golf. Being sucessful at both takes balance. uccess to me is balancing my game and my studies while working towards my future goals. My plan is to major in Sports Management and have a future in the golf business. A college degree will allow me the knowledge and opportunity to hopefully open my own business. My dream would be to create an elite golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I also want to create a community outreach program to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes and provide greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport, especially at the collegiate level, and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. Introducing the game to children at a younger age, allowing them to learn and fall in love with the game can open doors in their future like potential education and business opportunities, and if nothing else just something they will love. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm very much looking forward to college, earning a four-year degree and using the benefits of a future business to give back to the game that has given me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding and very important to me. I have been playing and I plan to continue my passion for the game as a scholar-athlete in college. Success to me is balancing my game and my studies while working towards my future goals. My plan is to major in Sports Management and have a future in the golf business. A college degree will allow me the knowledge and opportunity to hopefully open my own business. My dream would be to create an elite golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals. I also want to create a community outreach program to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes and provide greater access to golf for minority groups. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport, and I would love to further that change. Introducing the game to children at a younger age, allowing them to learn and fall in love with the game can open doors in their future like potential education and business opportunities, and if nothing else just something they will love. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm very much looking forward to college, earning a four-year degree and using the benefits of a future business to give back to the game that has given me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding and very important to me. The game of golf has given me so much over the 13 years I have been playing and I plan to continue my passion for the game as a scholar-athlete in college. Success to me is balancing my game and my studies while working towards my future goals. My plan is to major in Sports Management and have a future in the golf business. A college degree will allow me the knowledge and opportunity to hopefully open my own business. My dream would be to create an elite golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I also want to create a community outreach program to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes and provide greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport, especially at the collegiate level, and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. Introducing the game to children at a younger age, allowing them to learn and fall in love with the game can open doors in their future like potential education and business opportunities, and if nothing else just something they will love. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm very much looking forward to college, earning a four-year degree and using the benefits of a future business to give back to the game that has given me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding but comes with a lot of challenges. The biggest challenge with balancing school and golf is time management. I have learned to use my time more wisely when it comes to practicing and getting all of my schoolwork done. Every morning during the school year, I wake up at 6 am and get some form of practice for 30 minutes before school. I've also learned that balance between your physical game and mental game is key. Over the last couple of years, I have incorporated meditation and yoga into my routine to aid with the overall mobility of my body and keep me agile as well as being able to control my mind. It has become the most crucial part of balancing golf and school. The game of golf has given me so much over the 13 years I have been playing and I plan to continue my passion for the game when playing at the next level in college. This scholarship would help with the cost portion of balancing playing at the next level. I will be attending a private university in Tenessee, far from home, which is more expensive than I had planned, but the school felt like a home away from home and I aligned with the coach, his thought process and the team comradery so it will be my family for the next four years. My plan is to major in Sports Management and have a future in golf. I would love to open an elite golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I also want to create a community outreach program to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes and provide greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. Thank you for the opportunity. I would love to share my passion and give back to the game that gave me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. I grew up playing almost every sport there was, but I played basketball and golf competitively. Basketball was really fun for me but golf is where my passion drove me and I wanted to focus. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside. If I could, it would be my dream to wake up and play golf all day long. I love smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. The game of golf has given me so much over the 13 years I have been playing and I plan to continue my passion for the game and try to give back what golf has given me. My goal is to open a golf training facility for athletes to train, learn, and improve their game. The facility would provide access for athletes to train with certified professionals, as well as work with PGA-certified coaches to improve their golf game. I want to create a community to be able to continue the game for the next generation of youth athletes, as well as create greater access to golf for minority groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to play. As a minority athlete, I have realized that there is little diversity and representation in my sport and I would love to further that change. I feel as though this is mainly due to access, exposure and resources which I hope to change in my career. I would love to share my passion and give back to the game that gave me so much.

I have been playing golf for close to 13 years. My dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was four years old, and I have been playing it ever since. I grew up playing almost every sport there was, but I played basketball and golf competitively. Basketball was really fun but golf is where my passion drove me and I wanted to focus. There is something about golf that allows me to escape everything that is going on in my life and just enjoy all the little things, like being outside, smelling the freshly cut grass in the morning, seeing the dew on the ground, and waking up before the sun to get in those extra couple hours of practice. In my opinion, golf is one of the hardest sports that you could possibly play because of the skill and precision required. It is a game where slight changes in degrees and inches can take you from the best round of your life to the worst very easily. This is also what makes this game so rewarding to me. Watching my progress and seeing myself get better, week after week is the best part of the game. Putting in hours of work to improve consistency in an attempt to lower your average has taught me that dedication and hard work pays off. Playing both a sport and succeeding academically is very rewarding but has also been hard work. I would describe myself as a very dedicated scholar and look forward to continuing to apply my hard work and dedication both in and out of the classroom throughout college in my pursuit of a Sports Management degree. I've always dreamed of a career in golf and can't imagine not having it play a role in my future career. My love of the game, plus my degree, would allow me to accomplish my ultimate goal of one day opening a golf training facility. I want to be able to share my passion for the game with the next generation, but also teach all of the things necessary to be a success beyond just a nice swing to make athletes successful. From the balance, both mental and physical, strength and flexibility, to the rules, manners, focus and fortitude necessary. I would also like to open up my facility to underprivileged minorities to introduce them to the game. As a minority athlete, I have felt the impact of being underrepresented in my sport and want to do everything that I can in the future to make a positive contribution toward introducing the game to more minority children that may not have the opportunity to explore golf otherwise. I think it's important to give back not only to my community but to also help further the game that has given me so much.