Fueling My Dreams: The Impact of This Scholarship My career goals reflect both my academic ambition and athletic passion: to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and rise to the professional ranks of soccer through hard work, resilience, and commitment. This scholarship will help me pay for college why I concentrate on getting good grades and training/playing with my college soccer team in my pursuit of my goals. My journey as a soccer player has been marked by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to achieving my goals. I have played soccer since I was four years old and focused on the goalkeeper position when I was nine or ten. I have dedicated countless hours to improving myself so I can pursue my dream of becoming a professional soccer player. I played in year-round traveling club soccer teams since the age of nine. A traveling team required my parents to drive me anywhere from 200-600 miles around my state for games and showcases during the weekends and sometimes during the school days. This left me with little time to hang out with my friends or do other extracurricular activities or even get a job. When I was not playing soccer, I trained by myself or with a goalkeeper coach three to four times a week. The rest of my time I spent trying to catch up on schoolwork. I also played soccer in high school starting my freshman year. This year I graduated high school with three years as the varsity goalkeeper and team captain. We were crowned the 2025 and 2026 undefeated district champions and took second place in the state championship this year. From the initial doubts and criticisms, I faced as a freshman to the recognition and accomplishments I've achieved in recent years, including All-District honors and being given the Owasso Boys Soccer Ram award two times in three years for my work both on and off the field. I've learned that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. I understand that success requires sacrifice and that there will be times when I must push myself beyond my comfort zone to achieve my objectives. My commitment extends beyond personal accolades and encompasses a desire to give back to the community. I aspire to play professional soccer, and I also want to use my platform to inspire and mentor young athletes, particularly those from underserved communities. I am confident that the lessons I've learned on the soccer field will serve me well in my future career. With the same determination and passion that I bring to the soccer field, I am ready to tackle any obstacle and strive for excellence in all that I do. Ultimately, I believe that my experiences in sports have prepared me to be a successful student, a valuable member of society, and a leader in my chosen field. A scholarship will help me stay focused and achieve these goals.

Shaping a Stronger Future for our Community Creating a lasting impact on our community isn’t about one big moment, it’s about the small, consistent actions that shape a better future for everyone. I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my life to have parents who invested deeply in my development as an athlete. From the age of six, they coached me, enrolled me in competitive teams, and provided access to private trainers who helped me improve every aspect of my game as a soccer goalkeeper. This is not the same for every kid in my community. Many young athletes are limited to community-led programs that lack individualized training, especially for specialized positions like soccer goalkeepers. This was the case with a lot of the kids in the Owasso Soccer Club. I decided to do my part to help my community here. My neighbor Rodney Blackwell was a coach for The Thundercat’s, a girl soccer team made up of ten-year-old and younger kids from the Owasso community. I volunteered with him two summers ago. I became his assistant coach. I helped him train the team and then broke away his goalkeepers to give them one-on-one training. As soon as the other coaches saw that these kids were getting one-on-one training, they all rushed their own goalkeepers to my area. I started training for anyone who would show up. I learned that helping other people gave me such a great feeling of accomplishment. By the end of the season, the team had won many games, but our greatest victory was the pride and confidence the players developed in themselves. I smiled when I walked into a restaurant in town and I heard a kid whisper to their parents that there was "coach Martin" walking by in awe and with that terrible silly shyness only little kids can display. I am also my high school’s varsity soccer goalkeeper going on my third year. Last year we were the 2025 undefeated district champions, and we just became the 2026 undefeated district champions this year. By now I am considered the only varsity Goalkeeper for the team. I have six other goalkeepers in my high school. I took it upon myself to create a training plan, and I trained them every week for the last two years. I taught them everything I knew to become better in the goalkeeper position. I also talked to them about needing to have passion and commitment for the position if they wanted to improve. For those who asked, I gave them additional free private goalkeeping lessons. When one couldn’t afford gloves or shoes, I gave them my own. When one of them was criticized, I sat them down and talked through the pressure of what the comments did to their mental game and how to overcome it. My goal was to give them training and especially the positive environment to develop their own skills and continue the goalkeeper tradition in my school My career goals are to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and rise to the professional ranks of soccer. I have signed a letter of intent with my college and am in their soccer program. I am determined to continue to use my education and goalkeeping platform to demonstrate what hard work can accomplish and to continue to make a positive impact on my community. I would love to eventually use my business degree to open or be a part of community sports facility where we foster growth for community programs, especially those geared to the underprivileged.

