Have you ever noticed how amazingly big the industrial toilet paper rolls are in an elementary school bathroom? Have you ever noticed that great ideas come during times of stillness and reflection? I have. Therefore, I was soon walking down the hall with a ball of TP so big that my arms were outstretched, like the Y in The Village People’s “Y-M-C-A.” How could this get me in trouble? Another time, I tore apart the push mower because I wanted to see all of the cool parts. Once, I even spray painted the dog because I thought he would look incredible with stripes. What is wrong with this ingenuity? The teachers didn’t like it. I suffered the punishments, but didn’t understand why. I began to start living the life that many kids do - misunderstood, misdiagnosed, medicated, and frustrated. Walker, West Virginia, population 674, was a challenging place to reach out for help. I remember the countless weekends spent enduring dreadful, long car rides to see a doctor about my medication or getting hooked up by sticky electrodes to a machine to test my brain. What was it like for my parents to deal with their son who was thin as a rail, ”crazy”, and failing in school? Fighting the highs and lows of stimulants and depressants, my mom finally said, “Enough drugs!” and I started over at another nearby school for a fresh start. In the 5th grade and drug-free, I began to feel as though I were coming out of the fog. Being able to think for myself for the first time was an amazing feeling. It was almost as if I had gained my consciousness. My mind became flooded with an awareness of the world that had previously been denied to me. As I grew older, not only did I become smarter and wiser, I also became bigger and stronger. As an athlete, I grew to enjoy the constant aching in my body from training. I loved when my lungs and eyes were stung by chlorine. The thudding and smacking on the football field made me ecstatic. I cherished the burning fatigue one gets when one pushes past that last rep. I reveled in other pleasures too. I loved playing chess, reading, playing guitar and piano, as well as making some of the best Ramen Noodles imaginable. The balance between hard work and life's simple pleasures has unveiled to me a harmonious path. This relentless pursuit of excellence has transformed life into a perpetual, year-round endurance challenge. It was exhilarating, proving to myself and to the doubters what my mind and body could do. Everyday effort became an obsession which I named my “grindset”. I’ve used this grindset to earn the “Ironman” title at my school, win state championships, bench 315 pounds, and run a business that helps people to do jobs that they physically can’t do on their own. Even though you would likely pick me first to move your couch, I have so much more to give with my mind and for that matter, my heart. I want to be in Healthcare. I’d love to delve into the studies of the body and mind. I want to understand why I was called different. Why was that wrong? How does physical trauma affect the brain? How does stillness help the brain? This responsibility I would want in working for a just society. I’ve never been afraid in class to ask the question, to make a new friend, or swim 20 more laps. I’d love to be surrounded by people who are inspiring, unique, and share that same “grindset” mentality. And I promise to be a good roommate and never waste toilet paper like that ever again.

When I was a freshman, I decided to try out for the football team for the first time. Despite knowing nothing about the game, I was big and strong, and people told me, "you should be a football player." It wasn't the most comfortable feeling; I was the youngest, the low man on the totem pole, a mere grunt. Nevertheless, I accepted my place in the hierarchy and did as I was told. As freshmen, it was our responsibility to tidy up everything after practice. Being the strongest, I would empty the two large orange Gatorade water coolers, filled with ice and water, into the drain and carry them, one in each hand, to the locker room. I did this without any hesitation, and it became a routine after most every game. As I progressed to upperclassman status, I continued this routine. I would dump the ice and carry the large jugs, while the younger guys scrambled behind me with all the little squirt bottles jiggling around. As the players ran off the field and back to the locker room, I would walk over behind the bench. My mom would be there to take my picture. I’d pose, smile, roll my eyes, or wave. She’d capture the traditional image of me with a sweaty, frazzled, reddened forehead after a victory. After our last Friday victory and Senior night ceremony, I sat with my mom to review the pictures from the event. Among them was a picture of me carrying off the water coolers, and I asked, “Why did you take that picture of my backside and walking away?” She explained that she always tried to capture that moment. I expressed that I thought it was strange and silly, but she responded, “Of course, I’m proud of your football games and the player that you are, but even more, it makes me proud to know that you are a truly humble and kind man.” Being a good teammate means being reliable, supportive, and selfless. It means putting the team's success above personal glory, helping others succeed, and contributing positively to the team dynamic. The most important team I've been on is undoubtedly my football team. It has not only provided me with a sense of belonging and camaraderie but also taught me valuable life lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and leadership. My faith has been a source of strength and guidance, both on and off the field/court. It has provided me with comfort during challenging times, instilled in me a sense of purpose and resilience, and guided my actions to be in alignment with my values and beliefs.

