As a referee, I have had the unique opportunity to experience sports from an entirely different perspective. Refereeing has taught me countless lessons about character, professionalism, and the importance of handling tough situations with grace. One of the most valuable aspects of being a referee has been learning how to interact with and manage adults - coaches, parents, and players - especially in high-stress moments. As an athlete, it’s easy to forget that referees are human, but as a referee, I’ve learned to maintain my composure and professionalism, even when faced with difficult or hostile individuals. One of my favorite memories as a referee took place during a U10 recreational soccer match. Both teams played their hearts out, working hard to secure a victory. But what stood out most to me was the celebration that followed the final whistle. The players, win or lose, were more excited for each other’s success than for their own individual accomplishments. They cheered each other on, high-fived, and celebrated the effort they had all put into the game. Even the losing team celebrated with the winning team, despite a tough loss in a competitive game. The smiles, the laughter, and the pure joy that these young athletes displayed during and after the game are moments I will always cherish. Being a referee has also taught me a great deal about dealing with adversity. In particular, I’ve had to learn how to navigate difficult situations with coaches who can sometimes be overzealous or confrontational. While some may challenge my decisions, I’ve learned to stay calm and composed under pressure. When faced with adults yelling or calling me names—things like “stupid” or “idiot” - I’ve had to make a choice: engage in a conflict or rise above it and remain professional. I’ve chosen the latter. This experience has helped me build character, teaching me the importance of not reacting impulsively but instead responding thoughtfully and with respect. As I look ahead to my college years, I plan to continue refereeing. It offers flexibility that aligns with my academic schedule. Refereeing allows me to make my own hours, I can choose to work for a few hours at a single game or multiple games over the course of a weekend tournament. This flexibility will allow me to balance my academic responsibilities with my passion for sports. Additionally, being a referee provides me with a way to stay involved in youth sports while earning money to support my college education. Through my time as a referee, I have gained more than just a deeper appreciation for sports. Refereeing has helped me develop confidence and a strong sense of self. It has given me the voice I need to stand up for others who may not yet have the courage to speak for themselves. It has also taught me valuable life skills, such as time management and conflict resolution. By being a referee, I have learned how to manage my time effectively, support youth sports, and contribute to my community - all while earning money to help fund my college experience. These lessons and experiences have had a profound impact on my personal growth, and I look forward to continuing to build on them as I move forward in life. In summary, my journey as a referee has shaped me into a more confident, disciplined, and resilient individual. I look forward to continuing my work as a referee in college, where I hope to further develop my skills and continue to make a positive impact on the world of youth sports.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. When I was younger, I would pretend to be the teacher with my friends and always prided myself on being a "special helper" for my teachers in elementary school. A lot of my drive to become a teacher centers around helping people. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a smile on someone’s face because of something I’ve done, whether big or small. I want to offer opportunities to people who need them most and help them find hope and succeed, especially when they feel down. Community service has shaped me into a better person in countless ways. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of ice skating every Sunday with a sweet, ten-year-old girl. Though I’m teaching her how to skate, I often feel like she has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Through our time together, I’ve learned the true meaning of kindness, compassion, and patience. Every Sunday, I look forward to seeing her, knowing she has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life. My goal is to teach College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter. My dream is to create a classroom that is fun, loud, messy, and creative—a space where students feel welcomed and accepted every day. I want to be the teacher my students feel comfortable approaching with questions not only about their assignments but also about life itself. I want my students to leave my classroom with a greater sense of self, a passion for learning, and the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally.