The Challenges that Forge Leaders I am a soccer goalkeeper and have loved the sport since I was about seven years old. From the minute I set foot on that field I was hooked. Soccer became my life and my dream. As I developed the next few years, I zeroed in on the goalkeeper position because it was the last line of defense and the goalkeeper looked like a hero to my young mind. In high school, I made the boys’ soccer team. I was put as the primary goalkeeper for the second team my freshman year. There was not much competition at this level, so I had a good solid year of multiple wins and just getting used to playing at this level. I had some negativity, but nothing more than what I had experienced growing up so it was manageable. My sophomore year, I got transferred to the first team-the varsity team and I learned what real peer pressure was all about. Normally the goalkeeper is the first to get blamed for any goal scored and the last one to be thanked for any saves made. The senior team members did not disappoint; and did not believe I was good enough for the position. I started training harder and doing one-on-one private training. I also joined a gym to increase my strength and started running up to five miles a day. It took time, but little by little their bullying slowed down. Because of what I was living through, I also took it upon myself to take the six lower-level goalkeepers in our high school and train them every day during school to teach them everything I knew. I also gave them free private goalkeeping lessons. When one couldn’t afford gloves or shoes, I gave them my own. When one of them was criticized, I sat them down and talked through the pressure of what the comments did to their mental game and how to overcome it. My goal was to give them the training and especially the positive environment to develop their own skills and continue the goalkeeper tradition in my school that I didn’t get during my first years. At the end of my sophomore year, to everyone’s joy, we made it to the quarter finals. I even received an award at the end of the year for the player showing the most improvement. My junior year, I was nominated as a team captain by my younger soccer team players. I took pride in knowing that I was making a positive impact on them. My goal was to take my team to the district championship finals, and I obtained this goal by leading them from the back as the goalkeeper and the last line of defense. I pushed them to do their best in the field and positively mentored them both in and out of the field. We were the 2025 undefeated district champions and were thrown off the running for the state championship with only a 0-1 loss in the season. During my senior year I was nominated as Captain for a second year, and I continued to lead from the back to push my team to greatness. We have currently won all eight district games this season. Our eyes and vision are straight ahead looking at the state championship. In addition to high school soccer, I have always been part of a club/travel team. I achieved the rank of captain for my Tulsa SC ECNL Boys soccer team in 2025 for leading by example and balancing discipline, perseverance and sportsmanship. As I look forward, I am determined to continue to use my education and goalkeeping platform to demonstrate what hard work can accomplish and to continue to make a positive impact on my community. I would love to eventually use my business degree to open or be a part of community sports facility where we foster growth for community programs, especially those geared to the underprivileged.

The Challenges that Forge Leaders I am a soccer goalkeeper and have loved the sport since I was about seven years old. From the minute I set foot on that field I was hooked. Soccer became my life and my dream. As I developed the next few years, I zeroed in on the goalkeeper position because it was the last line of defense and the goalkeeper looked like a hero to my young mind. In high school, I made the boys’ soccer team. I was put as the primary goalkeeper for the second team my freshman year. There was not much competition at this level, so I had a good solid year of multiple wins and just getting used to playing at this level. I had some negativity, but nothing more than what I had experienced growing up so it was manageable. My sophomore year, I got transferred to the first team-the varsity team and I learned what real peer pressure was all about. Normally the goalkeeper is the first to get blamed for any goal scored and the last one to be thanked for any saves made. The senior team members did not disappoint; and did not believe I was good enough for the position. At first the taunting and mental attacks were so bad I wanted to quit. I talked to my mom about it and she told me I had to finish the commitment I had made that year but if I felt the same at the end of the year, I did not have to come back to the team next year. I agreed to her advice and to try as hard as I could to improve myself. I started training harder and doing one-on-one private training. I also joined a gym to increase my strength and started running up to five miles a day. It took time, but little by little their bullying slowed down. At the end of my sophomore year, to everyone’s joy, we made it to the quarter finals. I even received an award at the end of the year for the player showing the most improvement. My junior year, I was nominated as a team captain by my younger soccer team players. I took pride in knowing that I was making a positive impact on them. I pushed them to do their best in the field and positively mentored them both in and out of the field. We were the 2025 undefeated district champions and were thrown off the running for the state championship with only a 0-1 loss in the season. During my senior year I was nominated as Captain for a second year, and I continued to lead from the back to push my team to greatness. We have currently won all eight district games this season. Our eyes and vision are straight ahead looking at the state championship. In addition to high school soccer, I have always been part of a club/travel team. I achieved the rank of captain for my Tulsa SC ECNL Boys soccer team in 2025 for leading by example and balancing discipline, perseverance and sportsmanship. As I look forward, I am determined to continue to use my education and goalkeeping platform to demonstrate what hard work can accomplish and to continue to make a positive impact on my community. I would love to eventually use my business degree to open or be a part of community sports facility where we foster growth for community programs, especially those geared to the underprivileged.