Eighty-nine pairs of eyeballs are silent, still, and fixed on me. I can feel them waiting for my next move, so I pause just a bit longer. My heart is pounding and I feel the heat rise up into my ears. I see the steam coming from their necks now. I slowly sway right. They sway with me. I rock left and they follow me like a reflection. I crouch down a bit and back to the right, they follow. My chest pounds so hard my eyes start to fill with tears. I feel the power in their stares, the hunger in the air. I sway left, we all sway left. I raise my arms, and their gaze follows. I turn, and with all the power in my being, I raise up and come down with a violent force. Behind me, I hear their growls and their screams as they go thundering past me. I lift the sledgehammer and run with them through the smoke, while thousands of hands clap, and mouths scream … I am the Ironman! What is crazy about leading my football team through the tunnel every Friday is that just a few years ago, you never would have imagined this from me, ever. To win the Ironman honor, you have to prove yourself as the strongest and most fit player on the football team . My coach leans back in his chair and tells me often, “Maddox, If you would have told me three years ago that you’d be the leader of this team, I would not have believed it…”. Once a Covid transfer, I was the nerdy, misunderstood kid with no friends. Sports weren't my thing; I loved food, math, reading, guitar, and Minecraft. But a teacher's challenge changed me. Embracing the grindset, I thrived on challenges, tackling opponents on the field and excelling in school. Now, I lead, showing 'nerdy' and 'tough' can go hand in hand. I believe that everything I do, I do to the best of my ability. The sensory and struggle of it all. I slam into people on the field, tackling them like a ragdoll to the ground till my arms are purple and throbbing. At 5:00 a.m., I swim until my muscles scream, and my lungs burn, and then I swim one more lap. I dropped 35 pounds in less than 8 weeks, so I could rock a speedo. I play the guitar until my fingers hurt, and my mom makes me stop so the house can sleep. Playing chess never gets old. My junior year in AP calculus, my teacher and I would lose track of time arguing my own theories and equations on the whiteboard. It’s amazing to know how much I’ve grown into a leader while staying true to who I am. I now admire athletes, coaches, and the intelligence of great sports. I’m proud of the passion I have to ‘do good’ and the impact it has made on younger kids. I’ve helped to make the words ‘nerdy’ and ‘tough’ synonymous. I was the goofy kid who asked too many questions in class, smiled a bit too much, the kid that hung out with the teachers, the kid that played way too much Terraria, and the kid that knows his way around a grilled cheese sandwich. And I’m still that kid, but I’m also the Ironman.

Have you ever noticed how amazingly big the industrial toilet paper rolls are in an elementary school bathroom? I have. Therefore, I was soon walking down the hall with a ball of TP so big that my arms were outstretched, like the Y in The Village People’s “Y-M-C-A.” How could this get me in trouble? What is wrong with this ingenuity? Teachers did not like it. I suffered the punishments, but didn’t understand why. I began to start living the life that many kids do - misunderstood, misdiagnosed, medicated, and frustrated. I remember the countless weekends spent enduring long car rides to see the doctor and hooked up by sticky electrodes to test my brain. What was it like for my parents to deal with their son who was thin as a rail, ”crazy”, and failing in school? Fighting the yo-yo effects of my medication, my mom said “enough”. In the 5th grade and drug-free, I began to feel as though I were coming out of the fog. Being able to think for myself for the first time was an amazing feeling. It was almost as if I had gained my consciousness. My mind became flooded with an awareness of the world that had previously been denied to me. As I grew older, not only did I become smarter, I also became bigger and stronger. As an athlete, I grew to enjoy the aching in my body from training, the chlorine stinging my eyes and the thudding on the football field made me happy. I reveled in other pleasures too. I loved playing chess, reading, playing guitar and piano, as well as making some of the best Ramen Noodles imaginable. The balance between hard work and life's simple pleasures has unveiled to me a harmonious path. This relentless pursuit of excellence and peace has transformed my life. It was exhilarating, proving to myself and to the doubters what my mind and body could do. Everyday effort became a way of life which I named my “grindset”. I’ve used this grindset to earn the “Ironman” title at my school, keep an unweighted 4.0 GPA, spend time volunteering and interning, win state championships, bench 315 pounds, and run a business that helps people to do jobs that they physically can’t do on their own. Even though you would likely pick me first to move your couch, I have so much more to give with my mind and for that matter, my heart. I want to be in Healthcare. I’d love to delve into the studies of the body and mind. I want to understand why I was called different and use these answers to work toward a just society. I’ve never been afraid in to ask the question in class, to make a new friend, or swim another lap. I’d love to be surrounded by people who are inspiring, unique, and share that same “grindset” mentality. And I promise to be a good roommate and never waste toilet paper like that again.