Throughout my high school career, I have been fortunate to be involved in many STEMM programs. I am actively engaged in STEMM outreach and service, particularly through my involvement with programs like 4-H and Imagination Station. As an Imagination Station Helper for elementary students, I led science experiments, helping to ignite their curiosity and foster a love for science. Additionally, as a 4-H camp counselor, I participated in and led various activities centered around STEMM topics, such as environmental science and physics. At 4-H camp, we do many STEMM activities with the campers. These experiences have reinforced my passion for science education and have given me valuable insights into how to make STEMM concepts accessible and engaging for students. My most memorable STEMM experience was taking a Life in the Sea College Credit Plus (CCP) course offered through Bowling Green State University. As the capstone to this course, I was honored to go to the Florida Keys and study marine biology for a week. During this time, we examined and explored many topics. Some of my favorites were the turtle sanctuary, the turtle hospital, the dolphin research center, and the amazing snorkeling, where I could explore numerous creatures and ocean habitats. We studied the physical and chemical properties of ocean water, land and sea habitats, and various animals. Each evening, we journaled our observations and experiments in our Field Notebooks and discussed our findings as a group. My participation in STEMM directly relates to my professional goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I plan to attend The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s degree, with the ultimate goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. If possible, I plan to double major in Biology and Education; however, if that is not feasible, I have explored alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in Ohio. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I plan to attend The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s degree, with the ultimate goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. If possible, I plan to double major in Biology and Education; however, if that is not feasible, I have explored alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in Ohio. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a smile on someone’s face because of something I’ve done, whether big or small. I want to offer opportunities to people who need them most and help them find hope and succeed, especially when they feel down. Community service has shaped me into a better person in countless ways. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of ice skating every Sunday with a sweet, ten-year-old girl. Though I’m teaching her how to skate, I often feel like she has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Through our time together, I’ve learned the true meaning of kindness, compassion, and patience. Every Sunday, I look forward to seeing her, knowing she has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life. Another reason community service matters so much to me is that it strengthens the sense of connection I feel within my community. Being out in the community and seeing familiar faces—whether it’s a girl I ran laps with at run club, an older man I delivered cookies to, or one of my former 4-H campers—reminds me that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves. It feels rewarding to know that I’m contributing to making our community a better place to live.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I plan to attend The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s degree, with the ultimate goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. If possible, I plan to double major in Biology and Education; however, if that is not feasible, I have explored alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in Ohio. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a smile on someone’s face because of something I’ve done, whether big or small. I want to offer opportunities to people who need them most and help them find hope and succeed, especially when they feel down. Community service has shaped me into a better person in countless ways. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of ice skating every Sunday with a sweet, ten-year-old girl. Though I’m teaching her how to skate, I often feel like she has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Through our time together, I’ve learned the true meaning of kindness, compassion, and patience. Every Sunday, I look forward to seeing her, knowing she has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I plan to attend The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s degree, with the ultimate goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. If possible, I plan to double major in Biology and Education; however, if that is not feasible, I have explored alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in Ohio. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a smile on someone’s face because of something I’ve done, whether big or small. I want to offer opportunities to people who need them most and help them find hope and succeed, especially when they feel down. Community service has shaped me into a better person in countless ways. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of ice skating every Sunday with a sweet, ten-year-old girl. Though I’m teaching her how to skate, I often feel like she has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Through our time together, I’ve learned the true meaning of kindness, compassion, and patience. Every Sunday, I look forward to seeing her, knowing she has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life. Another reason community service matters so much to me is that it strengthens the sense of connection I feel within my community. Being out in the community and seeing familiar faces—whether it’s a girl I ran laps with at run club, an older man I delivered cookies to, or one of my former 4-H campers—reminds me that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves. It feels rewarding to know that I’m contributing to making our community a better place to live.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. I plan to attend The Ohio State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, followed by a Master’s degree, with the ultimate goal of teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) or Advanced Placement (AP) science courses to high school students. If possible, I plan to double major in Biology and Education; however, if that is not feasible, I have explored alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in Ohio. My passion for learning and helping others has always been a driving force, and I believe teaching will allow me to engage students in innovative ways while fostering both academic and personal growth. Beyond teaching science, I am deeply committed to helping students develop essential life skills. I want to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to be their best selves. By emphasizing kindness, motivation, and productivity, I aim to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience—not something students dread. I want them to leave my class not only with knowledge of science but also with a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom. I have many aspirations for the teacher—and person—I hope to become. When I think about my future, the word “planter” comes to mind. I want to inspire the younger generation to view their lives as a gift, not a burden. I aim to plant seeds of inspiration in my students, hoping that each one will eventually bloom into their own unique, beautiful version of life. While I want to teach science successfully, I also want to teach my students how to be kind, compassionate, and curious human beings. I want to instill a love for life and learning in every student I encounter. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a smile on someone’s face because of something I’ve done, whether big or small. I want to offer opportunities to people who need them most and help them find hope and succeed, especially when they feel down. Community service has shaped me into a better person in countless ways. Over the past year and a half, I’ve had the privilege of ice skating every Sunday with a sweet, ten-year-old girl. Though I’m teaching her how to skate, I often feel like she has taught me more than I could ever teach her. Through our time together, I’ve learned the true meaning of kindness, compassion, and patience. Every Sunday, I look forward to seeing her, knowing she has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on my life. Another reason community service matters so much to me is that it strengthens the sense of connection I feel within my community. Being out in the community and seeing familiar faces—whether it’s a girl I ran laps with at run club, an older man I delivered cookies to, or one of my former 4-H campers—reminds me that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves. It feels rewarding to know that I’m contributing to making our community a better place to live.