Shaping a Stronger Future for our Community Creating a lasting impact on our community isn’t about one big moment, it’s about the small, consistent actions that shape a better future for everyone. I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my life to have parents who invested deeply in my development as an athlete. From the age of six, they coached me, enrolled me in competitive teams, and provided access to private trainers who helped me improve every aspect of my game as a soccer goalkeeper. This is not the same for every kid in my community. Many young athletes are limited to community-led programs that lack individualized training, especially for specialized positions like a soccer goalkeeper. This was the case with a lot of the kids in the Owasso Soccer Club. I decided to do my part to help my community here. My neighbor Rodney Blackwell was a coach for The Thundercat’s, a girl soccer team made up of ten-year-old and younger kids from the Owasso community. I volunteered with him two summers ago. I became his assistant coach. I helped him train the team and then broke away his goalkeepers to give them one-on-one training. As soon as the other coaches saw that these kids were getting one-on-one training, they all rushed their own goalkeepers to my area. I started training for anyone who would show up. The goalkeeper soccer player needs very intense one-on-one training. I trained these young girls on how to position correctly in the goal and how to fall correctly while trying to catch a ball and position their body to best protect themselves from the oncoming players. This way they could prevent injury. I showed them the best exercises to increase their speed and agility as well as the best ways to catch a ball from each angle. I did this for an entire summer. I was really inspired by these goalkeepers’ willingness to learn and absorb every bit of knowledge I could give them. I learned that helping other people gave me such a great feeling of accomplishment. I celebrated each new accomplishment with them and tried to teach them everything I knew. By the end of the season, the team had won many games, but our greatest victory was the pride and confidence the players developed in themselves. I still smile when I walked into a restaurant in town and I heard a kid whisper to their parents that there was "coach Martin" walking by in awe and with that terrible silly shyness only little kids can display.

The roar of the crowd fades as the striker lines up for a penalty kick. My heart pounds in my chest, the weight of the game resting on my shoulders. It’s moments like these, where pressure peaks that define me as a soccer goalkeeper. Since the age of six, soccer has been more than just a game; it's been my life. As a goalkeeper, I've learned that the discipline, teamwork, and commitment required on the field extend far beyond the white lines. From the fields where I first learned to kick a ball to the competitive ECNL and high school varsity soccer teams, each experience has built in me a determination that I carry with me in every aspect of my life. My freshman year of high school presented challenges I had not seen coming. I was met with criticism from senior players who doubted my abilities. Their negativity was initially overwhelming, but rather than quitting soccer, I committed myself to a rigorous training program, pushing my limits both physically and mentally. My routine included private goalkeeper training sessions where I honed my techniques. I added weightlifting three to five times a week to build strength and power. I also started running regularly, eventually building up to five miles. Finally, I made diet changes, focusing on nutritious foods that would optimize my performance and recovery. With each training session, my skills sharpened, my confidence grew, and I began to earn the respect of my teammates. By my junior year, I had learned that as a goalkeeper, communication is critical. I am responsible for organizing the defense, directing players into position, and ensuring everyone is aware of potential threats. My approach involves constantly assessing the field, anticipating opponent movements, and cutting off angles to eliminate threats before they materialize. These skills were especially crucial in leading my high school to a District Championship with a perfect 7–0 record during my junior year. By then, I had firmly established myself as a very strong player and got the respect of my teammates to the point that I got voted in as one of the co-captains. My journey as a soccer player has been marked by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to achieving my goals. From the initial doubts and criticisms, I faced as a freshman the recognition and accomplishments I've achieved in recent years, including All-District honors and being given the Owasso Boys Soccer Ram award two times in three years for my work both on and off the field. I've learned that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. I understand that success requires sacrifice and that there will be times when I must push myself beyond my comfort zone to achieve my objectives. My commitment extends beyond personal accolades and encompasses a desire to give back to the community. I aspire to play professional soccer, and I also want to use my platform to inspire and mentor young athletes, particularly those from underserved communities. I am confident that the lessons I've learned on the soccer field will serve me well in my future career. With the same determination and passion that I bring to the soccer field, I am ready to tackle any obstacle and strive for excellence in all that I do. Ultimately, I believe that my experiences in sports have prepared me to be a successful student, a valuable member of society, and a leader in my chosen field.

