One of the most meaningful relationships in my life started as a simple teacher-student connection with Mr. Milone—but it grew into something much more. Mr. Milone teaches politics, coaches speech and debate, and also serves as my school’s guidance counselor. He also started a local program called Politics in Action, which teaches students how the political and constitutional system actually works in a hands-on way. But what stands out to me isn’t his titles—it’s how he connects with students as people. I started to understand that more during a difficult time in my life. About two years ago, I broke my foot, and because I have cerebral palsy, I couldn’t walk at all. I was stuck at home and dependent on others. Mr. Milone made sure I stayed connected to school and didn’t fall behind. That meant a lot, because it made me feel like I was still part of things even when I physically wasn’t there. Eventually, I came back to school using a knee scooter while I finished healing. Around that same time, Mr. Milone injured his ankle. In a kind of ironic twist, he ended up borrowing my scooter, and I tried to help him the same way he had helped me. It wasn’t anything big, but it stuck with me—it showed me that real relationships go both ways. It made it feel less like “helping” and more like mutual respect. He also makes me feel important in a very real, grounded way. I’m involved in both my school and local theater programs, and he shows up to my performances when he can. Seeing him in the audience means a lot to me because it shows he cares about what I do outside the classroom. That connection has also extended to my family. He and his wife have come to family barbecues, and he fits right in—it never feels forced, just natural, like he’s part of the community around me. That eventually carried into speech and debate. Mr. Milone encouraged me to take the class, even though I wasn’t sure about it at first. I’ve always been pretty shy, and speaking in front of people or thinking quickly under pressure wasn’t something I felt confident doing. But I trusted him and gave it a shot. And honestly, that changed things for me. Debate is fast—you have to really listen, respond in the moment, and trust yourself. It pushed me to stop overthinking and just speak up. Over time, I started feeling more comfortable using my voice instead of avoiding it. I haven’t lost a debate since, but what matters more is that I’m no longer afraid to speak up and engage with people directly. Through Mr. Milone, I also joined Politics in Action, where I met students and people with very different perspectives. That experience taught me something simple but important: connection doesn’t require agreement. You can still understand someone even when you don’t see things the same way. That carried into my leadership roles. I’m now a founding member and president of my school’s Key Club, where we built a service club from nothing. I also serve as vice president of my school’s National Honor Society chapter. In both, I’ve learned to focus less on titles and more on making sure people feel included, heard, and involved. It also shaped how I plan to approach college, where I’ll be majoring in business administration, and his example and encouragement have definitely helped guide me toward that path and how I want to lead in the future. At the end of the day, Mr. Milone didn’t just teach me debate or politics. He showed me how to actually connect with people, even in hard situations. That’s something I’ve picked up through all of this, and something I’ll carry into every relationship I build in the future.

One person I really admire is my speech and debate teacher, Mr. Milone. He teaches politics, coaches speech and debate, and also works as the school’s guidance counselor. He also started a local program called Politics in Action, which teaches students how the political and constitutional system actually works in a hands-on way. More than anything, he’s been a mentor to me—someone I really look up to and try to learn from. What I respect most about him isn’t just what he does now, but how he got there. I met him when he was 22, right as he started teaching high school. While teaching full time, he was also working on his master’s degree. What stands out most is how he balanced everything without losing focus on his students. He was also there for me during one of the hardest moments I’ve had. About two years ago, I broke my foot, and because of my cerebral palsy, I couldn’t walk at all. I was stuck at home, relying on others for everything. Mr. Milone helped me stay connected to school and catch up once I returned. Eventually, I came back to school using a knee scooter while I finished healing. Around that same time, Mr. Milone injured his ankle. He ended up borrowing my scooter, and I tried to help him the same way he had helped me. It was a small moment, but it showed the kind of relationship he builds with his students. Mr. Milone has given me a lot of good advice, and one of the biggest things I listened to was his suggestion to take speech and debate. I’ve always been pretty shy, and speaking in front of people or thinking quickly under pressure wasn’t something I felt confident doing. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I gave it a shot. And honestly, that changed everything for me. Once I started competing, I liked it more than I expected. Debate is fast—you have to think quickly, respond clearly, and stand your ground. It pushed me to stop overthinking and trust myself. I found out I was good at it too—I haven’t lost a debate since. More importantly, it changed how I see myself. I stopped thinking of myself as someone who stays quiet and started seeing myself as someone who can speak up and be heard. Through Mr. Milone, I also got involved in Politics in Action, which deepened my understanding of government beyond the classroom. What stood out to me is that he doesn’t just teach—he pushes students to grow using his own experiences. That’s part of why I stepped into leadership roles. I’m now a founding member and president of Key Club at my school, where we built the club from the ground up. I also ran for and was elected vice president of my school’s National Honor Society chapter. Speech and debate didn’t just help me communicate—it gave me the confidence to lead. Mr. Milone is a big reason I’m serious about college. He showed me that where you start doesn’t decide where you end up. Watching him balance teaching while earning his master’s degree showed me what it looks like to push yourself without putting your goals on hold. It made me believe I can do the same. At the end of the day, he didn’t just teach me how to debate—he helped me find my voice. He’s given me courage and helped me find direction in life, and shown me what I’m capable of when I push myself. That’s something I’ll carry with me long after high school.

I am living proof of what God can do. My parents had prayed for a child for a long time, and when they found out they were expecting twins, they were overjoyed. But at 22 weeks, my mom’s water broke. The doctors said we probably wouldn’t survive. I’ll never forget how scared my parents were. By God’s grace, my mom held on for another month, and we were born at 26 weeks on Christmas morning, just big enough to survive. Because I was so tiny, I suffered a brain bleed and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months. Even though cerebral palsy has brought challenges, it has never stopped me from dreaming or working hard. I’ve learned resilience and determination, surviving a seizure that almost killed me, learning to walk with a brace, and facing obstacles most kids my age can’t imagine. I remember the day I first walked across the room with my brace—I felt like I had conquered the world. Seeing others in therapy who were struggling even more than I was taught me empathy and inspired me to try to make the lives of others a little brighter. Volunteering has been a huge part of my life. I’ve worked with kids at Vacation Bible Schools in my community since fifth grade, helping with activities, assisting teachers, and trying to make it a fun and welcoming place. It’s rewarding to see their excitement and laughter, and it has taught me patience and the joy that comes from giving time to others. I also helped start Key Club at my school, and now as president, I organize service projects and events that help people in our community. It’s amazing to see other students get involved, and I love knowing that even small acts of service add up to make a difference. These experiences have shaped my dream for the future. I plan to study business administration in college so I can create Christ-centered, family-style communal living homes for the elderly and disabled. I want these homes to be small enough that everyone feels loved, valued, and supported in their faith. I also hope to employ people of all abilities, giving everyone the chance to use their gifts and feel like they belong. This isn’t just a career goal—it’s a calling. My life experiences have prepared me for it, and I trust that God will guide me along the way. This scholarship would help me take the next step toward that dream. It would allow me to focus on my education, gain the skills I need to make a meaningful impact, and continue my work of service and faith. Everything I’ve experienced—the challenges, the victories, and the opportunities to serve—has prepared me to live a life of purpose. With God’s guidance and the support of this scholarship, I am ready to grow, to serve, and to make a difference in ways that matter.