I believe I should be considered for the Samuel D. Hartley Memorial Scholarship because golf has played a very important role in my life, helping me overcome many challenges and shaping who I am today. Like Samuel D. Hartley, who dedicated much of his life to golf and his community, I am passionate about golf and committed to working hard to reach my goals both on the course and in my education. I have been a member of my high school golf team for several years. Playing golf has taught me patience, focus, and perseverance. It is a sport that requires a lot of practice and mental strength, and these valuable lessons have helped me in all areas of my life. My passion for golf also helped me get a job at Mountain Golf Resort as a valet and shuttle driver. This job has been a great opportunity because I get to meet golf professionals and play on the course twice a week for free. It has allowed me to improve my game and learn more about the golf world, which has inspired me to pursue a degree in Sports Marketing. I want to combine my love for golf with a career in the sports business industry. Along with my passion for golf, I have faced and overcome several academic and medical challenges. I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura when I was young. Because of this, I had to stay home longer than other kids during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect my health, which made entering high school much more difficult. In school, I struggled with reading and had to repeat kindergarten. I was placed on an Individualized Education Program and worked closely with my IEP teacher, Mrs. Mary Allison, who helped me build the skills and confidence I needed to succeed. Thanks to her support and my hard work, I no longer need an IEP and have been successful in honors and college-level classes while maintaining good grades. I plan to attend Western Carolina University with hopes of joining the collegiate golf team. Golf has been a source of strength and joy for me, and I want to keep improving and representing my school. Receiving the Samuel D. Hartley Memorial Scholarship would help me continue pursuing my dreams and honor the legacy of someone who loved golf and worked hard throughout his life. Thank you for considering my application.

Playing golf has had a big impact on my life so far. I have been passionate about golf for several years, and it has taught me important lessons like patience, focus, and perseverance. I play on my high school golf team, and being part of the team has helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person. Golf challenges me to always improve, and I enjoy the quiet concentration it requires. It’s a sport that pushes me to be my best while also teaching me how to handle setbacks with grace and keep a positive attitude even when things don’t go as planned. My passion for golf has also opened doors for me outside of school. I recently landed a job at Mountain Golf Resort as a valet and shuttle driver. This job has been an amazing opportunity because it allows me to meet golf professionals and learn more about the sport and the industry. One of the best parts of the job is that I get to play on the course twice a week for free, which helps me practice and develop my skills without worrying about the cost. Being around the golf world every day has helped me understand how important business and marketing are in sports. This experience has inspired me to pursue a degree in Sports Marketing because I want to combine my love for golf with a career in the sports business world and help grow the game I love. Looking ahead, I plan to continue playing golf in college. I hope to join the collegiate golf team at Western Carolina University. Playing at the college level will help me improve my game and compete with other talented players. I am excited about the chance to be part of a team again and to represent my school with pride. I believe that college golf will not only help me grow as an athlete but also teach me valuable teamwork and leadership skills that will help me in all areas of my life. Overall, golf has been much more than a sport for me. It has helped shape who I am, given me great opportunities, and inspired my future goals. I look forward to continuing my journey in golf and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.

When I started school, reading was very difficult for me. I struggled so much that I had to repeat kindergarten because I was not reading at the level I needed to be. I watched my classmates, my only friends, move forward while I stayed behind, and it made me feel discouraged, embarrassed, and different. At that time, I did not understand why learning came so easily to others but felt so hard for me. That early setback was the beginning of a long journey filled with hard work, growth, and determination. Later on, I was diagnosed with a learning disability and placed on an IEP, which stands for Individualized Education Program. From that point forward, I received extra support to help me catch up in reading and other areas. One of the most important people in my journey was my IEP teacher, Mrs. Mary Allison. She worked with me through elementary and middle school and helped me learn how to read better, stay focused, and stay confident. She was kind, patient, and always believed in me, even when I did not believe in myself. Because of her help and my own determination, I slowly began to improve. In May, I attended my school’s graduation ceremony and watched all of the friends I started kindergarten with walk across the stage. As I sat there, I felt proud of them, but also a little sad. That was supposed to be my graduating class. Even though I had to repeat a year, I realized how far I have come since then. That moment reminded me how hard I have worked to get to where I am now. By the time I got to high school, I had made so much progress that I no longer needed an IEP. That was a huge moment for me. I knew I would still have to work harder than many of my classmates, but I was ready. Since then, I have taken honors classes and even college courses while still in high school. I have kept up my grades and earned A’s and B’s. It has not been easy, but it feels good to know I am able to succeed on my own now. What motivates me to keep going is how far I have already come. I know I can face challenges and still be successful. I am excited to keep learning and reach my goals.