Success is Only a Dream Away As I step into my final year of high school, I’m not just finishing a chapter—I’m setting bold, ambitious goals that will propel me into college and shape the future I’m determined to build. I am my high school’s varsity soccer goalkeeper going on my third year. Last year we were the 2025 undefeated district champions, and we just became the 2026 undefeated district champions this week. My primary goal this year is to get above a 3.0 GPA and lead my team to win the state championship in soccer. I can accomplish this by continuing to study as hard as I can and leading my team to beat every high school soccer team in the state. I didn’t care about grades up to my freshman and sophomore year. I constantly fought my parents arguing that grades did not matter in the scheme of things and would not serve me any purpose. I did only enough to get by and did not think grades would impact my soccer dreams. My junior year I realized the importance grades make to getting into a good school. I started reaching out to college coaches and they were all interested in my grades. It was a shock to realize that without a good education, I was not going to make it far in a soccer career. I finally tied the two together and regretted not trying sooner. Since then, I have been fighting for the last two years to raise my GPA as much as I can and am hoping to raise it above 3.0 by the end of this school year. I think these goals are achievable because I have the time to study and work hard and regarding soccer, my high school has placed very high in the Oklahoma rankings for the past three years, and we can compete very well. I have set aside time to study and do assignments every day. I keep track of my grades in a online portal that is available to us as well as keeping track of assignment due dates in the google classroom available to us online. Between my junior and first half of my senior year I have managed to raise my GPA to a 3.0 by doing all my work and striving for the best grades in every class. During the last two years, I have received the “Academic All- Conference 2025 for excellence while in sports” and was on the principal’s “Honor Roll” for achieving a 3.5 GPA during my 2024 semester. Regarding soccer, besides mentoring and keeping my team focus on the field, I have trained nonstop to be the best defender of a goal and can stop some pretty hard shots. I also am part of an MLS-Next team and drive to multiple states for competition. We have been declared the winners in multiple soccer tournaments. Today, m My career goals are to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and rise to the professional ranks of soccer. I have played soccer since I was four years old and focused on the goalkeeper position when I was nine or ten. Every day, I dedicate countless hours to improving myself so I can pursue my dream of becoming a professional soccer player. This commitment includes playing on my high school soccer team for four years. We lift weights twice a week at 6:30 a.m., and we practice during sixth hour. I am entering my third year as the varsity goalkeeper. I also train with a private coach a couple of times a week. When I’m not doing that, I’m in the gym lifting weights or running outside. I also attended many soccer identification camps to find the right college to continue my education and soccer career. Two years ago, I met a coach at an ID camp. He told me he was impressed with my skills and last year, he invited me to visit his school and meet the soccer team. I felt welcome immediately, and it truly felt like home. I trained with the team and was impressed by their skill level and how quickly they embraced me. The coach offered me a spot last November. Today, I’m extremely excited to see all my hard work turn into this huge opportunity to play soccer at the college level. I have many goals and dreams for myself in the next few years. From winning the state championship and improving my GPA to immersing myself in college. I am very excited about my future as I leave my childhood behind and learn how to pave my own future by keeping my goals and celebrating each one I complete.

Volunteered as an Assistant Coach for a 10-year girls’ soccer team A couple of years ago, I volunteered to train an Owasso Soccer Club 10-year-old girls’ soccer team named The Thundercat’s. This is a city-run program that offers families of all income levels a chance for their children to compete in sports. The coaches are all city volunteers, and I noticed they did not have any individual training for their goalkeepers. I volunteered my entire summer to assist the coach in training the team. I helped work with the entire team on their individual goals. Working one-on-one with young girls helped me understand that it is our duty to help kids younger than us. The other teams saw me training their goalkeepers and started sending their goalkeepers to train with me. Little by little, I built a group of tiny goalkeepers who wanted to train and learn to be the best in their field. Their enthusiasm fueled me to work as hard as I could. I also provided individualized training for the goalkeepers. These included learning how to come out and defend their post, when to stay back and let the defenders protect them and when to risk life and limb to save the ball. Other teams saw me doing the one-on-one training classes and asked if I could also train their goalkeepers. In the end, I trained whoever showed up for classes. The team started winning more and more games until they were considered some of the best. The best feeling was walking into a restaurant with my parents and overhearing two young boys I train loudly whisper to their parents, “Look, there is Coach Martin,” even when they were too shy to come say hello. If I had something to change in my community, it would be to offer these opportunities to more high school kids. It should be a mandatory part of their requirements. One day, I was walking into a restaurant with my parents, and I heard a small voice. It was a young child talking to his parents. His words made me realize how much what I did mattered to our community. One kid said, “Look, Dad, there is Coach King, he is so awesome.” Although he was too timid to approach and greet me, I still heard him. Making a difference in our community does not take long, but it makes a real difference.