I have a strong interest in neuroscience because it truly resonates with me personally. As a child, I held a unique perspective on things, often labeled as difficult or different. Over time, this once-“different” behavior influenced my current attributes and qualities. For me, drugs were not the answer; instead, they exacerbated my condition. But why? Far too often, our initial response to non-standard behavior is medication. A career revolving around neuroscience will enable me to understand children who lived like me in my childhood and comprehend what is happening before resorting to risky methods. As a teenager, I became one of the “big guys” who played offensive and defensive line, much like my father, a former college football player. Both of us have experienced having our brains rattled in football, raising concerns for diseases like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), primarily found in athletes and military veterans, diagnosable only in an autopsy after death. Studying neuroscience will equip me to treat people with CTE and brain trauma. Every year after football season, I transition to competitive swimming, shedding 35 pounds in a few weeks. Controlling my food intake has fueled my curiosity about willpower and the brain’s ability to overcome cravings. I’ve delved into research on food and its impact on mental and physical health, recognizing its role in addiction. By studying neuroscience, I’ll be able to address addiction and prevent it by uncovering its neurological causes. I cannot wait to dive deep into the study of the brain and the vast field of neurological science. As a child, I had a unique perspective, often labeled as different and unconventional. I’ve used this vantage point to see how once-thought “different” behavior has shaped my attributes and qualities. I’ve had electrodes glued to my head and taken various pills. We need a better understanding of children and people in general. As a football player, I’ve experienced the impact of the game on the brain. How many concussions has my father had, and how does this affect him? A month after football season, I compete as a state-level swimmer, shedding over 30 pounds in weeks. What is “willpower”? How do we control the brain? How can we manipulate nutrition to achieve our desired outcomes? How does food affect our bodies and mental health? The realms of biology, chemistry, biochemistry, food studies, nutrition, and psychology all fascinate me. During my time as an intern and volunteer at our local hospital, I discovered my enjoyment of patient care and making a direct impact on patients’ well-being and I eagerly anticipate continuing this experience in college.

Eighty-nine pairs of eyeballs are silent, still, and fixed on me. I can feel them waiting for my next move, so I pause just a bit longer. My heart is pounding and I feel the heat rise up into my ears. I see the steam coming from their necks. I slowly sway right. They sway with me. I rock left and they follow me like a reflection. I feel my chest pound so hard that my eyes start to fill with tears. I feel the power in their stares, the hunger in the air. I sway left, we all sway left. I raise my arms, and their gaze follows. I turn, and with all my strength I raise the sledgehammer up and come down with a violent force. Behind me, I hear their growls and their hollers as they go thundering past me. I run with them through the smoke, while thousands of hands clap, and mouths scream … I am the Ironman! What is crazy about leading my football team through the tunnel every Friday is that just a few years ago, you never would have imagined this from me, ever. To win the Ironman honor, you have to prove yourself as the strongest and most fit man on the football team. My coach leans back in his chair and tells me often, “Maddox, If you would have told me three years ago that you’d be the Captain and Ironman of this team, I would not have believed it…”. I used to be completely unseen, a transfer during Covid, nerdy, and, well, different, I guess. I was misunderstood. I didn’t have any friends. I loved cooking food, math, reading, my guitar, and minecraft. I hated all things sports - jocks, attitudes, even teamwork. It was all uncomfortable to me. I wasn’t a cool kid; I was a smart kid, and jocks weren’t very smart, or so I thought. I am a pretty big guy, and one day a teacher said to me, “You’d be great in the weight room, but it’s really hard to do, and guys like you can’t do that”. Huh? And so it began. I’ve learned that nothing is as truly great to me as the journey, the work, and the sacrifice it takes to get there. I absolutely love it. I’ve even named it my “grindset”. I love the sensory and struggle of it all. I slam into people on the field, tackling them to the ground till my arms are swollen and throbbing. At 5:00 a.m., I swim until my muscles scream, and my lungs burn, and then I swim another lap. I dropped 35 pounds in less than 8 weeks, so I could rock a speedo. I play the guitar until my fingers hurt and playing chess never gets old. Last year in AP calc, my teacher and I would lose track of time arguing theories on the whiteboard. It’s amazing to know how much I’ve grown into a leader while staying true to who I am. I now admire athletes, coaches, and the intellect of great sports. I’m proud of the example I have set to ‘do good’ and the impact it has made on teammates and younger players. The words ‘nerdy’ and ‘tough’ can describe the same person. I was the goofy kid who asked too many questions, smiled a bit too much, hung out with the teachers, played way too much Terraria, and the kid that knows his way around a grilled cheese sandwich. I’m still that kid, but I’m also the Ironman.