I didn’t know a dog could change my life until one actually did. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I felt incredibly lonely and bored. I wasn’t just stuck at home like everyone else, I had to stay home even longer than my classmates because of a rare blood disorder I was diagnosed with as a child called ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura). It affects my platelets and puts me at high risk if I get sick. So, when most kids returned to school, I stayed behind, isolated, anxious, and missing the normal social interactions that used to be part of my everyday life. That’s when I got the idea that would change everything: I needed a puppy. After doing tons of research (and giving my parents many presentations even with PowerPoint slides), I decided a beagle would be the perfect dog for me. Beagles are known for being loyal, loving, and great family pets, everything I was looking for in a companion. That’s how Maddie Rose, my first beagle, became my best friend. She didn’t just keep me company, she gave me comfort and purpose during a time when everything felt uncertain. She was always by my side, whether I was doing online school, resting, or just needing someone to cuddle. Her sweet, playful energy brought life back into our quiet house. But the story doesn’t end there. We loved Maddie Rose so much that we decided to add a second beagle to our family. That’s when Copper came into our lives, and soon after, they had a litter of adorable beagle puppies. Caring for them was an incredible learning experience. I helped with feeding, cleaning, and keeping them safe. Watching them grow, learn, and develop their personalities taught me responsibility, patience, and how to deal with unexpected challenges. We found loving homes for most of the puppies, but we couldn’t let go of one special little girl. We named her Violet, and she completed our beagle family. Today, Maddie Rose, Copper, and Violet are more than just pets. They’re my constant companions, my comfort, my joy, and my emotional support team. They’ve helped me through hard times and have shaped the person I am becoming. I’ve learned to care deeply, stay positive, and find joy in small things. Getting Maddie Rose was truly the best decision I ever made, and it gave me the beagle family I didn’t know I needed.

Most kids can show up with a bruise, and their parents barely notice. “Oh, they probably bumped into something,” they say, and life goes on. But in my house, bruises are a big deal. If I come home with one and can’t explain exactly how it happened, what time, what object, which foot was leading, it’s a full-blown emergency. My mom will have the car running before I finish my sentence, and the next thing I know, we’re at the doctor’s office getting blood work done. Honestly, it feels like we teleport, moving so fast it’s almost surreal. That’s life when you’ve had Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, or ITP. I was diagnosed as a young child, and it completely changed how I saw the world around me. ITP is a rare autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own platelets, which are what help your blood clot and stop bleeding. Without enough platelets, something as simple as a nosebleed or a fall could be dangerous. While most kids were learning to ride their bikes and play outside without worry, I was learning to stay calm during blood draws and explain every bump and scrape like a crime scene investigator. ITP meant I couldn’t always join in normal activities. There were no rough sports, no wild playground adventures, and constant check-ups to keep my health in check. I spent years being closely monitored, and even now that I’m in remission, the fear that it could come back never completely goes away. Any unexplained symptom sends a red flag, and that’s a feeling I’ve learned to live with and manage carefully. But as strange as it sounds, I’m thankful for what ITP has taught me. It gave me a sense of awareness and appreciation for my health that most people don’t develop until much later in life. It taught me to be resilient, cautious when needed, and confident in speaking up for myself. It even helped me build a great relationship with my doctors and nurses, who always treated me with kindness and made scary moments easier to face. Living with ITP has shaped how I see life. It made me realize that health isn’t guaranteed, and time shouldn’t be wasted. That’s why I work hard in school, stay involved in sports, and keep pushing myself toward my goals. I’ve already faced one major challenge and made it through. Now I know I can handle whatever comes next with strength, determination, and maybe even a little teleporting.