Volunteered as an Assistant Coach A couple of years ago, I volunteered to train an Owasso Soccer Club 10-year-old girls’ soccer team named The Thundercat’s. This is a program run by the city that offers families of all income levels a chance for their children to compete in sports. The coaches are all city volunteers, and I noticed they did not have any individual training for their goalkeepers. I volunteered my entire summer to assist the coach in training the team. I helped work with the entire team on their individual goals. Working one-on-one with young girls helped me understand that it is our duty to help kids younger than us. The other teams saw me training their goalkeepers and started sending their goalkeepers to train with me. Little by little, I built a group of tiny goalkeepers who wanted to train and learn to be the best in their field. I also provided individualized training for the goalkeepers. Other teams saw me doing the one-on-one training classes and asked if I could also train their goalkeepers. In the end, I trained whoever showed up for classes. The best feeling was walking into a restaurant with my parents and overhearing two young boys I train loudly whisper to their parents, “Look, there is Coach Martin,” even when they were too shy to come say hello. If I had something to change in my community, it would be to offer these opportunities to more high school kids. It should be a mandatory part of their requirements. One day I was walking into a restaurant with my parents, and I heard a small voice. It was a young child talking to his parents. His words made me realize how much what I did mattered to our community. One kid said, “Look, Dad, there is Coach King, he is so awesome.” Making a difference in our community does not take long, but it makes a real difference. We are our future. I realized that day that by giving up my weekends and helping those kids I was fulfilling a very important role. I was helping our young kids learn discipline and better their skills. I was making a change in their lives. This fueled me to continue training them using every skill I have ever learned. I was making a difference. It was the most fulfilling adventure I had every walked. I made a difference!

Volunteered as an Assistant Coach I volunteer as a goalkeeper coach as much as I can. In high school, I train the six goalkeepers on a weekly basis. I show them everything i know. My goal is to make them better than me and to have them continue our legacy. In addition if they need gloves, I give them mine. If they need shoes, I give them mine. If they need a high five, I am in the crowd watching their games and ready to give them a high five. Additionally, a couple of years ago, I volunteered to train an Owasso Soccer Club 10-year-old girls’ soccer team named The Thundercat’s. This is a program run by the city that offers families of all income levels a chance for their children to compete in sports. The coaches are all city volunteers, and I noticed they did not have any individual training for their goalkeepers. I volunteered my entire summer to assist the coach in training the team. I helped work with the entire team on their individual goals. Working one-on-one with young girls helped me understand that it is our duty to help kids younger than us. The other teams saw me training their goalkeepers and started sending their goalkeepers to train with me. Little by little, I built a group of tiny goalkeepers who wanted to train and learn to be the best in their field. I also provided individualized training for the goalkeepers. Other teams saw me doing the one-on-one training classes and asked if I could also train their goalkeepers. In the end, I trained whoever showed up for classes. The best feeling was walking into a restaurant with my parents and overhearing two young boys I train loudly whisper to their parents, “Look, there is Coach Martin,” even when they were too shy to come say hello. If I had something to change in my community, it would be to offer these opportunities to more high school kids. It should be a mandatory part of their requirements. One day I was walking into a restaurant with my parents, and I heard a small voice. It was a young child talking to his parents. His words made me realize how much what I did mattered to our community. One kid said, “Look, Dad, there is Coach King, he is so awesome.” Making a difference in our community does not take long, but it makes a real difference.

My All Time Must Watch Series My favorite show is Initial D, a classic 1995 anime about Takumi Fujiwara, a teen who becomes a racing legend through his mountain drives. Takumi starts as an ordinary high school senior who makes delivery runs for his dad's tofu shop. He does not think much outside girls and schools like any other teenager. The catch about it is that Takumi’s dad, Bunta Fujiwara, has secretly been training him in how to perfect his drifting technique, going down Mt. Akina. Takumi thinks these are random asks of his dad and at times resents the extra training he gets. Bunta Fujiwara was a pro racer before he had Takumi; however, he hasn't told Takumi about his past in the racing scene, so, as far as Takumi knows, his dad has run this tofu shop his whole life. Bunta trained Takumi’s drifting technique to perfection by loading Tofu into the delivery car and a cup of water into the car with Takumi. Bunta said that if Takumi could keep the water from spilling out of the cup, then the Tofu in the back of the car would not be ruined. Takumi resents his father's orders but takes it as a personal challenge to make sure he keeps that cup of water intact. Bunta continues to challenge Takumi to improve his speed by using increasingly full water cups during his runs. This helped Takumi to master his car's center of gravity to maximize his efficiency and speed going downhill. Takumi’s first challenge was to defend his co-worker's car group's name when challenged by a group of really good racers to the bottom of the mountain pass. No one knew that Takumi was really good at the mountain pass, and neither did Takumi until his first race. Takumi drives an AE86 in the show with his dad's tofu shop name on the side of the car, so when a tofu delivery car pulled up to the starting line with a driver nobody knew, hopes were low. He uses everything he has learned to win the race against people that laughed at him and thought it was a joke to challenge him. As he drives, he starts understanding that he was trained for this scenario. He knows how to maneuver while increasing speed. The biggest lesson learned was that his father was teaching him a very important lesson. You never know what your parents are teaching you. Learn from them and take every lesson to heart as you never know what they are trying to do behind the scenes.

Raised Under Orders: Life in a Military Family When I was three to four years old, both my mom and dad served in the Air Force. I was born in the United States, but we spent four years in Italy, so those are the ones I remember the most. I remember we lived a 45-minute train ride from somewhere called Venice, Italy. I used to throw tantrums when I was tired because we went there so much. I remember my dad saying he had lots of muscles from carrying me on his back through the streets of Venice. My mom would tell me one day I would realize what a privilege it was to be so close to Venice, a place where people paid so much money to see and experience. My mom received deployment orders and was away about six months out of each year, so I spent a lot of time with my dad and sisters. There were long periods when one of them was away, especially my mom, and it was hard for me to comprehend why. My mom would no longer be there to drop or pick me up from daycare or make dinner or play with me. Dad would step in and try to do it all himself. I missed my mom, although she tried to keep in touch and be present. I recall having to talk to her through video calls for months at a time, rather than seeing her in person. She worked nights and kept the video chat open while she slept. If I needed to talk to her, I could just go to the computer on my side and call out to her. Being part of a military family meant learning early on how to handle change and distance. I had to get used to saying goodbye and waiting for the next phone call or message. Even though it wasn’t easy, it taught me patience and helped me grow emotionally. It has also made my family closer and more appreciative of the moments we do share together. Eventually, my parents retired when I was five and we moved to Oklahoma. I had an entire childhood in the same neighborhood with the same friends and schools unlike my sisters. Regardless, today I am more appreciative than ever at the lengths my parents went to keep a sense of normalcy as they deployed for us. They are wonderful parents just as they were outstanding Air Force military members.

Raised Under Orders: Life in a Military Family When I was three to four years old, both my mom and dad served in the Air Force. I was born in the United States, but we spent four years in Italy, so those are the ones I remember the most. I remember we lived a 45-minute train ride from somewhere called Venice, Italy. I used to throw tantrums when I was tired because we went there so much. I remember my dad saying he had lots of muscles from carrying me on his back through the streets of Venice. My mom would tell me one day I would realize what a privilege it was to be so close to Venice, a place where people paid so much money to see and experience. My mom received deployment orders and was away about six months out of each year, so I spent a lot of time with my dad and sisters. There were long periods when one of them was away, especially my mom, and it was hard for me to comprehend why. My mom would no longer be there to drop or pick me up from daycare or make dinner or play with me. Dad would step in and try to do it all himself. I missed my mom, although she tried to keep in touch and be present. I recall having to talk to her through video calls for months at a time, rather than seeing her in person. She worked nights and kept the video chat open while she slept. If I needed to talk to her, I could just go to the computer on my side and call out to her. Being part of a military family meant learning early on how to handle change and distance. I had to get used to saying goodbye and waiting for the next phone call or message. I learned that I would never know when she returned until hours before she was due to land. They explained when I was older that the orders to return changed so much they didnt want me to get my hopes up. Even though it wasn’t easy, it taught me patience and helped me grow emotionally. It has also made my family closer and more appreciative of the moments we do share together. They eventually retired and moved to Oklahoma. Unlike my sisters, I got to spend my entire high school in one location. I am very proud today to be part of a family made up of two active-duty military members who tried to keep our family as normal as they could while deploying and serving our country.

Raised Under Orders: Life in a Military Family I have two older sisters, a mom, and a dad, and growing up in a military family had a big impact on my childhood. When I was three to four years old, both my mom and dad served in the Air Force. I was born in the United States, but we spent four years in Italy, so those are the ones I remember the most. I remember we lived a 45-minute train ride from somewhere called Venice, Italy. I used to throw tantrums when I was tired because we went there so much. I remember my dad saying he had lots of muscles from carrying me on his back through the streets of Venice. My mom deployed a lot. I missed my mom, although she tried to keep in touch and be present. I recall having to talk to her through video calls for months at a time, rather than seeing her in person. She worked nights and kept the video chat open while she slept. If I needed to talk to her, I could just go to the computer on my side and call out to her. I had many conversations with my mom this way, and I normally described my day to her every day. I liked it but, at that age, it was confusing and difficult, and I missed having her around for everyday moments. I knew my sisters missed her too. Both of them were in high school, and I remember them calling my mom crying a lot. My mom had to be deployed every other holiday, so I remember baking cookies and other goodies to send to her and waiting for her to get out of work so we could open Christmas presents and share holidays through video chat. I only found out when my mom was coming home a few hours before she landed. My parents said this was because travel plans got cancelled so much in the military or changed, that she did not want to disappoint us. Once she was home, we had the best times. We travelled a lot and did everything as a family. Mom said we traveled all over Europe and places like Pisa and Rome, and Verona, etc., but I only remember being happy together as a family with a mom and a dad. It never lasted very long. Before long, I would see the sadness in her face, and the military bags would be packed and ready to go. We would drop her off on base, and the waiting started all over again. My parents retired in 2013, after over 20 years serving in the Air Force. They had a retirement ceremony in Italy, and I got to participate and salute them during the retirement song. We moved back to the United States afterwards, and both got civilian careers. I was enrolled in kindergarten and finally got to spend my entire school career in one place. These moments taught me to be resilient and be ok moving away to college to study for a business degree. I want to get a business degree to possibly start a business of my own. Having my parents be so strong and such strong leaders that I believe I can do anything I set myself up for. Our military family is strong and can accomplish anything we set our mind to do.

I am a Goalkeeper I am the son of a dual military family. Both of my parents served in the military for over 20 years. We lived in Italy, and my mother deployed every six months. I was very young at the time and remembered just constantly having to live with change. My parents retired when I was about four years old, and we moved back to the United States. We moved to Owasso, Oklahoma, when I was around five years old. My father volunteered to coach soccer for the city and signed me up in his team. From the minute I set foot on that field, I was hooked. Soccer became my life. As I developed over the next few years, I zeroed in on the goalkeeper position because the goalkeeper looked like a hero to my young mind. My father eventually retired as a coach, and I started moving around to other soccer teams. Eventually, I was part of the highest teams in my local community and had to deal with both coaches and teammates who believed in me as well as those who chose to criticize me every step of the way. I stayed focused on my goalkeeper position and tried to mentally work through what seemed like non-stop pressure. In high school, I made the soccer team in my freshman year. I was put as the primary goalkeeper for the second team. There was not much competition at this level, so I had a good, solid year of multiple wins and just getting used to playing at this level. In my sophomore year, I got transferred to the first team, the varsity team, and I learned what real peer pressure was all about. The senior soccer players repeatedly told me I didn’t have the skills to be in the team and screamed at me routinely after every mistake I made or every ball they felt I should have come out to protect. Mentally, it was devastating. It got so bad, I wanted to quit the team and saw other teammates actually quit due to the pressure. I concentrated on improving myself. My junior year, I was nominated as a team captain by my younger soccer team players. I took pride in knowing that I was making a positive impact on them. My goal was to take my team to the district championship finals, and I obtained this goal by leading them from the back as the goalkeeper and the last line of defense. We were the 2025 undefeated district champions and were thrown off the running for the state championship with only a 0-1 loss in the season. More than wins, I got the respect from my teammates I wanted so badly. While focusing on high school soccer I also attended College Player Identification camps. I encountered many college coaches at all levels. I met an NCAA D2 coach in one of these camps a few years ago. He was very impressed with me and asked me to keep in touch. This past Thanksgiving holiday, he offered me a place on his soccer team. I enthusiastically accepted and am now college bound. Today, I am already enrolled in the college and have my dorm room picked out for next year. Before I get to say goodbye to my high school soccer career, I have one last goal to accomplish as the senior varsity goalkeeper. My eyes are the state championship title this year. Whether I make it or not, my eyes are set looking straight ahead for whatever life holds for me.

I am a Goalkeeper The roar of the crowd fades as the striker lines up for a penalty kick. My heart pounds in my chest, the weight of the game resting on my shoulders. It’s moments like these, where pressure peaks that define me as a soccer goalkeeper. Since the age of six, soccer has been more than just a game; it's been my life. As a goalkeeper, I've learned that the discipline, teamwork, and commitment required on the field extend far beyond the white lines. From the fields where I first learned to kick a ball to the competitive ECNL and high school varsity soccer teams, each experience has built in me a determination that I carry with me in every aspect of my life. My freshman year of high school presented challenges I had not seen coming. I was met with criticism from senior players who doubted my abilities. Their negativity was initially overwhelming, but rather than quitting soccer, I committed myself to a rigorous training program, pushing my limits both physically and mentally. My routine included private goalkeeper training sessions where I honed my techniques. I added weightlifting three to five times a week to build strength and power. I also started running regularly, eventually building up to five miles. Finally, I made diet changes, focusing on nutritious foods that would optimize my performance and recovery. With each training session, my skills sharpened, my confidence grew, and I began to earn the respect of my teammates. By my junior year, I had learned that as a goalkeeper, communication is critical. I am responsible for organizing the defense, directing players into position, and ensuring everyone is aware of potential threats. My approach involves constantly assessing the field, anticipating opponent movements, and cutting off angles to eliminate threats before they materialize. These skills were especially crucial in leading my high school to a District Championship with a perfect 7–0 record during my junior year. By then, I had firmly established myself as a very strong player and gotten the respect of my teammates to the point that I got voted in as one of the co-captains. My journey as a soccer player has been marked by perseverance and an unwavering commitment to achieving my goals. From the initial doubts and criticisms, I faced as a freshman to the recognition and accomplishments I've achieved in recent years, including All-District honors and being given the Owasso Boys Soccer Ram award two times in three years for my work both on and off the field. I've learned that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. I understand that success requires sacrifice and that there will be times when I must push myself beyond my comfort zone to achieve my objectives. My commitment extends beyond personal accolades and encompasses a desire to give back to the community. I aspire to play professional soccer, and I also want to use my platform to inspire and mentor young athletes, particularly those from underserved communities. With the same determination and passion that I bring to the soccer field, I am ready to tackle any obstacle and strive for excellence in all that I do. Ultimately, I believe that my experiences in sports have prepared me to be a successful student, a valuable member of society, and a leader in my chosen field.

I am a Goalkeeper My career goals is to get a bachelor’s degree in business administration and play soccer professionally. I have played soccer since I was four years old and zeroed in on the Goalkeepers position when I was around the age of 9 or 10. I started playing soccer at a competitive level since then. I have committed every hour of my day to improve myself for this sport so I can follow my dream of becoming a pro soccer player someday. This includes being in my high school soccer team going on four years. We do weights twice a week in the morning at 0630 a.m. and practice during 6th hour. I am the varsity goalkeeper going on my third year and we won the district championship last year. I also attend as many soccer camps as I can, and I train with a private trainer a couple of times of week. When I am not doing this, I am at the gym lifting weights or running outside. I can easily run about five miles at a time. I have a community following in my town of Owasso. I always strive to be a good role model to the younger kids and especially kids from the Hispanic community. Through my own work and games I do my best to represent my community. I also take every opportunity to help the coach go do work around the community every occasion I can. I also help him run camps when we are out of school. Last year I also joined my neighbor coach to teach the city of Owasso's girls soccer team for a summer. I also strive to show kindness to every person I meet always remembering that we do not know what that person is going through. I exemplify this trait, by having any kid I see eating by themselves join my group, so they do not feel lonely. I also mentor and train six lower classman goalkeepers that belong to my high school team. I teach them everything I know so they will improve their skills by training hard and motivating them with kind words. Now in my senior year they believe in me and think of me as their mentor. This brings me so much joy. Contributing to this sport by teaching those coming behind me to be the best goalkeepers they can be is my pride.

My career goals is to get a bachelor’s degree in business administration and play soccer professionally. I have played soccer since I was four years old and zeroed in on the Goalkeepers position when I was around the age of 9 or 10. I fell in love with soccer. I started playing soccer at a competitive level since then. I have committed every hour of my day to improve myself for this sport so I can follow my dream of becoming a pro soccer player someday. This includes being in my high school soccer team going on four years. We do weights twice a week in the morning at 0630 a.m. and practice during 6t hours. My freshman year was rough. I was told by some senior soccer players that I was not good enough. I wanted to quit but instead I put in even more work and learned that I am my worst roadblock if I listen to the negative comments. Today, I am the varsity goalkeeper going on my third year and we won the district championship last year. I continue to train as hard as I can. I attend as many soccer camps as I can, and I train with a private trainer a couple of times of week. When I am not doing this, I am at the gym lifting weights or running outside. I can easily run about five miles at a time. I also went overseas a few years ago to practice with London teams to try to improve my skills. Finally, last summer I went to Camp Shutout which is the largest Goalkeeper camp in the world. I have also attended many soccer identification camps to try to find the right college for me to continue my education and to pursue my soccer career. About two years ago, I met a coach at a soccer ID camp and we talked in between games. He told me he was very impressed with my skills and especially how I played so well from the back of the line. He is the soccer coach for a NCAA D2 school in Missouri. I sent this coach, along with other schools, many of my highlight videos that I have created during the last two years showing every aspect of my goalkeeper position and strategy. Last year this invited me to visit his soccer team and the school. The school visit was great. I felt very welcome and immediately felt like this was my home. I also trained with the soccer team and was very impressed by their skills and how much they welcomed me. The coach gave me an offer last November. Today I am very excited have all the hard work turn into this huge opportunity to play soccer at the college level.